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It’s no secret that getting a good night’s sleep has tremendous health benefits such as improved learning and productivity, protection against serious illnesses, more energy and a better mood. But what you may not know is that not getting enough sleep can have a destructive impact on health, work and overall quality of life.
In today’s fast-paced society, many people think it is OK to forego getting enough sleep. Whether it’s due to stress, lifestyle choices or chronic sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, it’s important to know that these problems are preventable or treatable. Unfortunately, less than a third of sufferers seek professional help.
Sleep disorders can lead to more than just daytime drowsiness. According to a study in the journal Thorax, serious consequences can occur that include health risks, economic troubles and even a higher rate of unemployment. According the National Sleep Foundation, the most common sleep disorders include:
* Circadian rhythm sleep disorders (shift work, jet lag)
* Parasomnias (sleepwalking, night terrors, REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep-related eating)
* Hypersomnia (insufficient sleep, narcolepsy)
* Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
OSA is the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing, and affects approximately five to six percent of the adult population. Individuals who suffer from this condition stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, but are generally not aware of it. More than half of all people who have sleep apnea remain undiagnosed, according the National Institutes of Health.
OSA can occur in men, women, and children of all ages; however, it is more common in men and people who are overweight. OSA is caused by a blocking of the upper airway. The collapse of the airway may be due to such factors as a large tongue, extra tissue or decreased muscle tone. Each pause in breathing can last from 10 seconds to more than a minute and a drop in oxygen is associated with each event.
Symptoms of OSA can include loud and disruptive snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, memory or learning problems, feeling irritable, and not being able to concentrate on work. Additional symptoms to watch for include mood swings or personality changes, waking up with dry throat and frequent urination at night.
Due to a lack of awareness by the public and health care professionals, the vast majority of OSA sufferers remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Sleep-related respiratory disturbances like OSA and loss of quality of sleep can lead to numerous health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. They can also lead to lack of attention, decreased work and academic productivity and even motor vehicle accidents.
In addition to all of the health implications, OSA also has an economic impact on sufferers. The annual economic cost of moderate to severe OSA in the United States is estimated to be $65 to $165 billion, which is greater than asthma, heart failure, stroke and hypertensive disease, according to a Harvard Medical School study. The same study found that unmanaged OSA can also lead to poor on the job performance, unhappy marriages and even divorce, which can all impact personal finances.
One of the main treatment options for OSA is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). The therapy provides a gentle flow of pressured air through the nose and/or mouth using a mask. The air pressure prevents airway collapse, allowing the user to breathe freely during sleep. This noninvasive therapy can alleviate the symptoms of OSA when used as prescribed.
As the third pillar of good health, sleep is essential to a leading a healthy life. If you think you or someone you know may suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), visit www.philips.com/worldsleepday to get your screening and learn more. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36273000 |
The mystery of why rocker Ozzy Osbourne is still alive after decades of drug and alcohol abuse may finally be solved, reported The London Sunday Times.
The 61-year-old former Black Sabbath lead singer is to become one of only a few people in the world to have his full genome sequenced.
In addition to giving Osbourne information that could help prevent diseases, it is hoped the results will provide insights into the way drugs are absorbed into the body.
Before he reformed, Osbourne survived decades of substance abuse and bit the head off a bat while intoxicated on stage — he had to have rabies jabs afterwards. He has a genetic disorder similar to Parkinson’s disease, was committed to a mental institution and broke his neck in a quad bike accident after which he was placed in a chemically induced coma.
“Sequencing and analyzing individuals with extreme medical histories provides the greatest potential scientific value,” said Nathan Pearson, director of research at Knome, a Massachusetts company that will map the singer’s genome using a blood sample.
The first full genome was sequenced in 2003 after 13 years of work. Today, analyzing a genome takes three months and costs about $40,000. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36275000 |
The Virigina Tech Transportation Institute has released the results of studies it has performed on cell phone use and driver distraction. Though common sense dictates that talking or texting while driving is a bad idea, these studies help to put some real numbers around just how dangerous the practice is. The studies include observations of drivers for a total of more than 6 million miles of driving. The studies also differentiated light vehicles and heavy vehicles or trucks.
When it came to simply dialing on a cell phone the risk of a crash or near crash was 2.8 times that of a non-distracted driver for light vehicles. The practice was even more dangerous for heavy vehicles or trucks since the risk was nearly twice as much at 5.9 times. There was also a big difference between light vehicles and heavy vehicles or trucks when it came to simply reaching for an object while driving. Light vehicle drivers’ risk of a crash was 1.4 times as high as non-distracted driving. Heavy vehicle or truck drivers’ risk rose to 6.7 times.
One of the most dangerous risks was text messaging while driving a heavy vehicle or truck. Those engaging in that practice had a risk of crash that was 23.2 times as high as non-distracted driving. A summary of the findings of the studies was that any action that took the driver’s eyes away from the road would result in a higher risk of an accident.
Read more from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute press release (PDF).
Hmm, so let me get this straight. If something takes my eyes off the road while driving I am more likely to have an accident?
Seriously, there are some people that actually don’t see the harm in talking or texting while driving. Heck, some truck drivers watch movies while driving. Clearly, these are the people that need to hear the results of studies like this. Unfortunately, some drivers find out the risks too late and end up hurting other people who actually are keeping their eyes on the road.
The most stunning result of the studies was the fact that texting while driving a heavy vehicle or truck basically increased your chance of having an accident to about 1 in 4. That’s not very good odds when it comes to safe driving. It really makes you realize that there is no text message worth reading or responding to that would increase your risk of an accident like that. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36297000 |
Caleb Johnson has an excellent summary of the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 at http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html. On his radio program today, Dennis Prager read Edward Winslow's letter, written 12 December 1621, describing the first celebration in Plymouth:
"Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors.
"They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercising in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports."
Caleb Johnson's page has a list of the foods probably eaten at the first Plymouth Thanksgiving. Contrast the variety of the foods available to them at the time with what we eat at our Thanksgiving celebrations today.
Today I thought about the hardships that these hardy Plymouth settlers endured to travel to North America and to survive the first winter. I had at least six ancestors at this first Plymouth Thanksgiving:
* Susanna (--?--) (White) Winslow (ca 1590-1680?)
* Peregrine White (1620-1704)
* George Soule (1593-1669)
* Richard Warren (ca 1580-1628)
* Francis Cooke (1583-1663)
* John Cooke (1607-1695)
I am very thankful for their courage and sacrifice, and for their good example of sharing a feast with Massasoit and his people. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36301000 |
| Updated at: 1800 PST, Monday, January 03, 2011|
LONDON: Many of you might have tasted this mouth-watering treat, or at least have seen it or heard about it. Guava is very common in Asian countries. It is a good looking pear shaped or round shaped seasonal fruit, light green or yellow or maroon in color from outside when ripe, with white or maroon flesh and lots of small hard seeds enveloping very soft and sweet pulp. It is eaten raw (ripe or semi-ripe) or in form of jams and jellies.
This attractive fruit is a real storehouse of nutrients. If it is “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” in Europe and Americas, it must be “A few guavas in the season keeps the doctor away for the whole year” in the Indian Subcontinent and places where guavas grow. Its scientific name is Psidium Guajava.
Diarrhea & Dysentery: Guava is very rich in astringents (compounds those make your gums feel tighter and fresh after you chew guava leaves or eat a raw guava or use some toothpaste) which binds up loose bowels in diarrhea. These astringents are alkaline in nature and have disinfectant and anti-bacterial properties, thus help cure dysentery by inhibiting microbial growth and removing extra mucus from the intestines. Further, other nutrients in guava, such as vitamin-C, Carotenoids and potassium strengthens and tones up the digestive system and disinfect it. Guava is also beneficial in gastroenteritis due to reasons stated above.
Constipation: Guava is one of the riches sources of dietary fiber. Its seeds, if ingested whole or chewed, serve as excellent laxatives. These two properties of guava help forming bowels, retaining water and clean your intestines and excretory system thoroughly. It is said that single constipation can lead to seventy two types of ailments. It is absolutely true. Every way to your total health goes through proper digestion and more importantly, proper excretion. Guava ensures both of these.
Skin Care: Guavas can help improve your skin texture and avoid skin problems more than the best of beauty creams or skin toner gels can do. This is chiefly due to the abundance of astringents in its fruits (more in immature ones) and in leaves. You can benefit from it either by eating the fruits (this help tighten your muscles apart from your skin) or by washing your skin with the decoction of its immature fruits and leaves. It will tone up and tighten the loosened skin. In addition to the astringents, guava is very-very rich in vitamin-A, B, C and potassium which are very good anti oxidants and detoxifiers and keep your skin glowing and free from aging, wrinkles and other disorders.
High Blood Pressure: Guava helps reduce cholesterol in blood and prevents it from thickening, thereby maintaining fluidity of blood and reducing blood pressure. Studies have shown that food stuffs which lack fiber (such a refined flour) add to blood pressure, due to quick conversion to sugar. Guava, being very rich in fiber and hypoglycemic in nature, helps reduce blood pressure.
Weight Loss: Guava is very helpful for those who want to lose weight without compromising with their intake of proteins, vitamins and fiber. Guava, being very high in roughage and very rich in vitamins, proteins and minerals, but with no cholesterol and less digestible carbohydrates, is very filling and satisfies appetite very easily. Just have a medium sized guava in the lunch and you will not feel hungry till night. But ironically, it helps gaining weight in lean and thin people. This is probably due to its richness in nutrients, which keeps your metabolism right helping proper absorption of nutrients. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36302000 |
The first dairy cows arrived in Georgia with James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony, in the early 1700s. By the 1930s the dairy industry had gained success as a commercial enterprise
in Georgia and has been a primary industry in the state ever since. In 2000 the value of the Georgia dairy industry to the
state (including milk, cull cows, and bull calves) was $254 million.
Little is known about the earliest period of dairying in Georgia because acquiring milk was primarily a local enterprise,
left to individual families. A family that produced excess dairy products—butter, cream, cottage cheese, or cheese—would trade
or sell the products to neighbors. Eventually, some farmers acquired an extra dairy cow or two for the purpose of producing
dairy products to sell. As demand grew, such herds increased to five to ten cows. Farmers processed and distributed their
own milk for sale.
number of cows in Georgia, as well as the price per head of cow, fluctuated during the antebellum period. One reason for the
fluctuations, at least until the 1820s, may have been Indian raids on livestock herds in settled areas.
The dairy industry slowly expanded as the population of the colony increased and spread inland from the coast. After the Civil War (1861-65) the demand for milk products grew. Cows were pastured and milked by hand. Milk was cooled in cans in water tanks
filled with spring or well water. (Milk was considered adequately cool at a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.) The dairies
closest to communities produced fluid milk for the town's population. The dairy farmers were producer-processors, as they
produced the milk with their small dairy herds, bottled the milk, and delivered it to their customers. Dairy farms located
farther away from the towns produced cream or butter, which could be stored longer and transported more easily than fluid
In 1876 Benjamin Hunt, a banker and expert in horticulture and animal husbandry, brought a herd of Jersey cows to Putnam County and opened Panola Farm, an experimental dairy facility. He is credited with establishing the dairy industry in that county.
Early Twentieth Century
1920s were a period of great change in the dairy industry. The introduction of the automobile and the truck allowed milk to
be transported across greater distances, and farms farther from population centers thus had new markets for their milk. Tractors
replaced horses and mules as power sources on the farm; consequently more acreage and crops were available to be sold or to support dairy
cows instead of supplying feed for horses and mules. The introduction of electricity and the milking machine allowed more
cows to be milked by one person with less effort. Each pail of milk was strained and placed in electrical coolers. Mechanical
refrigeration cooled milk more efficiently and maintained its freshness longer. All of these advances led to a rise in the
number of dairy farms and dairy cows in the state of Georgia as well as in the United States. At the same time, the Great Depression of the 1930s caused decreasing farm prices. Part of farmers' attraction to dairying during the depression was that it provided
steady income over time.
about 1867 to 1919 the number of dairy cows in Georgia increased from about 20,000 head to 411,000 head, with an average price
per cow of $16. In 1920 the average price per cow increased to $65. At this time dairy farmers were typically still producer-processors
who owned fifteen to twenty-five cows apiece. Following a decline in the dairy herd after World War I (1917-18) that lasted
through the early years of the depression, Georgia's dairy herd grew once again to a high of 419,000 head in 1935, and the
price per cow fluctuated until World War II (1941-45), when it began to increase rapidly. In 1945 dairy cows in Georgia numbered about 360,000 head. By 1953 cows were
valued at an average of $138 per head.
Pasteurization and Sanitation
milk production became industrialized, sanitation became a more critical issue. The French scientist Louis Pasteur's experiments
in the 1860s with heating milk to destroy bacteria generated great interest in milk's health aspects, and studies showed that
milk could be a source of such human diseases as diphtheria, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, undulant fever, and pox. Nevertheless,
there was much resistance to the pasteurization of milk because of its expense. In 1923 the U.S. Congress passed the Pasteurized
Milk Ordinance (PMO), which required that all milk shipped between states be pasteurized. Milk sold within a state was not
covered by the PMO and was regulated by each individual state. This law (with revisions over the years) still governs the
sale of milk in the United States. In Georgia pasteurization was not required, but inspections of producers selling milk were
conducted by the state department of agriculture in Atlanta. Many county health departments around the state shipped milk samples there by railroad. The inspectors were most
concerned about unsanitary milking machines; there was a great deal of bacteria in the milk because in many cases water around
the dairies was contaminated by nearby outhouses.
1943 the state legislature finally passed a law requiring all milk to be pasteurized. Since World War II was still being fought and there was a shortage
of equipment, producers and processors were given a three-year period to comply. In 1950 the Interstate Milk Shippers Agreement
took effect. All states were members of this agreement, which prevented multiple inspections of milk as it was transported
from state to state.
After World War II the Georgia Department of Public Health purchased a used house trailer and transformed it into a mobile
milk laboratory. The first area that benefited from the mobile lab was Cobb County. During the approximately sixty days that the lab stayed in each area, state and county personnel inspected each dairy producer
and milk plant. Samples were taken from each dairy and examined thoroughly. The milk producers became conscious of the need
for better sanitary practices and were made aware of the quality of their milk. Milk producers were given a grade for their
milk. "A" was the highest grade, and "C" was the lowest.
1950s milking equipment and the cooling and transportation of milk were improved. Pipeline milking was introduced during this
time. Each cow's milk was conveyed through a glass or stainless-steel pipeline by vacuum into the milk house, where it was
released directly into a farm bulk tank. Each tank was capable of holding from 150 to 1,000 gallons of milk. Milk in the tanks
was cooled to below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in about one hour. Pipeline milkers were designed to be easily cleaned, which promoted
sanitation. Tanker trucks hauled up to 5,000 gallons of milk to processing plants. One truck could serve from three to ten
milk producers. Because of these new technologies, the policy of a "one-week shelf life" was introduced in retail outlets.
In time both the state regulatory agencies and a cooperating milk industry ensured a safe and reliable source of milk for
The pipeline milking system and bulk tanks replaced the bucket milkers and milk cans on dairy farms in the 1960s. The introduction
of silos and silage replaced pasture, and better highways and trucks meant that milk and dairy products could be transported further and faster. An effort to control mastitis, a bacterial
disease found in dairy cows, also began in the 1960s. This benefited both the public and the owners of milking herds. In 1965
federal and state milk regulations established a maximum of somatic cells, which produce mastitis, for grade A milk.
the wake of the Georgia pasteurization law, producer-processors had a choice—they could stop producing milk, buy the expensive
equipment to pasteurize, or form or join a cooperative that would collect the farmer's milk, pasteurize it, and sell it. Only
a few cooperatives, namely Wells Dairies Cooperative in Columbus and Athens Cooperative Creamery in Athens, operated in the state during the 1940s. The large group of producers that supplied
the Atlanta market decided to form a cooperative that became Atlanta Dairies. They purchased land, built a processing plant,
and acquired trucks to haul the milk cows from the farm to the plant. The plant and cooperative are still operating today
under different names.
In the 1960s dairy farmer cooperatives grew and began helping dairy farmers earn better prices for their milk. Some of the
most significant cooperatives in the state were Atlanta Dairies, Athens Cooperative, Miss Georgia Cooperative, South Georgia
Cooperative, and Well Dairies Cooperative.
In 1970 a cooperative known as Dairymen was formed from a collection of new and large cooperatives in Georgia. Dairymen was
primarily a marketing agency for milk producers, and with its formation about 90 percent of all milk in the state was marketed
through dairy cooperatives. This improved the sanitary quality, flavor, and shelf life of grade A milk. In 1972 the Georgia
General Assembly returned all responsibility for milk sanitation and safety to a single state agency—the Georgia Department
1945 every county in Georgia had at least one dairy farm, for a total of 6,040 farms with 360,000 cows producing approximately
1 billion pounds of milk (3,150 pounds of milk per cow) annually. The greatest number and concentration of dairies were in
the counties surrounding Atlanta and in northwest Georgia. Since then, the number of dairy farms and cows has steadily declined,
but milk production has increased. In 2005 there were 313 dairies in Georgia with 81,000 cows producing approximately 1.4
billion pounds of milk (17,259 pounds of milk per cow). Today, 50 percent of all milk production in Georgia occurs in south
Several factors contributed to these changes in the industry. The dairy farms around Atlanta and other cities were sold for
housing as population increased. Many people in farming communities left agriculture to pursue other job opportunities. Technology advanced so that larger farms could be efficiently operated. Through genetics and management techniques introduced in the last decades of the twentieth century, dairy cows have increased their production
dramatically, so fewer cows are needed to produce a comparable supply of dairy products.
A few dairy farmers in south Georgia implement sustainable agriculture practices. The owners of Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville,
for instance, abandoned conventional dairy farming in 1993 in favor of a "rotational grazing" approach, the method used by
farmers in New Zealand. Sweet Grass also produces artisanal cheeses made from cow's milk and goat's milk, which have won national awards.
According to industry experts, projections for Georgia through 2020 show a continued decline in milk production. Georgia,
along with most other southeastern states, is a milk-deficit state, meaning it does not produce enough milk to supply its
own population. As of 2006 the state produces less than 300 pounds per capita, while the nation's average is 581 pounds per
capita. Ironically, about 40 percent of Georgia's milk is shipped to Florida, with Georgia's needs being met by milk shipped
from other states. As of 2006 nine companies are involved in the processing of milk and milk products in Georgia.
H. B. Henderson, comp. and ed., A History of the Dairy Industry in Georgia, 2 vols. ([n.p.], 1981).
Melissa Brown, Georgia College and State University
Lane O. Ely, University of Georgia | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36303000 |
Raphael Moses (1812-1893)
Major Raphael Moses, who pioneered the commercial growing of peaches in Georgia, was chief supply officer for Confederate general James Longstreet, participated in most of the major battles of the Civil War (1861-65) in the east, and ended up carrying out the last order of the Confederacy.
In 1851 Moses helped initiated the marketing of plums and peaches in the state and is reputed to have been the first planter successfully to ship and sell peaches outside of the South. In his history of antebellum Georgia, James C. Bonner credits Moses with being the first to succeed in preserving the flavor of shipped peaches, by packing them in champagne baskets instead of in pulverized charcoal.
Moses is best known as the chief commissary officer for General James Longstreet, the man General Robert E. Lee called "my old warhorse." Moses assumed this position in November 1862, at the age of fifty, and served at Chickamauga; Second Manassas, Virginia; the first battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and the major campaigns around Chattanooga and Knoxville, both in Tennessee.
Moses had regular contact with several of the South's most famous generals and was especially close to Robert E. Lee. Moses was with him during the Battle of Gettysburg and, on the evening of the defeat, slept near him on the ground while a heavy storm rained down upon them. Lee's biographer Douglas Southall Freeman called Moses "the best commissary officer of like rank in the Confederate service."
Moses was responsible for feeding and supplying up to 54,000 Confederate troops and personnel, and his actions contrasted sharply with the Union policy of looting and burning homes, farms, and entire cities full of defenseless civilians. Moses had been forbidden by Lee to enter private homes in search of supplies during raids into Union territory, even when food was in painfully short supply, and he always paid for what he did take from farms and businesses, albeit in Confederate tender.
Moses attended the last meeting of the Confederate government, at the Bank of the State of Georgia (later the Heard House), in Washington in Wilkes County on May 5, 1865. It was there that he carried out the Confederacy's last order. Moses was ordered by Confederate president Jefferson Davis to take possession of $40,000 in gold and silver bullion from the Confederate treasury and deliver it to help feed and supply the defeated soldiers straggling home after the war—weary, hungry, often sick, shoeless, and in tattered uniforms. With a small group of determined armed guards, Moses successfully carried out his duty, despite repeated attempts by mobs to take the bullion forcibly.
Moses's three sons also served with distinction in the Civil War. One, Albert Moses Luria (named in honor of Moses's ancestor Luria), was killed in 1862 in Virginia after courageously throwing a live Union artillery shell out of his fortification before it exploded, thereby saving the lives of many of his compatriots. Luria was the first Confederate Jew to die in battle; the last was his first cousin, Joshua Lazarus Moses, of Sumter, South Carolina, killed on the day Lee surrendered, firing the last shots in defense of Mobile, Alabama.
Moses's youngest son, Raphael Jr., at age sixteen served in the Confederate navy and participated in important fights at sea. He ended the war in the Twentieth Georgia Volunteers of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, walking home from Appomattox, Virginia, after the surrender. The eldest son, Israel Moses Nunez, served with Captain William W. Parker's Virginia battery of artillery and fought in the trenches around Petersburg, Virginia.
After the war Moses became an active opponent of the Reconstruction government in Georgia and was elected to the state House of Representatives, becoming chairman of its judiciary committee. When he died on October 13, 1893, on a trip to Brussels, Belgium, his calling card still read, "Major Raphael J. Moses, CSA." He was buried at Esquiline, his old plantation, now a family cemetery in Columbus. His papers are housed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta.
I. W. Avery, The History of the State of Georgia, from 1850 to 1881 (New York: Brown and Derby, 1881).
Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command, 3 vols. (New York: Scribner, 1942-44).
Raphael Jacob Moses, Last Order of the Lost Cause: The True Story of a Jewish Family in the "Old South," comp., ed., and exp. Mel Young (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1995).
Robert N. Rosen, The Jewish Confederates (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2000).
Lewis Regenstein, Atlanta
A project of the Georgia Humanities Council, in partnership with the University of Georgia Press, the University System of Georgia/GALILEO, and the Office of the Governor. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36304000 |
The Bacchae Questions & Answers
The Bacchae was presented posthumously along with Iphigenia in Aulis and the lost Alcmaeon in Corinth in 406-405 BCE. The three plays were brought back to Athens by Euripides' son, Euripides the Younger. They were probably written around 407 BCE, just before Euripides' death. These three plays won…
Ask a Question
Ask a question and get answers from your fellow students and educators.
Questions about The Bacchae
Join for free to ask a question. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36333000 |
about 1740 as a four-room private residence by Jean le Poincet and later
purchased by Francois Saucier, son
of the designer of Fort de Chartres,
the Cahokia Courthouse is an example
of the French Creole poteaux-sur-solle (post-on-sill) construction
method which French
settlers brought over their native Normandy in northern France. In this
method upright hewn logs are seated on a horizontal log sill and the
spaces between the logs are filled with stone and mortar chinking. This
type of construction is different from the more familiar horizontal
Anglo-American style and is quite rare with only about thirty buildings of
this type left in North America.
When the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783
ending the American Revolution, the Illinois Country came under control of
the United States. In 1789 the Northwest Territory was created by the
Continental Congress and in a ceremony in 1790 in Cahokia
a proclamation issued by Governor Arthur St. Clair,
the new governor of the territory,
was read laying out the county that bears his name and establishing the county seat at Cahokia. In that same year the judges of St.
Clair County began using the Saucier residence for use as an administrative
center and courthouse, formally purchasing the building in 1793. The
largest room was used as the courtroom (photo right,) with the other rooms
being used as a judge's chamber, a
multipurpose room that included the post office, and a meeting room for
attorneys which also doubled as schoolroom when court wasn't in session. Originally St. Clair County was an
immense territory almost as large as the state of Illinois, but as the
years went by portions of the county were split off to form separate
counties. For twenty-four years the Cahokia Courthouse served as a U.S.
territorial courthouse and an important center of political activity in
the Old Northwest. By 1814, with St. Clair County's jurisdiction
decreasing to its present size, demands for a centrally located county
seat, and floods constantly threatening Cahokia, the county seat was
moved to the newly created town of Belleville.
Lewis and Clark Connection
“I came to at 3 oClock at the Kohokia
Landing, which is at the mouth of Kohokia Creek ¾ of a mile from the
town, and in view of St. Louis which is about 2½ miles distant.”
With this entry William Clark signaled a six-month relationship with the
village of Cahokia. As Cahokia was the local seat of American
government in the region and contained the westernmost post office of the
United States, the Cahokia Courthouse was used often by the
Expedition to send official communications as well as
personal correspondence as noted by Clark in this December 13, 1803 entry:
“…Sent off C Floyd to Koho [Cahokia] with Letters for Capt Lewis to
put in the post office…”
|Visit our special Lewis
and Clark Section to learn more about the Corps of Discovery’s
experience during their stay in the Middle Mississippi River Valley. greatriverroad.com’s
special coverage includes information on all of the region’s sites and
events as well as supplemental articles relating to the expedition’s
experience during the winter of 1803-04.
By 1901 the former courthouse had deteriorated so
badly due to floods and neglect that it was used only to store farm
machinery and had been bought by an East St. Louis businessman who had it
dismantled and reassembled for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in
St. Louis as a classic example of early French Creole architecture. The structure at the Exposition was only about half the size of
the original with leftover timbers reportedly made into wooden cigars and
sold as souvenirs at the Fair. After the Exposition the Chicago Historical
Society purchased the courthouse and a small structure was constructed
from the materials on Wooded Island in Jackson Park. The building stood
there until 1939 when it was returned to Cahokia.
Reconstruction of the courthouse in its current
form began as a WPA
project. Archaeological investigations of the original site began in 1938
and uncovered the original foundations, fireplace footings, fragments of porch
columns, domestic objects and fragments of ironwork. In 1939, following a study of photographs, sketches of the building, and
of French Creole construction methods,
the courthouse was dismantled and shipped to Cahokia with great care. All of
the logs returned from Chicago were incorporated in the reconstruction.
The courthouse was dedicated May 20, 1940 as a reminder of the
"splendid heritage" of the citizens of Illinois.
courthouse now rests on its original foundation of stone nearly two feet
thick. Walnut beams extend the cantilevered roof over the porch. Inside,
the courtroom has been refurbished to the way it would have been in
the early 19th century and the other three rooms contain exhibits that illustrate French colonial life,
the history of the courthouse, and Lewis and Clark’s experience in
Cahokia (photo right,) during the winter of 1803-04 and the role of post
offices in colonial America. The Cahokia Courthouse
is the centerpiece of the Colonial Cahokia State Historic Sites complex
that also includes the Jarrot Mansion, the Martin-Boismenue
House, and a
Visitors Center. Information can be obtained at the Visitors Center about
the Holy Family Log Church and other area attractions.
the Cahokia Courthouse
Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Closed on Major
There is no charge to visit the Cahokia
Courthouse, although donations are appreciated.
Directions: FROM IL-3 South into Cahokia (Mississippi Avenue – will
change into Water Street,) take a right onto West First Street, go two
blocks to Elm Street. FROM IL-3 North into Cahokia (Water Street,) take a take a left
onto West First Street, go two blocks to Elm Street. FROM IL-157 into Cahokia (St.
Nicholas Drive) to IL-3 (Water Street) take a left, go one block to West
First Street, take a right, go two blocks to Elm Street.
W 90° 11.554'
more about the Cahokia area.
http://www.illinoishistory.gov/hs/cahokia_courthouse.htm - Official site of the Cahokia
Courthouse provided by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36338000 |
Though built in 1893 to manufacture textiles, the Columbia Mills’ storied stone halls now weave tapestries of knowledge with exhibits on everything from lasers and space travel to South Carolina's role in the Civil War. Boasting accolades by Columbia Metropolitan magazine and the Smithsonian, South Carolina State Museum devotes each of its four floors and part of its fourth dimension to art, cultural history, natural history, and science and technology represented by more than 70,000 artifacts.
Through a series of permanent exhibits, curators lead visitors on a cultural and geological voyage. Guests stroll through years of traditional and contemporary art by state artists, marvel at a 43-foot white shark display and full dinosaur skeletons, or cast imaginations back in exhibits on turn-of-the-century transportation, laser technology, and aviation. The museum also excavates the surrounding landscape to present 14,000 years of local culture in Native American tools and colonial-era lifestyle items.
Five galleries also house changing exhibits featuring assemblages of artifacts from Civil War–era Charleston or 300 years of American-made telescopes, each carefully monitored to ensure they contain just the right amount of science. While museum staffers frequently rotate their exhibits, they also host traveling displays and send others on the road through the Traveling Exhibits Program. Various education displays such as interactive children's labs, living-history reenactments, and lectures from visiting scholars further enrich all-ages visitors. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36345000 |
ASL Literature and Art
This section is a collection of ASL storytelling, poetry, works of art, and other creative works. It also consists of posts on literary aspects of ASL.
Speech language can convey sound effects in storytelling, whereas sign language can convey cinematic effects in storytelling.
Poetry in sign language has its own poetic features such as rhymes, rhythms, meters, and other features that charactierize poetry which is not limited to speech.
Explore ASL literary arts in this section including some visual-linguistic literary works in ASL and discussion.
Selected works of interest
Deconstruct W.O.R.D.: an original poetry performance.
Knowing Fish: poetic narrative video.
Compare three versions of the poem "Spring Dawn" originally written by Meng Hao-jan. The poem is translated by the literary artist Jolanta Lapiak into ASL in video and unique one-of-a-kind photograph print. Watch how ASL rhymes arise in this signed poem. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36355000 |
What Is Hepatitis A?
| What Is the Hepatitis A Vaccine?
| Who Should Get Vaccinated and When?
| What Are the Risks Associated With the Hepatitis A Vaccine?
| Who Should Not Get Vaccinated?
| What Other Ways Can Hepatitis A Be Prevented Besides Vaccination?
| What Happens in the Event of an Outbreak?
What Is Hepatitis A?
is a viral infection that strikes the liver. The virus causes the liver damage. Liver function is reduced. Waste that is normally eliminated by the liver builds up in the blood.
Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes, usually results.
Hepatitis A is passed from person to person through contact with infected stool. You can get the virus from an infected child by changing a diaper or by having sexual contact with an infected person. Contaminated food and water can also spread the virus.
The virus is very common in developing countries. It also occurs in the United States.
- Abdominal pain or soreness
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
If you have been in contact with the virus and have not been vaccinated, a shot of the vaccine or immune globulin (IG) can prevent you from getting sick. It can also prevent you from spreading the virus. Either shot should be given as soon as possible.
If you do get sick, usually symptoms will resolve after rest, drinking plenty of fluids. You should also avoid medication that can damage the liver and alcohol.
At times, people with hepatitis A need to be hospitalized. Rarely, the infection can be fatal if the liver is severely damaged.
What Is the Hepatitis A Vaccine?
The vaccine contains an inactivated form of the hepatitis A virus. It is given as an injection in the arm.
A combined vaccine that protects against both hepatitis A and
is also available.
Who Should Get Vaccinated and When?
The vaccine is recommended for all children aged 12-23 months. The two doses of the series are given 6-18 months apart. Children who have not been vaccinated can receive the shot at their next doctor's visit.
The following people should also get vaccinated:
- Children aged 24 months or older who are at high risk and have not been previously vaccinated.
People traveling to areas where hepatitis A is prevalent. The CDC's
Traveler's Health website
shows which areas have high rates hepatitis A.
- Men who have sex with men.
- Injection drug users.
- People who are at risk because of their job.
- People with chronic liver disease.
- People treated with clotting factor concentrates.
- People who will have close contact with an adopted child from a medium- or high-risk area.
- People who want immunity to hepatitis A.
In general, people who are traveling should get the first dose at least one month before leaving the United States. Getting the vaccine anytime before traveling may also result in some protection.
What Are the Risks Associated With the Hepatitis A Vaccine?
There is a very small risk of severe allergic reaction, with symptoms such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Skin rash
- Rapid heartbeat
Moderate side effects include:
- Soreness at the site of injection
- Loss of appetite
Who Should Not Get Vaccinated?
The following people should not get vaccinated:
- Children under one year of age
- Anyone who has already had hepatitis A
- Anyone who has previously had a severe allergic reaction to the hepatitis A vaccine
- Anyone who has previously had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the hepatitis A vaccine, (including alum or 2-phenoxyethanol
- Anyone who is very ill
What Other Ways Can Hepatitis A Be Prevented Besides Vaccination?
- Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the restroom or changing a diaper.
- IG given before and after exposure is another way of preventing and treating the virus.
is another vaccine that protects against both hepatitis A and B.
What Happens in the Event of an Outbreak?
If a food-borne outbreak occurs, the source of the contaminated food will be identified and eliminated. In any hepatitis A outbreak, the affected community will get vaccinated to prevent the virus from spreading.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Hepatitis A. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what. Updated December 19, 2012. Accessed May 1, 2013.
Hepatitis A FAQ's for health professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HAV/HAVfaq.htm. Updated November 23, 2010. Accessed May 1, 2013.
Hepatitis A Information for Health Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HAV/index.htm. Updated November 23, 2010. Accessed May 1, 2013.
Hepatitis A Virus Vaccine Inactivated. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what. Updated January 18, 2013. Accessed May 1, 2013.
Immunization schedules. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html. Updated January 29, 2013. Accessed May 1, 2013.
Workowski KA, Berman S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2010.
MMWR. 2010;59(No. RR-12):1-110.
9/25/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Updated recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for use of hepatitis A vaccine in close contacts of newly arriving international adoptees. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58:1006.
Last reviewed May 2013 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36358000 |
The Evolutionist Deceptions in the Documentary the Shape of Life
The first in the series of documentaries called The Shape of Life, jointly produced by the PBS and the National Geographic Society, was about the origin of animals (metazoans). The scientific deceptions contained in that documentary, which attempted to describe how the first multicellular organisms came into being, are set out below.
The Organization Within the Sponge Cannot be Explained by Evolution
At the beginning of the documentary there is an account of how one day, in some way, sponge cells living independently of one another took a decision among themselves to live together. In fact, in line with the familiar evolutionist scenario, the program even said that " Somehow, cells developed a language that allowed them to work together." Yet, the fact is that this imaginary account—the product of the evolutionists' own fantasy world—is a complete violation of the facts.
The origin of the organization in living things is one of the fundamental questions for which the theory of evolution can never offer a logical explanation. There is absolutely no reason for cells that can function independently of one another to begin to act together. Yet, the different cells in all multicellular organisms do work together towards a common purpose in an extremely organized manner. The sponge is one example of this flawless organization among cells.
Despite its very simple appearance, the sponge, an animal from the phylum Porifera, actually consists of exceedingly complex cells. These cells, organized in two layers, set up a continuous flow of water inside the sponge. On the one hand, the plankton in the water are filtered and digested; on the other, waste material is deposited into the flow and carried away. In this way, the sponge functions like a funnel in a specially established current.
The cells cannot have adopted the principle of working together by themselves. That is because they come into being already in possession of the special connecting nodules that bind them together. When sponge cells approach one another, these connecting nodules grip one another and an organized, multicellular appearance emerges. In short, sponge cells were designed to work together. When they are all together, they immediately acquire a nature of their own and assume the duties regarding the particular layer they are in. With the enzymes they produce and their chemical digestion methods, sponge cells are actually very complex.
Sponges, which are regarded as having the simplest animal organization, are actually very complex. They attract scientists' attention because of their unusual cellular organization (the cells do not form tissues such as those found in other animals), their ability to regenerate lost parts, and their biochemical features (they have many compounds not known in other animals). This intricate design and perfect organization in such a simple-seeming organism as the sponge is evidence for God's incomparable creation.
This organization does not come about with their knowledge. Cells have no brain, nervous system, or consciousness. That is why there can be no question of "cells' inventing a language of communication amongst themselves." The statement in the film that "the cells somehow invented a language by which they could work together" is as nonsensical and unrealistic as saying, "the paints somehow found a language between themselves and produced the Mona Lisa." Like all other paintings in the world, the Mona Lisa was created by a conscious artist. Life was created in the same conscious manner.
The sponge cells take their shape, characteristics, and function from the design described in the DNA sequence placed within them. It is impossible for them to invent anything new or to write any information in that DNA to allow them to acquire a new function. Thus, not even the existence of the sponge, described as "the simplest animal organization" by evolutionists, can be accounted for by a process of evolution. Like all living things, sponges are evidence of the fact of creation.
The Contradictions in DNA Comparisons Refute the Theory of Evolution
In the final part of the documentary, it is claimed that the sponge is the ancestor of all animals. This claim rests on a comparison of certain fundamental areas in the DNA sequences in living species with the same areas in the sponge DNA chain. In this way, the finding of similar DNA sequences is regarded as evidence of ancestral relationship by evolutionists.
The fact is, however, that this logic is invalid. DNA is a common language by which life is described. If we think of DNA as sentences which describe how a cell works, DNA consists of different sentences in which different words are used. The fact that the same words are encountered is the inevitable result of the fact that this coded language employs only four letters. To put it another way, the finding of similarities in DNA does not in any way show that living things had a common ancestor. This similarity is proof not of a "common ancestor," but of "common design." Every similarity we encounter proves the common aspect of the design in living things.
On the other hand, just the length of the DNA in the sponge is sufficient to invalidate the evolutionists' expectations. The DNA of the sponge, put forward as the "primal animal ancestor," consists of 1.8 billion base pairs (1.80pg.) According to the evolutionary family tree, the DNA of the tench (species Tinca tinca) should be a great deal longer than this, whereas in fact it is only half the length of sponge DNA, consisting of a mere 810 million base pairs (0.81pg.) The chicken, described as a much more advanced species than the sponge in the evolutionary family tree, also has DNA that is shorter, at 1.25 billion base pairs (1.25pg.)
As we have seen, the genetic facts are at total variance with the assumptions of the theory of evolution. As the scientific findings have shown, living species did not evolve from one another, but were created separately. (For further details regarding genetic comparisons and the theory of evolution, see http://harunyahya.com/en/works/592/.)
The flawless design in living species invalidates the idea of the evolutionary process. Evolutionists are unable to account for even the emergence of a single cell by means of evolution, so it is meaningless for them to try to use evolution to explain the organization between those cells. Chance and unconscious atoms cannot produce superior design.
The DNA in cells is a description written in the same language in all the millions of different living species. The fact that the information is written in the same language does not support the claim that these species came about by chance and evolved from one another. On the contrary, it shows that they were created according to a common design. This is a scientific expression of the fact that God created all living things. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36359000 |
Fortunately, at Harvard we have the pre-eminent School of Public Health, which has released the Healthy Eating Pyramid and is what we use as our guiding principle in making menus.
According to HSPH, “When it comes down to it, the best advice on what to eat is relatively straightforward: Eat a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; choose healthy fats, like olive and canola oil; and red meat and unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats, sparingly.”
As a complement to the Healthy Eating Pyramid, they summarize “Eight Tips for Eating Right:
- “Choose good carbs, not no carbs. Whole grains are your best bet.
- “Pay attention to the protein package. Fish, poultry, nuts, and beans are the best choices.
- “Choose healthy fats, limit saturated fat, and avoid trans fat. Plant oils, nuts, and fish are the healthiest sources.
- “Choose a fiber-filled diet, rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- “Eat more vegetables and fruits. Go for color and variety—dark green, yellow, orange, and red.
- “Calcium is important. But milk isn't the only, or even best, source.
- “Moderate drinking can be healthy—but not for everyone. You must weigh the benefits and risks.
- "A daily multivitamin is a great nutrition insurance policy. Some extra vitamin D may add an extra health boost.”
That said, good carbs, lean proteins, healthy fats, no trans fats, and lots of veggies and fruits are available. HSPH declines to specify portions or calories, but notes that moderation is the cornerstone of wellbeing.
Which leads to nutrition information on the menu cards. Many of you have inquired about the decision to remove nutrition information. As you know, HUDS consulted with University Health Services, the Bureau of Study Counsel, and the College, about limiting nutrition data to the kiosks and web. Specifically, we needed to address the challenge a quiet and surprisingly large contingent of our community faces with eating disorders. Those individuals can place an undue emphasis on calories and other literal food values, making their placement over every food item a real challenge. Thus, we did what we felt best addressed the special health needs of those individuals, much as we support people with food allergies or religious dietary preferences.
For those who would like assistance with shaping a healthy approach to food, Harvard does have nutritional counseling available through University Health Services and support groups available with the Bureau of Study Counsel. And as always, we’ll continue to work with individuals who have special dietary needs, be they allergies, religious guidelines, or political preferences such as vegetarianism. And as always, we continue to forge ahead on the sustainability of our menus (See the sustainability report at http://www.dining.harvard.edu/about_HUDS/sustainability.html).
To that end, don’t forget: sign up for the Ward’s Berry Farm trip this Friday. Spots are filling in a hurry, so email email@example.com to save your spot! | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36360000 |
Cheerleaders everywhere will rejoice that the activity, sometimes marginalized as a sideline commotion, may finally be upgraded to sport status to help regulate practices and prevent injuries. While many say cheerleading is not as physically challenging as other athletic pursuits, cheerleaders are disproportionately likely to suffer a life-threatening injury such as skull fracture or spine damage when compared with other high school atheletics. Peditricians suspect it may be due in part to a lack of regulation on the sport. They hope to reduce these injuries by providing pre-season physicals, removing girls with injuries from competition, and giving access to experienced coaches for strength and conditioning exercises.
While the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) has recommended many of these things for a while, there are a few things holding the council back from designating cheerleading a sport and converting to all of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) requirements. First, they claim cheerleaders do not regularly compete, as many states require of other high school athletic teams. Second, the AAP would require that all stunts be performed on a spring or mat floor, which the AACCA maintains would actually increase injury by compromising cheerleader balance. Currently 29 states recognize cheerleading as a high school sport, but it is not recognized as such by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The hope is that seeing cheerleading in this light would lead to better facilities, practice time, and certified coaches, and create reduced injury rate as a result. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36364000 |
éEmory University. Permission is granted to download, transmit, or otherwise reproduce, distribute or display the contributions to the work claimed by Emory University for non-profit educational purposes, provided this header is included in its entirety. For inquiries about commercial uses, contact either: Institute for Jewish Studies, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322 or the Lewis H. Beck Center for Electronic Collections and Services, Woodruff Library, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 303222007 http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/13mkf
CLAIM: Parts of Anne Frank's diary are written in ball point pen, while that technology was not available until after the war.
RESPONSE: Anne wrote the body of her diary with a fountain pen. The only ball point pen ink traces are two loose notes written by someone else and put with the papers later and some page numbers written on the sheets during the compilation process.
Trial transcripts, expert witness documents and other material used in Irving vs. Penguin Books and Deborah Lipstadt have been encoded in XML using the TEI Guidelines, and made available for scholarly research and educational purposes.
- Collection: Learning Tools
- subset: Myth/Fact Sheets
- object: Anne Frank
- Frank, Anne, 1929-1945.
- Irving, David John Cawdell, 1938-.
- Auschwitz (Concentration camp).
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945).
