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Tier 1 defective work
Tier 1 defective work is work that falls below the standard reasonably expected of a licensed contractor for the type of building work and either:
- adversely affects the structural performance of a building to the extent that a person could not reasonably be expected to use the building for the purpose for which it was, or is being, erected or constructed (i.e. requires substantial reconstruction or demolition), or
- is likely to cause the death of or grievous bodily harm to a person (i.e. fire protection not up to safety standard).
Bans for tier 1 defective work
- 1st offence – 3-year ban
- 2nd offence – within 10 years of the first ban, banned for life.
A banned individual is considered not fit and proper to hold a licence.
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The era of IoT is the modern-day buzzword of the contemporary era. The concept of internetworking with a maximum of the family objects in hand handy sounds enticing, you should not watch for lengthy to witness the matters changing. Take a go searching your own home and its safety gadget and you may truly mark the distinction withinside the era, in which are the matters heading now.
Now, how is that this intended to paintings for destiny homeowners?
According to the statics, the maximum not unusual place motive for burglars to intervene is the convenience of accessibility to the house or office. With the development of the era, the breaches into the houses are going to drop massively. So, suit up the tempo of the era via way of means of putting in the IoT primarily based totally safety gadget making sure no greater break-ins to your own home and offices.
Some of the benefits witnessed via way of means of you with the IoT era are below:
1. Managing All Of the Things From
One Place The comfort of coping with all of the ventures from one location is enormous. Being capable of hold the era in your own home and live linked with one platform is an excellent leap forward withinside the safety gadget and domestic management. For this, you simply should discover ways to use one app in your telephone or pill and you could control endless characteristics and different gadgets at your own home. It makes lots less complicated to get entry to the capability you constantly desired in your abode.
2. Maximizing The Security
To make your own home safety and protection skyrocket then truly contain IoT protection and surveillance capabilities into your own home’s clever safety gadget. There are a variety of alternatives out of which a few are explored like clever get entry to, self-monitored and lots greater era brought to this. With those in hand technologies, you’re comfortable receiving alert messages whether or not you’re at a domestic, commercial enterprise location, or midway across the globe.
3. All The Home Functions-
Just With A Touch Are you questioning to govern all the house features with a hint or from a distance? This is a fantastical dream come authentic with the IoT era, all of the consolation you notion of involves you. Switching at the ac earlier than you attain domestic from paintings, assuring the lighting fixtures are off, serving the dinners with warm dishes are a number of the times you crave for and are whole with the only contact at the remote.
4. Increased Level Of Efficiency
With the right optimization of the era, it’s far viable to make certain your residing area greater electricity efficient. As like, you could manipulate the heating and cooling results at the temperature of your own home. Everything is unique and customized to grow performance without losing electricity. The Last Thought: So, in case you are interested in upgrading your own home and place of work with IoT primarily based totally clever safety gadget, test out the fine automation offerings at NewDVR Pvt Ltd, a nutshell for all of the modern-day safety systems.
David Nelson is one of the fine software program professionals who make his call in era world. He is focused on hardware and software program answers and is devoted to providing safety for government, business, and home spaces.
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5 words found.
List all words starting with eleven sorted by length or by how common the words are.
Some random words: bedfellow
This is not a dictionary, it's a word game wordfinder.
- Help and FAQ - Examples - Home
- © Copyright 2004-2015 Morewords.com - 7.782mS
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Building a career…
Since the birth of civilisation, the world has needed bricklayers and stonemasons. Just think of the many amazing buildings and structures around the world that would not exist without the handiwork of these people: Big Ben, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, your grandma’s house… The list goes on!
Why is it important? What does it involve?
Building a building is not an easy task. After all, you wouldn’t want just anybody building your new house. Stonemasons and bricklayers are highly-skilled craftspeople and tradespeople who have the ability to transform simple pieces of rock and clay into majestic structures.
These careers are mostly practical and can often be quite creative. Understandably, stonemasons work with stone, and bricklayers deal with bricks. However, both careers have the same objective: setting the chosen material in mortar and creating structures which are structurally sound, functional and aesthetically pleasing.
These roles may require quick, intense and repetitive work. However, great satisfaction can come from seeing the finished product: a building which is going to be standing there for years to come.
Careers in stonemasonry and bricklaying are open to everyone. No specific academic skills are required, and many people enter these professions through apprenticeships. ‘Brickies’ and stonemasons need to be good at working in teams, be comfortable working outdoors and have a natural talent for carrying out practical tasks.
Break it down for me a little bit!
Careers in stonemasonry are all about shaping rough chunks of rock into precise, geometrical shapes that are then set in mortar and used for construction purposes. These guys can work on many different kinds of construction projects, and thus may be required to use a variety of methods and techniques depending on what the client asks for.
For instance, they may use rubble masonry techniques, where roughly dressed stones are set in mortar, or ashlar masonry, where they are precisely cut and skilfully arranged.
Some stonemasons may get involved with the whole construction process. However, many specialise in one area. Banker masons tend to work in workshops, slicing and dicing rocks into simple and complex shapes depending on the building’s design. These guys use specialist tools and techniques, some of which have been used for hundreds of years.
Carvers are the most artistic kinds of stonemason. They use their artistic flair and practical skills to carve stone into intricate designs and flourishes, such as gargoyles and human figures. Fixer masons are the guys who fix the cut stones onto and into buildings. They need a head for heights and specialist skills in manipulating mortar and cement.
Some people even specialise as memorial masons, who carve gravestones, tombs and inscriptions. Not only do you need practical skills to undertake a career in stonemasonry, but a detailed knowledge of different stone types and how they can be worked on.
Bricklayers use specialist tools and materials to cut bricks to size, spread mortar and lay bricks, tiles and concrete in a uniform fashion to build structures. Bricklaying is a methodical practice and these jobs also require meticulous planning and preparation before the active bricklaying can be carried out.
Brickies may also be required to carry out more technical responsibilities, such as fastening terracotta veneers to the faces of structures using tie wires. Strong practical skills are essential, and, depending on the size of the structure being built, workers may need a good head for heights. Bricklaying work can also be quite physical, so strength and fitness is usually required for the more strenuous work.
Stonemasons are, of course, not to be confused with freemasons, or even stonecutters! Sorry if you’ve been let down by this fact, but we couldn’t lead you on. However, skilled careers in stonemasonry and bricklaying are nothing to be disappointed by, no ‘mortar’ how you look at them!
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A new research for development project was launched today by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), both members of the CGIAR Consortium. Entitled ‘Livestock and Irrigation Value chains for Ethiopian Smallholders – LIVES’, it will directly support of the Government of Ethiopia’s effort to transform smallholder agriculture to be more market-oriented.
Supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the LIVES project is jointly implemented by ILRI, IWMI, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural research (EIAR), the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and regional Bureaus of Agriculture, Livestock Development Agencies, Agricultural Research Institutes and other development projects.
LIVES project manager, Azage Tegegne emphasized that this project is unique in that it integrates livestock with irrigated agriculture development. The project is designed to support the commercialization of smallholder agriculture by testing and scaling lessons to other parts of Ethiopia. “It is also excellent opportunity for CGIAR centres to work hand in hand with Ethiopian research and development institutions.”
Ethiopian State Minister of Agriculture H.E. Wondirad Mandefro welcomed the project, asserting that it will directly contribute to both the Growth Transformation Plan (GTP) and the Agricultural Growth Program (AGP) of the Ethiopian Government. Canadian Head of Aid, Amy Baker expects this investment to generate technologies, practices and results that can be implemented at larger scales and ultimately benefit millions of Ethiopian smallholder producers as well as the consumers of their products. Canadian Ambassador David Usher noted that the project will contribute to Ethiopia’s efforts to drive agricultural transformation, improve nutritional status and unlock sustainable economic growth. LIVES is also a reflection of Canada’s commitment to the 2012 G-8 New Alliance for Food and Nutrition Security which will allow Ethiopia, donors and the private sector create new and innovative partnerships that will drive agricultural growth.
LIVES actions will take place over six years in 31 districts of ten zones in Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples and Tigray regions, where 8% of the country’s human population resides. LIVES will improve the incomes of smallholder farmers through value chains development in livestock (dairy, beef, sheep and goats, poultry and apiculture) and irrigated agriculture (fruits, vegetables and fodder).
The project, with a total investment of CAD 19.26 million, aims to directly and indirectly benefit more than 200,000 households engaged in livestock and irrigated agriculture, improve the skills of over 5,000 public service staff, and work with 2,100 value chain input and service suppliers at district, zone and federal levels.
“Projects that support local farmers can help a community in so many ways; not only by providing food and the most appropriate crops, but also by teaching long term skills that can have an impact for years to come,” said Canada Minister of International Cooperation the Honourable Julian Fantino. “The Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains project teaches smallholder farmers new agricultural techniques and provides technical assistance, training, and mentoring to government specialists. They in turn will provide production and marketing assistance to local farmers. This is a project that helps all areas of farming and agriculture development.”
The project will focus on clusters of districts, developing and improving livestock production systems and technologies in animal breeding, feed resources, animal nutrition and management, sustainable forage seed systems, sanitation and animal health, and higher market competitiveness. Potential irrigated agriculture interventions include provision of new genetic materials, development of private seedling nurseries, work on seed systems, irrigation management, water use efficiency, water management options, crop cycle management, and pump repair and maintenance.
The main components of the project are capacity development, knowledge management, promotion, commodity value chain development, and documentation of tested and successful interventions. Gender and the environment will be integrated and mainstreamed in all components of the project.
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Activism, soaring language, disputes mark Patrick's career
First in a series on the three Democrats in the Sept. 19 gubernatorial primary
In early 1994, after President Clinton's first two picks for the nation's top civil rights post came under heavy criticism, he turned to Deval L. Patrick, a 37-year-old Boston lawyer with an uplifting life story and deep portfolio of civil rights work.
Almost immediately, conservatives were wary.
As a lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Patrick had helped craft an appeal of the death sentence of Warren McCleskey, a black man on death row convicted of killing a white Atlanta policeman in 1978. The unsuccessful appeal to the US Supreme Court was based not on the case, but on statistics showing that Georgia executed murderers of whites at a far higher rate than murderers of blacks.
``The McCleskey case is the beacon of wrong headedness," an Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist wrote in questioning the choice of Patrick to head the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
Patrick's nomination and tenure were celebrated by the civil rights community, but his actions attracted intense scrutiny amid a roiling national debate over affirmative action and racial preferences. Many Republicans, and even some Democrats, considered his aggressive civil rights agenda outside the mainstream.
``His politics are very left, and maybe that's what Massachusetts voters will want and maybe they won't," Abigail Thernstrom, a conservative author and scholar, said in an interview last month .
Patrick and his defenders dispute that branding, arguing that he has steered a principled middle course throughout his varied career as a civil rights lawyer and corporate executive.
``I come to this as a pragmatist with very high ideals," Patrick said during his March 1994 confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging the panel not to see him as a liberal or a conservative. ``I view the civil rights laws as among the most important laws on the books, and I believe they exist to help solve real problems in real people's lives."
Today, Patrick, 50, is selling his candidacy for governor on much the same premise: that his approach at the State House would blend pragmatism and idealism and not be governed by ideology. He's banking on that message, his mix of public- and private-sector experience, and his compelling rags-to-riches tale to catapult him to the Democratic nomination on Sept. 19.
Over the past year and a half, Patrick has distinguished himself as the most eloquent orator in the race. Critics charge that his rhetoric about hope and possibility is short on specifics, but it's undeniable that Patrick's soaring speeches have moved many voters.
``He's all positive, trying to make a change," said Aarron Small, a 46-year-old from Boston who was grilling beef hot dogs at last month's Caribbean Carnival parade in Boston, of which Patrick was grand marshal. ``Change is good."
That's precisely the sentiment Patrick brought to the Civil Rights Division during his tenure there from 1994 to 1997 -- three tumultuous years that, though not explored in depth by the media during this campaign, offer a window into Patrick's character and his philosophy on the role of government in people's lives.
Patrick sailed through Senate confirmation hearings after charting a cautious, moderate course in his testimony. But he aroused suspicion among some Republicans, who feared his policies would promote racial quotas in employment and other arenas. In conservatives' eyes, Patrick's years at the Justice Department proved them right. His actions on many high-profile cases -- involving voting, employment, lending, and other issues -- drew ire from conservatives, who accused him of putting the collective rights of minority groups over the rights of individuals.
Some of the fiercest criticism came in voting cases.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave the Justice Department power to force states to redraw congressional districts to redress discrimination against minority voters. The department, prior to Patrick's tenure, had used that authority to force states to create districts that contained a majority of minorities. But in 1993, the Supreme Court opened the door to challenges to such districts.
After Patrick took office, he angered the right by ardently defending majority-minority districts and vowing to resist any such challenges. Yet the courts later struck down many of the districts. In a 1995 decision outlawing a Georgia redistricting plan, the Supreme Court explicitly criticized the Justice Department approach that, though in place before he arrived, Patrick defended.
``In utilizing [the Voting Rights Act] to require states to create majority-minority districts wherever possible, the Department of Justice expanded its authority under the statute beyond what Congress intended and we have upheld," Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority.
Patrick's actions also drew controversy in a contentious employment case. The Justice Department, under President George H.W. Bush, sued the Piscataway, N.J., school board in 1991 after the board, facing a budget crunch, fired a white teacher instead of a black teacher because it wanted diversity in a department.
When Patrick arrived, in 1994, he reversed the administration's policy and effectively backed the board's decision to fire the white teacher. The case became a flashpoint. Patrick endured withering criticism for his position that race could determine who kept and lost a job. (The white teacher was later rehired at the school.)
``Deval Patrick has committed the Clinton administration to a vision of racial preference that fulfills the most extravagant fantasies of a conservative attack ad," legal scholar Jeffrey Rosen wrote at the time in The New Republic.
To many on the left and in the civil rights community, Patrick was a gutsy crusader who had to make waves in order to attack lingering discrimination.
``People look back to those days as being like . . . the good old days," said David A. Bositis, a scholar at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and a leading specialist on race and politics.
At a September 1996 Senate oversight hearing, former Illinois senator Carol Moseley-Braun said she considered an ``embarrassment" the heavy-handed tactics the Justice Department was using to penalize people who challenged the siting of group homes in their community. The Civil Rights Division, in its enforcement of a housing discrimination law, aggressively sought penalties against those who fought such homes through lawsuits and zoning challenges.
Earlier that year, accused of squelching free speech by targeting group-home opponents, Patrick defended such tactics in a letter to The
``Baseball bats are perfectly legal, too," he wrote. ``But if you wield one to keep people out of the neighborhood, we are going to use the bat as evidence of your intent to violate the civil rights laws."
Former colleagues of Patrick's say he brought a progressive spirit and sense of mission to the Civil Rights Division that had been lacking for years.
``I thought the division really needed someone like Deval who was out there really advocating for civil rights and raising the profile of the division," said Richard S. Ugelow, who worked on employment cases for the Civil Rights Division from 1973 to 2002.
Stuart J. Ishimaru, who was a top legal counsel to Patrick, said it was an exciting time for those who believed in civil rights. He rejected critics' arguments that Patrick went too far.
``You really needed to go poking around and find out what's going on in the various parts of the country -- whether people were truly getting equal opportunity or not," said Ishimaru, now a member of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ``It's easy for us to look back in retrospect and say it was overreaching. It was not clear-cut."
Today, Patrick makes no apologies for the division's aggressive pursuit of civil rights cases.
``When you are trying to effect change, action is key," Patrick said in an interview. ``It's how you begin to rebuild a culture."
To Patrick, highlights of his tenure in Washington include a $54 million settlement in 1994 of a racial bias suit against
The recent Caribbean Carnival parade, which wound from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Franklin Park, fell on a brilliant Saturday afternoon. Mary Withers and her friends were eating lunch when Patrick strode over to say hello.
``He wants what's good for all of us," said Withers, a 54-year-old from Roxbury.
Indeed, Patrick's work as a civil rights advocate has attracted voters from many quarters, including the gay and lesbian community, which lauds Patrick's strong support of same-sex marriage, and advocacy groups for working families, the disabled, and the poor.
Critics contend the state won't want a leader who, they say, has ardently defended racial preferences. Roger Clegg, who was a deputy in the Civil Rights Division under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, said the issue of preferences is quite relevant in Massachusetts. Clegg, now president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a conservative think tank in Virginia, said his organization is pushing a public higher education institution in the state -- he won't say which -- to end a racially exclusive academic program.
Patrick's civil rights career is very much born out of his own experiences. Raised poor by a single mother on the South Side of Chicago, he escaped overcrowded schools with the help of a scholarship program, landing at Milton Academy in ninth grade.
The transition from a tough inner-city neighborhood to an elite East Coast prep school severely tested the 14-year-old, but Patrick blossomed, eventually earning degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Law School.
Since then, Patrick, in addition to his work at the Legal Defense Fund and Justice Department, has clerked for a US Appeals Court judge, made partner at top Boston law firms, worked as general counsel at Texaco and
Patrick has long traded on his biography. Some personal stories he recounts on the campaign trail -- including one about having to share a set of bunk beds with his mother and sister -- he's told for more than a decade.
Patrick's background, top-shelf resume, and high-profile tenure at the Justice Department have also made him something of a national figure.
Indeed, of all the candidates running for governor, Patrick -- whose name was floated as an attorney general candidate when Senator John F. Kerry ran for president in 2004 -- is most likely to face questions about whether his ambitions extend beyond the State House.
``Any president on the Democratic side of the aisle would certainly look at Deval Patrick," said Robert B. Reich, US labor secretary under Clinton and a 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate.
``My plan is to serve two terms," Patrick said when asked about whether he would consider another position in Washington, adding that he is committed to ``long and lasting reform" that he can't implement overnight.
The combination of pragmatism and idealism that Patrick cited in his confirmation hearings and sells on the campaign trail has helped him solve thorny problems for years, according to those who have known and worked with him.
In the early 1990s, Patrick, then a partner at Hill & Barlow, worked with the state attorney general, Scott Harshbarger, and legal services organizations to reach a novel agreement with BayBanks over home-improvement lending scams targeting minorities and seniors. BayBanks, after lengthy negotiations, agreed to offer refinancing to 11,000 affected Massachusetts homeowners and provide an additional $11 million to help revitalize inner-city neighborhoods.
``To be able to protect the interests of your clients and negotiate with the banks and have the attorney general be a party, that's some good lawyering, and I think it showed some real pragmatic advocacy on Deval's part," said Ozell Hudson Jr., a civil rights lawyer who worked on the case.
The BayBanks case in many ways telegraphed Patrick's career shift in 1999, when he accepted a job as Texaco's general counsel after chairing an independent commission that oversaw the company's $176 million discrimination settlement with black employees. Patrick later became general counsel at Coca-Cola and served on the board of sub-prime lender Ameriquest -- two companies that, like Texaco, were involved in multimillion-dollar discrimination settlements.
Patrick's move to the executive suite has created hiccups for him on the campaign trail. One of his primary opponents, Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, has repeatedly raised questions about his tenure at the companies, forcing Patrick to e-mail supporters last month to defend his corporate record.
Patrick supporters say he simply applied civil rights principles from within corporations that badly needed the help.
``He left each of those jobs with his reputation intact, and his strength of reasoning was felt," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said of Patrick's tenure at Texaco and Coca-Cola. ``He made both of them better and more accountable.
``He has never settled for the frills," Jackson said.
Longtime civil rights activist Ralph G. Neas, now president of the liberal group People For the American Way, added: ``Everyone [in the civil rights community] would say that he's remained faithful to his beliefs -- that he's been the best person to bring people together, to bridge the divides, to work out the compromises that have to be worked out in the real world."
Now, voters must decide whether Patrick could apply those skills effectively on Beacon Hill over the next four years.
With less than two weeks to go before the primary, Patrick has built an unprecedented grass-roots network, thrust himself to the top of the polls, and channeled his charisma to win over thousands of voters.
Whether that's enough to win Sept. 19 will soon be clear, but Patrick exudes confidence.
As he walked in the Caribbean Carnival parade, Patrick was beaming. His trademark blue campaign signs lined the route, the air was thick with grill smoke, and soca music was blasting from flatbed trucks.
``There's a lot of hope out here," Patrick said, motioning to the throngs gathered along Warren Street.
``People think it's just rhetoric," he said. ``We are out here connecting with people. It's not just a strategy to win. It's a strategy to govern."
Scott Helman can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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By Colleen Raezler
Culture and Media Institute
February 25, 2009
Patriotism is cool again. Some would say patriotism, defined as “love of one’s country,” never goes out of style. But to the Left, it’s clearly not an unconditional love. Narcissistic liberals demand a country in their own image.
Still, it’s good to see so many of the nation’s cultural and entertainment elite waving the flag. Hollywood producer and People for the American Way founder Norman Lear is a perfect example. Lear is so moved by the spirit of patriotism these days that he created a campaign focused on being a “Born Again American.”
Unfortunately, liberals like Lear are so out of practice with patriotism that they seem to have adopted it as a surrogate spirituality, or confused it with a very un-American cult of personality.
Hope and Change
Michael Kazin, a Georgetown University history professor, argued in a Feb. 8 Washington Post article that it’s President Barack Obama who has revived patriotism. “Barack Obama’s rise to power, has, to many people’s surprise, once again made patriotism a liberal faith.” Kazin pointed out, “since liberals turned against the war in Vietnam 40 years go, they have struggled to prove that they love their country even while opposing most of the policies of its government” and they just now “have finally realized that they cannot lead America if America does not hold a privileged place in their hearts.”
This revitalization has spurred Hollywood players to proclaim their pride in America.
A video in which celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and Eva Longoria Parker pledge to perform various actions to create “change” hit the Internet last month. Many were small actions like “smile more” or “laugh more” but Kutcher pledged to “always represent [his] country with pride, dignity, and honesty.” Moore and Kutcher concluded the video by leading the other celebrities in a pledge “to be a servant to our president and all mankind, because together we can, together we are and together we will be the change that we seek.”
Even citizens of far left Berkeley, Calif. used Obama’s inauguration to reclaim their patriotism. A Jan 6. Boston Globe article noted, “At Berkeley, the university has, quite deliberately, chosen to host its first-ever large-scale observance of a presidential inauguration in a spot more closely identified with its radicalism. Reporter Sasha Issenberg elaborated:
At Sproul Plaza, site of the Free Speech Movement protests beginning in 1964 – now commemorated with a monument declaring ‘this soil and the air space above it should not be part of any nation and shall not be subject to any entity’s juristiction’ – students will gather round giant television screens to take in the ritual.
The Revival of “Civic Religion”
Apparently, it took Obama’s election to rouse Norman Lear’s affection for his country. Lear is an unabashed Obama supporter. Records show Lear gave over $33,000 to Obama’s campaign, as well as an additional $50,000 toward the inauguration.
A June 6, 2008 Los Angeles Times article reported, “[Hollywood’s] elder statesman, Norman Lear, declared Obama's victory Tuesday night as ‘another giant step for mankind.’ (Through his group, Declare Yourself, Lear has been busy signing up young voters who seem eager to turn out for the presumptive Democratic nominee.)”
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海外の日本語学習者に日本文化をどう教えるかーアクティブラーニングを取り入れた授業の試みー海外の日本語学習者に日本文化をどう教えるかーアクティブラーニングを取り入れた授業の試みー How to Teach Japanese Culture to Overseas Japanese Learners -Practice of Class Incorporating Acitve Learning Method-
This study is a practice report of the cultural classes conducted for overseas students of the Japanese language through the active learning method. In recent years, the importance of cultural education has been emphasized in the Japanese language education. Along with that, not only in Japan but also overseas, it aimed to shift from unilateral teaching method to active learning method. In this paper, we attempted to devise cultural classes where students were able to actively. The target students selected for this study were students in the Department of Japanese Language in Bali, Indonesia. Because Indonesia is known to have many Japanese language learners in the world and they have a high interest in Japanese culture. The classes adopted five themes: country introduction, language, seasons and annual events, cities, and culture. These classes were devised according to five principles: participation and interaction, creation of thoughts through the comparison of Japan with the students’ home country, shift the focus of students’ to their environment, alternation of group activities and teacher lectures and the creation of further opportunities that enable students to express themselves in Japanese. As a result, the majority of the students were able to increase their output in Japanese. And the students’ attitudes toward classes changed actively. Furthermore, students were able to express their opinions about their culture in Japanese. Of course, the curiosity of the students` Japanese culture became more vigorous. I believe these practical classes are beneficial for the training of local non-native speaker teachers.
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Is TERRORIZING valid for Scrabble? Words With Friends? Other games?!
Definitions of TERRORIZING in various dictionaries:
- verb - coerce by violence or with threats
- verb - fill with terror
There are 11 letters in TERRORIZING: E G I I N O R R R T Z
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Anagrammer is a game resource site that has been extremely popular with players of popular games like Scrabble, Lexulous, WordFeud, Letterpress, Ruzzle, Hangman and so forth. We maintain regularly updated dictionaries of almost every game out there. To be successful in these board games you must learn as many valid words as possible, but in order to take your game to the next level you also need to improve your anagramming skills, spelling, counting and probability analysis. Make sure to bookmark every unscrambler we provide on this site. Explore deeper into our site and you will find many educational tools, flash cards and so much more that will make you a much better player. This page covers all aspects of TERRORIZING, do not miss the additional links under "More about: TERRORIZING"
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This online Australia, Architecture and Identity unit from Open Universities Australia and Curtin University interrogates the concept of Australian identity through the exploration of regional architecture. By addressing historical and cultural themes, the unit encourages you to reflect upon the symbiotic relationship between design and a country’s sense of self.
Exploring ideas of national identity, heritage and conservation, you will assess architectural sites in terms of their contextual and cross-disciplinary relationships. By conducting research and engaging in site visits, you'll build a well-rounded understanding of Australian architecture and its key issues.
While focusing on Australian architecture, your study will move beyond the country itself to also explore Australian global architecture. You'll also be introduced to theories such as modernism, while exploring broader concepts such as memory.
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to enter this program:
Must be accepted into the Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science) course
It is assumed that applicants will have an introductory level of knowledge in this area or other relevant experience
Areas of study
In this architecture unit, the topics you will study include:
Memory, identity and architecture
Introduction to heritage
Strangers in a strange land
The armed camp
Sweetness and light
The showgirl and the priest
Modernism in Australia
Nuts and berries
The architecture of commemoration
The contested past
This unit is a core requirement in the following course:
Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science), Curtin University
Content may also be relevant to other courses, and could qualify you for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for a course offered by another institution.
Get more information
Want more information about this unit? Fill out the enquiry form to the right and a study consultant will contact you with the details you need.
Worried your online qualification won't be recognised? Think again.
Through research and site visits, this unit will give you the practical experience and theoretical knowledge needed to truly understand Australian architecture and its related issues. As such, this unit would be especially beneficial for anyone looking at a career in architecture in this country.
The unit would also be advantageous for those interested in further academic study, as you will be introduced to various theories and wide ranging concepts that can be applied to other subjects.
How else will I benefit from this unit?
Upon successful completion of this unit you will receive credit for competencies in Australia, Architecture and Identity from Curtin University.
Studying online means you can study where you want, at your own pace.
Gain industry-relevant skills and transferrable knowledge.
Government financial support through FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP may be available.
Studying single units allows you the flexibility to work towards a qualification at your own pace.
Receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for this unit across a number of OUA's full degree programs.
Get more information
Want more information about the career benefits of this unit? Fill out the enquiry form to the right and a study consultant will contact you with the details you need.
If you are an Australian citizen, you may be eligible to receive a government HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan, meaning you can defer payment of your fees.
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Want more information about financial and student support? Fill out the enquiry form to the right and a study consultant will contact you with the details you need.
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This course can be paid for through the HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP government loan schemes. If you are an Australian citizen or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, this means you don’t need to pay upfront.
Instead, the Australian government will pay your course fees on your behalf. You’ll begin repaying your loan through the tax system once you start earning more than the minimum threshold of $54,869 (2016-17 income year).
For two decades, Open Universities Australia (OUA) has partnered with leading Australian educators to make tertiary-level courses easier to access for people, no matter their background, their work status or their other life commitments. OUA has built up their reputation by making education more flexible, easier to tailor and available almost entirely online.
OUA's devotion to online education remains to this day, but where they once focused on higher education, today they offer the broadest set of post-secondary education and training programs in Australia.
Open Universities Australia offers a range of administrative and student support options. As a student of OUA you will have access to four hours of free expert tutoring support for each unit undertaken through the tutoring service SMARTHINKING. This on-demand service allows you to get fast, detailed feedback on your assignment drafts and gives you access to your tutor in real time.
The My OUA portal is an online student medium that allows you access to all your course and enrolment information as well as access to student forums and assessment tips.
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[en] Carbon monoxide total column amounts in the atmosphere have been measured in the High Northern Hemisphere (30degrees - 90degrees N, HNH) between January 2002 and December 2003 using infrared spectrometers of high and moderate resolution and the Sun as a light source. They were compared to ground-level CO mixing ratios and to total column amounts measured from space by the Terra/MOPITT instrument. All these data reveal increased CO abundances in 2002 - 2003 in comparison to the unperturbed 2000 - 2001 period. Maximum anomalies were observed in September 2002 and August 2003. Using a simple two-box model, the corresponding annual CO emission anomalies (referenced to 2000 - 2001 period) have been found equal to 95 Tg in 2002 and 130 Tg in 2003, thus close to those for 1996 and 1998. A good correlation with hot spots detected by a satellite radiometer allows one to assume strong boreal forest fires, occurred mainly in Russia, as a source of the increased CO burdens.
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Many car burglars walk along streets trying car handles, looking for those with unlocked doors or open windows to steal from, police say. Some crimes can be prevented by paying attention to your surroundings and using common sense, New Orleans police said in a news release Tuesday.
The NOPD's six tips for keeping you and your car safe:
- Lock your car and roll up the windows.
- Remove or hide all valuables in your car. If possible, lock them in your trunk.
- Activate your car alarm.
- Park in a well-lit area as close as possible to your destination.
- When exiting your car, always take your keys with you.
- Never leave a gun inside your car.
The NOPD's crime prevention unit can be reached at 504.658.5590.
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Team:TU Munich/Human Practice/Overview
More information on the development and on the current situation in Germany can be found in the References section.
Considering the general rejection of genetic engineering and keeping in mind that Germany has a long tradition of brewing beer under the German purity law it is even more important to inform the general public about genetic engineering, synthetic biology and our project. While the general public broadly opposes genetic engineering, the scientific community tries to emphasizes the potential benefits of the technology. In a 2008 lecture Nobel Prize-Winner Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard made clear: "Germany has so far failed to sufficiently accept that applying genetic engineering in plant breeding offers an as yet not fully tapped potential for organic farming, improved environmental protection, the conservation of biodiversity and health. Plants that are resistant towards moths, fungal infestation, viruses and nematodes need not be sprayed. Plants that are better adapted to unfavourable growth conditions, saline soil and karst and arid regions can thus be bred and grown to turn barren land back into fertile land ” .
Using the example iGEM's first SynBio Beer our team tried to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public by hosting a variety of “Human Practice” events. To inform younger members of our society about genetic engineering we visited a class of 10th and a class of 11th graders. An interview at the local student radio station gave us the opportunity to present our team and our mission to fellow students. In addition a comic was designed that illustrates our project in a playful way. Two versions of this comic were drawn: one for children and one for grown-ups. Our team never encouraged under-age alcohol consumption. The presented content was always adapted according to the respective audience.
Our team also addressed the general public with a multitude of events. Laborwelt.de was our most important media partner. Moreover, other newspapers and websites reported about our team and project and a movie presented our project and explained the basic ideas of synthetic biology. A nationwide information day was organized in cooperation with other German iGEM teams. Our team also invited politicians and scientists to discuss the impact of genetic engineering in groceries.
GMO in Food
Genetic Engineering or Genetic Modification of food is an issue that is present in the media all over the world . There are a lot of people who are critical and skeptical about genetically modified (GM) food. The opponents of genetic engineering are wondering if food produced from genetically engineered organisms is safe. They are afraid of eating GM food because they think that the food can interfere their normal bodily functions. Yet a lot of food that we eat every day contains genetically modified ingredients and we do not know about it . Consequently labeling GM food is another important issue that is often raised in controversies over genetic engineering of food. Especially in Germany these controversies are omnipresent and have led to many disputes, protests and restrictions.
Unfortunately many people who debate about genetic engineering have only little background knowledge. Consequently the content of the discussion is often unobjective and emotional. A negative effect of GM food on humans is not approved sufficiently yet. Supporters of GM food say that genetic engineering of crops for example is needed to address the world’s food needs. In this case the sustainability of food security and availability is an important topic because the population increases . Biotechnological methods could help increase food production since generating genetically modified crops can provide protection from pathogens. Besides fewer insecticides and other chemicals are needed. Another aspect in generating GM food is to modify the nutritional value of the food. One example is the so called “Golden Rice” that has a higher concentration of vitamin A than normal rice.
Green genetic engineering is not only a scientific issue, but also a political, social and commercial one. That is why our project addresses the populace. It is an important issue for almost everybody in the population and it is a really present and much debated topic. In Germany a lot of research is done in the field of green genetic engineering. However, the step to the application of GM food is still difficult. That is why the iGEM TU Munich Team wants to inform people about genetic engineering in general and to moderate the concerns about it. Besides we want to lay the foundations for a new generation of functional food by producing iGEM’s first and finest SynBio Beer.
On July 24th, two of us visited the Joseph-Bernahrt-Gymnasium to give exciting talks about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project. In addition students could get their hands dirty trying to reveal some of the genetic secrets of bananas, pineapples and "gummi bears".
Throughout the entire project we used different media channels to inform the general public. Our cooperation partner was Laborwelt.de. In addition we kept our followers up to date using a variety of social media.
Our team designed a comic introducing our hero "Super Yeast". In an entertaining way the comic explains the idea of synthetic biology and our project. We created two versions: one for children and one for grown-ups. Have a look and find out what our hero experiences!
On August 25th, German iGEM teams informed the general public about synthetic biology and iGEM. This nationwide information day was a joint effort to inspire people throughout Germany and spread the word about synthetic biology.
On September 18th, we invited the general public to an evening full of presentations and an interesting panel discussion. Experts gave comprehensive talks and during the panel discussion scientists and politicians debated on genetic engineering in food.
In total we produced two movies. One in cooperation with an online magazine called "Wissen + Konzepte" to highlight the scientific part of our project and another one to present our team and our project.
On August 19th, three of us gave an interview at a local radio station. Nadine, Fabian and David talked about synthetic biology, iGEM and our project.
In cooperation with "TUM:Junge Akademie", a collegiate association of our university, we got the chance to take a look at the results of a survey about "genetic engineering". The survey helped us to get a picture of the attitude of the German population towards genetic engineering in food. Read more and see the results of the survey.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqRbziwzVkk&feature=plcp
- http://www.leopoldina.org/uploads/tx_leopublication/200910_NatEmpf_Gruene_Gentechnik-EN_01.pdf
- http://www.globalissues.org/issue/188/genetically-engineered-food
- File:TUM biotech in Germany.pdf
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Concise Language for Three-Person Crew Develops Unity
By Patrick Keim
Arriving to the three-umpire system at various upper levels is the culmination of hard work, preparation and demonstration of the knowledge and skills necessary to officiate. An example of that is the umpire’s use of the “pre-pitch checklist” as a normal part of his or her game on the field.
The umpire’s “arrival” also indicates a grasping of the greater concepts of umpiring philosophy, an understanding of his or her place in a larger, more comprehensive and coordinated system. Those umpires know that it truly is “the game, the crew and then it’s you.”
