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For many years midwives were the doctors for so many babies coming into the world. White doctors would not attend our people. Black doctors were few. I read about women who were midwives but we forget to put the name, the town, state and time period when we talk about them. We need to start honoring them by doing this.
In researching my family surname, I found that Ida Fuller Vance, who lived in Mountville, SC, helped deliver 10 of her grandchildren as well as other cildren in this small town up until abt 1940.
She and her family then moved to Pa. where she lived to be 108. When talk we about these ladies lets give their names, any info u can. So many people born with the help of these ladies, did not have the paper birth certificate, a name of a midwife can be valuable. One man happened to mention this to someone who knew his family, and it happened that there was a name and a picture a friend of the family, was able to give him. He only knew a last name of the midwife all his life. This man is 55 and can now see the first women who first saw him. Gives u a warm feeling.
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Rail Restoration: A True Labor Of Love
Posted by Killington Parks on October 7, 2013
Images of sparks flying, paint chips in the air, and the unmistakable sound of steel on steel usually conjures up the idea that skiers and riders destroy terrain park features day in and day out. To a certain extent, that is what actually happens. With all the rail shredding that takes place in the parks, the features see a lot of use and abuse. What once looked “pretty” in the shop before opening day can look like a chunk of scrap steel at the end of the season. This means that every summer the ever expanding fleet of rail features needs to be overhauled and refurbished, to once again slide like new.
Enter the Killington Parks Crew. Armed with gallons of paint, plywood, plastic and power tools the park crew turns over rail features like a NASCAR pit crew. Removing rust, stripping old paint, and cutting and replacing metal are just a few ways the rail fleet is revitalized for another season of destruction. Everything from generators to grinders, to welders to cranes, comes into play in order to accomplish the task at hand. Each rail feature is gone over with a fine tooth comb to find any flaw and fix it. That is rail restoration: a true labor of love.
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In 1216, King John died at Newark-on-Trent. He was succeeded by his nine-year-old son, Henry.
1781 - Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, marking the end of the American War of Independence.
1860 - The first company to manufacture internal combustion engines was formed in Florence, Italy.
1872 - The Holtermann nugget was mined at Hill. End, Mew South Wales. It weighed 630lbs and was the largest gold-bearing nugget ever found.
1914 - The First Battle of Ypres began.
1922 - Conservative MPs, meeting at the Carlton Club, voted to break off the coalition Government with David Lloyd George of the Liberal Party.
1933 - Germany withdrew from the League of Nations.
1943 - Streptomycin, the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis, was isolated by researchers at Rutgers University.
1950 - The People’s Republic of China joined the Korean War by sending thousands of troops across the Yalu River to fight United Nations forces.
1960 - The United States government imposed a near-total trade embargo against Cuba. It was not lifted until 2015.
1987 - Wall Street suffered Black Monday, when millions of pounds were wiped out in stockmarkets around the world.
1988 - The government imposed a broadcasting ban on television and radio interviews with members of Sinn Féin and 11 Irish republican and Ulster loyalist paramilitary groups.
1989 - After serving 14 years in prison, the Guildford Four had their convictions quashed in just half-an-hour.
1999 - Sir Elton John and Tim Rice’s £6.5 million new musical The Lion King opened in London’s West End. It is still running, at The Lyceum Theatre.
2002 - Everton footballer Wayne Rooney, at just 16 years of age, scored a wonder goal, ending Arsenal’s 30-match unbeaten run.
2003 -Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
2005 - Saddam Hussein went on trial in Baghdad for crimes against humanity.
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US 5936357 A
A microprocessor controlled, electronic ballast operates a lamp at nominal settings and shifts the operation of the ballast away from nominal settings to reduce interference. The shift is randomized by a test--flip-- shift! routine that prevents all ballasts from attempting the same correction at the same time. On DC input voltage, the frequency of the boost controller is varied to reduce EMI. The ballast operates in bands according to the input voltage. Some bands correspond to full brightness, some to a fixed amount of dimming, and some to a variable amount of dimming. In the event of an abrupt change in load, the microprocessor changes the frequency of the inverter, thereby reducing output power and gradually unloading the boost circuit and maintaining power to the microprocessor.
1. A method for operating an electronic ballast for a gas discharge lamp, said ballast having a boost circuit switching at a first nominal frequency and an inverter switching at a second nominal frequency, said method comprising the steps of:
operating the ballast at nominal settings by having the boost circuit switch at the first nominal frequency and the inverter switch at the second nominal frequency; and
shifting the frequency of one of the boost circuit and the inverter away from the nominal setting to reduce interference.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shift lasts as long as power is applied to the ballast.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shifting step includes varying the frequency of the inverter.
4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shifting step includes the steps of:
testing to see if there is interference with another ballast;
randomly choosing whether or not to shift frequency; shifting frequency if the choice is yes.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shifting step includes varying the frequency of the boost circuit from the second nominal frequency.
6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said variations are momentary.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shifting step includes the step of changing the switching frequency of the inverter for dimming.
8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said ballast operates over a continuous range of input voltages covering a plurality of nominal line voltage bands and provides full power to a lamp when operating in a nominal line voltage and provides less than full power to a lamp when not operating at a nominal line voltage.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shifting step includes the step of sweeping the switching frequency of the inverter for reducing the output voltage when a lamp is removed, thereby preventing the boost circuit from turning off.
10. In an electronic ballast including a universal input having a boost circuit, a bulk capacitor coupled to said boost circuit, an inverter coupled to said bulk capacitor, and a microprocessor coupled to said inverter for controlling the switching frequency of said inverter, wherein said inverter includes an output for coupling to at least one gas discharge lamp, the improvement comprising:
said microprocessor contains a stored program for managing the switching frequencies in said ballast by starting and initially operating said inverter at a first nominal frequency and for shifting the operation of the inverter away from the nominal frequency to reduce interference.
11. The ballast as set forth in claim 10 wherein said microprocessor causes said inverter to change switching frequency.
12. The ballast as set forth in claim 11 wherein said microprocessor causes said inverter to change switching frequency when the lamp is removed from said output while power is applied to said ballast.
13. The ballast as set forth in claim 11 wherein said microprocessor causes said inverter to change switching frequency and remain at the new frequency until power is removed from said ballast.
14. The ballast as set forth in claim 11 wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said boost circuit and causes said boost circuit to change switching frequency away from a second nominal frequency.
15. The ballast as set forth in claim 10 wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said rectifier and monitors input voltage, said microprocessor reducing output power when the input voltage is not a nominal line voltage.
16. The ballast as set forth in claim 15 wherein said inverter includes a series resonant output and said microprocessor reduces output power by increasing the switching frequency of said inverter.
17. The ballast as set forth in claim 15 wherein said microprocessor reduces output power by a fixed amount when the input voltage is not a nominal line voltage.
18. A method for operating an electronic ballast for a gas discharge lamp, said ballast having a boost circuit switching at a first nominal frequency and an inverter switching at a second nominal frequency, said method comprising the steps of:
operating the ballast at nominal settings by having the boost circuit switch at the first nominal frequency and the inverter switch at the second nominal frequency;
sensing interference with another ballast having an inverter operating at approximately said second nominal frequency; and
shifting the frequency of the inverter away from said second nominal frequency to reduce said interference.
19. The method as set forth in claim 18 and further including the step of:
operating said inverter at said shifted second frequency for as long as power is applied to said ballast.
20. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said shifting step is preceded by the step of:
randomly picking an increase in frequency or a decrease in frequency.
21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said picking step is preceded by the steps of:
randomly choosing whether or not to change frequency; and
skipping said picking step and said shifting step if not changing frequency is chosen.
22. An electronic ballast for powering a gas discharge lamp, said ballast comprising:
a universal input operating over a plurality of nominal input voltages;
an inverter coupled to said universal input;
a microprocessor coupled to said inverter and to said universal input for controlling the switching frequencies of the inverter and the universal input;
wherein more than one nominal input voltage corresponds to the same switching frequency of the inverter; and
wherein said microprocessor increases the switching frequency of the inverter when the input voltage is less than a nominal value by a predetermined amount.
23. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 22 wherein said microprocessor decreases the switching frequency of the inverter when the input voltage decreases to the next lower nominal voltage.
24. An electronic ballast for powering a gas discharge lamp, said ballast comprising:
a universal input operating over a plurality of nominal input voltages of alternating current or direct current, said universal input including a boost circuit operating at a substantially fixed frequency when said input is coupled to a source of direct current, thereby producing a large amplitude output signal at a single frequency;
a microprocessor coupled to said universal input, said microprocessor continuously varying the switching frequency of said boost circuit when said ballast is coupled to a source of direct current, thereby reducing EMI by broadening the frequency spectrum produced by the boost circuit.
25. An electronic ballast for powering a gas discharge lamp, said ballast comprising:
a boost circuit;
an inverter, coupled to said boost circuit, for powering said lamp;
a microprocessor coupled to said inverter for controlling the switching frequency of the inverter;
wherein said microprocessor gradually increases the frequency of said inverter when a lamp is disconnected from said ballast.
This invention relates to electronic ballasts for gas discharge lamps and, in particular, to an electronic ballast having a microprocessor for managing the switching frequencies of the boost circuit and the inverter.
A fluorescent lamp is an evacuated glass tube with a small amount of mercury in the tube. The tube is lined with an adherent layer of a mixture of phosphors. Some of the mercury vaporizes at the low pressure within the tube and a filament in each end of the tube is heated to emit electrons into the tube, ionizing the gas. A high voltage between the filaments causes the mercury ions to conduct current, producing a glow discharge that emits ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light is absorbed by the phosphors and re-emitted as visible light. "Instant start" lamps do not have heated filaments but rely on a very high starting voltage to initiate a discharge between specially designed electrodes in each end of the lamp.
A gas discharge lamp, such as a fluorescent lamp, is a non-linear load to a power line, i.e. the current through the lamp is not directly proportional to the voltage across the lamp. Current through the lamp is zero until a minimum voltage is reached, then the lamp begins to conduct. Once the lamp conducts, the current will increase rapidly unless there is a ballast in series with the lamp to limit current.
A resistor can be used as a ballast but a resistor consumes power, thereby decreasing efficiency, measured in lumens per watt. A "magnetic" ballast is an inductor in series with the lamp and is more efficient than a resistor but is physically large and heavy. A large inductor is required because impedance is a function of frequency and power lines operate at low frequency (50-60 Hz.)
An electronic ballast typically includes a rectifier for changing the alternating current (AC) from a power line to direct current (DC) and an inverter for changing the direct current to alternating current at high frequency, typically 25-60 kHz. Electronic ballasts also include a boost circuit between the rectifier and the inverter. As used herein, a "boost" circuit is a circuit that increases the DC voltage, e.g. from approximately 180 volts (assuming a 120 volt input) to 300 volts or more, for operating a lamp and for providing power factor correction. "Power factor" is a figure of merit indicating whether or not a load in an AC circuit is equivalent to a pure resistance, i.e. indicating whether or not the voltage and current are in phase. It is preferred that the load be the equivalent of a pure resistance (a power factor equal to one).
The boost circuit and the inverter each include switching transistors that operate at various frequencies during normal operation of a ballast. The boost circuit changes frequency with the line voltage to produce high power factor. The inverter typically includes a series resonant, direct coupled output, which means that the output voltage and the output current can be adjusted by changing frequency.
The frequency of the inverter at any given moment is relatively constant during normal operation, due, in part, to the use of ceramic resonators in microprocessor controlled ballasts, and therein lies a problem. A plurality of such ballasts will operate on very nearly the same frequency under normal operating conditions. The problem is that the frequencies are very nearly the same, but not exactly the same. When the frequencies are not exactly the same, the ballasts interfere with each other.
A linear lamp, such as a four foot long T8 fluorescent lamp, has a considerable distributed capacitance between the discharge within the tube and a fixture in which the lamp is mounted, which acts as a ground plane. The capacitance enables part of the lamp current to flow through the lamp tube into the ground plane and back to the ballast. The wires connecting a lamp to a ballast may provide additional capacitive coupling. When two or more ballasts are connected to lamps that are close to each other, the current from one ballast can return through the other ballast and vice-versa. When the inverters in the ballasts are operating at nearly the same frequency, e.g. within 1-50 Hz of each other, visible beat frequencies (flicker) can occur. The flicker is at least annoying and could be interpreted as incipient lamp failure or incipient ballast failure, leading to pointless replacement and frustration.