Dan Leshem encoder, Beck Center staff | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36367000 |
So said the late Francis Crick, who along with James Watson worked out the basic structure of DNA in the early 1950s. His remark was quoted in a 1978 New Yorker article on the history of DNA (sometimes I get a tad behind in my reading, and this article, yellowed with age, was close to, although not at the bottom of, my "To Read" pile).
It's too bad the American Diabetes Association doesn't follow Crick's sage advice. It's hampering their progress and destroying their reputation in the minds of many people with diabetes.
Real science operates as Crick suggested. You have an idea, and you test it to see if it's true. If it is, you then try to refine your idea, or you let other people do that and you move on to a new idea.
If the experimental results show you're wrong, you reject your first idea and try to come up with a better one. You don't hang on to some old theory, for example that the earth is flat, simply because you've invested a lot in promoting that idea. If it's wrong, it's wrong. Admit it and move on.
In the early part of the 20th century, the standard treatment for all types of diabetes -- they didn't even know then that there were several different types, just "mild diabetes" (type 2) and life-threatening diabetes (type 1) -- was a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.
Then in the 1950s, when the results of Ancel Keys's studies appeared to show that diets with a lot of saturated fat increased risks of heart disease, the ADA started promoting low-fat diets for people with diabetes, who are at very high risk of heart disease. Because they also thought high-protein diets caused kidney disease, the only major nutrient left was carbohydrate, so the diets they supported were 60% to 70% carbohydrate.
"Make starch the star!" people were told by dieticians and ADA publications. "The more carbohydrates you eat, the better," the authors of a popular book on the glycemic index advised people with diabetes.
Of course, everyone knows it's carbohydrates that make blood glucose (BG) levels rise. But before the landmark Diabetes Control and Complications trial results reported in 1993, doctors didn't even believe that high BG levels were what caused complications. Even after that became clear, some doctors told their patients that fat intake was the central problem and that they should control BG levels with drugs, including insulin.
This low-fat mania led dieticians to suggest that people both with and without diabetes eat high-carb meals: a typical low-fat breakfast might consist of cereal, skim milk, toast (no butter), fruit, and orange juice, a veritable carbohydrate avalanche. After such meals, those with diabetes often didn't test their BG levels until just before lunch, when the tremendous peaks the carbohydrates caused had mostly come down. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36372000 |
- Tanning Facility Law and Required Notice
- Indoor Tanning Health Risks
- If You Choose to use a Tanning Bed or Device
- Other Laws Regulating Tanning Devices
- More Information
Vermont law prohibits the use of tanning devices such as sunlamps, tanning booths and beds by persons under 18 years of age. The law is intended to protect youth from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause skin cancer, as well as to inform the public about the dangers of tanning.
The law has three parts:
- Prohibition: All persons under the age of 18 are prohibited from using tanning devices.
- Signs: All tanning facilities must post in a conspicuous place the notice developed by the Department of Health to inform consumers about the age-restrictions for using tanning devices, the health risks associated with tanning and the penalty and enforcement provisions under the law.
- Enforcement: Tanning facilities violating this law are subject to civil penalties. Local law enforcement provide the enforcement for this law
- Download the Tanning Notice Sign
- Confirm that the Notice Has Been Posted
- Read the Law: Tanning Facilities (18 V.S.A. § 1513)
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from the sun or indoor tanning beds, can cause:
- Skin cancer
- Skin burns
- Premature skin aging
- Eye damage (both short- and long-term)
Skin cancer (including melanoma and non-melanoma) is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more than 3.5 million new cases diagnosed and 2.2 million people treated each year. Melanomas are the most serious form of skin cancer and despite our short summers, Vermont has one of the highest incidence rates of melanoma compared to all other U.S. states.
Although all UV exposure has health risks, studies continue to document the risks specific to the use of indoor tanning devices, including the following:
- Your risk of melanoma increases by 75 percent when you use tanning beds before the age of 35.
- Tanning bed users are also 2½ times more likely to be diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and 1½ times more susceptible to basal cell carcinoma.
- Using tanning beds increases the risk of wrinkles and eye damage, and changes skin texture.
- The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Agency of Research on Cancer panel has declared ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, as a known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).
Persons who choose to expose themselves to the harmful effects of UV radiation from indoor tanning devices should take the following precautions:
- Always wear FDA-certified protective eyewear.
- Learn your skin type and understand the exposure limits recommended by the manufacturer of the tanning device.
- Seek medical attention for severe burns, allergic reactions and unusual skin lesions or sores.
- Report any injuries or adverse reactions promptly to the tanning facility operator or employee.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) share responsibilities in the federal regulation of sunlamps and tanning devices. The FDA enforces regulations that lay out specific requirements for labels on the devices; the FTC investigates false, misleading, and deceptive advertising claims about the devices. When these agencies determine that device labels don’t comply with the regulations or that advertisements are not truthful, they may take corrective action. The FDA also can remove products from the marketplace.
- Fact Sheet: Melanoma in Vermont
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Please contact us if you have questions or want more information
All tanning facilities must post in a conspicuous place the notice developed by the Department of Health. This is to inform consumers about the age-restrictions for using tanning devices, the health risks associated with tanning and the penalty and enforcement provisions under the law.
Please fill out the online form below to confirm that you have posted the sign as required under Vermont law. You may also use the form for any questions, and to request signs or other information. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36376000 |
In the immediate aftermath of a diagnosis, expect your teen to ask countless questions:
- “Is this going to affect the way I look?”
- “Am I going to have to miss a lot of school?”
- “Don’t tell me I won’t be able to go out for the lacrosse team this year!”
- “What if the other kids laugh at me because the chemotherapy makes my hair fall out?”
These questions may demand thoughtful, well-informed answers. Bear in mind that young people’s fears about medical matters may be based on misinformation. For instance, a patient recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease might sadly conclude that he doesn’t have long to live. After all, everyone knows that cancer is deadly; only the year before, his favorite aunt died of ovarian cancer.
What he needs to hear from both his doctor and his parents is that there are more than one hundred forms of cancer—many of them highly treatable. In addition, the outlook for children’s malignancies tends to be more favorable than for adult tumors. Hodgkin’s disease happens to be the most curable pediatric cancer; nine in ten kids live five years from the time of diagnosis, at which point they can essentially be declared cured.
Another frequent source of anxiety is upcoming medical tests and procedures. A fourteen-year-old boy slated to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is utterly convinced that the scan is going to hurt. It’s got to: Did you see the size of that machine? Or what if it zaps me and I become radioactive?!
The scanner is an imposing piece of equipment, to be sure. But he’ll be relieved to hear that an MRI uses electromagnetic energy, not radiation, to visualize the body. He won’t feel any pain, and he most certainly won’t glow in the dark. A kid who is prone to claustrophobia, though, may turn panicky when the portable examining table draws her into the narrow tunnel. Mom and Dad, as her advocates within the medical system, should alert the doctor ahead of time about her aversion to confined spaces. He might prescribe a mild shortacting sedative to be taken prior to the test or arrange for an “open” MRI scanner to be used.
To find out what your child can expect, ask the physician or one of the nurses to describe the procedure step by step. Many medical practices routinely provide informative, illustrated pamphlets beforehand.
An adolescent should feel that he can always share what is worrying him. But as explored elsewhere in Caring for Your Teenager, kids don’t always say what’s on their minds. In addition to being active, empathetic listeners, we need to anticipate what they may be feeling.
“Honey, you seem a bit down today. I know that having diabetes is hard for you sometimes...”
“Yeah, a little down... A lot, really."
“What is it exactly that’s bothering you? Maybe I can help.”
“I’m just scared, that’s all.”
“Scared about the future?”
“Yeah, that. What if one of those terrible things that happens to people with diabetes happens to me, like losing my sight? Or what if the diabetes messes up my kidneys? I don’t want to have to go on one of those artificial kidney machines. I can’t believe I’m seventeen and have to worry about this stuff. It’s not fair!”
Perhaps nothing we say will dispel our child’s sadness or resentment or rage at being saddled with a health problem. However, listening nonjudgmentally and letting our children know they can talk to us any time is beneficial. For a young person, the realization that he can express his feelings freely, without being told, “You shouldn’t be (angry, depressed, etc.),” is psychologically therapeutic in itself.
Honesty Is the Best Policy
Some mothers and fathers deliberately conceal all details of the illness from the young patient, operating under the misconception that they are safeguarding their child from potentially devastating news. Seriously ill teenagers instinctively know about their condition. Ironically, they frequently refrain from discussing this with Mom and Dad for much the same reason: to protect their grief-stricken parents.
How do they know? Their bodies tell them. In addition, no matter how careful the adults around them are, kids glean fragments of conversations and take notice of grim expressions. Ultimately, to deny a sick person the truth about his condition is an unintentionally selfish act; all the more so in the setting of a terminal disease. Children need to talk about what they’re feeling—including their fears, their conceptions of death and dying; whatever is on their minds. No one should take away their right to talk about these issues.
On the other hand, while it’s important to answer questions honestly, try to emphasize the positive whenever possible. Let’s return to the earlier example of the adolescent diabetic who is concerned that he might develop a serious long-term complication. His mother and father might say something like this:
“The doctor doesn’t know for sure what’s going to happen years from now. But most kids with diabetes go on to live normal life spans. We’re confident that you will, too. The best thing we can do is to make sure that you stay healthy by keeping your blood sugars within a normal range. Never think that you’re all alone in this; we’re here to help you, and so are your brothers and sister.”
Tips for Reducing Anxieties
Techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and visualization can help to soothe jangled nerves before and during medical procedures.
Tell your teenager about thought stopping, which will allow him to control the mind instead of the other way around. Each time a negative thought comes a-knocking—about an impending needle stick, for example—the teenager literally orders his brain to switch channels.
“Okay, stop it! Turn off that thought right now! Think about something else.” It may sound overly simplistic, but with practice, this method can be extremely effective. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36377000 |
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FEATURES: One Foot in Front of the Other
PAGE 2 OF 5
For devising ways to study molecular motors in detail, Ronald Vale, along with colleagues Michael Sheetz and James Spudich, received the 2012 Lasker Basic Medical Research Award.
Beyond that, some of the goods must first be packaged and then picked up by vehicles that follow an ever-changing highway to the right destination.
In the past half-century, scientists have revealed how cells build these thoroughfares, and they’ve uncovered specialized proteins that walk along the roads’ lengths carrying freight. But plenty of questions remain: How does the cell control the transportation? How do the walking proteins coordinate their steps to keep grounded on their tracks? How can materials hitch a ride on cellular freeways if there isn’t energy to spare?
“It’s become clear that there is an enormous platter of movements that have to be executed by the cell,” says HHMI investigator Ronald Vale of the University of California, San Francisco. “Chromosomes have to be separated, a cell has to pinch in two, materials made in one place have to be delivered to another place in the cell. All of those features of life are dependent on physical motion.”
“It’s become clear that there is an enormous platter of movements that have to be executed by the cell.”
That physical motion is generated by three types of molecular motors that can walk down tracks inside cells: myosin, which walks on actin filaments, and two microtubule motors—kinesin, which carries cargo from the center of a cell outward, and dynein (the largest and least understood), which carries cargo from the periphery toward the cell’s center. Most of the motors in the cell have “two feet,” which alternate steps as they move. But each protein also has distinct quirks in its movement, a unique form of regulation, and a different role in keeping cells alive.
Research by HHMI investigators and others has revealed that when any of the molecular motors fails, it causes not only traffic jams and lost messages but also faulty construction and demolition of the cells’ roads, and that can lead to disease. Understanding the process better, scientists think, can help them learn how to rev up the engines of the motors, keep their steps on track, and rebuild the transport systems that are needed to keep a cell alive.
The Right Motor for the Job
Since the dawn of microscopy, scientists peering into the innards of cells have seen many moving parts. The earliest experiments on mobile proteins studied muscle cells, an obvious place to look for molecular movement. More than 50 years ago, scientists isolated two proteins—myosin and actin—from muscle cells. Andrew Huxley and Hugh Huxley (no relation) independently proposed that actin thin filaments slide across myosin thick filaments in the presence of the cellular energy molecule ATP. As this idea gained traction, it also became clear that isolated molecules of myosin could walk along actin filaments, suggesting a way that materials in the cell could be transported as well as providing a way to study myosin motors (see sidebar, “Stepping Back in Time”).
Stepping Back in Time
2012 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award.
By the mid-1980s, scientists at Stanford University were using a microscope to watch myosin carry plastic beads along actin filaments in non-muscle cells. Vale, a graduate student at Stanford at the time, got caught up in the excitement of seeing cellular movement and wanted to try the same experiments on proteins from nerve cells, where materials could be seen moving through the cells’ long axons. He expected to turn up myosin as the vehicle responsible for this transportation. Instead, Vale, together with Mike Sheetz and Tom Reese, isolated another molecular motor—kinesin—and they began focusing their attention on it.
Myosin trucks along on actin filaments, aiding in muscle contraction, vesicle transport and many other processes.
Within 10 years, Vale and colleague Robert Fletterick had solved the structure of kinesin, helping to explain the molecular underpinnings of how the molecule walks along microtubules, dynamic tubes that run throughout cells. And he showed that the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms that make up kinesin was highly comparable to that found in myosin. “By using what was known about myosin,” says Vale, “we could bootstrap experiments and apply prior knowledge on myosin to understand the workings of kinesin, the newer kid in town.”
The Microscopic Motors of Life Ronald Vale discusses efforts beginning in the early 1980s that uncovered how cytoskeletal motor proteins work. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36388000 |
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Lowell Community Church in Everett burns on December 31, 1984.
HistoryLink.org Essay 10263
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On December 31, 1984, in the early morning hours, Everett’s oldest church building, the Lowell Community Church (5216 S. 2nd Avenue), is destroyed by fire. The structure dates back to 1892, its land and construction materials having been donated by Lowell’s founder, Eugene D. Smith (1837-1909). The old church is considered a total loss, but the congregation will rebuild on the same site.
In September 1863, Eugene D. Smith and Otis Wilson set up a logging camp on the
Snohomish River at a site that eventually would become the town of Lowell.
Smith left in 1865 to try his luck in the Coeur d’Alene Gold Rush,
but came back to the Snohomish River broke and resumed logging. The
Smith camp at Lowell was situated on a hill, about a mile and a half
from the river. Here Smith built a timber-planked railroad to
transport the huge felled trees out of the woods. A 2,000-foot chute
allowed the logs to rapidly drop to the river below, where they were
transported to regional mills. An earlier settler, Reuben Lowe, had
operated a bordello here. In buying out Lowe, Smith decided to name
the proposed town after Lowe’s hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Smith platted the
town in 1873 and the community’s population continued to grow. The
beginnings of the city of Everett in the fall of 1891 changed
Lowell’s future, since part of the development plans included a
paper mill on the Lowell waterfront. Lowell soon became a company
town, focused around the mill. Homes were built and Lowell’s
population quickly grew, although the town was never incorporated.
(It became a part of Everett in 1962.)
1891, E. D. Smith donated land and materials for a community church.
Construction began that year and the structure was completed in 1892.
Over the years, it became a source of pride for Lowell, and many
residents attended. An addition to the structure subsequently was built, and the exterior was repainted and the interior refurbished. In the
mid-1980s -- shortly before the fire -- the church was re-sided and
the interior redecorated, the work done by volunteers.
Year’s Eve 1984
The Everett Fire Department received
the alarm call at 4:37 a.m. on December 31, 1984. When firefighters
arrived at the scene, the church was completely ablaze, with flames
roaring out through the building’s large stained-glass windows and
consuming the second floor. They began fighting the blaze from
outside, then went inside to inspect for several minutes and withdrew
to change fire lines. They watched as the church roof collapsed onto
the place where they had been standing only a few minutes before.
Inspection the following day determined
the fire to have been accidental. It appeared to have started in the
sanctuary near the altar and was likely due to faulty wiring.
Volunteer work and contributions helped to rebuild the church. At
the time of the fire, the congregation was affiliated with the United
Church of Christ Congregational and is, in 2012, the River of Life
Jim Haley, "Everett’s Oldest Church
Burns: Lowell Loses Landmark Church," The Herald, December
31, 1984, p. 1; Charles Z. Henderson, The Fire Boys: 100 Years of
Everett Firefighting History, p. 160, 221; "Church at Lowell
Gets Facelifted," The Everett Daily Herald, September 22,
Travel through time (chronological order):
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using colors like blue
You simply must
I can paint – how about you?
In celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday and all the fun his books bring to our lives, we pulled out the paint brushes. The wonderful thing about Seuss art is that you can create a Cat in the Hat, fish or Thing 1 or Thing 2 any way you’d like. There’s really no wrong way.
For this project you will need:
- 1 5×7 canvas for each painting you plan to do
- acrylic paints
- black, permanent marker
- colored markers (optional, for drawing activity)
- For the characters, we had a Cat in the Hat book close by for reference. If you don’t have a Dr. Seuss book handy, you can click over to Suessville for inspiration.
*Details on canvas, paints and brushes are explained in Acrylics Plus Links to Tutorials
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. ~ Dr. Seuss
Instructions: For both characters, we sketched off the basic outline. Here are the steps we followed:
1. Taking a plain piece of printer paper, trace the outline of the canvas. This will help you determine the size of your Seuss character. For example, Middle Girl ended up just drawing Cat in the Hat from the waist up because that is all that would fit to scale on the 5×7 canvas. The fish, however, was just a simple shape. He and his bowl fit easily into the 5×7 space.
2. Sketch the basic outline of your character onto your printer paper – into the 5×7 space you sketched off. This gives you practice in sketching your character. You could also trace the shape onto your paper.
3. Using a pastel chalk stick (or a pencil is fine – just use it very lightly), sketch the outline of your character onto the 5×7 canvas.
- Sketch the outline of your fish bowl onto your canvas.
- Sketch the outline of your fish.
- Mix a touch of blue paint into about a tablespoon of white paint. Paint your bowl. You can add some touches around the outer part of your bowl to give it depth, like above.
- Paint your fish the brilliant yellow of Dr. Suess style.
- Next, paint your background red.
- Once your painting dries, use a black permanent marker to outline the fish and your bowl.
- Sketch the outline of your Cat in the Hat onto your canvas.
- Leaving the cat white, paint stripes on his body, face and tail.
- Add in the eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers with black paint. Outline the stripes on the cat’s hat in black paint as well.
- Paint some of the stripes on your hat red. Then paint your cat’s bow tie red.
- Using brilliant blue, paint your background.
- You might want to mix in some white with your blue and add some modern art looking touches to your background. (Middle Girl mixed in a bit of blue-gray to her background).
With both of these characters, feel free to make them your own. Add touches of your favorite color to the background. The background ended up being my favorite part. Just look at the modern art look of the blue brush strokes.
The children enjoyed the acrylic art so much, they then pulled out the colored markers. Copying, free-hand from illustrations. Nana points out to the children that copying from drawings is a great exercise in concentration. It is good to see how others have drawn the scene or figure in the past. Of course we always give credit to the real artist and say that we drew this “in the manner of…” Nana says she, “learned how to draw cartoon figures in the fourth grade (probably when a math lesson was being taught) and I found it to be an exercise similar to the teachings of the book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.”
Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you. ~ Dr. Seuss
For more ways to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, visit my Sooo Seuss Pinterest board.
- A note on acrylics: Just like pastels, acrylics will wash off your hands easily. But if the paint gets on any fabric – it is permanent! We wear a smock and cover our painting surface.
- Supplies needed: All details on paint, brushes, canvases and palettes are listed in Acrylics Plus Links to Tutorials.
- Print this lesson: Just click the green, ‘print-friendly’ button at the top, left of this post. You can choose to print the lesson with or without photos. By clicking the ‘remove photos’ box, you may print the text directions only.
- Looking for more free art lessons? All of Nana’s tutorials are contained in Pastels Plus Links to Tutorials (over 35) and Acrylics Plus Links to Tutorials
- Ami from Walking by the Way
- Amy from Milk and Cookies
- Cindy from Our Journey Westward
- Jenn from Daze of Adventure
- Jimmie from Jimmie’s Collage
- Karin from Passport Academy
- Kendra from Preschoolers and Peace
How about you? Are you enjoying a Seussville sort of day? | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36401000 |
Radiant Barriers: Performance Revealed
In the summertime, radiant barriers give attic insulation a clear advantage in cutting the demand for cooling energy.
Radiant barriers—sheets of aluminum foil that are normally adhered to a fiberglass mesh or a Mylar bubble wrap—obstruct the transfer of heat from the attic into the conditioned space and can cut summertime cooling loads. But exactly how well do radiant barriers work in different attics with different levels of insulation? Surprisingly few field data exist to help answer this question. To sort out the situations in which radiant barriers would have the most impact, I chose to investigate how the level of attic insulation would affect the performance of radiant barriers during a hot summer. I conducted the experiment in College Station, Texas, where hot summers and mild winters are typical of a subtropical climate. I used two identical single-room test houses with identical insulation characteristics. One of the houses was used as a control, while the other was retrofitted with a radiant barrier.
Both the radiant barrier and the fiberglass insulation were new at the time of installation. Over the summer, I sequentially fitted both houses with three different levels of fiberglass insulation: R-11, R-19, and R-30. Each level was measured for seven to ten days, with air and surface temperatures taken in the attics and living spaces.
To produce reliable experimental results, it is critical to control air movement in the attic. For this reason, I chose to use forced attic ventilation instead of natural ventilation. Since attic ventilation flow rates greater than 0.25 CFM/ft2 do not affect the reduction in ceiling heat flow caused by a radiant barrier, and since higher air flow rates are more accurately measured than lower rates, I ventilated the attics at a rate of 1 CFM/ft2. Finally, as the results were strongly influenced by the indoor temperature of the houses, I was careful to keep the temperature inside each house as constant as possible. The average difference in indoor temperature between the two houses never surpassed 0.3°F.
My experiments confirmed that radiant barriers cut summertime heat gain through the attic floor, when the sun is shining. The average reduction in ceiling heat flow when radiant barriers were used in combination with R-11 insulation was 42% (see Figure 1). When R-19 was used, the average reduction was 34%. When the insulation level was R-30, the average reduction was approximately 25%. This reduction in ceiling heat flow contributed to maintaining the indoor temperature at a constant value without placing much demand on the air conditioner.
Two notable conclusions may be drawn from these data. First, radiant barriers cut air conditioning demand. Second, the less insulation there is, the larger the effect produced by the radiant barrier. In attics where insulation levels are low, and installing more insulation is difficult, radiant barriers should be used, since they clearly reduce the heat gain and increase comfort levels during the summer. (See Table 1 for cost-effectiveness of materials.)
Why do radiant barriers reduce heat flow less as insulation levels increase? One possible explanation is that, as insulation level increases, so does the surface temperature of the radiant barrier (as well as other parts of the attic). This causes the radiation exchange to occur at higher temperatures, making the relative heat flow reduction smaller. Every heat transfer process is driven by a temperature difference between the bodies (or surfaces) that exchange heat. Therefore, if the temperature difference between the “hot” body and the “cold” body is significant, the heat transfer will be significant. On the other hand, if the temperature difference between “hot” and “cold” bodies is relatively small, the heat transfer is low. In the case of the attics with R-30, what happens is that the top of the fiberglass (assuming that the fiberglass is installed on the attic floor) develops a relatively high temperature. This happens because the insulation prevents the heat from traveling to the conditioned space. So now we have a “hot” deck and a not-so- “cold” top of the fiberglass (or top of the radiant barrier). As a result, the temperature difference that drives the heat transfer process is small, and thus the heat transfer is lower than it is with lower levels of insulation.
In retrofit applications, radiant barriers are usually installed in one of two configurations. In the horizontal radiant barrier (HRB) configuration, the barrier is installed horizontally over the attic frame (see Figure 2). In the truss radiant barrier (TRB) configuration, the barrier is attached to the rafters that support the deck (see Figure 3). The HRB configuration is often not recommended for residential use because dust and other particulates accumulate on the barrier, which can reduce the barrier’s performance. In addition, this type of installation eliminates attic space that might otherwise be used for storage purposes. However, the first problem can be minimized by using a radiant barrier with low emissivity on both sides. Most of the heat transfer from the bottom side of the radiant barrier to the insulation occurs via radiation. This radiation heat transfer is affected by surface emissivity. The surface emissivity of the bottom side of the radiant barrier is relatively low because this side faces down. Therefore, very little or no dust and other particulates accumulate on it.
In comparing the performance of the TRB and HRB configurations in attics equipped with R-19 insulation, I found that they showed similar profiles and almost identical heat flux reductions. However, the TRB showed a significantly greater reduction in attic air temperature than the HRB, because of the location of the radiant barrier. In the TRB configuration, the radiant barrier is above the attic space; in the HRB, the attic space is above the radiant barrier. In the TRB, there is therefore less heat transfer from the deck to the rest of the attic. This is because the HRB reflects a significant amount of the heat from the deck that arrives at the barrier, thus making the attic hotter. The temperatures of the shingles were nearly identical in both cases. The temperature probe was located where the shingles overlap, where the temperature is greatly influenced by the solar flux and convection from the shingles to the ambient air rather than by what is beneath the roof layers.
I used my measurements to calibrate an attic heat flow model. The model accurately predicted the reductions in ceiling heat flows in preretrofit as well as in retrofit cases for both HRB and TRB configurations. The weather data used to drive the simulations were from typical meteorological year (TMY) tapes for the city of Austin, Texas.
The modeling agreed with the experimental findings that reductions in heat flow differed depending on the level of insulation (see Figures 4 and 5). That is, there were more relative savings in the low-insulation case than in the highinsulation case. The modeling results for yearly aggregates—excluding the swing season months of March, April, October, and November—revealed that the radiant barrier produced the greatest reduction in heat flows (44%) in attics insulated with R-11. I excluded the swing season months because, in subtropical climates, little cooling or heating is done during these months. Reductions in ceiling heat flows, in the range of 28% and 23%, were realized by the use of radiant barriers in combination with insulation levels of R-19 and R-30, respectively. These results are aggregated over the year.
My experimental results differed slightly from the simulation results. In the field, I had obtained summertime reductions in ceiling heat flow of 42%, 34%, 25% for insulation levels of R-11, R-19, and R-30, respectively. One possible reason for the discrepancies in savings between the experiments and the simulations could be the number of days used in the two cases. During the experiments, the data were produced in seven- to ten-day increments, while yearly simulations using a TMY took into account every day in an eight-month period.
The model predicted negative savings of less than 10% in the heating season for an attic with a radiant barrier and either of two levels of insulation (R-11 or R-30) compared to an attic with no radiant barrier. It is not known why the middle level of insulation did not follow the same pattern as the other two in this regard. One of the reasons for these losses is weather related. In Austin, winters are mild with significant sunshine. In monthly simulations in subtropical regions, the heating energy savings would either be low—next to insignificant— or negative. Sunshine is desirable during the heating season because it reduces the load on heating equipment. Radiant barriers, on the other hand, limit the amount of solar radiation, which is carried to the conditioned space through the attic. This blockage of solar radiation from the attic deck is undesirable during the winter season, and helps to explain the negative savings produced. In warmer regions, wintertime savings could be realized. In subtropical (hot and humid) climates, more energy is used for cooling than for heating. Therefore, even with this detrimental effect, the net annual savings in subtropical climates are still positive, because of the energy reductions that are realized in the summer.
Radiant barriers cut cooling energy demand in every situation that I tested. Installing more insulation cuts both cooling and heating energy costs, and so would be preferable to relying on radiant barriers in most situations. However, in the summertime, radiant barriers give insulation a clear advantage.
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After the Flood - There's Hope
Homes that are damaged by flooding can be repaired and made more durable.
Flooding is a fact of life that results in more damage to buildings throughout the United States than any other single natural cause. Residential buildings are especially hard hit during floods; the lives of the residents are disrupted and precious possessions are lost.While homeowners are discouraged or prohibited from building new homes in floodprone areas, existing homes,when damaged,must be repaired. Builders can minimize damage to these homes from future flooding by repairing or renovating them using materials and methods that are resistant to flood damage.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Tuskegee University have been working to identify and evaluate building materials, systems, and methods that can be used to repair houses after flooding and that make the envelope of a house more resistant to future flood damage (see “After the Flood,”HE Jan/Feb ’03, p. 12).We were also interested in providing a scientific basis for certifying building materials and systems that are resistant to flood damage, so that that information can inform future building code development.
The Department of Homeland Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate defines flood damage resistance as the ability of materials, components, and systems to withstand direct and prolonged contact with floodwater without sustaining degradation that requires more than cosmetic repair to restore it to its original condition. Cosmetic repair includes cleaning, sanitizing, and resurfacing material; resurfacing includes sanding, repairing joints, and repainting. Repair should be less costly than simply replacing the affected materials and systems.As a result of our materials testing,we have identified another key attribute of flood damage resistance. Individual materials that are considered flood damage resistant must not cause the degradation of adjacent materials, or the systems of which the material is a part.
A 2-ft Flood
Our test facility is located on the experimental farm near an agricultural lake at Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee,Alabama. Initially, two test modules were built with typical home construction materials and methods. The modules were flooded to a level of 2 ft above the floor with water from an agricultural lake that reasonably represented typical riverine floodwater.The test modules were allowed to dry for 30 days. Detailed information was collected to determine how these construction materials and systems were affected during and after flooding.Test results from these materials and systems provided a baseline against which other materials and systems could be compared.
Based on what we learned in those tests,we conducted a second set of tests. The second set of tests introduced materials and systems that we expected to be more flood damage resistant than typical construction materials and systems. In the second tests, unlike the first ones,we sanitized the materials and systems while they were drying, and cosmetically restored them after the drying period, in order to assess their performance after exposure to a flood. Samples of the various materials were taken for testing and observation, and the test modules were then demolished and autopsied.The initial results of our research were reported in the article cited above.
We built a third pair of modules to attempt dry floodproofing—constructing a building in such a way that no water enters the structure during flooding— and to test additional materials and systems for resistance to flood damage.
In all of our testing,we employed relative humidity transmitters; thermocouples that measured temperature; and moisture sensors installed in wall studs, wall surfaces, floor joists, and floor surfaces (see Figure 1).A weather station provided data on ambient conditions during the test.We used a hand-held moisture meter to measure material moisture content during the postflood drying period. Mold was sampled from the modules and tested in a laboratory to identify its type. Flexural strength and modulus were determined for various types of siding and wallboard.
We also developed detailed protocols for visual observation.While visual observation is subjective, the protocols were developed to systematize these observations and make them as detailed and consistent as possible throughout the series of tests.We made extensive photographic and video records as well.
Flood-Damage-Resistant Materials and Systems
The ORNL/Tuskegee experiments tested only for resistance to physical degradation that results from the wetting and drying cycle associated with flooding.The testing did not address the structural impact on the envelope of externally applied hydrostatic pressures. Postflooding mold growth was documented and selected specimens were analyzed. Some test modules were also cleaned and sanitized to determine if mold growth could be controlled. However, bacteriological and toxic materials testing were not performed during this series of tests. And we did not test for the residual health effects of flooding on otherwise flood-damage-resistant materials and systems. Such testing could potentially change our conclusions.
The following conclusions should be viewed as preliminary, since the purpose of our project was to provide a scientific basis for certifying materials and systems for flood damage resistance for use in building codes, and as yet there is no accepted certifying test procedure.
Newly installed and painted plywood and hardboard lap siding maintained reasonable dimensional stability and mechanical properties after they were dried.The siding materials that we tested were washable after flooding and drying, but these materials remained discolored. However, older,weathered plywood and hardwood siding, or siding made of the same materials that is repeatedly wetted and dried over several cycles, could significantly degrade and require more than cosmetic repair to restore it to its original condition. Both vinyl and fiber cement siding could be restored to preflood conditions through washing the portion below flood level.The corner boards, which were made from nominal 1-inch sawn lumber, cracked and warped.Vinyl corner trim showed no evidence of deterioration from flooding.
Fiberock sheathing, a water-resistant, fiber-reinforced gypsum panel manufactured by USG, maintained its integrity and mechanical properties.The Fiberock dried to preflood conditions during the drying period.
Plywood sheathing maintained its integrity and mechanical properties. However, it had not dried to preflood conditions after 30 days. Because water does not tend to escape quickly from behind plywood siding,we do not consider the combination of plywood siding and sheathing to be a good flood-damage- resistant system. Lap siding tends to let moisture escape more quickly. If a flood-damage-resistant lap siding is employed, the use of plywood as sheathing is likely to make an acceptable flood-damage-resistant system.
We experimented with 15# felt under both vinyl and fiber cement lap siding and found that the sheathing had dried to preflood conditions at the time of autopsy. We will perform a test using Tyvek house wrap at press time.According to the manufacturer,Tyvek inhibits the passage of liquid water and it breathes, so water vapor from drying can pass through the material. We’ll know experimentally how it performs under flood conditions in a couple of months.
The moisture content in wood studs above the flood line returned to preflood levels within the drying period.The portion of the studs below the flood line did not, in most cases, dry to preflood levels during the drying period.We considered wood studs to be flood damage resistant as long as the wall system will permit them to continue to dry to normal moisture levels.
Fiberglass batt insulation appeared to retain moisture in the exterior wall cavities and below the floor (see Figure 2). The moisture on the fiberglass fibers appeared to keep adjacent walls and floor materials wetter longer; this could potentially cause long-term damage to the subflooring, to the floor and wall framing, and to the gypsum board walls. When spray polyurethane foam (SPUF) insulation was used in the wall cavities, the wallboard and wood studs in exterior walls dried at nearly the same rate as in the interior walls with empty cavities (see Figure 3, p. 22). SPUF absorbs water very slowly and was undamaged by flooding. SPUF did not retain moisture; thus it did not reduce the flood damage resistance of the materials around it.
When conventional paper-faced gypsum board was used with fiberglass batt insulation on exterior walls, the gypsum board lost about 50% of its flexural strength; at the end of the drying period, it remained wetter than the gypsum board on uninsulated interior walls. Interior gypsum board walls dried out and regained flexural strength during the test period.The gypsum board could be restored to preflood conditions with cosmetic restoration (see the article cited above for details).
Conventional drywall supported mold growth during several tests, but it was cleaned and sanitized, which eliminated the mold stains. Fiberock interior wallboard, a non-water-resistant gypsum product without paper facings by USG, regained about 70%–78% of its initial strength when tested (see Table 1), and it dried out during the 30-day drying period.Although it supported mold growth, it could be cleaned, sanitized, and restored.
Fiberock exterior sheathing was applied to some interior walls. It regained 82%–87% of its initial strength on an exterior wall insulated with SPUF and 101%–130% of its initial strength on an interior, hollow-cavity wall. (The strength actually increased in one instance after exposure to flooding. This happens occasionally with gypsum products, since complete hydration of all of the gypsum does not always occur in manufacturing, and subsequent exposure to water completes the process.) The Fiberock exterior sheathing applied to interior walls also dried out during the drying period. It did not support mold growth and its surfaces were easily cleaned and restored.
Ceramic tile performed well under flood conditions and showed no longterm deterioration. Both latex flat paint and latex semigloss enamel paint peeled, blistered, and stained. Mold grew on both types of paint. High- and low-permeability paints were tested. Both types of paint had to be sanded and new coats of paint applied to restore the walls to preflood conditions.We also compared waterbased flat latex and oil-based enamel paint.The water-based latex flaked and blistered. Oil-based flat enamel paint performed better than any other paint that we tested. It flaked and blistered very little and was much easier to restore than other paints. Of all the paints tested, oil-based flat enamel paint was found to be the most flood damage resistant.However,we did not completely investigate the impact of oil-based enamel on the drying of adjacent materials and systems in this testing. Vinyl wall covering blistered, peeled, and debonded after flooding. It damaged the surface of the gypsum board, and it may inhibit the drying of the substrate or wall system.
Exterior wood-paneled doors in a wood frame, and exterior prehung metal-clad doors in a wood frame were stained slightly, but could be washed and restored. Foam-filled fiberglass and foam-filled metal were restored to preflood conditions with minimal effort. The fiberglass and metal doors used in the second modules were reused in the third modules and once again were easily restored.
All the interior doors that we tested were severely stained after flooding and drying, and some warped, split, and peeled. Considering the relatively low cost of replacement,we did not consider it economically feasible to restore any of these doors.
All vinyl and aluminum window frames could be restored to preflood conditions with minimal effort.
The sealed-concrete floor slab in all the slab-on-grade modules remained undamaged during and after flooding. The wood subflooring retained very high moisture content throughout the drying period when unfaced fiberglass batt insulation was installed underneath the subflooring. (Two 8 inch x 18 inch foundation vents were installed on opposite walls in the test modules. These were open throughout the drying period.The area of these vents exceeded code minimum requirements for a structure of this size, 64 ft2.) When no floor insulation was used, the subflooring returned to preflood moisture levels during the drying period.Wood subflooring and framing insulated with fiberglass batts could experience long-term moisture-related problems.At press time another module was being tested using spray polyurethane insulation under the subflooring.
Ceramic tile and quarry tile performed very well under flooding conditions and required only cleaning to be restored.All carpeting and padding became dirty and smelly after flooding. It also retained large amounts of moisture, which would slow the overall drying rate throughout the house.Even if the carpet is able to withstand the flood, it should be removed for cleaning and drying, and to promote drying within the home. Simulated wood flooring, a composite wood fiber and plastic material,warped and had open joints when it was left in place after flooding.This flooring had much less warping and shrinkage when it was removed,washed, and stacked to dry after flooding, but the process of removal damaged some of the pieces.
The operable flood vents (Smart Vent) were closed prior to flooding and opened by themselves during the filling and draining of the floodwater. They operated as designed.These vents were blocked open throughout the drying period.The crawlspace humidity reached 100% and remained high during the drying period. This humidity level is unacceptable in the long term, since it could contribute to both mold and wood decay.We believe that the high humidity level in the crawlspace resulted from the test module being placed in a basin that collected a significant amount of rainwater throughout the drying period. In order to keep it from providing a path for mold to enter the house, the crawlspace area must be effectively sealed from the interior of the building.
Procedures for Responding to Flood Damage
Along with evaluating materials for their flood-damage-resistant properties,we tested the effectiveness of some procedures for dealing with flood damage.
Punching Holes in Walls
Punching holes above the floor molding of the interior walls does not drain any water, nor does it dry the wall any faster, especially if floodwater has receded for several hours. In some instances, if holes are not punched in the walls, the gypsum board can easily be repaired and restored. Punching holes in gypsum board walls to promote drainage is not an appropriate flood recovery procedure.
The cleaning protocols that we followed used a clear-water rinse that did remove some dirt and staining, but not mold.A second washing with soap and water on selected materials (vinyl and fiber cement siding, fiberglass doors and window frames) did restore them to preflood conditions.After sanitizing with a solution of bleach (trisodium phosphate) and water, most elements that were not physically damaged could be restored to preflood conditions.
Severe mold growth occurred in the first tests when no attempt was made to clean or sanitize surfaces during the drying period. Mold growth also occurred on exposed interior surfaces in most subsequent tests, and efforts were made to sanitize surfaces and remove mold.After sanitization, there was no visible mold for the remainder of the testing period. Although no mold reappeared throughout the test period,we cannot verify the long-term elimination of mold.
After demolition and autopsy of these units, it was determined that there was very little or no mold growth in the nonexposed (hidden) portions of the structure that were not sanitized. Sanitizing appeared to work on the exposed surfaces of the modules to eliminate mold growth, and it is therefore a recommended procedure in the restoration of flood-damaged homes. Sanitizing the nonexposed portions of the structure for mold control does not appear warranted, based on what we saw during the autopsy.
All exterior siding tested could be restored, as could interior wallboards when SPUF was the insulation used. Ceramic tile floors and the sealed-concrete slab were easily restored.All windows and exterior doors tested could be restored.
We did not achieve dry floodproofing in two attempts (see photo).While the door and window dams that were designed and built were effective in preventing the entry of water through doors and windows,water entered the units through other paths, such as the joint between the interior partition and the exterior walls at floor level.Although the joint between the sill plate and the concrete slab had been caulked,water entered there as well.Additional steps were taken in the second attempt; the external joint between the sill and the slab and other potential leak pathways on the exterior were sealed. Despite these efforts,floodwater entered the modules. Based on these failures, dry floodproofing is not considered an appropriate approach to flood damage resistance.
More Work Is Needed
The primary purpose of our project was to identify and evaluate materials, systems, and methods that will make the envelope of a house more resistant to flood damage. These materials, systems, and methods are primarily intended for use to repair houses subsequent to flooding. Then if the house floods again, damage will be reduced and restoration costs and efforts will be minimized.
Besides identifying flood-resistant materials, the purpose of our project was to develop a method to collect representative, measured, and reproducible data on how various materials and systems respond to flooding conditions, so that future recommendations for repairing flood-damaged houses can be based on scientific data. This methodology can then be used to develop a standard test procedure to certify which building materials and systems are resistant to flood damage; the use of these materials and systems for repairing and rebuilding flood-damaged homes in flood-prone areas could be required by future building codes.
A certifying test procedure must be developed and adopted by a certifying agency before the identification of materials as “flood damage resistant” will satisfy the requirement for the use of such materials by a building code group or local jurisdiction.This project, and other related activities at ORNL and Tuskegee, are contributing to the development of that certifying test procedure.
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The Trevi fountain is at the ending part of the Aqua
Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC. It brings water all the
way from the Salone Springs (approx 20km from Rome) and supplies
the fountains in the historic center of Rome with water
Construction of the Fountain In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned
Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A
previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by
Bernini was halted a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban
VIII. Salvi based his theatrical masterpiece on this design.
Construction of the monumental baroque fountain was finally
completed in 1762.
The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is
Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a
shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a
Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one
restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea.
On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing
Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the
sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows Agrippa, the girl
after whom the aqueduct was named. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36409000 |
Swallowing Small Batteries Is A Big Danger For Children
Dec. 15-Small children are at serious risk of swallowing "button batteries" which can get stuck in their throats, causing choking or even worse, severe throat burns and possibly death.
Hurley and Safe Kids Greater Flint are spearheading local efforts for “The Battery Controlled,” a national partnership between Safe Kids Worldwide and Energizer that shares life-saving information with parents and caregivers about the potential risks of swallowing coin lithium batteries. In 2010 alone, more than 3,500 "button batteries" swallowing cases, including 18 deaths, were reported to U.S. poison control centers, according to the National Capital Poison Center.
The most serious injuries are usually associated with the 20 mm diameter coin lithium battery. In the majority of swallowing incidents among children, the batteries are from remote control devices.
Dr. Rima Jibaly, Hurley Children’s Hospital Gastroenterologist, said, “These coin-sized button batteries can get stuck in the throats of children. The saliva immediately triggers an electrical current that causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours. In some cases, children have died from their injuries."
“Once the burning reaction begins, it can continue even after the battery is removed," said Dr. Brian Nolan, Director, Hurley Pediatric Critical Care Unit. "This can paralyze vocal chords or form an abnormal connection between the esophagus and trachea (wind pipe). Repairing that damage is painful and can require feeding tubes, breathing tubes and multiple surgeries.”
Lew Moquin, Safe Kids Greater Flint Coordinator, explained that "parents and other caregivers often don’t realize that coin-sized button batteries are included in devices they buy. Too often, these devices are left within reach of young children. Car keys with electronic fobs, for example, are often shared with children for their amusement. The batteries inside, if swallowed, can get stuck in a child’s throat and cause serious injury or death.”