Just as “pre-pitch” preparation is vitally important to the umpire’s performance, the “pregame discussion” by the plate umpire can be vitally important to his or her crew as well.
The pregame discussion should foster the idea of crew unity. It should have the effect of coordinating and preparing the crew members coming in from “wherever” to the “here and now” to competently officiate the game together. Through the use of concise language containing the essential concepts of most systems, the plate umpire can have the beneficial impact of cultivating confidence in the crew before stepping onto the field.
There are many ways to conduct a thorough pregame. National staff members, conference coordinators, camp evaluators, mentors and the respective manuals are excellent resources for the elements of a solid pregame. All will insist that one is used. In addition, the following ideas should be useful when formulating an adequate pregame discussion with your crew.
Consider the use of concise language. Employ widely understood key words or phrases to communicate larger situational concepts. The use of meaningful language recognized and used by umpires can be very helpful. Terms such as “chase,” “bracket,” “help,” “standard,” “rotated,” “counter-rotated,” “shoot play,” “full rotation,” “partial rotation,” “delayed rotation,” “V,” “wedge”and many more can be useful in reminding your partners of their duties and responsibilities in certain game situations. Even the term “deer in the headlights” can communicate a possible scenario that may develop on the field.
Concise language has the desired effect of condensing larger ideas into “bite-size” chunks for the crew to digest in its pregame preparation, making the discussion more timely and efficient.
Consider tailoring your pregame discussion to the three starting positions. Those are the three positions that umpires will take at the start of every pitch — standard, rotated and counter-rotated. Guide the crew around the field in a fluid, systematic way. Covering the different positions and fly ball coverage, base runner and rotation responsibilities is a very important aspect of the plate umpire’s pregame with the crew.
The plate umpire’s discussion concerning the rotated position might sound something like, “When we are in the rotated position with a runner at first, Jack (U1) you have the right-field line, Jill (U3) you have the V, and I have the left-field line. If either umpire chases, the remaining umpire has first and second, and the batter-runner to third. If neither umpire chases, we have a partial rotation. Jack, you may want to discuss your tendency on a chase fly ball between you and Jill to straight-away right field.”
Notice the concise language (“rotated,” “V,” “partial rotation”) used to convey the larger concepts. Notice also that the language used should be similar to your partner’s pre-pitch checklist language in his or her position. On the field before the pitch, Jack (U1) should be saying something like this to himself: “I have checked swing, right-field line; if she chases, I have first and second and the batter-runner to third. If she stays, we have a partial rotation.” In turn Jill (U3) might say something like this to herself: “He has checked swing, I have the V, if he chases, I have first and second and the batter-runner to third. If he stays we have the partial rotation.”
In that way the plate umpire’s pregame discussion is effective in helping to formulate the base umpire’s pre-pitch checklist, thereby placing the crew “on the same page” on the field. The same can be done for all of the basic positions and situations the crew may encounter in the game.
Consider focusing your pregame discussion on the particular and peculiar aspects of officiating. What are your particular tendencies on such things as pregame conference at the plate, umpire-to-umpire signals, balls off the batter in the box, hard line drives to the infield, umpire conferences, brawls and ejections? What are your first-base umpire’s tendencies on chase fly balls to straight-away center field (standard position) or right field (rotated position)? What about the weather and ground rule conditions? Those are good topics to cover with your partners in your pregame.
The plate umpire should also discuss the peculiar (for him or her) situations that may develop in each starting position. For example, when covering the standard position (no runners on base) it may be worth mentioning that if the U1 chases, the plate umpire has first-base responsibility, as it is the peculiar instance in which the plate umpire has that coverage. In the counter-rotated position (runner at second) and less than two outs, if either umpire chases a “caught fly ball,” the remaining umpire has the tag-up at second base, but the plate umpire has the tag play at third. That situation is peculiar because it is a different mechanic than ASA, in which the remaining base umpire has the tag-up and the tag play at third.
It is also a good idea to ask your partners to comment on any “particulars” and “peculiars” they feel are important from their unique perspective of the game. The crew as a whole benefits from the experience of each individual umpire.
With the use of concise language, tailored to the three starting positions, inclusive of any particular or peculiar points of emphasis, a thorough pregame discussion normally lasting from 20-25 minutes can be adequately condensed to between eight and 10 minutes.
The game awaits. The teams are focused and prepared. The crew is ready — unified through a well-developed pregame discussion. And you have worked hard to arrive at this moment. Now go out there, hustle and have fun!
Patrick Keim, Coweta, Okla., umpires in multiple NCAA Division I conferences, ASA and NAIA. He is also an NCAA Division I camp evaluator. ∗
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The Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes collaborates with more than 80 countries to ensure growth opportunities from trade and investment, to improve development prospects, and to enable their more effective participation in the global economy.
The Division provides timely, targeted research and analysis, as well as innovative policy recommendations regarding development, trade and investment.
Through its analysis of African economic issues
, UNCTAD aims to increase awareness of some of the most critical development problems of the continent, and to promote action at national, regional and international levels to support African development efforts with a view to enhancing the participation of African countries in the world economy.
UNCTAD member States also pay special attention to the particular problems faced by "other structurally weak, vulnerable and small economies".
The Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes helps countries within these categories derive the greatest possible benefits from this recognition and make the most effective use of the special international support measures that are extended to them, essentially to reduce their marginalization from the global economy.
Activities of the Division include:
- Research and policy-related analysis, notably through the yearly Least Developed Countries Report and Economic Development in Africa Report.
- Support for consensus-building on issues of direct interest to countries in Africa and within the recognized categories, principally through expert meetings, and in the context of preparations for international events.
- Technical assistance for capacity-building in relevant countries through the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the LDC Trust Fund, and other existing facilities.
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Q: Can you grow asparagus in west Georgia?
A: Asparagus is easy to grow here. Better yet, it is perennial, so you don’t have to plant seed each year. Asparagus plants are either male or female. Female plants produce more but smaller spears than the male plants. Old-time varieties such as ‘Mary Washington’ or ‘Martha Washington’ are not nearly as productive as newer varieties. Look for ‘Jersey Giant’, ‘Jersey Knight’, or ‘Jersey Prince’. They produce three times as much as older varieties
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Continuing soaring temperatures across the UK mean water shortages and restrictions, as already seen in Northern Ireland this year, could be imminent, making the need to conserve water more important.
At DB Group we pro-actively work to help our commercial clients conserve water usage all year round.
One of the most effective ways of doing this is to install Waterless Urinals; a managed initiative that changes your water flushing mechanism for a dry waterless system.
Working with our partner Whiffaway, we have installed over 50 Waterless Urinal units in the second half of June. These units are already demonstrating incredible savings for our clients, and in addition have reduce maintenance time, removed smells and improved hygiene.
The system is easy to install, working with your existing urinal bowls, and is 100% guaranteed, meaning should you want to, you can revert back to your water system at any time.
This is just one of the ways we can help you to conserve water. Get in touch to find out more about all the water conservation services we offer with DB Water.
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Brilliant work of Korean artist Hyungkoo Lee who come up with the idea to represent famous cartoon characters as skeletons. As he says “The Animatus series started with the intention to analyze anatomical structures and physical forms of animation characters, within the hypothesis to visualize their possible anatomical foundation.”
Wile E Coyote and Road Runner
Donald Duck and his three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie
Tom And Jerry
Those skeletons are constructed with resin, aluminum sticks, stainless steel wires, springs and oil paint. Some will say that they look kind of creepy while others will think they are kind of cute, especially the models representing Huey, Dewey and Louie.
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Astronomy Day 2013
- Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
- Museum of the Rockies - view map
On Saturday, April 20th, the Museum of the Rockies will host Astronomy Day 2013. Events include talks by MSU alumnus Brian Larsen, who works on the NASA Van Allen Space Probe Mission at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Jaime Waydo, an MSU alumnus who is a mobility engineer for the Curiosity rover. Astronomy Day also features kids' activities, planetarium shows, solar viewing and more.
This event is free and open to the public.
Events and Presentations
1pm Opening Remarks: Dr. Angela Des Jardins, director of the Montana Space Grant Consortium
1:10 pm Brian Larsen, MSU graduate, Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Larsen is part of NASA's Van Allen Probes Mission and will share information aboutl space weather and what it means to us, the mission, and recent results. Larsen is a Technical Staff Member in the Intelligence and Space Research Division, Space Science and Applications Group (ISR-1).
2:10pm Autograph Session with Brian Larsen and Jaime Waydo
3pm Jaime Waydo, MSU graduate and mobility engineer for the Mars Curiosity Rover team. Waydo will speak on "Curiosity's Science: What is the Mars Rover Doing, and What Have We Learned?"
Download Jaime's Fun Facts About Mars [PDF]
- Academic Technology and Outreach
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2*sqrt(3)*sqrt(12) = sqrt(3)*sqrt(3*4) = sqrt(3)*sqrt(3)*2 = 3*2 = 6
So column B is the greater
The others are similar to column B in this question, the numbers under
the root signs are reduced to their prime factorisations, the factors that
appear twice are brought out from under the root sign, and whatever can
be cancelled is cancelled.
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6 August 2014
Global Definition of Social Work
The following definition was approved by the IFSW General Meeting and the IASSW General Assembly in July 2014:
Global Definition of the Social Work Profession
“Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.
The above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels”.
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COURTESY OF JEREMY RIFKIN
“This year has seen ever-higher prices at the pump, rebels seizing Libyan oilfields and a nuclear facility crippled in Japan. Yet few have realised that these disparate events are part of a larger unfolding drama. Our global energy economy, long-powered by fossil fuels and nuclear, is spiralling into a dangerous and unstable endgame.
In the first decade of this century, the emerging nations, led by China and India, brought one-third of the human race into the declining oil era. Global output rose and because every activity in our economy requires carbon-based energies, huge demand pressure was placed on diminished fossil fuel reserves.
When the price of oil passed the $125 per barrel mark in early 2008, the folly of constructing a civilisation on exhumed carbon deposits became clearer. Looking back, we can see that we hit peak globalisation, the outer limits of an economic system dependent on fossil fuels. By July 2008 oil had risen to $147, precipitating a slowdown in the global economy. This was the economic earthquake that signalled the passing of the oil era; the financial collapse 60 days later was merely the aftershock.
This is now happening again, sped forward by Libya and Fukushima. 2010 saw a tepid recovery, mostly to replenish exhausted inventories. But as growth resumed, oil rose too – it now hovers at about $110 – forcing up prices. Indeed, this is precisely what one would expect from an oil era entering a long, slow death throe: each time output throttles up, oil prices rebound, purchasing power drops and the economy stalls.
Of course, the oil spigot is not going to run dry tomorrow. There is still coal, tar sands, heavy oil and shale gas. But these are dirtier, more expensive and exacerbate climate change. Nor can we replace our energy infrastructure overnight. The challenge is keeping the old regime on life support long enough to lay the foundations for a new energy infrastructure, in part through energy efficiency measures taken by businesses and households trying to cut costs in response to raised prices.
What we need in the long run, however, is the equivalent of a new economic paradigm – that is, a systemic change in the way we organise economic life – to move beyond carbon and nuclear energy. And here I believe we are on the cusp of a third industrial revolution, in which internet technologies and renewable energies merge to create a powerful, new energy infrastructure.
In the coming era we will need to create an “energy internet” to enable hundreds of millions of people to produce green renewable energy in their homes, offices and factories. They can then store this energy as hydrogen and use green electricity to power their buildings, machinery and vehicles. Surplus electricity can then be shared with others, just as we now share information online.
Buildings are already being converted into micro-power plants with the installation of solar panels, vertical wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, biomass converters, small hydro and the like. Sensors will be applied to every appliance, and software will keep owners apprised of changes in the price of electricity moment-to-moment, so that they can adjust their electricity use and sell electricity back to the grid if the price is right, making everyone an energy entrepreneur.
We can already see some of the other innovations that will be needed to move down this path. Governments around the world have recently instituted feed-in-tariffs that pay businesses and homeowners a premium price for the renewable electricity they produce and send back to the grid. Green mortgages with low interest rates that allow businesses and homeowners to “pay as you save” on energy are also becoming popular.
The new system that needs to emerge also holds the promise of fundamentally restructuring our economy. Fossil fuel energy systems favoured vertical economies of scale and giant, centralised enterprises. In contrast, the era of renewable energies will empower a multitude of small and medium sized enterprises, as well as larger companies, to share their energy with each other in networks that function more like ecosystems than markets. Just as millions share music with each other online and overpower major music companies, so millions of energy producers sharing electricity can overwhelm today’s conventional power generated by centralised power and utility companies.
As the oil era draws to a close, this vision offers the hope of a sustainable post-carbon era by mid-century and the possibility that we can avert catastrophic climate change. The question is whether we will see the economic possibilities ahead, and muster the will to get there in time.”
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Patent application title: Method for making briquettes from comminuted straw and a device to produce briquettes
Adam Piotr Junczyk (Biala Podlaska, PL)
IPC8 Class: AB27N100FI
Class name: Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes forming articles by uniting randomly associated particles
Publication date: 2012-04-19
Patent application number: 20120091617
The subject of the invention is a method for the manufacture of
briquettes from comminuted straw, as well as a device to manufacture
briquettes from comminuted straw. The method consists in that comminuted
straw is compressed in a continuous process using a screw-type extruder
until the material reaches a temperature at which the material after
pressing solidifies to a density exceeding 1.3 g/cm 3. The device has a
screw (3) composed of three segments of decreasing helix pitches toward
the outlet. The forming die (8) is housed in a tank (11) connected
through a water system (12) to a cooler (13). The cooling system has a
temperature sensor (17) installed, said sensor being part of the pump
supply circuit (15).
1. A method for making briquettes from cereal straw which is comminuted
and then pressed, characterized in that the comminuted straw, pre-dried
to a moisture content of 15-25%, is fed to a screw-type extruder and then
gradually compressed until it reaches a temperature above 290.degree. C.
and density above 1.3 g/cm3, and the resulting mass is extruded in
the form of a cylinder having a homogeneous structure.
2. A device for the manufacture of briquettes from comminuted straw, having a screw supported on bearings at its base, composed of segments of different helix pitches disposed in a barrel ended with a forming die, downstream which die a guide is disposed, and above the barrel there is a raw material hopper, characterized in that the screw (3) consists of three segments of decreasing helix pitches toward the outlet, while the forming die (8) is housed in a tank (11) connected through a water system (12) to a cooler (13) which has a fan (14), and a chute (18) at barrel (1) is connected with a hopper (19) inside which there is a screw feeder (20) driven by a motor (21), and on an inclined wall of the hopper (19) a rotary scraper (22) is mounted whose arm ends mate the helix of the screw feeder (20).
3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that in the tank (11) there is installed a temperature sensor (17) which is part of the pump supply circuit (15) of the water system (12).
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This Application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/PL2010/000049, filed Jun. 18, 2010 and published as WO 2010/147493 A1 on Dec. 23, 2010, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The subject of the present invention is a method for making briquettes from comminuted straw and a device for producing briquettes from comminuted plant waste.
Known methods for making briquettes from comminuted plant feedstock rely on compressing the raw material in a screw-type extruder while heating the extruder barrel and the forming die using electric heaters. During the compression the material solidifies, with the outer layer of a briquette formed having the most compact structure. In order to reduce cross-sectional heterogeneity of the resulting end product, the product is made in the form of a cylinder with a central hollow.
Polish patent No 198907 discloses a screw-type briquetting machine having a screw consisting of two segments, the first of which, counting from the inlet has a greater diameter and helix pitch than the other one which serves as a densitying segment of the screw. The barrel working chamber and the die are heated. Fitted at the face of the forming die is an annular die with a guide with pressure control. The screw is supported on bearings and actuated through an electric motor and a gearbox. The extruder barrel is equipped with a chute to supply the feedstock from a hopper. Solution to the problem
According to the present invention, comminuted straw, pre-dried to a moisture content between 15 to 25%, is fed to a screw extruder and then gradually compressed until it reaches a temperature above 290° C. and a density above 1.3 g/cm3, and the resulting mass is extruded in a continuous process in the form of a cylinder with a uniform structure. During the extrusion a constant temperature span is maintained at the die, not exceeding 340° C. Preferably, the mass resulting from such compression has a density in the range from 1.3 to 1.5 g/cm3.
The subject of the present invention is also a device for the manufacture of briquettes from comminuted straw, said device having disposed in the barrel a three-segment screw with different helix pitches, said segment pitches decreasing toward the outlet. The forming die, disposed downstream the screw, is housed in a tank connected via a water system to a pump and a fanned cooler.
Preferably, a temperature indicator and a temperature sensor are installed inside the tank, integrated into the supply system of the pump.
The barrel chute is connected to a hopper equipped with a screw feeder driven by a separate motor. The motor of the screw feeder is equipped with a rotation speed controller. Screw feeder helix mates the arms of a rotating scraper installed on an inclined wall of the hopper.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
The method according to the present invention allows obtaining briquettes with a uniform structure throughout the transverse cross section. The feedstock, heated uniformly throughout its mass has a stable form that does not change during long storage. In steam environment, the raw material is converted into compact briquettes. This process of briquette manufacture results in obtaining a 100% natural and ecological fuel. Since the final product is characterized by a compact structure, its combustion is a process of long duration.
The briquetting device according to the present invention is energy-efficient, because attaining the right temperature does not require any heaters. The hopper ensures continuous and uniform feeding of the raw material in the form of comminuted straw. The device is also able to operate at negative temperatures.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
First, comminuted rye straw was prepared in a comminutor, then the straw was pre-dried to 20% moisture and fed to the briquetting machine's hopper. After the hopper had been filled with the comminuted straw, the screw feeder and the extruder screw were started simultaneously. The straw was gradually compressed. Screw rotation speed was initially set at 5 rpm and the machine operated at that speed until steam appeared at the outlet of guide 10, then the speed was increased to 25 rpm. During the operation of the extruder screw, the temperature of the raw materials was rising. Initially, the stabilizing sleeve produced incompletely solidified briquettes. After 5 minutes, as a result of temperature rise, the outgoing product in cylindrical form had reached the required density of 1.3 g/cm3. The temperature sensor of the cooling system was set at 50° C. After that value had been exceeded, the cooling system pump was started. Further, the process ran in a continuous mode, provided that the material in the hopper was made-up when necessary. In case that excessive accumulation of raw material is found at the hopper outlet, the rotation speed of the screw feeder driving motor is reduced.
Comminuted straw, pre-dried to 15% moisture, was fed to the briquetting machine's hopper and processed like in Example 1. The product obtained in the form of a cylinder had a density of 1.4 g/cm3.
A device for the manufacture of briquettes is reproduced, as an example, in the enclosed drawing in which FIG. 1 shows the device in partial cross section along the axis of the barrel, and FIG. 2 is a side view with a section of the hopper.
Inside the barrel 1 which is seated on a foundation 2 there is disposed a screw 3 whose shaft 4, supported on bearings 5, is driven by an electric motor 6 through a belt transmission 7. The screw 3 has three helix segments of decreasing pitch toward the outlet. Bolted at the face of the barrel 1 is a forming die 8 having a conical bore, which is connected to a stabilizing sleeve 9. The stabilizing sleeve 9 has a guide 10 attached to it. The forming die 8 is housed in a cooling liquid tank 11 which is connected through the water system 12 to a fanned cooler 13 equipped with a fan 14. The water system 12 is equipped with a pump 15 and a temperature indicator 16, while at the tank 11 a temperature sensor 17 is installed which is part of the supply system of the pump 15. The barrel 1 has a chute 18 connected to a hopper 19, at the bottom of which there is a screw feeder 20 driven by an electric motor 21 while on an inclined wall of tank 19 a rotary scraper 22 is installed whose ends mate the helix of the screw feeder 20.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent applications by Adam Piotr Junczyk, Biala Podlaska PL
Patent applications in class FORMING ARTICLES BY UNITING RANDOMLY ASSOCIATED PARTICLES
Patent applications in all subclasses FORMING ARTICLES BY UNITING RANDOMLY ASSOCIATED PARTICLES
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Bulls are a troublesome group of cattle to manage, says Jeremy Martin, PhD, Great Plains Livestock Consulting Inc., Eagle, Neb. They are generally in the way, causing problems or are somewhere they shouldn’t be. “However, they are a significant investment and it is important that investment provides you with the greatest return possible,” Martin says. The problem is that there just isn’t that much research available on young bull nutrition.
Should you creep-feed bull calves?
Bull calves, like all calves, need timely, high-quality colostrum at birth which is critical to future health and performance. Creep feeding then becomes an option based on cowherd goals, forage type and availability and marketing. “Bulls can be started on creep feed immediately but it becomes more difficult to discern the productivity of a cow because creep feed intake will vary among calves,” Martin explains. In situations where forage quality is poor late in the grazing season, creep feeding is a management tool to keep bull calves growing, and can be a weaning management tool.
If creep-fed, bull calves should be fed low-starch, high-protein creep feed, ideally a dried distiller’s grains or gluten-based creep including an intake limiter to get more efficient gain. It’s important that the creep feed is designed to promote growth, but is not fattening. Also, Martin notes, it is probably wise to avoid creep-feeding future replacement heifers to ensure they do not deposit fat in their udders as calves which will reduce their future milk production.
The skinny on overfat young bulls
Martin says ultrasound data on yearling bulls is widely available and allows buyers to evaluate fat thickness. Groups of yearling bulls should average between 0.15" and 0.30" of backfat, depending on age at scanning, biological type and environmental factors.
Low-starch rations containing high energy byproduct feeds in combination with high levels of roughage allow bulls to gain 3 lb/day or more, without depositing excess fat. Martin likes to see yearling bulls with a body condition score (BCS) of 6–6.5 at turnout. “I think a BCS of 6 is ideal,” he says. “In the second or third breeding season, it should be a 5.5–6.”
If young bulls are too fat before the breeding season, Martin says it’s a problem to get them “hardened up”, or conditioned for breeding season. “Long-term, overfat bulls tend to lose weight rapidly when breeding season begins and then quit breeding before the breeding season is over. They also may be more likely to have experienced acidosis because of the energy level of the diet they received; if they did experience acidosis at some point during development they, are more likely to have long-term foot soundness issues.”
There isn’t a lot of research on the role of mineral nutrition of bulls specifically, but research conducted by Arthington and colleagues (1995) proved the importance of zinc in semen quality of young bulls. Martin notes as always, macromineral trace minerals and vitamin concentrations should meet NRC requirements, and at least in the case of zinc, exceed them. Feeding a percentage of the trace minerals from an organic source is advised. Deficiencies are not only possible but likely without supplementation. “A comprehensive trace mineral and vitamin package is cheap insurance compared to subpar semen test results,” he states. “The bottom line is that developing bulls should receive a complete vitamin/mineral supplement and should not be fed to the point they experience acidosis or bloat, or deposit fat in the scrotum.”
First breeding season
It’s difficult to manage nutrition of the young bull after turnout with the cows, but there are some things that can be done to maximize the breeding season. Bulls should be transitioned slowly to a roughage diet and introduced to pasture at least 10 days before being turned in with the cows.
Martin says most bulls will lose some weight during breeding simply due to the miles they cover in the breeding process. If possible, put yearling bulls in pastures with less area to cover, to limit the amount of weight lost. Make sure they have access to salt and mineral at all times during the breeding season.
“In my opinion, the most important thing is pulling young bulls out of cows in a timely fashion,” Martin suggests. “Many young bulls remain with cows long after the cows are bred, but most young bulls are not smart enough to quit chasing cows and continue to lose weight. After 45–60 days with cows, get yearling bulls out of the cowherd.”
Once young bulls are pulled out of the cowherd, don’t neglect them as they start approaching winter. Yearling bulls in particular need to keep growing after they are pulled from breeding pastures. Protein and energy supplementation is dependent on forage quality. “Ideally, yearling bulls would be fed to gain 1.5–2 pound/day through that first winter, and/or managed to a BCS of 6 prior to their second breeding season,” Martin says.
If yearling bulls don’t continue to grow and develop as they should, you can try to play catch up in their second breeding season, but Martin says it takes less feed to keep them in shape than to try and catch them up. In addition, fertility as a 2-year old can be compromised if bulls are underfed after their first breeding season, particularly if they are severely underfed. “Severe undernutrition can also stunt a bull’s growth, probably reducing their mature size and thus reducing their eventual salvage value,” he says.
For more information, visit www.GPLC-Inc.com.
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The man who stood just feet away from President Obama as he paid tribute to Nelson Mandela told ABC News today that he was having schizophrenic hallucinations during Tuesday's memorial service in front of a crowd of tens of thousands and millions more on television.
Thamsanqa Jantjie, who has been accused of pretending to be a sign language interpreter during the event, today described the moment he knew something was wrong during the memorial at FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa.
"It's when I see angels come into the stadium," he told ABC News in an interview at his home.
Jantjie said he felt compelled to keep signing because of the magnitude of the event.
"If I start panicking, I'll start being a problem," he also told The Associated Press.
Sign language interpreters, however, have said his signs were not real words. Jantjie would not comment on those accusations but insisted he'd done a good job.
Jantjie also admitted that he'd had many episodes over the years that have turned violent.
"But now it's under control because I'm under medication," he said, adding that he was on his medication the day of the memorial.
A routine six-month checkup was due to take place the day of the ceremony but had to be postponed, he said.
Jantjie was given accreditation by the memorial service's organizers but he was not screened by the U.S. Secret Service. In fact, he said that he was hired the day before the event, which was attended by more than 100 current and former heads of state.
The South African government told ABC News that it did not actually know what qualifications Jantjie had as an interpreter and admitted that it had been a mistake to hire him.
His employers have "vanished," according to Bogopane-Zulu, deputy minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
Bogopane-Zulu apologized for Jantjie's actions today and said an investigation was underway, according to the AP.
In a statement to ABC News today, the Secret Service blamed the organizers and downplayed the threat to the president's safety, arguing that agents were always close to Obama.
"Program items such as stage participants or sign language interpreters were the responsibility of the host organizing committee. For the purposes of this memorial service, this would include vetting them for criminal history and other appropriate records checks," the agency said in a statement.
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Blocking is the Easy Part
It is common knowledge among youth baseball and softball coaches that the one play most responsible for scoring runs is not the blast over the fence or the shot in the gap; it’s the passed ball.
As coaches we often find ourselves asking why is it so difficult for our young catchers to keep the ball in front of them. Why do so many balls get by and allow runners to advance and ultimately score?
To understand the problem lets divide passed balls into 2 groups. The first group is those wild pitches that are so far over a catcher’s head, or thrown so far to their sides that even skilled catchers are unable stop them. These types of pitches will diminish as the pitchers get older and become more skilled. If the pitcher does not get more accurate as he/she ages, he/she will no longer be selected to pitch, and the wild-pitch problem goes away by itself.
The second group is the group that causes the most problems for youth coaches. These are pitches in the dirt within the catcher’s reach just to their left or right, or even worse, right between their legs. Why can’t the catchers stop them? Why can’t the catchers block them? From our point of view sitting in the dugout it sure seems obvious that the ball is going in the dirt. Why is it these young catchers can’t see where the ball is going and make the proper play? Is blocking the ball really that difficult? Well my answer may surprise you. After more than 15 years of working with catchers I have come to the conclusion that blocking is really the easy part. If you have my DVD and have applied the blocking techniques suggested you could attest to the fact that nine-year-old catchers can be taught to block as well as high school starting catchers. That’s right, blocking the ball is the easy part!!
Well then, why all the pass balls? Why all the scored runs, if blocking the ball is the easy part? For years I have seen catchers as young as seven years old perfectly execute a block in a drill environment with me tossing balls at game speed. The problem is not whether they know how to block or not block, the problem is they do not know when to block. Read that again. The problem is not whether they know how to block or not block, the problem is they do not know when to block.
Their skill deficiency is not blocking but something much more difficult to learn. It’s a skill that can take years behind the plate for a catcher to develop. The skill? Pitch recognition.
So we ask, what can be so hard about recognizing that a pitch needs to be blocked? We as coaches can clearly see from the dugout that a pitch is going in the dirt, but we see the pitch from the dugout, from the side, not from the most difficult angle, the catcher’s view. Recognizing the trajectory of a ball going into the dirt through the catcher’s eyes is much more difficult. Most often by the time the catcher recognizes a ball is going in the dirt it is too late for them to block the ball and the only reaction that remains is to stand up and run to the backstop to retrieve it.
If pitch recognition is the problem, just how much time does a catcher have to recognize the ball is on a flight path that will require him/her her to block it? Here is some simple math to ponder.
For youth baseball I will use 45 feet as a common home to mound distance. If we assume the pitcher actually releases the ball four feet in front of the mound then the actual distance the ball is thrown is 41 feet. Conversely, since the catcher sets up approximately four feet behind the plate the actual travel distance to the catcher is back to 45 feet.
Using 50-MPH as a reasonable speed for twelve-years-old and under we find that speed over that distance equates to 73 feet per second. So a ball traveling from the pitcher’s release point to the catcher’s glove 45 feet away will take approximately .6 seconds. Yes six whole tenths of a second to find the ball after release, get a fix on its flight path, make the decision to block, and then to muster the technical expertise to actually block the ball properly!
For the girl’s game the numbers are similar; a 45-MPH pitch thrown from 40 feet away travels at 58 feet per second. So from release point to the catcher’s glove 40 feet away the time to react is also .6 seconds.
The point of the math lesson is to help coaches realize just how little time these 12 and under catchers have to figure out they need to block the ball, let alone actually execute proper blocking techniques. Remember this math the next time you yell at a catcher for not getting down to a ball in the dirt fast enough.
Before I explain how to train catchers in pitch recognition let me share something else that significantly handicaps most youth catchers when they try to block. I find that a key reason why players struggle to get to the ground quickly and block balls properly is improper receiving stance.
Catchers must be in a stance that allows their first move to be down, rather than up when they begin to execute the block. The easiest way to accomplish this is to insure that their feet are far enough apart so their heel are in contact with the ground, toes are pointed up the baselines and their thighs are parallel to the ground. If they are in a deep crouch, like they should be with no runners on, then their hips will have to go up before they can begin to move towards the ground. A deep crouch will only add to the amount of time it takes to block a ball by making the athlete travel upward before they are able to drive to the ground.
Pitch Recognition Training Process
First and foremost realize that this is a process, a process that will take time. It may take hundreds if not thousands of pitches to reach a consistent level of performance. Coaches must realize that a ten-year-old who can learn the mechanics of blocking in few short lessons may take three or more seasons before he/she is proficient in consistently reading pitches.
- When beginning this drill have the catcher get in their runners on base stance.
- Remind them they need to block all balls in the dirt and receive properly all pitches that do not require blocking.
- Inform them the situation is bottom of the last inning, you are up by one run and the tying run is on third.
- Position yourself half the normal distance between home and the mound. This allows the coach to throw the ball more accurately each time.
- Throw the first two pitches at least one foot over the catcher’s head. They will obviously not try to block these two pitches.
- Throw the next two pitches in the dirt three feet before the plate. The catcher should immediately recognize these balls are in the dirt and immediately move to block.
- Mix the next few pitches so they are thrown very high, and very low. Observe if the catcher successfully identifies and reacts properly to each pitch. During this particular part of the drill sequence what is most important is the catcher’s reaction. We are looking to see if the catcher CLEARLY demonstrates the ability to read the pitch location and responded accordingly. It is less important if the block is technically correct.
- Once the catcher masters the above move the pitches such that high pitches are lower and more in the catcher’s range, and the low pitches bounce closer to the catcher. See if he/she begins to balk and gets caught in that nasty place between blocking and receiving.
- You may find that the catcher will start to read the low pitches incorrectly as soon as the ball hits the ground just past the back point of the plate.
- As you begin to throw more pitches that are in the strike zone you will begin to see the hesitation appear as the catcher is struggling to read the pitches destination. When you throw a pitch at the knees you may find the catcher actually drops to block and gets hit in the mask. Likewise a pitch low and away that clearly should be blocked you may see them jab their glove out at it at the last second and try to catch it. The goal is to find that upper and lower limit when he/she seems to start having trouble reading whether to block or receive and drill in that range.
- When you see their proficiency growing increase the velocity in small increments to keep them challenged.
For catchers twelve and under, a good benchmark in a game situation is having your catcher read the pitch correctly to block 50% of the time when the ball is going into the dirt, and then execute proper blocking techniques 10% of the time. In the beginning be satisfied that they were able to correctly determine where the pitch was headed and began to execute the correct skill. The ball will still get by them since they are still using too much of the .6 of a second to read the pitch, not allowing enough time to actually execute the block.
Learning to block is a many faceted skill. What I believe is needed the most from coaches to help develop young catchers is patience. Players need to know that their coach already knows that some balls will get passed them. Players need to be encouraged when they make the correct “read” on a ball, even if the result is the ball still gets by them. Correct reading of these pitches is a skill I want my students to have a good handle on by the time they are 14 years old. Until then, it’s a learning process.
Dave Weaver founded The New England Catching Camp in 1994 after realizing that instruction for the toughest position on the diamond was generally unavailable. Weaver teaches at numerous facilities throughout New England and conducts group clinics, team workshops, coaches clinics, and private sessions with catchers of all ages. Dave has coached athletes in a variety of sports for over 30 years, and has been a coach for catchers from youth through professional levels.
Copyright © 2007, New England Catching Camp LLC
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From an anti-oxidant potential you need to ingest enough fruits and vegetables to provide a minimum of 3,000-5,000 Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) units per day. Unfortunately, to reach the minimum 3,000-5,000 ORAC units requires approximately 10 servings of normally consumed fruits and vegetables per day. Dr. Sears recommends at least 10,000 ORAC units per day for optimal anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. To reach the recommended levels of 10,000 ORAC units per day, it does require additional polyphenol supplementation for most people. The good news it that one capsule of any of our polyphenol products will provide an additional 8,000 ORAC units.
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Tagbilaran is the capital of Bohol and it is a place that has deeply embedded in its history centuries of friendship and peace. Dubbed one of the friendliest places in the Philippines, Tagbilaran destinations are not only places of learning but are also locations where lasting friendships are made.
Blood Compact Site
One might think that a blood compact and a whole site dedicated to it is something very morbid but contrary to one’s first thoughts, this Tagbilaran destination is part of the place’s rich history. The Blood Compact Site is where the chieftain Datu Sikatuna forged a blood compact with the then King of Spain as a signal of friendly relations between the two nations. The marker that points to the Blood Compact Site is said to be the place where the very first Friendship Treaty was entered into without the need of a common language and it was done in 1565. The Blood Compact Site is where friendship between the brown and white skinned first fostered. This historic event is indeed historical because it was one of the contributing factors that caused the Filipinos to welcome the Spaniards with open arms and it was the start of the latter’s peaceful reign. It is just as important in Philippine history as the President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park.
President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park
Since we’re into history, another good place to visit aside from the Blood Compact Site is the President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park. This Tagbilaran destination is located right in Tagbilaran City and it is meant to honor the late President Carlos P. Garcia, a figure admired by many Filipinos up to this very day. President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park was built through joint efforts of Boholanos all over the country and even abroad and the bronze statue is the main attraction here. This statue that stands in the middle of the 11 hectare property of this Tagbilaran destination is life-size and made by the national artist Abueva. The President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park is just as important and historic as the Blood Compact Site because Former President Garcia was the 4th President of the Philippines, 1st of the 1971 Constitutional Convention and did many good things to alleviate the plight of Filipinos living in poverty.
Moving away from historical sites such as the President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park, among the many Tagbilaran destinations are the beaches in the area. There are several beaches that make excellent Tagbilaran destinations such as the Anda Beach, Bay Watch and Darak Beach. These beaches provide the perfect place for unwinding and relaxation.