Another kind of interference is electromagnetic interference (EMI). The frequency of the boost circuit is continuously changing in normal operation but becomes constant if the applied voltage is direct current, as it is in some emergency lighting configurations and in areas supplied by direct current. Although the input to a ballast is filtered to reduce (EMI), some of the high frequency signal from the boost circuit will pass through the filter. The filter typically used with an electronic ballast is more than adequate if the boost circuit is constantly changing frequency because the EMI is spread over many frequencies. If the ballast is operated on DC, the EMI is concentrated at a single frequency and the ballast may not comply with governmental or quasi-governmental specifications.
It is known in the art to provide self-dimming when the input voltage is reduced, as in a brownout by a power company. "Self-dimming" is a reduced power output solely in response to a reduced line voltage, without a separate control line or control signal to the ballast. It is also known in the art to provide a universal input voltage (110-277 volts, DC/50-60 Hz.). A problem with a device providing a universal input is that the device automatically draws more current when input voltage is reduced, which interferes with the power company's ability to control power distribution. It is desired to have both universal input voltage and self-dimming.
In general, the problem is one of managing the switching frequencies within an electronic ballast, as opposed to simply letting the ballast determine its own operating points. Frequency management is not what is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,015 (Bernitz et al.), which describes a ballast for a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp wherein a microprocessor controls the frequency of the inverter to avoid mechanical resonances within the HID lamp. Specifically, the Bernitz et al. patent discloses testing the lamp for viable operating frequencies within a range of frequencies. A list of viable operating frequencies is stored in memory. If mechanical resonance is detected, causing the lamp to flicker, the microprocessor changes to another of the frequencies from the list. Thus, the ballast described in the Bernitz et al. patent is optimizing operation of the lamp itself, an intrinsic purpose.
Frequency management also arises, for example, in response to abrupt changes in condition. When a boost converter provides power factor correction, it is necessary that the frequency response of the converter be less than twice the line frequency. Low frequency response leads to very slow response to transient conditions, e.g. lamp removal. If a boost is running at full power and is suddenly unloaded, the output from the boost can well exceed maximum voltage ratings of components within the ballast. When the boost responds to the voltage spike and shuts off, it may remain shut off for so long that it shuts off power for the control circuitry, including a microprocessor controlling the ballast. If the microprocessor turns off and turns on, it begins a cold start sequence that may be inappropriate for the conditions, e.g. parameter tables may be reset to default values. It is desired to provide a controlled response to abrupt changes in condition that does not turn off the microprocessor.
In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide an electronic ballast that manages the switching frequencies in an electronic ballast for extrinsic purposes.
A further object of the invention is to provide an electronic ballast that manages the frequency of the boost circuit for reduced EMI.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic ballast that manages the frequency of the inverter for reduced interference with other ballasts.
A further object of the invention is to provide an electronic ballast that minimizes coupling to other ballasts.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic ballast that shifts the frequency of operation of an electronic ballast to reduce or eliminate interference.
A further object of the invention is to provide a ballast with both universal input voltage and self-dimming (brown-out) capability.
Another object of the invention is to provide a boost powered microprocessor that can respond to abrupt changes in condition without turning off.
The foregoing objects are achieved by a microprocessor controlled, electronic ballast that operates a lamp at nominal settings and shifts the operation of the ballast away from the nominal settings to reduce interference. As used herein, "nominal" means the voltages and currents specified by a manufacturer for starting and operating a lamp (or the corresponding frequencies to produce the voltages and currents). The shift is randomized by a test--flip-- shift! routine that prevents all ballasts from attempting the same correction at the same time. On DC input voltage, the frequency of the boost controller is varied to reduce EMI. The ballast operates in preselected bands according to the input voltage. Some bands correspond to full brightness, some to a fixed amount of dimming, and some to a variable amount of dimming. The frequency of the inverter ramps upward in response to a fault, thereby reducing output power and gradually unloading the boost circuit and maintaining power to the microprocessor.
A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an electronic ballast constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the inverter portion of the ballast in greater detail;
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrating frequency modulation in accordance with one aspect of the invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates the different voltage bands of operation of an electronic ballast constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the pin-outs of an integrated circuit used for controlling the boost portion of a ballast constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the pin-outs of a driver circuit used for controlling the inverter portion of a ballast constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the pin-outs of a microprocessor used for controlling a ballast constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 1 illustrates a ballast constructed in accordance with the invention. In FIG. 1, pin 1 of each integrated circuit is indicated by a small dot and the pins are numbered consecutively counterclockwise. Ballast 10 includes converter section 11 for producing DC from line voltage, boost section 12 for increasing the DC voltage, storage section 13 for storing energy to drive a lamp, and inverter section 14 for driving a lamp.
In one embodiment of the invention, boost section 12 includes boost controller 21 implemented as an L6561 power factor correction circuit as sold by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics. FIG. 5 is a diagram of the pin designations for this particular integrated circuit. In FIG. 1, boost section 12 is essentially the same as the circuit recommended in the data sheets describing the L6561 integrated circuit.
Controller 21 drives transistor 23 at a frequency determined, in part, by the voltage across resistor 25, which provides feedback for improving power factor. When transistor 23 conducts, current flows through inductor 27, storing energy in a magnetic field. When transistor 23 stops conducting, the magnetic field collapses and the voltage induced in inductor 27 is added to the voltage from rectifier section 11, thereby increasing the voltage on bulk capacitor 29. Boost section 12 also includes auxiliary inductor 28 magnetically coupled to inductor 27 for providing power for microprocessor 31. If boost section 12 turns off for more than one second or so, microprocessor 31 is shut off.
Microprocessor 31 is coupled to two inputs of driver circuit 32. Specifically, high frequency pulses are coupled through resistor 34 to pin 2 of driver 32. Pin 3 of driver 32 is a disable input and is coupled to another output of microprocessor 31. In the event of a fault, disable line 35 is brought low, thereby shutting off the inverter. Inverter 14 includes what is known as a half bridge, series resonant, direct coupled output in which inductor 41 and capacitor 42 are the series resonant elements and lamp 44 is coupled in parallel with capacitor 42. Transistors 51 and 52 alternately connect inductor 41 to high voltage rail 54 and to common rail 55, producing a square wave signal that is converted by the resonant circuit into a sinusoidal signal and is level shifted by half bridge capacitor 57 to be symmetrical about common.
FIG. 2 illustrates inverter section 14 in greater detail, showing additional circuitry for fault detection. Resistor 61 is in series with resonant capacitor 42 and provides a signal indicative of the AC voltage across lamp 44. This voltage is rectified by diode 62 and the signal is filtered by a low pass filter including resistor 63 and capacitor 64. The filtered, rectified signal is coupled to pin 10 of microprocessor 31. This pin is programmed as an input and has analog to digital (A/D) conversion capability.
If the voltage on pin 10 is moderately excessive for a prolonged period, e.g. 120% of normal for two consecutive five second periods, microprocessor 31 shuts off the inverter until the ballast is reset. If the voltage on pin 10 is at the high voltage limit of the ballast for ten milliseconds, then microprocessor 31 shuts off the inverter until the ballast is reset by temporarily shutting off electrical power to the ballast or by removing the lamp and replacing it. The magnitudes and times are determined by the program stored in microprocessor 31. A variety of other functions are available based upon the data from just this one input; for example, lumen maintenance and lamp recognition.
The DC bias on half bridge capacitor 57 is coupled by resistor 71 to pin 9 of microprocessor 31 after filtering by a low pass RC network including resistor 72 and capacitor 73. Pin 9 is also programmed as an input and has A/D capability. The voltage on half-bridge capacitor 57 is useful for determining end of life of a lamp, among other functions.
Resistor 59 is a small, e.g. 10 Ω or less, resistor in series with half bridge capacitor 57 for converting lamp current into voltage. The voltage is rectified by diode 75, filtered by resistor 77 and capacitor 78, and coupled to pin 1 of microprocessor 31. Resistor 76 improves ripple detection. In normal operation, the voltage on resistor 59 is relatively constant. If the variation in voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the microprocessor enters a routine to avoid interference. Specifically, the microprocessor randomly "flips a coin" on whether or not to shift frequency, and if the outcome is "yes", then shifts frequency a small amount in chosen direction.
The microprocessor will "lock" the frequency setting after a few seconds so as not to vary too far from the nominal switching frequency for the lamp. Any random event can be used for the flip, e.g. whether the lowest order bit in the last A/D conversion was even or odd, or a random number generator routine can be used for the flip. By randomly choosing whether or not to change frequency, and in what direction, a plurality of microprocessors in closely adjacent fixtures are unlikely to do the same thing at the same time, thereby eliminating flicker. The settings are stored in memory corresponding to "full power." Thus, if the microprocessor dims the lamp, the inverter does not return to the switching frequency that caused flicker when dimming is reduced.
One could eliminate resistor 59 and the associated components and avoid interference by simply dithering the operating frequency of the inverter to provide an average frequency corresponding to the nominal frequency for a lamp. Alternatively, one could step through a sequence of frequencies, the average of which is the nominal frequency for a given lamp. Either of these two alternatives requires more processor time, which may be undesirable, than occasionally checking lamp current.
FIG. 3 illustrates an inverter modified in accordance with another aspect of the invention. Microprocessor 31 monitors high voltage rail 54 through resistor 81 coupling pin 16 to the junction of resistors 82 and 83. Resistors 82 and 83 divide the rail voltage to a suitable level for microprocessor 31. Because boost controller 21 (FIG. 1) is constantly changing frequency and changing the amount of boost, high voltage rail 54 has a slight ripple. If microprocessor 31 detects no ripple, then the ballast must be connected to a source of DC. If so, then the EMI at the input terminals of the ballast is concentrated at a single frequency and the amplitude of the EMI into the power source can be excessive.
The circuit of FIG. 3 overcomes this problem by misleading boost controller 21, causing the boost controller to change frequency. Specifically, pin 9 of microprocessor 31 is configured as an output port and is coupled to pin 3 of boost controller 21 by resistor 85. When pin 9 is high (5 volts), the voltage is increased on pin 3 and boost controller 21 responds by changing frequency. When pin 9 is low (approximately zero volts), the voltage on pin 4 is decreased and boost controller 21 responds by changing frequency. By toggling the frequency of the boost circuit, EMI is reduced.
Alternatively, one could provide a bias signal from microprocessor 31 to pin 4 of boost controller 21, the frequency control pin. Whether by pin 3 or pin 4, the effect is the same, a reduction of interference.
Resistor 87 couples an input port of microprocessor 31 to pin 3 of boost controller 21. Pin 3 senses line voltage decreases (see FIG. 1) and, by monitoring the line voltage, the output power can be adjusted to allow the ballast to respond to power company brownouts. FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of bands of input voltage. Band 91 represents the range for normal operation at a nominal 120 volts, band 92 represents the range for normal operation at a nominal 220 volts, and band 93 represents the range for normal operation at a nominal 277 volts.
If the input voltage is reduced and enters a cross-hatched area, microprocessor 31 (FIG. 3) interprets this event as a brownout and reduces power proportionately or by a fixed amount, e.g. ten percent. If the input voltage is reduced further and enters a stippled area, microprocessor 31 gradually increases power to approach normal operating levels at the next lower nominal line voltage. The dimming can be linearly or non-linearly related to input voltage as desired. The size of the bands can be adjusted as desired.
FIG. 6 illustrates the pin designations for driver circuit 32, implemented as an IR2104 driver circuit as sold by International Rectifier Corporation. FIG. 7 is a diagram indicating the pin designations for a particular microprocessor, namely the 62T52 microprocessor as sold by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics. The ports, designated PAx, PBx, and PCx, are programmable under software control. Other integrated circuits could be used instead.
Referring to FIG. 1, in the event that boost section 12 is operating a full power at the very time that lamp 44 is removed from the circuit, microprocessor 31 senses the increase in output voltage (pin 10, FIG. 2) and begins increasing the switching frequency of the inverter, moving the frequency away from resonance. Preferably this reverse sweep takes about one hundred milliseconds to complete, during which time boost controller 21 recognizes the change in load and begins to decrease output. Boost controller 21 can respond to the changing load on a time scale of 100 milliseconds. By increasing the frequency of the inverter, thereby decreasing the load, microprocessor 31 avoids overshooting the rail voltage and the resulting shutdown of the boost circuit.
The invention thus provides an electronic ballast that shifts the operation of an electronic ballast to reduce or eliminate interference. The ballast manages the frequency of the boost circuit for reduced EMI and manages the frequency of the inverter for reduced interference with other ballasts, for dimming, and for accommodating abrupt changes in load.
Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that many modifications can be made with the scope of the invention. For example, many suitable components exist for the functions of power factor correction, microprocessor, and level shifting driver. A programmable logic array or other digital controller can be used instead of a microprocessor. A reference to memory, I/O, or other functions "in" the microprocessor is not intended to exclude external memory, external I/O circuitry, etc. The converter section can be a buck, buck/boost, or any other topology that can provide the required rail voltages from the various power line voltages. The output can be a full bridge instead of a half bridge and can use a different resonant circuit. The ballast can drive more than one lamp, either rapid start (with heated filaments) or instant start.
In the event of coupling between ballasts, one could eliminate flicker by synchronizing the ballasts. It is somewhat easier to change the frequency of the inverter to avoid a visible beat frequency than to achieve synchronization, particularly if several ballasts are involved. One could shift inverter frequency no more than a predetermined number of times, rather than lock the frequency after a few seconds. FIG. 3 is not inconsistent with FIG. 2 in the use of pins 9 and 10 on microprocessor 31. Microprocessor 21 has nine I/O pins (FIG. 7). Any of the I/O pins can be assigned any given function. FIG. 3 illustrates another aspect of the invention with the fewest intersecting lines. The reverse sweep, as the forward sweep during starting, can be continuous or discontinuous. If discontinuous, the sweep includes several steps for a incremental transition from full power to low power.
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Local artists explore the state of climate change today in “Untold Possibilities at the Last Minute,” an exhibition on view at Cambridge Arts’ Gallery 344 from May 20 to October 4, 2019. An opening reception will be held in the gallery at 344 Broadway, Cambridge, on Thursday, May 23, from 6 to 8pm, featuring music and poetry at 6:30pm plus tastings of foods for our warmer future.
Scientists, governments and policy makers have struggled to convey the urgency of climate change. “Untold Possibilities at the Last Minute” presents local artists working to spread the message of what is coming, adaptions we can make now to reduce climate change, and how we can prepare for a warmer future. Learn more at untoldpossibilities.org.
Featured artists, writers, musicians and culinary artists include Matthew Battles, David Buckley Borden, Class Action, Aaron M. Ellison, Gap Dynamics, Amanda Gorman, Keith Hartwig, Dietmar Offenhuber, Laura Perovich, Thomas Starr, Jean Wilcox, Baravena Foods, Aeronaut Brewing Company, Gus Rancatore of Toscanini’s, Nate Phinisee, and Clover Food Lab. The exhibition is a collaboration of Cambridge Arts, City of Cambridge Community Development Department and Harvard University's Office of Sustainability.
“Untold Possibilities at the Last Minute” considers time travel, bio-indicators, three-dimensional visualization of data, food, poetry and music.
Jean Wilcox, David Buckley Borden and Aaron M. Ellison, and Keith Hartwig bring our attention to temperature: Jean Wilcox will install white roofing membrane across the gallery floor to model how changing our many flat urban roofs from black to white can reduce heat absorption. Borden’s and Ellison’s “Warming Warning” is a three-dimensional visualization of global temperature rise and carbon dioxide emissions. Beginning May 18, Keith Hartwig will create a 6-foot-tall cube of ice harvested from a Maine pond in February on the plaza outside Cambridge’s City Hall Annex (catch it before it melts). His “COLD CHAIN” speaks about the transition of refrigeration from natural ice to mechanical freezers, and how our society’s reliance on such greenhouse-gas-producing machines is melting away our winters.
“Remembrance of Climate Futures” by Thomas Starr, and “FUTUREFOOD” by Matthew Battles and Keith Hartwig ask us to imagine the future. Starr employs the literary device of time travel on a physical trail of markers to help us visualize how global warming and city actions will change our neighborhoods. Battles and Hartwig offer “FUTUREFOOD,” a series of three free food and drink tastings on May 11, May 25 and June 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library. Sample kvass, Japanese knotweed sorbet, honey toffee and honey waters to get a taste of how climate change will change our food system and what we might eat.
Two projects focus our attention on water and air. With “SeeBoat” and “ArtBoat,” Laura Perovich will exhibit remote-controlled boats that she uses to connect people to the local waters via light drawing and to test the quality of the Charles River, Chelsea Creek and Mystic River. “Ozone Tattoo” by Dietmar Offenhuber (installed on the City Hall Annex plaza) highlights specific plant species as bio-indicators of ground level ozone, which is created by the interaction of industrial pollutants and sunlight. Ground level ozone has a direct relationship to climate change and a detrimental effect on human health and communities.
“The Patriotism of Science and Religion” by Class Action, in partnership with the Union of Concerned Scientists, aims to reframe the political debate about climate change with highway billboards, displayed along Route 95 and Route 93 in April, that position climate science in terms of moral and patriotic duty.
Gap Dynamics is Saul Levin, a folk-hop singer-songwriter from Michigan whose music, activism, and work merge to focus on climate change and environmental justice.
Amanda Gorman is the first National Youth Poet Laureate. We join her in believing in the power of youth to change the world and feature her poem “Earthrise,” inspired by the iconic photograph of Earth taken by astronaut William Anders during the first manned lunar orbit in 1968. The photograph gave us an unprecedented view of our planet and has become a symbol for the environmental movement.
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Eye On Education: Tyngsboro High Student Uses Robot To Keep Up In School
BOSTON (CBS) – We all get by with a little help from our friends. For one boy recovering from a double lung transplant and trying to keep up in school, that friend just happens to be a robot.
Connor Flanagan is using the VGo robot, which is made by a New Hampshire company.
Using his laptop from home, Connor can direct the robot to go anywhere in Tyngsboro High School. The robot creates a two-way feed over the internet so that he can participate with his classmates in real-time.
He can also talk to fellow students as VGo roams the halls of the school. “It’s pretty important, because you know what is going on and everything,” said Connor.
Connor has been able to keep up with his fellow 9th graders by having VGo attend his classes. His mother Jennifer believes there are other benefits. “We know that probably half of going to school is the social aspect and this technology lets him have that. The robot was in a school picture, at the end of 8th grade, because he couldn’t be there that day.”
Jennifer believes the device could be having a positive impact on his healing process. “We’ve seen with Connor, that when he is happy socially and emotionally, the physical just kind of goes along with it.”
A VGo robot costs about $6,000, but Tyngsboro High School Principal Mike Woodlock says it has already paid for itself because the cost of tutoring a sick child is so costly.
Connor knows he’s been lucky to have this robot, but is ready to walk the halls of Tyngsboro High School in person.
The target date for his return is March 17th.
If you have a story idea you think should be featured in Eye On Education, email Paula Ebben at email@example.com
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A place to discuss some guesses as to what should be done to gain the most range, or spend the smallest amount of energy per mile. Or not?
Drive constant speed at 21 mph.
Over in a private thread http://www.teslamotors.com/forum/forums/motor-trend-performance-and-rang..., it was suggested that getting from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds uses up a mile of range. But is that inefficient? Is there any efficiency gain in getting to 60 mph more gradually?
Calculation from other post: A mass 2180 kg going 27 meters/second (4806 pounds, car and driver, going 60 mph) holds a kinetic energy of 795 kJoules or about 221 Wh. If the Model S can go a mile using something on the order of 300 Wh, then just getting up to 60 mph, regardless of how long you take to do it, will "use up" 2/3 of a mile of range. If you take 1/3 of a mile to do this, then you use a mile of range to get up to 60 mph.
Good point. An ICE car gets very wasteful under accel like that, but elec. is same-O same-O.
Acceleration itself is not that wasteful, but you use more time in high speed using high acceleration, so you end up losing some range. You don't use same amount of Wh/mile in every speed.
Best result would be ride a wake behind big truck, but that is very risky.
Longhorn92 comment about steady 21mph is also good, that would give you around 450 mile range. Boring, but efficient.
From other EVs it would be slow acceleration, drive with load at suburban speeds and then glide to stops.
@Timo: We know that going 80 mph will use lots more energy per mile than going 50 mph. But if you want to drive at a steady speed, say 65 mph, I'm not sure you'd be able to measure the difference between getting to 65 mph in 5 seconds versus 10 or 20 seconds. And, if that's the case, then we should all be moving up to the speed of traffic as quickly as possible, especially if that's the safest thing to do.
@ItsNotAboutTheMoney: Even driving ICE cars I try to maintain the highest minimum speed while approaching a light that's about to turn green, so gliding seems a given. But why "slow acceleration" on other EVs? Anything applicable or not to the Model S?
Sadly acceleration is the enemy. (and wind resistence). If accelerate like crazy from 0 to 60 to get to the next red light, then have to accelerate to a stop because it hasn't turned green yet, we waste energy. Oh, but it's sooooo much fun though....
So we waste a few electrons, no guilt in burning the fuel otherwise!!! I will be jumping from light to light like a jack rabbit when I'm just running around town for sure! :)
How much for replacement tires again? I better get that in my budget soon too... :D
Without a clutch to pop, and with the excellent traction control, our copilot said it was very unlikley you could spin the tires. So that should help with the wear and tear.
@jbunn: Your scenario is just saying that stopping wastes energy.
If you're going to get onto a highway where there's no one else driving, it seems the only extra loss incurred by getting up to speed quickly is the distance you might have traveled at a slower speed. That is, if you linearly go from 0 to 60 over two minutes, your average speed would be 30 mph and you would have traveled that distance with lower wind resistance than if your average speed over the same distance was higher. As Longhorn pointed out, once over about 20 mph the faster you go the more the air resistance pulls energy from the car.
But that's just saying that to save energy you should as close to 20 mph as possible. The massive waste of energy inherent in fast ICE acceleration does not happen with an EV with traction control. If you're willing to go 60 mph over large distances, there seems to be little reason to take your time getting up to that speed.
@jbunn... doesn't help with the wear as much as you might think. Even without the tires spinning, they still wear pretty quickly.
@ggr: That's the only downside, it seems. How does the traction control work? Is there some micro-skidding going on which a computer detects and then backs off power PDQ? If so, is there an indicator on the dash that tells you it was used?
Perhaps there's some medium high level of acceleration that can be used without kicking in the traction control, thereby minimizing tire wear while keeping the smiles coming? With a TC indicator, one should be able to learn how much is too much for everyday driving - if you want to conserve rubber.
The things that wear out tires (not counting "burning rubber") are:
1. Heat. The hotter the tire gets, the quicker it will wear.
2. Flexing. The more the tread flexes, the quicker it will wear.
3. Alignment. Poor alignment can wear out tires very quickly.
4. Suspension geometry (different from alignment because you can't control it). Poor design choices can cause very poor tire wear.
5. Road surfaces. Different types of roads cause different tire wear rates. Generally new roads are worse than old roads.
6. Road geometry. The more curves and hills a road has, the faster the rate of tire wear.
7. Mechanical condition. Poor tire/wheel balance, sticky brakes, loose suspension parts, etc.
A high rate of acceleration contributes to both heat and flexing.
@EdG, one acceleration in long ride doesn't do much, but in the city where you do stop and go traffic it does count quite a bit.
Steady driving, anticipating needs to stop and slowing down slowly (with or without regen) and smooth acceleration gives you best result in city. Plan ahead.
On our roadster, I accelerate briskly pretty much all the time. The only time on a normal commute when I see the traction control indicator come on is when I make a tight right turn onto a particular freeway on-ramp at full throttle (because I can...). It's a very short, very steep up-hill, and it's great to be able to merge at 75, which is what everyone else is doing at the top.
We're on our fourth set of rear tires, at 28k miles. One could buy longer-wearing tires, but then I think they wouldn't grip as well.
When you think of it, 21mph is the sweet spot for range, so maybe fast acceleration to that speed is better than slow acceleration.
@Timo: I agree completely that steady speed is where you get the efficient driving. That's due to the inefficiency of slowing down either by regen (not too bad) or braking (all energy going to heat). What's different about the EV acceleration, it seems to me, is that getting up to speed quickly is not as hugely wasteful as it seems to be with an ICE. You're not burning large quantities of fuel to get the maximum torque, you're just asking for more torque at the same efficiency as less torque. The losses seem to be in flexing the tires more and driving faster than 20 mph more (because you're going faster earlier).
It's gonna be tough to go back to an ICE after driving the Model S.
The material of the tire is a major factor. 'Sticky' tires leave bits of themselves behind, by design.
Well, sort of... What I'm realy saying is accelerating uses energy. That could be starting. Or stopping. Or changing directions.
I have a habit of driving with one foot on the gas, and one foot on the brake. Not good for fuel efficiencey. I need to improve on that.
On the other hand, I'm probably going to use every chance I get to floor it.... At least at first. I guess best case I try to time lights, fit in with the traffic flow, and dont punch it so hard I need to accelerate to a slower speed.