These batteries can be found in just about any device
Coin-sized button batteries, approximately the size of a nickel, are found in everyday devices such as:
- Mini remote control devices that unlock car doors and control portable DVD players, MP3 speakers and other devices
- Bathroom scales
- Reading lights
- Flameless candles
- Talking and singing books and greeting cards
Don't let children play with electronic devices
Many of these potentially-deadly batteries are often inside compartments within electronic devices. However, because many of these devices are not children’s toys, the battery compartments are easy to open. Small children often have easy access to these devices and enjoy playing with them, and many parents do not know there is a risk. In a recent survey by The Battery Controlled, 66% of parents responded that they have not read, seen or heard anything about the risks of coin-sized button batteries and 56% said their children seem to like electronic devices more than their own toys.
Serious complications and deaths are increasing
The number of cases where children have been seriously hurt or have died as a result of swallowing a button battery has more than quadrupled in the past five years (2006-2010) compared to the five years prior (2001-2005).
Preventative steps for parents and caregivers
- Examine devices and make sure the battery compartment is secure. Strong tape is one option.
- Keep button batteries and devices that use them out of reach of small children if the battery compartments aren’t secure.
- Go to the emergency room immediately if swallowing is suspected.
- Tell others about this threat and share these steps.
Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at (202) 625-3333 for additional treatment information. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36423000 |
National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2010 (ICPSR 32722)
Alternate Title: NSDUH 2010
Principal Investigator(s): United States Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality
Summary: The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) series (formerly titled National Household Survey on Drug Abuse) primarily measures the prevalence and correlates of drug use in the United States. The surveys are designed to provide quarterly, as well as annual, estimates. Information is provided on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among members of United States households aged 12 and older. Questions included age at first use as well as lifetime, annual, and past-month usage for... (more info)
This data is freely available.
WARNING: This study is over 150MB in size and may take several minutes to download on a typical internet connection.
United States Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2010. ICPSR32722-v3. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2012-10-19. doi:10.3886/ICPSR32722.v3
Persistent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR32722.v3
This survey was funded by:
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (283-2004-00022)
Scope of Study
Summary: The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) series (formerly titled National Household Survey on Drug Abuse) primarily measures the prevalence and correlates of drug use in the United States. The surveys are designed to provide quarterly, as well as annual, estimates. Information is provided on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among members of United States households aged 12 and older. Questions included age at first use as well as lifetime, annual, and past-month usage for the following drug classes: marijuana, cocaine (and crack), hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, alcohol, tobacco, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs, including pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. The survey covered substance abuse treatment history and perceived need for treatment, and included questions from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders that allow diagnostic criteria to be applied. The survey included questions concerning treatment for both substance abuse and mental health-related disorders. Respondents were also asked about personal and family income sources and amounts, health care access and coverage, illegal activities and arrest record, problems resulting from the use of drugs, and needle-sharing. Questions introduced in previous administrations were retained in the 2010 survey, including questions asked only of respondents aged 12 to 17. These "youth experiences" items covered a variety of topics, such as neighborhood environment, illegal activities, drug use by friends, social support, extracurricular activities, exposure to substance abuse prevention and education programs, and perceived adult attitudes toward drug use and activities such as school work. Several measures focused on prevention-related themes in this section. Also retained were questions on mental health and access to care, perceived risk of using drugs, perceived availability of drugs, driving and personal behavior, and cigar smoking. Questions on the tobacco brand used most often were introduced with the 1999 survey. For the 2008 survey, adult mental health questions were added to measure symptoms of psychological distress in the worst period of distress that a person experienced in the past 30 days and suicidal ideation. In 2008, a split-sample design also was included to administer separate sets of questions (WHODAS vs. SDS) to assess impairment due to mental health problems. Beginning with the 2009 NSDUH, however, all of the adults in the sample received only the WHODAS questions. Background information includes gender, race, age, ethnicity, marital status, educational level, job status, veteran status, and current household composition.
Subject Terms: addiction, alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcohol consumption, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, controlled drugs, crack cocaine, demographics, depression, drinking behavior, drug abuse, drug dependence, drug treatment, drug use, drugs, employment, hallucinogens, health care, heroin, households, income, inhalants, marijuana, mental health, mental health services, methamphetamine, pain relievers, pregnancy, prescription drugs, sedatives, smoking, stimulants, substance abuse, substance abuse treatment, tobacco use, tranquilizers, youths
Geographic Coverage: United States
Date of Collection:
Unit of Observation: individual
Universe: The civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 12 and older, including residents of noninstitutional group quarters such as college dormitories, group homes, shelters, rooming houses, and civilians dwelling on military installations.
Data Types: survey data
Data Collection Notes:
Data were collected and prepared for release by Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Since 1999, the survey sample has employed a 50-state design with an independent, multistage area probability sample for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Prior to the 2002 survey, this series was titled National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse.
Although the design of the 2010 survey is similar to the design of the 1999 through 2001 surveys, there are important methodological differences since 2002 that affect the 2010 estimates. Each NSDUH respondent since 2002 has been given an incentive payment of $30. This change resulted in an improvement in the survey response rate. In addition, since 2002 new population data from the 2000 decennial census became available for use in NSDUH sample weighting procedures. Therefore the data from 2002 and later should not be compared with data collected in 2001 or earlier to assess changes over time.
For selected variables, statistical imputation was performed following logical inference to replace missing responses. These variables are identified in the codebook as "...LOGICALLY ASSIGNED" for the logical procedure, or by the designation "IMPUTATION-REVISED" in the variable label when the statistical procedure was also performed. The names of statistically imputed variables begin with the letters "IR". For each imputation-revised variable, a corresponding imputation indicator variable indicates whether a case's value on the variable resulted from an interview response or was imputed. Missing values for some demographic variables were imputed by the unweighted hot-deck technique used in previous surveys. Beginning in 1999, imputation of missing values for many other variables was accomplished using predictive mean neighborhoods (PMN), a new procedure developed specifically for this survey. Both the hot-deck and PMN imputation procedures are described in the codebook.
To protect the privacy of respondents, all variables that could be used to identify individuals have been encrypted or collapsed in the public use file. To further ensure respondent confidentiality, the data producer used data substitution and deletion of state identifiers and a subsample of records in the creation of the public use file.
Previously published estimates may not be exactly reproducible from the variables in the public use file due to the disclosure protection procedures that were implemented.
The setup and dictionary files for Stata are designed to be compatible with StataSE, Version 8. This is a large data file requiring that approximately 400 megabytes of Random Access Memory be allocated to Stata. Operations within Stata, including conversion of the ASCII data to Stata format, are likely to be slow. Analysts may wish to download subsets of data from the SAMHDA Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA) system for use with Stata.
In the income section, which was interviewer-administered, a split-sample study had been embedded within the 2006 and 2007 surveys to compare a shorter version of the income questions with a longer set of questions that had been used in previous surveys. This shorter version was adopted for the 2008 NSDUH and will be used for future NSDUHs.
Sample: A multistage area probability sample for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia has been used since 1999. A coordinated sample design was developed for the 2005 through 2009 NSDUHs. The 2010 NSDUH is an extension of the 5-year sample design. Although there is no overlap with the 1999-2004 samples, the coordinated design for 2005 through 2009 facilitated a 50 percent overlap in second-stage units (area segments [see below]) between each two successive years from 2005 through 2009. The 2004 NSDUH continued the 50 percent overlap by retaining approximately half of the first-stage sampling units from the 2003 survey. The 2010 NSDUH continues the 50 percent overlap by retaining half of the second-stage units from 2009. This design was intended to increase precision of estimates in year-to-year trend analyses because of the expected positive correlation resulting from the overlapping sample between successive survey years. The 2010 design allows for computation of estimates by state in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. States may therefore be viewed as the first level of stratification as well as a reporting variable. Eight states, referred to as the large sample states, had a sample designed to yield 3,600 respondents per state for the 2010 survey. This sample size was considered adequate to support direct state estimates. The remaining 43 states (which include the District of Columbia) had a sample designed to yield 900 respondents per state in the 2010 survey. In these 43 states, adequate data were available to support reliable state estimates based on SAE methodology. Within each state, sampling strata called state sampling (SS) regions were formed. Based on a composite size measure, states were partitioned geographically into roughly equal-sized regions. In other words, regions were formed such that each area yielded, in expectation, roughly the same number of interviews during each data collection period. The eight large sample states were divided into 48 SS regions each. The remaining states were divided into 12 SS regions each. Therefore, the partitioning of the United States resulted in the formation of a total of 900 SS regions. Unlike the 1999 through 2004 surveys, the first stage of selection for the 2005 through 2009 NSDUHs was Census tracts. The first stage of selection began with the construction of an area sample frame that contained one record for each Census tract in the United States. If necessary, Census tracts were aggregated within SS regions until each tract had, at a minimum, 150 dwelling units in urban areas and 100 dwelling units in rural areas. These Census tracts served as the primary sampling units (PSUs) for the coordinated five-year sample. In advance of the survey period, specially trained listers had visited each area segment and listed all addresses for housing units and eligible group quarters units in a prescribed order. Systematic sampling was used to select the allocated sample of addresses from each segment. Beginning in 2002, each respondent who completed a full interview was given a $30 cash payment as a token of appreciation for his or her time. To improve the precision of the estimates, the sample allocation process targeted five age groups: 12 to 17 years, 18 to 25 years, 26 to 34 years, 35 to 49 years, and 50 years or older. The size measures used in selecting the area segments were coordinated with the dwelling unit and person selection process so that a nearly self-weighting sample could be achieved in each of the five age groups. The achieved sample size for the 2010 survey was 68,487 persons. The public use file contains 57,873 records due to a subsampling step used in the disclosure protection procedures. A key step in the data processing procedures established the minimum item response requirements in order for cases to be retained for weighting and further analysis (i.e., "usable" cases). These requirements, as well as full sampling methodology, are detailed in the codebook.
Due to various adjustments, such as those for nonresponse and post-stratification, the 2010 NSDUH sample design is not self-weighting. Analysts are advised to use the final sample weight when attempting to use the 2010 NSDUH data to draw inferences about the target population or any subdomains of the target population. All estimates published in SAMHSA reports (such as the results from the 2010 NSDUH) are weighted using the final analysis weight for the full sample. For the public use file, the corresponding final sample weight is denoted as ANALWT_C, with the "C" denoting confidentiality protection. This sample weight represents the total number of target population persons each record on the file represents. Note that the sum of ANALWT_C, over all records on the data file, represents an estimate of the total number of people in the target population.
In the 2008 NSDUH's mental health module, the adult sample was split into a sample A who received the WHODAS questions LIREMEM through LIAD68 and a sample B who received the SDS questions MHAD66a through MHAD68. In the 2009 NSDUH, however, all of the adults in the sample received the WHODAS questions. Therefore, there is no need to have a separate adult mental health weight beginning in the 2009 NSDUH because the person-level analysis weight can be used to produce the adult mental health estimates.
Mode of Data Collection: audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI), computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI), computer-assisted self interview (CASI)
Response Rates: Strategies for ensuring high rates of participation resulted in a weighted screening response rate of 88.8 percent and a weighted interview response rate for the CAI of 74.7 percent. (Note that these response rates reflect the original sample, not the subsampled data file referenced in this document.)
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Performed consistency checks.
- Standardized missing values.
- Created online analysis version with question text.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Original ICPSR Release: 2011-12-05
- 2012-11-21 The NSDUH public-use data files have been updated with a corrected variable label.
- 2012-10-19 The data files have been updated by omitting extraneous variables.
- 2012-10-18 The 2010 NSDUH public-use data file has been updated to include 12 new variables related to adult and adolescent depression, and a weight variable post stratified to the 2010 Census. Please view Table 4 of the codebook for more information on these variables.
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Lean, mean and green
Heating, cooling and powering the 2012 Olympics in a sustainable way
Some modern Olympic Games have been branded as extravagant and a waste of public money. Installations are costly and facilities in service for only a short period during the event – but are unsuitable for later use by the general public. Mindful of this, the London 2012 organizers placed sustainability firmly at the core of this year's Olympics. The provision of heating, cooling and power in a sustainable way is at the very centre of this effort and should ensure a positive legacy long after the Games are over. Many IEC TCs (Technical Committees) and SCs (Subcommittees) prepare International Standards for components and systems that are being installed on the Olympic Park.
Early green commitment
When bidding to host the Games the LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) made a commitment to meet 20% of the Olympic Park electricity requirements with new local renewable energy sources. These include advanced waste-to-energy technologies, PV (photovoltaic) panels, small scale wind turbines, bio-diesel generators and micro-co-generation for public lighting, venues, accommodation and electric vehicle power. All additional site electricity demand is to be met with off-site renewables, supplied by wind farms and marine current turbines.
Three IEC TCs prepare International Standards for renewable energy sources proposed for the 2012 Games. They are TC 82: Solar photovoltaic energy systems, TC 88: Wind turbines and TC 114: Marine energy – Wave, tidal and other water current converters.
The commitment to renewable sources was restated in the London 2012 Sustainability Plan. Furthermore, the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority) set an overall target of cutting carbon emissions by 50% across the Olympic Park, in comparison with schemes constructed and operated using more conventional means. To achieve this it adopted a 'Lean, Mean, Green' approach:
- Lean – minimizing energy demand by building energy-efficient venues
- Mean – supplying heat, cooling and power from on-site energy centres, further reducing their carbon emissions
- Green – generating heat and power from renewable sources.
The right mean and green tools
To provide heat, cooling and power on site, the organizers chose to build two flexible modular energy centres at Kings Yard (Olympic Park) and Stratford City. Each is equipped with a natural gas-fired CCHP (combined cooling, heat and power) unit and bio-mass fired boilers.
Using zero carbon renewable energy sources such as biomass will provide savings in carbon emissions of more than 1 000 tonnes per year in comparison with schemes employing fossil fuels. CHP (combined heat and power) plants are up to 30% more energy efficient than those using traditional means of generation. Basic demand for heat during winters will be met through the bio-boilers that burn sustainable biomass such as woodchips and pulp.
IEC TC 5: Steam turbines, has been asked by the SMB (Standardization Management Board) to carry out a study of standardization needs for CHP. The energy centres have a flexible modular design that will avoid overcapacity in the first phase of development but allow future technologies to be incorporated in the buildings as they are developed and as demand grows after 2012. They will provide an efficient, low-carbon heating and cooling system across the site for the Games and for the new community and housing projects that will be developed after 2012. Between them the two centres currently produce 92,7 MW of heating, 55 MW of cooling and 10 MW of electrical power. Eventually they will be able to supply a total of 194,9 MW of heating, 64 MW of cooling and 30 MW of electrical power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
The centres are interconnected and electrical power is distributed by 200 km of underground cables running through two 6 km tunnels. This underground network has replaced 52 pylons and 130 km of overhead cables.
IEC TC 20 prepares International Standards for electric cables.
A primary electrical substation forms the central part of the utilities network. It takes power from the upstream 132 kV electrical network outside the Park, 'stepping it down' to 11 kV to supply venues and buildings across the Olympic Park and Stratford City. Each 132/11 kV transformer is supported by 11 000 items of switchgear and auxiliary equipment.
Standardization for power transformers is the task of IEC TC 14, whilst TC 17 and its SCs prepare International Standards for high- and low-voltage switchgear and controlgear and associated assemblies.
To minimize primary energy use, both centres exploit recovered waste heat for their operation. They use energy-efficient systems and mechanisms to reduce the costs of heat supply. Ammonia-based chillers and electrical and absorption chillers enable the centres to meet the demand for cooling, while the site-wide heat network generates hot water and heats the Aquatics Centre swimming pools and other venues and buildings.
The roof of the Olympic Park Copper Box, the venue for various events, is fitted with 88 light pipes that allow natural light inside, reducing the demand for electric lights and achieving annual energy savings of up to 40% in comparison with a more conventional structure.
As with any major project, some adjustments were required late on in the process. As time constraints caused the installation of the preferred wind turbine system to be abandoned, the ODA had to revise down its target for cutting carbon emissions, from 50% to 43%. However, energy efficiency schemes in boroughs surrounding the Park have been introduced to make up for the shortfall and some small renewable sources, such as PV panels on the Media Centre and its car park and some micro wind turbines, have been added. Further efforts will also be made to deliver additional carbon savings by reducing electricity consumption during the Games.
Electrical installations at the core
Power generation and distribution are essential for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will provide a beneficial legacy for the local communities. They are just two of the countless electrical systems deployed during the event that rely on IEC International Standards for proper and safe operation. A successful, lean, mean and green London 2012 implies an IEC success – albeit a discreet one. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36435000 |
The pathways from economic and social policies to improved food security and nutrition for the poor often are not well understood. Yet each day governments decide on policies that ultimately affect their well-being. How households increase their incomes, acquire food, improve health, or cope with insecurity are important concerns that need to be examined in order to devise policies to help eradicate poverty. Nearly all attempts to study these issues have used snapshot approaches—those that look at one point in time. These approaches are limited in that they do not reveal anything about the actual dynamics of poverty, food security, and their consequences for nutrition and health.
In Poverty, Household Food Security, and Nutrition in Rural Pakistan, Research Report 96, Harold Alderman and Marito Garcia address these concerns by looking at longitudinal data for a three-year period, 1986-89, and analyzing fluctuations in incomes, consumption, savings, nutrition and health-seeking behavior of 800 households in five districts in rural Pakistan (Faisalabad and Attock in Punjab province, Badin in Sind, Dir in North-West Frontier Province, and Mastung/Kalat in Baluchistan). The report examines income sources and wage formation in rural Pakistan and investigates the level and distribution of income in poor households. It contributes to analysis of the temporal dimensions of poverty and thus adds to the literature on coping strategies of households. Although the three-year panel of data analyzed is too short to model fully the dynamics of poverty, it is sufficient to indicate the fluidity of the economic environment that households in Pakistan face. The report also traces the efficiency by which household incomes are converted to better nutritional well-being and the influence of other intervening factors such as health and education. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36437000 |
Z94.15 - Organization Planning and Theory
The new editors added to the excellent list of terms that previous editors had compiled. There have been some changes which have been added to the list and in addition, some of the new terms of quality management have been added because of the effect of TQM (Total Quality Management) on organizational structure and culture.
Approximately 60 definitions have been added to the list to bring it more up-to-date and to make it more comprehensive. Hopefully the more than 50 years experience will contribute to the needs of the users of the terms.
Dr. Anita L. Callahan, Ph.D.
Dr. Paul E. Givens, Ph.D.
Industrial & Management Systems Department
College of Engineering
University of South Florida
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
ADHOCRACY. A structure that is flexible, adaptive, and responsive; organized around unique problems to be solved by groups of relative strangers with diverse professional skills.
ADMINISTRATION. (1) Usually synonymous with the term management. However, it sometimes refers to the portion of management exclusive of establishing goals and policies. (2) That group of people who perform the process of administration.
ATTRIBUTION THEORY. When individuals observe behaviors, they attempt to determine whether it is internally or externally caused.
AUTHORITARIANISM. The belief that here should be status and power differences among people in organizations.
AUTHORITY. The right to exercise power and to extend jurisdiction over others for the attainment of performance. (1) The "legitimate"' right to direct or influence the performance of others under the condition of applying rewards and penalties. Authority lies in the position in an organization, not in the man. This authority derived from institutionalized power should be distinguished from other authority concepts. (2) Authority by subordinate acceptance-authority is a function of the degree to which subordinates accept decisions and direction and is derived from the group of subordinates. (3) Authority of person-authority is derived from superior ability or knowledge or charismatic qualities. (4) Authority by legal decree-authority invested by law to enforce statutes. (See DELEGATION, RESPONSIBILITY.)
AUTOCRATIC LEADER. One who tends to control in an absolute manner through the use of personal domination and application of coercive measures. (Compare to participative management.)
AUTONOMOUS WORK-GROUP DESIGN. The design of work around autonomous work teams to incorporate job rotation and/or job enrichment for a greater sense of task meaningfulness.
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History of Annuities
Reviews the evolution of annuities. This article starts with the earliest annuities, in Roman times, and takes you up to their use in the Great Depression.
Annuity and Insurance Advertisements
Highlights the early use of direct mail advertising for annuities and insurance in 1840s England, with examples of rare Mulready lettersheets and envelopes.
Annuity Certificates of the Bank of England
Presents a concise history of Bank of England annuities, a special type of government bond issued from the late 1600s through 1888 to finance wars, stipends for royalty, and major public projects. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36444000 |
equal-time rule, a Federal Communications Commission rule that requires equal air time for all major candidates competing for political office. It was preceded by the fairness doctrine, abolished in 1987, which required radio and television broadcasters to air contrasting views on controversial public issues.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Association, Protestant church in the United States formed in 1961 by the merger of the American Unitarian Association (see Unitarianism) and the Universalist Church of America. Having largely shared common concerns and positions throughout the 19th and 20th cent., the two churches formed a Council of Liberal Churches in 1953 as a preliminary step to merger. The convention in May, 1961, at which the merger was approved by delegates from both churches, adopted a constitution for the merged church and elected Dana McLean Greeley, formerly Unitarian president, the first president of the new association. The principal purpose of the merger was to link the churches' headquarters organizations and to enable them to speak as one on social and political questions. The church has about 151,000 members (1997).
See D. Robinson, The Unitarians and Universalists (1985).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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Al Sharpton, Jr.civil rights activist and minister
Born: Oct. 3, 1954
Birthplace: New York, N.Y.
A flamboyant and controversial African American political activist, Sharpton was fully ordained as a Pentocostal minister by the time he was 10. Born into a middle class black family in Brooklyn, the Sharptons descended into poverty after Al Sharpton Sr. abandoned the family around the same time. In 1969, when he was just 14, he became youth director of the New York branch of Operation Breadbasket, organized by activist Jesse Jackson, which distributed food in poor black communities. His teenage years were spent involved in a number of civil rights causes, and in 1970 he founded the National Youth Movement, an organization devoted to the problems of black urban youth. From 1973 to 1980, Sharpton worked as soul singer James Brown's tour manager. He remarked that Brown became “like the father I never had.”
In the 1980s Sharpton became involved in a series of high profile, racially charged court cases. He received national attention for organizing protests surrounding the 1985 Bernard Goetz case, in which Goetz, a white subway rider, shot four black youths whom he thought were going to rob him, and in the 1986 Howard Beach case, which involved in the death of black man named Michael Griffith, who was hit by a car and killed in Howard Beach, Queens, after being chased by the white mob. Sharpton's reputation as a tough defender of civil rights was badly tarnished, however, by the notoriety of the 1987 Tawana Brawley case, in which a black teenager claimed she was raped repeatedly by six white men over the course of several days. Her wild and elaborate claims were eventually exposed as a hoax, and Sharpton, who served as one of Brawley's spokesmen, fanned the flames of the fraud with further reckless and unfounded accusations. Critic Stanley Crouch called Sharpton's tactics “an ethnic version of McCathyism.” He was successfully sued for defamation by one of the falsely accused rapists, a white assistant district attorney named Steven Pagones. Decades later, Sharpton still refuses to admit the case was a hoax, or to apologize for the damage and racial divisiveness the case generated. Sharpton has been involved in a series of other causes celebres, including the “Central Park jogger” case (1990), Crown Heights case (1991), and the Amadou Diallo case (1999), among others.
In 1991, Sharpton founded his own civil rights organization, the National Action Network, which he continues to run today. He has run for political office in several unsuccessful bids: as a candidate for the New York State Senate (1978), the U.S. Senate (1992 and 1994); the mayoralty of New York City (1997), and the U.S. presidency (2004). A fiery and charismatic speaker known for his incisive wit and unapologetic dandyism, Sharpton has been criticized for his relentless self-promotion, which sometimes overshadows his causes. While his supporters view him as an eloquent and fearless spokesman for African Americans, his critics contend that his demagogic tactics have bred alienation and mistrust, and have in fact been destructive to black civil rights. In recent years, Sharpton has attempted to transform himself into a more mainstream political figure, and has toned down his image and rhetoric.
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
More on Al Sharpton Jr from Infoplease: | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36456000 |
The purpose of the conversation is nothing more than the following: advice to each other to correct a certain shortcoming; ask a question to each other; ask each other to complete a task; to understand the idea to the work for each other; familiar with each other's psychological characteristics. To this end, you should prevent to leave the conversation purpose.
First, you should be good to use polite language. Courtesy is the reveal of the feelings to respect others, and the guide wire of the conversation for each other. People are very keen to feel the politeness. There is an excellent conductor, and in each trip, she always first says please, and ends with thank. In this way, the entire carriages of passengers feel warm, and in the harmonious atmosphere, nobody fights or robs the seat.
Second, you should be patient to listen to the conversation, and express the interest. When you talk with others, you should be good at using your own attitude, facial expressions, inserted language and exclamations. For example, a slight smile, endorsed by nodding and so on will make the conversation more harmonious. Never look around, be absent-minded, or from time to time to see watches, or do other things.
Third, you should be good to reflect each others feelings. If the other side of the conversation worries about something, you should begin with a sympathetic to say: I understand your feelings, if it was me, I will also so. This will make each other feel you respect his feelings, so that forming a sympathetic and an atmosphere of trust, so, your advice is also easy to work.
Fourth, you should be good to make your own equivalent to each other. Human beings have a tendency to believe that the insiders, an experienced talker always commensurate with each other, even for the sitting posture, he always tries to give each other psychologically compatible with a sense of tone, volume, rhythm. For example, sat side by side is more common with sitting relatively on the psychological sense. Standing upright with lumbar sitting becomes more respect for others than sitting sideways body.
Fifth, you should be good to choose a conversation opportunity. A person in their own or their familiar environment is more convincing than the conversation in an unfamiliar environment; you can use the home advantage in his spare time, but also in the mental state of others with no alert naturally speak, even a few words, but also may get unexpected results.
The donatello ninja turtles, is the perfect game which covers one and all, with its potential viewers, and also it helps to get more fans who are said to be addicts , and try to watch the latest editions too in a well versed manner.. ReadBy: Alan Expert | 2013-05-14
Content being the King, it is important for a website to have unique, fresh, crisp and informative content for its success. This is possible by hiring a content writing company that can make a difference. Content writing services India has the ability of doing so for online success of a business.. ReadBy: Dimensioniseo | 2013-05-08
Psychology expert Shijing Jie said around us you can often hear some middle-aged man said they were old. From the physiological structure point of view, their physical condition is ager than the young people; it not means that they are really old.. ReadBy: Toryyang | 2013-05-02
Content Writing Services are extensively used these days for promoting the product of the company on the internet. So for the reason, the content is developed after rigorous research and deep analysis of the product.. ReadBy: Dimensioniseo | 2013-04-29
Today, it's still a time that people turn pale at the mention of cancer. Because of some bad living habits in life, it is likely to lead to cancer. There are several common cancer-causing foods around you, and you definitely have eaten.. ReadBy: Toryyang | 2011-10-07 | Food and Beverage
Many people often feel throat itching, dryness, burning, painful and cough. These are the typical symptoms of chronic pharyngitis. There are several bad habits in our daily life will lead to this disease.. ReadBy: Toryyang | 2011-05-04 | Health
During spring and summer, office ladies have few exercise and they often turn on the air conditioning, which is easy to make them feel tired. Some experts said women are more prone to fatigue as 3 times as men.. ReadBy: Toryyang | 2011-04-30 | Wellness | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36458000 |
How our information is produced: Our methods
"Evidence-based" means: supported by scientific evidence and proof. Most people who are interested in evidence-based health information already know this. Yet: How is our evidence-based health information actually produced in detail? What individual steps are necessary? Who reviews or tests the contents? How does the information stay up-to-date? We explain our methods using an easy-to-read diagram.
Read more here to find out about how we produce evidence-based information
The basic principles of evidence-based medicine
Do you know the trick with the spoon in the top of the champagne bottle? A spoon put into an opened champagne bottle is supposed to keep the champagne fresh and bubbly for longer. How can you test if that is true? And what has that got to do with evidence-based medicine?
Read more here about the basics of evidence-based medicine
Why is it important for people to be "randomized" in trials?
The story of an important large randomized trial from 1954 shows the importance of "randomizing" people in trials. The trial tested the use of high levels of oxygen in incubators for preterm babies and found that it was causing blindness in many babies. This was used for many years without being adequately tested.
A cautionary tale of medically-caused blindness
Is it possible to find out in trials whether a treatment has a benefit based solely on measured data?
Readings like blood pressure or cholesterol levels are important in the field of medicine. But can they also predict how a particular treatment affects events that are critical to patients, like heart attacks or broken bones?
You can read more here about the use of readings in testing treatments | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36459000 |
August 9, 2010
Shoppers could see the cost of the meat and poultry in their baskets rise as the price of barley has more than doubled over the past six weeks due to continued fears over the drought affecting Russia and Ukraine.
Russia is the world’s second largest producer of barley after the EU and the cereal crop is used by many farmers as animal feed. The recent price rise could also have a possible knock-on effect on the cost of beer as a significant proportion of the remainder of barley production goes into the brewing trade on both sides of the Atlantic.
Barley is the latest commodity to see a dramatic price rise in recent weeks.
The worst drought for generations in Russia has already caused a 50% jump in the price of wheat, the world’s most-consumed cereal, since June, and last week president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would freeze grain exports. Attention is also being focused on Australia, the world’s fourth largest exporter of wheat, where this year’s crop may be hit by dry weather in Western Australia, which accounts for 40% of exports. Prices have also been put under pressure by very wet weather in Canada at planting time, which reduced acreage.
This article was posted: Monday, August 9, 2010 at 1:31 pm | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36460000 |
About 4,200 athletes from about 165 countries competed for medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games impressively demonstrating the high standards of international disabled sport. One example of this was the 24:50, 22 minutes that it took former Formula 1 racing driver Alessandro Zanardi to cover the specified 16km in the hand bike time trial to win the gold medal.
Whereas sports equipment such as hand bikes are individually built and totally customised to the specific requirements of the athletes and their physical impairment, as far as their clothing is concerned they frequently only have access to the ready-made clothes for able-bodied athletes. Within the framework of the research project (AiF-Nr. 17377 N), scientists at the Hohenstein Institute in Bönnigheim are aiming to optimise functionality and comfort of sportswear for wheelchair users.
Project leader Anke Klepser ascertained the physical dimensions of male wheelchair basket ball players and hand bikers: “By choosing these particular sports we are covering both indoor and outdoor sports which means that our research results can also be adapted to other sports disciplines.
A further benefit is that we are examining two different body postures, the more horizontal body position of the hand bikers and the upright sitting position of the wheelchair basketball players and this enables any results to be easily transferred to other sports.” The test persons were measured once in a stationary 3D Bodyscanner in their usual wheelchair and then also with a handscanner in their respective sports wheelchair.
Back in the 1980s clothing technology experts had already captured the physical dimensions of wheelchair users in order to improve the fit of everyday clothing. With the assistance of today's 3D scanner technology first of all the body can be captured in full and then a virtual twin (avatar) can be compiled which can be used to measure on the computer, as required, individual body measurements such as the back, legs or arms.
An important objective of the project is to use the measurement data to optimise the cuts and seam lines of sportswear. But also the physiological comfort, or in other words, the ability of the textiles to absorb body sweat and divert it away from the body as well as the heat insulation of the materials should also be adapted to the specific requirements of the athletes. Skin irritations caused by mechanical actions such as intensive friction of the arms on the upper body should be minimised in the demonstration/functional samples that are to be developed.
The sitting position of wheelchair users in particular creates specific requirements for clothing cuts. In order to achieve a horizontal waistband fit, the back part of the trousers must be cut longer than the front. The horizontal position of the handbikers on the other hand requires the exact opposite in functionalities if the sportswear is to sit in the optimum position. In the majority of wheelchair athletes the upper body and arms are very muscular which must be taken into consideration in the design of shirts and jackets. To create a good fit with extensive freedom of movement, the clothing items should therefore have adapted seam lines.
In addition to the anatomical specifics, as part of their project, the researchers also collated those special requirements which arise from the sports commitment of the athletes. Therefore, in addition to the 3D scanner measurements, Anke Klepser has also conducted a survey to collate the optimisation wishes of the test persons. For instance, the hand bikers said that they would like to see a narrow lower leg trouser width which would offer them better head wind protection.
The scientists also had to consider the specific requirements of disabled athletes in relation to the diversion of body sweat, also known as clothing moisture management. Due to the position of the back or back of the thigh which is in close contact with the hand bike or wheel chair, moisture can very quickly get trapped. This could be avoided through the use of various suitable materials and functional designs in these areas (Comfort-Mapping)
In contrast to this, depending on the type and degree of the spinal cord injury, for the majority of wheelchair athletes, the paralysis of the extremities is also linked to a restricted functionality of the body's own temperature control. For example, quadriplegics whose legs and arms are affected to a greater or lesser extent by the paralysis, do not sweat or only sweat to a limited extent and run the risk, especially in the case of very high external temperatures and/or high physical exertion, of suffering a circulatory collapse due to the body overheating. Water applied externally to the clothing can help in such cases by ensuring the necessary cooling through evaporation. Anke Klepser and her team also had to consider other specific aspects in their research work. "The clothing requirements for wheelchair athletes are extremely variable and complex. We hope that our data and information will form the basis for many optimised products which will make life easier for the athletes and will support them appropriately in their outstanding achievements. It is expected that the results of the project will be available for interested manufacturers from early 2014.
Phone: +49 7143 271-325
Rose-Marie Riedl | Source: Hohenstein Institute
Further information: www.hohenstein.de
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Researchers have shown that, by using global positioning systems (GPS) to measure ground deformation caused by a large underwater earthquake, they can provide accurate warning of the resulting tsunami in just a few minutes after the earthquake onset.
For the devastating Japan 2011 event, the team reveals that the analysis of the GPS data and issue of a detailed tsunami alert would have taken no more than three minutes. The results are published on 17 May in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, an open access journal of ...
A new study of glaciers worldwide using observations from two NASA satellites has helped resolve differences in estimates of how fast glaciers are disappearing and contributing to sea level rise.
The new research found glaciers outside of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, repositories of 1 percent of all land ice, lost an average of 571 trillion pounds (259 trillion kilograms) of mass every year during the six-year study period, making the oceans rise 0.03 inches (0.7 mm) per year. ...
About 99% of the world’s land ice is stored in the huge ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland, while only 1% is contained in glaciers.
However, the meltwater of glaciers contributed almost as much to the rise in sea level in the period 2003 to 2009 as the two ice sheets: about one third. This is one of the results of an international study with the involvement of geographers from the University of Zurich.
Second sound is a quantum mechanical phenomenon, which has been observed only in superfluid helium.
Physicists from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Trento, Italy, have now proven the propagation of such a temperature wave in a quantum gas. The scientists have published their historic findings in the journal Nature.
Below a critical temperature, certain fluids become superfluid ...
Researchers use synthetic silicate to stimulate stem cells into bone cells
In new research published online May 13, 2013 in Advanced Materials, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) are the first to report that synthetic silicate nanoplatelets (also known as layered clay) can induce stem cells to become bone cells without the need of additional bone-inducing factors.
Synthetic silicates are made ...
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08.05.2013 | Event News | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36462000 |
So when is a chicken not a chicken? When it ducks!
You might be wondering how in the world that pathetic old joke is relevant to those spinning little (or big) fans in your computer case. If you’re a custom PC builder, be it for the sweet sound of silence, or for some rage against the machine overclocking, if there’s one thing that you know, it’s fans. Electronics don’t like to be hot, and whether it’s moving air over a heatsink or moving air over a liquid cooling radiator, at some point you just have to transfer the heat that computer parts generate into the air. That means you need Ye Olde Whirling Dervish, AKA a fan.
But fans are tricky. You’re often limited to the size of the fan that you can use, which reduces their efficiency. The speed that they run at and the design of the fan blades determine all sorts of factors from the amount of air moved, to the pressure of the air, to the focus cone of how the air moves, to the amount of power the fans consume, to the noise that they make as the blades spin around going whir whir whir. And then there’s the bearing design. How long will the fan really last? When it comes to PCs, fans are a tricky business!
But what if your fan … wasn’t a fan?
General Electric has developed an interesting novel approach to moving air in consumer electronics, which they based not on Ye Olde Whirling Dervish, but on a bellows. Taking a concept from their commercial jet engines, GE used tiny ceramic piezoelectronics and two 40mm x 40mm metal plates to make what they call a Dual Piezo Cooling Jet (DCJ).
The little buggers are smaller than fans, move more air, use less electricity, and make so little noise as to be virtually inaudible. And with no bearings to grind, in theory they’ll last longer too! Allegedly they don’t even gather dust. In theory they’re better all-around than any fan.
Now, you’re probably thinking, “Sounds great! Where can I get a DCJ?” that’s where problems start to come in. Because GE isn’t really interested in manufacturing and selling the DCJs themselves. They’re only promoting the intellectual property. GE is presently demonstrating DCJs to manufacturers and so far have licensed the design to only one company: Fujikura LTD of Japan. So it may be some time yet before you can buy one.
There’s also another problem: the way that they work. As you watch their video, you realize one really important thing, DCJs are thin. Like really really thin. Sure, they create a jet of air, but how often in a big PC case do you need a really tiny Jetstream? If you want a big fan, or need to cover a lot of area, the DCJ may not be for you. They look to create a very concentrated little jetstream. Sure, it moves air, but how many of the little buggers do you need to cover as much area as you want? And in the case of an exhaust fan, what’ll it feel like to be the person who dares to walk behind the computer? So there may be a few features that need tweaking for PC use. It’s a design that’ll work great in super-thin devices, like smartphones, tablets, and ultrabooks. I’m not so convinced about larger consumer electronics though. Not without a serious rethink of how air moves in the device. I don’t see someone fitting a DCJ into any traditional fan slot. They just work too differently, moving air along a completely different axis.
I’m also not sure that I like the idea of my cellphone having a fan.
Still, it’s interesting, isn’t it? We could find that five years from now the Dual Piezo Cooling Jet may just have completely revolutionized consumer electronics airflow designs. I can already see a few of my old theoretical computer case designs that I’d been thinking about for silence that didn’t work well with traditional spinning fans would work quite the treat with DCJs. They’d finally become reasonable designs. Makes me wish I had the money to patent a few case designs and manufacture them.
It also makes me wonder, if they can move air so much more efficiently, and air is just a fluid (as far as the physics of fluid dynamics are concerned) how about an adaptation to water? And if that works, what about other liquids? From better water cooling rigs in PCs to fuel injection in cars, just how many things could DCJs actually revolutionize? Has anyone at GE even thought through all of the potential implications and applications?
And just how big can these be made and still work right?
Beats me! But I can’t wait to find out. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36466000 |
Interrupt the execution of an expression and allow the inspection of the environment where
browser was called from.
browser(text = "", condition = NULL, expr = TRUE, skipCalls = 0L)
- a text string that can be retrieved once the browser is invoked.
- a condition that can be retrieved once the browser is invoked.
- An expression, which if it evaluates to
TRUEthe debugger will invoked, otherwise control is returned directly.
- how many previous calls to skip when reporting the calling context.
A call to
browser can be included in the body of a function. When reached, this causes a pause in the execution of the current expression and allows access to the R interpreter.
The purpose of the
condition arguments are to allow helper programs (e.g. external debuggers) to insert specific values here, so that the specific call to browser (perhaps its location in a source file) can be identified and special processing can be achieved. The values can be retrieved by calling
The purpose of the
expr argument is to allow for the illusion of conditional debugging. It is an illusion, because execution is always paused at the call to browser, but control is only passed to the evaluator described below if
expr evaluates to
TRUE. In most cases it is going to be more efficient to use an
if statement in the calling program, but in some cases using this argument will be simpler.
skipCalls argument should be used when the
browser() call is nested within another debugging function: it will look further up the call stack to report its location.
At the browser prompt the user can enter commands or R expressions, followed by a newline. The commands are
- (or just an empty line, by default) exit the browser and continue execution at the next statement.
- synonym for
- enter the step-through debugger if the function is interpreted. This changes the meaning of
c: see the documentation for
debug. For byte compiled functions
nis equivalent to
- print a stack trace of all active function calls.
- exit the browser and the current evaluation and return to the top-level prompt.
(Leading and trailing whitespace is ignored, except for an empty line).
Anything else entered at the browser prompt is interpreted as an R expression to be evaluated in the calling environment: in particular typing an object name will cause the object to be printed, and
ls() lists the objects in the calling frame. (If you want to look at an object with a name such as
n, print it explicitly.)
The number of lines printed for the deparsed call can be limited by setting
TRUE disables the use of an empty line as a synonym for
c. If this is done, the user will be re-prompted for input until a valid command or an expression is entered.
This is a primitive function but does argument matching in the standard way.
Becker, R. A., Chambers, J. M. and Wilks, A. R. (1988) The New S Language. Wadsworth & Brooks/Cole.
Chambers, J. M. (1998) Programming with Data. A Guide to the S Language. Springer.
Documentation reproduced from R 2.15.3. License: GPL-2. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36467000 |
Last reviewed by Faculty of Harvard Medical School on January 24, 2013
By Harvey B. Simon, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
Regular exercise has enormous health benefits. Most importantly, it reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and premature death. And that's not all. Many studies link physical activity to protection against:
- High blood pressure
- Osteoporosis and fractures
- Colon cancer, breast cancer and possibly prostate cancer.
Despite all these benefits, only about one in four American adults gets the exercise they need to promote health. People have many excuses for not exercising. One excuse concerns the belief that exercise causes arthritis. Is this true or not?
Back to top
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
Couch potatoes have many excuses to explain their sedentary ways. Lack of time is the most common. The belief that exercise is too hard is a close second. But neither excuse is very convincing. All it takes is 30 minutes of moderate exercise nearly every day to promote health.
What about the arthritis excuse? Recent studies show that exercise can be safe for joints, both in older, overweight folks and in athletes.
Even if it were true, it might be wise to accept aching knees as the price for a healthy heart, brain and metabolism (cholesterol, blood sugar, body fat and muscle).
Back to top
Should Runners Worry?
Running, in particular, is considered to be hard on the body. Unlike walking, running is a high-impact exercise. It's simply a matter of gravity: What goes up must come down.
Walkers have one foot on the ground at all times, while joggers and runners are entirely airborne for part of every stride. Each time a foot hits the ground, it puts a stress equal to eight times the body's weight on a person's feet, legs, hips and neck. In just one mile, a runner's legs will have to absorb tons and tons of force from the impact.
Running actually causes relatively few physical problems. It's a testament to the wonderful construction of the human body. The faster the pace, however, the greater the impact and the greater the risk of injury. But that doesn't mean that running will cause arthritis. In fact, new studies provide reassurance that exercise, and particularly running, are safe for healthy joints. Exercise may even help joints stay healthy.
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What the Research Shows
Framingham Offspring Cohort
In 1948, more than 5,200 residents of Framingham, MA volunteered for the Framingham Heart Study. This study has given us major insights into the causes of heart attack and stroke. In 1971, scientists began a new study of the children of the original volunteers and the spouses of those children. Between 1993 and 1994, 1,279 members of the Framingham Offspring Cohort enrolled in a study of exercise and arthritis. The average age of participants was 53.
All of the volunteers were free of arthritis when the study began. Each answered detailed questions about their patterns of exercise, including walking, jogging, being active enough to work up a sweat and their overall exercise level. Everyone provided information about knee injuries and symptoms of knee pain and stiffness. In addition, participants were weighed and measured, and had a full series of knee X-rays.
Between 2002 and 2005, the subjects again answered questions about knee pain and injury and had another set of X-rays. All the X-rays were independently evaluated by two experts who didn't know the subjects' exercise histories. When the results were tallied, the researchers found no link between exercise and arthritis of the knee. The most active people had the same risk of arthritis as the least active, both in terms of symptoms and X-ray abnormalities. Exercise was as friendly to the knees of joggers as walkers, even though jogging subjects the lower body to much higher impact and stress than walking. And even though obesity is an important risk factor for arthritis, physically active overweight members of the study group fared just as well as their slim peers.