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Even as countries are beginning to lift the lockdown slowly, hospitals are still battling the COVID-19 cases.
Business activity is a powerful engine of a revenue source to the government with all the taxes paid to the exchequer. The entire economy of the world has been shaken by the coronavirus. However, now is the time to bounce back to activity.
We have seen cases of hospitals getting overwhelmed during the health crisis. There were scores of patients in the line waiting for medical care, beds were getting scarcer, demand for ventilators far outstripped their availability and even medicines were in short supply.
But it's time to take lessons from the experience and try not to make the same mistakes again. Let us see how important asset tracking solutions can be for hospitals and healthcare establishments.
What Is an Asset Tracking Solution?
Before understanding what an asset tracking solution is, it is important to first know what asset tracking is? Asset tracking is a process of keeping track and managing physical assets effectively. The asset tracking solution provides real-time information on every asset.
You can look up the asset status, asset location, asset maintenance schedules, and other relevant information on the assets. All of this is made easier by the asset tracking solution.
There are lots of benefits of asset tracking solution, e.g. no misplacement of an asset, no asset thefts, maximized efficiency and productivity, cost-saving, no unexpected breakdowns, etc. The most important benefit is the healthier bottom line for the enterprise.
For asset tracking solutions, many techniques are available such as Barcode, QR Code (Quick Response Code), RFID (Radio-frequency identification). Such methods are used in the form of labels, chips, tags, etc.
How Asset Tracking Solution Can Be Beneficial for Hospitals?
Asset tracking solution can provide assistance to hospitals in many ways:
1. Inventory Real-Time Tracking
Hospitals staff need to be updated on the medicines and other important inventory items. With the asset tracking solution, you can put program alerts and notifications for staff.
Whenever the stock is below the set level, the system notifies the responsible person or team about it. They can take the necessary steps to refill the stocks. This process is also known as setting the reorder limit. The client can thus keep track of inventory in real-time and check the quantity of stock left or any other inventory-related information.
2. Equipment Tracking
The pandemic has seen many hospitals struggling due to a shortage of ventilators, IV pumps, etc. for treating the patients effectively. During an emergency, every ventilator and IV pump becomes critical. If you want to know how many ventilators are available at each site, the software provides instant information on the status. Such timely and accurate information can give a crucial advantage to health administration.
3. Better Decision Making
Another key advantage of this software is that it provides accurate data, aiding the hospital in better decision-making. For example, if are more ventilators available than are required, they could be sent to another site in need of the same.
Besides, the system gathers data thus enabling effective use of assets and inventory. In short, data-driven decisions are any day better than decisions based on assumptions.
4. Asset Maintenance
We know corona virus is highly contagious. Hospitals are brimming with COVID and other patients as well. Hence, keeping all rooms, equipment, and assets sanitized is all the more essential in the current pandemic scenario.
There are lots of assets, equipment, and life-saving devices requiring regular maintenance. They have to be kept clean, sanitized, and in top working condition. The challenge is to remember which asset needs maintenance or which asset has to be sanitized and so forth.
This can be a hugely challenging task. During an emergency, asset breakdowns are a strict no-no. The asset tracking solution keeps track of the assets and notifies the personnel for the necessary maintenance. For accurate asset tracking, barcodes, QR Codes, RFID, NFC, IoT techniques can be used.
5. Decreasing Asset Loss
Manual data entry on assets can lead to erroneous information on assets getting circulated and resulting in losses. For precise asset tracking, there is the Check-in Check-out feature to tell to whom the asset is assigned, where the asset is located at present when it is due for return, etc.
Overall, the system helps decrease asset loss and increase reliability. This makes the process simple and effective and the user has the capability to add all related information about an asset for faster identification, e.g. image, video or document, etc.
According to market and research “The healthcare asset management market is expected to reach USD 35.19 billion by 2023 from USD 6.89 billion in 2017, at a CAGR of 31.4%. The base year considered for the study is 2017 and the forecast period is from 2018 to 2023.”
Indeed, a lot of progress has been made. A hospital has big stocks of medicines and equipment that may not be getting used. Asset management software identifies such items and the organization can move them to where they are needed or sell it if they are not required at all. Asset management software identifies and helps in getting such items sold or disposed of properly.
In these tough times, when hospitals are struggling, laboratories are overloaded and research departments are working on the vaccine for COVID-19, they should be provided with a helping hand in the form of fail-proof systems in order to fight the pandemic. The asset tracking solution is certainly one of them.
This solution offers a lot of potentials to manage assets, equipment, and inventory efficiently and to improve the overall customer experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the assets is a hospital on which asset tracking can be implemented?
Assets found in the hospital can be respiratory machines, patient monitors, mammography units, mobile X-ray units, blood bank refrigerators, ECG monitors ultrasound units, diagnostic equipment, laptops, examination tables, vehicles, and so on.
2. What are the kinds of inventory found in a hospital?
Gloves, masks, medicines, oxygen cylinders, sheets and covers, papers, and envelopes for documents X-ray films are among the many items of inventory found in a hospital.
3. What are the surgery-related equipment items found in the Hospital?
There are so many surgical equipment items used in the hospital like articulator, Bone chisel, Pin cutter, bone distractor, forceps, dissecting, retractor, Metzenbaum scissors, surgical sponge, curettes, vessel sealing device, ultrasonic energy device, etc.
4. Name some important asset tracking software features that are useful for hospitals?
1. Real-time asset information
2. Check-in Check out
3. Re-ordering limit
4. Alerts & Notifications
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The Army ROTC program at OSU has commissioned more than 6,000 officers.
Oklahoma State University surpasses $20 million energy savings milestone
Fri, July 27, 2012
Oklahoma State University has saved more than $20 million through its energy conservation efforts over the last five years. The university announced the savings milestone today during the OSU/A&M Board of Regents meeting in Ardmore.
“As a publicly funded land-grant institution it is important Oklahoma State University do all that it can to save money,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “Because of these savings the university has been able to focus more dollars on academics and enhancing the student’s education experience.”
Hargis added, “I am so proud of the way our students and employees have embraced this program. Without their support these savings would not have been possible.”
OSU launched its energy conservation program in 2007 through a partnership with Energy Education, founded and owned by OSU alum Bill Spears. Since July of 2007, OSU has saved nearly $20.4 million in energy costs. The savings figure includes all five campuses in the OSU system. The Stillwater campus has seen a total savings of $16,557,372.
OSU Campus Savings -- July 2007 – July 2012
OSU Stillwater $16,557,372
OSU Tulsa $1,053,209
OSU Tulsa - CHS $1,027,622
Earlier this year, using OSU as a model, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed into law Senate Bill 1096 that directs all state agencies and higher education institutions to achieve at least 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency and conservation by the year 2020. OSU's $20 million in energy savings represents a 19 percent improvement.
The energy savings has allowed five new or renovated buildings on the Stillwater campus to open without increasing the overall maintenance and operation budget. In addition, the efforts have resulted in eleven residential halls earning the Energy Star label.
A major portion of OSU's savings has come through behavioral changes by employees and students. The university also has taken a number of steps to improve energy efficiency, including:
- installation of energy efficient lights
- energy conservation devices on soda and snack vending machines
- improved monitoring and handling of air and air quality
- sealed air leaks around windows and doors
- installed timers on drinking fountains for nighttime energy savings
- replaced obsolete steam traps and insulated pipe valves and fittings
[flickr photo=7657804108 size=original vspace=5 hspace=30]
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Originally Posted by SDW2001
Oh, look. More government. This is exactly why we can't build anything in this country anymore.
More government is not the problem, at least not in the sense you mean. It is too much government when the government subsidizes and encourages companies to send work abroad. It has nothing to do with environmental protections. In addition, government policies always favor the big guy over the little guy even though 75% of jobs are the little guy.
In addition, investors, in cahoots with the big bankers, contribute nothing to the US economy and in fact are actively engaged in its destruction.
Investors want high returns on their investments -- don't we all?. So instead of investing in productive activities (like businesses that make things), they invest in money and debt. If you don't know, you need a review. If you as an investor want to make a lot of money (as opposed to product) your best bet is to invest in money. Payday loans are great with 400% interest earned, but high risk. Or investment in credit card debt, which earns 18 to 24% interest -- no longer high risk because Congress got bribed like they always do by making credit card debt non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. If an investor invests in small companies (or banks that give loans to smaller and local companies), then you will not be making any 18%. Small businesses support the local economies and the local economies remain viable because of the multiplier effect of local employees and local businesses buying local, supporting locally-built homes, farms, local schools and teachers, etc. Investors in these businesses might make 3% on their investments, but that 3% supports entire communities and not some Bain Capital or JP Morgan billionaires. It's the same 3% if you invest in infrastructure, or generic drugs, or any industry that is stable and long term -- think water supply, family farms, maintenance services like electrical, plumbing, home maintenance, nuts, bolts, nails, fabric, shoes, etc.
You also have to remember, if you ever knew it, that the average US economic growth is 3% per year, of which 1% is due to 1% growth in population, leaving about 2% for actual economic growth. Of course, there will be industries and companies doing much better than 3%, and one can try investing in these companies for relatively short term gains. Investment in the stock markets have little to do with adding to productivity. Except for the initial IPO companies don't directly benefit from their stock valuations. If companies hold some of their own stock, then it can be used as collateral for debt incurred to improve and increase production and R&D. Other than that, companies get no benefit from stock evaluations. If an investor wants to support a company's productivity, they have to purchase a company's private bonds.
Basically, the big investors today, and for decades now, make their money the old fashioned way: "rape and pillage". If you can buy up a company, you put some marginal amount in, borrow the rest, and shift the debt load to the company you just bought. For the investors, these are non-recourse loans -- an investor cannot lose any more than his initial marginal investment, and if you can shift even that marginal amount to the purchased company, all the better. Now, that previously viable company is loaded with debt, often far greater than they can pay off. In order to pay off that debt, the company is downsized, parts sold off, wages slashed, or moved offshore, products cheapened by buying from cheaper suppliers. And if the big banks can do better by bundling and selling the new debt as CDO's (collateralized debt obligations) and selling it to other investors, all the better. The initial investors can make a second bundle of money off this mechanism.
This is how the bubble economy works. Housing, big banking, savings and loans in the 1980's -- all bubble. Health care industries is another bubble industry for which substantial debt is being incurred and is unsustainable in the long term and has been for at least a couple of decades. When the housing and financial bubble collapsed, the government propped up the bubble economy with bailouts. Because the financial industry is about 40% of the economy, the economy took a close to 40% hit. At that time, the financial folks advising both Bush and Obama indicated that the economy would take about 12 years to return to "normal". There is nothing magical about this 12 years. That is about the value of 3% growth compounded annually over 12 years -- that is, 1.03^12 gives 1.426.
Edited by waldobushman - 7/10/12 at 10:14am
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Have you ever played one of those word association games? When I say “Young Adult,” what do you think of? When you think of young adults, I hardly doubt that you instantly think of things like, “responsibility,” “success,” or “financial independence.” I know that these aren’t the words that first come to mind. Instead, people associate partying, student loans, dependence on parents, etc.
In many ways, the common expectations of young adults often influences or dictates their behavior. In other words, because they are not expected to be financially stable, they aren’t. They milk each and every opportunity for what it’s worth. However, there couldn’t be a time that affects one’s entire life more than the early adult years. Whether you want to accept it or not, the years of young adulthood influence your finances and you should take advantage of it.
Why Your First Years of Adulthood Matter Most
Over the past year, my wife and I have started to focus on investing pretty aggressively. Those who have followed this blog for some time know that I love the Roth IRA. We went beyond using just the Roth IRA in the past year and it is already starting to pay off. While we are nowhere near being able to retire off of our investments, I imagine we will make several hundred dollars this year just off of passive income (income earned strictly from investments). Again, this is not a lot to brag about, but it’s much more than many of my closest friends.
Many of my closest friends didn’t have the same commitment to avoiding college debt. I found out the other day that a couple of them pay several hundred dollars a month in student loans and will continue to do so for the next decade. When I stop to think how big of a difference that is, it means a lot. It’s the difference between being able to start a family when you want to and not, the difference between buying a home while you’re young and not, and the list goes on. While I’m not trying blame them or point the finger, it highlights the importance of starting out on the right foot. Instead of playing catch up for the next decade, many young adults have the option to get ahead if they work hard enough.
The Importance of Getting Ahead
I’ve already written about how important it is to start investing yesterday, but let me paraphrase it here as well. As my wife and I start to supplement our income with dividends from our investments, a few hundred dollars a year may not seem like much. But, if we continue to invest and our money grows with interest each year, in a matter of a few years, we will start earning a few thousand dollars extra. In a decade or two, we will start making tens of thousands extra, if not more. For those who are unable to invest aggressively because they are paying off student loans or paying high monthly payments on a new car, they will be stuck working until they are physically unable. Those who dig themselves into a hole often are forced to get a loan (like Aspire loans) so they can pay their bills.
To put it simply, starting on the right path makes the world of a difference. As a young adult, time and money are on your side. If you are diligent enough to put a little money aside each and every year from the very beginning, it can mean the world of a difference 10 years from now. I’m not trying to say that you should sacrifice all of your dreams and goals for financial stability, but it is something that you should take into consideration. Take it from someone who sees his friends throw their future away for some material objects and short-lived thrills. Limit your spending, save and invest while your young. You won’t regret it.
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Zolpidem is the most widely used prescription drug for insomnia and one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States. Treatment of insomnia, which has important effects on patients’ quality of life, may also have larger public health benefits. In its 2006 report, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research concluded that sleep deprivation and sleep disorders represent an unaddressed public health problem that has substantial health consequences and leads to high health care costs.1 The IOM noted that one of every five serious injuries from driving accidents can be attributed to driver sleepiness. Numerous sleep drugs are available for treating insomnia and are also used to reduce next-day somnolence. But it is widely recognized that these drugs themselves can sometimes contribute to next-day somnolence, depending on such factors as drug dose, dosage form, and individual patient characteristics.
Zolpidem was initially approved, in 1992, in an immediate-release formulation for insomnia characterized by difficulty in falling asleep. At the time of its approval, there was concern regarding morning impairment, even after a 7-to-8-hour period of sleep, particularly with regard to activities requiring full alertness, such as driving a motor vehicle. There was also some recognition that people’s risk of impairment could vary, and the drug label advised that “the dose of Zolpidem should be individualized.” Although the recommended adult dose was 10 mg, the recommended dose for the elderly (who had higher levels of the drug in their blood the next morning) and for patients with hepatic impairment (who metabolized the drug more slowly) was 5 mg. Individual differences became more apparent as new dosage forms of zolpidem were developed to address sleep maintenance and middle-of-the-night waking.
Manufacturers of zolpidem-containing products must now make dosage recommendations that differ for women and men, to decrease the likelihood that women will have blood levels of the drug after they wake up that will impair their driving ability. Accordingly, the recommended dose of zolpidem for women has been reduced from 10 mg to 5 mg for immediate-release products and from 12.5 mg to 6.25 mg for modified-release products.
The FDA has also pointed out that the risk of impairment with modified-release formulations of zolpidem is greater than the risk with immediate-release formulations. Accordingly, the agency announced in May 2013 that patients who take modified-release formulations, either 6.25 mg or 12.5 mg, even if they then sleep for the required 8-hour period, should refrain, for the day subsequent to using the drug, from driving or engaging in any activity that requires full alertness. This recommendation reflects not only the higher zolpidem content in the modified-release formulation but also the ability of the modified-release design to prolong the period of drug exposure. A variety of new data have shown that people affected by impairment after taking zolpidem frequently do not recognize their impaired state; patient self-perception is not an adequate gauge for impairment.
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Environmental Factor, July 2011, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Extramural papers of the month
By Jerry Phelps
- Prenatal PAH exposure linked to behavioral problems in kids
- Breakfast helps to reduce childhood lead poisoning
- Endoplasmic reticulum stress in obesity
- Astrocytes and microglia display distinct sensitivities to methylmercury
Prenatal PAH exposure linked to behavioral problems in kids
Children of expectant mothers who are exposed during pregnancy to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are more likely to have behavioral problems as they grow and develop. A new study, funded by NIEHS at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, examined 215 children enrolled at birth. Children with high levels of PAH-DNA adducts, a biomarker of exposure, had more symptoms of attention problems and anxiety at ages 5 and 7 than did children with lower exposure.
PAH exposure occurs as a result of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and other organic material. These pollutants cross the placenta during pregnancy and bind to the DNA of the fetus. The researchers measured PAH-DNA adducts in white blood cells from umbilical cord blood samples taken at birth. A few years later, their mothers completed a detailed behavioral assessment of each child.
This study is the first to link behavioral effects with prenatal exposure to air pollution. The results are concerning since attention problems and anxiety may affect subsequent academic performance and social wellbeing.
Citation: Perera FP, Wang S, Vishnevetsky J, Zhang B, Cole KJ, Tang D, Rauh V, Phillips DH. (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info:doi/10.1289/ehp.1002705) 2011. PAH/Aromatic DNA Adducts in Cord Blood and Behavior Scores in New York City Children. Environ Health Perspect [Online 4 April 2011].
Breakfast helps to reduce childhood lead poisoning
A first-of-its-kind study of 1,344 children in Jintan, China reports that children who eat breakfast regularly have a blood lead content about 15 percent lower than children who do not. These results are consistent with previous studies in adults, which demonstrated that fasting increases lead absorption from the gut.
The participants took part in the China Jintan Child Cohort Study, which is funded by a grant from NIEHS to the University of Pennsylvania. Children were enrolled in the study in 2004-2005 when they were three to five years old. Their parents filled out questionnaires regarding their eating habits and foods they frequently ate.
The study compared blood lead levels to social factors, eating patterns, and intake of trace minerals and other micronutrients. There were no gender or age differences in breakfast consumption, but there was a marked decrease in blood lead concentration for children who ate breakfast regularly, which was defined as 5 days per week. The children who ate breakfast regularly had an average blood lead level of 6.1 micrograms/deciliter as compared to 7.2 micrograms/deciliter for those that ate breakfast irregularly.
Citation: Liu J, McCauley L, Compher C, Yan C, Shen X, Needleman H, Pinto-Martin JA. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21457535) 2011. Regular breakfast and blood lead levels among preschool children. Environ Health 10:28.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress in obesity
NIEHS-supported scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health report in Naturethat abnormal lipid and calcium metabolism are important contributors to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress accompanying obesity. These findings suggest that interventions that modulate lipid synthesis or calcium homeostasis might offer new opportunities for treating obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes.
The ER is the main site of a variety of cellular processes, including protein and lipid synthesis, xenobiotic metabolism, and calcium storage. Disturbances in ER homeostasis can lead to stress and the subsequent activation of the unfolded protein response. Chronic ER stress is known to be important in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes in obese individuals; however, the mechanisms responsible are not well understood.
These investigators compared the proteomic and lipidomic signatures of endoplasmic reticuli purified from the livers of obese and normal sized mice. They observed suppression of protein synthesis and stimulation of lipid synthesis in the ER from the obese mice. Alterations in the fatty acid and fat composition resulted in changes in calcium ATPase activity. They also discovered that correcting the obesity-induced changes in ER phospholipid makeup reduced chronic ER stress and improved glucose homeostasis.
Citation: Fu S, Yang L, Li P, Hofmann O, Dicker L, Hide W, Lin X, Watkins SM, Ivanov AR, Hotamisligil GS. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21532591) 2011. Aberrant lipid metabolism disrupts calcium homeostasis causing liver endoplasmic reticulum stress in obesity. Nature 473(7348):528-531.
Astrocytes and microglia display distinct sensitivities to methylmercury
In the first study to compare responses in microglia and astrocytes, the two major forms of glial cells that provide support for neurons in the central nervous system, NIEHS-supported scientists have determined that they react very differently to methylmercury exposure. These findings could be important in the identification and development of therapies to reduce methyl mercury-induced damage to the central nervous system.
Microglia and astrocytes have both been identified as primary targets for the damaging effects of methylmercury. This study was carried out in primary cell cultures of the two cell types to determine their responses to methylmercury exposure with particular attention paid to cell viability, the generation of reactive oxygen species, mercury uptake, and glutathione levels.
The experimental results show that microglia are more sensitive to methylmercury than astrocytes, and they have higher uptake of mercury and lower glutathione levels, which are important in detoxifying reactive oxygen species. Microglia exhibited greater oxidative stress responses to methylmercury exposure than did astrocytes. This study furthers our understanding of how these cell types respond to environmental insults.
Citation: Ni M, Li X, Yin Z, Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz M, Jiang H, Farina M, Rocha JB, Syversen T, Aschner M.( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21351162) 2011. Comparative study on the response of rat primary astrocytes and microglia to methylmercury toxicity. Glia 59(5):810-820.
(Jerry Phelps is a program analyst in the NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training.)
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Tunisia's Office National de Télédiffusion (ONT), the national broadcast organization, has awarded Alcatel a contract for the supply and the installation of a fully digital audio-visual transmission infrastructure. This infrastructure will be installed for the Mediterranean Games, due to take place in October 2001 in Tunisia, and will allow the connection of the regional radio stations to the national microwave network.
The Alcatel solution will allow the coding and the transport of the TV and radio FM signals from their source to the control room. The routing of the signal will be made through radio networks and optical fiber networks.
During the Games, all sporting competitions will be broadcasted from the main Tunisian stadiums (Rades, Sousse, Sfax and El Menzeh). In all, the ONT shall be able to distribute simultaneously more than 6 TV programs and 12 radio programs on the network.
Alcatel is a major supplier of Tunisia' telecoms, in particular for public switching, microwave and fiber optic transmission, and enterprise systems. In 1990, Alcatel created Alcatel Tunisie. The subsidiary, which employs a hundred engineers, focuses on data network software development in close relationship with Alcatel's corporate research and development center in Marcoussis (Paris).
Alcatel builds integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of 23 billion euros in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com )
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At the Emory Sarcoma Center, we have a multidisciplinary team of clinicians that has a specific interest and expertise in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of patients with bone, soft-tissue, and retroperitoneal sarcomas. Our team includes: surgical oncologists, orthopedic oncologists, thoracic surgeons, sarcoma medical and radiation oncologists, musculoskeletal radiologists, sarcoma pathologists, and palliative care specialists.
Our sarcoma team meets weekly at the sarcoma multidisciplinary conference to discuss cases, review treatment plans, and assess clinical trial eligibility.
The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly-experienced sarcoma team include:
- Access to clinicians and surgeons who rank among the top cancer experts in the world.
- Availability of new treatment options within our sarcoma clinical trials program.
- Access to state-of-the-art imaging and radiation technology.
- Access to a nurse navigator to assist you throughout the evaluation and treatment process.
- Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
- Access to support groups and education classes for you and your caregivers.
Additional imaging of the chest with plain x-rays or CT scan is also performed to complete staging.
If a physical examination or other test suggests a sarcoma may be present, a biopsy will be performed in order to potentially further determine the type of sarcoma present. A biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue from the tumor that is then examined by our expert sarcoma pathologists.
Key factors include tumor size, tumor location, and aggressiveness of the tumor and whether or not the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.
One or more of the following types of treatment options can be used:
Surgery: Limb-sparing, function preserving surgery, with or without radiation therapy, is the standard surgical approach for patients with sarcomas. The tumor, along with a margin of normal tissue around it, is removed in its entirety. In the past, amputation was the standard surgical approach, but with limb sparing procedures, an amputation can be often avoided. For tumors that are in the abdomen or retroperitoneum, major abdominal operations are often required. Surgery, in certain circumstances, is also used to remove tumors that have spread (metastasized) to organs such as the lung and liver with the goal of potentially improving survival.
Chemotherapy: The use of traditional cytotoxic drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells and is commonly employed in the treatment of various types of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Chemotherapy can be administered prior to surgery as part of a multimodality treatment approach in conjunction with radiation therapy or it can be administered as sole therapy in patients with advanced tumors. However, due to the rarity and diversity of sarcomas, chemotherapy should be administered by a medical oncologist with expertise and experience in the management of patients with sarcomas. Furthermore, our sarcoma medical oncologists are abreast of the novel drugs that are being identified and used as targeted therapy for certain sarcomas.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation plays a key role in the multimodality treatment of many bone and soft tissue sarcomas and is an integral component in the management of patients with soft tissue tumors of the extremity and trunk. Radiation is also routinely used in the palliative setting to improve quality of life. Our radiation oncologists use cutting edge techniques that minimize the toxicity of radiation to the surrounding normal tissue. Learn more about radiation therapy treatments and services.
In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.
Your Treatment Team
- Dr. Cardona is a board certified surgeon and surgical oncologist who specializes in the management of complex gastrointestinal malignancies (such as stomach, pancreas, and liver cancers) and is an expert in the treatment of sarcomas.
- Co-Chair Gastrointestinal Oncology Working Group, Emory University Hospital Midtown
- (404) 686-3203
- As Co-Chair of the melanoma team at Winship, Dr. Delman leads the multidisciplinary care of nearly half of all patients diagnosed with melanoma in the state of Georgia each year.
- Co-Chair, Melanoma Working Group, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
- (404) 778-3303
- As a member of both the Gastrointestinal Oncology working group and the Sarcoma working group, Dr. Hawk sees patients with either gastrointestinal or connective tissue malignancies.
- Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine
- (404) 778-1900
- Dr. Maithel is a board certified surgeon and surgical oncologist with special interest in sarcoma and malignancies of the liver, bile ducts, pancreas, stomach, colon, and small intestine.
- Associate Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
- (404) 778-0210
- Dr. Oskouei is an expert in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumors, performing hundreds of total hip and total knee replacements annually and leading in the use of stem cells to treat arthritis of the hip and knee.
- Director, Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program, Emory University School of Medicine
- (404) 778-7777
- Dr. Read is a medical oncologist who cares for patients with gynecologic malignancies, brain tumors, sarcomas of soft tissue and bone and complicated skin cancers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.
- Associate Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine
- (404) 778-1900
- Dr. Russell's treats melanoma and metastatic melanoma, tumors of the liver, biliary tract, pancreas, spleen and gallbladder, metastatic tumors to the liver, tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, and neuroendocrine tumors.
- Assistant Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine
- (404) 686-3203
- Dr. Staley leads the surgical oncology team and as Chief Quality Officer works collaboratively with leadership on tracking and improving patient services and satisfaction as well as focusing on cancer outcomes at Winship.
- Chief Quality Officer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
- (404) 778-0210
- A pioneer in sarcoma pathology, Dr. Weiss was the first to characterize multiple soft tissue pathologic entities. She is a board certified pathologist who specializes in the diagnosis of bone and soft tissue neoplasms.
- Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
- (404) 712-5867
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Guest Author - Sharon Schmidt
I came across an interesting story while researching on the internet. Scientists from the University of Georgia and the USDA Agricultural Research Service are training wasps to detect odors like concealed explosives, drugs, and human remains. They claim if given sugary water, wasps can be trained in minutes to follow any smell. Scientists claim wasps can be trained to detect odors from drugs to human remains to fungi on crops. The hope is that one day they can be trained to detect deadly diseases like cancer.
Scientists from the University of Georgia created a device they call the Wasp Hound. It is made of a small tube that contains five wasps that can be trained to detect any odor within minutes. Scientists are now investigating whether other insects can be trained to be odor detectors as well. They plan to test other insects like mosquitoes, honey bees, and moths. Scientists believe one day the Wasp Hound will be able to be used by farmers to detect diseases in crops, by doctors to diagnose and monitor disease, and by airport security to detect explosives.
The advantage of wasps over dogs and electronic sensors is they are cheaper and disposable, can be produced by the thousands, and can be trained in a matter of minutes. It costs pennies to train wasps. If fed sugar water while introduced to a target smell for ten seconds; given a thirty minute break and then repeat the process twice more, they are completely trained to track the scent.
I found it quite interesting that an insect that can have you running for cover in an effort to avoid being stung can one day possibly save a life or many lives. I also wonder how many people would buy into having wasps and insects at airports and how police officers would feel carrying wasps and insects around in their police cars instead of their K9 companions.
Then there is the downside of those who are allergic to wasp stings. How will airport security and police officers be able to control those situations? While all this is still in the research stage, I find it extremely fascinating. I do think it could be a great resource for doctors to use to detect cancer and other diseases in patients early enough to save lives.
So while I find this research very interesting and believe one day it could prove to be of great value, I still think our canine friends have nothing to worry about when it comes to job security.
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A. Thomas McLellan of the Perelman School of Medicine is featured about his views on the “war on drugs.”
Perelman School of Medicine
Michael Cirigliano of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on digesting too much vitamin A.
Joseph Sobanko of the Perelman School of Medicine discusses why higher SPFs are not more effective than others.
PHILADELPHIA – A team of social scientists and medical and nursing researchers in the United States and the United Kingdom has pinpointed how a program, which ran in more than 100 hospital intensive care units in Michigan, dramatically reduced the rates of potentially deadly central line bloodstream infections to become one of the world’s most successful patient-safety programs.
PHILADELPHIA -- A University of Pennsylvania study will determine if public transit can convey more than people going from point A to point B. Video displays on public buses in Los Angeles will be used to help determine the efficacy of an innovative soap opera-like video program designed to increase HIV testing among low-income African Americans 14 to 24 years of age.
Abraham Shaked of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the Barker Transplant House.
Karin Rhodes of the Perelman School of Medicine leads a study about publicly insured children and their access to medical assistance.
A high level of a hormone that regulates phosphate is associated with an increased risk of kidney failure and death among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, according to a recent study led by researchers at the University of Miami and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Results were published in the June 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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10 Secrets to Punch Up Your PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint is practically synonymous with presentations. The application has all the tools you need to make a professional-looking slideshow that pops with audio, video, and custom animations. However, some features for designing a slick presentation are hidden deep beneath PowerPoint’s interface.
For example, what if you want to animate a chart, hide an image on a slide until you're ready to drive a point home, or broadcast a presentation to remote clients? Read on to learn some of PowerPoint’s best-kept secrets.
1. Display a Chart, One Step at a Time
As you're giving a presentation, you may prefer to reveal a chart on a slide by displaying it one column at a time, instead of showing it all at once. You can arrange this in PowerPoint by using its chart animation options.
To begin, select the chart and click the Animations tab on the Ribbon toolbar. Click Animation Pane to open the pane along the right side of the screen. From there, click the Add Animation button on the Ribbon and select an Entrance animation effect, such as Fade.
In the Animation Pane, right-click the entry that appeared when you added the effect. Choose Effect Options and then click the Chart Animation tab. By default, the 'Group chart' option will be set to 'Show As One Object' so that the chart will appear all at once. To reveal the chart one series at a time, choose By Series, and each series will display one by one, with a delay in between. If you choose By Category, the chart will display one category at a time.
Check the Start Animation by Drawing the Chart Background checkbox, and then click the Timing tab. To make the chart animation begin automatically after the slide appears on the screen, set the Start option to After Previous.
Select the animation speed by choosing an option from the Duration list. Click OK, and then preview the animation by clicking the Play button at the top of the Animation Pane.
2. Hide an Image Until Your Great Reveal
Imagine that you want to keep a picture hidden on a slide and reveal it only when you are ready to do so. You can accomplish this by linking the image to a shape and setting up the image so that it appears when you click the shape.
First add a picture to a slide, and then insert the shape you will click to reveal the image. To do this, choose Insert, Shapes. Select a shape, such as Oval, and draw the shape on the slide. Right-click the shape, choose Edit Text, and type something like Click Me! on the shape.
Select the picture and choose Animations, Add Animation. Pick an Entrance animation, such as Zoom. Display the Animation Pane if it is not visible by clicking Animation Pane on the Ribbon toolbar. Then, right-click the entry in the Animation Pane and choose Timing. Click the Triggers button, click to select Start Effect on click of:, and set the option in the drop-down menu to the name of the shape that you created. Click OK.
To preview the effect, choose the Slide Show tab on the Ribbon and click From Current Slide. When the slide appears, the picture will be invisible. Only when you click the shape will the picture appear.
[Related: PowerPoint Nightmares--and How to Avoid Them]
3. Style a Presentation With the Slide Master
You may be familiar with using styles in Microsoft Word and Publisher to apply consistent formatting to text in a document. Although PowerPoint does not have styles, as such, its Slide Master performs a similar job: By making changes to the Slide Master, you can change the text formatting on each slide.
To see the Slide Master, choose View, Slide Master on the Ribbon toolbar. A panel will open along the left side of the screen, showing the Slide Master at the top and the available slide layouts below.
To set up the text the way you want it to look, select the appropriate item to change in the Slide Master. For example, to change the formatting of the titles, select the title text and adjust it as desired. You can change any or all of the text styles here.
When you’re done, click the Slide Master tab and choose Close Master View to return to editing the presentation. All the slides in the presentation will automatically reflect the changes that you’ve made, and the Slide Master formatting will apply to all new slides.
4. Preview Your Presentation With Reading View
New to PowerPoint 2010 is the Reading View. This convenient feature allows you to preview and test your presentation inside the current PowerPoint window, without its consuming the entire screen and the taskbar. To try the feature, choose View, Reading View. The editing view will disappear, replaced by your slideshow beginning at the first slide.
You can progress through the presentation to see how it looks. When you reach the end, press the Right Arrow key to exit. You can also return to PowerPoint's editing view at any time by pressing the Esc key.
5. Set Up an Autoplaying Presentation
PowerPoint is a great tool for creating slideshows that you can automate to play at a trade show or in a booth at your business. To do so, you must set up the slideshow to play "kiosk" style so that it will progress and loop continually until you stop it.
To configure a kiosk presentation, click the Slide Show tab on the Ribbon toolbar and choose Set Up Slide Show. Among the 'Show type' options, choose Browsed at a kiosk (full screen). Set the 'Advance slides' option to Using timings, if present. Click OK.
Next, click the Transitions tab. In the 'Advance slide' options, choose After, and set a timing (such as 00:05:00 to display the slides for 5 seconds each). Click Apply to All so that this transition affects all the slides in the presentation. Now, when you play the presentation, it will run automatically, displaying each slide for 5 seconds, and looping when it is complete. To end the looping playback, press Esc.
6. Reuse Slides From Another Presentation
When designing a slideshow, you may need to re-create a slide that you've already made for an earlier presentation, such as a slide that details the key people in your business, or displays company contact information. To reuse this content, import the existing slides into the current presentation.
First, click the Home tab on the Ribbon toolbar and choose New Slide, Reuse Slides. Click Browse, Browse File and select the PowerPoint presentation that contains the slides you wish to reuse. The presentation opens, with a list of its slides in the right-hand slide panel. Hold your mouse over a slide to preview a larger version.
Click the slide to add it to your new presentation; PowerPoint will format it to match your new presentation's style. If you prefer to use the formatting from the original presentation instead, select the Keep source formatting checkbox at the foot of the Reuse Slides panel before clicking to insert a slide.
[Related: The World's Worst PowerPoint Presentations]
7. Create an Instant Photo Album
PowerPoint is ideal for creating photo albums for a catalog, or for displaying images for a product launch. To create an album-style presentation, you have to start by configuring the photo album; once that's done, you then build the remainder of the presentation around it. This order is required, as the Photo Album feature creates a brand-new presentation for the images.
Choose the Insert tab on the Ribbon toolbar and click Photo Album. When the dialog box opens, click the File/Disk button, select the images to use in the photo album, and click Insert. To specify how to arrange the images on the slide, choose an option from the 'Picture layout' list; the preview shows how the slide will look with the selected option. The setting you pick will apply to all the slides in the album.