I haven't had a ticket in... I don't even remember. 20 years? But I'm pretty sure my number is coming up with this car.
The co-pilot at the drive said tickets on the Amped drive were not tickets. They were souvineers.
Never grinned through a ticket before. Wonder what that will be like?
Brian -- 'Sticky' tires leave bits of themselves behind, by design.
That's included in the flexing. I didn't make that clear enough.
"Vigorous" acceleration can waste energy, even when you can coast to the next light without regen or braking. It goes a little something like this: When you try to draw energy from the battery faster than it can do so efficiently, it generates excess heat in the battery. This is a double whammy, because you've wasted energy by creating the heat, and the battery pack management has to use more energy to cool the battery.
I can't say whether a 5.6s 0-60 exceeds that threshold but it seems more likely that a 4.4s 0-60 would.
My takeaway is this: eventually we will learn where the line between vigorous and excessive acceleration is, and adapt our driving habits accordingly.
That's my thought too. The test drive indicated that the instrumentation to figure that out is already in place.
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Halloween is the best, but be careful
- I have found a safety-tips list from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Visiting Angels, one of the largest in-home care companies for seniors in the nation, offers excellent Halloween safety tips for seniors
- I also have tips from Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano Sr. and the Rahway Police Department
- Your humble narrator and his son (aka my black pussycat "Black") are looking forward to Halloween — we just want everyone safe
Halloween is my favorite holiday. Not because it happens to fall on my crew's anniversary, but because on Halloween people can pretend without being pretentious or they simply can be their true selves (sometimes). Oh, yes, and you can get candy and coins.
Fans of the 1980s series "Beauty and the Beast" (a show that had the greatest tagline in the history of American television: "Once upon a time is now.") will recall that Halloween was the day that Vincent could walk openly in the world without ridicule, because everyone looking at his so-called deformed features would think it was a costume.
Your humble narrator and his son (aka my black pussycat "Black") are looking forward to Halloween. Black loves to greet the little ghosts, ghouls, goblins, princesses and superheroes — especially the youngest ones. I confess that I am fondest of the youngest ones, who remind me of the innocence that life offers in so very few cases.
Now at the other end of that spectrum, there are our older adults, who I very much admire and respect — those who must be considered our mentors, our teachers and our role models. It is important that we keep them safe as well.
Visiting Angels, one of the largest in-home care companies for seniors in the nation, offers these excellent Halloween safety tips for seniors (which really work well for all people who are offering treats at Halloween):
• Make sure all floors, entry ways and porches are free from decorations.
• Remove any Halloween decor that involves flames, such as a lit pumpkin, from outside stairs and footpaths. This is a fire hazard for the dozens of kids stopping by with tails and capes.
• Place carved pumpkins outside to keep the smell out and bugs away.
• Add night lights to hallways, walkways and rooms.
• Avoid window decorations that block light or the view of the front entry.
• Don't play music outside for Halloween guests — be aware of your surroundings.
I plan to follow those excellent suggestions. Black and I — weather permitting — will be in our usual place, which is out on the porch so I don't have to keep climbing up and down stairs, giving out the really good candy. Dear readers are invited to come by and say "hi" and pick up a treat. Dearest readers are subject to getting a trick.
If you are going trick-or-treating, I have found no better safety-tips list than this one provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.
• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don't run from house to house.
• Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
• Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
• Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don't stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
• Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
And isn't it very cool that if you use the first letter of each bullet item in this list, it spells "SAFE HALLOWEEN?"
It is especially important to keep our young children safe.
"The safety of our children is on our minds each and every day," said Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano Sr. in a news release. "The celebrations and traditions that go along with Halloween add to the importance of monitoring our children's activity and giving them the guidance to help keep them safe."
In the Annual Halloween Safety Tips for Kids, Provenzano offered the excellent advice of attaching your cell phone number to your young children's clothing in case they become separated from adults.
The Rahway Police Department has stated on its website that citizens should remember that certain activities are unacceptable, even at this time of year. Damaging the property of another is against the law. It is a violation of the N.J. Criminal Mischief statute.
Even with warnings from law-enforcement agencies, your humble narrator guarantees you that during Halloween week (not just on the traditional Mischief Night of Oct. 30) there will be those who will deface, destroy and even worse "just for kicks." Be very careful and be very cautious. Those going out or who know people who are going out on Halloween night, it's getting dark earlier so remind drivers to be aware of their surroundings and drive slowly — expect the unexpected.
Thanks for reading. "Don't you go home, and put on that fake-up. I love the way you look right now, just the way God made you... ." And don't forget to follow your humble narrator on Twitter: @JayJCookeCNHNT.
Color In Black & White appears on Sundays. Jay Jefferson Cooke is assistant editor/print of the Courier News and Home News Tribune. Phone him at 908-243-6603; email: firstname.lastname@example.org or write to: 92 E. Main St., Somerville, NJ 08876. Twitter: @JayJCookeCNHNT
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As a way to remember the Sikh temple shooting victims in Wisconsin - and hopefully prevent a massacre like that from happening elsewhere - a group of Bay Area Sikhs is hosting a run/walk Saturday in Sunnyvale to raise money for education.
Simran Kaur, the advocacy manager for The Sikh Coalition in Fremont, said her group hopes to raise $75,000. That money, she said, will go toward further educating the public about Sikhs and who they are.
Her coalition, which advocates for civil rights, already has formal partnerships with the Fremont and New Haven unified school districts, and some individual San Jose schools.
Kaur said she hopes that public awareness will curb horrific violent acts, such as the one that occurred in early August, when Michael Page, a neo-Nazi and former Army sergeant, opened fire on worshippers at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, killing six.
"It's important to have longterm programs," Kaur said. "We don't want Oak Creek to happen again."
Kaur said despite all their efforts, discrimination against Sikhs is still prevelant. A 2010 Sikh Coalition survey revealed that 69 percent of turban-wearing Sikh students in the Bay Area have suffered bullying and harassment because of their religion and that 30 percent of them had been hit or involuntarily touched because of their turbans.
According to a recent survey of 1,370 Sikhs living in the Bay Area, 10 percent reported being the victim of a hate rime, and 68 percent of those crimes were in the form of physical attacks.
The 5K run/walk will take place 9 a.m. Saturday at Baylands Park, 999 Caribbean Drive in Sunnyvale. Anyone, regardless of religion, is invited to participate. The suggested donation to run is $100.
Please register before the race at the Sikh Coalition's website. Questions? Email firstname.lastname@example.org
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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Dental and Oral Health (Adults)
Cold Sensitivity Following Procedure
I recently (~1.5 weeks ago) had a significant amount of dental work performed, including an upper molar extraction and significant filling on the tooth immediately adjacent to it. Prior to the work, I had minor sensitivity to sweet foods and extreme temperatures. After the procedure, the sensitivity to sweet food has been eliminated, but the sensitivity to temperatures has greatly increased. While hot items do not cause any significant level of discomfort, cold items induce a prolonged and relatively sharp and strong pain in the area. It is difficult to determine exactly which tooth the pain is coming from, as it seems to radiate throughout the area. The use of an NSAID, such as Advil, greatly reduces and at times eliminates the problem.
Is this a normal occurrence? Can I expect the issue to improve over time? Are there any steps I can take to help eliminate this situation? Any help is appreciated.
Hopefully, your cold sensitivity will gradually decrease over a period of weeks. Try to brush and floss regularly despite sensitivity and consider using a desensitizing tooth paste (Sensodyne, Promise, Denquel, Crest Sensitive).
Desensitizer toothpastes may take two weeks to have an effect and you may need to continue using them indefinitely.
That fact that Advil helps is a good sign. Hopefully, when you described the cold response as "prolonged" you still meant less than 10-15 seconds. Hopefully, your sensitivity is also improving and not getting worse. If it does worsen, you might need a root canal or other treatment.
David Lee Hall, DDS
Clinical Associate Professor of Primary Care
College of Dentistry
The Ohio State University
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Results Around the Web for Palani
Back to the Palani name page
Palani is a city and a municipality in the Dindigul district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located about 100 km north-west of Madurai city and 100 km South-east of Coimbatore City and 60 km west of Dindigul.
The Palani Hills () (also Palani Hills) are a mountain range in Tamil Nadu state of South India. The Palani Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India.
Palani Dhandayuthapani temple is one of the six abodes (Arupadaiveedu) of Hindu deity Murugan. It is located in the town of Pazhani in Dindigul district, 100 km southeast of Coimbatore and northwest of Madurai in the foot-hills of Pazhani hills.
Palani is a state assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu.
The Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a proposed Protected area in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu State South India.
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NEW YORK — The New York Times says it will charge readers for full access to its Web site starting in 2011, a risky move aimed at drawing more revenue online without driving away advertisers that want the biggest possible audience.
The potential pitfalls have made most other major newspapers hesitant to take a similar step. But after months of deliberation, the Times said Wednesday it will use a metered system, allowing free access to a certain number of articles and then charging users for additional content.
The Times did not disclose how many articles will be available for free and what it will charge to read more. Subscribers to the printed version of the Times would still have free access to the Web site.
It would not be the first time the newspaper has tried to charge for its online articles.
It charged for its Web site in 1996 but attracted only about 4,000 subscribers. Another experiment called Times Select, which required a $50 annual subscription to read Times columnists, drew 221,000 customers but was scrapped in 2007 because it dented ad sales. Advertisers generally pay more for higher Web traffic.
The new approach resembles the one used at The Financial Times. The idea is to draw casual readers with free articles while getting fees from people who want to go deeper on the site.
The plan would not stop search engines from cataloging the newspaper’s Web site, so its articles would still benefit from the traffic generated by search results.
The Times said it will use 2010 to build a new online infrastructure for charging readers on different platforms, not just personal computers. For instance, the newspaper can be read for free through an application on Apple’s iPhone. But the Times did not say specifically what its plans are for mobile editions.
In a statement, New York Times Co. CEO Janet Robinson said the company is “guided by the fact that our news and information are being featured in an increasingly broad range of end-user devices and services, and our pricing plans and policies must reflect this vision.”
Times Co. shares fell 16 cents, 1.2 percent, to $13.54 in morning trading.
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Climate change will have far-reaching impacts on biodiversity, including increasing extinction rates. Current approaches to quantifying such impacts focus on measuring exposure to climatic change and largely ignore the biological differences between species that may significantly increase or reduce their vulnerability. To address this, we present a framework for assessing three dimensions of climate change vulnerability, namely sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity; this draws on species' biological traits and their modeled exposure to projected climatic changes. In the largest such assessment to date, we applied this approach to each of the world's birds, amphibians and corals (16,857 species). The resulting assessments identify the species with greatest relative vulnerability to climate change and the geographic areas in which they are concentrated, including the Amazon basin for amphibians and birds, and the central Indo-west Pacific (Coral Triangle) for corals. We found that high concentration areas for species with traits conferring highest sensitivity and lowest adaptive capacity differ from those of highly exposed species, and we identify areas where exposure-based assessments alone may over or under-estimate climate change impacts. We found that 608-851 bird (6-9%), 670-933 amphibian (11-15%), and 47-73 coral species (6-9%) are both highly climate change vulnerable and already threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List. The remaining highly climate change vulnerable species represent new priorities for conservation. Fewer species are highly climate change vulnerable under lower IPCC SRES emissions scenarios, indicating that reducing greenhouse emissions will reduce climate change driven extinctions. Our study answers the growing call for a more biologically and ecologically inclusive approach to assessing climate change vulnerability. By facilitating independent assessment of the three dimensions of climate change vulnerability, our approach can be used to devise species and area-specific conservation interventions and indices. The priorities we identify will strengthen global strategies to mitigate climate change impacts.
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Alternatively known as the tincture or the powder.
In Alchemy, the name given to a stone, powder, liquid, or substance which will transmute base metals into gold, believed to cure illnesses, prolong life, and bring about spiritual revitalization.
The Philosopher's Stone is the Holy Grail of alchemy, the ancient art of turning base metal into gold. Its magical and elemental power has fixated explorers, occultists and scientists for centuries. For the Philosopher's Stone, it is said, holds the key, not only to making gold but also to deciphering the riddle of existence and unlocking the secret of eternal life.
The Philosophers Stone is an ancient symbol of the perfected and regenerated man whose divine nature shines forth through a chain of purified and unfolded vehicles. As the rough diamond is dull and lifeless when first removed from the black carbon, so the spiritual nature of man in its "fallen" state reveals little, if any, of its inherent luminosity. Just as in the hand of the skillful lapidary the shapeless stone is transformed into a scintillating gem from whose facets pour streams of varicolored fire, so upon the lathe of the Divine Lapidary the soul of man is ground and polished until it reflects the glory of its creator from every atom.