High-Tech Australian Study
The Framingham study goes a long way toward dispelling the idea that exercise causes arthritis. But it did not confirm the hope that exercise might actually be good for joints.
In osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the joints starts to wear away. Because cartilage does not have its own blood supply, it must get its nutrients from the joint fluid that bathes it. Exercise compresses joints, forcing more nutrient-rich fluid into cartilage. Perhaps, then, repetitive exercise is good for joints.
Australian researchers studied 297 men and women who were between the ages of 40 and 69 when the study began in the early 1990s. All were healthy and had no histories of knee injuries or disease. The volunteers were weighed and measured, and they provided detailed information about their exercise habits and joint symptoms. The evaluations were repeated between 2003 and 2004; each subject also had a knee MRI.
The results showed that people who performed the most vigorous weight-bearing exercise had the thickest, healthiest knee cartilage.
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The Knees of Long-Distance Runners
The Framingham study is important because it evaluated a group of ordinary people just like many of us: middle-aged, often overweight, and not overly athletic adults. But how about serious long-distance runners? A 2008 study that compared 284 dedicated runners with 156 non-runners found little evidence that exercise causes arthritis. After a remarkably long 21-year follow-up period, the runners actually experienced significantly less musculoskeletal disability than did their sedentary peers and the runners also enjoyed a 39% lower mortality rate.
The new research is impressive and confirms earlier studies. Former varsity runners, for example, are no more likely to develop arthritis in their legs than former college swimmers. Champion runners are no more likely to end up with arthritic hips than non-athletes.
If exercise is so safe for joints, why do so many retired football players appear in advertisements for arthritis medication?
The answer is traumatic injury. A joint injury can seem to heal completely, but residual damage can slowly progress to arthritis later in life.
A study of 1,321 Johns Hopkins Medical School graduates proves the point. Nearly 14% of doctors who suffered hip injuries during their student years developed hip arthritis by age 65. Only 6% of those without hip injuries developed arthritis. A knee injury in youth was even more significant, producing a fivefold increase in the risk of arthritis of the knee in adults.
With care, jogging and running can be safe and enjoyable. The main rules are familiar: Start slowly, build up gradually, alternate harder and easier work outs, and listen to your body. Here are a few additional tips: | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36469000 |
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Diseases and Conditions
What Is It?
A phobia is a persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity or situation. It is a type of anxiety disorder. A person with a phobia either tries to avoid the thing that triggers the fear, or endures it with great anxiety and distress.
Some phobias are very specific and limited. For example, a person may fear only spiders (arachnophobia) or cats (galeophobia). In this case, the person lives relatively free of anxiety by avoiding the thing he or she fears. Some phobias cause trouble in a wider variety of places or situations. For example, symptoms of acrophobia (fear of heights) can be triggered by looking out the window of an office building or by driving over a high bridge. The fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia) can be triggered by riding in an elevator or by using a small restroom. People with these phobias may need to alter their lives drastically. In extreme cases, the phobia may dictate the person's employment, job location, driving route, recreational and social activities, or home environment.
There are three major types of phobia:
- Specific phobia (simple phobia). With this most common form of phobia, people may fear specific animals (such as dogs, cats, spiders, snakes), people (such as clowns, dentists, doctors), environments (such as dark places, thunderstorms, high places) or situations (such as flying in a plane, riding on a train, being in a confined space). These conditions are at least partly genetic (inherited) and seem to run in families.
- Social phobia (social anxiety disorder). People with social phobia fear social situations where they may be humiliated, embarrassed or judged by others. They become particularly anxious when unfamiliar people are involved. The fear may be limited to performance, such as giving a lecture, concert or business presentation. Or it may be more generalized, so that the phobic person avoids many social situations, such as eating in public or using a public restroom. Social phobia seems to run in families. People who have been shy or solitary as children, or who have a history of unhappy or negative social experiences in childhood, seem more likely to develop this disorder.
- Agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is a fear of being in public places where it would be difficult or embarrassing to make a sudden exit. A person with agoraphobia may avoid going to a movie or a concert, or traveling on a bus or a train. In many cases, he or she also has repeated, unexpected panic attacks (intense fear and a set of uncomfortable physical symptoms -- trembling, heart palpitations and sweating).
Childhood phobias occur most commonly between the ages of 5 and 9, and tend to last a short while. Most longer-lasting phobias begin later in life, especially in people in their 20s. Adult phobias tend to last for many years, and they are less likely to go away on their own. Without proper treatment, phobia can increase an adult's risk of other types of psychiatric illness, especially other anxiety disorders, depression and substance abuse.
The symptoms of phobia are:
- Excessive, unreasonable, persistent feelings of fear or anxiety that are triggered by a particular object, activity or situation. The feelings are either irrational or out of proportion to any actual threat. For example, while anyone may be afraid of an unrestrained, menacing dog, most people do not run away from a calm, quiet animal on a leash.
- Anxiety-related physical symptoms. These can include tremors, palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea or other symptoms that reflect the body's "fight or flight" response to danger.
- Avoidance of the object, activity or situation that triggers the phobia. Because people who have phobias recognize that their fears are exaggerated, they are often ashamed or embarrassed about their symptoms. To prevent anxiety symptoms or embarrassment, they avoid the triggers for the phobia.
A mental health professional is likely to ask about current symptoms and family history, particularly whether other family members have had phobias. You may want to report any experience or trauma that may have set off the phobia -- for example, a dog attack leading to a fear of dogs.
It may be helpful to discuss how you react -- your thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms -- when you are confronted with the thing you fear. Also, describe what you do to avoid fearful situations, and how the phobia affects your daily life, including your job and your personal relationships.
Your doctor will ask about depression and substance use because many people with phobias have these problems as well.
In children, specific phobias can be short-term problems that disappear within a few months. In adults, about 80% of new phobias become chronic (long-term) conditions that do not go away without proper treatment.
There is no way to prevent a phobia from starting. However, treatment can reduce the negative impact of the disorder.
Treatment usually includes some combination of psychotherapy and medication:
- Specific phobia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help, especially a procedure called either desensitization therapy or exposure therapy. This technique involves gradually increasing your exposure to the thing you fear, at your own pace, under controlled circumstances. As you are exposed to the object, you are taught to master your fear through relaxation, breathing control or other anxiety-reducing strategies. For short-term treatment of phobias, your doctor may prescribe an antianxiety medication. If the phobia is confronted only occasionally, as in a fear of flying, the use of medication can be limited.
- Social phobia. If your social phobia centers on one particular performance (for example, giving a lecture or playing in a concert), your doctor may prescribe a medication called a beta-blocker such as propranolol (Inderal). This medicine can be taken just prior to the performance. It dampens the physical effects of anxiety (pounding heart or trembling fingers), but usually does not affect the mental sharpness needed for speaking or the physical dexterity needed for playing an instrument. For more generalized or long-term forms of social phobia, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant, usually an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) such as sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) or fluoxetine (Prozac). If an SSRI is not effective, your doctor may prescribe an alternative antidepressant or antianxiety medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also works well for many people with social phobia, in both individual and group settings.
- Agoraphobia. The treatment for this disorder is similar to the treatment for panic disorder. Drug treatment includes SSRI antidepressants or older antidepressants, such as clomipramine (Anafranil) and imipramine (Tofranil) and benzodiazepine antianxiety medications, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). Psychotherapy is also helpful, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy.
When To Call a Professional
Make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible if you are troubled by fears or anxieties that are disturbing your peace of mind; interfering with your personal relationships; or preventing you from functioning normally at home, school or work.
The outlook is very good for people with specific phobia or social phobia. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, about 75% of people with specific phobias overcome their fears through cognitive-behavioral therapy, while 80% of those with social phobia find relief from medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy or a combination.
When agoraphobia occurs with panic disorder, the prognosis is also good. With appropriate treatment, 30% to 40% of patients become free of symptoms for extended periods, while another 50% continue to experience only mild symptoms that do not significantly affect daily life.
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Last updated February 17, 2011
A phobia is a persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity or situation.
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Stocks are commonly touted as being safe (real returns
greater than 0) over the long run. If you look only at the United States
over the past century, this has been the case for any period greater than 20 years. However, in many other countries, stocks needed to be held for a much longer period in order for this statement to hold true. Furthermore, social and economic conditions in the U.S.
today are very different from those at the beginning of the last century. In the future, the U.S.
may have more difficulty claiming that stocks are safe over the long run - an issue that
has important implications for building portfolios in the twenty-first century. In this article, we examine the reasons behind this change and discuss what it means for the equity premium
(defined as equity return - cash return). (For further reading, see The Equity Risk Premium - Part 1
and Part 2
.)The U.S. and Uncommon Returns
All too often, investors look at historical U.S.
returns as a gauge for future returns. Given that the U.S. saw the largest economic and market growth of any country in the twentieth century, this might not be a prudent strategy, as countries, just like sectors
, eventually rotate in and out of favor. Because of its success, however, the U.S.
has been the most researched market; more long-term quality financial data exists on it than on any other market. This resulting success bias has strongly influenced investors' projected returns. The bull market
of 1982 to 2000 also had an effect on investors' expectations, but given that it was the greatest combined bull market (equities and fixed income) in history, it may
be difficult to repeat any time soon. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, valuation levels on stocks were higher and, therefore, not as compelling as they were at the start of the previous century, and investors hurt during the last bubble may
be much less likely to pay such high premiums in the future. (For background info, read Digging Deeper Into Bull And Bear Markets
Other countries did not share the unprecedented degree of success enjoyed by the U.S. over the twentieth century. According to Elroy Dimson, Paul Marsh and Mike Staunton in their book "Triumph Of The Optimists: 101 Years Of Global Investment Returns" (2002), the U.S.
has seen positive real equity returns for every 20-year period in the last century. The same cannot be said for many other markets; countries such as Japan
, France and Italy
required 50 to 75 years before the same statement could hold true, while the markets of Russia
, China and Germany saw total collapse through confiscation, nationalization and hyperinflation
in the same period. (See What Is An Emerging Market Economy?
) Even though these countries were ravaged by events that were no longer common at the beginning of the twenty-first century, we can't assume that a future global catastrophe (i.e. war, depression or pandemic) could not seriously disrupt the world markets again. (For insight, read The Biggest Market Crashes In History
The graph below charts the relative risk
for various countries in the twentieth century:
It All Comes Down to the Equity Premium
Considering the historical information, what will happen to the equity premium going forward? A strong case can be made for a lower equity premium in the future. Valuations for stocks in the twenty-first century, which far exceed those that existed at the beginning of the last century, provide some evidence of this. For instance, according to Dimson, Marsh and Staunton, the global dividend yield in 1900 was 4.5% - very different from the 1.5% recorded at the end of 2005. Although some of this can be attributed to a shift away from dividend-paying companies, this difference in valuation could explain the high equity premiums realized in the last century, as higher valuations worked their way into those returns. There is also the possibility that valuations could creep back to the lower, historical levels, which would be devastating for future returns.
Statistically, sampling errors exist when return data is limited to only 100 years. For example, there are only five non-overlapping 20-year periods sampled over the last century, and because the data only accounts for one 100-year period, there is no other data to which we can compare it. In other words, 100 years' worth of data may not be enough to be statistically confident about the predictive use of long-term returns from the last century. Finally, proceeding with a lower equity premium and the same historical amount of volatility will
mean longer periods before stocks can be considered safe over the long run.According to Dimson, Marsh and Staunton
, the equity premium in the second half of the twentieth century was twice that of the first half. The post-war years saw unprecedented growth and trade in the global economy, while central bankers
came to better understand the intricacies of monetary policy
. During this time, global investing was a true "free lunch", where you could pick up additional return with little additional risk. This was due to the poor correlation of financial market returns. The financial markets and the world economy were not as integrated as they are today; this has changed dramatically since the 1970s, and global market returns have become more closely correlated. Therefore, this "free lunch" may be harder to realize now. (For further reading see, Broadening The Borders Of Your Portfolio
and Investing Beyond Your Borders
Some argue that long-term equity returns can even be more certain than bond returns. According to Peter L. Bernstein in his article "What Rate Of Return Can You Reasonably Expect ... Or What Can The Long Run Tell Us About The Short Run?" (1997), stock market returns are historically mean reverting
(returns ultimately coming back to their long-run averages), while bonds have not been mean reverting on either a nominal
or a real basis. For example, the bond market in the twentieth century was basically two secular bull markets and bear markets
- there was no mean reversion about it.
Despite this argument, the yields on inflation-protected securities
(another basis for calculating equity premium) were actually dramatically compressed at the beginning of this century, as a glut of global savings resonated throughout the world. Since that time, the world has generally become a much safer place to invest. Shouldn't this relative safety be reflected in lower equity premiums required by investors? At any rate, it certainly helps to explain the increase in valuations in the last half of the twentieth century.
Assuming a lower equity premium in the future, people will
need to change the way they invest. Personal savings will
have to increase to offset lower real returns and real assets
may offer a more viable alternative to financial assets. Finally, sector and stock selection will
become even more important.Conclusion
In terms of market returns, the twentieth century was more favorable to the U.S.
than to most other countries. For these countries, the risk-return tradeoff
for stocks has not been as attractive, and it is more difficult for them to make well-supported claims about the success of holding stocks long term. The conditions that existed for the U.S.
at the beginning of the last century did not exist at the beginning of this century. This may mean a lower equity premium, requiring changes to how much you save and how you invest your money.
To read more, see The Stock Market: A Look Back | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36475000 |
BĀYJŪ (BAIJU or BAIČU), Mongol general and military governor in northwestern Iran (fl. 625/1228-657/1259). He belonged to the Besüt tribe and was a kinsman of Jengiz (Čingis) Khan’s general Jebe (Jaba). He took part in an attack on Isfahan in 625/1228 (Nasawī, Sīrat-e Jalāl-al-Dīn Mangbertī, ed. M. Mīnovī, Tehran, 1343 Š./1965, p. 167), and is subsequently found operating in the Caucasus region under the authority of Čormāḡūn (Jormāḡūn), who had been sent to Iran by the great khan Ögedei (Ūgadäy, q.v.) in 626/1229; the Armenian chronicler Grigor of Akner describes him as Čormāḡūn’s second-in-command (tr. R. P. Blake and R. N. Frye, HJAS 12, 1949, p. 303).
By the latter half of 639/the spring of 1242 Čormāḡūn had grown incapacitated owing to some paralytic disease and Bāyjū replaced him as commander of the Mongol forces in northwestern Iran and Iraq (see P. Jackson, Central Asiatic Journal 22, 1978, pp. 216-17). Almost immediately he began the expansion of Mongol dominion westward into Anatolia (Rūm) with the capture of Erzurum (Erzerum). The defeat of the Saljuq sultan Kayḵosrow II at Kösedağ on 6 Moḥarram 641/26 June 1243 was rapidly followed by the reduction of important fortresses such as Sīvās and Caesarea (Kayseri), and the sultan was obliged to acknowledge Mongol overlordship. During 641-42/1244 smaller detachments were raiding northern Syria, where the Mongols for the first time demanded the submission of the Frankish principality of Antioch (Jackson, English Historical Review 95, 1980, p. 488). News of this advance was presumably what induced Pope Innocent IV, when dispatching embassies to the Mongols in the spring of 1245, to include a mission to the forces operating in the Near East. Led by the Dominican friar Ascelin, this embassy reached Bāyjū’s encampment at Sisian, south of the Araxes, on 24 May 1247 and infuriated the Mongols by its claims concerning papal authority and its refusal to perform the triple genuflection to Bāyjū as the great khan’s representative. Bāyjū meditated executing the envoys but was restrained by members of his household, and the mission finally left him on 25 July, bearing an edict from the great khan Güyüg and a letter from Bāyjū himself for the pope (for this, and Innocent’s reply of 22 November 1248, see K. E. Lupprian, Die Beziehungen der Päpste zu islamischen und mongolischen Herrschern im 13. Jahrhundert, Vatican City, 1981, nos. 33, 35).
During the interregnum following the death of Ögedei in 639/1241 Bāyjū appears to have been subordinated to the late sovereign’s nephew Batu (Ebn al-ʿAmīd, ed. Cl. Cahen in Bulletin d’études orientales de l’Institut français deDamas 15, 1955-57, p. 130), Güyüg’s rival, who dominated the steppes north of the Caucasus (see golden horde). For this reason Güyüg transferred overall military command in the Near East to Eljigidei (Īḷčīkadāy) and Bāyjū was thereby demoted. Eljigidei’s envoys to St. Louis, who arrived in Cyprus around this time in preparation for the Seventh Crusade, were at pains to explain Bāyjū’s attitude toward Ascelin’s party on the grounds that Bāyjū, unlike their new master, was a pagan and was surrounded by Muslim advisers (L. d’Achery, Spicilegium sive collectio veterum aliquot scriptorum, new ed. E. Baluze et al., Paris, 1723, III, p. 627); but there is little doubt that Bāyjū had been acting in the customary fashion and that Eljigidei was simulating friendship toward the Franks in order to deflect the crusade from any campaign near Mongol-occupied territory. In any event, Güyüg having died in April, 1248, Eljigidei was arrested and executed on Batu’s orders in 649/1251 for his opposition to the election of the new great khan Möngke (Mangū), and Bāyjū was restored to his command. All we know of his military activities during this period is that he conducted a punitive campaign in Georgia in 647/1249 (Galstyan, p. 35) and in Rabīʿ I, 650/May-June, 1252, invested Mayyāfāreqīn, only to raise the siege on Batu’s instructions (Ebn Šaddād, al-Aʿlāq al-ḵaṭīra, Bodleian Library MS Marsh 333, fols. 111v f.).
When Hülegü (Hūlāgū) advanced westward, Bāyjū was among the generals placed under his orders. Rašīd-al-Dīn (ed. ʿAlīzāda, pp. 38-39) depicts him as waiting upon Hülegü near Hamadān in the early spring of 655/1257 and being sharply upbraided for his slothfulness, in particular for his failure to move against the caliph at Baghdad. The interview is doubtless apocryphal and the date certainly incorrect, for Bāyjū had already been obliged by this juncture to relinquish to Hülegü’s forces his habitual camping grounds in the Mūḡān (Mogān) steppe and had been sent forward into Anatolia. Here the Saljuq sultan Kaykāvūs II was routed in 654/1256 at Āqsarāy and fled into Byzantine territory, while Bāyjū razed the fortifications of the Saljuq capital at Qonya. Kaykāvūs was shortly restored to his throne on orders from the great khan Möngke, jointly with his more amenable brother Qilij Arslān IV, on whose behalf we find Bāyjū in the autumn of 655/1257 reducing the fortress of Malatya (Bar Hebraeus, p. 426). Later that year Bāyjū was recalled by Hülegü to participate in the campaign which took Baghdad in Ṣafar, 656/February, 1258, and in which he appears to have distinguished himself.
Bāyjū is last mentioned in the context of Hülegü’s preparations in Ramażān, 657/September, 1259, for the invasion of Syria (Rašīd-al-Dīn, ed. ʿAlīzāda, p. 68). In his history of the Turkish and Mongol tribes Rašīd-al-Dīn says that he was executed and his command given to Čormāḡūn’s son Širemün (ed. Romaskevič, p. 561). No date is supplied for this event, but it may be connected with Hülegü’s move against the contingents from the Golden Horde which were operating in Iran alongside his own, and with the consequent outbreak of war in the Caucasus between himself and Berke Khan in 659/1261 (see Jackson, Central Asiatic Journal 22, pp. 232-33). Bāyjū must take the credit for the consolidation of Mongol rule in Azerbaijan, the area that was later to constitute the heartlands of the empire of the Il-khans, and his campaigns in Anatolia, effectively destroying the Saljuqs’ power, were responsible for dramatic political changes which ultimately facilitated the rise of Ottomans.
Primary sources: Ascelin’s mission is narrated in Simon de Saint-Quentin. Histoire des Tartares, ed. J. Richard, Paris, 1965, pp. 93-117.
Bar Hebraeus, tr. E. A. Wallis Budge, The Chronography of Gregory Abu’l-Faraj, Oxford and London, 1932, I, pp. 424-30.
A. G. Galstyan, Armyanskie istochniki o Mongolakh, Moscow, 1962, passim. Rašīd-al-Dīn, Jāmeʿ al-tawārīk², Moscow, I, pp. 561-62 (Russ. tr. L. A. Khetagurov, Sbornik letopiseĭ, Moscow and Leningrad, I/1, 1952, pp. 195-96); Baku, III, passim. Secondary sources: G. Altunian, Die Mongolen und ihre Eroberungen in kaukasischen und kleinasiatischen Ländern im XIII. Jahrhundert, Berlin, 1911, pp. 38-43.
J. A. Boyle, in Camb. Hist. Iran V, pp. 346-48, 350.
Cl. Cahen, Pre-Ottoman Turkey, tr. J. Jones-Williams, London, 1968, passim.
F. W. Cleaves, “The Mongolian Names and Terms in the History of the Nation of the Archers by Grigor of Akancʿ,” HJAS 12, 1949, pp. 411-13 (on the name).
R. Grousset, L’empire des steppes, 4th ed., Paris, 1965, pp. 328, 421-24.
P. Pelliot, “Les Mongols et la papauté,” Revue de l’Orient Chrétien 24, 1924, pp. 225-335; 28, 1931-32, pp. 3-85.
Originally Published: December 15, 1989
Last Updated: December 15, 1989
This article is available in print.
Vol. IV, Fasc. 1, pp. 1-2 | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36481000 |
High blood pressure
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- Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries (blood vessels). Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood through blood vessels, supplying the body's muscles, organs and tissues with the oxygen and nutrients that they need to function. Over the course of a day, an individual's blood pressure rises and falls transiently many times in response to various stimuli. Elevated blood pressure over a sustained period of time is a condition referred to as hypertension (HTN).
- The American Heart Association estimates that nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. Approximately two-thirds of people over the age of 65 have high blood pressure. Of those people with high blood pressure, 71.8% are aware of their condition. Of all people with high blood pressure, 61.4% are under current treatment, 35.1% have it under control, and 64.9% do not have it controlled.
- The cause of 90-95% of the cases of high blood pressure is not known; however, high blood pressure is easily detected and usually controllable.
- From 1994 to 2004 the death rate from high blood pressure increased 15.5% and the actual number of deaths rose 41.8%.
- Non-Hispanic blacks are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than are non-Hispanic whites.
- Within the African-American community, those with the highest rates of hypertension are more likely to be middle aged or older, less educated, overweight or obese, physically inactive, and diabetic.
- In 2004, the death rates per 100,000 people from high blood pressure were 15.6 for white males, 49.9 for black males, 14.3 for white females and 40.6 for black females.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the prevalence of hypertension exceeds 10% in developed nations.
- High blood pressure increases the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke (lack of blood and oxygen to the brain), which are the leading causes of death among Americans.
Signs and symptoms
- Hypertension is called the silent killer because an individual can have it for years without knowing it. Hypertension rarely causes symptoms at first but is a risk factor for many other conditions including kidney disease and coronary heart disease, which may lead to heart attack and/or stroke (lack of blood and oxygen to the tissues).
- Although it rarely happens, hypertension occasionally causes symptoms such as vertigo (dizziness), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dimmed vision, fatigue (tiredness), palpitations (irregular heart beat), impotence (inability of males to achieve or maintain erection), and fainting. Extremely elevated blood pressure can cause a headache upon awakening or, even more rarely, nosebleed, nausea, or vomiting.
- Hypertensive emergency (malignant hypertension) can be life threatening and has recognizable symptoms that require immediate treatment. Symptoms include blurred vision, headache, confusion, anxiety, drowsiness, fatigue (tiredness), nausea, vomiting, chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, cough, decreased urinary output, and weakness or numbness in the arms, legs, face, or other areas.
- If symptoms of malignant hypertension are noticed, call 911 emergency immediately.
- Blood pressure is measured with a stethoscope (device used to listen to internal sounds) and an inflatable arm cuff and a pressure-measuring gauge called a sphygmomanometer. A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), has two numbers. The first or upper number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure). The second or lower number measures the pressure in the arteries between beats when the chambers of the heart are filling with blood (diastolic pressure). In general, lower blood pressure is better. However, very low blood pressure (hypotension) can sometimes be a cause for concern and should be checked out by a doctor.
- The latest blood pressure (BP) guidelines, issued in 2003 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, divide blood pressure measurements into four general categories including normal (BP below 120/80 mmHg, pre-hypertension (BP of 120-139 systolic and 80-89 diastolic, Stage 1 hypertension (BP of 140-159 systolic and 90-99 diastolic), and Stage 2 hypertension (BP of 160 or higher systolic and 100 or higher diastolic). To get an accurate blood pressure reading, a healthcare professional should evaluate the readings based on the average of two or more blood pressure readings.
- In a doctor's office, blood pressure readings are usually taken when sitting or lying down and relaxed. Healthcare professionals recommend avoiding coffee or cigarettes 30 minutes before having blood pressure taken, wearing short sleeves, and going to the bathroom before the BP reading. Having a full bladder can change the blood pressure reading. They also recommend that patients sit for five minutes before the test.
- Physical examination and blood tests: If hypertension is determined, the doctor may ask questions such as medical history and diet and lifestyle. The doctor may also order various routine tests. Risk factors of high blood pressure are evaluated, including electrolyte levels, such as sodium, potassium and chloride, high cholesterol levels, such as total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides, calcium levels, diabetes (uncontrolled blood sugar levels), medications and supplements the individual is currently taking, and obesity (BMI or body mass index) measurement.
- Excessive and uncontrolled pressure on the artery walls can damage vital organs. The higher the blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage.
- Damage to the arteries: This can result in hardening and thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to a heart attack or other complications. An enlarged, bulging blood vessel (aneurysm) is also possible.
- Heart failure: The heart muscle may have to work harder to pump blood against the higher pressure in the vessels, leading to increasing heart muscle thickness. Eventually, the thickened muscle may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet the body's needs, which can lead to chronic heart failure (CHF).
- Stroke: Excessive blood pressure can lead to a blocked or ruptured blood vessel in the brain, leading to a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain (stroke).
- Metabolic syndrome: This syndrome is a cluster of disorders of the body's metabolism, including increase waist circumference, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good" cholesterol), high blood pressure, and high insulin levels. The more components an individual has, the greater the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, or stroke.
- Hypertensive nephropathy:
Weakened and narrowed blood vessels in the kidneys can develop, leading to the inability of these organs to function normally.
- Hypertensive retinopathy: Thickened, narrowed, or torn blood vessels in the eyes can develop, which may result in vision loss.
- Cognitive impairment: Chronic (long term) or acute (immediate) high blood pressure can impair the ability to think, remember, and learn.
- Pre-eclampsia: Pre-eclampsia, or high blood pressure and protein in the urine during pregnancy, is diagnosed through blood pressure checks, which are routine at prenatal visits. A doctor will also order a test to determine whether protein is in the urine (albumin test). A rapid increase in blood pressure is a sign that the individual may be developing pre-eclampsia.
- Endothelial dysfunction: Endothelial dysfunction is a malfunction of the endothelium, the cells that line the inner surface of all blood vessels including arteries and veins. Normal functions of endothelial cells include helping with coagulation (blood clotting), platelet adhesion (also involved in clotting), immune function, control of fluid and electrolyte content in and out of the cells. Endothelial dysfunction can result from high blood pressure. High blood pressure causes the blood vessels to become stiff and less able to constrict (narrow) and dilate (expand). Other causes include septic shock (inability of the tissues to get blood and oxygen), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), diabetes, and environmental factors such as cigarette smoking. Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a key event in the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), leading to heart attacks.
- Treating high blood pressure can help prevent serious and life-threatening complications. A doctor also may suggest steps to control conditions that can contribute to high blood pressure, such as diabetes and high cholesterol.
- Evidence suggests that reduction of the blood pressure by 5 to 6mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 40%, of coronary heart disease by 15-20%, and reduces the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from vascular disease.
- Blood pressure goals are not the same for everyone. Although everyone should strive for blood pressure readings below 140/90mmHg, doctors recommend lower readings for people with certain conditions. The goal is 130/80mmHg if the patient has or has had chronic kidney disease or diabetes.
- Diuretics: These medications act on the kidneys to help the body eliminate sodium and water, thereby reducing blood volume. Thiazide diuretics, including hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ or Hydrodiuril®), is often the first choice of medicine in treating high blood pressure. In a 2006 study, diuretics were a key factor in preventing heart failure associated with high blood pressure. Adverse effects of thiazide diuretics include sexual dysfunction, glucose intolerance, gout, elevated potassium level, and low sodium level (hyponatremia). Other diuretics include loop diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix®) and bumetanide (Bumex®), and potassium-sparing diuretics (keep potassium from being depleted from the body) including amiloride (Midamor®) and triamterene (Maxzide®).
- Beta blockers: These medications reduce the workload on the heart, causing the heart to beat slower and with less force. When prescribed alone, beta blockers don't work as well in African Americans, but they're effective when combined with a thiazide diuretic in these individuals. Beta blockers include propranolol (Inderal®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol®) or atenolol (Tenormin®). Side effects associated with the use of beta blockers include nausea, diarrhea, bronchospasm (spasm of the bronchial tubes), dyspnea (difficulty breathing), cold extremities (fingers, toes), bradycardia (slow heat rate), hypotension (low blood pressure), fatigue (tiredness), dizziness, abnormal vision, decreased concentration, hallucinations, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), nightmares, depression, sexual dysfunction (lack of interest in sex), erectile dysfunction (inability to achieve or maintain an erection in men), and/or alteration of glucose and cholesterol metabolism. These drugs may worsen blood glucose control, elevate triglyceride levels, and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good" cholesterol).
- Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors or ACEI):
Oral angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), including lisinopril (Prinivil®, Zestril®), benazepril (Lotensin®), captopril (Capoten®), and enalapril (Vasotec®), dilate blood vessels and increase oxygen to the heart. Angiotensin is made when the kidneys receive a signal to raise blood pressure. ACE inhibitors prevent or reduce the production of angiotensin, which keeps vessels from narrowing and helps them relax. This relaxation lowers blood pressure and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. ACE inhibitors may be especially important in treating high blood pressure in people with coronary artery disease, heart failure or kidney failure. Like beta blockers, ACE inhibitors do not work as well in African Americans when prescribed alone, but seem to be more effective when combined with a thiazide diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide. Contra-indications to ACE inhibitor use include hypotension (low blood pressure) and declining kidney function with ACE inhibitor use. The use of an ACE inhibitor four to six weeks after a heart attack is recommended for patients with congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, hypertension (high blood pressure), or diabetes.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). ARBs work similarly to ACE inhibitors. However, instead of inhibiting the production of the angiotensin enzyme in the kidneys, they block the effects of angiotensin on cell receptor membranes. They are more effective than ACE inhibitors in treating some people who have high blood pressure. They are particularly useful for treating high blood pressure in individuals who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors well. ARBs include irbesartan (Avapro®), candesartan (Atacand®), and losartan (Cozaar®). Adverse effects of ARBs can include headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, and a metallic or salty taste in the mouth.
- Calcium channel blockers (CCBs). CCBs affect the transport of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing blood vessels to relax. This relaxation increases the blood and oxygen supply to the heart, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the heart's workload. CCBs include amlodipine (Norvasc®), felodipine (Plendil®), nicardipine (Cardene®, Carden SR®), and nifedipine (Procardia®, Adalat®). Physicians often recommend CCBs to treat high blood pressure in women who have pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, elderly patients, patients who have a history of angina (chest pain), or patients of African or Caribbean descent. CCBs are not a good choice for patients who have had a heart attack or who have congestive heart failure. Adverse effects of CCBs include constipation, swelling of the lower part of the legs, flushing, or headache.
- Alpha blockers: Alpha blockers (also called alpha-adrenergic blocking agents) block alpha receptors in vascular smooth muscle (including blood vessels), preventing the uptake of catecholamines (brain hormones such as epinephrine), which are produced in response to stress. This blocking mechanism permits blood vessel dilation (relaxing) and allows blood to flow more freely. Alpha blockers are not advised for those who have a history of (or are at risk for) congestive heart failure (CHF). Alpha blockers include doxazosin (Cardura®), prazosin (Minipress®), and terazosin (Hytrin®). Alpha blockers tend to interfere with the blood pressure regulating adjustments the body has to make when a person goes from sitting or lying down to standing. Individuals using alpha blockers may experience a drop in blood pressure (called orthostatic hypotension) when they go from sitting or lying down to standing. Other common adverse effects include stuffy nose and dizziness.
- Alpha-beta blockers: In addition to reducing nerve impulses to blood vessels, alpha-beta blockers slow the heartbeat to reduce the amount of blood that must be pumped through the vessels (acting like both alpha blockers and beta blockers). Alpha-beta blockers include carvedilol (Coreg®) and labetolol (Normodyne® and Trandate®). Side effects include those similar to both alpha and beta blockers.
- Centrally acting agents: Central alpha agonists lower blood pressure by stimulating alpha-receptors in the brain that open peripheral arteries easing blood flow. Central alpha agonists include clonidine (Catapres®), guanabenz (Wytensin®), and methyldopa (Aldomet®). Adrenergic neuron blockers decrease the amount of brain neurochemicals (epinephrine, dopamine) available, and include reserpine (Serpasil®) and guanethedine (Ismelin®). Both centrally acting drugs are usually prescribed when all other anti-hypertensive medications have failed.
- Vasodilators: These medications work directly on the muscles in the walls of the arteries, preventing the muscles from tightening and the arteries from narrowing. Oral vasodilators include hydralazine (Apresoline®). The vasodilators only used in medical emergency hypertension include sodium nitroprusside (Nipride®) and nitroglycerin.
- Once the blood pressure is under control, a doctor may add low dose aspirin (81 milligrams) to the therapy to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Aspirin is a platelet inhibitor and helps platelets from "clumping" together and blocking blood vessels, which could increase blood pressure.
- To reduce the number of doses needed a day, which can reduce side effects, a doctor may prescribe a combination of low-dose medications rather than larger doses of one single drug. These are commonly used antihypertensive drugs (such as ACE inhibitor and beta blockers) combined with the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Companies manufacture drugs that combine HCTZ and ACE inhibitors, including prinizide (lisinopril plus HCTZ) and Capozide (captopril plus HCTZ). Studies report that using an antihypertensive drugs combined with a thiazide diuretic reduces costs and may increase effectiveness against high blood pressure.
- Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes can help control and prevent high blood pressure. Even if the individual is diagnosed with high blood pressure, lifestyle changes can still help prevent further damage to blood vessels and the heart.
- Healthy foods: Experts recommend using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium (as in bananas and green leafy vegetables such as spinach), which can help prevent and control high blood pressure. Eat less saturated fat (animal fat) and total fat. Limit the amount of sodium (salt) in the diet. Limiting sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams a day will have a more dramatic effect on blood pressure. Look at the food labels to determine sodium content. If cooking at home, use less salt or a salt substitute (contains potassium iodide, which does not increase blood pressure).
- Healthy body weight: If an individual is overweight, losing even five pounds can lower blood pressure. Eating healthy and exercising regularly can help lower weight. No eating between meals and late at night also help decrease weight gain.
- Physical activity: Regular physical activity can help lower blood pressure and keep weight under control. Individuals should strive for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day.
- Alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can raise the blood pressure even in a healthy person. If an individual chooses to drink alcohol, they should do so in moderation. Moderate alcohol consumption, however, may reduce blood pressure by up to 4 mmHg. One drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men should not be exceeded. Consumption of red wine, which has heart-healthy components, is better than other types of spirits.
- Smoking cessation:
Tobacco injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. A doctor can help an individual choose the right method of smoking cessation (stopping).
- Stress management: Reduce stress as much as possible. Practice healthy coping techniques, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Getting plenty of sleep can help, too. Practice slow, deep breathing. In various clinical trials, regular use of Resperate®, an over-the-counter device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to analyze breathing patterns and help guide inhalation and exhalation, significantly lowered blood pressure. It is used for fifteen minutes daily several times a week.
- Changing the lifestyle can help control high blood pressure. But sometimes lifestyle changes are not enough. In addition to diet and exercise, a doctor may recommend medication to lower blood pressure. Which category of medication the doctor prescribes depends on the stage of high blood pressure and whether there are other medical conditions.
- Strong scientific evidence:
- Magnesium: Intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is commonly administered in cases of preeclampsia and eclampsia. MgSO4 is a superior drug for the prevention of the recurrence of seizures in eclampsia and in seizure prevention in preeclampsia.
- A common but not serious side effect of MgSO4 therapy is flushing. Use cautiously in patients with bleeding disorders, or in those taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents, antidiabetic agents, or antihypertensive agents. Use intravenous magnesium sulfate with extreme caution in patients with eclampsia. Avoid in patients with atrioventricular heart block, renal failure, or severe renal disease. Avoid intravenous magnesium in women with toxemia during the first few hours of labor.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids found in some plants and fish. There should be a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for health. Multiple human trials report small reductions in blood pressure with intake of omega-3 fatty acids. DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, may have greater benefits than EPA, or eicosapentaenoic acid. However, high intakes of omega-3 fatty acids per day may be necessary to obtain clinically relevant effects, and at this dose level, there is an increased risk of bleeding. There is strong scientific evidence from human trials that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements significantly reduce cholesterol levels, which may also help patients with hypertension.
- Omega-3 supplements can cause an increase in bleeding in susceptible individuals including those taking blood thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin®). Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to fish, omega-3 fatty acid products that come from fish, nuts, linolenic acid, or omega-3 fatty acid products that come from nuts. Use cautiously before surgery. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not consume doses that exceed the recommended dietary allowance (RDA).
- Yoga: Yoga is an ancient system of relaxation, exercise, and healing with origins in Indian philosophy over 2,000 years ago. Several human studies support the use of yoga in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) when practiced for up to one year. It is not clear if yoga is better than other forms of exercise for blood pressure control. Yoga practitioners sometimes recommend that patients with high blood pressure avoid certain positions, such as headstands or shoulder stands (inverted asanas), which may increase blood pressure.
- Yoga is generally considered to be safe in healthy individuals when practiced appropriately. Avoid some inverted poses with disc disease of the spine, fragile or atherosclerotic neck arteries, extremely high or low blood pressure, glaucoma, detachment of the retina, ear problems, severe osteoporosis, cervical spondylitis, or if at risk for blood clots. Certain yoga breathing techniques should be avoided with heart or lung disease. Use cautiously with a history of psychotic disorders. Yoga techniques are believed to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding when practiced under the guidance of expert instruction. However, poses that put pressure on the uterus, such as abdominal twists, should be avoided in pregnancy.
- Good scientific evidence:
- Calcium: Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Several studies have found that calcium may have hypotensive (blood pressure lowering) effects. These studies indicate that high calcium levels lead to sodium loss in the urine, and lowered parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, both of which result in the lowering of blood pressure. However, one study found that these results did not hold true for middle-aged patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. In the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) study, three servings per day of calcium enriched low-fat dairy products reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This research indicates that a calcium intake at the recommended level may be helpful in preventing and treating moderate hypertension. Treatment of hypertension should only be done under supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to calcium or lactose. High doses taken by mouth may cause kidney stones. Avoid with high levels of calcium in the blood, high levels of calcium in urine, hyperparathyroidism (overgrowth of the parathyroid glands), bone tumors, digitalis toxicity, ventricular fibrillation (rapid, irregular twitching of heart muscle), kidney stones, kidney disease, or sarcoidosis (inflammatory disease). Calcium supplements made from dolomite, oyster shells, or bone meal may contain unacceptable levels of lead. Use cautiously with achlorhydria or irregular heartbeat. Calcium appears to be safe in pregnant or breastfeeding women. A healthcare provider should be consulted to determine appropriate dosing during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is produced by the human body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells. CoQ10 levels are reported to decrease with age and to be low in patients with some chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Some prescription drugs may also deplete CoQ10 levels, such as HMG Co-A inhibitors, or statin drugs, for high cholesterol. Preliminary research suggests that CoQ10 causes small decreases in blood pressure (systolic and possibly diastolic). Low blood levels of CoQ10 have been found in people with hypertension, although it is not clear if CoQ10 deficiency is a cause of high blood pressure. Well-designed long-term research is needed.
- Allergies associated with Coenzyme Q10 supplements have not been reported in the available literature. However, rash and itching have been reported rarely. Stop use two weeks before and immediately after surgery/dental/diagnostic procedures with bleeding risks. Use cautiously with a history of blood clots, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. Use cautiously if taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) or anti-platelet drugs, blood pressure drugs, blood sugar drugs, cholesterol drugs, or thyroid drugs. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Hibiscus: Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.) has been used for centuries by Ayurvedic (Hindu) and Chinese medical practitioners. Human studies have shown that extracts of hibiscus may lower systolic and diastolic pressure. In one study, hibiscus standardized extract worked as well as captopril (Capoten®), a commonly used angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, in lowering blood pressure. Additional high-quality studies comparing hibiscus to placebo are needed to confirm these results, although the use of hibiscus for hypertension looks promising. Caution is advised when taking hibiscus, as numerous adverse effects including diuresis (increased excretion of fluid) can occur.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to hibiscus, its constituents, or members of the Malvaceae family. Use cautiously with hypertension or hypotension. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has exhibited antifertility activity, and the benzene extract of the flower petals may suppress implantation. Use cautiously if pregnant or trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- Meditation: Various forms of meditation have been practiced for thousands of years throughout the world. In general, it appears that regular practice of meditation may promote relaxation and reduce blood pressure. More research is needed before recommendations can be made. However, meditation can be recommended, in addition to healthy diet and exercise, for the prevention (versus treatment) of hypertension.
- Use cautiously with underlying mental illnesses. People with psychiatric disorders should consult with their primary mental healthcare professionals before starting a program of meditation and should explore how meditation may or may not fit in with their current treatment plans. Avoid with risk of seizures. The practice of meditation should not delay the time to diagnose or treat the condition with more proven techniques or therapies. Meditation should not be used as the sole approach to illnesses.
- Qi gong: Qi gong is a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that is thought to be at least 4,000 years old. There are two main types of Qi gong practice: internal and external. Internal Qi gong is a self-directed technique that involves the use of sounds, movements, and meditation. Internal Qi gong actively engages people in their own health and well-being, and can be performed with or without the presence of a Master instructor. It may be practiced daily to promote health maintenance and disease prevention. Several human trials suggest benefits of Qi gong in the treatment of high blood pressure, particularly when added to conventional treatments such as prescription drugs. There is early evidence that there may be lower death rates in people with high blood pressure who practice Qi gong. Some studies report that high blood pressure associated with pregnancy may be partially controlled through internal Qi gong relaxation exercises. Although this research is promising, a major problem is that the way Qi gong is practiced is not always clear in these studies, and may not be similar to the way Qi gong is practiced in the community.
- Qi gong is generally considered to be safe in most people when learned from a qualified instructor. Use cautiously with psychiatric disorders.
- Stevia: Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) standardized extracts are used as natural sweeteners and dietary supplements. Stevioside is a natural plant component isolated from stevia that has demonstrated blood pressure lowering effects. Despite evidence of benefits in some human studies and support from laboratory and animal studies, more research is warranted to compare stevia's effectiveness for hypertension with the current standard of care.