You can configure other options, too, such as 'Frame shape'. When you’re done, click Create, and PowerPoint will create a new presentation with the images inserted and arranged. You can now edit individual slides, and move and size the images on the slides if necessary. You can also add more slides to complete the presentation.
8. Make a One-Click Link to a Website
You can create a website link in a presentation that, when clicked, will open a browser to display the site.
Select the Insert tab on the Ribbon toolbar, and click Shapes. Draw a shape on the slide--any shape you want. Right-click the shape, choose Edit Text, and type something that describes the site to which you're linking. With the shape still selected, click Insert, Action, and click the Mouse Click tab. Then click Hyperlink to:, and in the drop-down list choose URL. In the 'Hyperlink To URL' dialog box that appears, type the full Web address; click OK.
Provided that you are connected to the Internet at presentation time, you can click the shape to launch your system's default browser and view that website.
9. Play Music Across Your Slideshow
Since the early days of PowerPoint, configuring a music track to play across a series of slides has been difficult. PowerPoint 2010 is no different, since it hides this setting in a place where you may not think to look.
To play music across your slides, first click the slide where you wish the music to begin. Choose the Insert tab on the Ribbon toolbar, click Audio, and select the music track to play. Next, select the link for the music track on the slide, and click the Audio Tools, Playback tab. In the 'Start' drop-down list of options, choose Play across slide. The music will now play during your presentation, until it ends.
10. Broadcast a Presentation Across the Web
If you're hosting a remote meeting, PowerPoint 2010 lets you broadcast a slideshow on the Web. In your completed .pptx document, choose File, Save & Send, select Broadcast Slide Show, and click the Broadcast Slide Show button. When the Broadcast Slide Show dialog box appears, click Start Broadcast and then sign in using your Windows Live ID. You will receive a link to the presentation, which you can click to send via email or copy and paste into, say, an instant message to invite people to view the presentation.
When you are sure that your attendees are online, click Start Slideshow to begin playing. The presentation will broadcast so that the participants can view the slides as you navigate. The broadcast will not include sound, however, unless you use a separate audio-conferencing service. When you’re done, click the End Broadcast button to automatically disconnect participants and finish the presentation.
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This post is part of the Global Mom Relay. Every time you share this blog, $5 will go to women and girls around the world. Go here to find out more.
Not too long ago, my daughter asked me to talk to her Model UN class. Call me a geek, but I love it that my kids learn about things like the Millennium Development Goals.
When I was in school, the two biggest continents in the world rarely registered in the curriculum. My children know so much more than I knew, and I am sure they will do amazing things with the knowledge they’re gaining now.
When I visited class, I asked the girls to imagine their future. Fun times with friends. Choosing a college. Maybe travelling. Deciding on a career. Building a family.
Then I told them that if they lived in Niger, a West African country I visited last year, they’d be preparing to get married in the immediate future.
In Niger, 75 percent of girls marry before they turn 18. Niger is small and has the highest rate of child marriage in the world, but there are large countries (including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, and Tanzania, with a total of 1.5 billion people) where more than 40 percent of girls become brides.
My daughter and her classmates calculated the odds and realized that by random chance they were more likely to be a child bride in India than a high school graduate in the United States. When they figured this out they were eager to have a conversation about how to help less fortunate girls around the world.
That’s why I’m excited to be supporting GirlUp for my leg of the Global Mom Relay, and I’m also enthusiastic about the other campaigns that are part of the Relay, including Shot@Life, Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action and Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. I’ve also included GirlUp on my Catapult page, a new crowdfunding site that helps fund projects that are improving the lives of women and girls around the world.
GirlUp helps hundreds of thousands of girls in the United States build leadership skills by engaging them in important issues affecting their counterparts in poor countries around the world, issues like child marriage. The result of these campaigns is better, richer lives for girls everywhere through the nurturing of a common bond – the desire to determine their own future.
The bond I feel with the mothers I meet when I travel is what motivates me to do the work I do. I like to tell the story of the mother I met who said she uses contraceptives because she wants to “bring every good thing” to one child before she has another. We all want to bring every good thing to our children.
My daughter and her friends want to have the power to choose a rewarding future for themselves. Girls in countries like Niger want the same thing. The only thing that’s different is their ability to get what they want.
We can honor our common humanity while minimizing the tragic differences between us by bringing girls together to seek empowerment as one.
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In this context Yours means your letter, i.e., the letter you sent.
to hand means: within reach, accessible, at hand.
at hand means: within easy reach; near; close by
So the meaning would be:
- "I have received your letter and in reply to it..." ; or
- "I have your letter right here beside me (to hand, at hand), and in reply. . ."; or
- "I have your letter in hand, and I'm replying."
If you have information about the origins of the phrase, please share them as comments. Thanks.
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Definitions for untuck
This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word untuck
To remove something from a relatively hidden location or position.
to unfold or undo, as a tuck; to release from a tuck or fold
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
un-tuk′, v.t. to undo, as a tuck: to loose from a tuck.
The numerical value of untuck in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
The numerical value of untuck in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9
Find a translation for the untuck definition in other languages:
Select another language:
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The American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.familydoctor.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.healthychildren.org/
Caring for Kids http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/
Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index%5Fe.html/
Blondell RD, Foster MB, Kamlesh CD. Disorders of puberty.
American Family Physician website. Available at:
. Accessed August 15, 2012.
Cesario SK, Hughes LA. Precocious puberty: a comprehensive review of literature.
J Ob Gyn Neonatal Nurs.
DynaMed Editorial Team. Precocious puberty. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
. Updated March 15, 2012. Accessed August 15, 2012.
Himes JH, Obarzanek E, Baranowski T, et al. Early sexual maturation, body composition, and obesity in African-American girls.
Ibanez L, Valls C, Ong K, et al. Metformin therapy during puberty delays menarche, prolongs pubertal growth, and augments adult height: a randomized study in low birth weight girls with early-normal onset of puberty.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
Papathanasiou A, Hadjiathanasiou C. Precocious puberty.
Ped Endocr Rev
Wang Y. Is obesity associated with early sexual maturation? A comparison of the association in American boys versus girls.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing
All rights reserved.
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Oakland's Syria Mosque is only a phone call away
By Deb Smit, Pop City, March 30, 2011
One of Oakland's beloved landmarks, home of the Shriners and a venue for some of the country's greatest artists, is being quietly resurrected by smartphone technology.
As part of an independent study in historic preservation and recreation, Sam Lavery, a Carnegie Mellon student, is bringing the Syria Mosque back to life. Smartphone users walking the street and parking lot along Bigelow Boulevard and Lytton Avenue, where the Syria Mosque once stood, may scan the QR codes found on street poles and signs and find a digital trove of memorabilia--vintage photos, live concert clips, posters, ticket stubs and more.
It's the quintessential paved over paradise and put up a parking lot, but it will not be forgotten, says Lavery, who never actually experienced the Mosque himself, but has heard stories from his mother who worked as an usher there in the 1970s.
Lavery's project is a case study on significant structures in Pittsburgh that have been destroyed yet have left a lasting impression. The location of the images are matched to the points where the codes are placed, he says.
"I'm intentionally focused on attracting the attention of young people who never saw the building. They wouldn't know the parking lot they are passing was once home to an eclectic piece of architecture and a spectacular center of culture."
The lavish auditorium, home to the Pittsburgh Symphony, was a spotlight for Buddy Holly, Nat King Cole, Vladmir Horowitz, The Who, The Ramones and Bruce Springsteen. Lavery hopes to populate the site with more material and audio clips; He would love to hear from anyone interested in sharing recordings or souvenirs.
Next up? Possibly the Three Rivers Stadium or the Homestead Steel Works.
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The Aborigine's view of the world suggests that all things are interconnected. Every relationship in turn influences every other relationship. Along these same lines, this book reveals how the modern-day business world organizes this unlimited range of possibilities and how readers can reorganize and redirect business plans merely by shifting marketing beliefs.
Back to top
Rent Digital Aboriginal 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Mikela Tarlow. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Grand Central Publishing.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our tutors now.
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About how long ago did the solving of crimes became a science? Also, who and what were the major influences in forensic science history?Related Information on The All About Forensic Science WebsiteHistory of Forensic Science
Click here to read or post comments
Return to Forensic Q & A.
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Over the past 100 years, equity buyers have managed to generate real capital development of about 7 percent yearly. Amazon is without doubt one of the so-referred to as “FANG” group of essentially the most influential tech stocks, along with Fb, Netflix and Google, hence the broad impression of its setback, which hit Asian shares as properly knocking the U.S. tech sector off latest highs. Though the European market as a whole might be fairly valued, stock-choosing is vital for us as is the case with all of the analysts at Morningstar, but in an environment where you see plenty of fairly valued, maybe even overvalued shares, we nonetheless have a number of fascinating concepts in this area.
After the warfare was over, monetary markets had to take care of the dislocations created by the struggle: inflation, increased government debt, reparation payments, the Russian Revolution, the creation of new nations, England’s failed try to return to the Gold Customary, the inventory market crash of 1929, the Nice Depression, debt defaults, competitive devaluations, the focus of gold in France and the United States and a hundred different monetary repercussions that resulted from World Battle I.
The first is right on. Abe’s win means Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda is certain to get a second time period in April and stay an enormous purchaser of government bonds and stocks viz change-traded funds. That is a far cry from 2007 when the value of financial-asset investments represented 426% of world GDP, with 114 share factors of that in stocks.
“While earnings are good, inflation and bond yields are relatively low, why would you take your money out of stocks?” mentioned Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. These were the first fashionable joint inventory companies This allowed the companies to demand more for his or her shares and build larger fleets. To obtain the free app Barron’s – International Inventory Markets & Financial News by Dow Jones & Company, Inc., publisher of The Wall Avenue Journal., get iTunes now.
It is below an hour to go earlier than US markets open and one would count on US indices to follow their European friends firmly into the red this afternoon. Paul Flood, fund supervisor at Newton Investment Management, mentioned: ‘Whereas inventory valuations are a cause for concern, they are being supported by ultra-low interest rates and a secure economic backdrop.
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Explore Careers - Job Market Report
Executive assistants co-ordinate administrative procedures, public relations activities and research and analysis functions for members of legislative assemblies, ministers, deputy ministers, corporate officials and executives, committees and boards of directors. They are employed by governments, corporations and associations.
- Establish and co-ordinate administrative policies and procedures for officials, committees and boards of directors
- Analyze incoming and outgoing memoranda, submissions and reports and prepare and co-ordinate the preparation and submission of summary briefs and reports to executives, committees and boards of directors
- Prepare agendas and make arrangements for committee, board and other meetings
- Conduct research, compile data, and prepare papers for consideration and presentation by executives, committees and boards of directors
- Meet with individuals, special interest groups and others on behalf of executives, committees and boards of directors to discuss issues and assess and recommend various courses of action
- Liaise with departmental and corporate officials and with other organizations and associations on behalf of executives, committees and boards of directors.
Outlook & Prospects for Executive Assistants in Stratford--Bruce Peninsula Region
The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.
Local Employment Potential Information
|Location||Employment Potential||Release Date|
|Stratford--Bruce Peninsula Region||N/A||N/A|
- Date Modified:
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I'd highly suggest going through an actual java basic text book first. Theres a ton of good books aimed for enrolling college freshman assumed to not have any programming background. Most video game programming books assume that you've gotten at least 1 semester of java, if you skip out here its going to slow you down in the long run.Java specific programming booksStarting out with Java alternative http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Java-Alternate-Tony-Gaddis/dp/1576761371
Typical compsci 101 text book, I really liked the homework programming challenges, generally when I read a programming textbook after awhile I'm pretty much just copy pasting the examples and not really learning how to use em. (This book is dirt cheap since its outta print)Thinking in Java 3rd edition
This book is free off the writers website due to it being a past edition. You can get the new one for ~35$ off amazon if you think its worth it. Heard good things about it.Core Java Volume I 8th edition
I bought this book. They advertise it for beginners but really I'd rank it more beginner/intermediate. Of all of 'beginner' text books I've looked it, this one had the best 'usable real-life' code. Theres a new edition on the way according to amazon. More game programming booksProgramming Video Games For the Evil Genius
Book was pretty meh despite its high ratings on amazon. Its great for kids who just wanna take (mostly) working code and just punch it into their IDE. Writer doesn't explain much of anything that he's doing other then a handful of comments. The book does make 10+ java games that are on-par or larger then most the online tutorials. Killer Game Programming in Java
Seems to be the java game programming goto book right now for beginner/intermediate. I just ordered a copy of it last week so can't tell you much about it. (Book assumes you equivalent to one semester of java programming) Beginning Java Game Programming
Another intro to programming through java book. I liked the idea of what the writer did, just was poorly executed I thought. He pretty much walks you through from scratch to completion of a sub-commercial quality indie game.Game Coding Complete
NOT JAVA. And definitely aimed at intermediates. However I felt this book was worthy of note, tons of info across a wide variety of topics. Written by Mike McShaffry, a guy who has pretty much held every role in the industry at one point or another.
And lastly, some tutorials I have stashed away in my bookmarks. (Sorry, small list. Lost the old ones!)http://zetcode.com/tutorials/javagamestutorial/http://www.cokeandcode.com/tutorials
Netbeans and eclipse are pretty much the goto IDE's for java. Personally, I love eclipse.
**Edit for typos
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Major rival parties in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh are literally waging a 'war of words' by coining meanings to alphabets to highlight issues of corruption scam allegedly linked to each other.
Experts feel that this is not a good thing as it may send a wrong message among children when they listen to such attribution of meanings to alphabets.
The ruling BJP in the state has coined terms like 'A for Adarsh scam, B for Bofors scam, C for CWG scam, D for Damad Ka Scam, E-Enron Scam' and so on in an alphabetical order till Z, as highlighted by party leaders during their poll rallies, against the Congress.
Not to be left behind, the Congress hit back at the BJP by formulating a similar order in Devnagiri (script) language's "Barahkhadi", of scams which allegedly took place during the BJP's governance, specially in MP.
State Congress unit issued a press note last month highlighting scams in 'Barahkhadi' (of Hindi) order – "A-Apex Bank Ghotala (scam) AA-Aditya Construction Company Ghotala, E-Indore Vikas Pradhikaran Ghotala, EE-E-tendering Ghotala, U-Udyogon ka nakli sapna, Uu-Urja kharid Ghotala, A-Arrears Ghotala, Ai-Essar coal Block Ghotala, O-Ola-pala muawja Ghotala, Ou-Aurton par Atyachar...and so on."
However, experts feel politicians should not coin such words.
"In politics, rivals use various ways to down each other by phrasing things in such a manner, but politicians should also think about its wider impact on the society," Dr Gyanendra Gautam, head of sociology department in Barkatullah University here, said.
"In terms of political socialisation, when children listen to such things they start believing two things about politics, first, that it is a bad thing and secondly, it is a mechanism to mint money...which is not good for the society as such," Gautam said.
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Construction of New Research Building Underway
June 23, 2009
The University of Rochester Medical Center has begun construction on the Clinical and Translational Science Building (CTSB), a $76.4 million project that will serve as the hub of resources, expertise, and networks necessary to accelerate the clinical application of biomedical research. The project has received $50 million in support from New York State.
“The Clinical and Translational Science Building represents the kind of public investment in research that can advance medicine and strengthen local economic growth,” said Joel Seligman, president of the University of Rochester. “Governor David Paterson, New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and the local Rochester Assembly delegation are to be commended for their commitment to make this vision into a reality.”
“The CTSB represents one of the cornerstones of the Medical Center’s future plans,” said Mark Taubman, M.D., acting CEO of the Medical Center. “This facility will make the Medical Center a more efficient and effective clinical science enterprise and a stronger competitor for government and private research dollars.”
The facility, which will be the first of its kind in the nation, will serve as a home for the University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute. The Institute was created in the wake of a $40 million grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2006. The Rochester grant – which is the largest NIH award in the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s (SMD) history – was one of the first announced by the agency under a national initiative to re-engineer clinical research.
“The CTSB represents the culmination of a decades long effort to create an integrated academic home for clinical research at the University of Rochester,” said David Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the SMD and principal investigator of the NIH grant. “This facility will create an environment that will effectively catalyze the translation of basic science discoveries into clinically useful knowledge and treatments to improve health and health care.”
Once completed, the CTSB will be occupied by 600 scientists, physicians, nurses, statisticians, research administrators, and support staff. The facility will bring together under one roof several important resources that help researchers design clinical trials, recruit participants, collect and evaluate data, and collaborate with industry and other partners. It will contain training and education programs and clinical and translational research initiatives for neurological disorders, cancer, pediatrics, health promotion with the Deaf community, and cardiovascular disease. The building will also serve as coordinating center for the Upstate New York Translational Research Network – a consortium of 13 biomedical research institutions in a geographic region stretching from Albany to Buffalo.
“Clinical research is a fundamentally multi-disciplinary undertaking requiring close coordination and collaboration among researchers and support staff,” said Thomas A. Pearson, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., director of the CTSI. “Bringing these resources together into a facility will help accelerate biomedical innovation and the CTSB will have several novel architectural features that will encourage interaction among investigators and foster team-building.”
The 200,000 square foot, four story building is being constructed adjacent to Helen Wood Hall and the two buildings will share a common lobby. Last month the site was cleared and fenced and initially utility relocation has commenced. Excavation for the foundation will commence later in the summer and the building’s superstructure will start to rise in the fall. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2011.
LeChase Construction of Rochester is the construction manager for the CTSB which was designed by Philadelphia-based architects Francis Cauffman along with Rochester’s Bergmann Associates and BR&A Engineers from Boston. Donald Blair & Partners Architects provided preliminary space programming and site planning, along with Mark Chen Architect who has served as a consultant for the Medical Center.
The building incorporates several design features that will increase energy efficiency and the Medical Center intends to seek a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which will make CTSB the first LEED-certified building on the University of Rochester campus.
According to the Center for Governmental Research, the project will create 830 construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs both at the Medical Center and in the community with a total annual economic impact of $30 million.
# # #
“Projects like the University of Rochester’s Clinical and Translational Science Building play a key role in moving New York State forward in the New Economy, distinguishing Rochester as a national leader in translational research and leveraging millions of dollars in private investment. Life science innovation is at the core of my New Economy plan, and I’m proud that our investment in this initiative supports the creation of more than a thousand jobs.”
-- Governor David Paterson
“This groundbreaking for the Clinical and Translational Science Institute will continue the University of Rochester’s legacy of innovations that ease human suffering. It’s also a giant step toward making this region a world center for biomedical research. As we struggle through this global financial crisis and its profound impact on our state economy, we will need to make difficult choices. But we will remain committed to making the important and strategic investments that will transform and revitalize the Upstate economy.”
-- The Honorable Sheldon Silver, Speaker, New York State Assembly
“I am proud to support the Clinical and Translational Science Building because its benefits will transcend to everyone in our community through fostering a streamlined process for finding cures and treatments for disease, allowing the University to develop new ways to reach underserved populations.”
-- The Honorable David Gantt, New York State Assembly
“I applaud President Seligman, Speaker Silver and my colleagues in the Assembly majority for their leadership on this project. The CTSI will significantly advance medical research by bringing cutting –edge medical care to the region’s residents, and will serve as a vehicle for economic growth by transforming the region into a powerhouse in the development and evaluation of new medical technologies. According to the Center for Governmental Research, the immediate and catalytic impact of the CTSI will be nearly $30 million annually. The direct and spillover impact of this project will total $43 million in labor income and result in the creation of approximately 600 jobs. Additionally, the Institute will enable the University to aggressively expand the number of clinical and translational investigators over the next 5 to 10 years, which could yield an additional $25 million in research revenue per year.”
-- The Honorable Susan John, New York State Assembly
“The beginning of construction of the University of Rochester's Clinical and Translational Science Building is yet another milestone in the history of this community's contributions to the advancement of science and health. Through the work that will be done here, we will gain a greater understanding of a wide range of illnesses and enhance our capabilities with regard to early diagnosis, treatments and cures. I am honored to have played a role in making this extraordinary facility a reality.”
-- The Honorable Joseph Morelle, New York State Assembly
“I am encouraged that the construction of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute building is moving forward. The creation of this institute will further propel the University of Rochester's already outstanding reputation as an international leader in research, medical practice and education. As a community, we are fortunate to have this facility call Rochester home.”
-- The Honorable David Koon, New York State Assembly
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Another Frost poem for you.
There are Roughly Zones
We sit indoors and talk of the cold outside.
And every gust that gathers strength and heaves
Is a threat to the house. But the house has long been tried.
We think of the tree. If it never again has leaves,
We’ll know, we say, that this was the night it died.
It is very far north, we admit, to have brought the peach.
What comes over a man, is it soul or mind—
That to no limits and bounds he can stay confined?
You would say his ambition was to extend the reach
Clear to the Arctic of every living kind.
Why is his nature forever so hard to teach
That though there is no fixed line between wrong and right,
There are roughly zones whose laws must be obeyed?
There is nothing much we can do for the tree tonight,
But we can’t help feeling more than a little betrayed
That the northwest wind should rise to such a height
Just when the cold went down so many below.
The tree has no leaves and may never have them again.
We must wait till some months hence in the spring to know.
But if it is destined never again to grow,
It can blame this limitless trait in the hearts of men.
— Robert Frost
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By Renay Daigle, Principal
I was 15 when I was sure I wanted to go into advertising. I simply was the only person I knew who shushed other people when commercials came on – and not just during the Super Bowl, although that was one of my favorite times to watch them.
Let’s just say many years later – after earning an advertising degree, working for several advertising agencies and eventually owning my own firm – that hasn’t changed. I’m still just as enchanted by commercials. What has changed dramatically since I was a teenager is the cost of Super Bowl ads, increasing nearly 10-fold to a lofty $5 million for a 30-second spot.
With that much money on the line – and the vast viewing audience that’s busy eating, drinking and two-screening it – advertisers had better find a way to stand out from the clutter. But here’s where I want to make my main point about Super Bowl commercials that most people forget – it has to be about more than just standing out.
Every commercial, whether 60, 30 or 15 seconds, should tell a story and ideally meet the following criteria:
- Connecting with its targeted audience – in both messaging and tone
- Providing information quickly and succinctly – usually a spot should stick to one or two main messages
- Being memorable – not only in terms of how funny or quirky it was, but in terms of the product or brand. After all, if you remember the commercial but not the product it promotes, what’s the point?
- Calling the viewer to action – today with hash tags and websites, it’s easier than ever
Esurance was extra smart, buying pre- and post-game ads for less money. Then, not only were their commercials entertaining, but they met all the criteria, actually featuring people who are in their targeted demographic (from men mowing their lawns, to kale-sipping business people). They also had a clear, simple message about passing savings on to their customers. They even used a football made of dollar bills to tie into the Super Bowl and drive the point home. And, to make sure people remembered their brand and took action, they set up a hash tag and money-giveaway to get people tweeting about them. According to Ad Week, right after they aired they were getting an average of 9,000 tweets per minute. The real test will be in sales, but they made sure they squeezed every dollar out of their Super Bowl ad buy.
TMobile killed it this year with two celebrity spots that were both strong and entertaining with recent pop culture references. In the Steve Harvey commercial, they not only spoofed Verizon’s “balls” spot, but they had Steve Harvey laugh at his own Miss Universe mistake while commenting on Verizon’s. They made sure it was branded appropriately with pink balls and the “un-carrier.” The Drake commercial was equally amusing and on target.
Jeep had two winning commercials. The “portraits” spot stood out and was memorable with great messaging not only about how enduring the brand is, but also how it serves such diverse targeted markets. It was particularly well designed for smart phones. The Jeep 4×4 spot, also showed longevity and diverse markets but with an upbeat original song. The tagline is particularly powerful. “We don’t make Jeep. You do.” Well done on all fronts.
There were a lot more noteworthy spots during Super Bowl 50, with the Mexican Avocados, the Doritos “ultrasound” spot and the Hyundai “Ryanville” spot standing out. I also applaud the NFL for continuing to get behind an end to domestic violence with its “no more” PSA.
I will save the spots I think did not work for another blog. Let’s just say that while meeting the memorability and messaging criteria I mentioned above, I don’t think #puppymonkeybaby will make even their targeted audience run out to buy Mountain Dew.
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We all have those days where we have work to do, reviews to write, deadlines to make, homework to do …
The problem? We can’t get anything done!
We keep procrastinating and putting everything off, which only makes things worse because now you have even more things to do the next day and it’s all chaos and panic and self-destruction from there on out.
Do you want to stay happy and not be reduced to a puddle of stress?
No worries. I’ve got you covered. Here are my top ten tips for beating procrastination.
1. Make a To-Do List
This is so simple it’s almost ridiculous. Do you feel like you’ve got a million and one things to do? Do you think you’ll forget to do about a 107 of those things?
Well, there’s an easy solution: make a to-do list.
It’s a surefire way to remember everything you’re supposed to do. It also helps beat procristantion because there’s nothing more satisfying than being able to scratch off an item on your list.
There are several ways you can make a to-do list. You can use a pen and a piece of paper and simply write down everything you want or need to do that day.
Or, you can be a bit fancier and use pretty stationary (such as a bullet journal!) or an app. Since I’m too much of a perfectionist to keep a bullet journal (not to mention there’s not an artistic bone in my body) I usually opt for pen and paper or an app / tool.
Apps and tools I recommend: Todoist, Trello, and good old Google Calendar. I advise you to make different categories for each task. For example, I use Google Calendar and have categories such as Blogging, Writing, Work, Free Time, and a few others. Here’s a screenshot
2. Do the Easy Stuff First
This might seem counterintuitive, but I promise it works. If you have an essay or a book review to write but also have emails to answer, do the email first. Go for the tasks that are quick and easy first and build some momentum. Before you know it, you can scratch off several items on your to-do list and you can start on the harder stuff.
3. Break the Hard Tasks up into Tiny Parts
Speaking of, how to handle say “Learn French” or “Write 5 reviews and 2 blog posts” ? Obviously, these are tasks that will take a lot of time and effort or are simply too big and overwhelming to handle. To make sure you don’t bail out, try breaking up the big, scary tasks into small ones. Take babysteps.
Don’t say, “I want to learn French”. Instead, say, “I want to learn twenty new words today.” Don’t say “I need to write 5 review.” Instead, say, “I’m going to write one review.” (Tip: start with the one you’re most excited about! That’ll get the ball rolling)
4. Use the Pomodoro Technique
There are some days you just know you’re going to have to work or study all day to get things done and you’ll hardly have any free time. This might stop you from even doing one thing on your list, so you need a different approach.
Don’t think: “Oh, I’m going to be stuck at this desk the whole day and it’s going to suck.”
Think: “I’m going to work for 25 minutes and then I’ll take a break.”
This is the Pomodoro Technique. If 25 minutes is too challenging, start with 15. I’m telling you, this is a great time management technique. You know why? Because it tricks you into starting and chances are that once you’ve started, you won’t need a break every 15 or 25 minutes. You’ll be in the groove and getting A LOT work done.
5. Stay Away from the Internet
This doesn’t need any explanation. We all check Facebook or Instagram or Goodreads or watch cat videos. Basically, the internet is one giant distraction and it’s getting in your way of getting things done.
The solution? Turn off the internet and leave your phone on the other side of the room.
Pro Tip: Use StayFocusd. “StayFocusd is a productivity extension for Google Chrome that helps you stay focused on work by restricting the amount of time you can spend on time-wasting websites. Once your allotted time has been used up, the sites you have blocked will be inaccessible for the rest of the day.” It’s kind of evil but also genius.
6. Set a Goal and Tell Someone About It
This works great for me because I HATE FAILING as do most people. It’s the reason why I set up a Goodreads Challenge at the beginning of the year; I just knew it would motivate me to read more… and it has (I’ve almost reached my goal!)
This works for writing too. (Just think of NaNoWriMo)
And running. (Sign up for a race)
And literally everything else.
7. Treat Yo Self
Have you finished an item on your list?
Time for a reward!
This can be literally anything (5 minutes of Facebook, cake, 10 minutes of reading, cake …) but don’t go overboard. Don’t reward yourself for doing five minutes of work by taking 50 minutes off.
8. Don’t be Too Hard on Yourself
Don’t feel bad if you haven’t done as much as you would’ve liked. Tomorrow is another day and you can try again. Feeling guilty will only increase your chances of procrastinating. So take it easy and start with renewed energy the next day!
9. Go Hardcore: Ask Yourself Why You’re Procrastinating
I’m not a psychiatrist, but it’s been proven that this works. If you ask yourself why you’re procrastinating, it might help you work through your issues and start doing the thing you’re avoiding doing.
(I hope that made sense)
For example, I know that I procrastinate writing because I’m afraid whatever I write will never be good enough. This stops me from writing in the first place, which is bad. The obvious solution is to…
10. Just Start!!
Stop doubting yourself. Stop being a perfectionist.
START and DO IT.
You got this.
Do you procrastinate? How do you get things done? Will you be using one of my tips? Let me know in the comments!
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I am DETERMINED that I am going to learn to speak French.
Those of us who are trying to learn a new language often have trouble when we try to speak that language in an ongoing conversation. I know that this is my worst problem. I can read ok, and I can often pick up the general idea when I am listening. I can even speak in isolated phrases when I think it out.
But heaven help me if someone actually answers me after I speak! When it comes to an ongoing conversation...Yikes. The problem for me is that I cannot think fast enough to figure out what someone else is saying and then put together my own thoughts for what I should say next.
The only way to get better at this is to practice, practice, practice. Then practice some more.
So I hired a tutor to work with me on my skills in speaking. Her name is Ly. She was born in Laos, but her parents moved to Besançon, France when she was little. She is just fantastic.
Here is what a typical one-hour lesson is like:
Ly gives me homework to watch a French film on my own. (Yes, I still need the subtitles). I either order the film or watch it instantly on Netflix. (Netflix has lots of French films that you can view instantly. If you have not tried this yet, check it out) Sometimes Ly lends me her copy of the DVD.
For my lesson, we discuss (all in French!) the characters in the film, the vision of the director, the costumes, scenery, colors and how they contribute to that vision, and so on. It is quite a workout for me. She helps me if I get totally stuck, but she makes me try hard to express myself without her prompting.
After that, we spend some time on grammar. Ly makes note of what I need the most help on from the last lesson, and she brings me oral and written work for that grammar area. (She has many areas to choose from, believe me).
Next I read aloud from a poem or fable or news story that Ly has emailed me so I can work on pronunciation. This exercise is designed to get me out of some bad habits. Ly tells me that my "nasals" need work and that I need to slow down my speech. She says when I talk fast, I slur sounds -- too much like an English speaker. (She calls it too, too Eegleesh.)
By the end of the hour, I am exhausted but happy that I am starting to make progress in MY FRENCH LANGUAGE QUEST.
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- Posted August 12, 2014 by
This iReport is part of an assignment:
Robin Williams dies and steals the world's laugh. Brazil.
The death of the actor Robin Williams, 63, has hold the world's breath and has stolen the laugh in every place he was seen, enjoyed, with those he shared his funny side. In Brazil, all the newspapers brought his picture in the front pages, most of them, surrounded by black colors, meaning grief. Showing smiles doesn't necessary mean that someone is having fun inside. So that is what was representing Robin Williams situation before his death. Close people said he was passing by a deep depression, and some other problems. Suicide may be the reason of Williams death. Sorrow shouldn't dress a cover of apparently hapinness. It must be shared and help must be offered to who may pass hard situations in life. Specially in Hollywood. (Rosaly Bastos - Brazil)
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Because of inbreeding both in the early days of breed standardization and throughout this breed’s history, there are many common German shepherd health problems. Of course, not all health problems are related specifically to inbreeding (though hip dysplasia is); some are simply related to the size of these dogs, the kind of work that they do, and simply to just being a dog. Here are the most common health problems in German shepherds, how to spot them, and what can be done to help with these issues, if anything.
This is the number one problem related specifically to German shepherd health. While there are other dogs that manifest this problem, especially other larger dogs, it is extremely common in German shepherds, especially among litters in kennels where dog health is not a priority.
In general, dogs already exhibiting this issue are not supposed to be bred, but many breeders will ignore this and breed the dogs anyway, creating another litter of dogs who have this issue. It is painful for the dog and difficult to mitigate, since it is a malformation in the joint of the hip. Dogs who are fed too much, exercised too hard, or injured when they are young can damage their hips.
Like hip dysplasia, this is a congenital conditions that affects many large breeds, but especially effects German shepherds with a long line of badly bred ancestors. Instead of being an issue with the hip joint, this issue is with the elbow joint. Most often caused by bad genetics, this issue can be very severe, or it can be very mild.
Often, mild cases will worse over a dog’s life, making it very uncomfortable to walk. Because this is one of the most common German shepherd health issues, ethical breeders will make sure that both parents are free of elbow dysplasia before they are bred. Once a dog has elbow dysplasia there is not much a breeder or an owner can do about it except make sure the dog gets the right nutrition to keep his joints lubricated and pain-free for as long as possible.
You can usually see this happening to a dog with short or medium-length fur, though long-haired German shepherds’ coats can hide this issue. Essentially, this occurs when the dog eats too much food too quickly and then does too much physical activity, which then causes gas to build up in the stomach. When this occurs and the dog cannot dispel the gas (through the usual methods), the pressure of the bloat can actually make it difficult to breathe and the body can go into shock.
If you see your dog eating grass or trying to vomit but cannot bring anything up, it is likely that this is the issue. This is a life-threatening condition! The dog should be taken to the vet immediately, otherwise, he could die. The best way to prevent this condition is to make sure that he neither eats too quickly, or eats too much all at once.
Feeding three smaller meals a day, instead of one large one, can also prevent this problem. Making sure that he does not do any strenuous physical activity after eating will also be necessary.
Though this condition is most common in humans, not in dogs, many people discover that their German shepherds have this seizure disorder. This is a little ironic, considering that German shepherds are often trained to be seizure detecting dogs for humans with epilepsy or other seizure-related disorders.
Though epilepsy is genetic and is incurable, there are a number of medications that help a Alsatian manage his symptoms. Most dogs will not even notice that they have this condition, especially if they are kept out of stressful situations and are allowed to live a happy, comfortable life with an attentive family.
It can be difficult for a dog with epilepsy to show in kennel club shows, for example, as this can be a high-stress situation, which may trigger his seizures. In some instances, epileptic dogs will want a companion who senses seizures, so they can notify the owner when the epileptic German shepherd is about to have an attack.
Not unlike European royalty, who bred amongst themselves so frequently that the recessive gene began to manifest itself in a large number of noblemen and women, German shepherds who are descendants from a long line of inbreeding may be born with hemophilia.
Essentially, what happens with this disease is that the blood does not have the ability to properly clot, so a small cut can be a serious issue and a bump that causes a bruise may be worrisome. While not one of the most common health problems with German shepherds, hemophilia is more common in German shepherds than it is in other breeds.
There is no cure for this disease, but these dogs can live happy, long lives with the right care. An owner of a dog with this condition will need to check the dog regularly for any lumps or bumps that may be blood pockets forming under the skin and will need to be extra careful when exercising this dog to make sure he does not do anything too strenuous or too dangerous.
Because of their large size and their tendency to overeat if they can get the food, diabetes is fairly common in German shepherds. Like with humans, the symptoms are fatigue, dry mouth, excessive drinking, excessive urinating, and swelling in the feet.
All of these issues can indicate that a dog has diabetes, which can be with a Alsatian from his birth, or can develop later in life, even with proper feeding and exercise routines. This is sometimes a genetic disease and sometimes a disease that develops because of the environment—whatever the cause,
Diabetes can be easily controlled with the right diet and exercise. In some more severe cases, a veterinarian may prescribe a daily insulin injection to help with this disease.