The perfecting of the Diamond Soul through philosophical-alchemical art was the concealed object of Hermetic Rosicrucianism. Albert Mackey sees a correspondence between the Philosophers Stone and the Masonic Temple, for both represent the realization and accomplishment of the ideal. In philosophy the Stone of the Wise Man is "supreme and unalterable Reason. To find the Absolute in the Infinite, in the Indefinite, and in the Finite, this is the Magnum Opus, the Great Work of the Sages, which Hermes called the Work of the Sun." He who possesses the Philosophers Stone possesses Truth, the greatest of all treasures, and is therefore rich beyond the calculation of man; he is immortal because Reason takes no account of death and he is healed of Ignorance the most loathsome of all diseases.
The Hermetic Stone is Divine Power, which all men seek but which is found only by such as exchange for it that temporal power which must pass away. To the mystic, the Philosophers Stone is perfect love, which transmutes all that is base and "raises" all that is dead (from 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages').
An old Alexandrine text makes particular mention of the weight of the Philosopher's Stone, which it calls the Stone of Paradise. It states that:
"When placed in the scales can outweigh its quantity of gold; but when it is transposed to dust, even a feather will tip the scales against it."
See Alchemy, Thoth, Amulet, Talisman, drain toronto, Mystic Gifts and Charms - New Age Gift Shop & Wicca and Pagan Supplies, Love Spells -- Use these powerful love spells to help you find and keep your true love, The Tarot Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, Unique Amulets, Talismans, Good Luck Charms, and Love Tokens, Powerful Witch Doctor Spell Kits, Powerful Spells - Cast by Andreika the Witch, Webmasters Make $$$, AzureGreen - Celebrating All Paths to the Divine, ISIS - Tools for Your Soul's Journey, and The Pyramid Collection - Myth, Magick, Fantasy and Romance.
Sources: (1) Fernando, Diana, Alchemy: An Illustrated A to Z, Sterling Publications; (2) Hall, Manly P., The Secret Teachings of All Ages, CreateSpace Publishing.
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Udemy – Angular Advanced MasterClass & FREE E-Book
English | Tutorial | Size: 1.52 GB
What Is The Best Way To Learn Advanced Angular Features?
The best way to learn Angular and its most advanced features is to simply take and use it to build something very concrete, like for example an application or a library – and do it in a step-by-step way, as there is no replacement for that experience.
In order to understand a technology, we really need to build something non-trivial with it – blog posts and docs will only get us so far.
This is of course very time-consuming to do without any help because we will have to learn everything by ourselves along the way as we build something, gluing together an endless number of blog posts, documentation and Stackoverflow answers.
So because of this, in order to really dive deep into Angular we will be using it to build a series of small reusable libraries. The goal is to create a practice scenario, and learn the advanced features of Angular in their original use cases, where they make the most sense and so are easier to learn.
What you’ll learn
Code in Github repository with downloadable ZIP files per section
Learn the most advanced features of Angular
learn how to how to build open source Angular libraries
Component API Design
Component Styling best practices
Templates and Template Outlets, ng-content, ng-container, style isolation and customization
AOT, global events, debugging with the CLI, @ViewChildren, @ContentChildren
Light DOM vs Shadow DOM, @HostBinding, @HostListener, dynamic components
Directives, handling keyboard events, testing, animations and more
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Brazzaville — A group of Pygmy women singers from Likouala, in the extreme north of the Republic of Congo, has released a music album, which they and their backer hope will help safeguard the rights of the country's Baka Pygmies.
The album, 'Makingo ma beeto Baka' (Voices of Baka Women), has 13 songs and is the brainchild of Sorel Eta, 38, a Bantu from Congo. "I did it... to promote the music of the indigenous people, which is very rich but little known... I did not do it just for the money but to defend their cause through song," he said.
Threatened by extinction, the aboriginal peoples of Congo make up no more than 2 percent of the population, according to the UN Population Fund. In 2011, Congo passed a law protecting the rights of this minority, but according to Roch Euloge Nzobo of the Congolese Human Rights Observatory, "this law has been in abeyance because it has not been formally implemented."
"Aboriginal songs have specific features which enable us to better understand rainforest people. It's a unique kind of music," Alphonse Dzanga Konga, cultural adviser to the Congolese presidency, told IRIN. A thousand CDs of the album have been made; it sells for US$10 in Congo and $20 in Switzerland, where it was produced.
This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.
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March 31, 2010
A leading authority on U.S. military power and a renowned physicist are among the intellectual luminaries who will arrive at AmherstCollege in the coming academic year to teach courses that will allow students to benefit from their unparalleled expertise.
Andrew Bacevich, the new John J.
Andrew Bacevich, a West Point graduate, Vietnam War veteran and professor of international relations at Boston University, will teach a fall course titled “Ideas and American Foreign Policy” as the John J. McCloy ’16 Professor of American Institutions and International Diplomacy.
A leading public intellectual and self-described “Catholic conservative,” Bacevich, who has lectured at Amherst in the past, has been “a persistent, vocal critic of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, calling the conflict a catastrophic failure. In March 2007, he described George W. Bush’s endorsement of such “preventive wars” as “immoral, illicit, and imprudent.” His son died fighting in the Iraq war in May 2007.
The history course Bacevich will be teaching will examine the ideas that have shaped United States foreign policy in the past and that continue to influence debates over foreign policy and geopolitics today.
“Members of the history department who have taught books by Professor Bacevich and have heard him speak at Amherst are very pleased that our students will have this opportunity to take a semester-long course with such a prominent author and teacher,” said Kevin Sweeney, professor and chair of Amherst’s history department.
Meanwhile, Fulvio Melia, distinguished professor in the physics, astronomy and applied mathematics departments at the University of Arizona, will visit Amherst as a John Woodruff Simpson Lecturer to teach a new course in fall 2010 called “High Energy Astrophysics.”
Melia is both an internationally-known theoretical astrophysicist and an accomplished author, having published both technical and non-technical books on physics and astronomy, including Cracking the Einstein Code: Relativity and the Birth of Black Hole Physics, which won the 2009 PROSE Award from the Association of American Publishers.
Professor George Greenstein of the astronomy department says he is “thrilled to have such a distinguished scientist as a colleague.”
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March 25, 2014 report
Brain scans show what makes us drink water and what makes us stop drinking
(Medical Xpress)—Drinking water when you're thirsty is a pleasurable experience. Continuing to drink when you're not, however, can be very unpleasant. To understand why your reaction to water drinking changes as your thirst level changes, Pascal Saker of the University of Melbourne and his colleagues performed fMRI scans on people as they drank water. They found that regions of the brain associated with positive feelings became active when the subjects were thirsty, while regions associated with negative feelings and with controlling and coordinating movement became active after the subjects were satiated. The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A sense of thirst probably evolved in animals when they began living on land during the Ordovician period, about 400 million years ago. We need water to survive, and thirst provides us with the impulse to drink. However, drinking too much water can be as bad as drinking too little. Cells require a precise balance of water and other nutrients. Too much water can be deadly, leading to hyponatremia (low sodium levels) or cerebral edema (excess fluid in the brain.)
Fortunately, in normal conditions, we tend to drink only as much water as we need. The positive sensation we associate with drinking when thirsty disappears as soon as we are satiated. Then drinking produces a feeling of aversion.
To understand how the brain regulates the desire to drink water, Saker and his team had 20 people work up a sweat by exercising on a stationary bike for an hour. After the subjects had finished exercising, the team had them drink water and continue to drink, even after they were no longer thirsty. Over the course of the experiment, the researchers had the subjects report how they felt and performed fMRI scans to study activity in the subjects' brains.
When the subjects stopped exercising, they were dehydrated and felt thirsty. Drinking made them feel good. Brain scans revealed activation of regions associated with positive feelings in response to stimuli.
However, continuing to drink when they were no longer thirsty made the subjects feel bad. The more they drank, the worse they felt. Brain regions associated with negative responses to stimuli and inhibition of swallowing became active, as did regions associated with motor control and coordination. Activation of motor control centers shows they were probably trying to force themselves to keep drinking even though they were experiencing a desire to stop.
The researchers think their findings could be used to help people with schizophrenia, who are prone to overdrinking.
The instinct of thirst was a cardinal element in the successful colonization by vertebrates of the dry land of the planet, which began in the Ordovician period about 400 million y ago. It is a commonplace experience in humans that drinking water in response to thirst following fluid loss is a pleasant experience. However, continuing to drink water once thirst has been satiated becomes unpleasant and, eventually, quite aversive. Functional MRI experiments reported here show pleasantness of drinking is associated with activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann area 32) and the orbitofrontal cortex. The unpleasantness and aversion of overdrinking is associated with activation in the midcingulate cortex, insula, amygdala, and periaqueductal gray. Drinking activations in the putamen and cerebellum also correlated with the unpleasantness of water, and the motor cortex showed increased activation during overdrinking compared with drinking during thirst. These activations in motor regions may possibly reflect volitional effort to conduct compliant drinking in the face of regulatory mechanisms inhibiting intake. The results suggestive of a specific inhibitory system in the control of drinking are unique.
© 2014 Medical Xpress
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10. T0o0p hqa5rxd 6tt0[o 6ty[p3e 2w9igtjh;pa3wds (It's hard to type with paws)
9. 'Sit' and 'stay' were hard enough; 'delete' and 'save' are out of the question.
8. Saliva-coated floppy disks refuse to work.
7. Carpal Paw Syndrome.
6. Involuntary tail wagging is dead giveaway he's browsing www.purina.com or the '50 ways to skin a cat' sites.
5. Fire hydrant icon simply frustrates.
4. Can't help attacking the screen when he hears, 'you've got mail'.
3. Too messy to mark every Web site he visits.
2. Fetch command not available on all platforms.
1. Can't stick his head out of Windows.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
Paper and canvas prints of "Growing Up Chinese Shar-Pei" by Barbara Keith are available online.
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SAN ANGELO, Texas — In line with its members' oath to commit their minds to clearer thinking, hearts to greater loyalty, hands to larger service and health to better living on a local and global level, local 4-H students will lead and engage young peers in a National Youth Science Day event.
The annual event, part of 4-H's nationwide campaign to pique interest among youth in science, engineering and technology by 2013, will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at San Angelo's Stephens Central Library. It will be the local 4-H chapter's fifth time to host a Science Day event.
A handful of members from Tom Green County 4-H's Angelo Bluebonnet Club are participants in 4-H's Science, Engineering, Technology group — also called Science Club — which is open to children in second grade and up.
"It's a nonprofit organization and within it there are several different programs" of which Science, Engineering, Technology is just one, said project leader Janice Trees. "A lot of people think (4-H only involves) showing animals ... but a lot of these kids have at least two projects, if not more, that they're involved in."
This year's National Youth Science Day experiment is "4-H Eco-Bot Challenge." According to the program's facilitator guide, Science Club members will demonstrate to students in attendance how robots can preserve and protect the environment.
Twelve-year-old Maddi Trees, who serves as reporter for Angelo Bluebonnet, said her fellow Science Club members will provide an illustration of an oil spill and help participants make a robot fashioned from toothbrush heads and a small motor. Students then will be tasked with building a course the "brush bot" can navigate to clean up the oil spill, she said.
"We'll help them build their robot and urge them on while they're building the course," Maddi said.
Annette Guerrero, manager of Angelo Bluebonnet Club, said 4-H emphasizes instilling its members with leadership skills they can utilize to teach other youth.
In preparation for National Youth Science Day, Science Club members are "doing the planning, writing the press releases; they're doing as much of the work as they possibly can," Guerrero said.
Trees said that, unlike the participants they hope to attract to Wednesday's hands-on event, Science Club's approximately 15 members already have an interest in science.
"It's not something you can do (just) to fill time because we really ask a lot of the kids," Trees said. "They are already invested in learning about the sciences, and some have expressed an interest in making it a career goal."
And while science is the focus of Angelo Bluebonnet Club's upcoming event, 4-H aims to educate and hone the talents of its members in a variety of subject areas, Maddi said.
"Our 4-H motto is learn by doing," she said. "We learn by building, cooking and showing animals. It's basically so you can (engage) in a project that focuses on an interest but also learn something."
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- Should I leave mobile data on all the time?
- Why am I using data when connected to WiFi?
- What is using all my data?
- How slow is unlimited data?
- Do I need home WiFi if I have unlimited data?
- Can you use unlimited data as WiFi?
- Is it better to use WiFi or mobile data?