- Caution is advised when taking stevia, as numerous adverse effects including blood sugar lowering have been observed. Stevia should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding, unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
- Unclear or conflicting scientific evidence:
- Acupressure, Shiatsu: The practice of applying finger pressure to specific acupoints throughout the body has been used in China since 2000 BC, prior to the use of acupuncture. Acupressure techniques are widely practiced internationally for relaxation, wellness promotion, and the treatment of various health conditions. Small studies in men and women report that acupressure may reduce blood pressure. Study results on the effect of acupressure on heart rate have yielded mixed results. Large, well-designed studies are needed to better understand the role of acupressure in treatment of hypertension.
- With proper training, acupressure appears to be safe if self-administered or administered by an experienced therapist. No serious long-term complications have been reported, according to scientific data. Hand nerve injury and herpes zoster ("shingles") cases have been reported after shiatsu massage. Forceful acupressure may cause bruising.
- Acupuncture: The practice of acupuncture originated in China 5,000 years ago. Today it is widely used throughout the world and is one of the main pillars of Chinese medicine. It involves the insertion of needles in various point of the body to help move the "chi" or energy. Although used for centuries to lower blood pressure, human trials are lacking. More studies are needed to determine what can be expected in the use of acupuncture for hypertension.
- Needles must be sterile in order to avoid disease transmission. Avoid with valvular heart disease, infections, bleeding disorders, medical conditions of unknown origin, or neurological disorders. Avoid if taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding (e.g. anticoagulants). Avoid on areas that have received radiation therapy and during pregnancy. Use cautiously with pulmonary disease (e.g. 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 because therapy may interfere with the device.
- Acustimulation: Acustimulation is the mild electrical stimulation of acupuncture points to control symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. A low intensity electrical current is used to penetrate just slightly below the surface of the skin. It may be delivered by acupuncture needles attached to electrodes or, more commonly, by battery-powered appliances that can be worn on the body (touching the surface of the skin). Acustimulation has been examined in the treatment of high blood pressure in one small study of patients diagnosed with diastolic hypertension. A set of four different acupuncture points were used, with results showing an immediate reduction of diastolic blood pressure. At this time, the evidence is insufficient for use of acustimulation in high blood pressure.
- A known side effect of acustimulation devices is slight skin irritation under the electrodes when the wristband is used. Switch wrists to prevent this from happening. Acustimulation devices should only be used on the designated area. Use cautiously with pacemakers. Avoid if the cause of medical symptoms is unknown. Keep acustimulation devices out of the reach of children.
- American hellebore: American hellebore is a plant native to the swampy areas and moist meadows of the eastern and western United States. Compounds found in American hellebore have been used to treat hypertension and pre-eclampsia, however other herbs and prescription drugs that can treat this condition have fewer toxic side effects. Additional study is needed in this area.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to American hellebore, plants in the lily family (Liliaceae), or any related species of Veratrum. Use cautiously with cardiovascular disease, cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, hemodynamic instability, or compromised kidney function. Use cautiously if taking drugs that are excreted by the kidneys, diuretics, asthma medications, or blood pressure medications. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- L-arginine: L-arginine, or arginine, is considered a semi-essential amino acid, because although it is normally synthesized in sufficient amounts by the body, supplementation is sometimes required. A small study suggests that arginine taken by mouth may dilate the arteries and temporarily reduce high blood pressure in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes. Larger, high-quality studies are needed. Early study suggests that long-term supplementation with L-arginine may decrease blood pressure that is too high in pregnant women. Arginine may also improve fetal health and growth during pre-eclampsia. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
- L-arginine is generally safe in recommended dosages. Avoid with known allergy or hypersensitivity to arginine. Use cautiously with peripheral vascular disease, high blood pressure, alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis, or diabetes. Use cautiously in low birth weight infants and individuals on hemodialysis. Use cautiously if taking anticoagulants (blood thinners), beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Ayurveda: Ayurveda is a form of natural medicine that originated in ancient India more than 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda is an integrated system of techniques that uses diet, herbs, exercise, meditation, yoga, and massage or bodywork to achieve optimal health on all levels. In India, Ayurveda involves the eight principal branches of medicine: pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, ophthalmology, geriatrics, otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), general medicine, and surgery. Evidence indicates that Ayurveda's comprehensive purification and detoxification regime, known as panchakarma, in heart disease patients may lead to increased VIP (a vasodilator), acute reduction in total cholesterol, reduction in lipid peroxide (a measure of free radical damage), and a significant reduction in anxiety. Abana is a combination herbal and mineral formulation that has been traditionally used in Ayurveda for heart health. Early studies show that abana may be of benefit for high blood pressure. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
- Ayurvedic herbs can interact with other herbs, foods, and drugs. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before taking. 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. Avoid Ayurveda with traumatic injuries, acute pain, advanced disease stages, and medical conditions that require surgery.
- Beta glucan: Beta-glucan is a soluble fiber derived from the cell walls of algae, bacteria, fungi, yeast, and plants. It is commonly used for its cholesterol-lowering effects. A study found that the addition of oat cereals to the normal diet of patients with hypertension significantly reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Soluble fiber-rich whole oats may be an effective dietary therapy in the prevention and adjunct treatment of hypertension.
- Beta-glucan has a Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) status in the United States. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to beta-glucan. When taken by mouth, beta-glucans are generally considered safe. Use cautiously with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC). Avoid using particulate beta-glucan. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Calcium: For the general population, meeting current recommendations for calcium intake during pregnancy may help prevent pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (PIH). Further research is required to determine whether women at high risk for PIH would benefit from calcium supplementation above the current recommendations. Treatment of high blood pressure should only be done under supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to calcium or lactose. High doses taken by mouth may cause kidney stones. Avoid with high levels of calcium in the blood, high levels of calcium in urine, hyperparathyroidism (overgrowth of the parathyroid glands), bone tumors, digitalis toxicity, ventricular fibrillation (rapid, irregular twitching of heart muscle), kidney stones, kidney disease, or sarcoidosis (inflammatory disease). Calcium supplements made from dolomite, oyster shells, or bone meal may contain unacceptable levels of lead. Use cautiously with achlorhydria or irregular heartbeat. Calcium appears to be safe in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Talk to a healthcare provider to determine appropriate dosing during pregnancy and 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. Manipulation involves the hands-on application of a physical therapy. The effects of spinal manipulative techniques on high blood pressure remain controversial. It has been hypothesized that nervous system effects of spinal manipulation can lower both systolic and diastolic pressure. Numerous trials, reviews, and commentaries have been published in this area. Although some studies are suggestive, overall the existing evidence remains debatable. Better research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
- Use extra caution during cervical adjustments. Use cautiously with acute arthritis, conditions that cause decreased bone mineralization, brittle bone disease, bone softening conditions, bleeding disorders, and migraines. Use cautiously with the risk of tumors or cancers. Avoid with symptoms of vertebrobasilar vascular insufficiency, aneurysms, unstable spondylolisthesis, or arthritis. Avoid if taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding. Avoid in areas of para-spinal tissue after surgery. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding due to a lack of scientific data.
- Chlorella: Ingestion of chlorella may somewhat reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients. As the results of available studies are not significant, chlorella cannot be recommended for hypertension at this time.
- Avoid in patients with known allergy/hypersensitivity to chlorella, its constituents, mold, or members of the Oocystaceae family. Avoid in patients using warfarin or other anticoagulant therapy. Use cautiously in patients with hypotension or taking antihypertensives. Use cautiously in patients taking immunomodulators or with altered immune function, or cancer. Use cautiously in patients with photosensitivity, taking photosensitizers, or exposed to the sun.
- Color therapy: In humans, color therapy has been studied as a possible treatment for hypertension. Further research is needed before a recommendation can be made.
- Color therapy is generally considered safe. Exposure to bright light may cause eye injury, such as retinopathy. Strobe lights may cause seizures in susceptible individuals. Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Evening primrose oil: Evening primrose oil is proposed to have effects on chemicals in the blood called prostaglandins, which may play a role in pre-eclampsia. However, more studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
- Avoid if allergic to plants in the Onagraceae family (e.g. willow's herb or enchanter's nightshade) or gamma-linolenic acid. Avoid with seizure disorders. Use cautiously with mental illness drugs. Stop use two weeks before surgery with anesthesia. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Flaxseed: Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)and its derivative flaxseed oil/linseed oil are rich sources of the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, which makes omega-3 essential fatty acids in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with a decreased risk of heart disease. In animals, diets high in flaxseed have mixed effects on blood pressure. One study in humans suggests that for hypertension, flaxseed, not flaxseed oil, might lower blood pressure. The evidence in this area is not clear, and more research is needed.
- Flaxseed has been well-tolerated in studies for up to four months. Avoid if allergic to flaxseed, flaxseed oil, or other plants of the Linaceae family. Avoid with prostate cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, or endometriosis. Avoid ingestion of immature flaxseed pods. Avoid large amounts of flaxseed by mouth and mix with plenty of water or liquid. Avoid flaxseed (not flaxseed oil) with a history of esophageal stricture, ileus (loss of bowel motility), gastrointestinal stricture or bowel obstruction. Avoid with a history of acute or chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis (bowel inflammation), or inflammatory bowel disease. Avoid topical flaxseed in open wounds or abraded skin surfaces. Use cautiously with a history of a bleeding disorders, high triglyceride levels, diabetes, mania, seizures, or asthma. Use cautiously if taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Folate (folic acid): Study results are inconclusive on the use of folate in patients with high blood pressure associated with pregnancy. Further research is needed in this area before a strong recommendation can be made.
- Avoid if allergic to folate or any folate product ingredients. It is recommended that pregnant women consume 400 micrograms daily in order to reduce the risk of fetal defects. Folate is likely safe if breastfeeding.
- Gamma linolenic acid (GLA): GLA is an omega-6 essential fatty acid. Preliminary study has investigated GLA on blood pressure changes. The evidence suggests that GLA may offer benefits in terms of blood pressure reduction; however, better-designed trials are required before definite conclusions can be made for the use of GLA for blood pressure control. A study of GLA plus fish oil suggests there is a potential for benefit of edema (sweeling) in pregnancy. Clinical trials investigating the effects of GLA alone is required to better understand its specific effects for pre-eclampsia.
- Caution is advised when taking GLA supplements, as numerous adverse effects including an increased risk of bleeding and drug interactions are possible. GLA should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding, unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
- Garlic: Garlic (Allium sativum) is traditionally used for heart health. Numerous human studies report that garlic can lower blood pressure by a small amount, but larger, well-designed studies are needed to confirm the benefits of garlic for patients with hypertension.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to garlic or other members of the Lilaceae(lily) family (e.g. hyacinth, tulip, onion, leek, or chive). Avoid with a history of bleeding problems, asthma, diabetes, low blood pressure or thyroid disorders. Stop using supplemental garlic two weeks before and immediately after dental/surgical/diagnostic procedures with bleeding risks. Avoid in supplemental doses if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Ginseng: Asian ginseng, or Panax ginseng, has been used for more than 2,000 years in Chinese medicine for various health conditions. Preliminary research suggests that ginseng may lower blood pressure (systolic and diastolic). However, it is not clear what doses may be safe or effective. Well-conducted studies are needed to confirm the effects of ginseng on hypertension.
- Caution is advised when taking ginseng supplements, as adverse effects including drug interactions are possible. Ginseng supplements should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding, unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
- Green tea: Green tea is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a perennial evergreen shrub. Green tea has a long history of use, dating back to China approximately 5,000 years ago. Green tea, black tea, and oolong tea are all derived from the same plant, just processed differently. Green tea is considered cardioprotective, or helps protect the heart from disease and may be of benefit for patients with hypertension. Green tea helps protect blood vessels from injury, and has been reported in laboratory studies to lower blood pressure.
- Healthcare professionals recommend using caffeine-free supplements when using in people with hypertension. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to caffeine or tannins. Use cautiously with diabetes or liver disease.
- Hawthorn: Hawthorn, a flowering shrub of the rose family, has an extensive history of use for heart disease, dating back to the first century. Studies in patients with type 2 diabetes support the historic use of hawthorn to lower blood pressure. More studies are needed before strong recommendations may be made for patients with hypertension.
- Avoid if allergic to hawthorn or Crataegus species. Avoid with a history of low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, asthma, low blood pressure when standing, or insomnia. Use cautiously in elderly patients. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Honey: Currently, there is preliminary evidence that suggests benefit in the use of honey in the treatment of hypertension. Additional study is needed to make a firm recommendation.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to honey, pollen, celery, or bees. Honey is generally considered safe in the recommended doses. Avoid honey from the genus Rhododendron because it may cause a toxic reaction. Avoid in infants younger than 12 months of age. Use cautiously if taking antibiotics. Potentially harmful contaminants (e.g. C. botulinum or grayanotoxins) can be found in some types of honey and should be used cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Hypnosis, hypnotherapy: Hypnosis is a trance-like state in which a person becomes more aware and focused and is more open to suggestion. Hypnotherapy has been used to treat health conditions or to change behaviors. Early study suggests that hypnosis may have short and long-term effects for patients with mild high blood pressure. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.
- Use cautiously with mental illnesses (e.g. psychosis, schizophrenia, manic depression, multiple personality disorder, or dissociative disorders) or seizure disorders.
Iridology is the study of the iris (colored part of the eye) with the intention of gaining information about underlying diseases. Iridologists believe that the degrees of light and darkness in the iris give clues to the body's general health. Preliminary studies by a South Korean team of researchers using a computerized approach suggest that iridology may assist in the identification of individual predispositions for vascular diseases such as hypertension. Further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of iridology as a diagnostic tool for hypertension, and further teams of researchers would need to conduct parallel work in order for these methods to become validated.
- Iridology should not be used alone to diagnose disease. Studies of iridology have reported incorrect diagnoses, and thus, potentially severe medical problems may go undiagnosed. In addition, research suggests that iridology may lead to inappropriate treatment. Iridology is therefore not recommended as a sole method of diagnosis or treatment for any condition.
- Lutein: Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in high levels in foods, such as green vegetables, egg yolk, kiwi fruit, grapes, orange juice, zucchini, squash, and corn. Preliminary evidence suggests that pre-eclampsia risk may decrease with increasing concentrations of lutein. Additional human studies are needed before a firm recommendation can be made.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to lutein or zeaxanthin. Use cautiously if at risk for cardiovascular disease or cancer. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Lycopene: Lycopene is a carotenoid, which is a naturally occurring class of fat-soluble pigments (coloring) found mainly in plants and algae. Lycopene is present in human serum, liver, adrenal glands, lungs, prostate, colon, and skin at higher levels than other carotenoids. There is some evidence that short-term treatments of lycopene may reduce blood pressure. Lycopene may also reduce the development of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation in women having their first child. More research is needed, especially to examine the long-term effects of lycopene in patients with high blood pressure.
- Avoid if allergic to tomatoes or to lycopene. Due to a lack of conclusive data, avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Magnesium: Controversy exists whether oral magnesium (Mg) supplementation can lower blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate hypertension or prevent the onset of hypertension. Several studies have reported a small but not significant decrease in blood pressure with Mg. Further research is indicated for the use of Mg in the treatment of hypertension.
- Use cautiously in patients with bleeding disorders, or in those taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents, antidiabetic agents, or antihypertensive agents. Use intravenous magnesium sulfate with extreme caution in patients with eclampsia. Avoid in patients with atrioventricular heart block, renal failure, or severe renal disease. Avoid intravenous magnesium in women with toxemia during the first few hours of labor.
- Massage: Various forms of therapeutic superficial tissue manipulation have been practiced for thousands of years across cultures. Chinese use of massage dates to 1600 BC, and Hippocrates made reference to the importance of physicians being experienced with "rubbing" as early as 400 BC. Based on early study, massage may decrease blood pressure in patients with hypertension. More high-quality studies are needed.
- Avoid with bleeding disorders, low platelet counts, or if taking blood-thinning medications (such as heparin or warfarin/Coumadin®). Areas should not be massaged where there are fractures, weakened bones from osteoporosis or cancer, open/healing skin wounds, skin infections, recent surgery, or blood clots. Use cautiously with history of physical abuse or if pregnant or breastfeeding. Massage should not be used as a substitute for more proven therapies for medical conditions. Massage should not cause pain to the client.
- Melatonin: Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland, from the amino acid tryptophan. The synthesis and release of melatonin are stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light, suggesting the involvement of melatonin in circadian rhythm and regulation of diverse body functions. Levels of melatonin in the blood are highest prior to bedtime. Synthetic melatonin supplements have been used for a variety of medical conditions, most notably for disorders related to sleep and as an antioxidant. Several controlled studies in patients with hypertension report small reductions in blood pressure when taking melatonin by mouth (orally) or inhaled through the nose (intranasally). Better-designed research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached.
- Caution is advised when taking melatonin, as adverse effects including drowsiness and drug interactions are possible. Melatonin should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding, unless otherwise directed by a doctor. Melatonin is for short-term use only (one to two weeks).
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Several studies of fish oil do not provide enough reliable evidence for use of this supplement for pre-eclampsia.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to fish, omega-3 fatty acid products that come from fish, nuts, linolenic acid, or omega-3 fatty acid products that come from nuts. Avoid during active bleeding. Use cautiously with bleeding disorders, diabetes, low blood pressure or drugs, herbs or supplements that treat any such conditions. Use cautiously before surgery. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not consume doses that exceed the recommended dietary allowance (RDA).
- Onion: Onion-olive oil capsules may help lower blood pressure. High quality clinical research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of onion for treatment of hypertension.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to onion (Allium cepa), its constituents, or members of the Lilaceae family. Use cautiously with hematologic (blood) disorders, diabetes, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and hypotension (low blood pressure). Use cautiously if taking anticoagulants or antiplatelets (blood thinners). Avoid medicinal doses if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Peony: Studies in humans have used peony for the treatment of high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy (gestational hypertension). More evidence is needed in this area.
- Avoid if allergic or sensitive to peony. Avoid with bleeding disorders or if taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that increase bleeding risk. Use cautiously with estrogen-sensitive cancers or if taking drugs, herbs, or supplements with hormonal activity. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Pet therapy: Animal companionship has been used as an informal source of comfort and relief of suffering across cultures throughout history. There is evidence that pet ownership may have additive value in patients with hypertension who are taking conventional blood pressure medication.
- Avoid if allergic to animal dander. Use only animals that have had veterinary screening, particularly in situations involving young children, frail elderly patients, or patients who are immuno-compromised or with medical conditions making them vulnerable to infection. Avoid unsupervised use of animals with the severely mentally ill and very young children. Avoid with fear of animals or traumatic history with animals.
- Physical therapy: The goal of physical therapy, or physiotherapy, is to improve mobility, restore function, reduce pain, and prevent further injury. There is insufficient available evidence regarding the use of physical therapy for hypertension. Additional research is needed.
- Not all physical therapy programs are suited for everyone, and patients should discuss their medical history with their qualified healthcare professionals before beginning any treatments. Based on the available literature, physical therapy appears generally safe when practiced by a qualified physical therapist; however, complications are possible. Persistent pain and fractures of unknown origin have been reported. Physical therapy may increase the duration of pain or cause limitation of motion. Pain and anxiety may occur during the rehabilitation of patients with burns. Both morning stiffness and bone erosion have been reported in the literature, although causality is unclear. Erectile dysfunction has also been reported. All therapies during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be discussed with a licensed obstetrician/gynecologist before initiation.
- Pomegranate: Pomegranate juice may lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Additional research is needed in this area.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to pomegranate. Avoid with diarrhea or high or low blood pressure. Avoid taking pomegranate fruit husk with oil or fats to treat parasites. Pomegranate root/stem bark should only be used under supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Use cautiously with liver damage or disease. Pomegranate supplementation can be unsafe during pregnancy when taken by mouth. The bark, root, and fruit rind can cause menstruation or uterine contractions. Avoid if breastfeeding due to a lack of scientific data.
- Prayer, distant healing: Initial studies in patients with heart disease report variable effects on severity of illness, complications during hospitalization, procedure outcome, or death rates when intercessory prayer is used. Initial study of intercessory prayer has not reported a reduction in blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Better research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
- Prayer is not recommended as the sole treatment approach for potentially serious medical conditions and should not delay the time it takes to consult with a healthcare professional or receive established therapies.
- Pycnogenol: Pycnogenol® is the patented trade name for a water extract of the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster spp. atlantica), which is grown in coastal south-west France. Use of Pycnogenol® may reduce the need for nifedipine (Procardia®) and decrease systolic blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension). Further research is needed to confirm these results.
- Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to pycnogenol, its components, or members of the Pinaceae family. Use cautiously with diabetes, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or bleeding disorders. Use cautiously if taking hypolipidemics (cholesterol-lowering medications), medications that may increase the risk of bleeding, hypertensive (high blood pressure) medications, or immune stimulating or inhibiting drugs. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Reishi mushroom: Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a fungus (mushroom) that grows wild on decaying logs and tree stumps.Reishi has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years to treat liver disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis and other ailments. Preliminary data suggest that reishi may exert a blood pressure lowering effect; however, currently available evidence in this area is weak. Future studies are warranted to validate the results of these small studies and to provide clinical usefulness of reishi as a possible treatment for high blood pressure.
- Caution is advised when taking reishi supplements, as adverse effects including an increase in bleeding and drug interactions are possible. Reishi supplements should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding, unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
- Relaxation therapy: Relaxation techniques include behavioral therapeutic approaches that differ widely in philosophy, methodology, and practice. The primary goal is usually non-directed relaxation. Relaxation techniques have been associated with reduced pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, lower perception of stress, and enhanced perception of health. Further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of relaxation therapy for high blood pressure.
- Avoid with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia/psychosis. Jacobson relaxation (flexing specific muscles, holding that position, and then relaxing the muscles) should be used cautiously with illnesses, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or musculoskeletal injury. Relaxation therapy is not recommended as the sole treatment approach for potentially serious medical conditions and should not delay the time to diagnosis or treatment with more proven techniques.
- Rhubarb: Chinese herbalists have relied on rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) for thousands of years. The rhizomes and roots contain powerful anthraquinones (components with laxative properties) and tannins (components that tonify tissue). Studies on rhubarb's effect on pre-eclampsia indicate that it may be a helpful treatment to decrease blood pressure. More high quality trials are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
- Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to rhubarb, its constituents, or related plants from the Polygonaceae family. Avoid using rhubarb for more than two weeks because it may induce tolerance in the colon, melanosis coli, laxative dependence, pathological alterations to colonic smooth muscles, and substantial loss of electrolytes. Avoid with atony, colitis, Crohn's disease, dehydration with electrolyte depletion, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, insufficient liver function, intestinal obstruction or ileus, irritable bowel syndrome, menstruation, pre-eclampsia, kidney disorders, ulcerative colitis, or urinary problems. Avoid handling rhubarb leaves, as they may cause contact dermatitis. Avoid rhubarb in children younger than age 12 due to water depletion. Use cautiously with bleeding disorders, cardiac conditions, coagulation therapy, constipation, or with a history of kidney stones or thin or brittle bones. Use cautiously if taking anti-psychotic drugs or oral drugs, herbs, or supplements (including calcium, iron, and zinc). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Riboflavin: Riboflavin or vitamin B2 is a water-soluble vitamin, which is involved in vital metabolic processes in the body, and is necessary for normal cell function, growth, and energy production. Limited study has reported an association between low riboflavin levels and an increased risk of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy). However, it is not clear if low riboflavin levels are a cause or consequence of this condition or if additional supplementation is warranted in pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia beyond the routine use of prenatal vitamins.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to riboflavin. Since the amount of riboflavin a human can absorb is limited, riboflavin is generally considered safe in recommended dosages. Riboflavin is generally regarded as safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for riboflavin in pregnant women is higher than for non-pregnant women, and is 1.4 milligrams daily (1.6 milligrams for breastfeeding women).
- Rutin: Rutin is an antioxidant that naturally occurs in various plants (apple peels, black tea, rue, tobacco, and buckwheat). Quercetin (a flavonoid found in rutin) and rutin are used as vasoprotectants (blood vessel protective) and are ingredients of numerous multivitamin preparations and herbal remedies. The flavonoids found in rutin have documented effects on capillary permeability (leakage) and edema (swelling) and have been used for the treatment of disorders of the venous and microcirculatory (capillary) systems. Overall the results of clinical studies suggest a benefit of rutin for venous hypertension. Well-designed studies are required.
- Rutin is safe in recommended dosages. Nausea and stomach upset may occur. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides or plants that rutin is commonly found in, such as rue, tobacco, or buckwheat. Use cautiously in elderly patients. Use cautiously with skin conditions. Use cautiously if taking medications for edema, diuretics, or anticoagulation medications (e.g. heparin or warfarin). Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Safflower: Based on preliminary evidence, safflower oil may be involved in synthesis of prostaglandins, which are responsible for vascular regulation and inflammatory responses and may affect blood pressure. However, clinical studies have shown that safflower oil ingestion decreases or does not affect blood pressure. Due to the conflicting evidence, additional study is needed to confirm the effects of safflower oil in patients with hypertension.
- Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to safflower, Carthamus tinctorius, safflower oil, daisies, ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or any related constituents. Use parenteral safflower oil emulsions cautiously in newborns. Use cautiously if taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) or anti-platelet drugs, immunosuppressants, or pentobarbital. Use cautiously with diabetes, hypotension, inadequate liver function, hypercoagulability, or skin pigmentation conditions. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Sea buckthorn: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is found throughout Europe and Asia, particularly eastern Europe and central Asia. Early study has been conducted in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension). Additional clinical research is needed in this area.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to sea buckthorn, its constituents, or members of the Elaeagnaceae family. Use cautiously if taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, anticoagulants, anti-platelet agents, antineoplastic agents, cyclophosphamide, or farmorubicin. Avoid higher doses than food amounts if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Selenium: Selenium is a mineral found in soil, water, and some foods. Some studies have reported that low serum selenium levels may be related to increased blood pressure. Preliminary study in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension has reported reduced edema, without significant impact on birth outcomes. No clear conclusion can be drawn for use of selenium for hypertension or pre-eclampsia in the absence of additional well-designed research.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to products containing selenium. Avoid with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer. Selenium is generally regarded as safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, animal research reports that large doses of selenium may lead to birth defects.
- Soy: Soy (Glycine max) has been a dietary staple in Asian countries for at least 5,000 years. Large-scale soybean cultivation began in the United States during World War II, and currently, Midwestern U.S. growers produce approximately half of the world's supply of soybeans. Soy and components of soy called isoflavones have been studied scientifically for numerous health conditions. Although soy products have not been proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure in humans, laboratory and some human studies do support the use of soy in reducing the risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). Additional research is needed to better understand the role of soy in hypertension.
- Caution is advised when taking soy, as adverse effects including drug interactions are possible. Soy supplements should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding, unless otherwise directed by a doctor. Experts recommend that individuals with breast cancer not use soy products unless under the supervision of a doctor.
- Spiritual healing: There is limited research on the use of spiritual healing for treatment of hypertension.
- Spiritual healing should not be used as the only treatment approach for medical or psychiatric conditions, and should not delay the time it takes to consider more proven therapies.
- Tai chi: Tai chi techniques aim to address the body and mind as an interconnected system. Early study shows that tai chi may help to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and anxiety in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension).
- 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.
- Taurine: Taurine is a non-essential amino acid (building blocks of protein) and is important in several metabolic processes of the body, including stabilizing cell membranes in electrically active tissues, such as the brain and heart. It also has functions in the gallbladder, eyes, and blood vessels, and may have some antioxidant and detoxifying effects. In early study, taurine has been reported to result in decreased blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Well-designed and reported clinical trials are still needed.
- Caution is advised when taking taurine supplements, as adverse effects including an increase in bleeding and drug interactions are possible. Taurine supplements should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding, unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
- Therapeutic touch: Therapeutic touch has been suggested to relieve anxiety and stress, which may help to lower blood pressure. However, there is currently insufficient evidence that therapeutic touch is effective in treating hypertension. More research is needed.
- Therapeutic touch is believed to be safe for most people. Therapeutic touch should not be used for potentially serious conditions in place of more proven therapies. Avoid with fever or inflammation, and on body areas with cancer.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D is found in numerous dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. The sun is also a significant contributor to our daily production of vitamin D, and as little as 10 minutes of exposure is thought to be enough to prevent deficiencies. The term "vitamin D" refers to several different forms of this vitamin. Two forms are important in humans: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Vitamin D2 is made by plants. Vitamin D3 is made by humans in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from sunlight or the diet. Low levels of vitamin D may play a role in the development of hypertension. It has been noted that blood pressure is often elevated during the winter season, further distance from the equator, and dark skin pigmentation (color), all of which are associated with lower exposure to vitamin D via sunlight. However, evidence is not clear and comparison with more proven methods to reduce blood pressure has not been conducted.
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to vitamin D or any of its components. Vitamin D is generally well tolerated in recommended doses. Doses higher than recommended may cause toxic effects. Individuals with hyperparathyroidism (overactive thyroid), kidney disease, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, or histoplasmosis have an increased risk of experiencing toxic effects. Vitamin D is generally considered safe for pregnant women.
- Blood pressure should be a systolic reading of 120 and a diastolic reading of 80 (120/80 millimeters of mercury). Exercising, managing stress, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting sodium and alcohol intake are all ways to keep blood pressure in check.
- Cholesterol and saturated fat intake reduction: A diet rich in high fat foods such as dairy (such as milk, cheese, and sour cream), animal fat, and fried foods (potato chips, French fries, fried chicken) can lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood, which can lead to high blood pressure. Eating less cholesterol and fat, especially saturated fat, may reduce the amount of plaque in the arteries. Most people should aim for a low density lipoprotein (LDL) level below 130 milligrams per deciliter of blood. If there are other risk factors for heart disease, the target LDL may be below 100 milligrams per deciliter of blood. If the individual is at a very high risk for heart disease, such as having a previous heart attack, an LDL level below 70 milligrams per deciliter of blood may be optimal.
- Smoking cessation: Cigarette smoking can repeatedly produce a temporary rise in blood pressure (BP) of approximately 5-10mmHg, and is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and forces the heart to pump harder. A buildup of carbon monoxide (CO) reduces oxygen in the blood and damages the lining of the blood vessels. Experts agree that smoking should be avoided in any person with high blood pressure because it can substantially increase the risk of secondary cardiovascular complications such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
- Weight control: Being overweight contributes to several risk factors for stroke, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Individuals with a body mass index (BMI, or body fat content) of 30.0 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure. Weight loss of as little as 10 pounds may lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.
- Exercise: An inactive lifestyle makes it easier to become overweight and increases the chance of high blood pressure. It has been found that physical inactivity increases the risk of hypertension by 30%. Exercise can lower blood pressure, increase the level of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), and improve the overall health of blood vessels and the heart. It also helps control weight, control diabetes and reduce stress. Thirty minutes of daily exercise is normally recommended.
- Stress management: Stress can cause an increase in blood pressure along with increasing the blood's tendency to clot. Chronic stress can lead to an increase in the release of the stress hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands. Researchers believe that this increase in cortisol leads to increased blood pressure. Managing stress can be vital to keeping a heart healthy.
- Sodium reduction: Salt (or sodium chloride) contains sodium, which may cause fluid retention and thereby cause pressure around the blood vessels which can lead to hypertension. It is noted that approximately 60% of the essential hypertension population may decrease blood pressure (BP) by decreasing sodium (salt) intake.
- Limiting alcohol consumption: In some studies, moderate use of alcohol (particularly red wine) has been linked with increasing levels of HDL cholesterol and slight reductions in blood pressure. However, excessive drinking can have a negative impact on cholesterol levels, actually raising triglyceride levels and increasing blood pressure. It has been found that chronic (long-term) use of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically by placing stress on the heart and blood vessels.
- This information has been edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).
- American Heart Association. .
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. .
- National Institutes of Health. .
- Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. .
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. .
- Essential or primary hypertension:
There is no known cause of essential hypertension. However, there are risk factors that contribute to developing high blood pressure. A number of environmental factors have been implicated in the development of high blood pressure, including salt intake, obesity, race, physical activity level, heredity, diet, and stress level.
- Secondary hypertension: Secondary hypertension accounts for approximately 5-10% of all cases of high blood pressure, with the remaining being essential or primary hypertension. Secondary hypertension has an identifiable cause, unlike essential hypertension. There are many known conditions that can cause secondary hypertension. Regardless of the cause, pressure in the arteries becomes elevated either due to an increase in how much blood the heart pumps to the body (cardiac output), an increase in the resistance of the blood vessels in the body, or both.
- Individuals with secondary hypertension are best treated by controlling or removing the underlying disease or cause, although they may still require antihypertensive (blood pressure lowering) drugs.
- Causes of secondary hypertension can be broken down into renal (kidney related), endocrine (hormonally related), neurological (of the nervous system), and miscellaneous.
- Renal disorders: The kidneys regulate fluid (water) and electrolyte (including sodium, potassium, and chloride) levels in the body. Renal causes (related to the kidneys) of high blood pressure include radiation damage of the kidneys, renal artery stenosis (the narrowing of the main artery to the kidneys) and chronic renal disease such as diabetic neuropathy (damage to nerves cause by high blood sugar levels) and polycystic kidney disease (many cysts or closed sacs).
- Endocrine disorders: Hormonal (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) changes or imbalances can cause increases in blood pressure. Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) can also cause hypertension. Other conditions that can cause high blood pressure include diseases of the adrenal glands (located on top of the kidneys), such as pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland), acromegaly (a disease caused by the secretion of excessive amounts of growth hormone), hyper- or hypothyroidism (high or low thyroid hormone), hyperparathyroidism (too much calcium in the blood, which raises blood pressure), Cushing's disease (release of excess stress hormone from the adrenal glands), insulin resistance (inability of insulin to control blood sugar levels) and primary hyperaldosteronism (an increased release of adrenal hormones that control fluid and electrolyte balance).
- Neurological disorders: Some disorders of mental or emotional origin, including anxiety (nervousness) and mania (hyperactivity), may cause high blood pressure. Damage to the central nervous system, such as damage to the spinal cord, increased intracranial pressure (pressure around the brain), or nervous system tumors may also cause hypertension.
- Medications: Medications such as amphetamine analogues including cocaine, dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), and mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall®), nasal decongestants (pseudoephedrine), non-sterodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) including phenelzine (Nardil®), adrenergic stimulants including clonidine (Catapres®), and birth control pills (in about 5% of users) can cause hypertension while in use.
- Alcohol use: Chronic (long-term) alcohol use can also lead to hypertension.
- Other causes: Other causes of high blood pressure include aortic coarctation (genetic narrowing of the aorta, the largest artery of the body leading from the heart to the body), sleep apnea (disorder where people stop breathing for short periods of time in their sleep, licorice (when consumed in excessive amounts, can cause hyperaldosteronism), scleroderma (formation of scar tissue in organs), neurofibromatosis (genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow along the nerves), pregnancy (causing pre-eclampsia), cancers (tumors can interfere with blood flow).
- Obesity: Individuals with a body mass index (BMI, or body fat content) of 30.0 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure. An individual is considered underweight if their BMI is less than 18.5. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered a "normal" weight. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. Individuals who fall into the BMI range of 25 or higher may have some health risk concerns, such as the development of diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and heart disease. Specifically those who have a waist size of more than 40 inches for men, or 35 inches for women, have a higher risk for obesity-related health problems. A BMI of 30 or more qualifies as individual as obese. A BMI over 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese. The greater the BMI, the greater the chances of developing health concerns.
- Salt sensitivity: Salt (or sodium chloride) contains sodium, which may cause fluid retention and thereby cause pressure around the blood vessels which can lead to hypertension. It is noted that approximately 60% of the essential hypertension population may decrease blood pressure (BP) by decreasing sodium (salt) intake.
- Drinking too much alcohol: Chronic (long-term) use of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically by placing stress on the heart and blood vessels.
- Lack of physical activity: An inactive lifestyle makes it easier to become overweight and increases the chance of high blood pressure. Physical inactivity increases the risk of hypertension by 30%.
- Smoking: Cigarette smoking can repeatedly produce a temporary rise in blood pressure (BP) of approximately 5-10mmHg. This effect may be most prominent with the first cigarette of the day in habitual smokers. However, research indicates that habitual or chronic (regular) smokers in general have lower BP than non-smokers, possibly due to weight loss associated with smoking. Experts agree that smoking should be avoided in any person with high blood pressure because it can substantially increase the risk of secondary cardiovascular complications such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and appears to enhance the progression of kidney disease. Cigarette smoking also increases the chances of men having erectile dysfunction (ED), or the inability to get or maintain and erection.
- Stress: Stress is a normal part of everyday life. Responses to stress vary from person to person, but chronic (regular) stress can lead to an increase in the release of the stress hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands (above the kidneys). Cushing's disease can also cause too much cortisol to be released. Scientists think that excess cortisol can lead to an increase in blood pressure, an inability of insulin to control blood sugar (insulin insensitivity or insulin resistance), inflammation, and weight gain.
- Ethnicity (race): African Americans develop high blood pressure more often than Caucasians, and it tends to occur earlier in life and be more severe. Compared to other groups, African Americans tend to get high blood pressure earlier in life, usually have more severe high blood pressure, and have a higher death rate from stroke (lack of blood and oxygen to the brain), coronary heart disease CHD, or the lack of blood and oxygen to the heart), and kidney failure.
- Heredity: Having a parent or other close blood relatives with high blood pressure increases the chances of developing it.
- Age: In general, blood pressure increases with age, occurring most often in people over age 35. Men seem to develop it most often between age 35 and 55. Women are more likely to develop it after menopause. Over half of all Americans aged 60 and older have high blood pressure.
- Diet: A diet poor in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and high in sodium (salt), high fat foods such as dairy (milk, cheese, sour cream), animal fat, and fried foods (potato chips, French fries, fried chicken) can lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood, which can lead to high blood pressure.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) can be mild, moderate, or severe. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute classifies blood pressure as normal, pre-hypertension, hypertension stage 1, and hypertension stage 2. Normal blood pressure (BP) is a systolic pressure of less than 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure less than 80 mmHg (120/80 mmHg).
- Pre-hypertension is when the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is higher than normal (120/80 mm/Hg) but not high enough to be considered high blood pressure (140/90 mm/Hg). Pre-hypertension is a systolic (top number) between 120 and 139 or a diastolic (bottom number) between 80 and 89. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/70, or 115/86 are all in the "pre-hypertension" range.
- Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure between 140 and 159mmHg, or a diastolic pressure between 90 and 99 mmHg or higher.
- Stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 160mmHg or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 100 or higher.
- Both increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures can increase the risk for congestive heart failure (CHF, or problems with the heart pumping blood to the body), heart attack, kidney disease, stroke (neurological damage to the brain due to a lack of oxygen), erectile dysfunction (inability of males to get an erection), amputation of the legs, and blindness.
- As people become older, the diastolic pressure will begin to decrease and the systolic blood pressure will begin to increase, which may lead to high blood pressure. This disorder is called isolated systolic hypertension
- Hypertensive emergency: Hypertensive emergency is a life-threatening form of high blood pressure, also known as malignant or accelerated hypertension, and is extremely rare. Uncontrolled blood pressures lead to progressive target organ dysfunction (TOD), or organ damage. Kidneys, brain, and heart can be damaged. Hypertensive emergency affects less than 1% of individuals with high blood pressure. Unlike the more common form of high blood pressure that usually develops over a number of years, this condition is marked by a rapid rise in blood pressure (called a hypertensive emergency), with the diastolic pressure shooting to 120mmHg or higher. Hypertensive emergencies must be treated immediately. Hypertensive emergencies can be caused by a history of kidney disorders, pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal glands), and spinal cord disorders. Hypertensive urgency is a severe elevation of blood pressure, without evidence of organ damage.
- Medications that may cause a hypertensive emergency include cocaine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs, used in depression), dopamine (an injectable blood pressure raising drug), and oral contraceptives. The abrupt withdrawal of beta-blockers (including propranolol, metoprolol, and amlodipine) and alpha-stimulants (including clonidine), or alcohol may also cause a hypertensive emergency. An intravenous (IV, into the veins) drug called sodium nitroprusside (Nipride®) is used in hypertensive emergencies.
- Pre-eclampsia: Pre-eclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy along with protein in the urine. It can cause serious complications for the mother and baby. Pre-eclampsia can decrease the supply of blood and oxygen available to the mother and developing child. This may result in conditions such as a lower birth weight and neurological (nervous system) damage. The mother is at risk for kidney problems, seizures, strokes, breathing problems, and even death, in rare instances. The cause of pre-eclampsia is not known. Pre-eclampsia usually occurs during the second half of the pregnancy, and affects about 5% of pregnant women.
- Pulmonary hypertension: When pressure in the pulmonary circulation (blood flow to and from the lungs) becomes abnormally elevated, it is referred to as pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension results from constriction, or tightening of the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs. As a result, it becomes difficult for blood to pass through the lungs, making it harder for the heart to pump blood forward. This stress on the heart leads to enlargement of the heart and eventually fluid can build up in the liver or tissues, such as in the legs. Affected patients can sometimes notice increasing shortness of breath and dizziness. Pulmonary hypertension can be caused by diseases of the heart and the lungs, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, sleep apnea (a sleeping disorder characterized by pauses in breathing), failure of the left heart ventricle, recurrent pulmonary embolism (blood clots traveling from the legs or pelvic veins obstructing the pulmonary arteries), or underlying diseases such as scleroderma (scar tissue in the organs).
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. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36492000 |
For 70-year-old May Quan Woo, being born and raised in El Centro meant that celebrating the Chinese New Year was extra special because it was a way for her and her family to stay tied to their Chinese roots.
“Culture is very important. If we don’t continue the Chinese traditions, it will be lost,” Woo said.
As a child, the Chinese New Year, or Lunar Year as it’s known in China, was a time for Woo and her siblings to embrace their Chinese heritage by participating in traditional rituals and superstitions, as well as preparing symbolic meals as part of the New Year celebration.
Growing up, as a Chinese American, New Year’s Day was the only day Woo’s parents would make their children eat their meals with the traditional Chinese chopsticks, a difficult task for Woo to manage having used the common American utensils on a regular basis.
“I remember having to use the chopsticks and being afraid because my father would tell us, ‘You kids better not drop those chopsticks; it’ll bring bad luck,’” Woo said.
Now, as a grandmother, Woo still celebrates the Chinese New Year and continues the many traditional activities she once did as a child.
“In China, people celebrate the whole month, but here, we will celebrate for about three days; New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the day after the New Year. It’s fun to keep up the tradition in the Valley because this is my home,” Woo said.
To enter the New Year on a positive note, Woo and many other Chinese Americans in the Valley have begun preparing days in advance.
The house is first spotlessly cleaned to bring the home and family a good New Year beginning, with all the sharp knives and cutting tools hidden away to avoid cutting oneself and bringing bad luck, Woo explained.
Children are also decorated in new clothes with bright, brilliant colors, that are then put aside to be worn on New Year’s Day, she said.
“The clothes are typically red or other bright colors; never black or dark,” Woo said.
Children are also given New Year’s Day gifts of “good luck” money wrapped in red envelopes and decorated in gold symbols that translate to wishes for a happy, prosperous and successful New Year.
“It’s a really happy day for the whole family,” Woo said.
Having cooked days before today’s celebration, Woo and her family will be gathering together this evening to feast on a traditional Chinese dinner so grand it is often compared to the American Thanksgiving day meal.
“We make a lot of traditional Chinese food, in honor of the New Year. My husband and I already bought some of the food and we’ve began preparing some of the meals,” Woo said Friday morning.