Another condition that affects dogs as well as humans as they age, German shepherds are particularly prone to cataracts in their eyes. Most owners can tell when this issue is starting to occur, not only by the slightly cloudy look in the dog’s eyes, but also because the dog does not seem as able to navigate news spaces as he once was.
You may even see him running into things that he once was able to avoid. While a little comical at first (it’s always a little funny to see your big, gangly dog crash into a chair that he usually is able to see and avoid), if cataracts are allowed to progress, they can make it very difficult for the dog to see anything.
While some dogs do not need their sight, especially if they have a companion dog and are very familiar with their home, surgery may help restore sight to an elderly dog who still relies on his eyes.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Like all large animals, humans included, German shepherds can have serious problems with their spines, especially as they age. Some lines of GSDs are more likely to have this issue than others, which are likely to manifest when the dog is still young. Most breeders try to avoid breeding these dogs, since they usually pass on the issue to their offspring, just as they got the issue from their parents.
Dogs should be checked for spinal abnormalities when they are relatively young. Because this is a degenerative and genetic disease, there is not much a person can do to prevent this disease, but there is plenty an owner can do to prevent the disease from getting worse or hurting the dog. Treatment, proper diet, and exercise can all help a German shepherd suffering with this health issue.
This condition is characterized as “wandering lameness” or sometimes just called “Pano” by veterinarians. It most often manifests itself in between five and fourteen months of age and is often called “growing pains,” by those who notice that their dog is only using three of his four legs or otherwise limping. While this condition is visible on an x-ray machine, it is not congenital, nor is it permanent.
Because German shepherds are so large and they grow so quickly from being little puppies, to being large adult dogs, they are expected to be have growing pains, like other large animals. While this can be painful and sore for a young German shepherd, it is by no means permanent and will disappear around a year and a half to two years of age. If the dog does not grow out of it, however, it may be an indication of a real illness that should be brought to a doctor.
German shepherds are more susceptible to allergies than other breeds. These may come in the form of environmental allergies, such as being allergic to grass or certain kinds of pollen, or the allergies might be food based. Common food allergies include chicken, corn, rice, and gluten.
Feeding your German shepherd natural food that is specifically formulated for this breed is the best way to make sure your dog has the kind of nutrition he needs, but is free of allergens. Not every dog will be allergic to everything, and some German shepherds will have no allergies at all.
However, if you notice that his skin is red and irritated and he is itching often, it is likely that he has a serious condition and that you should start him on an allergy regimen. A vet can recommend what pills are best, but even Benadryl or Claritin formulated for humans can be given to a German shepherd.
Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. This can happen just once throughout your dog’s life, or it can happen more than once, depending on the dog and his diet. This usually has an environmental cause, like eating dog foods that are too high in fat when the dog is not accustomed to eating this kind of food.
This is an issue that should be taken to a vet, especially if your dog is experiencing multiple bouts with this issue.
Thyroid issues are among the most common that German shepherd owners will encounter with their dogs. For some reason, Alsatians have many problems with their endocrine levels. Having your German shepherd regularly tested for these issues is one of the best ways to prevent these issues from becoming life-threatening.
German shepherds are unfortunately susceptible to cancer, especially as they age. Some of the most common cancers include:
Osteosarcoma – (Tumors in bones) While this cancer can occur in just about any part of the body, it is most common for German shepherds to develop it in the elbows, knees, and hips, where they might already have an issue.
Lymphoma – In conjunction with their endocrine issues, GSDs are prone to developing cancer in the lymph system.
Melanoma – Dogs can actually develop skin cancer, and it is fairly common with German shepherds.
While your German shepherd is unlikely to suffer from all or even a few of these issues, when considering purchasing a German shepherd puppy or adult dog, it is important to know what kind of health problems to look out for and what kinds of health problems you might have to face in the future.
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Here’s a cool parallel parking system build in the 50’s by Cadillac. The system was never implemented “at large” but this doesn’t remove anything from it’s coolness. Basically, a series of hydraulic pumps and gears pushes the spare wheel out from the trunk and rotates the back of the car easing the parallel parking process.
The Cadillac project was developed by Brooks Walker from Walker Research in San Francisco, US. There was another prototype developed by same inventor where he modified a 1953 Packard Cavalier to achieve the same results. OldCarsWeekly.com featured the Walker’s Packard Cavalier in one of their posts, and the present owner of the car got in touch with them confirming the parking system exists and it’s fully operational.
While there is not much information available on the net regarding this cool project, I was able to find this 1932 US patent attributed to Mr Walker where the entire mechanism is explained and charted. Another reference of the fifth wheel parking system was made by the Life magazine (November 17th, 1952 issue) which also shows some images of the actual mechanism.
Should you have more info about it, please let me know via the comments and I’ll update the article accordingly.
Let’s hear you in the comments below …
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BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics received a $495,330 grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society to support biomarker studies in its ongoing clinical trial testing the cell therapy NurOwn in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
NurOwn is a treatment based on the patients’ own bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that have been engineered to secrete growth factors. These factors are believed to protect nerves from damage, promote the repair of myelin (the protective coat of neurons that is destroyed in MS), and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression.
BrainStorm received the grant through the society’s Fast Forward program, which was created to help support commercial organizations working to develop new therapies and diagnostic tools for MS.
“This research funding will help advance our investigational therapy NurOwn as a potential unmet need for patients with progressive MS. MS continues to devastate the lives of patients and their families, and we thank the National MS Society for helping us advance our innovative research program,” Chaim Lebovits, president and CEO of BrainStorm, said in a press release.
The Phase 2 clinical study (NCT03799718) is currently enrolling up to 20 adults with either secondary progressive or primary progressive MS at three U.S. sites: the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the Stanford School of Medicine, and the Cleveland Clinic. Contact information is available here.
This trial is multi-dose and open-label, meaning all enrolled will be treated. Participants will undergo a bone-marrow aspiration to obtain their stem cells, then be given three NurOwn transplants into the spinal fluid (intrathecal transplant) over 16 weeks. Each will be followed for at least another 12 weeks to assess the treatment’s safety and efficacy.
“Currently, progressive MS treatment options are limited, and NurOwn is a promising new autologous cellular treatment modality that has the potential to directly address MS disease pathways,” said Ralph Kern, MD, the COO and CMO of BrainStorm.
“This funding from the National MS Society will help us explore key neuroinflammation and neural repair biomarkers in progressive MS to confirm NurOwn’s unique mechanism of action, and guide the design of future clinical trials to address this important unmet patient need,” Kern added.
One of the MS Society’s goals is to “accelerate research to improve clinical care for people living with MS,” said Mark Allegretta, PhD, its vice president for research.
“We’re pleased to work with BrainStorm to test a broad panel of biomarkers of neuroinflammation and repair as correlates of the effect of treatment with NurOwn,” Allegretta added.
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Posted by Inam Abidi Amrohvi
Names of the 85 soldiers who refused to accept cartridges and were subsequently court-martialed in 1857. (Pic Courtesy: Siddhartha Ghai)
Posted in National Affairs, National Integration
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Today is October 25, 1998. I am speaking with Mrs. Barbara Rayfield in Chesapeake, Virginia on her experiences as an elementary school principal.
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Q: Mrs. Rayfield, thank you for taking the time to participate in our oral history project and for sharing your thoughts and experiences on the role of the elementary school principalship. To begin, please tell us about your family background such as your birthplace, elementary and high school education and any other family characteristics that you would like to share.
(Streamed audio file of interview for this question using RealPlayer)
A: Hello Jim. I am more happy to do this. In fact, I have been looking forward to doing an interview with you for a number of years to share and reminisce my past experiences. About 70 years ago, I was born in Claremont, Virginia which is in Surry County. It is a small town of 700-800, at the most, on the James River that was kept alive in the late 1890's and 1900's for ships stopping on the way between Richmond and Norfolk to load, unload things and there was also, for a little while, I faintly remember a train that came in once a day. It even had then a bank, grocery store which was owned by my uncle. I will tell you this little bit. He also owned a furniture store and a lumber yard. These folks came down from upper New York state and settled in this small town. The uncle I am speaking about that owned these businesses built his home which was my home to soon be, built another home there. He built the Methodist Church which is still active with a few folks coming, few people. He worked very hard and lived to be a very old man but still able to talk to me and actively enjoy me. He also put in plumbing at this early time which was unusual. The home was built in 1902 and my mother had to in 1927 leave her husband for a little while. She finally met him in Colorado Springs. She made this, of course, her home, her sister's home, our home. And, her sister had married this gentleman who was quite older. I called him Daddy. I knew no other. When I was just 7 weeks old, she decided to move back to Colorado Springs. She packed me up and off we went to be notified when she got off the train that her train that her husband had passed away. She loved Colorado Springs but she knew that she could not stay. She had to make a living. To make a long story short, she came back East to her sister, the one I referred to as Momma. And, her husband, of course was Daddy. They had said they would take me while she continued her education. Now she had been principal of this Claremont High School when she was 19 years old. You know, you only had to go through high school at that time and that was about it. She came back and she enrolled in Longwood College. She attended the summers. She spent the winter time teaching in a one-room school for about a year, in the country, walked across the cornfield, about a mile to a little one-room school which I have shown you the site that school. And, with a couple of her young boys, built a fire, cleaned the place up. One of the fellows later on she understood was in prison. But, anyway, they did get along fine. She was told by a friend she had known had been in schoolwork was in Richmond contacted her that there was a supervisor's position open in Henrico County. And, would she be interested? Indeed, she would. So she made her trip to Richmond and got the job in Henrico. And, was encouraged by this lady friend, I think she was a supervisor herself, the same place and they needed another one, to get her Master's. So she enrolled and started summer's at Columbia University. I remember I was 10 and spent 6 weeks with her in New York City. I attended Lincoln School. I learned all about Winnie the Pooh. And, amazing, but at that time, this school was quite modern. They had grouping. We had Home Ec. We had some fine things. It was not a bookish type of education. But, I enjoyed it. I was also homesick and wanted to get back to the country. And, I will tell you why. I loved to play school. I loved to play school by the time I was 5 years old, I remember, I would set up my big old desk in this big house, 3-story house, and I would put the cat on one side, the dog on the other, and line up my dolls. And, teach that was it. I also had a nice playhouse in the back, 2-rooms, porch. When the weather permitted, I would line up anybody that would come along. I was ready paperwork, chalkboard, the whole nine yards to start teaching. And, that was the way it was. After Mother spent 13 summers in school work, she was interviewed, at last in Norfolk apparently - I have forgotten, for Norfolk County (not Chesapeake) to be the supervisor. She accepted and stayed with them for 30 years. All in all, she put in 42 years in the State of Virginia. She was my mentor and advisor as I moved on up the scale. She did the right thing and there are still things that she told me that could be used today. I attended Claremont School back during some of this time until the fourth grade when Mother realized I was not getting what I should. There was a neighbor who drove a mail truck to Waverly twice a day. She asked him if it would be okay for me to ride on his truck. I left Claremont at 8:15 and got to Waverly at 9:00. He then carried me back in the afternoon. It was 36 miles a day. She was given tuition free, I guess professional treatment from the Superintendent there in Sussex County. So I started in the fifth grade and attended Waverly High School. It was a fine school. Garland Grey, who later became a Senator, gave money for a school addition to include a Home Economics section and a gymnasium that were quite good. I still keep in contact with my old classmates. I got an excellent high school education. I played on the basketball team and had a good time. That's about all I can give you for my cutting it short.
Q: That sounds very interesting.
A: Oh, yes.
Q: Let's move on to your college education. Maybe you would discuss your college education and preparation for entering the field of teaching, how many years you served as a teacher and how many you served as a principal.
A: Well, I guess teaching was in blood and it started at an early age. I really didn't play other things, of course. In the country, you have a good time. Nothing else ever crossed my mind and I enjoyed it. As I said when I was about 5, I'd line up the dolls and cat and anything and everybody that would come along. I really loved teaching. After I graduated from Waverly High School in 1946, I entered what was Madison College. Of course, it is a university now. Teaching was my goal. During the summer, I supervised playgrounds in Norfolk City for the Norfolk Recreation Bureau. I worked with boys and girls all summer. I enjoyed it, every minute of it. I called my first square dance and got $10.00 an hour; I will never forget it. I enjoyed people and working with them. I had patience, I did. By the time I finished Madison in 1950, during this time I had come from Norfolk to Claremont, which was Mother's and my home, went back during holidays and what not. When I graduated in 1950 from Madison, I was hired by Norfolk City Schools to teach. I taught in the classroom for 15 years, mostly fourth grade. I taught fourth grade. I had a third grade. I had never less than 38 students. We did not have remedial reading teachers and counselors. We were remedial reading teachers and our own counselors. We did have music and physical education, maybe once a week. I spent 16 years as a teacher and I enjoyed every bit of it. Wonderful principal, excellent. Then, my principal was going to retire and I thought "Hmmmm. . . ." He told me that there could be an opening for principalship in the next year and would I consider administration. Dr. Sam Ray, the greatest boss that anyone could ever have, and friend, also approached me and I told them after thinking a while that I would do it after a year. I had a young son and would rather wait to start at least a year later. Well, I did. I spent 16 years as teacher and then moved on to administration for 20 years. All in the City of Norfolk.
Q: That is very good. You have pretty much answered my next question that I was going to ask you surrounding your entry into the principalship. Well, we could go a little bit further. I have got a little bit more there. Have you ever seen a teacher that didn't have a little bit more?
A: During my last years, I was asked to intern for administration. Norfolk was working with the University of Virginia and a Dr. Lynn Canady was to be our instructor. Ten of us accepted this to learn. We hadn't committed ourselves right then but we did. All right, I immediately fell in love with Dr. Canady. What a marvelous, down-to-earth professor who knew children, who knew people. He became my new, and last, mentor for the rest of my career. In the beginning, I wasn't too excited, of course, to leave the classroom. I enjoyed the closeness with children. But my principal encouraged me and Dr. Ray. And, then my principal was getting ready to retire. And you were a very responsible young man, so I went ahead and never regretted making the move. I found that the time the classroom to teach and reading to students. I did not ever give it all the way up. So, that is really what I believe. This Dr. Canady, working so closely with him, I think gave me the little thought that I could do it. And, I wanted to do it.
Q: Your career sounds fascinating. So let's go to my next question which takes you right into your role as a principal. Take us on a walk through one of your schools where you were a principal. Describe its appearance and any unusual features of the school building.
A: Oh, this one I will love. I had three schools but my first one in the late 60's/early 70's was my first love and I still love it. Ballentine Elementary School in the early 1920's and it's set on a number of acres of land overlooking a beautiful lake. It was a good thing I was young then for it had three stories and steps to everything and everywhere. It was a typical building of its time: brick, front steps to the front first floor where there were two classrooms. Then another 5 steps up puts you into a large hallway facing the auditorium. On each side of the auditorium was one classroom and on the other side was the office and another classroom. The one and only restroom was across the hall. On each end of the long hall, that had large pretty windows and pretty flower boxes that we kept going, were many steps to the third floor. There was a small classroom on the third floor used for the library and three more classrooms. A good sized room across the hall was used for books with nice shelves and space. Of course, there was a step there too. To reach the cafeteria, one had to go down three steps to the first floor, down another flight, one on each side of the hallway, to a small cafeteria where I enjoyed usually a ten minute coffee break with my cafeteria manager. She could make the best rolls you have ever put into your mouth. You could smell them cooking all over the school. Well, I am not quite through with the steps yet. On the ground floor, next to the cafeteria was a boiler room and doors to the outside. On each side of the building, ground level, were about twelve steps that went into two classrooms, one on each side of this big building. The windows opened out over ground level. Amazingly, and I kept checking them carefully; these rooms were very comfortable and dry. It never got damp. We had lots of rain, it never got flooded. I never figured out why it stayed dry. I didn't worry as long as it stayed dry. This was Ballentine, a community school. It had been for years and years. It was held in high regard by this community. All the children walked to school, K-6. There were anywhere from 300-350 students enrolled. So, when I became principal, it stayed this way for six weeks. It was time to integrate. It was during the early 70's. It was decided that Ballentine should house only through the three grades, let the fourth, fifth and sixth go to another school. So all of the books, four through six, furniture and anything that dealt with them was sent to the other school and primary material came in. Well, I had to check them carefully. Once and a while, I would get shortchanged and had to let them know I needed something extra - desk, chair, books. Well, you know who had to pack and unpack all of this business. I was allowed to hire two young men to help. So you and your friend helped me. You got a good education on books and furniture and what belonged to what grade level. This organization lasted about through Christmas until a very disgruntled parent from one of the neighboring communities found out that there was City fire code that stated no student below the fourth grade could be housed on the third floor. Strange but this began a very purposeful thing for me because that little old library had been bothering me. Well, now see these children could not even go up to that library, not even for a thirty minute session. The public played right into my hands. I now had a reason to get a large library, work station, may be even another restroom. How great! By converting this auditorium, which served very little purpose for children, into a library. The librarian and I drew plans up which were approved. It included excellent shelves, nice work space for the librarian and an additional restroom. Hallelujah, no more waiting in line! It was not much longer before we had to move again. This time all K-3 children were bused across town and I received fourththrough sixth - graders again. Each time I was fortunate in getting excellent teachers. Again, I failed to mention, another PTA was to be organized. I enjoyed this as I always liked working with the parents. I could go on more and more about this school but I guess I better stop.
Q: Well, that is interesting and feel free to tell us anything you would like to tell us. You have already touched on your philosophy a little but would take a moment to describe your instructional philosophy of your school, how it was developed, how maybe it changed over time?
A: Well, I guess I am going to start back with Dr. Canady. He encouraged me to complete my 30 hours, which I did. And, after he assured me, of course, that I would not have to take the history of education (for the third time), one of those courses that would help me with in services where I could help with my teachers. For all the new Standards of Learning testing. I imagine as far as my philosophy is concerned, I am not going to any textbook/cookbook recipe for it. You can see, I enjoyed working with people in a purposeful way. When the Standards of Learning came into being, including item analysis and testing, I felt that it was very important. I did think it was taking a little bit of time from teachers. I believe I will talk about that a little bit later maybe. No problem for my mentor so I followed him even into Williamsburg and even took up residency at the UVA for 6 weeks. We worked on and spent time on those objectives that he knew we principals would have to implement. The teachers would enjoy, hopefully, when they once realized that this was it, that good instruction is the key to learn. Even though, there were many ways to go about it, the different ways of teaching, that a child learned when things became and were made of interest to him. That was my goal - very child oriented. I don't know if I went into philosophy enough but I think that it is important that teachers be given the time to learn new ways in curriculum development. Dr. Canady came and gave in services to the teachers. It was the only time I saw teachers want to come to school one hour earlier was to listen to him. And, he was - he was great. They learned a great deal. The principal has got to be an integral part of all of the instruction and know what is going on.
Q: You mentioned teachers so let me ask you a question about teachers. What kind of things do teachers expect principals to be able to do? IF you would, maybe describe your views on what it takes to be an effective principal, describing the personal and professional characteristics of a "good principal."
A: Well, the teachers, I don't guess it has changed much through time, that there are some that want you to solve every problem they have. But, many of the teachers know from that start, and they are very perceptive, whether the principal is sincere, understanding, and really wants to be where he or she is. This couple of folks in our administration did not agree, but I will agree and go to my dying day. A teacher has more respect for a principal if they know that the principal has been in the classroom. Not for a year or two or more than three years that person has walked in their shoes and you get their respect. A principal has got to provide an environment where they - teachers, custodians, secretaries - feel comfortable. They know that someone is there to support them or take the time to listen, help solve student/parent problems when needed. Principals have got to be role models and prove that they can do it. Another thing that they expect - to be kept informed. They don't like surprises and neither did I. I always, even if I wasn't going to have a faculty meeting, an agenda would go out to let them be kept informed of things that had come from the School Board. With our superintendent's assistance, be fair and be consistent. If you do for one teacher, you better be careful that you do for another. They quickly catch on. I could list a number of good, sound academic qualifications to being an effective principal. I am not though. Everybody knows those, if they have gone through the book. Of course, you got to meet the State's qualifications. You have to have taught a certain time and all this. A principal has got to be a good communicator. That is a must. Have a sense of security, you cannot be intimated, you have got to be secure, you don't have to threaten or be a dictator either -- sense of humor, an excellent listener. And you don't give the appearance of flying off the handle if you don't like what is being said, listen. Above all, you have to have good health and a high energy level. A person has really got to want to be in the building and taking part in its daily affairs and endeavors. That is about all Jim, I can think of for teachers.
Q: That fits into my next question. As you think about answering the next question, you can forget that I am a central office administrator. There are those who argue that, more often than not, central office policies hinder rather help building level administrators in carrying out their responsibilities. Would you give your views on this issue? Moreover, if you were king, what changes would you make in the typical system-wide organizational arrangement as a way of improving administrative effectiveness and efficiency.
A: Believe me, you or any of my other friends in central administration, I will tell you all the same way, same thing. Again, as a principal, I have feelings like the teachers. I respect those folks who have had to come up through the ranks a little bit. They have been there. They know what it takes to be a principal, and, again, I will refer to my dear friend, Dr. Sam Ray. Now I was most fortunate in having him through my entire principalship except for the last year. Someone would have to know Dr. Ray to realize that he got the understanding and if someone from central administration or in one of those departments wasn't exactly giving the support or whatever, Dr. Ray saw that these principals got it. He worked with our organization very carefully, closely and listened. Now, if he didn't think it was right, he would tell us and he would give reasons why and we accepted it, most of us did, I did. He was understanding, professional, a gentleman with whom I have ever worked. He understood the role of the principal from top to bottom. He would give advice, ideas. He would say, I remember, "I don't believe I would do it that way." He did it in such a manner that if he said jump, Dr. Ray, I would say, "how high" - at least I would. He saw that all support services were available when needed. We were very fortunate that most of them did. They realized that we had a job on our hands and we needed help. I never hesitated to call on them because I know with Special Education or when you have pupil/personnel problems. There was the nicest gentleman there that would take right over. I'd like to deviate a minute and tell about that because pupil/personnel can get kind of tough. I remember at one of my schools, there was a first grader who was quite hard to handle. Finally, he really kicked the teacher. We could never get his parents into the building. I never liked to suspend a child but I could not let it go on any further because the teacher had to go the doctor or whatever. So, I suspended him. Now, we got the parents out. Well, do you know, this is unbelievable. But that child from first grade, about 7-8 years later, that mother wanted to sue me and the teacher for suspending that child. Well, of course, Dr. Ray needed some backing. The chairman of the department had the lawyer and I thought "I don't believe this." Well, it came out fine. But if you don't have immediate support, you are in bad shape. They put a new program in a school. I believe that pilot schools should be first used to try the programs. Instruction should see that the other schools have the opportunity, teachers and principals, to see what is this about. We were fortunate in having central administrators in instruction that did that. Prompt attention from Personnel. When you had ten more bodies and five desks in a classroom, you need help and you can't wait forever and a day. Once, I had to wait a little too long. And, of course, we had to do something about it in a hurry. But on and on, I was fortunate in having good support services from the central administration. I really don't have any except for Special Education, once in awhile, you had to work on them. But other than that, it was nice experience with good working conditions.
Q: If you were advising a person who is considering an administrative position, what would that advice be?
A: Well, think carefully. I know the idea of being a principal sounds very prestigious, a bit more pay and whatever. And again, I am going to tell it as I feel with common sense. Are you in good, excellent physical, mental health? You don't have any personal problems weighing on you. Lots and lots of energy and patience. Can you make changes? And, you know, that you can't make changes overnight in instruction. It takes time. Working with folks that, you know all take the Standards of Quality when we started. If I had not had the background with Dr. Canady in what was coming down the pike in the Standards of Quality, it would have hard without his guidance. It cannot be accomplished overnight. There are teachers who are set in their ways and don't particularly want to change. And, a lot of them are not good ways. And you have got to convince them that they want to be involved. It takes time. Are you ready emotionally to deal with that? The last five years of my principalship, principals were being evaluated on test scores. How much of that can you take of that stress? I would think about it carefully and take it from there.
Q: You referenced the test scores and that leads to another question I have. There are those who argue that the principal should be an instructional leader, and those who suggest that, realistically, this person must be, above all, a good manager. Would you give your views on this issue and describe your own style?
A: Well, I tell you. The principal makes the school. I don't care what instruction or what it is. You have got to manage everyone from the custodian all the way up. Your school is built for children. They must get a good education, the best. The school, from top to bottom, every brick reflects and is the principal's responsibility. We were even evaluated on our electrical bill. I remember mine went over. And they said "you've got a larger electrical bill this time than you did last time." I said, "Well, it got colder and we are not going to freeze." Well, they went around to the thermostats in the City of Norfolk. They were lowered and could not be changed. Now, here kindergartners had to lie down on that floor every afternoon, take naps. And let me tell you, the windows were not good windows like we have today. You could feel the air through them. Now, I did not believe in going to parents when you had a problem. It just depended on what it was. I thought that a principal was head of the school regardless and they had to take care of the problem. I went to Dr. Ray. "Dr. Ray, I am freezing out here. So are my teachers. And you know that no good instruction can go on and I do not want my thermostats to be set way down to 65 or 68 when I have got air coming through these cheap windows." Well, I finally got the folks to fix the thermostats so it could be warm. Who can learn and teach with a pile of clothes and coats on? Nobody. Physical conditions affect learning and teaching. You have got to manage that to get the instruction across. A principal must have the best and it must fit teachers that you can get. You have got to have time to work with instruction. So you, I, tried to be very careful - hire, interview carefully, folks that I did not have to always be breathing down their backs. So, it would free me for time. That is a hard one to learn
Q: There are those who argue that the principal should be an instructional leader, and those who suggest that, realistically, this person must be, above all, a good manager. Would you give your views on this issue and describe your own style?
A: Well, there has got to be balance between instruction and manager. Again, I lean more toward the instruction. I did not rule by being a hard nose. You can lead, a little saying goes, a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. And, I will admit that I had definite goals and objectives that needed to be accomplished. We all did. We had to put this thing together. I had always been a person who cares about people. Getting them to believe it was their idea. I would say, I was a human relator, trying to keep people happy so I could squeeze more production out of them. Now I have let out my secret. I put my foot down but you did it in such a way that you have got to convince the other fellow that this is a great idea. It does not take place overnight. Some folks are afraid of this for fear that they will get taken. Well, being friendly and understanding are good tools if one has a genuine self-esteem in the way you are going and how to get there. Self-confidence. And, I felt self-confidence. I am not a know-it-all. I let it be known that I had to learn some things too. We all did. I had master teachers in most instances and I used them. I made them feel important. All of us can learn, from even the students. Well, I had project children and I have got to tell this one. Back then always, and I learned, at least, these children came from drugs, the whole bit. I learned street-wise from Edward. I will never forget it. I wish we had time talk about that especially when I rode the bus back to the project after a PTA program for the (band students). We stopped on the corner, here in this project area. There were teenagers on the corner. They started rocking the bus. I started to get up. Edward said, "Mrs. Rayfield, just sit down. They aren't going to hurt anything, they are just playing." Well, I did what Edward told me to do. Edward helped me an awful lot. He studied me for a month before he decided he was going that too. There must, again, be a balance between a consideration of/for people and getting the job done. If there is a problem with work performance, staff morale, it has to be taken care of. I tried to find new ways and ways to eliminate the problem. I had a way and if I wanted and decided specifically and it was a rule not a policy. Now if it was a School Board policy, of course, you do as they say. But if it was something that could be between the staff and myself, I, and I don't think the teachers ever caught on and if they did they never let me know it. I would talk to each one of them and see how they felt about such-and-such a thing. I got their feedback and from there, I would then use my good judgement. When personnel, that's all of them, regardless, custodian everybody, cafeteria manager, secretary, all see that they can influence the outcome, they will support you. Creativity and enthusiasm must be fostered. It depends upon the situation just how you do it. I genuinely feel that most of this cannot be gotten from books or really taught. You have it or you don't. You have to be genuine, sincere. You can't go greeting somebody saying, "How are you this morning?" and leave them alone and never speak to them again. It's got to be a part of you, day-by-day, and not half one day and off the next.
Q: Thank you. We talked a little about teachers and principals. We have touched on students. Maybe we will talk a little about parents. It has been said that there is a home-school gap and that more parental involvement with the schools needs to be developed. Would you give your view on this issue and describe how you interacted with parents and community members who were important to the well being of the school?
A: Oh goodness me. Even as a classroom teacher, I enjoyed my parents - going to PTA functions. When I became principal at Ballentine, there was no PTA. I found a president and she and I started one. Small, but we did start it. And, of course, there was beginning of talk of volunteers. There were still some teachers that did not any parent in their classroom. Well, I thought regarding this change, it might take me a year but it is going to have to be changed. The school changed and I had to start all over again. Another PTA. I had a president, the same one that said she'd help me out until we got it going. It was not until the 4th 6th grade children came in, that I got a real president and officers organized. The children that were bused into this section were from some of Norfolk's most notorious projects. In fact, I understood the policemen would not go in there, even with the dogs, after dark. Well, I got in the car and started with a few home visits. I remember this older gentleman was stretched out under a tree, "Lady, what are you doing here?" I said, "I am here to visit some of my parents." "You won't find any parents. If you do, you'll find drunks." I said, "Well,. .." I didn't find any drunks. I found the nicest grandmother who took care of these children. One lady, I remember, cooked the best collard greens I had ever smelled. And I thought if that lady asks me to sit down to eat, I sure would. And, I knew I had to get these parents to school with me. And you know, I learned these parents had a different life than what we school people lived. And, they knew it. It had to be changed. I had a garden club friend who was out making candles that were all the rage. I got her to set up a candle making class there at Ballentine on the top floor. When I look back now, I don't know whether the firemen knew that or not. If they had, I would have been put underneath the jail. But anyway, the place didn't burn down. We were given what was called the Home School Community Worker who was a liaison really between the school and the home. She was a smart, creative, down-to earth gal. I loved working with her. Between the two of us, we got the mommas coming. She would go pick them up and we would bring them to school. Most of them, fortunately, could walk. They could come over the railroad tracks, a short cut. And, they, I'll never forget it, told me. There was a group of them that came up to me, "Mrs. Rayfield, we have never been in this school. We were afraid to come to school." I said, "Why?" "Because," I deep down knew why, but I wanted to hear it from them. "Why?" "Well, we don't have the pretty clothes." I said, "We all don't have the pretty clothes either. So don't worry about it." "And, ya'll are so educated." I said, "Not really, not really. Don't think it for a minute. I have learned more from you ladies from listening upstairs to you and I mean it." So you have to, as a principal, put on a different hat. And, I always knew it. I would wear one hat for a group of parents like that and possibly another one when I had some of my University's professors children. But anyway, we all got along fine. My PTA officers were always invited to any social functions. I had a teacher representative on the board in each school. We were always at the board meetings. We took an active part in their fund raisers. I always attended my board's meetings. At another school where children, Primary 1, 2, 3, were bused in, I talked Dr.Ray, again, into giving me a bus on PTA nights. Most parents didn't have transportation and it got them in. In the last two schools, my reading teacher worked with me to get parent volunteers. The librarian got volunteers. We eventually showed these teachers that volunteers could help them. They were not going to run the business. Of course, we had a session on what volunteers should speak and do in the classroom. The rules were laid out. We always recognized them with a reception at the end of the year. I remember one of the schools had a senior citizens' group next door and every spring, they would have a king and queen crowning. Well, I remember the little ones would give little skits. The band would play. The chorus would sing, and get the senior citizens to join in. We became very involved, and I enjoyed it.
Q: That was interesting. We'll move to a question that deals with the personnel function and the role of the principal. Would you describe your approach to teacher evaluation and give your philosophy of teacher evaluation?
A: Well each year, we had to formally evaluate one-third of our faculty. However, I always did this myself, even when I had assistants later on. I let her and wanted her to go into the classrooms but I did the evaluations. Many times, I would have her to sit in for that side-by-side with the teacher. I visited every classroom, during the formal evaluation, at least every other week. I would leave a note, usually positive, if there was something I questioned. I would say, "let's, I'd like to explain this further at a meeting, can I come down after school, let me know?" If I questioned something, I would ask something like "why did you do that" but not in a way that would intimidate her. I always left a note after each classroom visit - "I liked your bulletin board. I know that you will keep it changed. It is such an instructional bulletin board." We were not going to have, and we were told, and I did not want teachers to have, these commercial things, we had art teachers, had parents to come to help them so we could put a bulletin board right. Informal evaluations are most important. How else will you know what else is going on? Well did I say formal, I said informal too. The physical environment, bulletin boards, no commercials, used for instructional purposes, interest centers, the ventilation, and I always looked at the lesson plans carefully. They were always to be on the desk and I reviewed them. Several times a teacher would have an emergency, so I would take over until she came into school. Like an early doctor's appointment or something. And, this quickly spread. I told them that I wanted those lesson plans on the desk because I would have to follow them. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do. And, I needed something to go by. The last ten years, it was mandated by the superintendent that those lesson plans be on the desk and be around. In fact, our assistant superintendent would pop in anytime and go around and see if it they were. Well, now we are going a little too far. But anyway, it can really upset a teacher. Of course, she's supposed to have them but, anyway that is another story. There was a definite format that had to be followed. We were going through the Madeline Hunter. Madeline Hunter was Norfolk herself to conduct an in-service. We had to follow the Madeline Hunter to a "t" and I looked at and thought "you know, some of these, Madeline Hunter, my mother said she did fifty years ago." Not stated all this well but relevancy is relevancy and checking for understanding is checking for understanding. I don't care if it is 1900 or 1980. I did not want these visits to be a threat. I did not want to be fearful. I wanted it to be a means of working together and a means for me to learn. I could find out what supplementary materials would help them. If I didn't have them, I somehow found money to buy them either through my funds or through the PTA funds. I remember going up to Madison and, maybe about once a year, they had a wonderful bookstore. I would get a couple of hundred dollars worth and take them back into the library. I would invite the teachers to come in during free time, or whatever they had, so they could review them and see what was there. These things helped. I did not want the teacher evaluations to be a threat to teachers.
Q: While we are talking about teacher evaluations, would you discuss the topic of teacher dismissals and any involvement you would have had in such an activity?