- How can I use mobile hotspot without using data?
- How much does unlimited data cost a month?
- Can I use WiFi instead of data?
- Does unlimited data mean unlimited WiFi?
- Why is unlimited data not unlimited?
- Can a mobile hotspot replace home internet?
- How do you know if your phone is using WiFi or data?
- What apps use the most data?
Should I leave mobile data on all the time?
You don’t want to keep on mobile data all the time.
Of course its safe to keep the mobile data on, but you should realise that some apps will be continuously using your data in the background, downloading updates or configuration changes, or just pinging a server to keep a network connection open..
Why am I using data when connected to WiFi?
If you go to Settings > Cellular > scroll down to the bottom, it will show what is consuming data. Whenever you’re not connected to WiFi, what is checked in green, (under Cellular), is running data, and this can add up pretty fast.
What is using all my data?
Android. On Android you can get to the menu by going to Settings, followed by Connections and then Data Usage. On the next menu select “Mobile Data Usage” to see a rundown of what apps you’ve used so far this month and how much data they use.
How slow is unlimited data?
Best Unlimited Data Speeds While using your monthly allotment you’ll get download speeds of around 150 Mbps in most urban centres with average downloads around 41-57 Mbps (according to OpenSignal). Once you hit that data cap, Rogers, Bell and Telus all slow you down to 512 kbps.
Do I need home WiFi if I have unlimited data?
You don’t need to – but WiFi is usually faster than roaming-connections. … Technically, you don’t need wifi. However, most “unlimited” data plans have a caveat that after a certain amount of data usage you’re speeds will drastically drop.
Can you use unlimited data as WiFi?
Originally Answered: Do I need WiFi at home if I have unlimited data? You can try. You may have unlimited mobile data but check your carrier’s policy on tethering/hotspots. Even though your mobile device may have unlimited access, often times in regards to tethering you are capped.
Is it better to use WiFi or mobile data?
WiFi is normally much faster than mobile data. The only speed bottleneck will be the amount of bandwidth available on the landline internet connection. Thankfully, most of these connections are broadband or even fiber technology so they are blazing fast.
How can I use mobile hotspot without using data?
If there are no restrictions on your Android smartphone to using it as a Wi-Fi hotspot, here’s how to turn your phone into a hotspot without a plan: Step 1: Click Settings on your smartphone. Step 2: Select the “Wireless & Networks” option from the Settings. Step 3: Look for the “Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot” option.
How much does unlimited data cost a month?
Comparison of single line unlimited data plans with autopay discounts appliedCarrierUnlimited data monthly costData limitT-Mobile One Plus$8050GB/monthAT&T Unlimited &More Premium$8022GB/monthVerizon “beyondunlimited”$8522GB/monthSprint Unlimited Premium$9050GB/month7 more rows•Sep 4, 2018
Can I use WiFi instead of data?
On Android, it’s Adaptive Wi-Fi. … The same setting on Android phones can be found in the Connections area of the Settings app. Go to the WiFi settings, tap the three dots in the corner to find the advanced settings menu, and then turn off the toggle that says “Switch to mobile data.”
Does unlimited data mean unlimited WiFi?
Unlimited full speed data – this means you can access what you want, as often as you want to and it will always be at full 4G LTE speed. Unlimited data, then slowed – these plans allow you to access as much data as you want to (unlimited) but only some of that data will be at full speed.
Why is unlimited data not unlimited?
It’s true, with unlimited data plans, there are no limits to the amount of data you can use. There is, however, very truly limits to data speed. When you are buying an unlimited plan, you might find language that resembles this: Customer may experience reduced speeds at times of network congestion.
Can a mobile hotspot replace home internet?
Hotspots Can’t Replace Home Internet So if your needs don’t involve video or music streaming, a wireless hotspot may be a viable alternative for your home. But if they do, you’ll find you become quickly frustrated by the data bucket limits.
How do you know if your phone is using WiFi or data?
It can be confusing to know which features on your phone might be using cellular data….On Android phones:Go to Settings.Tap Connections.Then, tap Data Usage.Finally, tap Mobile Data Usage. Scroll down to see a list of your apps. The amount of data each has used will be displayed next to them.
What apps use the most data?
Below are the top 5 apps that are guilty of using up the most data.Android native browser. Number 5 on the list is the browser that comes preinstalled on Android devices. … Android native browser. … YouTube. … YouTube. … Instagram. … Instagram. … UC Browser. … UC Browser.More items…•
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Most Viewed News Stories of 2010
WebMD News Archive
You can generally guarantee that certain types of health news stories are going to make WebMD's most popular list: a major recall, an ailing celebrity. But there are always a few surprises. Many doctors couldn't even recognize the symptoms of whooping cough when it hit California with its worst epidemic in more than 50 years. At a time when we are talking about fighting obesity, a story about so-called "extreme" restaurant meals is extremely popular.
Here are WebMD’s most-read news stories in 2010:
1. Children's Medications Recalls
There were multiple recalls of adult Tylenol products due to a musty smell this year, and the FDA is expected to issue new usage guidelines on acetaminophen (the pain reliever found in Tylenol and many over-the-counter and prescription drugs). But the most viewed story of the year showed where our hearts truly are: Our children. Forty-three child and infant products -- including children's Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl -- were recalled because of manufacturing problems that led to inaccurate amounts of the products’ active ingredients, or even the risk of tiny particles. Fortunately, no injuries or deaths were reported.
2. Pancreatic Cancer Linked to Sodas?
Soda shot into the headlines again when a study claimed that drinking as little as two sodas a week may nearly double your risk for pancreatic cancer. The study showed an association between the two, meaning there’s not a clear cause and effect. The beverage industry strongly protested, calling the research flawed.
3. Michael Douglas' Throat Cancer
Most people know who Michael Douglas is, but not many know about throat cancer. When the actor was diagnosed with a late stage of the disease, readers wanted to find out about the cancer and its symptoms and to get a sense of Douglas’ treatment and chance of recovery. It is one of those stories, as is so often the case with celebrities, that combines curiosity and caring.
4. Best Sunscreens: A Consumer Reports Ranking
This story came out just as summer was approaching, and it showed that readers want to adequately protect themselves from the sun and take care of their skin. The FDA has been promising to finalize a new rating system for sunscreens, but they have yet to release it. In the meantime, readers have been turning to other sources for guidance.
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Military families and children represent a heterogeneous population and live in geographically diverse settings: on military installations, in civilian urban and suburban communities, and in rural areas across the country. While military families are generally robust and resilient, the stress of war (combat deployments, combat injury, illness or death) challenges the healthiest of families, be they active duty, National Guard or reserve.
Combat injury is a life-changing event that impacts the service member, his or her children, as well as other family members and loved ones. Parental injury disrupts a family’s routines, cohesion and sense of safety. Existing patterns of parenting undergo change as both injured and uninjured parent cope with complex emotions and the complicated reality of medical treatment and rehabilitation. Children are particularly vulnerable and often adults do not know how to speak to them about the injury, or how much and what kind of information to share.Download Resource
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Reference & Research
The Reference and Research Division handles reference inquiry and assists user in finding information. It also focuses on teaching users information searching and retrieval skills. The main functions of this division are as below :
1) User Education & Information Literacy
Programs to teach user life-long skills to enable them to use information resources effectively through the following activities:
(a) Information Literacy Skills Workshop
(b) Information Search Skills Workshop
(c) Library Briefing
(d) Taklimat Jerayawara (Road Show)
(e) Endnote Workshop
(f) KRISALIS Clinic
2) Reference Inquiry
Handling Reference Counter services by maintaining its quality.
Daily newspapers are located at level 1 and level 2. The compilation of newspapers will be kept for usage and internal borrowing. After 3 months the newspaper will be discarded.
Newspaper cutting on medical topics are indexed and kept in files up 2008 and are available for internal reading. The library also provides links to online newspaper here.
For further information, please contact:
Nurul Azurah Mohd Roni
Head of Reference and Research,
Senior Librarian (s44)
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By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service
ROME (CNS) — In a moving gesture of brotherhood and peace, Pope Francis washed the feet of several refugees, including Muslims, Hindus and Copts.
Gestures, like Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, “speak louder than words,” he said during the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper March 24.
Coming together, he added, is another gesture meant to show a desire to live in peace as brothers and sisters despite people’s different cultural and religious backgrounds.
Hundreds of refugees were outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope as he made his way into the courtyard of the Center for Asylum Seekers at Castelnuovo di Porto, about 15 miles north of Rome.
Prior to his arrival, the pope sent some Easter presents for the center’s guests: 200 chocolate Easter eggs, a wooden chess board, and several autographed soccer balls and baseballs.
After getting out of a blue four-door vehicle, the pope was greeted by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the main organizer of the Vatican’s Year of Mercy initiatives, as well as the directors of the refugee center.
He was also introduced to three residents who would serve as his interpreters: Ibrahim from Afghanistan, Boro from Mali and Segen from Eritrea. One of the refugees handed the pope a marker, which the pontiff used to sign a banner depicting the flags of 26 nations, representing the countries of origin of the center’s guests.
In his brief, off-the-cuff homily, the pope said there were two distinct gestures in the day’s Gospel: Jesus serving and washing the feet of his disciples and Judas receiving money by Jesus’ enemies to betray him.
“Today as well, there are two gestures. All of us here, [coming] together — Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Copts, Evangelicals — but [being] brothers, sons of the same God who want to live in peace,” he said.
However, recalling the recent terrorist attack in Brussels, the pope said there was a second gesture made by those want war. Like Judas, he said, behind those who committed the attacks there are “arms traffickers who want blood, not peace.”
“In this moment, when I do Jesus’ same gesture — to wash the feet of you 12 — all of us are making this gesture of brotherhood. And all of us can say: We are diverse, we are different, we have different religions and cultures, but we are brothers and we want to live in peace,” he said.
Acknowledging the suffering endured by the refugees, Pope Francis asked them to pray in “their own religious language” so that there may “always be brotherhood and goodness.”
After his homily, the pope removed his vestments and put on a large white garment tied over his alb. He kneeled before each of the 12 people, washed each person’s foot slowly and dried it.
The refugees barely contained their emotions, tears streaming down their faces as the pope bent low and kissed their feet. A young mother wiped her tears as the pope gazed at her and reached out to touch her baby.
The evening Mass was the second of two Holy Thursday liturgies for Pope Francis; the first was a morning chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Before going around and greeting each of the center’s residents individually, Pope Francis asked them to remember the beauty of living together as brothers and sisters despite their different cultures, religions and traditions.
This beauty, he said, “has a name: peace and love.”
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Twin Family - Broadest Twin solution building blocks for best application optimization
Supermicro products incorporate the most advanced hardware and software technologies to keep pace with the ever-changing demands presented by the massive amount of information in today's business world.
1U Twin is an innovative 1U rackmount system designed to increase computing density while reducing cost, energy and space requirements. With two systems (or two nodes) within a 1U space, the 1U Twin can support up to 16 processor cores - two systems each housing two quad-core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2600 Series.
- Two nodes in one 1U system - save chassis, power supply, and rack costs
- Double the density and computing power - save IT space rental costs
- Higher power utilization increases power supply efficiency - save energy costs
- Reduce power cables and power strips for easy cabling, better airflow and reduced cabling costs
- Operate and maintain two systems in one physical space - save maintenance / management costs
- Perfect for HPC computing cluster, data center / data farm, search engine nodes, and high-availability applications
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Corynne Romine (left) and Michelle Mascaro are adoptive parents of three children (left to right): David, 11; Emma, 13; and Joseph Romine, 9. When they adopted Emma, their child welfare agency hid the fact that they were a lesbian couple from Lutheran Child and Family Services, they said. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune)
State officials are investigating whether religious agencies that receive public funds to license foster care parents are breaking anti-discrimination laws if they turn away openly gay parents.
If they are found in violation, Lutheran Child and Family Services, Catholic Charities in five regions and the Evangelical Child and Family Agency will have to license openly gay foster parents or lose millions of state dollars, potentially disrupting more than 3,000 foster children in their care.
Though Illinois legislators championing the civil union bill earlier this year insisted that religious institutions would not be forced to bless same-sex unions, it said nothing about same-sex parents.
Now, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Gov. Pat Quinn's legal team and the Department of Children and Family Services are carefully researching the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Civil Union Act and the Illinois Constitution to determine whether they prohibit agencies from considering sexual orientation as a factor in foster care and adoption. In Illinois, all adults who adopt or become foster care providers must obtain foster care licenses.