One of the dishes common this time of year in Woo’s family is “jai,” also known as Buddha’s delight, a vegetarian dish. The dish contains about nine different ingredients all symbolizing something you want to have in the coming year, Woo said.
Some ingredients include long rice threads for long life, oysters or “ho see” for happiness, Chinese red dates or “hoong joe” for good luck, gold vegetables or “gum choy” for wealth and “fat choy,” for prosperity.
“We also cook chicken, but we make sure to keep the head and feet attached as a symbol of completeness,” Woo said.
Having learned most of her New Year’s dishes from her grandmother, Woo hopes to keep many of the Chinese traditions alive by passing on her culture’s values, rituals, and even meals to her own grandchildren.
“We believe in education and tradition; both are very important for our children to know,” Woo said.
Combining both themes seamlessly, San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus held an early Lunar Year celebration for many of its students and faculty, Thursday evening.
Led by the instructors of the Chinese language and culture classes at SDSU-IV campus, partygoers celebrated the New Year by singing greeting songs, playing games, watching a Gongfu demonstration and loading their bellies full of tasty Chinese dishes, while embracing the traditions and spirit of the Chinese culture.
Throughout the festivities, students and family members wished each other all the best, “wàn shì rù yì,” as well as prosperity and wealth to one another, “Gong xi fa cái,” as many Northern Chinese families and friends would say this time of year.
Staff Writer Celeste Alvarez can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at email@example.com
Join the discussion and add your comments to this story! Scroll down or click here and tell us what you think. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36495000 |
MINERVA (MIcro/Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle for Asteroid), Japan's first planetary exploration rover, traveled to the Itokawa asteroid aboard Hayabusa. It is a 16-sided prism measuring 12 cm in diameter and 10 centimeters in height, and weighing 591 grams. MINERVA was released from Hayabusa during its descent to Itokawa. It was designed to move around on the asteroid autonomously, by hopping, and to perform observations with a camera and thermometer. MINERVA was deployed on November 12, 2005, two-and-a-half years after Hayabusa's launch on May 9, 2003. Unfortunately, it did not make the landing on Itokawa. However, it was able to take an image of Hayabusa's solar paddle during deployment, which is the world's first image of a deep-space explorer taken from outside the spacecraft while in space. Maintaining stable function after release, MINERVA also succeeded in demonstrating many new engineering technologies.
Q. MINERVA is designed to travel by hopping. How did this idea come about?
Originally, Hayabusa was supposed to carry only a NASA rover, but in 1998 we initiated a project to develop an original Japanese one. Later, NASA canceled its rover plan, so MINERVA was the only one on board. We wanted to make our robot different from NASA's wheeled version, in part out of pride. We wanted to build an original Japanese robot. And after considering it theoretically and experimentally, we also came to the conclusion that a hopping transportation method made sense. No matter what direction MINERVA descends from, it can hop.
Q. What was the greatest challenge in developing MINERVA?
The first obstacle was the extremely low gravity on the asteroid Itokawa. Low gravity makes a rover hop no matter what, so with that in mind I came up with a design where the rover would move by hopping. It was necessary to make it hop horizontally because if it hopped only vertically, it would stay in one place. We tested the rover for direction and speed in a simulated zero-gravity environment, and also looked at its response on hard surfaces such as rocks, and soft surfaces such as sand.
MINERVA's data was to be transmitted to Earth via Hayabusa. But Itokawa is about 300 million kilometers from Earth, and it takes approximately 40 minutes for communication signals to travel back and forth between them. It's not very efficient if it takes that much time to send a command from Earth to Hayabusa and wait for confirmation of its receipt. So, we needed to make MINERVA capable of assessing its environment and taking action on its own, but the development of the software for this was very difficult. MINERVA is powered by solar cells on its body, which generate about 2 Watts of electricity. With higher computer processing speeds, more electricity is consumed, so we couldn't increase MINERVA's processing speed because of its limited amount of consumable energy. As a result, the performance of its onboard computer is less than one per cent that of ordinary, everyday computers we use. Adding many functions to such a computer caused delays and crashes, and we had a tough time solving these problems.
Q. What do you remember most vividly among all Hayabusa operations thus far?
It's the deployment of MINERVA. MINERVA was released from Hayabusa during a rehearsal descent on November 12, 2005. A command was transmitted to Hayabusa to separate MINERVA, and I waited in front of the monitor to hear back from Hayabusa. Forty minutes later, the deployment of MINERVA was confirmed. I was so happy and informed everyone of the success. But three hours later we realized something was wrong.
Itokawa's rotation period is 12 hours. MINERVA should have landed on the asteroid around noon Itokawa time. The shift from noon to night there takes about three hours, and at night communication with MINERVA stops, as its solar cells cannot get any sunlight. However, the communication remained active for more than three hours, which indicated that the rover had not landed on Itokawa's surface. We learned from subsequent inspection that MINERVA had actually been released at a distance of 200 meters from the asteroid, instead of 70 meters. In addition, Hayabusa was flying away from Itokawa at a speed of 15 centimeters per second, which was the most severe problem. MINERVA might still have been able to make a landing, even from 200 meters away, if the probe had been moving towards the asteroid.
Even though MINERVA flew away from Itokawa without landing on it, stable communication lasted for 18 hours after the release. After communication stopped, I waited with the transmitter on for two weeks, just in case MINERVA sent a signal. However, in the end, no radio waves from the probe were detected. MINERVA had become the world's smallest satellite, at 591 grams. Its electronic devices may have been damaged by temperature fluctuations in the last year or so, but I still believe that MINERVA is alive somewhere.
Q. What went through your mind when you learned that MINERVA hadn't landed on the asteroid Itokawa?
I thought, “Well, that's life.” There was nothing much I could do about it. There were many stages to clear before sending MINERVA to the asteroid: making sure that the rocket launch would be successful, that the explorer would arrive safely at the asteroid, and that it would descend carefully. Then, it was finally MINERVA's turn. Each phase was challenging enough and carried a risk of failure. So, if MINERVA didn't go well, it didn't go well. I thought I'd start working hard again for the next goal.
Q. Did your impression of Itokawa change during Hayabusa's stay there?
Before arrival, I thought the surface of Itokawa would be relatively monotonous. But it turned out to have more variety, with sandy and rocky areas, for example. This confirmed for me that it was worth making a robot like MINERVA. If Itokawa had a monotonous surface, it would have been enough to perform a detailed study in just one spot, and it would not have been necessary to survey the surface by traveling over it. So when I saw Itokawa's surface, I was relieved that we had built a robot as mobile as MINERVA.
Q. What have you learned through the Hayabusa mission?
I joined the MINERVA research team in 1997, when I was still a graduate student, and got a job in 2000 at ISAS, the former Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (now JAXA/ISAS), as part of the development team. I got involved in Hayabusa after 2000. The Hayabusa mission is the first and only space exploration mission I've ever been involved in, so Hayabusa has taught me everything I know about space missions. Especially with MINERVA, there were many things we had to do by ourselves, and it gave me a sense that we were making a satellite with our own hands. Core parts of a satellite or an explorer are hard for us to build by ourselves, but it is possible for us to make a certain level of instruments, such as those used for observation, and in fact, that is what people at ISAS do. I realized that we should build what we can by ourselves, even if it's a spacecraft. I've gained some confidence in hand-crafting. I've also learned not to give up, not to compromise, no matter what, until the end, always trying to make the situation the best you can at that time. I think that space exploration requires creative ideas and pushing boundaries, and the Hayabusa mission has taught me the ideal way of working on a space project.
Q. What do you think about Hayabusa's return?
I hope that propulsion by the ion engines, which is the initial step for coming back, will go well at first. But the return journey will take about three years, so we cannot relax for a while. As a member of the development team, I don't see that my agitation will stop soon. It will turn into joy if Hayabusa returns successfully, but I think that our trial will continue until then.
Q. What is your dream for the future?
I've been interested in robots since I was a child, so I'm basically keen on using them for unmanned exploration. I'd like to send various types of robotic explorers not only to asteroids but also to other celestial bodies, such as the Moon, Mars and comets.
Q. Do you have a message for children who wish to be part of future space development?
Space is surely easy to get interested in, but I don't think it necessarily has to be space. As a kid myself, I preferred robots and automobiles, if anything, to space. Whatever it is, I think it's wonderful for children to be interested in something that gets them using their own hands. Education reform and children's dislike of science have been issues of concern, but it's not easy to like science simply because you are told to do so. If children find it fun to work on things related to science with their own hands, their interest in science and mathematics will inevitably grow. So I'd like children to have opportunities to create things themselves. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36500000 |
Hebrew Language: Root Words
Most Hebrew words are derived from three-letter root words
The vast majority of words in the Hebrew language can be boiled down to a
three-consonant root word that contains the essence of the word's meaning. Even
if you cannot read Hebrew, you will find that you can get some insight into the
meaning of the Bible by identifying the roots of words. If you see the same
English word in two different places, but different Hebrew roots are used, this
may indicate that there is a different shade of meaning. If the same Hebrew
root is used in two different places, the words and their meanings are probably
substantial amount of rabbinical interpretation of
the Bible is derived from the relation between root words. For example, the
rabbis concluded that G-d created women with greater
intuition and understanding than men, because man was "formed" (yitzer, Gen.
2:7) while woman was "built" (yiben, Gen. 2:22). The root of "built,"
Beit-Nun-Hei, is very similar to the word "binah" (Beit-Yod-Nun-Hei), meaning
understanding, insight or intuition.
a familiar Talmudic teaching notes the similarity
of the words banayikh (your children) and bonayikh (your builders), and
suggests that Isaiah 54:13 (and all your children/builders will be students of
G-d, and great shall be the peace of your children/builders) indicates that
those who study Torah are the builders of peace.
Formation of Hebrew Words from Roots
Hebrew words are formed from roots by changing vowels and by adding a wealth of
prefixes and suffixes to that root. Prefixes can be prepositions (in, on, of,
to, etc.), articles (the), or other things. Suffixes can be pronouns (he, you,
our, etc.), possessives ('s), or can indicate gender and number (female
singular; male plural, etc.). Because of the way these prefixes and suffixes
are added to the root, a single word in Hebrew might be translated into English
as several words.
example, the first word of the Torah, "bereishit,"
is usually translated as "in the beginning." The root is Reish-Alef-Shin, which
means "head" or "first." (See Hebrew Alphabet to
learn the letters). It is the same root as the "Rosh" in
"Rosh Hashanah" (first of the year, i.e., Jewish
New Year). We add the prefix Beit, a preposition meaning "in," "on," and a
number of other things. The word "the" is implied.
more complicated example is the Hebrew word "shehecheyanu," the name of a
popular prayer recited on holidays and at other times. The single word
"shehecheyanu" means "who has kept us alive." The root of this word is
Cheit-Yod-Hei, a verb meaning "to live." It's the same root as the Hebrew word
"chai" (life or living) which you commonly see on Jewish jewelry, and the
Jewish toast "l'chayim!" (to life!) The Shin prefix turns the verb into a noun
indicating a person who does the thing ("who"). The next letter is Hei, which
normally turns a verb into a causative form ("has kept"). The Nun-Vav suffix is
a first person plural pronoun ("us"). Thus, shehecheyanu means "who has kept us
are surprisingly few root words in biblical Hebrew, but we get a lot of mileage
out of the ones we have. For example, from the root word Qof-Dalet-Shin,
meaning "holy," "sacred" or "sanctified," we get kedushah (holiness), kiddush
(a prayer over wine sanctifying Shabbat or a
Kaddish (an important prayer commonly thought of
as a mourning prayer), aron kodesh (holy cabinet - the place in synagogue where
the Torah scrolls are kept), and
obviously, from the root Samekh-Dalet-Reish, meaning "order," we get siddur
(the daily prayer book, which sets for the order of prayers),
Passover family ritual, which must be performed
in a specified order) and sidrah (the weekly
Torah reading, also called a parshah).
Prefixes and Suffixes
Here are some common prefixes and suffixes you will find on Hebrew words:
||Comments and Examples
||Vav used as a prefix can make the "v" sound or the "u" sound. When used
with other prefixes, this is always the first prefix. V'ahavta
(and you shall love); U'vayom (and on the day).
||In, on, with, by, etc.
||Beit as a prefix sometimes makes the soft sound (v). Bereishit
(in the beginning); u'vayom (and on the day).
||When Hei used with other prefixes, this is always the last prefix before
the root. It is often absorbed into the Beit or Lamed prefix. Haolam
(the universe); u'vayom (and on the day; note that the v'
(on) combines with the ha (the) to become va (on the)).
||Mi kamokha (who is like you?).
||L'chayim (to life).
||From; also turns a verb into a noun
||Mimitzrayim (from Egypt); mitzvah (commandment, a noun
derived from the root verb tzavah meaning command)
||Turns a verb into the person who does it
||Shehecheyanu (who has kept us alive); sheasah
||Comments and Examples
||B'khol l'vavikha uv'khol naf'shikha uv'khol m'odekha
(with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
||We, us, our
||Avinu malkeynu (our Father, our King); asher
kidishanu (who has sanctified us); ashamnu (we have
If you are interested in Hebrew root words, an interesting book to look at, is
Jewish Lexicon, which looks at a lot of important Jewish concepts and
idioms through their root words. Be aware that this book is written from a
© Copyright 5756-5771 (1995-2011), Tracey R Rich
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In 1992, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
(COSO) published a report defining internal controls and the criteria for determining the effectiveness of an internal controls system. The committee included members of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the
Institute of Internal Auditors, the Financial Executives Institute, the American Accounting Association; and the Institute of Management Accountants. Like the
IIA, COSO established a broad definition of internal controls as:
A process, effected by an entity’s board of directors, management
and other personnel, designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the
effectiveness and efficiency of operations;
reliability of financial reporting;
compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The COSO report also states that management is primarily responsible for internal control, but everyone in the organization shares responsibility. The internal auditor’s role is to help higher management monitor the system, making it aware of the strengths and weaknesses of internal control. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36506000 |
What Sustainability Education Is to Me
James Pittman’s “living definition of sustainability” forms the foundation for my definition of optimal sustainability education in that it offers an integrated vision for sustainability that focuses on the health and integrity of human/nature systems. Pittman defines living sustainability as “the long-term equilibrium of health and integrity maintained dynamically within any individual system (organism, organization, ecosystem, community, etc.) through a diversity of relationships with other systems.” Pittman’s definition of living sustainability describes what I call “socio-ecological living sustainability.” I use “socio-ecological” in addition to “living” because “ecology” — the study of the earth household — is inherently concerned with relationships — with systems views — and these views are central to exploring social power and exploitation. Using the term “ecology” highlights the fact that the systems referenced in the definition include both living and nonliving components of earth systems. This definition is “socio-ecological” because society is embedded within ecology, and the definition is “living” because, like all life, it is open to change driven by historical and natural forces. This openness to change points to an important aspect of the definition: it is place specific; what might be sustainable in a given context is not necessarily so in every context. The appropriateness of changes to and adaptations of the definition is therefore place-specific in the same way that the appropriateness of life adaptations is in many ways determined by the specific context. The definition, to remain viable, must take form and evolve in living situations. Sustainability, then, is a set of lifeways lived within specific, historical circumstances. Within these lifeways, considerations of the “long-term equilibrium of health and integrity” remain the central focus for communities.
My focus as a sustainability educator is in higher education as a critical pedagogical process that, at its best, is capable of engaging students, faculty members, and the community in sustainability praxis. The purposes and goals of this transformative praxis depart from those dominant in higher education today in that they involve students in the process of naming the world and defining desired action. This praxis seeks to (re)integrate our fractured identities and worldviews. It is counterhegemonic in orientation so that it directly confronts the political economy of late capitalism and its means of production as primary drivers in the sustainability crisis. It takes a transdisciplinary approach to integrating the academic disciplines and seeks to heal dichotomous and destructive fractures within the modern worldview such as those separating humans from nature and men from women. It seeks to authentically reconnect people with each other and with the land. It embodies sustainable forms of leadership and entails educational processes and content that encourage the kind of personal and community engagement that can foster sustainable living. In short, actualizing sustainability education would mean revolutionizing higher education. The need for this revolution is urgent. If it is diffused or delayed until the dire consequences of socio-ecological and/or economic collapse are upon us, opportunities for higher education to engage in a sustainability-oriented remaking of the world will have vastly diminished. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36508000 |
Provided by Networx.com
The cold month of February is the time to start seeds, and to start preparing planters for your container plants. Building cute and functional planters is a way to make the best of chilly days spent indoors. Whether you are planting annuals in a window box, or vegetables in a vertical garden, there are so many awesome ways to make cheap, environmentally friendly planters that don't require you to be a professional carpenter in order to make them.
For totally low budget planters, think old two liter soda bottles or plastic milk jugs. Large plastic bottles or jugs can simply be washed thoroughly and cut in half. Drill holes in the bottom for drainage, and fill with potting soil. This is a super cheap DIY planter solution, although it is not perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing. An advantage to it is that it's easy to hang upcycled plastic bottle or jug planters from railings. Urban gardeners, who only have access to a fire escape, can utilize the outer and inner sides of their fire escape raiings by affixing these planters at alternating heights, to essentially make a vertical garden.
Pickle buckets are awesome as DIY planters. Grocery stores and restaurants receive bulk pickles in four or five gallon buckets. Sometimes they return them to the distributor, but sometimes they throw the pickle buckets out. When in doubt as to whether a stack of pickle buckets behind a store or cafe is waiting to be picked up by the garbage collector or the distributor, do the right thing and ask the store's manager. When you are sure that the pickle buckets are destined for the dump or the recycling facility, then grab a few and use them as planters. You can make self-watering planters from pickle buckets, or you can drill drainage holes into the bottoms. You can grow quite a lot of food in a pickle bucket.
Large cans are another awesome free DIY planter idea. While small supermarket-sized vegetable cans don't have enough room for a plant with a substantial root ball to grow, industrial sized cans are a sure bet. Check the garbage (dumpster diving!) of cafes. If you are on friendly terms with your office cafeteria workers, or your local barista, or the waitress at your local diner, don't be afraid to ask them for large cans from the kitchen. They very well might be able to locate a few that are headed to the garbage. Poke drainage holes into the bottom of the can with a hammer and a nail. Smaller cans are great for starting seedlings or small transplants in.
Not everyone has one of these hanging around, but they're perfect containers for a garden. Large troughs or barrels give you plenty of room to plant bigger crops. Scour yard sales and local flea markets for plastic, wood, or galvanized metal tubs. Planting in troughs is an excellent way to grow pounds of food in a tiny garden.
You can also make a hanging planter from an old tire. If you're handy, do as blogger Pamela, a DIY painter in Schenectady, from Pink Hammers and Sippy Cups did. The project involves cleaning, cutting, and painting an old tire. The result is a sturdy planter that looks a bit like a flower. It can be suspended as a hanging planter, or it can be placed on the ground.
What's your favorite way to make your own planters? Have you figured out an amazing and awesome, cheap DIY planter solution. Please tell us in the comments!
Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.View original post. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36521000 |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- At its essence, the presidential inaugural symbolizes American democracy's peaceful transition or extension of power.
Every four years, the winner of the preceding November election swears to defend the Constitution. Cannons boom and bands play. It all unfolds outside in public, usually before a massive throng that thunders its approval.
The simple practice and symbolism of inaugurating a president has remained consistent throughout American history -- 56 times before Sunday -- although the date, the pomp and the ceremony have changed since George Washington took the first oath 224 years ago.
Thirteen years after the Declaration of Independence and more than a year and a half after the Constitution was ratified, Washington was sworn in on April 20, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York. The capital city later named for Washington was just a swamp at the time.
He set the precedent of kissing the Bible after the oath.
Franklin Pierce broke the tradition of kissing the Bible. He placed his left hand on it instead in 1853.
Washington is also credited with creating other traditions. For instance, he started the inaugural parade when government officials, members of Congress, Army units, and prominent citizens escorted him to the ceremony.
The oath of office is specified in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. The oath for other federal officials, including the vice president, is not in the Constitution.
The oath of office reads, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
The "(or affirm)" allows the president-elect to choose to affirm or to swear the oath of office. Only Pierce and Herbert Hoover chose to affirm rather than swear their oath.
The words "so help me God" do not appear in the Constitutional oath. That phrase was supposedly ad-libbed by Washington, setting a precedent for future presidents.
President Barack Obama has requested his oath include the phrase.
A personal aspect of the inauguration is the Bible.
John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president -- his religious identity was a contentious issue in his run for office.
Only three presidents did not use a Bible: John Qunicy Adams opted for a volume of law; Theodore Roosevelt used no Bible or book at his first inauguration in 1901. Lyndon Johnson used John F. Kennedy's Roman Catholic Missal during his hastily arranged swearing-in aboard Air Force One en route to Washington following Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
Like fingerprints, no inaugural address is the same -- they come in all lengths, tones and with all kinds of different motives. Some aim to set the agenda for the president's term, others aim to define how the president will govern.
Washington delivered the shortest address at his second inauguration in Philadelphia. It totaled 135 words.
The longest was about 8,500 words and delivered by William Henry Harrison, who refused to wear coat on the cold March day in 1841. He caught a cold and died from pneumonia a month later.
Some memorable lines from inaugural addresses:
"With malice toward none, with charity for all." - Abraham Lincoln, March 1865.
"Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin
D. Roosevelt, March 1933.
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you --- ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy, January 1961.
January 20 falls on a Sunday this year as it did in 1917, 1957 and 1985. As a result, Obama will take the official oath in a private ceremony that day at the White House. He will follow up with the public ceremony on Monday at the Capitol.
Obama will be the first president to have two oaths administered publicly and privately. In 2009, Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed the oath as he read it Obama during the public ceremony. They did it again the next day at the White House to leave no question
Thomas Jefferson was the first president inaugurated in Washington, March 1801.
The first inauguration on January 20 by decree of the 20th Amendment was in 1937.
Andrew Jackson was the first to take the oath on the East Front of the Capitol.
Ronald Reagan of California was the first to be inaugurated on the West Front of the Capitol in 1980.
Jimmy Carter, in 1976, was the first to walk from the Capitol to the White House.
The first inaugural streamed live on the Internet was Bill Clinton's second ceremony in 1997.
CNN's Connor Finnegan and Robert Yoon contributed to this report | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36524000 |
Mga likas na yaman sa timog asya?
Filipino translated to English: Natural resources in South Asia
The natural resources of South Asia include iron ore, bauxite, copper ore and coal. Also present are natural resources like forests that can be used for timber, paper and firewood as well as water used for hydroelectric power and irrigation.
According to the United Nations, Southern Asia is defined as being comprised of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This definition may change depending on the source. For example, Rutgers University also recognizes Myanmar and Tibet as belonging to Southern Asia. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36528000 |
User:Oh,how the sea calls
If you have questions ask on my talk page.
Quick References for Common Japanese
- a little bit on the Japanese Language to possibly act as a reference guide for the Wiki.
- More verbs, Common Nouns, Asking Questions, and a little bit more order to follow soon.
Important Particles
'Ga' - subject marker. ex. - Sasuke ga Naruto o hanasu. Sasuke (Subject Marker) Naruto (D.O. Marker) hanasu (speaks).
'O' - direct object marker. shows what the subject is doing the action to. ex. Sasuke ga Naruto o hanasu. Sasuke (Subject Marker) Naruto (Direct Object marker)hanasu (speaks).
'No' - shows possession, or is as a modifying phrase. ex (possession)- Sora no Kiiburedo (Keyblade). Sora's Keyblade. ex (modifying phrase) - Nihongo (Japanese Language) no hon (book). Japanese language book.
'Wa' - denotes the subject of the sentence. -clarifies what you are talking about. -add 'wa' after the topic of the sentence. -any noun can be the topic, if it is the D.O., replace 'o' with 'wa', and if it is the subject, replace 'ga' with 'wa.' ex. - Kinou wa (as for yesterday) sensei (teacher) ga (Subj. Mark) Jon (John) o (D.O. Marker) shikatta (scolded).
'Ka' - lists choices like the English word 'or.' Ame ka yumi. (Rain or water).
'To' - lists items, or specifies the co-agent. ex (lists items) - Ame to yumi (Rain and water). ex (specifies co-agent - Sasuke ga (Subj Mark.) Naruto to (co-agent specifier) tabeta (ate).
- Always at the end of a sentence. - comes in four forms; the dictionary, negative, stem (I will post these forms later) and 'te' form (also, later). - info on past tense will follow with the 'te' form.
dictionary - the one you would see if you looked it up in a dictionary. The present tense and affirmative form of the verb. ex - taberu - to eat
negative - the opposite of the dictionary form. ex - tabenai - to not eat
Common Verbs
Da - is (informal)
Desu - is (formal)
Ja nai - is not (inf.)
Ja arimasen - is not (for.)
Datta - was (inf.)
Deshita - was (for.)
Ja nakatta - was not (inf.)
Ja arimasendeshita - was not (for.)
Aru - to exist/ to have. used by the Japanese to show possession of inanimate objects. (this one is a tad bit strange, as is it's counterpart, Iru) Nai (neg.) ex - Sora wa (Topic Marker) munni (munny) ga aru. As for Sora, munni exists. OR Sora has money.
Iru (dict.) - to exist/ to have. used by the Japanese to show possession of animate objects. Inai (neg.) ex - Sora wa (Topic Marker) tori (bird) o (D.O. Marker) aru (exists). As for Sora, a bird exists. OR Sora has a bird.
Taberu (dict.) - to eat. Tabenai (neg.)
Hanasu (dict.) - to speak. Hanasanai (neg.)
Shinu (dict.) - to die. Shinanai (neg.)
Kaku (dict.) - to write. Kakanai (neg.)
Toru (dict.) - to take Toranai (neg.)
Kau (dict.) - to buy Kawanai (neg.)
Miru (dict.) - to watch Minai (neg.)
Iku (dict.) - to go Ikanai (neg.)
Kuru (dict.) - to come Konai (neg.)
Suru (dict.) - to do Shinai (neg.)
Yes / no and content questions to follow soon.
Users I Consider to be Friends
-Lapis Lazuli Scarib-
(got to add to this list)
Long Absence
Working on language and school. Hoping to help more that way-. Oh,how the sea calls 20:40, 19 April 2011 (EDT)
Template:User Hollow Bastion
Template:User Timeless River | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36531000 |
With stores like Rogers Video open every day of the year, some of us know what it's like to work on Christmas day. The difference between working now and back in Medieval times is significant. Back then, servants had to wait hand and foot on Lords and Ladies - some of them were not so nice, I might add. While the family feasted on large meals and joyfully opened up presents, the paid staff worked their butts off. This doesn't mean servants had to go without Christmas and presents though. The day after Christmas faithful servants or employees would get a Christmas Box.
The first Boxing Day is believed to have started in the Middle Ages. This is just a guess cuz the exact date isn't known. How Boxing Day started is a question as well. Some say it started with the giving of Christmas Boxes, like the story above. Others think it was named for the tradition of opening charity boxes placed in churches during the Christmas season. The contents were given out to the poor.
Only in the last century has Boxing Day become a holiday. By having Christmas Day and Boxing Day as holidays people could take trips or get together with family members for Christmas. Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. If December 26 falls on Saturday or Sunday the public dedicates the following Monday to Boxing Day. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36533000 |
Quite an informative blog post from our local surfing site
What we're talking about is something surfers really don’t want to know about, but should, because if you're a surfer, you're taking part in a sport where surfer's ear is one of the most common problems and a price you may have to pay for being a surf-aholic.
So, let's talk about the history of surfer's ear, what causes it and what can, and should, be done about it.Being ignorant on such a relevant topic is not smart, it's plain dumb. And that’s not something the surfer community should be. Surf Kings and Queens for sure, but not dummies.
If you're a smoker, you know the small print. The same should apply to surfers and their ears. So at the end of this chat, I hope to have you better informed.Having started with a sexual innuendo, I think it only fair to mention that in 1891, when “surfer's ear” was first described, syphilis was suspected as a possible cause. The first described surgery took place in 1877.
The operation took seven hours using chloroform anaesthesia. They also used leeches to facilitate blood flow. But relax. Just as technology for surfboards and wetsuits has flourished, so have modern surgical techniques and anaesthesia. So chill... you're safe from leeches.
What causes surfer's ear? I worked in London for Sir Donald Harrison who found the reason. He found ear canal skin temperature increased after swimming in cold water. This increase was due to dilatation of the blood vessels. Irrigating the ear with 15°C seawater for 15 seconds caused blood vessels to swell and increase the warmth for some 45 minutes. And in those who already had surfer's ear, the same exposure caused 80 minutes of reflex warming due to vessel dilatation.
So the colder the water, the greater the duration of the reflex dilation and heating up. Basically increased vascular temperature can cause new bone formation because there's no insulating layer of subcutaneous tissue between the lining of the ear canal and the underlying bone. This theory has been found to be true.
In terms of history, a relatively small number of people engaged in long-term cold-water activities as an occupation, but with invention in the 1950s of the neoprene suit, everything changed and one could spend prolonged periods of time in what had previously been uncomfortably cold water. Unless the ear canal was protected from cold-water exposure, the price for greater participation in cold-water activities increased, as did formation of surfer's ear.
The sport predominantly affected by these trends was surfing: so you're at riskSurfers are people who continually have their heads under water and participate in their sport for hundreds of hours per year and, what's more, many for decades. In fact the term “surfer's ear” first appeared in medical literature in 1977.
Since then most discussions on surfer's ear describe mainly surfing populations since this is the group with the highest incidence of the condition. Essentially, a surfing generation was born. A generation of water buddies who spend hundreds of hours in cold water with uncovered ears. Some for decades. All surfers are potentially at risk, so if you're sensible, responsible and all those other boring things, you'd have your ears checked out by someone who understands this condition ... not an amateur ..., firstly to see whether you have them, and what, if anything, needs be done. Certainly protection is top of the list.
How many surfers get surfer's ear
This varies depending on whether you're susceptible, the water temperature and how often and for how long you surf, always repeating the bottom line as to whether you wear protection. This makes a huge difference. What I mean is, “wear an ear condom.”
It needn’t be a Rough Rider or equivalent, just a hood, Doc's pro plugs or Prestik, recalling the mantra of “KEEP IT COVERED.” In this case, both of them.
A Californian study with water temperature 19-20°c found 86% of surfers to have a degree of canal closure from surfer's ear. Interestingly, more involvement in the right ear than left. Most didn’t wear protection because, either they didn’t think of it, or it was uncomfortable and unglamorous.Japanese professional surfers have an 80% incidence with canal closure of between 50 – 80%. Again the colder the water, the greater the incidence.
In New Zealand the incidence was some 73% with 40% having 50% or more closure. Those surfing in winter were worst off regards canal closure.Another Californian survey found a 75% incidence in those surfing over 20 years.
An Australian report from Victoria showed males to have 50% and females 43% chance of developing more than 66% closure when surfing more than 20 years.We currently have no South African figures but I'm asking Spike to organise a Cape Town survey.
There'll hopefully be a Wavescape banner and table and I'll be on the beach checking your ears and giving you the result.
Handling surfer's ear:Let's get this straight. By no means every surfer's ear needs surgery. We need understand that. But you, the surfer, need to know firstly whether you have the condition and if so, to what extent. Mild to moderate surfer's ear needs no more than being aware of the condition, taking precautions and regular check ups. But, don’t let them get to what I call “North face of the Eiger” – a wall of bone - before you accept surgery is necessary.
Remember your hearing can be absolutely perfect with only a tiny aperture between the osteoma. It's amazing how small a sound wave needs to get through to keep your hearing normal. This is often the case. When you tell a surfer they need something done, they turn pale with fear and run for the door... back to the waves.
The mantra being “it'll never happen to me.”It does, and recall the more extensive the surfer's ear, the more difficult the surgery, and the more “small print” comes into play. When you have what I call “North face of the Eiger”, the “landmarks” are distorted and one tells the surfer, that in many ways delaying the operation to this stage is equivalent almost to constructing du Toit's Kloof tunnel with no GPS. So don’t get into this situation.
Understand the more severe the osteoma, the more potential complications. If you require surgery, have it done before you get to this extreme state.Every ENT surgeon has a case or two of these extensive osteoma where complications occurred because of surgical difficulty.
The current surgical techniques make use of sophisticated binocular microscopes, micro instruments and safe anaesthesia. The combination makes for delicate surgery. The most frequently used technique is high-speed drill, drilling the osteoma away often utilising tiny 1 – 2mm osteotome chisels as adjuncts. Incision is either straight through the canal, or behind the ear. It depends on the surgeon's preference. It's day case surgery and pain not usually a significant factor. The osteoma are removed and an as normal as possible canal recreated by removing the obstruction. Absolutely vital to swift recovery is preservation of the very thin and sensitive skin lining to the canal. If you can retain this, the surfer is back in the water within 4 – 6 weeks. Sometimes sooner.
However, if you present with huge osteoma, then keeping that skin cover can be exceeding difficult and sometimes impossible. In that case, and we've all heard about those that had to stay out of the water for a couple of month's after surgery, because they delayed the procedure and reaped the consequences.The main thing is don’t allow them to get to a massive size by running away and then blame the surgeon when your recovery is prolonged.Also, in terms of regular surfing, recall outer ear infections are not uncommon and, just as there's no such thing as clean air, the same applies to much of the ocean in which you surf. The bacteria involved here are often bowel related with all that that implies.
Surgical follow up
Getting a surfer to accept surgery is required is, in itself, especially difficult because of the denial factor. The “running away” syndrome is substantial and largely based on misplaced fear and lack of awareness. The same applies to coming for regular follow up. Remember surgery will have reduced the osteoma, but the possibility of recurrence is real as the cause of the osteoma formation is dilation of blood vessels, something that cannot be surgically removed. It's a physiologic reaction to cold water.
One report on a 10 year follow up showed there was more than 60% closure in 25%, 30- 60% closure in 31% and less than 30% closure in the remaining 42%. So you need follow up.Not surprisingly, those who surf all year round, recurred quicker as did those who were older at the time of their initial surgery. And here's a vital fact. Ear protection reduced the chance of regrowth 5 fold.So what's the bottom line?
Firstly you're in a sport, which constantly exposes you to cold water. A fair number of you will be in a group where this causes the blood vessels to dilate, stimulating new bone formation hence “surfer's ear.” Just as you shouldn’t drink and drive, so you shouldn’t surf without having your ears checked to get the bottom line. Recall, by no means every surfer's ear needs surgery, but every surfer should protect. That’s not a big price to pay, all things considered.Now you see the connection between HIV and surfer's ear. It pays to protect. I recently saw a beautiful young Fish Hoek surfer with significant surfer's ear. She was 14, but wasn’t keen on wearing protection because of the aesthetics. I've also operated on a matric girl with massive surfer's ear. She too wasn’t keen on protection. The chances of her osteoma recurring are enormous.
Please wear protection!
That’s a plea from someone very involved in the surfer's ear syndrome situation.We'll talk further, but this is what you might call an opening round.
Get back to the surf, but as they say in the classics “KEEP IT COVERED.”. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36537000 |
The goal of CGSUK is to promote gender equity and equality (especially within Sri Lankan universities).
Gender equality is the notion that there should be equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for women and men (and girls and boys). Equality does not mean that women and men should be the same; but that rights, responsibilities and opportunities should not depend on whether people are born male or female.
Gender equity is the notion that the specific interests, needs and priorities of both women and men should be taken into consideration. Equity recognizes that men and women have differing interests, needs and priorities depending on their biological sex and their gendered life experiences. Furthermore, different groups of women and men prioritize different issues from one another.
CGSUK is founded on the simultaneous conceptualization of gender equity / equality. This means that both the similarities of men’s and women’s life experiences as well as the differences in their life experiences are taken into account in conceptualizations and discussions about gender. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36539000 |
Posted: May 8, 2012 5:54 PM by Andy Koen
Updated: May 8, 2012 6:02 PM
A local start-up company is on the cutting edge of renewable energy development by designing and building machines that make electricity by harnessing the power of ocean waves.
Atargis Energy Corporation was founded in 2010 by Air Force Academy aeronautics professor Dr. Stefan Siegel, Ph.D. The company is currently building a 1/10th scale prototype in their facility on Janitell Road for testing at tested at the Hydromechanics Laboratory at Texas A&M University next month.
"The vision is to really produce electricity at the utility scale and feed that electricity to the power grid to communities in the vicinity of the ocean shore," Siegel said.
Dr. Siegel says a single generator can produce five megawatts of electricity, enough to power a community roughly the size of Falcon. The generators would also create electricity at a similar cost per kilowatt hour as non-renewable sources like oil, gas and coal.
So, why would an aeronautics professor start a wave energy company in a land locked state? Siegel says the science is virtually the same.
"Water and air are basically just fluids," he explained. "The same laws of motion and physics apply to both of them."
Using a 1/300th scale model, Siegel demonstrated that the same forces that create lift under an airplane wing are also at work spinning the blades of his generator with passing ocean waves.
As for the location, Siegel says the design of the machine is such that a large manufacturing plant isn't necessary. Instead, the various components can easily be mass produced by existing manufacturers. The generators would then be assembled at shipyards near the coasts before installation.
Another unique attribute of the design is that it operates completely submerged, protected from heavy winds and storms on the surface of the water.
"If you go below the water surface you already don't have the impact of the wind, if you go down a little bit further, you're actually losing the impact of the wave as well and that is how our device survives storms," Siegel explains.
Atargis plans to build quarter-scale and full-size prototypes for ocean testing in the next two years. They hope to begin selling them in 2015. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36544000 |
The finish line is almost here. Americans have weighed a plethora of questions in choosing their presidential candidate.
But amid the quadrennial explosion of political ads, bumper stickers and debates, some questions still baffle: Why is the Republican mascot an elephant? Why are Democrats linked to the color blue? And what happens if the candidates tie?
Below, a voter's guide to such perpetually confounding riddles:
Q. Why are presidential elections always in November, and always on Tuesdays?
It all comes down to weather, harvests and worship.
Back when voters traveled to the polls by horse, Tuesday was an ideal day because it allows people to worship on Sunday, ride to their county seat on Monday and vote on Tuesday - all before market day, Wednesday.
And the month of November fit nicely between harvest time and brutal winter weather -- which can be especially bad when you're trudging along by horse and buggy.
But since many voters now travel by horsepower instead of live horses, some people -- like the group Why Tuesday? -- are pushing to move election day to a weekend day to increase the country's historically dismal voter turnout. According to the group, 15 states do not allow early voting, and 27 percent of non-voters said the main reason why they didn't vote was because they were too busy or couldn't get time off to vote.
Q. Why do Republicans have an elephant and Democrats have a donkey?
Back in 1874, cartoonist Thomas Nast used an elephant to depict the Republican vote in his drawing "The Third-Term Panic." The cartoon was published in Harper's Weekly after the owner of the New York Herald reportedly criticized the notion of Republican President Ulysses S. Grant running for a third term. (Grant didn't end up running in the next election). | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36545000 |
Korean needs 4.6 hectares of land for living
By Yi Whan-woo
Korea’s ecological footprint, or its demand on the ecosystem, is 1.7 times greater than the global average, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Each Korean requires 4.6 hectares of land to live on, exceeding the world’s average of 2.7 hectares, the WWF said in the “Living Planet Report.”
The nation placed 29th on the ecological footprint list of 149 countries.
An ecological footprint is a measure of how much biologically productive land and sea people require in order to absorb their waste and produce all the resources they consume. The higher the necessary amount, the longer it takes to regenerate biologically productive land and fishing grounds.
The major components of Korea’s footprint were the amount of land and sea needed to offset carbon emissions and fishing.
The country with the highest footprint with 11.85 hectares per person was Qatar, followed by Kuwait with 9.72 hectares and the United Arab Emirates with 8.44 hectares.
The global average is expected to go up as China is undergoing rapid economic development. The country was ranked 72nd with 2.1 hectares per person.
The WWF report said the rate has increased since 1970s. The five biggest challenges the Earth faces are the loss of certain natural habitats, overexploitation of wild species’ populations, pollution, climatic change and the increase of specific wildlife species.
It also said the Earth would need to be 1.5 times bigger to produce the resources people are consuming to avoid running out of them, adding it may need to be three times bigger by 2050. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36548000 |
Most Active Stories
KRWG.ORG-The Region's Home Page
Wed January 2, 2013
Pakistan's 'Patriot Act' Could Target Politicians
Originally published on Wed January 2, 2013 9:16 am
Earlier this month, Pakistan's powerful Lower House of Parliament passed what analysts have dubbed Pakistan's Patriot Act. Its name here is "Investigation for Fair Trial Bill."
It has been presented to the Pakistani people as a way to update existing law and usher the rules for investigation in Pakistan into the 21st century. Among other things, it makes electronic eavesdropping admissible as evidence in court.
To American ears, the argument for the new law should sound vaguely familiar. Pakistani officials say that in order to fight the war against terror, they need to be allowed to capture emails, listen in on cellphone calls, and track suspects so they can stay one step ahead of the terrorists.
That's the same argument FBI Director Robert Mueller made before members of Congress when the FBI sought changes in the Patriot Act.
Already A Common Practice
The difference is that the Pakistani version has been introduced into an entirely different societal context. To begin with, it is an open secret that security agencies in Pakistan already tape phones and monitor email with impunity.
They are supposed to get warrants to do this, but they rarely do. The bill is seen as legal cover for what is already common practice. Another difference: This being Pakistan, the feeling among those who are following the bill is that the investigative powers won't be limited to terrorists. Politicians, they believe, are likely to be the main targets.
"There are two sides of the argument. One is that this is a country at war — a war within and war in the region — so you need certain laws to protect people from terrorist activity," says Harris Khaliq, a poet and columnist in Islamabad. "At the same time, Pakistan has a checkered political history and we as citizens are really wary of a situation where these laws or such policies could be actually used to oppress political opponents of whoever is in power."
It is common to use criminal charges as a brickbat against powerful politicians. Bribery and corruption charges are routinely filed and then dismissed. Smear campaigns are frequent. Democracy in Pakistan is too fragile to allow these kinds of sweeping powers, says Aasim Sajjad, a professor of political economy at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.
"Frankly, to be honest, it is not as if this act per se would be required for this sort of big-brother apparatus to operate. I think it operates in any case," Sajjad says. "The worry is that the state and the intelligence apparatus here has historically been so powerful and so unaccountable that there is a feeling that we would be totally surrendering every last remaining bit of independence or civil liberties" by passing the law.
Limited Opposition To Date
While Sajjad's concern about civil liberties would be common in the United States, in Pakistan it is unusual. Aside from university professors and the liberal elite, opposition to the bill has been, at best, muted. While its passage in the lower house made the front pages of the English-language papers here, there was barely a whisper about it in the Urdu-language press.
"Amongst a fairly limited circle — activists and observers — there has been concern," Sajjad says. "But it hasn't generated or garnered the kind of response that I think would be necessary for some sort of countervailing pushback to prevent something like this from going through. It will pass the Senate and the president will sign it."
Mohman Hussein Baluch is a Ph.D. candidate in Pakistani studies at the university, and his reaction is typical of the students there. He says if he isn't doing anything wrong, he has nothing to fear.
"I am a peaceful citizen of Pakistan. I bleed in peace, so I am not worried about this," he says.
The Senate is more conservative than the Lower House in Pakistan, and it is expected to approve the bill and send it to the president for his signature early in the new year.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
On top of their concerns about terrorism, sectarian violence, the Taliban and their painful relationship with the United States, people in Pakistan are talking about privacy.
The lower house of Pakistan's Parliament passed what's called the Investigation for Fair Trial Bill. It is the Pakistani version of the Patriot Act. It clears the way for intelligence and law enforcement agencies to tap phones, monitor Internet traffic and follow people they suspect are terrorists.