A: I would. . . I have been there. I went through all procedures of evaluation. The, uh. . . I had, in fact . . . let me think. Teacher dismissal is not a very easy thing. Dr. Canady always said he had to prove murder or some kind of terrible thing to get the teacher out. During my years as principal, I had to dismiss four. All four of these teachers had taught over fifteen years. These teachers had either been placed in my school through the closing of a school or put into my building through what is called an administrative transfer where I had no say. At Ballentine, and this was my very early years as a principal. I remember well, she was the wife of a very prominent minister in Norfolk. She was a fine lady but she had been transferred from a number of buildings for a reason that she just could not handle children. Well, here she was teaching and had been put into my school's third grade. She had the most beautiful lesson plans you could ever wish for. She was a smart lady. She would get up there and teach a gorgeous reading lesson to a group of remedial children. Although there were ten children, not one was listening. A couple over in the corner playing with something. A couple others had a toy. I told her, I went up to her nice and said, "You know, you better start again, these children need to get in their seats and listen." So I got them in their seats. And I thought, "Oh, I better start documenting." And that is you write yourself. You start documenting. Kept evaluations. Gave her improvement plans on how to improve. Went in there. It went on for several months. A child waiting in line downstairs for the cafeteria kicked her and kicked her hard. She wasn't angry or whatever but she was upset. Well that was just one incident. The crowning blow came from Michael. Michael was, no one would believe me, unless you knew him, a second-grader that had been smoking behind the Dairy Queen. He would get out of his window at night time and roam the City of Norfolk at all hours. The police knew him and would bring him home. The parents couldn't keep him there. Step- father and mother couldn't do anything with him. And, uh, a child came to me hurriedly one day. "Mrs. Rayfield, come down here to Mrs. L's room quick!" I went in and Michael was standing on the chair with yardstick in his hand trying to get his shoe out of one of the ceiling lights. Mrs. L. had hold of his coattail trying to pull him down. We had a long talk and finally at the end of the year, she decided to retire. So that turned out nicely if you have to go. The other was a 23-year teacher and I had an excellent assistant principal. If I hadn't had her, I don't know. It took me a little over a year to document. We had to get plans of action, which was right. With a plan of action, you helped that teacher. At that time, Norfolk City had helping teachers that would go directly into the classroom 2-3 weeks to assist the teacher with certain things. This teacher was a smart lady, a kind lady to children. But her discipline, none whatsoever. And this went on for a year, this try to help her. I went in. My assistant went in. The straw that broke the camel's back, that really did it, was one afternoon at about 1:30, a parent called me, "Mrs. Rayfield, is school out this afternoon?" I said, "No, why?" "My son's come home." I said, "What? Send him right back over here!" The children told me. He told me. This lady was standing up next to the door and this child crawled through her legs and she didn't know it and went home. Now, now. We had a long talk and we said things had come to a head. She decided she would retire. The next one was a little bit harder. This lady had been placed in my school. "Maybe, Mrs. Rayfield can help her." I told personnel that I wasn't helping anymore of their people, taking my own. But anyway, she was very poor teacher. She was out ill for about a month when I had to bring in a long-term sub. The long-term sub had to . . .excellent, she was excellent. I had her. I had her on my list. She had been a teacher and had gotten out for her children. And, she was my favorite sub. She would call me down there that she couldn't find this or all of this business. So she brought things to the library and my librarian said, "I've been looking for these things for months. Where were they?" They were down in Ms. So-and-so's closet, stacked up - audios, videos. New things were coming to light. There were old report cards that she, I don't know how she, I will never figure out how they got messed up. But anyway, she belonged to one of the teachers' unions. It wasn't the E.A.N. The president had been a former teacher of mine. We had a good relationship. She taught in the school and did fine. But anyhow, that would have no bearing on it. But anyway, she sent in this teacher that had the union folks out and that . . uh. . . they came out, these young men said Mrs. Rayfield, and came to the office. And I had on my desk, all displayed, all the documentation. And I said, "Now here it is, you can see right here." They said, "would you give her another chance?" I said, "Yes, under one condition." I knew they had small children. "You bring your child, each one of you, you've got a primary child, I think they are first graders too or second graders which is what this teacher teaches. You bring your child over here and let her teach them." That was the end of that. And, she left the teaching profession. Thank goodness. These two gentlemen, now I invited them over to lunch. I said, "Come on to have lunch with your friends." There was nothing ugly about it. And, there was no way to be ugly. So, it is not right, for children are not to get a full education. I looked at it as well. I want these children to be taught the way I would want mine. And, I . . . also, it is not fair to other teachers working day-in and day-out for someone to get by with absolutely nothing and unprofessional business. Do nothing, no way. I was not going to let children suffer. But, dealing with personnel is a very, very important thing. It is what really is the backbone of the entire faculty, staff, the whole nine yards. If you cannot surround yourself with good people, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria, teacher. . hmmm, you've got a problem. If you can surround yourself with good folks, you can do a lot more.
Q: Well, let's leave the personnel area and let me ask you a curriculum question. It has been said that the curriculum has become more complex in recent years. Would you comment on the nature of the curriculum during the time you were principal and compare it to the situation in today's schools, citing positive and negative aspects of the situation then and now?
A: Yes, I think it has become more complex because we as a society have become more complex. Now, when I went to college I did not even have to have a typewriter. Look what you have to have today. Technology. What I taught in the 6th grade, the old country, Egypt. Now in the third grade. Well, that's fine provided who is going to see that the money comes down for the materials that will be geared to the interests of these children on this level? That seems to be a great problem in most of our school system around here. The past ten years since I retired, I have been supervising on a part-time basis, student teachers from Old Dominion in the Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Suffolk areas. And that is a worry, and I talk to the principals, a worry with them. We have got to teach this but we do not have the necessary materials to go with it. We have got to go send our teachers out to find things. This is time consuming. I think in the field of Science. It has, of course, more complicated. But look what we have been doing in the field of science, medicine, space. So, you roll with the changes, the punches. You have got to. But School Boards, City Councils, the whole bit has to realize that the teachers cannot, and principal, cannot do it alone. I do feel that the hands-on approach is very good. I know in one school system, they had money in a couple of schools, they have science rooms. I worked room, for student teachers. In the science room, there are microscopes for each child to go in there. All of the science materials! I didn't have that, they didn't have a rich PTA and I don't think our schools should be governed by that. The perceiving of the learner now as an active and purposeful human being is so much better than just giving a poly parrot feedback, memorization by helping children cope with, as much as you can, the real world and show them, and they understand, that it is purposeful, that it's reasonable, and it's very important that they get this. The thing that does bother me is that testing many of the curriculums, reading in particular, and to kindergarten/prekindergarten, it can be too early. I have seen it. You can, many a child, a number of children. Oh, "my child is reading in the first grade". Then the child gets to the third grade. It happened to me several times. "Mrs. Rayfield, my child's reading in the first grade. The third grade is slowing him down" And, I knew exactly, it was memorization. It was not real reading. They can call words but did they understand it? It has to be geared to the age, to the interest of children. We can go too quickly. I think this testing business. I might be stepping on something that you might be asking me a little bit later about testing.
Q: Go ahead and tell us little about your views of testing. I know that you are aware that Standardized testing, especially as the tests relate to the Standards of Learning, are very much a part of public education and are in the news quite a bit right now. So why don't you discuss your experience with testing and provide us with your views on the affect of testing on the quality of the instructional program.
A: If Standardized testing is used to discover the strengths and weaknesses that a child has, fine, well and good. The school adjusts their curriculum and instruction to it. Once upon a time, back in the 50's, I would be giving the Iowa test to sixth graders. The standards of tests would be in an excellent. In the late 60's, it was Standards of Quality, item analysis, how to give tests, charting schools, map on walls, charting them all out. Who is up high, who is down low? Looked like a race track. Dr. Canady taught classes in all this and it was a godsend. Now, and we used those tests back then, up until about early 70's, to help us change curriculum instruction to meet the needs. But now primary children, K-12, are under pressure to score, to score. Published in the paper. I was fortunate. Mine were like they should be. But that is great pressure on everybody. It is pressure on principals, teachers and parents. And all children don't learn at the same rate. Everyone is evaluated on scores. Now the principals, here lately, tell the teachers that their jobs could depend on these scores. Now that is going a little far. If they are not doing the job, it is up to the principal to see about it. If they are doing and doing it the best they can, and there is improvement being shown, fine. I have seen parents get so uptight that children were so scared to death the next morning for fear that they were going to fail the test. Well, we were defeated before we started. Those parents, some of them had been working in the more affluent schools that I had, "Does my child do this? He's got to reach this score." So, what about the other things that your child can enjoy and do? Well, we all were concerned. But to me, it was going too far. Many children have parents who get the material, that have the money, they are at home, they can come and work with their child. And, many a child does not have this privilege. Both parents work just to get food and shelter. The schools could have all materials, everything, have less than twenty children so they could teach everyone and discipline them, have no problems with their safety, the disruptive folks could be taught somewhere else for a while. If we had such conditions, maybe we could make a difference. Every time I think, someone says testing, I have to mention this. Back to Ballentine again. I'll never forget the little boy's name was Paul. He was in the third grade, working hard and he could have, well I think, worked in and out of remedial reading and the child couldn't read the test that we were about to give to him. We knew he couldn't but we had to give it to him. We couldn't take him out and hide him some place. We knew it had to be given. The librarian and I were monitors for that classroom, and I was watching this little boy, and he went down that test and just started checking answers. I motioned to my librarian, who was working with me, to come over. I wanted her to see too. He just went on down that test for 10-15 minutes and then he was finished. You know, that child scored 85% on that test. Well, that was an unusual one but it can happen. And, there are smart children that cannot take these tests and we don't measure those things that some of those children can do. I don't know but I guess that this too shall pass. It is like my mother used to say, "you have to go with the changes and, in 10 years, it will all change to something else usually." I have seen that happen too. I don't know. I think this scoring. . . I think there should be good standards. I don't mean to just pass children along or let them be if they can't do certain things. I think they should know, be good in all areas, math, reading, science, social studies but there is a little bit of pressure on schools. I do not miss that part.
Q: It is a good time for me to ask you this next question. Would you discuss the circumstances leading up to your decision to retire?
A: Ah, the. . . what made me want to retire? He-he-eh. I guess the thing that is utmost in my mind that made me retire, I was enjoying it. I really was. I liked working with children, teaching the parents; however, as you get older, maybe your tolerance level is not as great as it once was. There comes a time when one realizes that you don't have as many years ahead as you have behind you. When my mother was quite ill, she told me to think about retiring at 60, your father. . . life is short, you should enjoy the rest of it. As I reached that age with 36 years, I discussed this with Dr. Ray that I thought it was about time. He told me that he was going to retire the next year. I said, "all right, give me one more year." Because I would miss him. And, when he told me that he was retiring, I knew that I would be following in his footsteps soon. You know there is a saying, "you better stop when you are ahead." Things are quite different, a little bit, nowadays. Just before I retired, there had been a meeting with the O.D.U., Dean/Director of Education, student teaching who asked me what I was going to do when I retired. I said, "Nothing. Buy my first pair of blue jeans" that I had bad-mouthed. And get behind my Honda, self-propelled lawn mower and take the phone off the hook. And they said, "Oh, we have a job for you." And, I said, "Really?" They said, "How about part time?" I said, "I will listen to part-time." They then asked if I would supervise student teachers on a part time basis. I did that for the past ten years and then decided it was time to retire there too. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed working with people. I enjoyed watching children grow mentally, physically, meeting challenges and working to overcome them. As I said, it was in my blood. Today's principals do have more pressure - testing scores, students and drugs, safety, guns. We had to have fire drills and now some schools are having hostage drills. Can you believe it? I don't miss such things. Today's principals have to face such realities. If they are in good health and can deal with the stress, have good support services from their School Board, then I say stay on. There is no more rewarding job, I feel, than teaching. It is fun. It is fun to be around children. They can make you laugh. There are some very sad cases and if you can help them, or you can help their parents, they will do fine. You will feel very good about yourself. I have enjoyed it. I cannot go back and think of any time that I wished that I hadn't gone into that field. Nope, no way.
Q: Thank you for taking this time this afternoon to give us your views as an elementary school principal. I know that I certainly learned a lot. This is going to be a valuable experience to be part of the Virginia Tech oral history of the principalship.
A: I was privileged to do it and I enjoyed every minute of it. I always like to talk school.
Q: I hope we can get together again soon.
A: I will see to it.
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1. Privatopia Rising?
2. Competing Interpretations of Residential Private Governance
3. The Case for Privatopia: Neoclassical Economics and Common Interest Housing
4. Private Cities, Parallel States, or Just More Government?
5. Emerging Trends in the Regulation of Private Communities
6. Beyond Privatopia: Setting Limits on Private Government
About the Author
| 257,529
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|Empowerment, Feminism and Self-Efficacy: Relationships with Disordered Body Image and Eating
||Eating disorders are prevalent in the United States, relate to significant psychological and
health problems, and primarily affect women. Sociocultural norms pertaining to an ideal of
thinness for women are considered central in the development of ...
|Conversations About Drinking: College Student Perceptions of Personal and Peer Drinking
||Alcohol consumption among college students relates to normative perceptions of peer use. One way in which these norms are likely disseminated among social groups is through conversations about drinking alcohol. Further, prior research suggests that f...
|The Effect of Race on Perceptions of Fat Talk among College Women
||Fat talk is a normative style of communication where primarily girls and women say negative things about their bodies as a part of social conversation. The majority of fat talk research has employed Caucasian participants and racially unspecified ta...
|Alcohol Use and Blood Flow in College Men: The Relationship with Personality
||Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults and is becoming increasingly more prevalent among young adults. Nearly 18% of young adults have prehypertension, a preliminary condition increasing risk for hypertension. Hypertension and prehypertension are both ...
|Media Exposure and Body Dissatisfaction: The Roles of Thin-Ideal Internalization and Social Comparison
||Media exposure is considered to have a prominent influence on body dissatisfaction. Researchers tend to measure thin-ideal media exposure when examining the relationship with body dissatisfaction yet often generalize their conclusions to media as a w...
|Stigma towards mental health treatment among college students: A test of an interactive online educational intervention.
||Adolescents and young adults have low rates of help-seeking despite high prevalence rates ofmental health problems. College students may not choose to seek help because of thenegative stigmatizing attitudes associated with mental illness. Education a...
| 120,674
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Oceania Cruises Adds Local Flavour to European Voyages
The ‘Bon Appétit Culinary Centre’ offers guests the opportunity to expand their culinary skills in a friendly and fun environment. The culinary emphasis varies from regional specialties based on the ship’s itinerary to comfort foods prepared in kitchens around the world. The classes are a great way for budding chefs to enhance their cooking skills or for those who just simply want to know a little more, a great way to embark on a fun culinary journey.
Classes being offered include:
Healthy Greek: Greece is known throughout the world for delicious cuisine so why not master cooking techniques that transform seasonal ingredients into fresh, healthy and flavourful dishes during your Mediterranean adventure.
Turkish Arabesque: This class will allow you to learn about the elaborate palace kitchens, unique ingredients and culinary traditions of the Ottoman Empire while mastering recipes for delicious local delicacies. Turkish food is full of flavour!
Beyond Ratatouille: This class highlights favourite dishes of Oceania Cruises’ own Jacques Pépin as well as Guy Gedda, considered the godfather of Provençal cuisine. A real treat for those of you who want to learn from the experts.
Modern Nordic: Inspired by incredible destinations along the Baltic Sea, this class is devoted to favourite regional recipes ranging from hearty meat dishes to mouth-watering desserts.
Culinary Discovery Tours for Cork, Ireland, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Enjoy a day at a top culinary destination, Ballymaloe, during your visit to Cork. Tour the unique culinary and herb gardens, explore the free-range poultry farm and watch a cooking demonstration of a traditional Irish meal before stimulating your taste buds with seasonal dishes from the famous Cookery School Gardens.
In Palma de Mallorca, sample several varieties of olive oil at a country farm and savour lunch at El Faro, a restaurant perched above a horseshoe-shaped harbour where the view is simply incredible.
For more information on the culinary classes with Oceania Cruises please contact one of our Cruise Experts on 0800 008 6677
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This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
Data Centers Can Now Earn the Energy Star Label
Data centers, the workhorses of the Internet, can now earn the Energy Star label.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June 7 that stand-alone data centers and buildings that house large data centers can now earn the Energy Star label. Data centers are the workhorses of the Internet, serving up the graphics and text that we see as Web pages, but they can also provide a wide range of computing services. To earn the Energy Star label, data centers must be in the top 25% off their peers in terms of energy efficiency, as measured by EPA's energy performance scale. The EPA uses a commonly accepted measure for energy efficiency, the Power Usage Effectiveness metric, to determine whether a data center qualifies for the Energy Star label. Before being awarded the Energy Star, a licensed professional must independently verify the energy performance of these buildings and sign and seal the application document that is sent to the EPA for review and approval. The Energy Star program is a joint effort of DOE and the EPA.
Data centers are found in nearly every sector of the economy and deliver vital information technology services, including data storage, communications, and Internet accessibility. Data centers use a significant amount of energy, accounting for 1.5% of total U.S. electricity consumption at a cost of $4.5 billion annually, an amount that is expected to almost double over the next five years. Based on the latest available data, improving the energy efficiency of U.S. data centers by just 10% would save more than 6 billion kilowatt-hours each year, enough to power more than 350,000 homes and save more than $450 million annually. See the EPA press release and the Data Center Energy Efficiency Initiatives page on the Energy Star Web site.
Data centers can improve energy efficiency in many ways, such as purchasing Energy Star-qualified servers and ensuring that all cooling equipment functions properly. In fact, DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has been studying energy use in data centers for years, and has compiled a list of 67 best practices for data centers, covering such topics as air delivery systems and water systems for cooling, internal and external power supplies, and other issues. LBNL also worked with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company to create design guidelines for high-performance data centers. Access to both is available on the "Data Centers: Best Practice Summaries" page on LBNL's High-Performance Buildings for High-Tech Industries Web site.
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EUdict :: English-English dictionary
Results for: poorly planned, undercooked, unintelligent Translations: 1 – 30 / 143 English English poorly planned, undercooked, unintelligent half-baked (British Slang) stupid, dumb, unintelligent; clumsy, ungainly, ungraceful gaumless (Slang) make a stupid mistake, make a mess of; waste time; act in a playful or foolish manner, (Slang) stupid person, fool; stupid mistake, blunder, botch, make mistake, unintelligent person goof (Slang) sedative, sleeping pill; stupid or silly person, drug pill, unintelligent person goofball (Slang) stupid person, unintelligent person dumbo a clumsily unintelligent person dummkopf according to, activated; turned on, arranged or planned, as means of functioning, at a time, attached to something, by means of, carrying something, charged to, directed toward, during, forth; ahead; while continuing, functioning//ON, in contact with s... on achieved or performed together, arranged for orchestra or chamber ensemble, planned, devised; arranged by agreement; concentrated, intensive concerted act a role poorly, act with too much restraint; underplay, play down effectively underact allocated, estimated, planned budgeted An investment style that leads one to buy assets that have performed poorly and sell assets that have performed well. There are two possible reasons why this strategy might work. The first is a mean-reversion argument, that is, if the asset has deviate... Contrarian angry and unpleasant toward others, badly, poorly, distressing, evil, harmful, harmful; inferior; serious, grave, acute, incorrect, injured or diseased, misbehaving and disobedient, more unpleasant than usual, not functioning properly, of poor quality,... bad animal resembling a small horse, ass, domesticated animal related to the horse (commonly used as a beast of burden), unintelligent person donkey awkward; not graceful, ungainly; poorly made, moving awkwardly, said or done awkwardly clumsy bad painting, blotch, cover with plaster or mud; soil, dirty; paint in an unskillful manner, material which is spread on walls; act of daubing; painting which was poorly done, paint crudely, put something on blotchily, see also:wattle and daub, substan... daub bad play, incorrect or illegal play (Sports), make bad move, mistake made in game, play poorly, make an illegal play (Sports) misplay badly or incompletely adapted, maladjusted, poorly adjusted or adapted maladapted beautiful but unintelligent and often promiscuous woman (Derogatory Slang) bimbo blow or sound it makes, dull sound, fall or hit with a thump, make a dull thudding sound, make dull sound, thump; sound similar to a hard object hitting the ground, unintelligent person clunk blunt end of pin, small thing, somebody very unintelligent, stupid person, silly person, fool (Slang) pinhead boob, large tropical seabird, stupid person, unintelligent person booby bovine animal; male cow, bull; clumsy and unintelligent person (usually having a large build), bovine draft animal, cow or bull, somebody unintelligent and clumsy ox can be put in order; can be planned; can be settled arrangeable carefully considered, computed; planned, deliberate calculated carefully planned well-thought-out carnal, coarsely unintelligent, cruel, cruel; crude, sensual, bestial, wild; instinctive, unthinking, relating to beasts brutish cheap cloth made from recycled wool; clothing of inferior quality; phony item, something that is cheap, of poor quality; phony, imitative, fake, cloth made with old wool, dishonest, made from inferior material, poorly made, something inferior shoddy clumsy and stupid person, awkward person; inexperienced sailor, landlubber (Nautical), clumsy or unintelligent person lubber committal, court order, institutionalizing somebody, loyalty, obligation, promise; act of committing, previously planned engagement, referral of bill for review, responsibility commitment complex, detailed and thorough, complicated; carefully planned, worked out in great detail, finely or richly decorated, give more detail about something, make or become more complex, provide additional details; plan carefully and with great detail; pro... elaborate
Search time: 0.003 seconds. Next » About Eudict
EUdict (European dictionary) is a collection of online dictionaries for the languages spoken mostly in Europe. These dictionaries are the result of the work of many authors who worked very hard and finally offered their product free of charge on the internet thus making it easier to all of us to communicate with each other. Some of the dictionaries have only a few thousand words, others have more than 250,000. Some of the words may be incorrectly translated or mistyped.
Please help us improve this site by into your language! translating its interface
Total number of language pairs:
Total number of translations (in millions):
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Welcome to the website of the
WHO Collaborating Centre in Education and Research in Human Reproduction
The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research
The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (GFMER) is a non-profit organisation established in 2002. It is supported by the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the Department of Social Affairs of the City of Geneva and other Swiss and international institutions. The Foundation works in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). GFMER is a WHO Collaborating Centre in Education and Research in Human Reproduction. The overall objectives of the Foundation are to furnish health education and research programmes that can be applied by developing countries, and countries in economic transition, and to establish collaboration between entities from the public and private sectors.
From research to practice: Training in sexual and reproductive health research
Manager: Dr. Karim Abawi
A 7 months online training by sexual and reproductive health experts developed for health professionals involved in research, whose access to learning is limited by time, financial resource or other constraints and for whom access to quality education and learning is limited.
Clinical training, prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula
Manager: Prof. Charles-Henry Rochat
A campaign to end fistula, in collaboration with UNFPA/WHO, working to establish the Centre of Excellence for the prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula in Tanguieta (Northern Benin) to serve as a model for other countries.
In 2012 Prof. Charles-Henry Rochat, responsible for the fistula project, together with a group of specialists and local medical doctors conducted missions in several African countries where fistula cases were operated. In addition, Prof. Rochat and his team (composed of specialists from Switzerland, France, USA, Cameroon and Madagascar) organized conferences and workshops on diagnosis, treatment and follow up of fistula cases and advocated for a multidisciplinary approach for care of women suffering from obstetric fistula.
Oxford Maternal & Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI)/GFMER collaborative initiatives
Managers: Prof. Aldo Campana, Dr. Karim Abawi, Dr. Raqibat Idris
A partnership with OMPHI to develop and disseminate computer-based training modules in maternal and perinatal health that has resulted in the Evidence-based management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and the Evidence-based management of postpartum haemorrhage.
GFMER global consultation on WHO infertility guidelines
Managers: Dr. Sheryl Vanderpoel, Prof. Bruce Dunphy, Prof. Aldo Campana
A WHO expert consultation was held, 16-17 January 2012, to scope the area of infertility, with an initial six areas prioritized for evidence review and establishment of global WHO Guidelines. Participants of this GFMER virtual course and consultation are asked to join the WHO process of Guideline development in these six prioritized areas of infertility. Participants have an opportunity to interact and become part of the global expert advisory GFMER team for WHO-RHR/HRP and its Expert Working Groups generating guidelines and manuals on infertility care and treatment.
mHealth for sexual and reproductive health
Manager: Dr. Heli Bathija
The GFMER initiative of mHealth for sexual and reproductive health offers a unique opportunity to understand how mobile phones can be used to accelerate universal access to sexual and reproductive health and overcome barriers hindering such access. It consists of
Sexual and reproductive rights
Manager: Dr. Karim Abawi
An online resource on sexual and reproductive rights across the globe for a meaningful inclusion of human rights in sexual and reproductive health issues.
Early childhood development (ECD)
Manager: Dr. Meena Cabral de Mello
A collaborative project for ECD capacity building in developing countries including an online training course on ECD for programme managers and health care workers.
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections
Manager: Dr Antonio Carlos Gerbase
Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Edited by Aldo Campana,
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On Wednesday the New York Medical Examiner’s office released a two-sentence report
saying that Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose by combining a frighteningly long list of pain killers and anti-depressants.
It puts to rest the questions about Ledger having committed suicide. But it doesn’t answer where he got the drugs, and why he was taking these particular pain killers and anti-depressants, all of which are known to run the risk of serious side effects, according to Rajesh Balkrishnan, an associate professor of pharmacology at the Ohio State University College of Public Health.
"How come somebody as famous as Heath Ledger was prescribed these antiquated medications with serious side-effect profiles?" Balkrishnan said.
(image: Associated Press)
The answer maybe be that he was not prescribed them, but got them on the street. For example, incidents of people breaking into pharmacies for the highly-addictive Oxycontin are well documented. Patients only have to take the drug for pain every
12 hours, unlike others that need to be taken every three to six hours.
But by simply smashing the tablet, users can foil the time-release action and achieve a high that’s been compared to heroin.
And that’s just one of six drugs listed by the medical examiner. The others are: hydrocodone (Vicodin), diazepam (Valium), temazepam
(Restoril), alprazolam (Xanax), and doxylamine (active ingredient in
NyQuil). There are safer options, such as Paxil and Prozac, Balkrishnan said.
All of these drugs are designed to depress the central nervous system in various ways to reduce pain or induce sleep. Depress the CNS too much, and you die.
Ledger also may have gotten the drugs online, or from various doctors.
But there’s no way in hell one doctor would prescribe all of these drugs at once, Balkrishnan said.
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FPS COST Action E45
European forest externalities (EUROFOREX)
Descriptions are provided by the Actions directly via e-COST.
The main objective of the Action is to improve the quality standards in the valuation of externalities produced by the different types of forest in Europe, agreeing in research protocols for investigators to follow. The main expected benefits are the achievement of an improved and consistent quality level in forest valuation exercises undertaken in Europe, the improvement and spreading of the practice of benefit transfer, and thereby increase the use of forest externality values as a tool for the valuation of forest nature as a European resource, to provide end-users with reliable monetary estimations of forest externalities and to provide the research environment with a future research agenda.
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Many of us found it hard to keep up with official restrictions as the COVID-19 pandemic dragged on. We experienced pandemic fatigue. And this fatigue led to wide-spread political discontent in Western democracies, according to a new study from Aarhus University, which has now been published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“Prior research has found that small groups of people have been radicalised and that pandemic fatigue has proven a health challenge, but our new study shows that we are facing challenges far beyond the domain of health or the radicalisation of some groups,” says Michael Bang Petersen, professor of political science at Aarhus University and one of the researchers behind the study.
For instance, broad segments of the public respond that they support protests against the government’s policies, that they are concerned about their own democratic rights or that they believe the government is hiding important information from the public about the coronavirus.
Such political discontent is closely linked with the feeling of pandemic fatigue, according to the study.
“Based on our research method, we can be quite confident that there is not just a correlation between pandemic fatigue and political discontent. Rather, fatigue is a direct cause of political discontent,” says Frederik Jørgensen, assistant professor of political science at Aarhus University and the lead author of the study.
Political and academic debate on ‘fatigue’
During the pandemic, both researchers and authorities have discussed the concept of pandemic fatigue and whether it exists in populations. For one thing, the British government was met with criticism for delaying their lockdown during the first wave of the pandemic based on the exact argument that restrictions could generate fatigue.
Source: Read Full Article
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In recent years, Gov. Jeb Bush approved new measures that began to connect water supply and land development for the first time, providing a jot of hope to Floridians exhausted by the unabsorbed costs of growth.
Linkages, like the requirement for local planning to contain urban development within growth boundaries, are planned throughout the state. It is about time.
Still, people can be excused for doubting the new direction will be more than a repackaging of the old.
Forever in Florida, local government has pointed in the opposite direction: building and construction insulated from criticism by a patchwork of regulations nominally protecting the environment and quality of life. No mystery why.
Whether Democrat or Republican, elected officials grazed in the fields of campaign contributions by day and wore the same path to the barn each night, without prejudice to political affiliation.
So credit Jeb Bush for doing the unexpected and, indeed, unprecedented last week. His administration, in effect, ticketed county commissioners in Florida’s largest county, Miami-Dade, for speeding merrily along the way to taking however much water they wanted from the Everglades, for whatever purpose they wanted.
The news was delivered by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen Castille and water chief Carol Ann Wehle in closed meetings with county commissioners:
Don’t count on additional water from the Biscayne aquifer to fuel your growth.
That Bush — their guy — had lowered the boom was greeted with glum faces and funereal sadness at Miami-Dade County Hall.
Weeks earlier, the county commission transmitted to Tallahassee nearly one dozen applications to break through the county’s urban growth boundary. Outside the boundary, land values are sizzling in anticipation of zoning changes.
County commissioners relished the battle with citizens opposing movement of the urban-growth boundary, dishing derision from the dais and bright ideas like appropriating new taxpayer money to counter “misinformation” by taxpayers with its own paid media.
Joe Martinez, the county chairman, was feeling so expansive that he recently extracted the single county commissioner who had aligned herself with the citizens’ movement, Katy Sorenson, from her position on the regional planning council.
Bush needn’t have wondered what the heck is going on in Miami-Dade County. He is from Miami-Dade.
For Florida’s conservation community, the scarcity of water is not news. For ordinary people who have witnessed the steady, gradual erosion of Florida’s pristine streams and rivers, the grief is palpable from one coast to the other.
For Americans who treasure the Everglades, the battle to secure clean water at the right time of year is a quest that entwines every hope to protect the global environment. Why?
Because the Everglades is where the richest nation on Earth has pointed all its governmental resources to reclaim a damaged ecosystem. That’s the theory.
What Bush thinks about the global environment is a mystery.
What is not is that the governor wants to leave a legacy that puts the state firmly in charge of Everglades restoration.
He can’t do that if local counties ignore the need to manage scarce freshwater resources. And he can’t persuade the Bush White House to back off when the largest county in Florida is acting as though the new direction in managing water supply and land development is something that applies to other people.
More can disappear in drained aquifers, sinkholes and polluted estuaries than the value of homes and their foundations: These can make elected officials disappear, too.
Today, Miami-Dade County commissioners are behaving like busy bees, putting on the lipstick, loving the manatee for a change, and assembling a “plan” for water re-use so that, hope against hope, applications to move the urban-growth boundary will be blessed by the state in a few weeks.
The county’s plan involves drawing “new” water from the Floridan, a brackish, water-bearing layer. Even deeper, in the Boulder Zone, the state has allowed the county to dump for 20 years an oceanic volume of fouled municipal wastewater that is now leaking upward.
So Miami-Dade’s wastewater is leaking into the Floridan, the same layer where county commissioners intend to draw its new source of drinking water.
Oh, well. You don’t have to drive to Miami to know the world isn’t perfect.
For the time, environmentalists in Miami-Dade County feel like Bush just belted a home run straight into their section of the bleachers. Nosebleed seats or not, never forget to bring your glove to the game.
And from Tallahassee, Bush can see them tipping their caps for a change.
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What Do You Need & When Do You Need It?
Most people don’t spend any time thinking about or preparing for a scheduled maintenance visit to the shop. A good number of people think of it only after a warning light turns on, or their car doesn’t start.
Your service manual is the best way to understand what your particular vehicle needs to run smoothly for a long time. It was written specifically for your vehicle by the engineering team who designed and built it. It’s a good place to go for you base knowledge.
Add to that, information on how and where and how often you drive, and you’ll have a more complete picture about your needs. For example, if you drive in dusty, hot, or stop-and-start conditions, you will be putting more wear on your vehicle and may need to shorten the span between recommended services. On the other hand, if you only drive to church on Sundays, you can probably extend your span between service visits a bit.
Our Scheduled Services Keeps Your Car Running Strong
Manufacturers recommend routine service schedules based on a vehicle’s age and mileage. Some of the more common intervals recur every 30,000 miles. 30/60/90K service check ups are designed to address your vehicle’s maintenance needs, and allow an inspection of items that might need replacement, based on the respective mileage interval.
Most 30/60/90K service checks will include the following items:
- Oil Change
- Tire rotation and balance, check and adjust tire pressure
- Inspect and replace filters (air, cabin, fuel, etc)
- Visual inspection of parts & systems: tires, wheels, brakes, lights, belts, hoses, drive train, fuel system, etc.
- Replace fluids (cooling system, brakes, steering, etc.)
- At higher mileage, spark plugs, timing belts, etc. may need replacement
- Vehicle road test
For specific items checked, and the recommended replacement intervals for your vehicle, check your owner’s manual.
New Vehicles Under Warranty
If your car is less than three years old and has fewer than 36,000 miles on it, any mechanical problems are usually covered by your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty does not cover wear items like brake pads, and your car will still need routine maintenance, like oil changes, filters, tire rotation, inspections, and tune ups, that you have to pay for.
Around the time that your warranty expires, the routine maintenance often becomes more involved. It’s important to keep up with it, to prevent larger more costly repairs later on.
Some vehicles have a reminder light to indicating that a service, like an oil change, is required at a certain mileage point. Some vehicles have a maintenance light which will only illuminate when work on your vehicle is required. A sensor in the vehicle’s engine calculates when the work is needed based on a number of factors that more accurately determine when your engine oil begins to break down.
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Skip to the content
New species of primate in mountains of Myanmar already threatened with extinction
Fauna & Flora International (FFI) was part of a team of primatologists that has discovered a new species of monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri in Northern Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Field research was led by Ngwe Lwin from the Myanmar Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) and supported by an international team of primatologists from FFI and the People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRCF).
The species has been named ‘Rhinopithecus strykeri’ in honour of Jon Stryker, President and Founder of the Arcus Foundation who supported the project. However, in local dialects it is called mey nwoah, ‘monkey with an upturned face.’
The team discovered the new species, also called the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey, as part of the nationwide Myanmar Primate Conservation Program in early 2010.
Hunters reported the presence of a monkey species with prominent lips and wide upturned nostrils, which did not fit the description of any primate currently known from the area. It also has a relatively long tail, approximately 140 per cent of its body size.
Frank Momberg, FFI’s Regional Programme Development Coordinator, Asia Pacific, who interviewed local hunters during the field surveys suggests that the species is limited to the Maw River area.
The distribution area is believed to be 270 km2 with an approximate population of 260-330 individuals. This means it would be globally classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN criteria for the level of threat of extinction.
As this new species of snub nosed monkey inhabits the Kachin State in northeastern Myanmar it is geographically isolated from other species by two major barriers, the Mekong and the Salween rivers, which may explain why the species has not been discovered earlier.
Sadly, this latest addition to the snub-nosed family is already threatened. Hunting pressure is rising thanks to loggers moving into previously isolated distribution area of this newly discovered monkey.
Mark Rose, Chief Executive of FFI said, “We are committed to taking immediate conservation action to safeguard the survival of this important new species together with our partners and local communities in Myanmar.”
Download the media release for more information.
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Application Data can be classified into 3 ways:
Relational Data with Columns & Data Types.
Example: Financial Statements
Apt for SQL Server
Dynamic Columns with No pre-defined Data Types.
Example: Product Catalog
Apt for Cosmos DB
Files such as Images & Videos
Apt for BLOB Storage.
Following are more parameters which determine the storage of data.
The location where data is stored like East-US, West-Europe etc.. In case of Data Compliance rules which demand Data should not cross country-boundaries more stringent location choice is required.
Data Redundancy ensures data will be copied to alternative location. This is useful on disaster recovery scenarios.
In case if the Data contains Proprietary Information – we can enforce restricted VNET (Virtual Network) Only access to the data.
Data Encryption can be applied on Rest & Transit. Encryption on Rest is supported by TDE (Transparent Data Encryption) of Azure SQL and Encryption by CosmosDB, Storage Accounts etc. Encryption on Transit is provided by HTTPS enable.
Storage Accounts allows grouping of data management through blobs, files, tables & queues
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She is charged with going to local communities and educating them about resources in the area and helping them expand their prevention efforts. She usually starts by showing them the state data on suicide and how that is mirrored in their own communities.
"I would say that when communities sit down and look at the data, they're really surprised," Myers said. "And, for the most part, people aren't aware of how big of an issue it is."