"Social intervention such as adoption laws and practices inevitably reflect their communities," said Kendall Marlowe, a spokesman for DCFS. "Illinois as a state has grown on this (gay rights) issue as evidenced by (civil union legislation). Adoption law and practice should reflect the values of the people of Illinois."
But Bob Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, said Catholic Charities has no intention of changing its policy against allowing openly gay foster parents after nearly a century of serving children in Illinois. Catholic Charities inspired the state to take on foster care, which ultimately led to the creation of DCFS.
Catholic Charities in Rockford, Peoria, Joliet, Springfield and Belleville could be affected. Catholic Charities in Chicago ended its foster care services in 2007 when the agency's insurer dropped its coverage.
"We think we're a good partner with the state," Gilligan said. "If they see we are not, we will sit down and talk with them and we will continue to try providing these services as long as we can. We're not going to violate our religious teachings."
Though the civil union legislation factors into the inquiry, the issue came to light months earlier when Lutheran Child and Family Services turned away a gay male couple when they tried to become mentors for a gay runaway in the Lutheran agency's care. The policies of Lutheran Child and Family Services, which is affiliated with the conservative Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, preclude "developing or licensing foster care families who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning."
The policy reflects the conservative doctrine and teaching of the Missouri Synod Lutheran denomination, which in 2006 issued a proclamation that said placing adoptive or foster children in a household with gay parents would violate church teachings.
Officials at several of the religious agencies at the center of the state's investigation argue that they are shielded by an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in November ensuring that faith-based organizations can provide social services with federal funds without sacrificing their "religious character."
Ken Withrow, executive director of the Evangelical Child and Family Agency, said that when federal and state funds are brought together to pay for social services, federal guidelines trump state laws.
"It is our policy and practice to place children in need of adoption or foster care in evangelical Christian homes," Withrow said. "A faith-based agency doesn't have to become a secular agency to receive government funds. … There are federal laws on the books affirmed by three administrations."
Gilligan points to language added to the Illinois Human Rights Act five years ago that exempts sectarian places of accommodation from anti-discrimination laws.
"A sectarian adoption agency is probably exempt from some of the potential discriminatory provisions in the Illinois Human Rights Act," he said. "We're not subject to some of the issues, in this case … same-sex orientation."
Gilligan said openly gay foster parents have the option of applying for licenses from 57 other private child welfare agencies or directly from DCFS. In fact, Marlowe said the issue probably hasn't emerged until now because many openly gay candidates intentionally have chosen agencies that don't have restrictive policies instead of filing complaints.
Benjamin Wolf of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, an attorney who represents juvenile state wards as part of a court-monitored consent decree with DCFS, said limiting the pool of prospective foster care parents because certain religious traditions believe same-sex relationships are sinful is irresponsible when children are in need.
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The Hazards of Road Rash
Causes of Road Rash
Road rash occurs where the driver or passenger falls from the motorcycle onto the road and is dragged for a distance along the road. The risk and effects of road rash is well known in motorcycling communities due to how frequently it happens.
Protective measures are often undertaken, however, leather and even additional padding cannot always prevent the skin from coming into contact with the road and other surfaces. Other accidents causing road rash also include skateboarding, cycling, walking or jogging outdoors, and treadmill use.
How is Road Rash classed?
Like burns, road rash is measured in three degrees, which relate to the different symptoms. These include:
First-degree Road Rash
First-degree road rash refers to minor rash injuries such as superficial scraps, and redness.
Second-degree Road Rash
Second degree road rash describes a more severe rash injury that breaks the skin, however, does not affect deep tissue. The symptoms include redness, pain, and bleeding where medical intervention is required.
Third-degree Road Rash
Third-degree road rash is the most serious form of the injury. This refers to near-complete skin loss affecting deep tissue such as fat, muscle, and cartilage. The victim may experience severe pain lasting more than two hours after treatment, fluid indicating infection, and they may also experience shock, paleness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting.
In any road rash injury, the extent of skin that has been removed is also of central importance. Therefore, if you experience second or third-degree road rash on a large percentage of your body, you should seek medical attention.
If you or a loved one are suffering from a third degree road rash, you must seek medical attention immediately. You may have serious injuries you are unaware of and will potentially be at risk of infection. In some cases, muscle can be pulled away from the bone, or nerve damage may occur, requiring grafting surgery. You may not be aware of the severity of your injury so if you are unsure, please seek medical attention.
How is Road Rash Treated?
Medical treatment for road rash varies depending on the degree of injury. There are various factors that could make road rash complex to treat. Whilst first and second-degree road rash generally only require first aid treatment, various factors can influence the severity and complexity of injury and treatment. Common treatment for road rash includes:
When a motorcycle accident occurs, various materials such as concrete, gravel and glass can come into contact with the skin. If the wound is left uncleaned, these substances can remain in the wound, causing discoloration and infection.
Dry and Dress
Once cleaned, it is important to keep the injured skin dry. Ointments and antibacterial treatment should also be applied to the wound to reduce the risk of infection, reduce pain and ensure healing. The wound should also be bandaged.
Third-degree road rash and deeper rashes often require additional medical procedures. Skin grafts are a common form of treatment for more severe injuries. This involves using the victim’s own body or cadaver to heal the skin.
The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV are Here to Help
Joseph H. Low IV lawyers are skilled in personal injury law. We are here to support you and ensure you receive the compensation that you deserve. We understand the difficulties surrounding injuries such as road rash and are here to navigate the way for you. Get in contact with us today at (562) 901-0840.
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|Posted by John Barnhart on November 22, 2001 at 00:21:48:|
|In response to Re: High Water Pressure|
: You hae a regulator problem. The unit is not deadheading properly so the pressure builds up due to leakage through the disk. The first use drains off the excess, and then it works properly until the faucets are shutoff. Replace or rebuild the regulator.
: : My residential water pressure in LA should be about 55 psi. But when the water is shut off, it creeps up to about 140 psi aftr about 3 minutes.
: : Is this normal or do I have a regulator problem? I am using a Wilkins 600 regulator.
Where can I find parts to replace a Wilkins water pressure regulator? I have a Wilkins and it is leaking.
|Replies to this post|
|There are none.|
| 162,049
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Re: OT - DOS vs Linux text files?
On Fri, Feb 23, 2001 at 02:12:42PM -0600, Chad C. Walstrom wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 23, 2001 at 12:12:58PM -0600, William Jensen wrote:
> > Highlighting and pasting from what I think is an origionally created
> > in windows text file to a linux file produces successive lines that
> > are indented across the screen. However when I create a file in
> > linux and then highlight and paste into another file it works fine.
> > I think the files that are giving me trouble are windows created
> > because I see:
> > "BlessedEquipment.html" [dos] 127L, 4640C written
> > when I :w in vim. If the problem is they were created within
> > windows then what is it I need to strip out of the files? Use perl
> > to do it?
> > I'm frustrated with constantly having to highlight and << paragraphs
> > of text.
> try 'set ff=unix' to save as unix format and 'set ff=dos' to save in
> dos format. Hilighting is done with 'v' for visual while in command
> mode. You should really type ':help' one of these days and read a bit
> up on your editor. ;-)
I'm familiar with highlighting/pasting, nudging a paragraph in/out
etc in the same file. I was just confused why a paste from a diff
text file (using the mouse as the cut/paste tool) was producing
crazy indenting. Looks like the culprit was cindent in my case.
Thanks for the "noai" tip. That also fixes the paste.
Thanks to all who responded.
> Chad Walstrom <firstname.lastname@example.org> | a.k.a. ^chewie
> http://www.wookimus.net/ | s.k.a. gunnarr
> Key fingerprint = B4AB D627 9CBD 687E 7A31 1950 0CC7 0B18 206C 5AFD
| 188,751
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The space shuttle Enterprise is set to fly over New York City this morning.
And you thought Big Apple rush hour traffic was crazy enough.
Residents of Manhattan are getting their BlackBerries and iPhones ready to record history as it zooms by.
The shuttle will be carried on top of a modified jumbo jet and is scheduled to make low-altitude flyovers over New York City tourist hotspots such as the Statue of Liberty and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
So basically the Shuttle is like any other tourist, except it probably won’t have to ask for directions.
Enterprise had been set to arrive earlier in the week but NASA pushed back the appearance because of bad weather.
NASA is basically putting a bow on the shuttle program, which was brought to a close last summer.
If you want to be part of the event, tag Instagram snapshots #shuttlewsj to appear on the Wall Street Journal online.
For more information on viewing tips, go to our fellow blog Metropolis.
For the latest entertainment news Follow @WSJSpeakeasy
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Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.
An area is classified or designated as being in attainment if air quality monitoring indicates that the area is meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). NAAQS are set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and are required by the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) in order to protect human health and the environment. Ambient air in Indiana is closely monitored to be sure that NAAQS are being met. An area designated as being in attainment can be flagged for redesignation to nonattainment if air monitoring over a period of time indicates that there are more pollutants in the air than the NAAQS allow or if the area contributes air pollutants to a neighboring area where monitor readings indicate that NAAQS are being exceeded. An area can be redesignated from nonattainment to attainment if the area has monitored attainment of the air quality standard and U.S. EPA has determined that the improvement in air quality is due to permanent and enforceable reductions in emissions, among other requirements.
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The Newhouse School is committed to creating a learning environment for our students that celebrates diversity both in and out of the classroom.
Newhouse has a standing Committee on Diversity made up of faculty, staff and a student representative. The committee's mission is to provide a sense of global community at the Newhouse School and to be a resource on multi-racial, cultural, ethnic and social issues.
The committee helps to ensure that diverse perspectives are reflected in Newhouse policies and planning, recruitment, curriculum, mentoring and training.
Syracuse University prides itself on a diverse campus. Minority students represent 25.6 percent of the total student population of 21,492. This includes 7.7 percent African Americans; 6.4 percent Asian Americans; 8.6 percent Hispanics; 0.6 percent Native Americans; and 2.3 percent of two or more races.
Syracuse values diversity, is committed to inclusion and seeks to provide access for all people, including those with disabilities. More information about disability and accessibility at Syracuse University is available online.
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HYBRIT’s demonstration plant in Vitåfors, northern Sweden, will demonstrate the value chain for fossil-free steel on an industrial scale. It includes production of hydrogen in order to manufacture sponge iron by direct reduction. The plant is due to open in 2026.
HYBRIT (Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology) was founded by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall to develop a fossil-free value supply chain for iron and steel production, using fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The HYBRIT technology involves replacing the blast furnace process, which uses carbon and coke to remove the oxygen from iron ore, with a direct reduction process using fossil-free hydrogen. The hydrogen is produced from water using electricity from fossil-free energy sources. Instead of CO2, the process will only release water vapour.
Demonstration of production on an industrial scale
Once complete, HYBRIT’s demonstration hydrogen direct reduction plant in Gällivare Municipality will demonstrate the production of fossil-free steel on an industrial scale. The demonstration plant includes hydrogen production and manufacturing of sponge iron by direct reduction with hydrogen. This involves development in several fields of technology. The unique, innovative aspect of the plant is to industrialise known technology and develop certain strategic technical elements to bring the process together. The aim is to enable and scale up the fossil-free process to an industrial and commercial level.
The project is currently studying conditions at the site, along with a variety of alternatives to design the outline of the process. The next step is to establish the components required to achieve optimum efficiency and safety, as well as the minimum environmental impact. The same applies to the plant’s external energy supply and inputs, and the delivery of products and by-products.
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From hot springs and volcanoes to a unique food culture, Kyushu is a land of endless charms. Here's why visitors to the 2019 World Cup should include it on their itinerary
Kyushu, the must-do destination for fans going to the 2019 Rugby World Cup
It’s less than a year until Rugby World Cup 2019 kicks off in Japan, with the hosts opening the tournament against Russia on Friday 20 September. Games will take place across the country, with the spotlight in particular on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu, which stages some important fixtures in the Fukuoka, Oita and Kumamoto prefectures.
Kyushu will be hosting many of the top-ranked nations expected to compete for the cup, including New Zealand, Wales, Australia and Ireland. With former Japan coach Eddie Jones’s England team also making Miyazaki prefecture their training camp base during the tournament, Kyushu will be an enticing destination for fans of the game.
As well as the rugby, Kyushu promises a wealth of cultural and gourmet discoveries across diverse natural environments, making it well worth a visit for rugby fans from all over the world. Here we outline Kyushu’s main attractions and the top things to do and see during a visit here during the 2019 Rugby World Cup…
Where is Kyushu? The main facts
Located at the western edge of Japan, Kyushu is about half the size of Scotland, yet home to seven prefectures. Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Oita and Saga are located to the north, with Kagoshima and Miyazaki in the south.