Of course, it's an open secret that security agencies in Pakistan already do this, but the new bill will give them legal cover. NPR's Dina Temple Raston-Raston reports from Islamabad.
DINA TEMPLE-RASTON, BYLINE: The Investigation for Fair Trial Bill has been presented to the Pakistani people as a way to update existing law and bring the rules for investigation in Pakistan into the 21st century. Officials say that in order to fight against terror, they need to be allowed to capture emails, listen in on cell phone calls and track Internet searches so they can root out terrorists.
HARRIS KHALIQ: I'm Harris Khaliq and I'm a poet and columnist.
TEMPLE-RASTON: Khaliq has been watching the bill wind its way through Parliament.
KHALIQ: There are two sides to the argument. One, is that this is a country at war, a war within a war within the region. So, you need certain laws to protect people from terrorist activity.
TEMPLE-RASTON: That side of the argument should sound familiar, but it is the other side of the argument that makes it distinctly Pakistani. The concern is not that ordinary citizens might get caught up in this, the worry is that security agencies in Pakistan will use the new powers to blackmail politicians. Harris Khaliq explains.
KHALIQ: Pakistan has a checkered political history, and we, as citizens, are really wary of a situation where these laws or such policies are actually used to oppress political opponents, or whoever is in power.
TEMPLE-RASTON: Aasim Sajjad is a professor of political economy at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.
AASIM SAJJAD: Frankly, to be honest, you know, it's not as if this act, per se, would be required for this sort of, sort of big brother apparatus to operate. I mean, if they can operate in any case...
TEMPLE-RASTON: He's worried the security agencies will use the law as an excuse to go even further.
SAJJAD: The state, the intelligence apparatus is historically been so powerful and so unaccountable that there's a feeling that, you know, this is sort of - we're just totally - would be surrendering every last remaining bit of independence of civil liberties.
TEMPLE-RASTON: Still, aside from university professors and the liberal elite, opposition to the bill has been muted. While news of the bill made the front pages of the English language papers here, there was barely a whisper about it in the Urdu press.
SAJJAD: Amongst a fairly limited circle, you know, activists and observers, there's been concern...
TEMPLE-RASTON: Again, Aasim Sajjad of Quaid-e-Azam University:
SAJJAD: ...but it hasn't generated or garnered the kind of response that, you know, I think would be necessary for there to be actually some kind of countervailing push-back to prevent something like this from going through.
TEMPLE-RASTON: Mohman Hussein Baluch is a Ph.D. candidate in Pakistani studies as the university, and his reaction was typical. If he isn't doing anything wrong, he said, he has nothing to fear.
MOHMAN HUSSEIN BALUCH: If I'm not doing anything wrong - I'm a peaceful citizen of Pakistan - I believe in peace, that I'm not worried about this.
TEMPLE-RASTON: The bill passed the lower house of Parliament and is awaiting approval from the Senate. That's expected to happen in the next week or so, and the president is expected to sign it into law.
Dina Temple-Raston, NPR News, Islamabad. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36551000 |
Flood of 1951
July 13, 1951 has been called by some Black Friday. It was on this day that one of the most costly floods in Kansas’ history swept down the Kansas River valley into the Missouri River basin. The Kansas River valley had flooded before but not with this magnitude and damage. During the period of July 9-13, some areas in the Kansas River basin received 18.5 inches of rain. The eastern half of the basin averaged 8 inches.
The flooding started above Manhattan on the Big Blue River. The Manhattan business district was eventually covered with eight feet of water. Downstream flooding continued in Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City. In Topeka alone about 7,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. The rising river waters caused transportation throughout the river basin to come to a halt. Roads were washed away and railroad tracks moved. Communication lines were downed. Altogether one hundred sixteen cities and towns were affected; 85,000 persons had to be evacuated from their homes; 22,000 residences in the river basin were flooded and nearly 2,500 completely demolished; 336 businesses were destroyed and more than 3000 flooded. The flood didn’t just affect just the towns and cities, 10,000 farms also suffered damage. Topsoil from fertile fields was removed by the flood waters, while heavy deposits of sediment and sand were left in its place. The flood claimed 28 lives as more than 1 million acres were flooded. Total losses in the Kansas River Basin and in Kansas City Missouri and Kansas City Kansas exceeded $725,000,000.
During the depression of the 1930’s the federal government had proposed building flood control dams along tributaries of major rivers in Kansas. Part of the New Deal programs, these projects would have provided jobs for unemployed workers and perhaps prevented downstream flooding. The Flood Control Act of 1938 had authorized construction of Tuttle Creek Reservoir, but no action had been taken. The Flood Control Act of 1944, known as the Pick-Sloan Plan had authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation to coordinate plans along the entire Missouri River basin. Lack of funding had delayed action on the building of Tuttle Creek Reservoir. The Flood of 1951 would change that.
Business men and residents living downstream along the Kansas River increased the pressure on government officials to protect them from another flood. On the other hand vigorous opposition was directed at officials from the local to national levels. Five small Kansas towns were to be inundated (Garrison, Stockdale, Randolph, Cleburne and Bigelow). At least four other towns would lose substantial earning power (Frankfort, Irving, Manhattan, and Marysville). Three thousand residents of the Blue River Valley would be affected by the dam. Fifteen hundred of these were farm families. Many of these had cultivated these family farms for more than 85 years. Transportation facilities, including two railroads would have to be abandoned or moved. Numerous state highways, county and township roads would need relocated. Schools, churches, cemeteries, and public utilities were to be moved. Approximately 55,000 acres of the fertile farm land would be inundated.
The people of the valley fought to maintain their existence but in the end Tuttle Creek Dam and reservoir was built. Construction was completed and operation began July 1, 1962. Total cost was $80,051,031. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that since opening, Tuttle Creek Lake has prevented over three billion dollars in flood damages. However, the building of reservoirs along the drainage area did not bring a stop to the flooding. Again in 1993, the Kansas River and the Missouri River basins flooded. This time however, no lives were lost.The struggle between man and nature continues.
Photos of Irving and construction on Tuttle Creek Dam spillway courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, Manhattan, KS.
Entry: Flood of 1951
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: June 2011
Date Modified: July 2011
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36554000 |
(ARA) - Graphic design isn't only about creating logos, advertisements or promotional materials. Graphic design is a creative process that involves developing a targeted visual communication through words and images. This means there are numerous skills that aspiring or seasoned graphic design professionals - or career changers - can develop to keep up with the latest industry trends.
"There has never been a more exciting time for careers in graphic design, especially with the advancement of digital media," says Don French, owner of graphic design firm French & Associates and program director of graphic design at Brooks Institute, a leading provider of higher education for film, visual journalism, graphic design and photography. "With the evolution of both traditional and digital design, graphic designers or those who want to pursue this career must continually develop their skills to stay relevant in the changing media landscape."
Based on his experience as a working professional and educator, French notes the following key skills that graphic design professionals, career changers or students should consider developing for today's marketplace:
* Learn the visual arts. Proficiency in visual arts like drawing and photography give graphic designers a more diverse portfolio. Photography skills, for example, may not only expand designers' resumes but allow them to take images of their work for portfolios or for use in print and website projects. Sketching and drawing skills may be transferrable for design work on paper and on a computer screen, which is a great way to work out concepts quickly and especially important given the increased emphasis on digital design. Designers seeking additional experience in the visual arts can read industry publications and blogs, continue their education at colleges with specialized visual arts programs, like Brooks Institute, or volunteer their services to non-profit organizations.
* Embrace digital media. As digital media continues to grow, graphic designers may discover opportunities with website design-related careers, which may incorporate elements such as typography, layout, visual design and even online copywriting. In addition to understanding design software programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Web design positions usually require proficiency in user interface and experience as well as some knowledge of HTML, XHTML and CSS. Training courses, whether online or in person, are available to learn these skills. It's also important to participate in social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to gain hands-on experience. Building skills in search engine optimization and online marketing can further diversify resumes.
* Become business-savvy. No matter whether you're working at an agency, a company's creative department, or even freelancing, basic business skills are a necessity for any graphic designer. Understanding your clients' business is crucial to meeting their graphic design needs, whether you're tasked with redesigning a website or creating the layout for a company publication. Many colleges offer business classes both online and in person for those looking to brush up on their business skills. In addition to understanding your clients' business goals, project and time management skills will help you prioritize your work and deliver the desired results, or even manage your own freelance business. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36563000 |
Flag; stripes and stars on.
Same; additional stars.
Use of flag for advertising purposes; mutilation of flag.
Pledge of allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery.
Display and use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and customs; definition.
Time and occasions for display.
Position and manner of display.
Respect for flag.
Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag.
Modification of rules and customs by President.
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for the contained sections. If there are multiple sections, they are presented in section number order (original document order).
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Wednesday, February 6, 2013
An empty table indicates that we see no relevant changes listed in the classification tables. If you suspect that our system may be missing something, please double-check with the Office of the Law Revision Counsel.
Description of Change
Statutes at Large
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36573000 |
A Sculptural Narrative of the Heroic Bravery of the People of Naga City
"ORAGON" is a two-part visual display that captures the heroism of Naguenos by portraying two forms of bravery, with a central tapestry dividing the two juxtaposed narratives. Crafted by artist Jose Barcena, Jr., grandson of Federico Barcena who carved the monument to the 15 Bicol Martyrs at Plaza Quince Martires, it was commissioned by the City Government of Naga under the leadership of Mayor Jesse Robredo.
"BRAVERY IN PEACE" depicts Naga's native ruler and warrior in full battle regalia, standing valiantly to face rather than run away from Spanish forces, a powerful reminder that Naguenos are gifted with courage and strength to face any challenge in life. Beside him sits Babaylan, a priestess signifying the esteemed position of women. A native boy symbolizes simplicity and trust in himself. The adolescent boy, pointing to the ruler, portrays reverence and obedience to their leaders.
Facing them is the Spanish conquistador Capt. Juan de Salcedo who brings with him two instruments of colonization: the use of force symbolized by the Spanish soldier, and the evangelization of Catholic faith by the Spanish missionary. The ancient Naguenos welcomed the latter and resisted the former, a testimony to their wisdom and capacity to withstand threats and welcome goodness.
"BRAVERY IN TIMES OF WAR" portrays the Naguenos indomitable courage to fight freedom, exemplified by figures of two prominent revolutionaries: Corporals Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo. On the third night of the Penafrancia triduum on September 18, 1898, they mounted a surprise attack on the Spanish government, forcing the governor and the Castillian community to seek refuge in Church premises and eventually capitulate to the triumphant native forces the next day.
"BRAVERY IN LIFE" is depicted by a tapestry at the center of the monument: a powerful symbol of the Naguenos courage to measure all experiences - good or bad, happy or sad, up or down - and see them as singular reality called life. It is also an invitation to realize that in spite of diversity, they remain united as one because of shared history and common vision.
The ORAGON was unveiled on the 18th day of June, 2010 during the 62nd Charter Day celebration of Naga City.
To have a virtual tour of amazing places around the world, please click here. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36576000 |
Related topics: Animals
paw2 [intransitive and transitive]
if an animal paws a surface, it touches or rubs one place several times with its paw
The dog's pawing at the door again - let him out.
His horse pawed the ground.
to feel or touch someone in a rough or sexual way that is offensive:
He'd had too much to drink and started pawing me. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36578000 |
Prescribed Burning on State Park Lands
Source:Parks & Trails Fund
This program is to increase prescribed burning on Division of Parks and Trails (PAT) lands in order to meet shortfalls in achieving PAT restoration and management objectives.
About the Issue
Prescribed burning is necessary to preserve fire-dependent native plant communities such as prairies and oak woodlands. Prescribed burning is also important at periodic intervals to maintain fire dependent native plant communities, stimulate seed production needed for new restoration sites and aid in controlling invasive species. The division's annual prescribed burn acreage will likely increase as the need to maintain additional restored fire dependent communities grows.
Project Details by Fiscal Year
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36580000 |
Ohio did not make it a law to keep birth records until 1867.
Ohio made it a law to record births in 1867. County probate courts kept birth records between 1867 and December 19, 1908. There is no statewide index to birth records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. Births were recorded in a log book. Birth certificates were not created until 1908.
Special Collections and Archives has the birth records for the following counties:
The state of Ohio began issuing certificates for births on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Department of Health holds birth certificates for the state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 to the present. Researchers should contact the Ohio Department of Health.
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, Ohio 45435. Phone: (937) 775-2525 | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36587000 |
They Came to Georgetown: The French Sulpicians
Georgetown Magazine: July, 1977
by George M. Barringer
In its first two decades, Georgetown drew heavily on the abilities—and availability—of French Sulpician priests and seminarians. (Sulpicians were members of the Society of Saint-Sulpice, founded in 1642 primarily for the purpose of training priests to administer seminaries and to engage in pastoral work.-Ed.) Led by Fr. Francois Charles Nagot, the first band of Sulpicians came to Baltimore in 1791 to open a seminary for the Diocese of Baltimore and to establish a haven for their society in the event of religious persecution in France. Georgetown College was to supply candidates for the priesthood to the seminary in Baltimore.
As it turned out, by 1801 only one candidate, Michael Cuddy, had gone from Georgetown to the seminary; but the college had profited greatly from the presence of the Sulpicians as administrators and teachers. And the Sulpicians, perceiving their original mission as a failure, were contemplating complete removal from the diocese. The ex-Jesuits who were by then once again in control of Georgetown: English, Irish and American, were not entirely unhappy to see them go.
Georgetown's first teacher, according to the account left in his memoirs, was the Sulpician seminarian Jean Edouard de Mondesir, born in or near Chartres and then about 22 years old. Sent to Georgetown in July, 1791, shortly after he arrived in Baltimore, Mondesir found the college building unfinished and no students yet enrolled. Mondesir claimed to be the first to sleep in the building, and the first to teach there. In two stretches of about two years each between 1791 and 1797 he taught French and Latin (in the process acquiring a knowledge of English) and prepared himself, though he does not tell us how, with a knowledge of Greek. He was ultimately ordained by Bishop Carroll in 1789.
Mondesir's memoirs (really a rambling series of letters and discourses) afford us a good deal of first-hand knowledge about life in clerical circles in Baltimore. One of his finest stories concerns Fr. Nagot's hilariously unsuccessful attempt to introduce Gregorian chant to cathedral services, an event which ended with Bishop Carroll losing his episcopal decorum to laughter. Only two anecdotes, however, tell us of life at Georgetown. The first recounts the annoying presence and habits of Fr. John Thayer, the famous convert, who insisted on saying matins aloud at the stroke of midnight, pacing the corridors of the college with prayer book in one hand and a candle in the other. The other anecdote chronicles Mondesir's adventures in escorting three brothers to New York for vacation, including a formal presentation of them to Bishop Carroll and some first-hand experience (almost shocking to the Frenchman) of American religious toleration via visits to Protestant households.
Fr. Louis Guillaume Valentin DuBourg, a Sulpician from Cap Francois, Santo Domingo, became Georgetown's third president at the age of 30 in 1796. It was chiefly on him that the antagonism of the exJesuits and their allies centered. Fr. DuBourg, later to be the first bishop of New Orleans and finally archbishop of Besancon, brought a number of changes to the college. He donated books to establish a library, and he published a French prayer book (probably La Journee de chretien, Baltimore, 1796), copies of which he sold to the Georgetown students. He spent a very large sum of money for a set of silver candlesticks and a monstrance for the college altar and another sum, not so large, for a piano.
He hired Frenchmen whenever possible. Besides the established French professors, Mondesir and Fr. Flaget, there was a Monsieur Duclaracq who instructed the young gentlemen in dancing and fencing and a number of others as well, including two women retained as nurses, Mrs. Justine Dau (or Douat) and one known only as "Alzire," who were sufficiently well off to lend the college money from time to time.
Under Fr. DuBourg's presidency some aspects of college life that we think of as essential first took shape. A more formally organized board of directors assumed overall control of the college in 1797. Among its first acts was the issuing of a directive to Fr. DuBourg to publish a prospectus of the college in three languages: English, French, and Spanish. This prospectus, which was printed in Baltimore in January, 1798, was the college's first catalog, albeit a brief one. The French and Spanish versions, printed somewhat later, recognized the large number of Georgetown students who came from Louisiana and the Caribbean and the importance of assuring a continued flow of students from those regions.
Unfortunately, Fr. DuBourg and the Board of Directors could not get along. At a time when American sentiment was becoming strongly anti-French, and when the American navy was fighting an undeclared war with French naval forces in the Caribbean, Fr. DuBourg's emphasis on a strong French influence at Georgetown was not politically feasible. In December, 1798, Fr. DuBourg resigned the presidency in favor of Fr. Leonard Neale, under whose direction the college took on a much more American flavor.
One other Sulpician who contributed much to Georgetown in the 1790's was Fr. Benoit-Joseph Flaget, a native of the Auvergne, later to become the first bishop of Bardstown. Fr. Flaget was 32 when he was recalled from his missionary work at Vincennes, Indiana, to become vice-president and professor at Georgetown in September, 1795. Mondesir has much to say about Fr. Flaget's goodness and amiability, but nothing at all about what he did. Certainly he spent much effort at learning English, in which he was barely competent when he arrived. He shared with Fr. DuBourg a taste for the theatre, which he attended in the company of Justine Douat.
Fr. Flaget shared with Fr. DuBourg the distinction of being the first Georgetown professor to dine with the President of the United States. Along with two students, John Law of Washington and Garrett Barry of Baltimore, Frs. Flaget and DuBourg visited Mount Vernon on July 10, 1798. Law's father and Barry's uncle were friends of Washington, and it seems likely that the two Sulpicians functioned as escorts rather than as guests of honor.
Fr. Ambrose Marechal, a Sulpician later to become archbishop of Baltimore, served briefly at Georgetown in 1801. But after 1798 the French presence at the college never approached the level it attained in the middle of the decade. The Sulpicians stayed on in Baltimore and elsewhere, but Georgetown was to find its strength henceforward in the ranks of the ex-Jesuits and those who would become Jesuits following the restoration of the Society. Georgetown would become increasingly more American. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36588000 |
TULIP and Reformed Theology: An Introduction
Just a few years before the Pilgrims landed on the shores of New England in the Mayflower, a controversy erupted in the Netherlands and spread throughout Europe and then around the world. It began within the theological faculty of a Dutch institution that was committed to Calvinistic teaching. Some of the professors there began to have second thoughts about issues relating to the doctrines of election and predestination. As this theological controversy spread across the country, it upset the church and theologians of the day. Finally, a synod was convened. Issues were squared away and the views of certain people were rejected, including those of a man by the name of Jacobus Arminius.
The group that led the movement against orthodox Reformed theology was called the Remonstrants. They were called the Remonstrants because they were remonstrating or protesting against certain doctrines within their own theological heritage. There were basically five doctrines that were the core of the controversy. As a result of this debate, these five core theological issues became known in subsequent generations as the “five points of Calvinism.” They are now known through the very popular acrostic TULIP, which is a clever way to sum up the five articles that were in dispute. The five points, as they are stated in order to form the acrostic TULIP, are: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints.
I mention this historical event because it would be a serious mistake to understand the essence of Reformed theology simply in light of these five doctrines—the Reformed faith involves many other elements of theological and ecclesiastical confession. However, these are the five controversial points of Reformed theology, and they are the ones that are popularly seen as distinctive to this particular confession. Over the next five posts, we are going to spend some time looking at these five points of Calvinism as they are spelled out in the acrostic TULIP.
- TULIP and Reformed Theology: An Introduction
- TULIP and Reformed Theology: Total Depravity
- TULIP and Reformed Theology: Unconditional Election
- TULIP and Reformed Theology: Limited Atonement
- TULIP and Reformed Theology: Irresistible Grace
- TULIP and Reformed Theology: Perseverance of the Saints | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36589000 |
- "What is a Wiki?" questions
Questions about using this Wiki
- Finding and accessing information in the wiki
- Adding information to the wiki
- Adding other document formats to the wiki
- Installation & Configuration
- Administering the Wiki
"What is a Wiki?" questions
What is a ''Wiki''?
The term Wiki is a shortened form of WikiWikiWeb. A Wiki is a database of pages that can be collaboritively edited using a web browser.
What is a ''MoinMoin''?
A MoinMoin is a wiki provided by the python wiki program MoinMoin.
What is this good for?
To be honest, it is good for whatever you use it for. At Lineo we have put up a wiki on our internal web site with very many pages, which describe various projects, architectures, ideas, etc. for people to comment on. Some pages just sit there and convey information. Other pages are an open invitation for discussion and commentary. We also have set up a wiki for a very simple skills database.
In general, a wiki is very much a free-form tool, whose value derives from the use to which it is put. For instance, a page in a wiki can serve the same purpose as a discussion thread. You could use a wiki page to collaboratively work on a project.
Wikis are used internally by the guys who write Zope to manage their ideas and projects.
What are the major features of a Wiki?
Here are some important wiki features:
- Editability by anyone - A wiki page is editable by anyone with a web browser
- ability to view recent changes
- ability to search pages (several ways)
- ability to very easily add new pages
- ability to see the change history for a document
- ability to add new information or modify existing information
How does this compare to other collaboration tools, like Notes?
A Wiki can accomplish certain things very easily, but there are some things it cannot do. The biggest missing feature is some kind of access control, to allow only certain groups to see and manipulate informatin.
What about Wiki security? Isn't a Wiki subject to complete wipeout or nastiness from a saboteur?
This is an important question. In general, wiki's have NO security. (That's right!) Because of this, the possibility exists for accidental or conscious destruction or corruption of part of all of the wiki.
There are two main ways to devalue a wiki. One is through erasure and the other is through corruption. Dealing with erasure is not terribly difficult, because there is a change log (and back versions) of every page maintained in a location inaccessible to web users. Thus, when page deletions or major content erasures are detected (which should be fairly quickly), pages can be restored quite easily to their previous good state.
Explicit and intentional corruption is more difficult to deal with. The possibility exists that someone can enter incorrect information onto a page, or edit pages to intentionally change the information so it is incorrect (for example, people can change the attributions on a page to make it look like a different person made a particular comment, or someone can change the content of a paragraph to alter its meaning in a detrimental way). Pretty much any collaborative system has this problem. A Wiki is just more wide open to it, since it lacks any security at all. In practice, wiki corruption is an extremely rare event, and one that can be dealt with (if needed) with the notification feature (to a fixed auditor) for new material submission.
In other words, the philosophy of wiki is one of dealing manually with the rare (exception) case of a saboteur, rather than designing in features and overhead (both in implementation and in usage) to avoid the damage caused by a saboteur.
Questions about using this Wiki
Finding and accessing information in the wiki
How can I search the wiki?
There are already more ways to search and/or scan the wiki than you can "shake a stick at":
Click on the magnifying glass icon. This brings you to the FindPage page, where you can search by keyword in title, by full text, with normal words or wildcards (regular expressions).
Click on TitleIndex. This will show you an alphabetized list of all pages by title.
Click on WordIndex. This shows an alphabetized list of every word in every title (ie, the Bluetooth page is under, B, Bluetooth).
Click on LikePages at the bottom of the page. This shows pages that have words in their titles that are similar to the current page.
- Click on the page title at the very top of the page. This shows what pages link to the current page (which may help you find related pages).
How do I see what's been going on recently in the wiki?
Click on the RecentChanges link at the top of any page.
What are these WeirdRedLinks I keep finding all over the place?
Any mixed case name that doesn't have a page will show up as a red link.
Adding information to the wiki
How do add something to the wiki, or change something that's wrong?
If you see something you'd like to comment on, add to, or change, just click on the EditText link at the bottom of the page, or click on the icon at the top of the page. The page is brought up in a text-edit pane in your browser, and you simply make the changes. The wiki formatter will generally "do the right thing" with any text you enter. If you want to get fancy, you can do most of the same types of formatting that HTML allows you to do. See the HelpOnFormatting page for some tips and examples.
Are there any conventions I should follow when adding information?
Not very many. It helps to keep certain types of information formatted in a consistent way. One important convention that will help with consistency is the use of "Template" pages.
The wiki has a feature called "Templates" which show up when you create a new page. If you click on one of these when creating a new page, then that page will have a structure similar to others of the same type. For example, when creating your own Wiki homepage, you should use the HomepageTemplate page, which is available when you create a new page in the wiki.
How can I add non-text information to the Wiki?
If the content already exists on a web site, then just add a link to a wiki page. Follow these steps:
- Get the URL for the document,
Edit the Wiki page (go to the Wiki page and click the EditText link)
- Type in the URL where you want it in the document
- Save the changes.
The wiki will automatically make a hypertext link from the text you type in.
You can make the link "prettier" by putting "cover" wording for the link in brackets. The cover wording will appear on the page, but the link will take the user to the URL when clicked on. Here's an example:
[http://your.link.here/foo.html This will be the link text]
How do I add an image to a page?
You can include a url to the image in the page. Example:
Adding documents in an intranet
If you're using MoinMoin on an intranet, it may be useful to make links to documents on file shares available to everyone reading your wiki. For example:
[file://servername/full/path/to/file/filename.txt Click here to read filename.txt]
You can also link to files with spaces in the filenames by manually entering the URL encoding for spaces(%20):
[file://servername/full/path/to/file/filename%20with%20spaces.txt Click here to read filename with spaces.txt]
Another obvious and maybe better option is to use the AttachFile action, which was added with version 0.11.
Should I ''sign'' my changes?
If they are significant, or you want people to know that you made them, then yes. Just put your name or email address after your comment. It is not uncommon to indent your comment under the statement your are commenting on. Also, it helps to italicize your comment to make it stand off from the main body of the page you are commenting on.
However, in some cases it may be appropriate to just make your change anonymously. Correcting spelling, formatting, or trivial word changes are some examples where it is not necessary (and even discouraged) for you to sign your modification.
Adding other document formats to the wiki
Can I add HTML to the wiki?
If you want to add a single line of HTML, use the HTML macro. This is done by putting your HTML text as a parameter to the HTML macro, like so:
[[HTML(<font size=+12>This is large font</font>)]]
This would show up on the page as: HTML(<font size=+12>This is large font</font>)
It's also possible to place an HTML document into a page by adding #format html as the first line in the page. If that line is there then the whole page will be interpreted as HTML (thus making links to other pages becomes a bit more difficult!) Make sure that you only add the body portion of the page (not the HTML headers or anything else outside of the body, including the <BODY> tag itself).
All of this only works if the HTML extensions (HTML macro and parser) are installed.
Installation & Configuration
See HelpOnAdministration for general help on this topic
Why is the "diff" feature not working?
Diffs need two things to work properly:
The directory "datadir/backup" must exist.
- You need a GNU diff executable in your webserver's PATH. Note that the PATH of your webserver might be much shorter than the PATH you are used to from your shell.
How do I activate the "DeletePage" option?
"DeletePage" is not active by default, since it's most often used in intranets only and is somewhat dangerous in public wikis. To allow this and other dangerous actions, add them like this to moin_config.py:
Administering the Wiki
How do I administer the wiki?
There is a lot of administration information on the RecentChanges page, including the number of pages, and the macros and actions that are installed.
I usually set up an "AdminPage", where I put macros for these, as well as information about the real physical location of the pages, and macros for orphan pages or other things an adminstrator for the wiki might want to look at.
Can I restore a page from an older version?
Not directly. It's easy to do (if you have permissions where the actual wiki data files are kept). But usually, you must request the wiki administrator to restore the page for you. This is done as a hedge against the improbable case of someone trying to sabotage the wiki.
For people reading this FAQ page (which is probably not your average attacker), there is this way to restore a page:
click on the little "i" in the top-right corner (PageInfo).
- click on "view" of the version you want to restore.
- in the "Location" bar of your browser, replace "action=recall" with "action=raw".
Cut&paste the text into the edit box of that page, after clicking "EditPage".
How do I create a new Template page?
Templates are pages that show up automatically as options when you create a blank page. Any page that ends in the word Template will automatically show up in the list. Hence, if you want certain types of pages to have a similar format (similar headings, organization, etc.), you just define a page that ends in Template, and when creating pages of this type, select that template and edit it. The wiki fills in the starting content for you. Templates are editable wiki pages like any other.
To create a Template page, just create a new page called <something>Template | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36592000 |
Video Games Help Astronauts Prepare for Deep-Space Missions
Venturing into deep space is an unprecedented challenge for humanity, both in terms of technology and human psychology. Starting this week, six people will prepare to face that challenge with the help of three video games.
As part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) preparations for future missions to Mars and beyond, six astronauts are entering an isolation unit in Moscow this week. They'll remain there for 520 days, testing hardware, software and their own responses to being in such close quarters for more than a year.
In the process, ESA researchers hope to refine "e-partners," or electronic systems that will monitor human crew and assist in the event of an emergency. That's where the video games come in.
In a deep-space mission, "the teams are out there alone," Mikael Wolff of ESA's Software Systems Division told TechNewsDaily. "We want to improve the communication between them and the electronic agents."
To do so, the team developed three games for the astronauts to play on a biweekly basis. The first is a module that will simulate the kind of on-the-job training astronauts will need to refresh their knowledge during long missions. In this module, the astronauts work in groups of three, with one as the teacher and two as the students.
The next game is a social networking activity in which the astronauts have to work together to move around on-screen colored trails. By monitoring the astronauts' cooperative behaviors, the researchers hope to learn how individual team members interact and whether those interactions change over time. These group dynamics are important in a high-pressured, isolated environment, said Mark Neerincx of the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, who is overseeing the project.
"One important question in this situation is whether we can generalize [the game] to normal operations and whether we see specific patterns in their communications with each other," Neerincx said.
Finally, the astronauts will get a chance to relax by playing a lunar landing game. The hope is that leisure-time gaming will boost the astronauts' moods, Wolff said.
The astronauts will fill out questionnaires about their emotions and moods before and after all of the games, and their game performance will be recorded. They'll also be monitored by Web cam to test how well crews on the ground can gauge the emotions of the crew in space.
Unlike current space missions, where ground control and astronauts are in near-constant communication, deep space exploration will take astronauts far outside the realm of easy contact. Signals will take hours to reach Earth, Neerincx said, so astronauts have to be able to solve problems on their own. To do so, they'll need software that's easy to use, supportive and responsive to changing situations.
The software being tested has already gone through one 105-day isolation trial, said Wolff. Using data from that study, researchers were able to improve their communications network and add more realistic tasks to their modules. This time around, they hope to gather enough data from the training module to automate the system so that the computer would do the training without a human instructor. They also hope to monitor the astronaut's performance to better understand how to allocate the day-to-day tasks of running a deep-space mission.
Next year, the team hopes to take the experiments one step further by re-testing the software at Europe's Concordia base in the Antarctic, where astronauts will be asked to carry out real scientific tasks, not just simulations. Eventually, they hope to test the system on the International Space Station.
"Our experiments mainly look very similar, but the people are going to be in another environment," Wolff said. "The results may be different."
MORE FROM LiveScience.com | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36597000 |
Tectonic Shoving Match Formed Caribbean Island Arc
The image shows how the Caribbean plate is pushed to the east relative to the South American plate, causing the Caribbean Islands' distinctive arc shape.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Meghan Miller and Thorsten Becker
The movement of Earth's viscous mantle against South America has pushed the Caribbean islands east over the last 50 million years, according to a study published Monday (Aug. 20) in the journal Nature Geoscience.
The University of Southern California, in announcing the study, said the findings upend previous hypotheses of the seismic activity beneath the Caribbean Sea and provide an important new look at the unique tectonic interactions that are causing the Caribbean plate to tear away from South America.
The Caribbean plate is being pushed eastward due to a thick section of the South American plate called a "cratonic keel." This section of crust is three times thicker than its surroundings.
Meanwhile, part of the South American plate is being pushed beneath the Caribbean plate, a process called subduction. Intense heat and pressure gradually force water-containing magma to rise into the Earth's mantle and fuel the many active volcanoes in the region.
All of this pushing and pulling formed the distinctive arc shape of the Caribbean islands and has created a very complex system of faults between the two plates, in northern South America, according to the USC statement. The study mapped several of these strike-slip faults, which are similar to California's San Andreas Fault.
Recent earthquakes in the area helped the two researchers develop an image of the Earth's deep interior. The earthquake waves move slower or quicker depending on the temperature and composition of the rock.
"Studying the deep earth interior provides insights into how the Earth has evolved into its present form," researcher Meghan S. Miller said in the statement.
For their study, the researchers used earthquake data to develop 176 computer models, USC said.
MORE FROM LiveScience.com | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36598000 |
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
The information in this section about chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can help you talk with members of your healthcare team and take an active role in your treatment. Knowing what to expect and being able to make informed decisions about your cancer treatment are important aspects of coping with your disease. You can skim sections to find what you want to read now - and continue reading whenever you're ready for more information.
What You Should Know
- CML is one of four main types of leukemia.
- Hematologists and oncologists are specialists who treat people who have CML or other types of blood cancer.
- Most CML patients are treated with daily oral drug therapy.
What You Should Do
- Talk with your doctor about your diagnostic tests and what the results mean.
- Make sure your doctor continually monitors your response to medication, which is essential to bringing your CML under control.
What Is CML?
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. CML is usually diagnosed in its chronic phase when treatment is very effective for most patients. CML has three phases.
CML is also called:
- chronic myelogenous leukemia
- chronic granulocytic leukemia
- chronic myelocytic leukemia.
Source: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Reviewed by Neil P. Shah, MD, PhD. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36601000 |
Word Lists and Pronunciation Guides
This page contains links to pdf's of the words, phrases, and sentences used in some of the LocuTour software titles. The manuals usually contain more information on the guidelines we used when selecting words and writing sentences. It also contains our pronunciation guide which is useful for understanding how we placed words into different categories.
LocuTour Guide to Sounds
These guides are meant to be used as a reference when using LocuTour software. They show how we categorize the sounds that are in words. For each sound we show how we: spell it, label it, classify it, and produce it. We show the IPA representation, spelling, and give examples.
Articulation I - Consonant Phonemes
The Artic words lists contain the words, sounds, phrases, and sentences used in the game. You can download the complete list or just specific sounds or categories.
Articulation II - Consonant Clusters
These lists contain the words, sounds, phrases, and sentences used in the game. You can download the complete list or just a specific letter sound.
Articulation III - Vowels + R and R Clusters
These lists contain the words, sounds, phrases, and sentences used in the game. You can download the complete list or just specific categories.
Articulation IV - R, S, L, Th
This list contains the words, sounds, phrases, and sentences used in the game and the app.
Artic Games and More
This list contains the words, sounds, phrases, and sentences used in Articulation portion of the Word Practice game and in the Artic Practice app.
And a One, Two, Three
And a One, Two, Three is included on several CDs. This file contains the words and the syllables for the English version.
Basic Words for Children and Palabras Básicas para Los Niños
These are the words, sentences, and phrases from 100 Words for Children, Wild, Woolly, Wonderful Critters and And a One, Two, Three!. The Spanish versions are 100 Palabras Básicas, ¡Animales Fantásticos! and ¡Uno, Dos, y Tres!
- 100 Basic Words for Children—Words and Sentences
- Wild, Woolly, Wonderful Critters
- And a One, Two, Three!
“It’s a... Safari”
These are the words, sentences, and phrases from “It’s a... Safari”.
Look! Listen! and Learn Language!
These files have the words, sentences, and phrases from the Let's Talk About It and Word Practice games and the words and sentences from Show Me. The Word Practice and Show Me… apps use the same word lists as the games on the CD.
Literacy has three CDs: Phonemic Awareness, Rules, Rules, Rules; and “Spelling Test on Friday!”.
The Phonology word list is used in both Phonology I and II. It shows how we classify the words and how we split the target pattern. Minimal Pairs is a game on the Phonology I CD as well as an app.
These lists can help you navigate through the DVD and app.
The Train Talk! app has the same content as the Train Talk game on the CD.
- Sights and Sounds Around Me Videos
- Sights and Sounds Around Me
- Photo Detail
- Cut Ups
- And a One, Two, Three Syllables
- Train Talk
Fonología en Español—Spanish Phonology
These word lists are used in both Spanish Phonology CDs.
- ¡Uno, Dos, y Tres!—And a One, Two, Three
- ¿Qué es Diferente?—What's Different
- Escuchar y Repetir y Sonidos Combinados—Word Practice and Word Blending
- Escuchar y Repetir for iPhone and iPad
Show Me… apps for iPhone® and iPad®
Show Me… apps use the content of our CDs in a different way for use on mobile devices. The original Show Me… is a direct port of the Show Me game on Look! Listen! and Learn Language!. Because it is so popular, we made four more apps that use the content from Artic Games and More-Word Practice in a Show Me… format.
- Show Me…
- Show Me… Actions
- Show Me… Animals, Food, and More
- Show Me… People, Places, and Things
- Show Me… Social
Who, What, When, Where, Why for iPhone® and iPad®
This app uses the content from Artic Games and More-Word Practice but organized into Who, What, When, Where, Why questions instead of by phoneme.
Show Me… Colors, Numbers, and Shapes
Indicar… Colores, Números y Formas for iPhone® and iPad®
These apps use the content from the Put Same with Same game on Look! Listen! and Learn Language!. There is an English and Spanish version. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36606000 |
Is warming-up More Important Than Stretching Before Physical Activity ?
It almost goes without saying that athletes should stretch before
playing or working out.
But, a surprising amount of new research is
questioning that belief and challenging the notion that stretching is
effective in improving performance. Surprisingly, there is little
scientific evidence to support that supports the performance benefits
theory of stretching. In fact, recent research has begun to demonstrate
that stretching prior to physical activity actually decreases
Researchers at California State University, Chico observed the effects
stretching had on vertical jump technique and performance. After a 3
minute warm-up on a stationary bike, one half the subjects rested while
the other half performed a series of stretches. Results indicated that
over half the subjects in the stretching group decreased jumping
performance following stretching. The researchers note that decreasing
muscle stiffness is primarily related to increased muscle temperature
and not the effect of stretching. Furthermore, stretching during the
warm-up period for dynamic physical activity may be counterproductive to
vertical jump performance. It was concluded that warming up the muscles
prior to activity was more beneficial than stretching before activity.
Knudson, D., Bennett, K., Corn, R., Leick, D., and Smith, C, Acute
Effects of Stretching Are Not Evident in the Kinematics of the Vertical
Jump, JSCR Vol. 15(1), 2001, p. 98-101. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36608000 |
Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word
My mother's initial reaction was quite unexpected.
Some people's skin has an allergic reaction to certain types of fabric.
He suffered a violent reaction to the medicine.
Temperature can affect the rate of a chemical reaction.
We are studying reactions between a number of metals and acids.
This is the British English definition of reaction. View American English definition of reaction.
the short high sound that a small bird makes | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36619000 |
Well baby care
How do vaccines work?Tiny organisms (like viruses and bacteria) can attack your body and cause infections that make you sick. When you get an infection, your body makes special disease-fighting substances called antibodies to fight the organism. In many cases, once your body has made antibodies against an organism, you become immune to the infection it causes. Immune means you are protected against getting an infection. If you're immune to an infection, it means you can't get the infection.
Vaccines usually have a small amount or piece of the organism that causes an infection. The organisms used in vaccines are generally weakened or killed so they won’t make you sick. The vaccine causes your body to make antibodies against the organism. This allows you to become immune to an infection without getting sick first.
Some vaccines have a live but weakened organism. These are called live-virus vaccines. While live-virus vaccines are usually safe for most babies and adults, they’re not generally recommended for pregnant women.
See also: Vaccinations and pregnancy, Your baby’s vaccinations | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36628000 |
Purchase over $125.00 with your CREDIT CARD from our internet store and pay no shipping on orders shipped within the United States or to U.S. Territories.
Opening Doors to the Future/Grades 6-12
A 12-session support group for middle- and high-school students who are at-risk due to discipline problems resulting from in-school and out-of-school suspensions and involvement with the court system.
The support group gives facilitators a step-by-step, methodical plan that is divided into three specific phases: locating each person's control, choices and consequences, and goal-setting. This program's methodical format is what makes it successful. No new concept is introduced until the former one is understood. For example, choices and consequences are not considered until the students realize who they are and that they do have control over their lives. Goal setting is not introduced until the students have a full realization of choices and consequences and what they mean to their lives. This is a proven program with a high rate of success.
TOPIC: At-risk students due to discipline problems
INCLUDES: 12 sessions, reproducible activity sheets, complete leader's guide
GRADE LEVELS: 6-12 AGES:12-18
FOR USE WITH: Small groups
AUTHOR: Anna Jean Gaissert
RECOMMENDED FOR: Middle-school counselors, high-school counselors, social workers, psychologists, at-risk counselors | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36629000 |
PHOENIX (Dec. 21, 2012) – Maricopa County Air Quality Department announced today, the release of a new coloring book entitled “Winter in the Desert.” The 16-page book is designed to be used as a tool for students to learn about air pollution, how to help prevent air pollution and become good environmental stewards.
The book is a collaborative effort among MCAQD, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Phoenix Center for the Arts. The coloring book can be downloaded at
“Winter in the Desert” is being released at this time because the Phoenix Metropolitan area typically has its highest levels of smoke from woodburning fireplaces, stoves and chimineas during the holiday season. As a result of the high smoke levels, repeated high pollution advisories and health watches are issued this time of the year by ADEQ and “No-Burn Days” by Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
“Everyone, including children understands the importance of clean air,” Maricopa County Air Quality Department Director Bill Wiley said. “Through the characters in “Winter in the Desert” children and adults will learn more about the air and how to protect it and also have fun.”
For more information, on what you can do to keep the air clean in Maricopa County go to www.cleanairmakemore.com. ADEQ air quality forecasts for the Phoenix metropolitan area are available at http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf and to find out if a no-burn day has been issued, go to http://www.maricopa.gov/aq/ .
The Maricopa County Air Quality Department is a regulatory agency whose goal is to ensure federal clean air standards are achieved and maintained for the residents and visitors of Maricopa County. The department is governed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and follows air quality standards set forth by the federal Clean Air Act. The department offers air quality information and resources on its Clean Air Make More website. Please visit www.cleanairmakemore.com to learn more.
CONTACT: Bob Huhn – (602) 506-6713 desk / (602) 526-7307 cell.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) provides a daily forecast for air quality. When conditions exist, ADEQ will issue high pollution advisories or health watches. Please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf or call (602) 771-2367. To receive the air quality forecast via email and/or text message please visit www.azdeq.gov/subscribe.html
CONTACT: Mark Shaffer – (602) 771-2215 desk
The Phoenix Center for the Arts provides opportunities to participate in the visual and performing arts through quality classes and programming. The Center offers classes for youth, families, and adults in visual arts, such as painting, ceramics, and glass, as well as classes in music, theatre, and dance. Please visit phoenixcenterforthearts.org to learn more.
CONTACT: Joseph Benesh – (718) 674-4414 cell / (602) 254-6926 office. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36630000 |
SAN FRANCISCO -- Construction workers at the future site of the Transbay Transit Center in downtown San Francisco on Monday unearthed a Columbian mammoth tooth and part of a jaw from about 11,000 years ago buried about 110 feet below ground.
A spokesman for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, which is leading the project, called the tooth and partial jaw an "unlikely, extraordinary find."
The tooth was intact and well preserved, spokesman Adam Alberti said. The project's on-call paleontologist is assisting with the tooth and jaw excavation and will help move the ancient artifacts to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, where they will eventually be on display.
The jawbone is more deteriorated than the nearly 2-foot long tooth that still has enamel ridges preserved on the side and top of the tooth, he said.