She, like Hudnall, talked about the importance of groups and individuals uniting and working together to tackle the issue. But there is also a responsibility for individuals to educate themselves to know how to help.
"I think that one of the most important things that people need to know and can take with them is that if you are worried about someone or if someone is showing warning signs of suicide, it's OK to talk to them about it," Myers said. "It's OK to ask.
"There's a lot of fear about asking if someone is thinking of taking their own lives, because you don't want to plant ideas, but research shows that talking about it is good and saves lives. We have good crisis lines. Don't be afraid to ask. There's no research that says you're going to hurt anyone by asking."
She stressed the importance of be willing to talk with someone struggling with thoughts of suicide without judgment and with empathy.
"That's a really dark place to be and it's usually not because they want their life to be over, but became they want pain to end," Myers said.
Stopping impulsive acts
Doug Thomas, of the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, said suicide is often an impulsive act, frequently tied to mental health issues that are then aggravated by divorce, health problems, job loss or other factors. It's also something that often takes place in conjunction with drug or alcohol use and is then completed or attempted by those with access to lethal means.
"Usually, people who have suicidal thoughts and suicidal feelings, they’re not permanent," Thomas said. "They feel permanent... but suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
"We think that if we're strong, we can deal with it on our own, but strong people ask for help when they need help."
He said treatment for thoughts of suicide is effective if help is sought and that suicidal thoughts should be treated the same way any other ailment would be treated. Each individual should take care of their own mental health the way they would their physical health.
"There’s a sense that, 'Well this couldn’t happen to me or my family' and the reality is, we all probably know someone who has either been suicidal or has attempted suicide," Thomas said.
"It’s a delicate topic because we feel strongly about ... the sanctity of life and we want people to pull themselves up by their boot straps, but you wouldn't say that if their blood sugar was low and they had diabetes."
Three resources can help immediately.
The Hope Task Force website, established by Hudnall, lists resources for help at http://hope4utah.com/.
The national suicide prevention lifeline, 1-800 273-TALK (8255) will direct callers to local help.
The Uni Crisis Intervention help line at (801) 587-3000 will connect callers with mental health professionals in Utah 24 hours a day.
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Euclidean plane geometry is one of the oldest and most beautiful of subjects in mathematics, and Methods for Euclidean Geometry explores the application of a broad range of mathematical techniques to the solution of Euclidean problems.
The book presents numerous problems of varying difficulty and diverse methods for solving them. More than a third of the book is devoted to problem statements, hints, and complete solutions. Some exercises are repeated in several chapters so that students can understand that there are various ways to solve them.
The book offers a unique and refreshing approach to teaching Euclidean geometry, which can serve to enhance students' understanding of mathematics as a whole.
Table of Contents
1. Early History
2. Axioms: from Euclid to Today
3. Lines and Polygons
5. Length and Area
10. Complex numbers
12. Affine Transformations
14. Coordinate Method with Software
Hints to Chapter Problems
Solutions to Chapter Problems
Sample Chapter 8
Chapter 8 Hints
Chapter 8 Solutions
Sample Chapter 12
Chapter 12 Hints
Chapter 12 Solutions
Chapter 14 Maple Sheet
Excerpt: Loci (p. 107)
Having completed a survey of lines, polygons, circles, and angles, we come to another collection of well-known figures in the plane: ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas. In what situations do these figures appear? What is our motivation for studying them?
One way in which these figures arise quite naturally is when we try to find answers to questions of the type, "What is the set of all points (loci) of a plane that satisfy a given property?" Another is when we wish to understand the trajectory of a moving point. Yet a third situation occurs when we seek to describe the intersection of two surfaces in space.
About the Authors
Owen Byer (Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia), Felix Lazebnik (University of Delaware), and Deirdre L. Smeltzer (Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia) are members of the MAA.
Methods for Euclidean Geometry is a college geometry textbook with a unique mission. Instead of treating the subject as a distinct unit in the math curriculum, the authors integrate a variety of mathematical disciplines to engage and enlighten the reader. The text begins with an early history of geometry and then introduces and explains the basics of an axiomatic system. After this fairly extensive introduction, there are eleven chapters of content, ranging from lines and polygons to conics and inversions. The content is accompanied by numerous practice and supplemental exercises; solutions are included. Continued...
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PROVEN CRIMINALS REED HASTINGS/BARRY McCARTHY/TECHNOLOGY CROSS VENTURES ARE OPERATING AN ORGANZIED LOOT PONZI SCAM VIA NETFLIX(NFLX) ON WALL STREET Organized crime groups are often involved in crimes that are considered white collar offenses. A number of crimes committed by organized groups are done so for the purposes of financial gain. This is called racketeering, which is a felony crime. Characteristics of Organized Crime Groups Organized crime offenses vary greatly
Since Yahoo doesn't allow us to post URL to substantiate facts...
This messag is from the NFLX Board...by singhlion2001
PROVEN CRIMINALS REED HASTINGS/BARRY McCARTHY/TECHNOLOGY CROSS VENTURES ARE OPERATING AN ORGANZIED LOOT PONZI SCAM VIA NETFLIX(NFLX) ON WALL STREET Organized crime groups are often involved in crimes that are considered white collar offenses. A number of crimes committed by organized groups are done so for the purposes of financial gain. This is called racketeering, which is a felony crime. Characteristics of Organized Crime Groups Organized crime offenses vary greatly, but, there are some generalizations that apply to the groups as a whole. They are all developed based on a hierarchy of power and importance associated with the individuals in the group. They are stable organizations that usually exist over very long periods of time. They may use violence to defend the interests of the group. They usually have political or social protection that keeps them safe from retaliation from the surrounding community, including law enforcement. Their purpose is to accumulate capital which is then reinvested into the operations and businesses run by the group. The majority of organized crime groups operate behind the mask of legitimate businesses. In some cases, their racketeering practices involve the bribery and manipulation of legitimate business owners or public officials. This prevents their racketeering practices from being detected. WHERE IS FBI? DOJ? White-collar crimes cost the United States more than $300 billion annually according to the FBI.
RED ALERT IN USA: FRAUD LOOT IN BILLIONS AND S.E.C. CRIMINALS STILL PROTECTING CRIMINAL REED HASTINGS SCAM GANG
And providing all weapons to keep the fraud bubble loot going
open challenge in USA to debate insolvent netflix insider scam with fraud street crime partners
Ouch! The Netflix Price-Change Hangover [View article]
Reed Hasting's is a carnival barker, a mountebank, a flim-flam man, a charlatan and a confidence man. The CFO left the company in January, because he was aware of the fake accounting at NFLX, the lies and the false hype. The Head of investor relations left 3 months ago, because she could no longer lie, about the companies activities and accounting. Both left before any investigation into accounting, or investigation into the manipulation of the stock by hedge funds begins. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley. JP Morgan, Piper Jaffray and many other financial institutions have been colluding to manipulate this stock thru proprietary trading in their hedge funds. Goldman Sachs picked NFLX as their latest Ponzi Scheme, because Reed Hastings is just the perfect Machiavellian con-man. Lloyd Blankfein And Reed Hastings are as thick as thieves. It was Goldman Sachs that forced Facebook executives to add Reed Hasting to their Board of directors, to manipulate the stock price. Reed Hasting is a false Messiah, in league with Goldman Sachs, deceiving Americans, and The indolent regulators who have been paid off by Goldman Sachs. The SEC directors are bribed by Goldman not to do their job, with promises of $4 million a year jobs after they leave the SEC, at banks, the very banks they are supposed to regulate. The SEC is corrupted and compromised by Goldman Sachs, "the Great Deceiver"
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- Infowars - http://www.infowars.com -
The Nazi-fication of America? FedGov Can Surely Do What It Wants
Posted By Adan On June 28, 2012 @ 1:37 pm In Featured Stories,Old Infowars Posts Style,Tile | Comments Disabled
June 28, 2012
There will be much written about the US Supreme Court’s decision not to overturn major portions of the “Obamacare” health care bill, but in reality it simply recognizes the obvious: the US Fedgov can pretty much do what it likes.
In a direct and cogent analysis posted on Infowars, Kurt Nimmo cuts to the heart of the issue, as follows:
Today’s ruling is important because it is the first time in history that the federal government has required citizens enter into contract with private corporations to buy a product or service. It also represents one of the most egregious violations of the Constitution in American history.
Nimmo is “telling it like it is” … and giving us a larger context for this decision, and its anti-freedom impacts. In fact, this sort of authoritarianism has been building for some time.
The Constitution is often presented as freedom’s bulwark, but history seems to show it’s been pretty much of a dead letter since the Civil War, if not earlier. US patriots don’t like to hear that, of course. Put it in blunter terms: Individual freedom, such as it is, has been eroding since the Founders put pen to paper.
There are plenty of questions about the status of the United States and the secret societies that swarmed about its initial composition. There are questions about the ultimate allegiances of such “founders” as Alexander Hamilton, who may have been an agent of the European Banks and their New York counterparts.
The creeping authoritarianism of the first 100 years of the Republic was just a warm-up. The massacres of “Native Americans” and then advent of the Civil War shows us clearly how quickly the US government turned on its citizens – probably at the behest of ancient, overseas banking powers in London’s City.
Once it was proven that states could not leave the union, corruption began to blossom powerfully. Tammany Hall, Whiskey Ring and Teapot Dome scandals were no coincidences. Fedgov had the power and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
It’s gone from bad to worse since then. The late 1800s saw surges of increasingly centralized stock exchange speculation – and the gradual creation of what is today a corporate state. Corporations themselves were given additional artificial powers by the Supreme Court of the day, laying the groundwork for the current troubles.
The creation of the Federal Reserve and the imposition of the income tax were among the final elements of authoritarian rule. Henceforth, Fedgov would hand-in-glove with private bankers to illegally print money and via the income tax would be empowered to know everything about its citizens finances and investments.
Of course, while the US was implementing these freedom-eroding facilities, Europe was growing worse too. This is no surprise. The same global elites that are behind the perversions of freedom in the US and the West generally helped fund the rise of Hitler’s Germany.
There are not many popularly disseminated studies of pre-war Germany’s economy, but that’s probably for a reason. AXIS nations (Germany, Italy, etc.) generally created command-and-control nation-states that were based on mercantilism, a conflation of private enterprise with government power. Sound familiar? The West is not there yet, but it’s getting there in a hurry.
In Nazi German for instance, Adolf Hitler himself reportedly decided how much money was to be printed. Hitler’s friends and enablers grew rich first – as Hitler and those around him decided on those goals and printed the money to fund them. Businesses prospered or did not depending on their value to the “state’s” goals and objectives.
People in Western democracies may not fully understand that while the AXIS was defeated, its political economy was a good deal closer to what modern elites desire for the West. The Supreme Court decision merely brings this state-of-affairs a little bit closer.
It can surely be said that national socialist-oriented “corporatism” is the defining feature of most Western states in the 21st century. Vast enterprises underpinned by state privileges have been erected and expanded. This is especially true where the military-industrial complex is concerned.
The Pentagon, for instance, has long-operated under the idea that its “suppliers” are necessary to the safety of the state and are to be protected and funded in ways that undermine any semblance of a market economy.
The same can be said for a handful of large financial firms that disseminate Federal Reserve fiat money. It has come to be an accepted occurrence within the halls of power that money center banks and other “too big to fail” enterprises must be kept afloat. Seen from this view, the Supreme Court decision is a public ratification of a de facto policy. It is only helping to midwife a full-blown version of this system.
The European Union is based on a version of the AXIS political economy and the US, increasingly, as well. While communism has always been held up as a Western bogeyman by the mainstream media, it is actually a kind of fascism that is being created before our weary eyes – first nationally and then globally.
Yes, if “they” have their way, the future of the world is to be one of fascism led by a handful of global elites who apparently fancy themselves as a kind of aggregate living godhead. No wonder the Supremes verdict turned out as it did.
For additional links see www.AmericanFreed.com.
Article printed from Infowars: http://www.infowars.com
URL to article: http://www.infowars.com/the-nazi-fication-of-america-fedgov-can-surely-do-what-it-wants/
Copyright © 2013 Infowars. All rights reserved.
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RED OAK CREEK (ROBERTSON COUNTY)
RED OAK CREEK (Robertson County). Red Oak Creek rises 2½ miles northwest of Ridge in east central Robertson County near the Leon county boundary (at 31°10' N, 96°21' W) and runs four miles to its mouth on Red Oak Lake, east of the Navasota River and two miles northeast of Ridge (at 31°10' N, 96°18' W). Steep inclines in the area are surfaced by loam that supports post oak. The terrain changes to nearly level near the Navasota floodplain.
The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article."RED OAK CREEK (ROBERTSON COUNTY)," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rbr30), accessed December 13, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
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We wanted to capture the dark, aggressive essence of the black panther while implementing the sleek and fast designs similar to the Lamborghini.
Experimented with several different forms that could depict the most successful representation of the Black Panther form while ensuring the most successful streamline design.
In order to reach maximum weight restrictions the interior of the car was vacuum formed to hold weights as close to the bottom of the car as possible. This created a low center of gravity and propelled the car forward after reaching the end of the ramp.
Created a fully assembled model that could be put together without any adhesives. Wheels, axels, base plate and body are 3D printed and measured to fit tightly with assembly.
FULLY 3D MODELED
Every aspect was 3D modeled whether it was going to be printed or not to get a highly detailed end render
Depicting various parts and how to go about the assembly
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As part of the European Union’s support for the U.N.’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative, E.U. Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced with visiting Djibouti Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita that the E.U. would provide funding for a combined renewable energy and water desalinization plant. The plant, to be built near Djibouti City, is to provide water for more 200,000 people—about one quarter of the of the country’s population. It will cost $69 million with the E.U. providing $53.6 million and the Djiboutian government to cover the balance. Water demand in the capital is estimated at 80,000 cubic meters daily (cmd), but only 36,000 cmd are supplied; to further complicate the situation, the country recently suffered through a lengthy drought.
In Mr. Piebalg’s statement, he stated that the plant will be powered by renewable energy in the future. This commitment is in line with Djibouti’s goal of moving towards 100 percent renewable energy by 2020, detailed at World Energy Forum 2012 in Dubai, and to demonstrate steps for sustainable development.
However, throughout much of Djibouti, citizens suffer from insufficient energy services—which is not unique to the nation.
Energy poverty is generally defined as when people do not have access to modern energy sources. Being reliant on rudimentary sources of energy keeps large swaths of people locked out of the global economy and inextricably linked to poverty. Today, at least 1.3 billion people lack access to electricity globally, according to UNDP. Of those, 85 percent live in rural areas with the bulk concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). More starkly, 2.7 billion people do not have access to cooking and heating fuel and instead rely on traditional, inefficient biomass such as wood, crop waste, animal waste and charcoal for necessary fuel, heat, and light. Kerosene is also used for light, but it is relatively costly and inefficient. Gathering the fuel daily, mostly by women and children, consumes time that could be otherwise utilized productively, stifling their education and career opportunities.
The biomass is usually burned in inefficient stoves inside primitive and poorly ventilated dwellings. The smoke produces high levels of household air pollution (HAP) with a range of health-damaging pollutants, including small soot particles that penetrate the lungs and causes chronic illness and other health impacts. According to the “Global Burden of Disease Study” published this past December in the Lancet, HAP from cooking with solid fuels kills 4 million people annually. In addition, millions more are sickened from lung cancer and disease, child lower respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, and cataracts associated with HAP. Furthermore, these emissions are important drivers of climate change and local environmental degradation.
Shifting from solid fuels to cleaner energy technologies can potentially yield the largest reduction in indoor air pollution levels, while minimizing environmental impacts of energy production and consumption in general.
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is a new initiative, led by the U.N. Foundation, supporting large-scale adoption of clean, efficient and safe household cooking solutions as a way to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and reduce climate change emissions. The Alliance’s founding partners have set a goal of enabling an additional 100 million homes to adopt technologies such as solar cookers by 2020.
To meet this goal, increased energy services are necessary.
There can be no human development without energy. Energy is a key ingredient which allows society to function. It provides the ability to access economic opportunities to create jobs and increase income, it empowers women, children and local communities, it improves the ability to deliver quality education and health services, provides power to refrigerate medicine, power hospitals, and light to study at night, among a myriad of other vital uses.
It becomes evident for those in energy poverty, they are in a poverty trap. Access to energy is a prerequisite for poverty alleviation.
Highlighting the issue, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, recognizing that “…access to modern affordable energy services in developing countries is essential for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and sustainable development, which would help to reduce poverty and to improve the conditions and standard of living for the majority of the world’s population.” It has drawn greater public awareness and influential commitments for providing access to energy.
Sustainable Energy For All is a U.N. led initiative that brings together governments, businesses and civil society groups to achieve three goals by 2030: (1) ensuring universal access to modern energy services (2) doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency (3) doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The goals encompass boosting economic growth, improving social equity and preserving the environment.
As Aneri Patel senior associate for energy access at the U.N. Foundation describes, “The United Nations Foundation operates the Energy Access Practitioner Network, a global network officially part of the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative to catalyze practitioners across the globe on solving energy poverty. Currently represented in 150 countries, hundreds of practitioners share best practices and recommendations on meeting the 2030 goal of universal access.” She also mentioned successes to include elevating the status of entrepreneurs on an international stage, such as the EPA’s C3E Awards, IFC’s Lighting Africa Competition, the Ashden Awards, and Forbes 30 under 30 list.
Providing access to energy remains difficult on a macro level. Constructing a traditional central power plant and the accompanying infrastructure is costly and difficult due to poor conditions and challenging topography. On a micro level, in a twist of irony, many nations with rampant energy poverty are well situated to leverage their local advantages of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and/or biomass to provide a reliable source of energy. Constructing decentralized renewable energy infrastructure is a key component to provide access to energy to these areas. The roadmap can be similar to that for mobile phones, which eliminated the need for land lines and other infrastructure.
This is not cheap and can not be implemented overnight. IEA Chief Economist Dr. Fatih Birol said, “We need $36 billion a year to bring modern energy services to the poor. There is a big gap between this figure, and what is currently being invested.” When placed in context, the $36 billion is 3 percent of funding to be spent on energy services. In 2009, $9.1 billion was invested in extending energy access.
In most countries, the public sector cannot meet the challenge alone, but it can employ national energy plans and targets, and provide basic financial support to replicate similar succeses. Programs are being implemented through financing from international banks, development banks, project developers, local banks, and microfinance institutions. Projects are spreading in certain locations, but it is often hard to make a business case for projects in nations with weak political systems and institutions, and profitability is unlikely, thus many businesses are now citing action more for corporate social responsibility. All nations afflicted with energy poverty need a national policy to lay the foundation to establish a financial environment attractive for investment—many think that it is easier to attain financing for a large scale power plant than for a small energy project in rural Africa.
In sum, providing access to reliable, sustainable energy is an enormous challenge on many levels. But if the momentum that has continued to build during 2012 endures developing policy, planning, and financing from governments, the private sector, and civil society working together, the bridge to a fruitful life will be presented for hundreds of millions of people that are currently without energy options.
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As Anodos is wandering about the forest, he comes upon a small cavern in which he finds water to drink and moss upon which to rest. As he takes in the scene, he begins to feel a sense of calm and pleasure at being in such a pure and simple environment:
A little well of the clearest water filled a mossy hollow in one corner. I drank, and felt as if I knew what the elixir of life must be; then threw myself on a mossy mound that lay like a couch along the inner end. Here I lay in a delicious reverie for some time; during which all lovely forms, and colours, and sounds seemed to use my brain as a common hall, where they could come and go, unbidden and unexcused. I had never imagined that such capacity for simple happiness lay in me, as was now awakened by this assembly of forms and spiritual sensations, which yet were far too vague to admit of being translated into any shape common to my own and another mind. [p.65]
1. In this passage, Anodos feels a sense of harmony that he has never before experienced in his own world. Yet is the "secondary world" that MacDonald has created in Phantastes intended to be some sort of utopia? If so, how can one explain the evil presence of the ash tree as well as the beech tree's longing to become a woman?
2. Clearly, the reader must suspend his or her belief in order to embrace the imaginary world that MacDonald has crafted. Yet it seems that the reader must also suspend belief when it comes to understanding a character like Anodos. Why is he not frightened (besides his fear of the ash tree) of the "secondary world" that he has suddenly dropped into? He has no mission or goal, yet he seems to be driven to press forward? Where is this motivation coming from?
3. How is the fantasy world that MacDonald creates in Phantastes different or the same from the one Carroll creates in Alice in Wonderland? Which world has more elements of realism? How do the sexual connotations in Phantastes compare with the innocence of Alice in Wonderland?
Last modified 3 February 2003
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Mary G. Ross, the first known Native American female engineer, is featured on Thursday’s Google Doodle. Today’s doodle celebrates what would be her 108th birthday, and the major contributions she made to aerospace and interplanetary space travel projects.
Ross–the great-granddaughter of Cherokee Chief John Ross–was born in Park Hill, OK in 1908. A gifted student, Ross enrolled in Northeastern State Teachers College at age 16. She studied math, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1928, according to the Cherokee Phoenix.
For nine years, Ross taught math and science at the high school level. Wanting to explore more of the world, she took a civil service exam and was hired as a statistical clerk in the US Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC.
SEE: Hiring kit: Chief diversity officer (Tech Pro Research)
In 1937, the bureau sent her to Santa Fe to work as a womens’ advisor at a school for Native American artists, which later became the Institute for American Indian Art. She also got a master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Northern Colorado, and studied astronomy there as well.
“Math was more fun than anything else. It was always a game to me,” Ross said in an interview with writer Laurel Sheppard. “I was the only female in my class. I sat on one side of the room and the guys on the other side of the room. I guess they didn’t want to associate with me. But I could hold my own with them and sometimes did better.”
With the onset of World War II, Ross learned that the Lockheed Corporation was facing a shortage of skilled technical workers. She was hired there as a mathematician in 1942, and was assigned to work with the engineering staff on the P-38 Lightning fighter plane. Specifically, the engineering staff was researching the impact of pressure on the plane as it drew close to the sound barrier, and how to improve the aero elasticity of the machine.
When the war ended, Lockheed sent Ross to the University of California – Los Angeles for a professional certification in engineering. This gave her an entry point to what would become the space race.
At Lockheed, Ross worked on major projects including the Agena rocket, which directly helped the Apollo program land on the moon. The company also tapped Ross to become one of the 40 engineers involved in the secret think tank known as Lockheed Skunk Works. She was the only woman engineer in the group, Time noted. With Skunk Works, Ross developed initial concepts for interplanetary space travel, including missions to fly past Venus and Mars. She co-authored the NASA Planetary Flight Handbook Vol. III, which is about space travel from Mars to Venus.
After retiring from Lockheed in 1973, Ross worked to recruit high school and college women to the engineering field. As a member of the Society of Women Engineers, she also worked with groups like the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the Council of Energy Resource Tribes.
Ross passed away in 2008, at the age of 99. While she was a pioneer in the engineering world, much work remains to draw more women and Native Americans into the field. Women earn only 18% of computer science bachelor’s degrees in the United States, and women of color earn a fraction of those degrees. Only 0.1% of people working in science and engineering are female American Indians, according to the National Science Foundation.
“To function efficiently in today’s world, you need math,” Ross said in the interview with Sheppard. “The world is so technical, if you plan to work in it, a math background will let you go farther and faster.”
For tips on how to include more women in color in tech, click here.
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- About CIR
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – In the back of a 10th-grade geometry classroom on a recent morning at Washington Preparatory High School, nine miles southeast of Los Angeles, Landon Yurica and Alycia Jones bent over the papers in front of them. At 23 and 24, respectively, the two could almost blend in as students as they tried the assignment the high school students were working on: finding the surface area of a geometric shape.
Yurica and Jones are teachers-in-training with the Urban Teacher Residency, a partnership among the Los Angeles Unified School District and four Southern California universities, which provides an alternative route to the classroom.
The program takes three semesters, compared with an average of six semesters in traditional programs for students who start as undergraduates and two for post-baccalaureate programs. It also demands a commitment of at least three post-preparation teaching years from its participants. It is one of an expanding pool of alternative programs capitalizing on the belief that the more experience an aspiring teacher has in a classroom, the better. The number of alternative programs nationwide has skyrocketed from 70 programs in the 2000-01 school year to 658 in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Education, and these programs now make up 31 percent of all teacher preparation programs in the nation.
Yet experts on teacher preparation acknowledge that little is known about which strategies actually work best for developing high-quality teachers. In 2008, James Wyckoff, a professor of education and public policy at the University of Virginia, was one of several researchers who looked at components of teacher preparation programs in New York City to determine which seemed to affect student achievement the most.
“I think what is remarkable is how little we know about teacher preparation,” Wyckoff said.
His study found, however, that one feature that can make a difference in outcomes for students is the amount of time aspiring teachers spent engaged in meaningful work in classrooms before they graduate from a training program.
In California, as in many states, the number of hours required for student teaching varies greatly by program, and the state has no minimum. Some schools, such as Loyola Marymount University, require as many as 1,600 hours, according to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Others, like Chapman University and Fresno Pacific University, require less than 500 hours. A handful of programs require no more than 200 hours. Nationwide, traditional teacher preparation programs required an average of 514 student teaching hours during the 2008-09 academic year, according to the U.S. Department of Education, far less than the average of 901 required that year by alternative programs that are not based out of universities.
Emily Feistritzer, president and CEO of the National Center for Alternative Certification, says that nationwide, alternative programs tend to place aspiring teachers in the classroom from the very beginning, so these numbers naturally would be higher. Those new teachers often are the teacher of record immediately. By contrast, in traditional training programs, students observe and then are observed by a mentor teacher.
“ ‘Student teaching,’ that terminology, has very little relevancy in the alternative routes,” Feistritzer said. “An alternative route program is generally a field-based program.”
What constitutes an alternative route varies widely, however. Every state determines its own definition for alternative programs, meaning a program that one state has classified as alternative might be classified as traditional in another state, despite having many of the same characteristics. One example is Teach For America: In some states, it is considered a preparation program; in others, a recruiting organization.
In California, alternative programs are called “intern programs” by the state and refer to programs in which participants teach in classrooms during the program, usually as the teacher of record. And most so-called alternative routes actually are run by traditional university programs, though that might be changing.
The Urban Teacher Residency falls into a small category of alternative programs in California run by school districts. These programs tend to have partnerships with local universities to offer education classes to participants, but emphasize time in the classroom as a crucial component of the training.
Many of these programs were created to address teacher shortages in specific subject areas or to attract candidates who historically have been underrepresented in the teaching force, such as men or minorities. Others were created in the hopes of developing better teachers, either through the program’s methods of training teachers or by attracting candidates with subject matter expertise, like those with degrees in math or science.
Between the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years, the number of students in both traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs in California dropped, most likely due to lack of job security, educators say.
But according to the U.S. Department of Education, alternative programs based at universities across the country saw a 3 percent increase in the number of people completing them during that time. Alternative programs not run by universities, such as school district programs, saw an 18 percent increase.
The increase is likely due to more programs and candidates embracing the idea that time spent working in a classroom is more beneficial than time spent reading a textbook about teaching. “We find that the closer you get to the classroom, the teacher training is better,” Feistritzer said.
Alternative routes also might be more convenient – and less expensive – than a university. The Urban Teacher Residency program at California State University, Dominguez Hills pays its participants a stipend of up to $20,000 over the course of the 18-month residency, while others offer perks like free master’s degrees. (At California State University, the graduate and credential programs cost about $6,800 per year for state residents; private schools like Loyola Marymount University can cost upward of $30,000.)
But just as little is known about the effectiveness of traditional routes, there is little evidence that alternative routes are doing a better job of effectively preparing teachers.
During the 2009-10 school year, teachers prepared through an alternate route accounted for 10 percent of those attempting to pass a performance assessment in California, a requirement before earning a credential. Among all candidates, these teachers also had the lowest pass rate on their first attempt to take the exam.
California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing says teachers in some routes take parts of the exam early in their program, however, perhaps accounting for lower pass rates than those who take the exam at the end of the preparation program. Different versions of the test also have lower pass rates than others.
The Urban Teacher Residency, begun in 2010 to fill critical teacher shortages in urban Los Angeles schools, has embraced the limited research suggesting that more classroom experience, especially when it replicates what teachers will be expected to do in their own classrooms post-graduation, produces better teachers.
Teachers in the residency program spend an average of about 1,300 hours in the classroom in student teaching, more than the average number completed in nearly 90 percent of the alternative programs in the state.
Unlike some alternative programs, though, the program gradually introduces candidates to full-time teaching. Teachers-in-training, called “residents,” spend a summer semester taking classes through a university partner, then immediately enter a classroom to become acclimated.
For one semester, the residents observe an experienced teacher nearly full time. The residents say this allows them to build relationships with students before the second semester, when they begin teaching a few classes on their own with mentoring from a more experienced teacher.
Jones, who is in her third semester of the residency program, says she doubts she could learn the same lessons about managing a classroom and keeping students engaged through courses at a university.
“You can’t talk about it, you can’t have conversations about it, you can’t see videos about it,” she said. “You actually have to see it and you have to be in it.”
Alternative programs often are designed to address another frequent weakness of traditional programs. Both nationwide and in California, schools of education graduate an overabundance of elementary school teachers.
The Urban Teacher Residency is focused on producing only teachers who will fill some of the shortage areas that have plagued California schools for years: math, science and special education. Residents are placed in urban, low-income schools and teach only secondary math or science.
To ensure the program is meeting school district needs, HR administrators at Los Angeles Unified sit on a selection committee to interview candidates for the program, and the two entities share data frequently.
“They need information from us, and we need information from them,” said Kamal Hamdan, program director of the Urban Teacher Residency at CSU Dominguez Hills.
Specifically, the district shares student achievement data with the residency program, which Hamdan says is crucial for determining how effective the program graduates are in the classroom and, ultimately, how the program can help.
“It shouldn’t be only the district’s obligation,” he said. “It should be our obligation to step in and say, ‘Wait a minute, this teacher might be struggling, what are we going to do as an institute of higher education?’ ”
There’s not enough data yet, however, to show that the residency program is producing high-performing teachers who outshine graduates from traditional routes – something Drew Furedi, executive director for talent management at Los Angeles Unified, acknowledges.
“We’ll see if that’s a model that prepares people in a demonstrably different way,” he said.
This story was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education-news outlet affiliated with Teachers College, Columbia University.
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This is the section to learn all about travel in Latin America from medical tourism and family vacations to retirement destinations.
This beautiful tropic paradise has something for everyone, including beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife and amazing Mayan ruins. It is also the only country in Latin America with English as its official language.
Its beautiful coastline and charming people have made Costa Rica a retirement hotspot for wealthy Americans. Let’s explore this beautiful Central American gem.
Costa Rica Retirement
Are you tired of long commutes, cubicles and time-clocks? Do you want to retire but fear that you cannot afford it? Living in Latin America can be very feasible on less money than it requires to live in the States. Costa Rica is viable choice with its excellent healthcare and climate.
Costa Rica's Mangrove Forest on Isla Damas
One of Costa Rica’s most important mangrove forests is on Isla Damas that lies just off Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast near the town of Quepos. I had the opportunity to explore the mangrove swamp on Isla Damas currently one of the most important remaining mangroves in Costa Rica.
With its beautiful beaches and turbulent history, Honduras is one interesting place! Find out more about this fascinating Central American country.
Hotel Cozumel and Resort in Mexico
An unspoken grace that strikes one speechless and embraces you in understated beauty. Cozumel is far removed from the everyday hustle of modern times, life moves along at a peaceful pace and invites one to truly relax and enjoy the spectacle that is what life on a Caribbean island should be.
Loja – Ecuador’s Cultural Capital
Loja, considered the seat of Ecuadorian music and culture, has picture-perfect colonial architecture, tidy paved streets, and pedestrian walkways winding along its two rivers that meet at the gates of the city. A visit to Ecuador is not complete without seeing Loja.
Nicaragua Hispanic Culture Homepage | Editor's Picks Articles | Top Ten Articles | Hispanic Culture Site Map
The largest country in Central America, Nicaragua has a rich past. Explore this country with me as we discover Nicaragua.
Think your link belongs here? Use the contact page to let this editor know.
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and Complementary Remedies for Arteriosclerosis And Atherosclerosis
Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to Oriental medicine theory, heart attacks or the pain of angina are usually caused by stagnant chi (life energy) or blood in the pericardium or heart meridian. This, in turn, may be due to blocked arteries, bacteria or other organisms, poor diet or "invasions" of wind, heat and other factors.
Oriental medicine doctors will strive to strengthen the body with a combination of herbs and spices, diet, acupuncture, "ear acupuncture" and other therapies, as necessary. Treatment will vary according to the type of heart disease and the patient's individual characteristics.
The heart disease may be due to an obstruction of the body's energy in the chest, leading to chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath (often related to cold temperatures) and a greasy white "fur" on the tongue. The problem may also be caused by lack of movement in the heart vessels, leading to shortness of breath, an uneven pulse, a dark purple-looking tongue and a twinge in the chest that radiates to the back and shoulders. Another type of heart disease is related to a lack of both chi and yin. In cases like this, symptoms include shortness of breath, dryness in the mouth, a weak pulse, heart palpitations and vague pain in the chest.
Herbs and spices
Exactly which herbs and spices and the amount of each will depend upon the patient and his or her condition. One of the substances used for heart disease is
licorice that strengthens the lungs, stomach and spleen. It also works with other herbs to improve their effectiveness. There are several herbal formulas for heart
disease (see below.). Other Chinese formulae include Su He Xiang Wan, Kuan Hsin Su Ho Wan Styrax and Ben Shen Yang Ying Wan.
Dan Shen Tablets (Salvia Root Tablets)
This formula relieves pain in the heart due to blood stagnation and stimulates circulation in the coronary blood vessels. Effective remedy for angina pectoris, heart palpitations, pain running down left arm, and chest pains. Also reduces blood cholesterol and lipids.
Main ingredients: Salvia root , borneol crystal
Ren Shen Zai Zao Wan (Ginseng Restorative Pills)
Tonifies blood, yin, and energy, stimulates blood circulation, and dispels stagnation. This formula is used primarily for symptoms related to stroke, including speech impediments, contractive or flaccid muscle tone in extremities, numbness and tingling in limbs, and facial paralysis. Should be administered immediately after stroke occurs.
mantis egg case
Agkistrodon pit viper
An Shen Pu Shin Wan (Pacify Spirit and Tonify Heart Pills)
This popular formula calms the spirit, tonifies the heart, clears obstructions from blood vessels, and harmonizes energy connection between heart Fire and kidney Water. Remedy for insomnia caused by deficient kidney and/ or heart energy, as well as related symptoms of dizziness, restlessness, excessive dreaming, and heart palpitations. Also helps remove plaque deposits from arteries, thus preventing their hardening. This formula is known for its soothing, tranquillizing effects.
Ten Flavour Tea (Shih Chuan Da Bu Wan)
This is classical Chinese formula has a wide range of tonic benefits, including spleen and heart energy, kidney and spleen yang, and blood. It promotes circulation, improves appetite and digestion, warms the kidneys, boosts protective wei-chee energy, strengthens the legs, and eliminates fatigue. May be used as a long-term general tonic by men and women, or as a restorative after illness, surgery, and childbirth.
Diet plays an important role in Oriental medicine. Foods are selected depending on their flavors, organic actions and other qualities, including energies.
There are five food energies: hot, warm, neutral, cool and cold. In addition to a healthy diet, the Oriental medicine physician may recommend
the following foods specifically for heart disease.
Chive root - Warms the body; promotes energy and keeps the blood from coagulating unnecessarily. It is also used for chest pain.