Alberti said previous finds at the construction site have included human relics, mostly from the Gold Rush era in the mid-19th century when settlers were living in the area.
The tooth and jaw come from a much earlier time in Bay Area history when now-extinct species like the Columbian mammoth roamed the area. The closely related woolly mammoth had a furry coat and lived further north.
During the icy Pleistocene Epoch about 1.8 million to 11,000 years ago, the San Francisco area was a grassy valley where, along with mammoths, saber-tooth cats, giant sloths, mastodons, elk, tapirs and bison lived.
The ancient bones were found at the eastern end of the site between Minna and Natoma streets at First Street, which is under construction for the $4 billion transportation project. The first phase of the center is expected to be completed by 2017. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36632000 |
ETHNICITY is identity with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions. NATIONALITY is identity with a group of people who share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a ...Read More
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MATH10131 - 2006/07
- Title: Calculus and Vectors
- Unit code: MATH10131
- Credits: 15
- Prerequisites: A-Level Mathematics
- Co-requisite units: This course unit can only be taken with MATH10131 Sets, Numbers and Functions
- School responsible: Mathematics
- Member of staff responsible: Dr. Jack Williams
The programme unit aims to provide an introduction to the basic elements of calculus.
Brief Description of the unit
This lecture course introduces the basic ideas of complex numbers relating them the standard transcendental functions of calculus. The basic ideas of the differential and integral calculus are revised and developed. Vectors in two and three dimensions are introduced and this leads on to the calculus of functions of more than one variable and the beginnings of vector calculus.
On successful completion of this module students will have acquired an active knowledge and understanding of some basic concepts and results in calculus.
Future topics requiring this course unit
Almost all Mathematics course units will rely on material in this course unit.
- Numbers and Functions. Basic algebra of real and complex numbers; real line and complex plane; graphs and curve sketching; functions, domain and range, inverse functions; standard functions and inverse functions; basic algebra of real and complex numbers.
- Limits and Differentiation. Basic notion of limit and continuity; discontinuities, left and right limits; finding some limits; definition of derivative; derivatives of standard functions and their inverses; sums, products, quotients and the chain rule; implicit functions; logarithmic differentiation; higher derivatives (use in curve sketching).
- Infinite Series. Notation, basic notions of convergence, radius of convergence; infinite Taylor's series; expansions for standard functions.
- More on Complex Numbers. Euler's Theorem and De Moivre's Theorem; polar form of complex numbers (polar representation of the plane); roots of unity; complex forms of sin and cos, relationship to trigonometric identities.
- Integration. Definite and indefinite integrals; Fundamental Theorem of Calculus; techniques: linearity, integration by parts, partial fractions, substitution; lengths of curves, surfaces and volumes of revolution.
- Vectors in 2 and 3 Dimensions. Representation as directed line segments (magnitude, direction); choice of axes, components, Cartesian representation; basic properties, addition, subtraction, polar representation and relationship with complex numbers in 2 dimensions; scalar and vector product; representation of lines, planes, curves and surfaces.
- Functions of more than One Variable. Partial derivative, chain-rule, Taylor expansion; turning points (maxima, minima, saddle-points); grad, div and curl and some useful identities in vector calculus; integration in the plane, change of order of integration; Jacobians and change of variable; line integrals in the plane; path-dependence, path independence.
The course is based on the following text:
James Stewart, Calculus, Early Transcendentals, Thomson, fifth edition (international student edition), 2003.
Notes will be issued for the material not covered in the course text.
Teaching and learning methods
Three lectures and one supervision class each week.
- Supervision attendance and participation; Weighting within unit 10%
- Coursework; Weighting within unit 15%
- Two and a half hours end of semester examination; Weighting within unit 75% | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36644000 |
What is Sea Buckthorn,Hippophae rhamnoides L,Sea Buckthorn Berry,Argousier,Sanddorn,Finbar,Homokt?Seabuckthorn and its History?
- Basic Botanical Data of Sea Buckthorn.
- Sea-Buckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides L.).
- Phytochemicals and Properties of Sea-Buckthorn berries.
- Nutritional Values of Sea-Buckthorn berries.
- What is the secret of Sea-Buckthorn berries?.
- Wonder-working berries,antioxidant and wide uses.
- Typical composition of the Sea Buckthorn Fruit Extract.
- History of Sea Buckthorn.
- Research Update:Sea Buckthorn or Hippophae rhamnoides.
Applications and Properties:
Colds and exhaustion.
Stomach and intestinal disorders.
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a very thorny shrub or small tree native to eastern Europe and Asia. It has nitrogen fixing properties and is very tolerant of drought and poor soils, so has been introduced as a shelter belt plant in some of the plains States and Canada. In eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union the berries are commonly harvested for juice, which has nutritious and other healthful properties. Medicinal uses of extracted plant oils are also well documented in Europe and Asia.
The relatively recent interest in sea buckthorn production is due to the fact that the berries are among the most nutritious and vitamin-rich fruits found. The berry can contain up to ten different vitamins as well as trace elements, fruit acid, sugar and oil. Sea buckthorn is rich in proteins, and contains up to 18 amino acids. There are over 24 chemical elements present in the juice, including calcium, iron, and manganese.
Nutritional Values:Sea buckthorn is rich in proteins,18 amino acids.elements including calcium, iron, and manganese.Vitamin C, carotene,Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols),Folic acid,Carotenoids(including beta carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthine),high in flavonoids,water soluble vitamins,Fatty acids (oils); main unsaturated fatty acids are oleic acid (omega-9), palmitoleic acid (omega-7), palmitic acid and linoleic acid (omega-6), and linolenic acid (omega-3); there are also saturated oils and sterols (mainly beta-sitosterol);Organic acids including ascorbic acid,quinic acid, malic acid,Flavonoids mainly isorhamnetin, quercetin glycosides, and kaempferol,the same flavonoids as found in Ginkgo biloba. Beautify Birds and Animals.
Dosage:total flavonoids 10 mg three times daily 6 weeks decrease in cholesterol level and improved cardiac function.
Safety and Toxicity:
- 1.What is Sea Buckthorn,Hippophae rhamnoides L,Sea Buckthorn Berry,Argousier,Sanddorn,Finbar,Homokt?Seabuckthorn and its History?
♥The article and literature was edited by herbalist of MDidea Extracts Professional.It runs a range of online descriptions about the titled herb and related phytochemicals,including comprehensive information related,summarized updating discoveries from findings of herbalists and clinical scientists from this field.The electronic data information published at our official website www.mdidea.com and www.mdidea.net,we tried best to update it to latest and exact as possible.
♣ last edit date: | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36653000 |
In this Article
What is the Prognosis of ARDS?
Some people fully recover from ARDS. Others continue to have health problems. After you go home from the hospital, you may have one or more of the following problems:
You can take steps to recover from ARDS and improve your quality of life. For example, ask your family and friends for help with everyday activities.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking can worsen lung problems. Talk to your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke and other lung irritants, such as harmful fumes.
Go to pulmonary rehabilitation (rehab) if your doctor recommends it. A rehab program can show you how to return to normal activities and stay active. Rehab may include exercise training, education, and counseling.
Your rehab team may include doctors, nurses, and other specialists. They will work with you to create a program that meets your needs.
Emotional Issues and Support
Living with ARDS may cause fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. It's important to talk about how you feel with your health care team. Talking with a professional counselor also can help. If you're very depressed, your doctor may recommend medicines or other treatments that can improve your quality of life.
Joining a patient support group may help you adjust to living with ARDS. You can see how other people who have the same symptoms have coped with them. Talk to your doctor about local support groups or check with an area medical center.
Support from family and friends also can help relieve stress and anxiety. Let your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you.
Last Editorial Review: 2/1/2010
Viewers share their comments
ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) - Treatment Question: What kinds of treatment, therapy, or medication did you receive for ARDS?
ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) - Experience Question: Do/did you or someone you know have ARDS? Please share your experience.
ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) - Signs Question: What were your signs and symptoms associated with ARDS?
ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) - Diagnosis Question: Describe the events that led to a diagnosis of ARDS. Were you being treated for another condition?
Get the latest health and medical information delivered direct to your inbox FREE! | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36661000 |
Definition of Klumpke palsy
Klumpke palsy: A form of brachial plexus palsy in which there is paralysis of the muscles of the forearm and hand due to an injury to the roots of eigth cervical and first thoracic roots or the lower part of the brachial plexus, a network of spinal nerves that originates in the back of the neck, extends through the axilla (armpit), and gives rise to nerves to the upper limb. The brachial plexus is formed by the union of portions of the fifth through eighth cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve, all of which come from the spinal cord.
Last Editorial Review: 6/14/2012
Back to MedTerms online medical dictionary A-Z List
Need help identifying pills and medications?
Get the latest health and medical information delivered direct to your inbox FREE! | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36663000 |
JOURNAL OF GREAT WATERS ASSOCIATION OF
Vol. X, No. 2, Issue 20
DAYTON’S FLAGS SALUTE AVIATION PIONEERS
Dayton’s two flags, both the current and the former ones, recall that Wilbur and
Orville Wright, the inventors of the first airplane to fly, were Dayton
residents, the former having been born in Millville, Indiana, in 1867, and the
latter, in Dayton, in 1871. Both flags feature one of their airplanes: one that
flew famously (and briefly) at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1904,
and another that flew in 1917. Today both Ohio and North Carolina remind us of
the part the Wright Brothers played in each state with the mottos on their
license plates. Ohio boasts that it is “The Birthplace of Aviation,” while North
Carolina is proud to be “First in Flight.”
Dayton’s current flag was adopted on June 11, 1958, in Ordinance #19061, which
amends the Code of General Ordinances, Section 153, as follows: The following
design is hereby adopted as the official flag of the City of Dayton, Ohio:
Material: It shall be made of bunting or silk.
Dimensions: The standard size shall be three (3) feet in width and five (5) feet
Design: The flag shall be hung with the width fastened to the staff.
The entire field shall be of royal blue color. At a distance of six (6) inches
from the staff the word “Dayton” shall be superimposed in white on the field in
a vertical position. The word shall consist of block serif letters three and
one-half (3-1/2) inches high and seven (7) inches wide.
Centered on the field thirty-eight and one-half (38-1/2) inches from the staff
shall be a white gear. This gear shall consist of thirty-two (32) beveled teeth.
The gear shall have an outside diameter of twenty-nine and one-half (29-1/2)
inches, with teeth cut to a depth of two (2) inches.
Centered within the gear shall be a gray globe. The globe shall have an outside
diameter of nineteen and one-half (19-1/2) inches.
Superimposed upon the gear in royal blue shall be a representation of the
original Wright Brothers aeroplane, “The Kitty Hawk” in flight. This plane shall
have a wingspan of eighteen and one-half (18-1/2) inches. The plane shall be
flying away from the staff. The width of the tape or binding at the staff shall
not be counted in any dimensions. Flags manufactured in other sizes shall be in
the same proportions as outlined above.
The gray globe represents the influence that aviation has had around the world;
the gear stands for Dayton’s industry.
The flag was developed from designs submitted by Michael J. Spahr and Karen
Kress, winners of a contest sponsored by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. They
and the incumbent mayor, William Patterson, were each presented with the new
city flag by Kenneth P. Morse, President of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce on
the day the flag was adopted.
This flag replaced an earlier flag, adopted August 15, 1917, in Ordinance #
10570, which is entitled “An Ordinance Adopting Designs for a City Flag and
Pennant,” the provisions of which follow:
SECTION 1. The following design is hereby adopted as a design of the official
flag of the City.
Material shall be (American made) bunting or silk.
Dimensions. The standard size shall be 10 feet in length and 6 feet in width, or
in proportions thereto.
Design. The flag shall be parted perpendicularly into three parts or bars, the
first and third bars to be each 30 inches wide, the second or center bar to be
60 inches wide. The first and third bars to be of a deep orange color and the
second or middle bar to be white.
Superimposed upon the middle bar or white field, shall be a circle of navy blue
2 inches wide and 50 inches in diameter, outside measurement, located on the
field within 5 inches of the top right and left-hand edges of the white field,
and 17 inches from the bottom edge. Within the blue circle and 1 inch removed
from it a circle in deep orange 1 inch wide.
The two circles shall be broken at two places by a flying aeroplane of the 1917
Wright model, with a spread of the plane of 54 inches; height of aeroplane, over
all, 17 inches; distance from upper edge of upper plane to lower edge of lower
plane, at center 11 inches, each plane to show height of 3˝ inches, leaving 4
inches clear between planes. In the upper left-hand corner of the white field,
the end of the upper plane to be within 14 inches of the upper edge of the flag,
while the other end of the upper plane, on the right hand side, to be 28 inches
from the upper edge of the flag, the whole effect to be that of the aeroplane
flying towards the observer, through and overlapping and extending beyond the
Beneath the aeroplane and in a curved line the word “Dayton”in plain block
letters 4 inches high, in navy blue color, the bottom of letters to be within
one inch of the inner circle.
All superimposed designs shall be applied upon both sides of the flag.
The width of tape next to staff shall not be deducted from the first or orange
bar, the width of 30 inches being maintained.
SECTION 2. The city pennant shall be triangular in shape. The standard size
shall be 30 inches in length and 12 inches in width next to the staff, or in
proportions thereto. It shall consist of three parts, the first part next to the
staff to be 5 inches long, the next or middle part to be 15 inches, the third
part to be 10 inches. The first and third parts shall be of deep orange color
and the same as the City flag, and the middle part white. On the middle or white
field the word “Dayton” to be shown in plain block letters of navy blue color,
ranging from the letter “D”, 6 inches high to the letter “N”, 3 inches high.
SECTION 3. Authority to display flags or other decorations on, in or about the
City Hall or other public buildings is hereby vested in the City Manager unless
otherwise ordered by vote of the Commission. (JP) | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36665000 |
A parenting perspective on the latest headlines
Jan 7, 2013
TV, Furniture Tip-Overs Cause Injury, Death in Young Children
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found 2011 had the highest number of deaths due to these accidents. How can southeast Michigan parents prevent this?
Families who got a new flat screen TV for the holidays may be ready to boot their clunky old cathode ray tube set and swap it for the cutting-edge set.
But for families with toddlers and small children, it's imperative the switcheroo is done safely. In December 2012, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission released a data report revealing that 2011 was the highest year for deaths caused by TV and furniture tip-overs, with 41 deaths on record.
According to the CPSC, some of these incidents show that when families move their CRT tubes elsewhere in the home, they don't anchor them to furniture properly.
The CPSC estimates "more than 43,000 consumers are injured each year in tip-over incidents," with 59 percent of the injured consumers being children under 18. Falling TVs account for more than half of tip-over deaths, CPSC reports.
What are the statistics, and how can you ensure your child is safe from tip-overs at home?
The CPSC found that one child dies every two weeks when a TV or other furniture falls on them. Most of these children are between the ages of 1 and 5 years old. About 70 percent of the time, a TV accompanied with furniture – such as a dresser – falls on the child, they say.
In December 2012, Safe Kids Worldwide also released a research report titled "A Report to the Nation on Home Safety: The Dangers of TV Tip-Overs." Toddlers climbing furniture is the cause of many of the recorded injuries and fatalities, they report.
"Large, heavy and old cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions placed on dressers or high furniture could also slide off when a child tries to climb the drawers to reach the television or whatever else may be on top," Safe Kids Worldwide reports. "Because of its weight, a 36-inch CRT television falling three feet creates the same momentum as a 1-year-old child falling 10 stories."
Keeping kids safe
When Safe Kids Worldwide surveyed parents for their report, they found that three of four parents didn't know about TVs toppling and causing injury to kids.
Once parents are aware of the dangers, they can childproof against these toppling TV or furniture injuries, however.
Diane Saincome, co-owner of D&M Toddler Inc., a childproofing and child safety company in Novi, says that she recommends parents use straps to mount their televisions to the wall or secure them on stands. But, she notes, securing TVs "to the wall is your better option."
Saincome says these straps can be found on the Internet – and D&M Toddler Inc. installs them, too. Other furniture such as bookcases or chests with drawers that can be climbed on "should all be secured to the wall," she adds.
CPSC also recommends that families keep remote controls or toys off of TV stands and furniture, which could deter them from climbing. All cords should be out of reach, too.
Safe Kids Worldwide suggests families check the stability of the TVs in their home and place CRT TVs on low pieces of furniture. Parents should install drawer stops on dressers so they cannot be pulled far out, and heavy items should be kept in low drawers and on low shelves. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36674000 |
The Mexican Revolution: a nation in flux - part 2
Villa broke jail on Christmas Eve and was in El Paso when Huerta engineered the coup that overthrew Madero. In February 1913 Huerta staged a fake 10-day artillery duel with a fake rival, Felix Díaz, nephew of the old dictator. The battle was phony only in the sense that Huerta and Díaz were secretly in cahoots -- the loss of life to civilians was all too real. Purpose of the spurious engagement was to create a state of confusion in which Huerta could seize power from Madero. Madero was deposed on the 18th and four days later he and his vice-president, José Pino Suarez, were shot to death after being removed from their jail cells. Nobody believed Huerta's story that the two men had been killed in the crossfire when a rescue was attempted.
A particularly sinister role in Madero's overthrow was played by the U.S. ambassador, Henry Lane Wilson. An aggressive advocate of dollar diplomacy who was temperamentally drawn to Huerta -- both were alcoholics -- Wilson detested Madero and was involved up to his neck in Huerta's consiracy to overthrow him.
Huerta set himself up as a military dictator but soon faced a challenge from the north. His enemies were Pancho Villa, a former federal senator named Venustiano Carranza and an ambitious, iron-willed ex-schoolteacher from Sonora named Alvaro Obregón (link Obregón.) Adding to Huerta's troubles was the U.S. occupation of Veracruz. This action stemmed from Mexico's refusal to give a twenty-one gun salute as an apology for having arrested nine American bluejackets who allegedly entered a prohibited zone in Tampico. Throughout 1913-14 Huerta's forces were steadily driven back toward the capital. The campaign's most memorable engagement was the June 23, 1914 capture of Zacatecas by Villa's superbly equipped División del Norte ("Division of the North"). Zacatecas finished Huerta. He resigned June 15 and two days later he was on a German freighter bound for Spain.
Victory over Huerta did not bring peace but a new clash between revolutionary leaders that pitted Villa and Zapata against Carranza and Obregón. At first Villa-Zapata had the upper hand, with the leaders holding an epic December 4, 1914 meeting in Mexico City following an abortive convention in Aguascalientes. Then the tide began to turn. Carranza's forces, known as the Constitutionalists, had been bottled up in Veracruz but bit by bit, thanks mainly to the superb generalship of Obregón, they began to prevail against the Zapatistas and Villistas.
By April 1915 World War I had been raging for six months. Though Obregón was without formal military training, he studied the trench warfare tactics of the Western Front and used them to defeat Villa in two crucial battles at Celaya, Guanajuato. He then drove Villa north -- losing an arm in one engagement -- and by the end of 1915 Villa was reduced to pretty much what he'd been at the outset of the Revolution: a marauder prowling the Chihuahua sierra.
As for the Zapatistas, they really weren't interested in extending their domain outside their jungly and mountainous home state of Morelos. There the Revolution had been won. They seized Puebla but made no further move toward reducing Carranza's stronghold in Veracruz.
The Carranza-Obregón forces, which now controlled most of Mexico, received a big boost when the United States extended de facto recognition to Carranza on October 19, 1915. This infuriated Villa, who had always been friendly to the U.S., and led to the March 1916 villista raid on Columbus, New Mexico. The attack claimed the lives of eight American soldiers and ten civilians and resulted in the so-called Punitive Expedition of 1916-17, when American cavalry units under General "Black Jack" Pershing wandered through northern Mexico for ten months but completely failed in their attempt to capture Villa.
Carranza, who had been ruling provisionally (he was known by followers as "the First Chief"), officially became president on March 11, 1917, in an election in which he won 797,305 votes against the 11,615 garnered by his closest rival. A month before, on February 5, the Constitution of 1917 was adopted. It was this charter, (link 1917 Constitution) that so infuriated Catholics with its anticlerical provisions.
Although the 1917 Constitution also contained provisions to improve the lot of workers and peasant farmers, these were ignored by the Carranza government. Corruption was endemic and strikes were mercilessly broken. But Carranza did manage to rid himself of a major enemy: Emiliano Zapata. Zapata was slain April 10, 1919, being led into a trap by Col. Jesús Guajardo, a federal officer who set up the ambush by pretending to defect to the Zapatistas.
Obregón had gone into temporary retirement, returning to his native Sonora to raise chick peas. But on June 1, 1919, he declared his candidacy for the June 1920 presidential election. In the fall of 1919 Carranza announced that he would be supporting Ignacio Bonillas, then Mexican ambassador in Washington.
It was a disastrous choice. Bonillas, an M.I.T. graduate, had spent so little of his life in Mexico that political enemies claimed he had difficulty speaking the language of his ancestors. They derisively called him "Meester" Bonillas and the clever Obregón lost no time tapping into this sentiment. During the campaign pro-Obregón railroad workers kept Bonillas from making a scheduled appearance by derailing his train. Deliberately fabricated rumors then went out that Bonillas had canceled the appearance because it interfered with a Spanish lesson he was taking.
Carranza retaliated with a reign of terror against Obregón campaign workers. Obregón, fearing that he was about to be arrested, fled Mexico City and took refuge in Chilpancingo, capital of Guerrero state. On April 20 he announced that he was giving up the presidential campaign and would take arms against Carranza.
The Carranza regime collapsed like a house of cards. While generals went over to Obregón en masse, Carranza and his corrupt followers loaded up an eight-car "Golden Train" with all the money and valuables they could lay their hands on and prepared to leave for Veracruz. During the journey, attacks on the "Golden Train" caused Carranza to abandon it in an attempt to escape on foot. On May 20, in a hut near the Puebla village of Tlaxcalantongo, he was treacherously murdered in his sleep by followers of a local bandit-turned-general named Rodolfo Herrero. Herrero had previously welcomed Carranza and promised him refuge.
On June 1 Governor Adolfo de la Huerta of Sonora was installed by Congress as interim president.
In the regular election, held October 26, 1920, Obregón defeated Alfredo Robles Domínguez, a candidate backed by the Catholic Church, by a 1,131,751 to 47,442 margin. At midnight of November 30, Alvaro Obregón raised his remaining arm and took the oath of office.
The most tumultuous phase of the Mexican Revolution was now over. In a classic application of the natural selection process, the toughest, smartest, and most ambitious of Mexico's revolutionary leaders had successfully eliminated his rivals and was now alone at the top. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36675000 |
Does the State Protect Us?
Foremost among the services which the State claims to render Society is its protection from other predatory States. This is a considerable service, to be sure.
In former times, when political morals were differently phrased, the State prosecuted war with the avowed purpose of adding glory to its name by way of real-estate acquisitions, to say nothing of the ancillary purpose of bringing civilization to barbarians; Napoleon's avowed ambition was to impose on his victims the blessing of "liberty, fraternity, equality."
This is out of fashion these days; wars are now waged to protect the nation from the aggressor, which is the name each side gives to the other. However, it is still de rigueur for the victorious State to add to its exploitable territory at the expense of the conquered.
But we are not here concerned with the aims of war, nor with its causes or its avoidability; what interests us is the effect on Society's economy. Does the housewife have more in her pantry, or less, as a result of the glorious adventure? Does Society acquire shortages or abundances? What is the economic profit of the military protection afforded by the State?
Putting this economic consideration aside, there is the inescapable fact that paying homage to a foreigner goes against the grain of tradition. Until he made his accommodation to the inevitable, no decent Saxon would have any truck with his Norman overlords, and the Indians always resented the British raj. It is this abhorrence of rule by foreigners that makes it easier to stir up a revolt against a State so composed than against an indigenous one. Yet, on balance, are the Indians better off, economically, under their own State than when the British ruled the roost? And the Canadians, who did not emulate the Americans in getting rid of the British Crown, nevertheless enjoy a comparable standard of living. That is to say, regardless of the nationality of the State, Society has to make its way by the usual process of laying labor to raw materials, and the vaunted protection of the State neither promotes nor facilitates that process.
Since Society puts so high a value on independence from a foreign State, it should not demur at the cost of maintaining this independence. One must pay for what one wants. However, when we examine the most approved method of financing war we find that it is based on a general reluctance to foot the bill. Every war is fought with current production — there is no way of shooting off guns that have not yet been made or of feeding soldiers with food that will be raised by the next generation — and in a real sense every war is conducted on a pay-as-you-fight basis.
But the producers of the means of war seem to put a lower value on it than do the management, for they demand receipts for what is taken from them to prosecute the war, receipts which become a claim on future production, not only as to their face value but also as to the interest which patriotism demands; it is possible that if the State raised all the costs of war by taxes, issued no bonds or even issued only non-interest-bearing bonds, the war might be called off, which would be proof enough that Society puts little worth on its political purposes.
The economic consequence of the most approved method of financing wars is that a lien on the future production of the nation is established, and nearly always it is a permanent lien. That is, for all time to come, or as long as the State stays in business, the housewives' pantries must contribute to the cost of a nation's past "protective" wars.
But war, and the preparations for it, is attended with a charge that has nothing to do with protection and is a load that increasingly hampers Society in its search for a better life. That is the power which the State acquires during war and does not relinquish when it is over.
When the enemy is at the city gates, or there is a general fear that he is coming, the individual abdicates his self-reliance and places himself unreservedly under the direction of the captain; he gives up his freedom in order to attain freedom. Or so he thinks. But it is a matter of record that what he gives up is never fully returned to him, that he must fight his own captain to get back his natural heritage.
The State jealously guards the power over Society which it has acquired during a climate of fear. To prove the point, we need not review the history of ancient Rome, where a succession of protective wars ended up in the servitude of the people to the emperors; we need only list and add up the interventionary powers acquired by the American State during the wars it conducted; the sum total is a monstrous tax load, a monstrous bureaucracy, a monstrous statute book, and a popular conviction that the State (which was feared and despised in 1789) is the giver of all things good.
So, then, the "protective" service rendered by the State is paid for not only with taxes but also with subservience. Society is much poorer for it. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36685000 |
Financial literacy is the ability of individuals to make appropriate decisions in managing their personal finances. Raising levels of financial literacy is now a focus of government programmes in most countries. - An interview with Mitchell Freedman, CPA/PFS (photo from nasbe.org)
- What are the most common financial problems you see?
- How can emotion affect the way we handle our finances?
- How do you help people break bad financial habits?
- What is “financial literacy”?
- How can I become financially literate? | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36688000 |
OWL OR NOTHING: An endangered northern spotted owl perches in a tree in an old-growth forest on Bureau of Land Management property near Roseburg, Ore. (Photo: ZUMA Press)
Could the Endangered Species Act itself become endangered? Many conservation advocates think so, pointing to a recently proposed policy change that could make it harder for wildlife to receive protection under the 39-year-old law. And on Monday, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum added fuel to the fire, criticizing the ESA as a "radical ideology" that puts "critters above people" (see video below).
The policy-change debate began late last year, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed a new way of re-interpreting a five-word phrase in the ESA. The ESA currently defines an endangered species as one that's "in danger of extinction in all or a significant portion of its range," but it doesn't clearly define "significant portion of its range."
That phrase, sometimes abbreviated as "SPOIR," is important because it means a species doesn't need to be at risk of dying off everywhere to receive protection. But under the Obama administration's proposed changes, SPOIR would be redefined as a portion of habitat so vital that the overall species — not just its local population — would be in danger of extinction without it.
"This policy is like ignoring an injured patient in the emergency room and jumping into action only when he's at death's door," Noah Greenwald of the Center for Biological Diversity said in a recent press release. "If this policy had been in place when the Endangered Species Act was passed, the bald eagle would never have been protected in any of the lower 48 states, because there were still a lot of eagles up in Alaska." (Bald eagles were nearly wiped out of the contiguous U.S. last century, but the ESA helped them recover. They were removed from the endangered species list in 2007.)
The Center for Biological Diversity was one of 89 environmental groups that sent a letter of protest to the FWS last week, along with a similar letter signed by 97 conservation scientists. The conservation groups' letter expressed two main concerns: "(1) the proposed definition of 'significant,' which specifies that a portion of range can be considered significant only if loss of the species from that portion would threaten the species as a whole with extinction, and (2) the determination that lost historic range cannot qualify as a significant portion of range." The scientists' letter cited the same qualms, arguing that "if finalized, the draft policy will ... result in fewer imperiled species getting the protection they need to survive and recover."
These letters echoed an earlier sentiment from U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass, who wrote in January that the proposal sets the bar for protecting species "at much too high a threshold," and that it's inconsistent with Congress' original intent for the ESA.
In a joint statement issued in December, however, the Obama administration claimed the policy change would actually help federal agencies protect endangered species. "This proposed interpretation will provide consistency and clarity for the services and our partners, while making more effective use of our resources and improving our ability to protect and recover species before they are on the brink of extinction," said FWS Director Dan Ashe.
While scientists and conservationists battle the Obama administration over how to interpret the ESA, Santorum suggested Monday that the law itself is the problem. Speaking to supporters at the Gulf Coast Energy Summit in Mississippi, Santorum repeated his criticisms of what he calls the administration's "truly radical environmental agenda," highlighting the ESA as an example of how he differs not only from President Obama, but also from his Republican rivals.
"And again, a very clear contrast between me and the other candidates in this race — I was someone who supported, for example, changes to the Endangered Species Act, whereas Speaker [Newt] Gingrich blocked changes to the Endangered Species Act," Santorum said. "He believes it was a valuable piece of legislation, and it may have been, but it has been absolutely abused. ... There are so many places that we put critters above people. It's a radical ideology that says we are here to serve the Earth instead of man having dominion over the Earth to serve him and to be a good steward of that Earth."
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36692000 |
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous compound in plastic and is a key building block of the material. It is routinely used to line cans, to prevent corrosion and contamination. More than 2.3 billion pounds of it are manufactured in the U.S. annually.
The dangers of BPA are controversial; studies have shown that exposure to it promotes breast cancer cell growth (and other ill effects), but its use prevails because it is cheap, lightweight, durable and offers other hard-to-match features, and its adverse effects in humans are not yet proven. It has been found in more than 90 percent of human urine samples; we face low-level but very regular exposure to it, and those considered to be at highest risk are babies. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36693000 |
After a flood has swept through your community, keep yourself and your family safe by following these important flood safety tips:
Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Most of these drownings occur during flash floods. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. Use a pole or stick to make sure that the ground is still there before you go through an area where the water is not flowing.
Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don't drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out from the flood waters.
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution is also a major killer in floods. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to your utility company or local emergency manager.
Turn off your electricity when you return home. Some appliances, such as television sets, can shock you even after they have been unplugged. Don't use appliances or motors that have gotten wet from the flood unless they have been taken apart, cleaned and dried.
Watch for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn items over and scare away small animals that have invaded your home after a flood.
Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris, including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud left over from the flood can be very slippery.
Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damages caused by the flood. For your own safety, do not smoke or use candles, lanterns or open flames after a flood unless you are sure that the gas has been turned off and the flooded area has been aired out.
Carbon monoxide exhaust kills. Use a generator or other gasoline powered machine outdoors. The same goes for camping stoves. Charcoal fumes are especially deadly. Only cook with charcoal outdoors.
Clean everything that got wet. Flood waters pick up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms, factories and storage buildings. Spoiled food, wet cosmetics and medicines are health hazards. When in doubt, throw them out.
Take good care of yourself. Recovering from a flood is a big job. It is tough on both the body and the spirit. A disaster may have long lasting effects on you and your family. After a flood, rest often and take good care of yourself and your family. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36699000 |
Lower Elementary - Grades 1 - 3
The elementary Montessori curriculum builds upon the student's early childhood experience. The Montessori materials continue to play an important role as the child transitions from the concrete to the abstract. Lessons involve exploration and hands-on experiences. As the child in the elementary classroom learns by doing, the classroom is rich in materials, resources, movement and conversation.
The curriculum is individualized. The needs, ability, interests and skills of each child are taken into consideration when lessons are planned and knowledge assessed. The Montessori student will receive extra help or direction in areas where she needs it and can move rapidly through other areas where she excels. The elementary program teaches the student how to think clearly, how to research and how to express herself in writing and in speech. The program fosters independent work as well as group effort.
Multi Age Groupings - Elementary Montessori classrooms are comprised of multi age groupings. This allows younger students to be mentored by older children, who in turn benefit from serving as tutors and role models, which helps them in their own mastery. Each child learns at her own pace and will be ready for any given lesson in her own time, not on the teacher's schedule of lessons. In a mixed-age class, children can always find peers who are working at their current level. Children normally stay in the Lower Elementary class for three years and, with two-thirds of the class typically returning each year, the classroom culture tends to remain quite stable. Working in one class for three years allows students to develop a strong sense of community with their classmates and teachers. The age range also allows gifted children the stimulation of intellectual peers, without requiring that they skip a grade or feel emotionally out of place.
Materials - The wealth of materials in each area allows the children to follow their own interests. Materials are arranged so as to allow sequential progress in skills. Usually there is only one of each material to encourage turn taking and patience. Materials and their activities vary from individual work to partner work and group activities. Many of the materials employ an internal control of error so as to encourage self-monitoring and foster independence in the elementary student.
Reason & Imagination - The inquisitive nature of the elementary student provides the fuel for the research and exploration focus of elementary Montessori. The elementary student wants to know the "why?" and "how?", and is able to use both reason and imagination to explore and understand increasingly abstract concepts.
Exploring Society - While the early childhood student was primarily focused on the construction of the individual, the elementary student begins to explore his place in society. Opportunities continuously present themselves in the Montessori classroom for the student to observe or participate, moments to lead or follow.
A Need for Togetherness - This is the age of clubs and groups. The elementary child explores friendship and cooperation; he learns how to be a leader, a partner and a follower. While collaboration is encouraged, individual contribution and strength is also valued.
Exploring Right and Wrong - The elementary student is actively developing his moral conscience. "That's not fair!" is heard over and over again in the elementary classroom. Every child may know the rules but keeping them is another matter. Problem solving techniques are modeled and fostered in the Montessori environment. Community brainstorming for solutions and rules helps for the elementary Montessori classroom's code of conduct.
Freedom and Discipline - Independence and inner discipline continue to develop in the elementary years. The elementary child is capable of increasingly complex and numerous responsibilities and needs opportunities to exercise judgment and to demonstrate self control. Everything from classroom management to the student's work stems from the child's freedom to choose and think. Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities.
Homework in Montessori - Home assignments in an elementary Montessori class rarely involve busy work assignments. Rather, they serve as an extension and an enrichment of the curriculum. They challenge the students to think and explore.Tests and Grades in Montessori - Montessori elementary promotes individually paced academic progress. We do not assign grades or rank students within each class or age group according to their achievement. Teachers assess and monitor performance through detailed recordkeeping, daily observation of each child's work and student meetings to assess progress, as well as formal presentations and assignments. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36702000 |
Definitions of solace
v. t. - Comfort in grief; alleviation of grief or anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief. 2
v. t. - Rest; relaxation; ease. 2
n. - To cheer in grief or under calamity; to comfort; to relieve in affliction, solitude, or discomfort; to console; -- applied to persons; as, to solace one with the hope of future reward. 2
n. - To allay; to assuage; to soothe; as, to solace grief. 2
v. i. - To take comfort; to be cheered. 2
The word "solace" uses 6 letters: A C E L O S.
No direct anagrams for solace found in this word list.
Words formed by adding one letter before or after solace (in bold), or to acelos in any order:
d - coleads solaced h - loaches i - celosia j - cajoles l - callose locales p - escalop r - claroes coalers escolar oracles recoals solacer s - solaces t - lactose locates talcose v - alcoves coevals
Shorter words found within solace:
ace aces ae al ale alec alecs ales aloe aloes als also as calo calos case cel cels close coal coals col cola colas cole coles cols cos el els es la lac lace laces lacs las lase lea leas lo loca lose oca ocas oe oes ole olea oles os ose sac sae sal sale scale sea seal sec sel sloe so socle sol sola sole
List shorter words within solace, sorted by length
All words formed from solace by changing one letter
Browse words starting with solace by next letter | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36704000 |
What is it? In normal pregnancies, after the egg gets fertilised, it travels down the fallopian tubes and implants itself in the wall of the womb. However, in ectopic/tubal pregnancy, the fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb (normally in the fallopian tubes but rarely in abdominal cavity, ovary or cervix) instead of the womb wall itself. The growing embryo eventually runs out of blood supply and may cause the tube to rupture.
When? Ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed and treated by the end of the eighth week of pregnancy, if not earlier.
* Previous infection in fallopian tubes
* Pelvic inflammatory disease
* Damaged/blocked fallopian tubes
* Severe abdominal pain (usually on one side and lower down)
* Shoulder pain
* Heavy vaginal bleeding or brown discharge
* Feeling faint/dizzy
Risk: Whether ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed early or late, the embryo cannot survive. Sometimes, you may 'miscarry' the embryo without your knowledge. If diagnosed early, a drug can be given which helps the body to reabsorb the embryo, thus avoiding surgery. In cases where the fallopian tube has burst and there is internal bleeding, your life may be at risk, so immediate surgery is carried out to remove the embryo. Sometimes only the fallopian tube is removed while in extreme cases the entire ovary may be removed surgically. Although your fallopian tube and ovary may be healthy after the pregnancy, the chances of conception are somewhat reduced after an ectopic pregnancy.
What is it? Epilepsy is the tendency to have fits (or convulsions or seizures) due to bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
In pregnancy: If you are epileptic and are planning a pregnancy, it is a good idea to consult the doctor as your medication may need to be changed or the dosage adjusted. This is because certain epileptic medicines may have an undesirable effect on the unborn baby, especially in the first 3 months. Also, the doctor may need to prescribe some additional supplements for you. If your pregnancy was unplanned and you are epileptic, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Epilepsy is not inherited and you should not worry that your baby may be born with it.
Remember never to stop taking your medicine for epilepsy without consulting your doctor. Having a fit can be more dangerous for your baby than the actual medicine itself. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36707000 |
Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions in which a person has a long-term pattern of behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that is very different from his or her culture's expectations. These behaviors interfere with the person's ability to function in relationships, work, or other settings.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Causes of personality disorders are unknown. Genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role.
Mental health professionals categorize these disorders into the following types:
Symptoms vary widely depending on the type of personality disorder.
In general, personality disorders involve feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that do not adapt to a wide range of settings.
These patterns usually begin in adolescence and may lead to problems in social and work situations.
The severity of these conditions ranges from mild to severe.
Signs and tests
Personality disorders are diagnosed based on a psychological evaluation that assesses the history and severity of the symptoms.
At first, people with these disorders usually do not seek treatment on their own. They tend to seek help once their behavior has caused severe problems in their relationships or work. They may also seek help when they are struggling with another mental health problem, such as a mood or substance abuse disorder.
Although personality disorders take time to treat, certain forms of talk therapy are helpful. In some cases, medications are a useful addition.
Outlook varies. Some personality disorders improve greatly during middle age without any treatment. Others only improve slowly even with treatment.
Problems with relationships
Problems with school or work
Other mental health disorders
Calling your health care provider
See your health care provider or mental health professional if you or someone you know has symptoms of a personality disorder.
Blais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2008:chap 39.
David B. Merrill, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36708000 |
National Sustainability Strategy
In the autumn of 2010, the Federal Government began the consultation process for the next Progress Report. This time all members of the general public were able to contribute to the discussion and the report online at www.dialog-nachhaltigkeit.de. The first round of dialogue in the summer of 2010 comprised a debate on the key issues in the report, the second round of discussion in the summer of 2011 revolved around the Draft for the 2012 Progress Report. On 15 February 2012, the Federal Cabinet approved the finalised report. For more information, see Strategy 2012.
In April 2002, the German Government adopted the national Sustainability Strategy. The results of consultations with social groups and the proposals of the Council for Sustainable Development were incorporated into this document. For more detailed information, see section Strategy 2002.
In the following years, the German Sustainability Strategy was repeatedly refined with the input of so-called Progress Reports. In November 2004, the Federal Government presented the first revision of its Sustainability Strategy with the 2004 Progress Report. Aside from the results of a public consultation process, the report included the Council’s verdicts on sustainable development, which had previously been published under the title of “Nachhaltigkeit im Visier” (Targeting Sustainability). Additionally, the results of a dialogue project organised by the Council on minimising land consumption were included in the report. For more information, see Strategy 2004.
In its "Wegweiser Nachhaltigkeit 2005", the Federal Government described its current sustainability policy at the national and international level. The German Council for Sustainable Development contributed two independent chapters to the document. Read more about it in Landmark Sustainability 2005.
In 2008, the Federal Cabinet presented the next Progress Report. Prior to this, engaged citizens, associations and institutions were able to participate in a consultation process and assist in appraising the current state of affairs and in further developing the Sustainability Strategy. For more detailed information, see Strategy 2008.
Since 2006, by order of the Federal Government, the Federal Statistical Office tracks the course of sustainable development in Germany. The agency presented its first so-called Indicator Report in 2006, followed by further reports in 2008, 2010 and 2012. | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36717000 |
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Engineering and Environmental Challenges: Technical Symposium on Earth Systems Engineering
The term Lupang Pangako means promised land—the sardonic name given to a garbage dump outside the city of Manila inhabited by almost 100,000 people. I visited Lupang Pangako about 15 years ago in a different life as a geologist, and the place really is hell on earth. As you drive through the Promised Land, you see stygian mists rising from the hillsides, the mountains of garbage, and if you look closely you see movement everywhere in the distance. You soon realize that the mountains are covered with people scavenging for their livelihoods.
You may remember that in July 2000 torrential typhoon rains caused a huge landslide in the Promised Land that buried more than 200 people under a mountain of garbage. To me, this horrific event provides a powerful indicator of how we should be thinking about the impacts of climate on people and about human adaptation. The problem was not whether the typhoon was an above-average or below-average event. It was not a problem whose root causes could be revealed through a better understanding of anthropogenic climate change. The problem was that 100,000 people were living in poverty so deep that they could survive only by culling garbage.
The results of humanity’s mistreatment of the environment fall disproportionately on poor people, on developing countries, and on tropical regions. Although these impacts are most severe in their chronic forms, they are most spectacular in their catastrophic versions, such as this landslide. As Figure 1 shows, the number of disasters has risen sharply throughout the world in the last 30 years, most markedly in the developing world. This trend does not reflect a changing climate; it reflects changing demographics—growing numbers of poor people living in urban areas, living in coastal regions, living on garbage dumps. Unlike changes in climate, this trend is something we can control. These are not natural disasters; these are intersections of natural phenomena and complex sociopolitical and socioeconomic processes.
The number of disasters will continue to rise because we know that demographic trends are pointing toward more urbanization and greater numbers of impoverished people moving from agrarian areas to cities—often to areas in harm’s way. Megacities like Jakarta and Manila that have nearly 10 million people apiece are subject to typhoons, volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, epidemics, and floods, for example. Because generating more knowledge on climate dynamics cannot help us in the short term, it is worth talking not just about the behavior of the climate and our capacity to modify it by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also about the interactions of social systems with climate and the engineered systems that sustain human beings. These systems are not sensitive to emissions of carbon dioxide but are very sensitive to demographic and socioeconomic trends. We have much less control over the future behavior of the climate than we do over the behavior of human beings.
Given the complexity of these interdependent systems, the practical challenge is to learn to operate in ways that minimize our impact on the planet and maximize our resilience in the face of unpredictable events and the ever-changing | fwe2-CC-MAIN-2013-20-36721000 |
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