Corn - Strengthens the stomach and colon. It is used for a weak heart.
Date - Strengthens the spleen; improves energy and blood flow. It is used for heart palpitations.
Hawthorn fruit - Helps to prevent excessive blood clotting that can lead to heart attacks. It also tones the spleen, liver and stomach.
Honey - Relieves pain; strengthens the lungs, large intestine and spleen. It is used for various forms of heart disease.
Logan - It strengthens the heart and blood. Also improves the energy flow. Used for heart palpitations.
Tea - Reduces the swelling sometimes associated with heart disease.
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‘Mars Is A Real Place’ is a musical slideshow of stereoscopic 3D photos of the surface of Mars. Works with Google Cardboard.
Be inspired by the diverse landforms, brush up on your planetary geology terms, and make a bet with yourself on how long until a human footprint shows up in one of these photos!
• More than 50 high-resolution images have been hand-picked and presented for your viewing pleasure. All of the images are stereoscopic and care has been taken to ensure they are allcomfortable to view in 3D (minimized retinal rivalry, panoramas are each shown at the proper FOV wrapping around the player, hard-to-converge portions cropped out, etc)
• Most of the slideshow is set to music, so headphones are recommended.
• Each image comes with supporting information for those that want to delve a little deeper into each landscape.
• As of v1.01, specific images can be marked as favorites, allowing you to browse through a smaller set of images.
[appbox googleplay com.drashvr.marsisarealplacecb]
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Female worker bees find their food in the nectar of flowering plants. I see them flitting flower to flower sucking zealously. Most flowers have both male and female elements, leading us to think they can fertilize themselves. Mother Nature, however, blocked that mechanism in many specimens by superimposing a complicated incompatibility system to prevent the male pollen from getting to the female ovary. The only way these plants can complete the sexual act is by cross-fertilization following the matching rules of coupling between molecules with the required characteristics. The bottom line? Such plants cannot self-fertilize but can successfully fertilize most other members of the species, thus achieving outbreeding with a mix of genomes in successive generations.
Gregor Mendel, the father of inheritance—bee keeper, gardener, and monk—wanted to know how discernable traits are passed on from one generation to the next. Fortuitously, he first chose peas rather than bees for study. He cross-bred, by taking pollen from one known parent and depositing it on the tip of the tube leading to the bulbous female ovary of another. By scoring expression of certain parental traits, such as flower color and peapod shape, in the offspring of these crosses, he showed that defined characteristics of each parent were passed on from one generation to the next. Mendel tried working with bees for comparable studies. Alas the data from bees did not jibe with those of peas, due to the then unknown, unorthodox ways of sexual reproduction in bees.
Filled with the fragrance of pretty spring flowers, I turn again to that lily-padded frog pond and think of smaller creatures hidden therein—the microscopic fungi and algae. I pause to ponder the possible presence of tiny swimming spores coming from a little fresh water mold called Achlya ambisexualis, the subject of my master’s thesis many years ago. I and my mentor, John (Red) Raper fell in love while sampling small ponds in the hinterlands around Chicago to make collections of this wee critter for study back in the lab. We nurtured the spores on freshly cut hemp seeds and watched them develop into full-grown colonies of threadlike cells called hyphae. We paired the grownup colonies to look for evidence of mating.
Achlya ambisexualis is aptly named. It goes frogs, birds, fish, bees, and peas one better. It can be either male or female depending upon the partner it happens to meet. A supreme opportunist, this little mold spends no energy making fertilizing organs before they are needed. If you were one of its members, you could go either way depending upon the relative sexuality of the nearest possible partner. You could behave as male if your neighbor bears stronger female tendencies than you and vice versa.
Let’s say your male potential is stronger than that of your neighbor. She behaves as female and initiates the dalliance by sending you a signal to develop long finger-like appendages in readiness for genomic delivery. Then, and only then, do you release a message in response, telling that female to make her little nucleated egg sacks in order to receive your nuclei. She, in turn, signals your fertilizing elements hither to deliver your genes to hers within the encapsulated eggs. Voila!
My thesis aimed towards concentrating enough of a strong female’s message to determine its nature. I failed in this, but others succeeded by using better, more modern techniques. Amazingly, these later investigators defined the attracting signals of both sexes as two different steroid molecules resembling human sex hormones. The regulating genes remain unknown.
My love of the fungi persists from that time.
Moving on to the fringe of the woods, I spot a light brown, dome-shaped mushroom hanging from a white birch tree. It must be Polyporus betulinus, a fungus studied by friend Abe Flexer, a fellow researcher in Red Raper’s lab. Abe discovered its sex life and found two sexes back in the nineteen seventies, but later investigators found more—as many as 33. How can that be?
Walking further, with mushrooms on my mind, I find a group of fan-shaped forms anchored to a log half-rotted. I kneel up close and cock my head. Each resembles a scallop shell, small as a fingernail, with irregular ridges of spore-bearing gills scoring the concave underside. It is Schizophyllum commune, my favorite mushroom-bearing fungus, with not just three dozen sexes but thousands.
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Thursday, August 28, 2008
Framework 5: Atkins and Murphy's model of reflection
Atkins and Murphy's model of reflection (1994)
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Helpful questions to ask when reflecting
Definitions of reflection
Why and when to reflect
Framework 5: Atkins and Murphy's model of reflecti...
Framework 3:Johns model for structured reflection
framework 4: Kolb's Learning Cycle (1984)
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Reflection as a tool
1. Gibbs G. (1988). Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic.
2. Johns C. (2000). Becoming a Reflective Practitioner: a Reflective and Holistic Approach to Clinical Nursing, Practice Development and Clinical Supervision. Oxford: Blackwell Science.
3. Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001). Critical Reflection in Nursing and the Helping Professions: a User’s Guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Atkins, S. and Murphy, K. (1994) Reflective Practice. Nursing Standard 8(39) 49-56.
Boyd E & Fales A (1983) reflective learning: the key to learning from experience. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 23 (2): 99-117
Department of Health (1993), A Vision for the future: the nursing midwifery and health visiting contribution to health and healthcare. HMSO, London.
Donaghy, M.E. and Morss, K. (2000). Guided reflection: A framework to facilitate and assess reflective practice within the discipline of physiotherapy. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 16, 3-14.
Jarvis P (1992) Reflective practice and nursing. Nurse Education Today, 12, 174-181.
Kolb, D.A. (1984) Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Prentice Hall, New Jersey
Reid B (1993) ‘But We’re Doing it Already!’ Exploring a Response to the Concept of Reflective Practice in Order to Improve its Facilitation, Nurse Education Today, 13: 305-309.
Schön, DA: 1987, Educating the Reflective Practitioner: Toward a New Design for Teaching and Learning in the Professions, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco.
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How to Get Rid of Bad Breath
There are several ways you can eliminate bad breath. One of these things is to use orange or lemon juice to wash your mouth. Your mouth will produce more saliva due to the acidity of these fruits. Although it won’t completely eliminate bad breath, it will reduce the amount of bad breath that you exhale.
The cause of bad breath is by gargling baking soda water. This works by killing bacteria in your mouth. It can also be used as a mouthwash. Simply mix half a cup of baking soda with one cup of water and make a mouthwash every alternate day. This remedy is safe, effective, and can last for up to one week.
Baking soda is also excellent to fight gum and plaque disease. Due to its alkaline properties it is able to neutralize acid levels in the mouth and kill harmful bacteria. In contrast to other mouthwashes, it does not cause any damage to the teeth. It can also be used as a natural toothpaste or as an alternative to mouthwash.
Baking soda has been used to wash the mouth for more than 100 years. According to the Smithsonian Institute it was one of the first ingredients in dentifrices. In the beginning, drug dealers, they would mix various ingredients and sell them to the general public. These dentifrices were often composed of various ingredients that aren’t available today. Hydrochloric acid, which is widely used in dentifrices, was criticized by the Journal of the American Dental Association in 1931. Studies show that using hydrochloric acid to eliminate dental plaque can damage tooth enamel by as much as 3% every time.
In addition to fighting plaque baking soda can also help prevent gingivitis, a condition that is a result of high levels of acid in the mouth. Baking soda neutralizes acid levels and make breath more refreshing. Baking soda can also be used to whiten teeth and eliminate the surface stains.
Essential oil of lemongrass is a wonderful natural method to fight bacteria and freshen breath. It has the same properties as toothpaste, however it is more effective at getting rid of biofilm from teeth and preventing plaque. Moreover, it has a pleasant scent that is citrusy that helps to keep mouth odour at bay. Lemongrass essential oil can be used as an oral rinse twice a every day. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to your toothbrush and wash it well.
Essential oils of lemongrass is extracted from the stalks and leaves of the lemongrass plant. Due to its refreshing citrus scent it is extensively utilized in aromatherapy. It can also be used in massage, application to the skin, and inhalation. Before using lemongrass as mouthwash or in any other application, consult your doctor.
If you’d like to give lemongrass a go ensure you make use of fresh lemongrass as it is much more flavorful. Consuming large amounts of lemongrass may cause stomach upset. However, smaller amounts of it will not harm your body unless you’re allergic. However, you should still use lemongrass essential oil carefully and test it first on just a small portion.
The antioxidants present in lemongrass help to fight the aging process as as protect the body against various diseases. It has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation. It also aids the digestive system and may stop the dysfunction of coronary arterial. The National Institutes of Health found that lemongrass could be able to treat gastric ulcers.
Lemongrass is an annual plant that thrives in tropical climates. It can grow from 0.8 to 1m in height with long, narrow leaves with rough edges. The leaves are scented with a citrus smell. The stems and rhizomes of lemongrass are either white or purple. The leaves and rhizomes of lemongrass can be utilized to make essential oils. Lemongrass essential oil is mainly composed of cittral. Citral is anti-bacterial, antiinflammatory and antifungal.
Mouthwash with fluoride
Fluoride mouthwash is a great way to fight bad breath and maintain your healthy teeth. It’s got 0.05% sodium fluoride, which is recognized for its ability to fight cavities and plaque. It can also help strengthen the enamel of your teeth. Fluoride mouthwash is unlike other mouthwashes. It contains no alcohol.
Fluoride mouthwash is beneficial for many reasons. It can fight tooth decay, fight cavities and remineralize. It can also help to stop tooth decay. Fluoride can help maintain fresh, minty breath. Fluoride not only kills harmful bacteria and stop bad breath, but it can also remineralize your teeth, making them stronger.
Mouthwash made of fluoride can be used to kill bacteria that cause bad breath. It can also be used to treat gum disease. It is recommended to use it following flossing and brushing. You can put a small amount of mouthwash in your mouth and then swish it around your mouth. Afterward, you need to rinse it out. After you have rinsed your mouth with mouthwash you should not eat or smoke for at least 30 seconds. If you have any doubts regarding the use of fluoride mouthwash you can consult your dentist.
Fluoride mouthwash can reduce bad breath by removing plaque and preventing cavities. People who suffer from bad breath should brush their teeth twice daily and floss regularly to remove food particles. Brushing your teeth after meals can help prevent bad breath by preventing growth of bacteria. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles which can cause bad breath.
If you suspect that you have bad breath, it is best to visit your dentist. Your dentist will recommend an oral surgeon to treat you.
There are many home remedies that can be used to cure bad breath. Fennel seeds, for example, can sweeten breath and protect teeth. Cinnamon can neutralize bad breath odors, and also has antibacterial properties. Cardamom and mint are also able to combat bad breath smell. These herbs can also fight throat and oral infections.
Tea tree oil can also help fight off bacteria and plaque. It can be added to toothpaste as an antibacterial, antioxidant, or added to your toothpaste. Guavas are a natural solution to bad breath. You can slice them up and enjoy them at any time of the day. Season them with salt and black pepper powder. Drinking tea tree oil a few times per week can help fight bad breath and freshen breath.
Mints, mouthwashes, and other oral hygiene products can combat bad breath. If your breath is persistently bad you should visit a dentist. If the symptoms are severe the dentist can help you determine if you are suffering from an oral infection. If you’re not able to see your dentist for some time, you can try using these remedies at home.
Chewing gum can help combat bad breath. Gum can mask bad breath and stimulate saliva production. However, make sure you select gum that is not sugar-free. Sugary gum can feed bad bacteria in your mouth, which can cause it to get worse. You should also try eating oranges, as citrus fruits contain citric acid, which fights bad breath.
Drinking plenty of water can also help fight bad breath. Drinking water can help lubricate your mouth and eliminate bacteria, in addition to helping your overall health. Drinking mint leaves can help stop bad breath. They are small and can be put under the tongue.
Bad breath can be caused by drugs
Bad breath can be an adverse result of certain medications. For instance, certain types of antibiotics can lead to an unpleasant odor. Other drugs can cause bad breath by reducing saliva production or release chemicals into the breath. Bad breath could also be caused by tranquilizers, antidepressants, and certain vitamins supplements. Sometimes, halitosis can also be caused by foreign bodies that have entered the nose and mouth.
Bad breath can be caused by a range of drugs, including alcohol as well as recreational drugs. Additionally, those who smoke marijuana can experience bad breath after taking the drug. Moreover, people who consume methamphetamine can experience bad breath, as do those who are exposed to radiation. Proper hydration and oral hygiene can lessen the bad breath that is caused by these medications.
For those who are concerned about their bad breath, it is essential to speak with their dentist at home to determine if there are any dental problems. Bad breath can often be a sign that there is an issue that is more severe. A dental consult is crucial to determine the root of the problem and the best way to treat it.
In addition to the bacteria in the mouth, odor-causing bacteria can be caused by certain medications. These medications decrease the flow of saliva in the mouth, causing dry mouth and bad breath. Antihistamines and decongestants are some of the most commonly cited causes of bad breath.
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By Tom Fawthrop
reporting from Havana, Cuba
Cuba's struggling economy has been boosted by the successful export of its medical technology abroad, and by health tourism within the country.
Cuba's position in the developing world has always been something of a paradox.
Its low material living standards and crisis-ridden economy leads to a low per capita income, but President Fidel Castro's Caribbean blend of socialism has developed a public health system that places Cuba in another league altogether on human development indexes.
Not all tourists to Cuba want sun and sand
Basic health indicators are comparable to the achievements of welfare systems in western Europe.
Education, science and health, the cornerstone of the 1959 revolution, are closely linked together in Cuba's development of an advanced medical sector.
The export of pharmaceutical products, vaccines and biotechnology helps to pay for the growing costs of funding medical research and a free health system with comprehensive coverage.
Today the medical sector ranks sixth in terms of exports and services, providing the country with vitally needed foreign exchange that was worth $250m a year in 2002.
Out of that figure biotechnology alone accounted for more than $150m.
In the 1980s millions of dollars were invested by the Cuban government in developing modern vaccines laboratories and a massive centre for biotechnology.
Since the end of Soviet aid in 1989, and the acute economic crisis of the 1990s,
Cuba has seen the excellence of its medico-scientific institutions as a strategic resource for developing new medical products for export.
Cuba has invested millions in developing vaccines
The country's first breakthrough in medical research was its discovery and patenting of meningitis-B vaccine in late 1980s.
It has been successfully exported to cope with epidemics in South American countries including Brazil and Argentina.
The vaccine has now been licensed to GlaxoSmithKline who will now market it in Europe and it is hoped eventually in the USA.
Cuba's attempts to gain a foothold in the international pharmaceutical market have come up against formidable obstacles, both commercial and political, with the stringent US trade embargo.
This socialist island's strength has been in the quality of its products, not in marketing and export know-how.
Castro has gambled on developing the medical sector
During the last few years the biggest earner for Cuban biotechnology has been the export of Hepatitis-B vaccine to more than 30 countries.
The Cuban vaccine is widely regarded as the more effective than Belgian and US-produced vaccines.
Cuba maybe judged poor by material living standards, but its medical sector is a strong demonstration of its wealth in human resources.
Joint ventures with China, India and Russia have been established to set up vaccine plants in their countries based on a transfer of Cuban technology.
Another growing source of income is health tourism, with a number of specialist hospitals, clinics, health spas and resorts catering to foreign visitors.
Last year more than 5000 foreign patients travelled to Cuba for a wide range of treatments including eye-surgery, neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's' disease, and orthopaedics.
Many patients travel to Cuba for treatment
Most patients are from Latin America.
However the unique Cuban treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, often known as night blindness, has attracted many patients from Europe and North America,
Health tourism generates revenues of around $40m a year.
More than 500 different medical products are manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry, which during the1980s provided 80% of domestic needs.
Now most supplies of raw materials for the manufacture of antibiotics and other drugs are sourced from China, but production still has not recovered to pre-1990s levels.
Many drugs are supplied to hospitals by international aid from Cuba Solidarity Groups around the world.
The special obstacles to Cuba breaking into the western market have led to a policy of trying to find joint venture partners, which currently include a Canadian, German and a Spanish company.
Cuba's cutting-edge products for neck and breast cancer have caused the biggest stir in the world of biotechnology.
They have just been licensed to a German pharmaceutical company, with rights to develop the drug TheraCIM h-R3 for the European market.
Analysts say so far the commercial rewards for Cuba's many medical innovations have only been a fraction of their potential.
But if TheraCim h-R3 receives regulatory approval, it could become a standard cancer treatment in Europe in four or five years, with estimated sales of around $3bn a year.
In the long-term, Fidel Castro's big gamble with the heavy state investment in biotechnology may finally pay a dividend not only in health benefits, but also in the top-notch economic rewards that have so far eluded him.
It would also be a very satisfying for Cuban scientists to feel their research and development, which is not driven by the profit motive, had been successful in the world marketplace.
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Re: The Rules of the Pharisees
Cats usually are!
Originally Posted by notuptome
Where in the bible may they be found?
Come on aren't they are used today in the barmitzvah?
Jospehus? The Talmud?
You didn't answer my question.
God is the Judge of all the earth. God has said that evil rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil. Do that which is good and thou shalt have reward of the same. Well at least He did in the NT Rom 13:3 Saul was made king even though he was not Gods first choice.
cats sometimes do...
As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit who is on you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of your children, or from the mouth of your children's children, from now on and forever," says the LORD.
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The European Union agreed Friday to bring into effect a new raft of restrictive measures against Iran over its contested nuclear program, and added new entities and one person to its sanctions list, Dow Jones Newswires reported.
In addition to measures agreed by foreign ministers in October, the EU added 18 new companies or institutions and a person “involved in nuclear activities or providing support to the Iranian government” to the list of those targeted with an asset freeze and a travel ban, according to a statement by the European Council, which represents the bloc’s 27 members.
This brings the total number of entities subject to sanctions to 490 and the total number of people to 105, the Council said. The identities of those concerned will be released Saturday in the EU’s Official Journal.
The new EU legislation bans transactions with Iranian financial institutions, with some limited exemptions, and prohibits the export of graphite, metals, key naval equipment and technology for ship-building. The ban also targets equipment and technology used to produce Iranian oil, natural gas and petrochemicals, as well as software for industrial production.
Click here for the full story.
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Definition: An n × m matrix, or, one whose size may not be the same in both dimensions.
Generalization (I am a kind of ...)
See also square matrix.
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul Black.
Entry modified 3 November 2005.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:40 2015.
Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "rectangular matrix", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 3 November 2005. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/rectangmatrx.html
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Focus on new faculty: Matt Ginder-Vogel, using chemistry for a cleaner environment
When Civil and Environmental Engineering Assistant Professor Matthew Ginder-Vogel joined UW-Madison in spring 2012, he added yet another dimension to the university’s renowned interdisciplinary group of faculty in environmental chemistry. This broad group includes a dozen or so faculty experts in environmental technology, and aquatic, terrestrial and air pollution chemistry.
Ginder-Vogel focuses on redox-active environments, or those in which chemical reactions cause an increase or decrease in oxidation state, to study processes that control the dynamics of nutrients and contaminants in environments like wetlands, estuaries and lake bottoms. “Most universities have one or two faculty members in environmental chemistry,” he says. “Here, I can focus on what I do best and collaborate with people who complement what I do.”
Drawing on a combination of field- and lab-based experiments and state-of-the-art microscopy and spectroscopy, his research has broad global—as well as local—applications. For example, he could study how to anticipate or control arsenic or chromium contamination of wells or waterways, assess the efficacy of stormwater retention ponds designed to mitigate nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into lakes and streams, or determine whether plutonium or uranium at a nuclear storage site will remain fixed or need to be removed.
In addition to an educational background that includes chemistry, geological and environmental sciences, and plant and soil sciences, Ginder-Vogel also worked as an environmental chemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Most recently, he led the analytical and pilot cement plant teams at Calera Corporation, a California startup that focuses on reducing carbon dioxide in the environment by capturing it from industrial plants and converting it to carbonate cements and concrete.
Although the challenges he tackles and the solutions he develops can be extremely complex, Ginder-Vogel’s research, ultimately, is relevant to everyone. “The common theme is applying environmental chemistry to determine and control what ends up in our water, sediment and soils,” he says.
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Environmental Science Award presented for work at the Black Fork Wetlands Preserve
The ongoing work of the AU Environmental Science Program at the Black Fork Wetlands Preserve was praised at the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RCSWCD) Annual Meeting held September 2, 2010. The award cited “Leadership, Dedication, and Protection” and was based on the program’s work at the Black Fork Wetlands Preserve and the Black Fork Wetlands Environmental Studies Center. The program was cited for including public access to this important natural area and for contributing significantly to watershed conservation and habitat preservation.
Dr. Soren Brauner (photo, center) and Dr. Dick Stoffer (photo, left), both Professors of Biology and members of the AU Environmental Science Program, accepted the award from Charles Winger (photo, right), representing the Board of Supervisors for the RCSWCD. Drs. Brauner and Stoffer spoke to the group about the mission of the Black Fork Wetlands Preserve, and answered questions from the audience. Dr. Brauner was director of the Environmental Science Program from 1999 to 2010, and Dr. Dick Stoffer serves as Preserve Manager for the five AU preserves.
The RCSWCD exists to help residents “protect and improve” the natural resources of the area. They specialize in networking, education, planning, and technical help. Try this stormwater management quiz, or have a look at the Black Fork Watershed in Richland County. Conservation Districts operate in each county in Ohio and most counties across the nation. Ohio districts operate within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and receive State funding. All districts are linked with the National Association of Conservation Districts.
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Over the past few years, there have been plenty of articles written on business networks – primarily driven by SAP’s acquisition of Ariba and Concur – and electronic invoicing providers touting global spend and procurement-based networks to help drive down spend. These networks are worthy of conversation, but there is a new business-to-government network emerging – one that will have significant financial impact on multinational companies.
The Business-to-Government Network
There has been a wave of legislation passed by tax authorities over the last two years. Currently legislation ranges from countrywide mandates across 10 countries in Latin America and Turkey to government purchases in Spain and standardized value-added taxes (VAT) reports in France.
Government leaders, much like corporate executives, are turning to technology and automation to improve their bottom lines through tax collection. In the emerging markets and even established markets, this specifically means consumption taxes or VAT.
So what exactly are these governments doing? Ultimately, they are inserting themselves into the day-to-day business processes of organizations in these four ways:
- Customer Billing – In countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Turkey, all business-to-business invoice transactions must flow through the government system for validation prior to being sent to the end customer. In many cases, especially in Latin America, you physically cannot ship your goods until you receive the approval codes back from the tax authorities’ servers. This mandatory electronic invoice is controlled by the government ensuring that all tax obligations are being registered with the government in real-time – they will no longer be waiting on monthly VAT reports alone. Instead, they have immediate visibility into 100% of the VAT obligations on your sales.
- Supplier Invoicing – In Latin America, this is an established and growing mandate. Countries including Brazil, Mexico, and Chile are mandating that the electronic invoices carrying VAT tax obligation must be collected, validated, and linked with the associated government approval codes to VAT remittance reports. Why you ask? Deductions, of course. In VAT countries, multinationals are responsible for remitting their portion of VAT to the tax agency. To determine a company’s ultimate VAT stake, subtract the VAT paid to suppliers from the VAT charged to customers.
- VAT Tax Reporting – By mandating that standardized, electronic invoices be linked to VAT tax reporting, the government is turning to big data and automation to perform audits. If you claim $8 million in VAT deductions, you better be sure that each line item is backed up by a legally registered XML. For those in the US, think about the tax deductions on your income taxes. Do you ever deduct contributions to charities such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army? Imagine if the government had the real-time value of all of those deductions in their servers. Showing up with a shoebox of receipts no longer matters when the government has a real-time, itemized electronic registry. And we all know that with government audits the onus will be on the company to prove the government wrong.
- Employee Reporting – This is the newest trend and Latin America is taking the lead. Mexico was the first to mandate electronic payroll (known as Nómina Electrónica), and Brazil is in the process of rolling out eSocial which is a group of 40+ transactions encapsulating payroll and labor events. Imagine telling the government every time a person took sick leave or made a change to their employment contract. With social programs taking up such a large percentage of the budgets of many governments, these employment tracking programs ensure that governments can reduce fraud in areas such as payroll, disability, and unemployment payments.
Over the coming weeks we will discuss the impact these tax changes have on financial and supply chain processes as well as the impact on global SAP ERP implementations. Remember, VAT tax exposure in these mandated markets can be upward of 20% of your regional balance sheet, meaning this is a board room issue for multinationals. It’s important to understand how to integrate and support these new and constantly changing requirements into business processes. The trend is clear: the network and requirements are accelerating. How are your teams addressing business-to-government compliance?
For more on Latin America compliance and for the latest updates and trends in business-to-government compliance visit Invoiceware International’s blog.
Steve Sprague is the Vice President of Product Strategy for Invoiceware International. He is responsible for both product management and e-Invoicing regulatory updates. Over the last 16 years, he has designed solutions for SAP ERP that deliver out-of-the-box compliance for Latin America and European Union e-invoicing and fiscal reporting requirements.
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The Last Judgment. Where is the focal point in the Baroque painting Joseph the Carpenter by Georges de La Tour? the upper left part of the composition.
When and where was linear perspective first codified studied organized and written down __________?
Linear perspective is thought to have been devised about 1415 by Italian Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi and later documented by architect and writer Leon Battista Alberti in 1435 (Della Pittura).
What is the Taj Mahal a perfect example of?
It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year. In 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
What is a term that describes an artist attempt to draw our eyes to one area of a composition?
What is the main focal point of the painting?
What is a focal point in art? The focal point in art is a key point of interest in your painting that you want your viewers to notice first. It is the most interesting point in the painting, and should help the viewer to understand why you wanted to capture the scene.
When was the history of Joseph the Carpenter written?
The History of Joseph the Carpenter (Historia Josephi Fabri Lignari) is a compilation of traditions concerning Mary (mother of Jesus), Joseph, and the Holy Family, probably composed in Byzantine Egypt in Greek in the late sixth or early seventh centuries, but surviving only in Coptic and Arabic language translation (
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What are the main themes of Imagist poets?
1 Answer | Add Yours
The sensual and immediate experience of an image, a direct confrontation with the world, unmediated by ideological or ritualistic influences, Imagist poetry was a move away from sentimental Romantic/Victorian poetry and also a move away from rhythm and meter to a freer form of verse. The imagists wanted to focus on single images and symbols, such as William Carlos William’s “The Red Wheelbarrow”, Hilda Doolittle’s “Sea Poppies,” and Ezra Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro.” Imagism was partly influenced by the Japanese haiku which often focused on a single image. Amy Lowell wrote in ‘polyphonic’ verse which was written in prose form but sounded/read like poetry. One of the general ideas of imagist poetry was that ideas are best expressed through things. Since imagist poets wrote in freer verse than their predecessors, they likewise wanted to free up their subject matter, so they wrote on any image; even a red wheelbarrow. This was a modernist trait: to present abstract ideas, feelings or meanings by describing things – rather than describing those abstracts themselves.
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To address growing climate risks, businesses will have to set aside an increasing share of their cash flows. Hurricanes, wildfires, and the rise in sea levels impose costs on firms, both in preparation and response to these disasters. As the risks grow, those costs are only going to increase over time.
Risk management can help minimize the cost of climate change. Robust risk management strategies layer financing tools — insurance, reserving, and borrowing — to address different aspects of the risk. Doing so facilitates recovery by providing businesses the funds they need when disaster strikes.
But investing in risk management also imposes immediate costs. Insurance requires upfront premium payments. Cash reserves require keeping funds set aside for a rainy day. Planning to fund repairs with credit requires businesses to maintain financial flexibility — keeping enough slack in their finances to access a loan in the future.
As a result, cash-strapped businesses are struggling to adjust. Small business in particular often operate on thin margins, hustling to fund day-to-day expenses like purchasing inventory or meeting payroll. Many don’t feel they have the luxury to dedicate resources to risk management. But without it, businesses may face additional challenges that will make recovery more costly in the wake of a shock.
To explore these dynamics, we studied how Hurricane Harvey affected businesses after it struck Southeast Texas in 2017. Harvey was the costliest event — causing $125 billion in economic damages — in the costliest disaster year for the U.S. in four decades. Climate scientists estimate that the storm was about 30% more severe due to climate change, making it an example of how the risks of severe storms are growing.
We studied Harvey’s effect on local businesses using two methods: conducting a survey and analyzing business credit reports.
In August 2018, roughly one year after Harvey, we surveyed 273 businesses in the affected area — effectively from greater Houston to Corpus Christi on the Gulf Coast. Surveyed firms were similar in age and size to other firms in the region. Our survey asked detailed questions about any losses they incurred, how they paid for them, and how their recovery was progressing.
To complement the survey, we analyzed the credit reports of about 5,000 firms in the disaster area and compared their information to 3,000 firms from around the U.S. who were not in Harvey’s path. While the survey offers a broad sense of businesses’ experiences and recovery strategies, credit reports provide metrics commonly used by lenders, landlords, supply chain partners, and others to assess the firm’s financial health such as whether it pays its debts on time.
What Did Businesses Lose?
Our survey asked participants questions about their losses from Harvey. Businesses reported a variety of complications, but the most striking were revenue losses. Almost 90% of surveyed businesses reported losing revenue because of Harvey, most commonly in the five-figure range. These revenue losses were caused by employee disruptions, lower customer demand, utility outages, and/or supply chain issues.
Fewer firms (about 40%) experienced property damage to their building, machinery, and/or inventory. While less common, property damage losses were more costly on average than lost revenue. However, property damage compounded the issue of lost revenue by keeping the business closed: 27% with property damage closed for over a month, and 17% closed for over three months. As a result, revenue losses were about twice as large for firms who experienced property damage.
Businesses’ credit reports after Harvey show signs of distress as well. Harvey caused many businesses to fall behind on their debt payments. In the worst-flooded areas, the storm increased delinquent balances by 86% compared to their pre-Harvey levels. This effect is mostly limited to shorter-term delinquencies (fewer than 90 days late); we do not find a significant increase in loan defaults or bankruptcies. This pattern likely reflects businesses’ substantial efforts to avoid defaulting on their debts.
How Did Businesses Manage Revenue and Property Losses?
A comprehensive risk management strategy traditionally uses insurance to transfer severe risks like hurricane-related property damages. But insurance doesn’t cover some losses — including revenue losses due to lower demand, employee disruptions, and supply chain issues. Borrowing addresses moderate-severity losses; cash reserves address small-scale losses. This layering is primarily driven by cost; for example, holding large cash reserves has a big opportunity cost. It also requires up-front planning and financial diligence.
This layered risk management strategy — insuring the big risks, borrowing for the moderate, and using cash for the small — isn’t what most businesses did. Only 15% of surveyed firms affected by this record-breaking hurricane received a payment from insurance. This low insurance coverage stems from businesses being uninsured for flood and wind damages (e.g., they had insurance that excluded coverage for these perils) and/or businesses insuring their property but not their revenue exposures.
Borrowing also played a small role: 27% of surveyed firms used credit to finance recovery. Businesses often had not maintained enough financial flexibility to borrow after the disaster, as half of those who applied for new credit were denied. Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration are the only federal government assistance offered directly to businesses, but again, businesses did not have the finances to be approved. In total, only one-third of surveyed firms who applied for a disaster loan were approved.
The credit report data similarly show how important preserved borrowing capacity is when disaster strikes. Businesses who didn’t carry debt balances started borrowing after Harvey. Businesses who had existing debt balances, on the other hand, applied for additional credit, but ultimately their balances decreased, a sign that banks viewed their finances as too risky.
As a result, instead of using insurance payments and loans, businesses typically financed their recovery internally. More than half of affected firms relied on continued revenue or cash reserves to pay for repairs. Nearly as many turned to “informal” financing: the business owner and/or the owner’s family and friends put money into the business after Harvey to keep it afloat.
What Are the Long-Term Implications?
Our findings offer a picture of businesses coping with large expenses, but without a good way to pay for them. These coping strategies can add to the cost of the event. For example, credit delinquencies blight a business’ credit reports for years.
Additionally, relying on financial help from friends and family may have long-term effects on the success and growth of the business. Informal financing erodes protections that separate the finances of the business and the owner, such as limited liability. Existing research concludes that business owners who use informal financing pursue lower risk (and thus lower return) projects than they otherwise would. Concerns about losing a friend’s or family member’s money stifles the entrepreneur’s investment in the future of the firm, leading to slower growth.
The challenges of recovery are apparent in the responses of surveyed firms: Forty-eight percent had not fully recovered one year later. But risk management appears to improve recovery: firms in our study who had at least one form of risk financing were almost twice as likely to have recovered as those with none.
Lessons for Policymakers
Many of the disaster-related challenges are worse for firms with pre-event financing constraints such as limited access to credit. The effects may be especially pronounced for minority-owned businesses. Research shows that, during normal times, minority-owned businesses who apply for credit are less likely to receive the amount of credit they seek and that they are more likely to close after a major disaster. Financing constraints tend to reduce risk management because any available funds are used for immediate needs rather than planning for uncertain events in the future. Reducing financing constraints has been shown to spur business establishment and growth, and our findings suggest that credit expansion policies may also make firms more climate resilient.
Our research also offers new insights on why current disaster relief policies, which focus on lending to businesses after a loss, have limited reach. Many businesses have not maintained the financial flexibility to fund recovery with a five- or six-figure loan after disaster strikes. To help more businesses and their communities recover, we need policies that encourage a wide range of risk financing tools. Policies prioritizing financial preparedness, such as incentivizing emergency savings and insuring, may be especially valuable.
Lessons for Business Owners
Our results highlight the importance of organizing risk financing upfront. Combining insurance with other sources of funds, such as unused credit or “rainy day” savings, helps to ensure money is quickly accessible in situations of need. It can be difficult to prioritize these buffers given all the other financial demands on a business, but having access to cash is essential when disaster strikes. Such buffers are even more important given the challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing supply chain disruptions.
Establishing financial buffers in the short term is not possible for all businesses, but even cash-strapped firms can have a plan. Proactively planning for interruptions reduces uncertainty when a crisis occurs by, for example, laying out employee responsibility for critical functions and scenario planning with key vendors. Many businesses that we surveyed did not have a business continuity plan; those that did were about 30% more likely to have fully recovered following Harvey even if they had no other risk management in place. The Small Business Administration offers resources for getting started with this type of plan.
. . .
Climate risks are increasing the cost of doing business for many companies, and investing in risk management is more important than ever. Growing climate threats may be especially challenging for small businesses as they face more financial constraints than larger firms. Proper risk management can substantially reduce the cost of a disaster, but requires financial discipline and careful planning. Insurance works well for some types of losses (such as severe property damage), but will not cover lost revenue in most cases. Maintaining available debt capacity and building cash reserves are necessary to fill the gaps in insurance. Sustainable recovery during a crisis hinges on having a diverse set of financing tools in place before disaster strikes.
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