Kyushu offers a unique charm in comparison to the rest of Japan, being a compact region that combines both urban and natural environments – perfect for spending time during the tournament. The region offers a range of sightseeing attractions, including hot springs, volcanoes and historical landmarks, while Kyushu’s local cuisine is revered nationally.
In addition, Kyushu is pleasingly affordable compared to Tokyo and the Kansai/Kyoto area, with any trip here offering good value as well as a huge range of hotels and minpaku private lodgings to choose from when staying.
Thanks to Kyushu’s international airport in Fukuoka, the region can be reached in less than two hours from Asia’s main transit hubs, such as Incheon, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo itself. For visitors travelling by Japan’s famous shinkansen bullet train – where the Japan Rail (JR) Pass offers great value – Kyushu can be reached in about two hours from Osaka.
Kyushu’s Rugby World Cup Destinations
Welsh fans will definitely want to consider being based in Kyushu’s Fukuoka prefecture. Not only is the team’s training camp located here but neighbouring Oita and Kumamoto will be hosting two of their matches: Wales v Fiji (Wed 9 Oct) and Wales v Uruguay (Sun 13 Oct).
Fukuoka has been Kyushu’s biggest city since ancient times, and has flourished as a place where visitors can enjoy the culture by day or night.
During the day, the region offers such historical sacred sites as the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, dedicated to Sugawara Michizane. For those feeling far from home, the main street’s Starbucks may offer a welcome break – it’s worth a visit just to admire the unique wood lattice store design and sport connection. It’s the work of famous Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma, who is also designing the National Olympic Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Further afield in the Izuka area, the Former Residence of Ito Denemon offers traditional architecture and Japanese gardens; it provides tranquillity and the chance to step into the past, offering scenes reminiscent of a miniaturised Kyoto of sorts.
By night, Fukuoka offers a vibrant nightlife, thanks to its diverse entertainment and shopping culture, and the city’s many bars and restaurants.
But to experience Fukuoka properly you must visit one of the many yatai street-food stalls in the evening, where you can eat and drink alongside the locals and really get a feel for what this city is about. For their size, yatai stalls offer a surprising menu, anything from ramen, gyoza and oden to yakitori or beef and vegetable skewers.
For those looking to celebrate a rugby win with a few more drinks, there are many tachinomi standing bars around the city open until late.
Fukuoka is the home of Tonkotsu ramen, which is made from pork-bone broth noodles. With ramen culture steadily gaining in popularity around the world, trying the local Tonkotsu ramen comes recommended with a visit to Fukuoka; many of the top nationwide brands, such as Ichiran and Ippudo, are originally from this city.
Besides ramen, Fukuoka is renowned for its Mentaiko (spicy salted cod roe), Motsunabe (beef/pork tripe), Tetsunabe gyoza (pan-fried, Chinese-style dumplings) and local favourite Suke-san udon noodles, served with burdock tempura. Its unique food culture makes it highly rated among Japanese, with the city seen as one of Japan’s top gourmet cities.
- Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium
- 2-1-1 Higashihirao Koen, Hakata-ku Fukuoka, 816-0052
- Capacity: 22,563
- 25 min by bus from Hakata Station
- 15 min by bus from Fukuoka Airport (5 min by taxi)
- Italy v Repêchage winner (Thu 26 Sept)
- France v USA (Wed 2 Oct)
- Ireland v Samoa (Sat 12 Oct)
Kumamoto prefecture, where Wales will play Uruguay on 13 October, is home to many of Kyushu’s top sightseeing spots, including Kumamoto Castle – one of Japan’s three famous castles – and Mount Aso, an active volcano with one of the world’s largest calderas.
Whilst the castle will take decades to fully restore following a 2016 earthquake, it is perfectly safe and a visit is highly recommended. The visitor centre there provides a fascinating insight into one of Japan’s best-loved castles, including a fantastic VR (virtual reality) presentation outlining the castle’s hidden defensive strengths.
As well as the chance to run into Kumamon – the prefecture’s beloved red-black character whose charming face adorns much of Kumamoto (and even Kyushu) – Kumamoto also offers delicious food. Dishes includes aka-ushi beef bowl with wasabi, Taipien (originally from China) and the local garlic-infused ramen.
Food challengers may also be interested in the wasabi-beating Karashi-Renkon (spicy lotus root) and horse-meat sashimi – you might be surprised by how tasty it is!
- Kumamoto Egao Kenko Stadium
- 2776 Hirayamamachi, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture 861-8012
- Capacity: 32,000
- 7 min by taxi from JR Hikarinomori Station (or 35-minute walk)
- 50 min by bus from JR Kumamoto Station / Kumamoto Bus Terminal
- 10 min by taxi from Aso Kumamoto Airport
- France v Tonga (Sun 6 Oct)
- Wales v Uruguay (Sun 13 Oct)
Oita is Japan’s most famous prefecture for hot springs, with Beppu particularly well-known as having the largest number of hot spring sources in Japan.
What makes Beppu so remarkable is the unique ‘Hells of Beppu’, seven hot spring locations across the city that no visitor will want to miss. These locations are primarily for viewing, rather than bathing, yet show Beppu’s onsen prowess in a fun and colourful light.
Over at Umi Jigoku, this ‘sea hell’ offers cobalt-blue hot spring waters steaming away against a backdrop of red torii gates, whereas the nearby Oniishibozu Jigoku promises an encounter with boiling mud pools. Other highlights include Chinoike Jigoku – blood-red waters – and the Tatsumaki Jigoku, which erupts every 30 minutes in a hot geyser.
In recent years, travellers have come from many countries to discover Yufuin, a popular spring resort about 10km inland from Beppu. But many other unique hot springs can be found in this region too, including the secluded and magical Yunohira Onsen town area.
These areas offer a more tranquil, relaxing and soothing experience, and were historically visited by Japanese to recuperate and recover from various ailments thanks to the restorative powers of the hot spring waters — don’t be surprised to see the rugby players themselves make a trip here!
Yufuin itself is comparable to one of Japan’s other famous retreats, Karuizawa, offering secluded nature (including Lake Kinrin), small arts and craft shops, and local delicacies surrounded by gorgeous scenery.
For an insight into the local culture, drop by the Stone Buddhas in Usuki, some of the oldest stone buddha statues in Japan that overlook a rural area of rice paddies and wildflower fields.
- Oita Stadium
- 1351 Yokoo, Oita, Oita Prefecture 870-0126
- Capacity: 40,000
- 66 min by bus (South Liner) from Oita Airport to Park Place Oita, then 15-min walk or 5 min by taxi
- 35-40 min by bus from Oita Station to Oita Sports Park, then 5-min walk
- New Zealand v Repêchage winner (Wed 2 Oct)
- Australia v Uruguay (Sat 5 Oct)
- Wales v Fiji (Wed 9 Oct)
- QF1 (Sat 19 Oct) & QF3 (Sun 20 Oct)
For those cheering on Eddie Jones’s England team at this World Cup, the tropical climes of southern Miyazaki prefecture should be on your itinerary. The England squad’s training camp is located here, with potentially a quarter-final appearance in neighbouring Oita Stadium to look forward to.
Miyazaki prefecture is known as the stage for many of Japan’s mythical legends, and provides a mystical setting thanks to its many famous ‘power spots’. These are locations thought to be flowing with mystical energy, and particularly include Takachiho Gorge and its dragon scale-esque rocky basalt cliffs, waterfalls and emerald waters.
For those staying in the Takachiho area, don’t miss seeing a sacred Yokagura (night kagura) dance performance at Kagura-den, held daily from 8pm. The performance retells popular folklore tales and an English handout explains the plot to help you enjoy the story.
South of central Miyazaki City, Aoshima island provides a paradisiacal retreat along the eastern coast, with a large red torii gate on arrival on the beach, and basalt rock formations making for a fantastic view. The shrine here is said to offer good luck for marriage, making it a romantic visit for couples or those looking for love.
For those looking for a little more luck (perhaps before one of the World Cup games!), Udo Shrine further south along the Nichinan Coast is an idyllic shrine built into the cliff-face overlooking the ocean. It provides impressive panoramic views.
The shrine itself is set inside a small cave and there is a rock face outside that is said to bring good luck – if you can hit it with one of the small ceramic lucky balls available at the shrine.
Miyazaki also has a rich food culture, from mangos to chicken, and local craft beers, such as Hideji Beer. Chicken Nanban – deep-fried chicken served with a tartar sauce – is a dish loved across Japan that originates from Miyazaki prefecture. It’s easy to find at many of Miyazaki’s restaurants, where chargrilled Jitokko free-range chicken is also served, often alongside a spicy Yuzu Kosho (citrus pepper) sauce.
A fascinating experience is also guaranteed in the Kagoshima prefecture in the far south, which shares a strong historical connection with England. Despite the initial conflict of the 1863 Satsuma-England War (Satsuma being the old name for modern-day Kagoshima), what followed was a series of exchanges that helped forge deep ties between the two.
The tale of the Satsuma Students tells how 19 Japanese students defied the Tokugawa ban on foreign travel and set sail abroad, eventually arriving in England with the goal of learning all about Western science and technology to bring back home. Upon their return, they were quickly followed by a trail of key English engineers and doctors, who were invited to Kagoshima in the following years.
In addition, Admiral Togo, a great naval hero and admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy, was originally born in Kagoshima and spent much of his early life studying and training in Britain before returning to a successful career in the Japanese navy.
Kagoshima promises mesmerising views of Sakurajima island from most parts of the capital city – it’s technically still an active volcano and typically erupts a few times each week, albeit on a minor scale. It’s certainly a sight to behold if you set eyes on an ash cloud.
Fans of the classic James Bond films may also be aware of Kagoshima’s significance, with Mount Shinmoe-dake, further north of Kagoshima City itself, featured in the 1967 spy film You Only Live Twice as the location of SPECTRE’s secret headquarters.
One of the best places to view Sakurajima is from inside Sengan-en, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the western coast of Kagoshima Bay. The grounds here offer a beautiful Japanese garden and peak inside a traditional Japanese house, occupied by several generations of the Shimadzu family.
Travel – how to get around
The Kyushu Shinkansen, or bullet train, connects Fukuoka in the north and Kagoshima in the south, offering a convenient journey time of about 1 hour 20 minutes one way.
The rest of Kyushu is covered well by a combination of local trains and regional express trains, with a large number of Sightseeing Trains also providing more scenic routes, added comfort and local culture (this is one of the best ways to travel between Kumamoto and Kagoshima – via the Isaburo Shimpei and Hayato no Kaze services).
Kyushu is also well connected by bus, with the SunQ pass offering unlimited bus travel for multiple days (including highway and local buses). Choose from the All Kyushu 4-day Pass (14,000 yen), the All Kyushu 3-day Pass (11,000 yen), the Northern Kyushu 3-day Pass (9,000 yen) or the Southern Kyushu 3-day Pass (8,000 yen).
All the passes except the Southern pass also include bus travel to and around the Shimonoseki area in neighbouring Yamaguchi prefecture.
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In addition, there is a discount pass available which gives you unlimited access to the highway. For details, click here.
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Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
Mediation and conflict resolution are types of dispute resolution often used to solve legal issues outside of the courtroom. While "conflict resolution" is a broad term that may describe a variety of different alternative dispute resolution methods, mediation refers to a specific process in which a neutral third party helps two warring sides come to a resolution on their own. Engaging in mediation and conflict resolution can help prevent a long and expensive legal battle by allowing both sides to approach the court with an equitable solution in place.
Conflict resolution can refer to any type of alternative bargaining done between two sides outside of the courtroom. In addition to mediation, conflict resolution can also be obtained through arbitration, which is a binding form of judgment that is often faster and less expensive than a traditional trial. Conflict resolution is also sometimes done between the defendant and plaintiff without the interference from lawyers, such as in cases where divorce agreements are worked out by the couple. It can also be managed with the assistance of a counselor with training in conflict management.
Mediation involves a professional mediator, who may be available privately or through court services. Mediators are distinct from arbiters in that the agreements worked out in mediation are not determined by the mediator but instead are negotiated agreements made between the two parties. Mediation allows a more private, closed-doors atmosphere than traditional litigation and has the advantage of leaving the major decisions in the hands of the disputing parties, rather than allowing a judge or arbiter to make a binding decision.
Mediation and conflict resolution are often distinguished from one another by the presence of a neutral, professional third party. Many forms of conflict resolution focus on the two main parties communicating effectively with one another to determine a solution. While mediation and conflict resolution have the same goals, mediation can be preferable in situations where emotions are running high enough to cloud judgment, where one party feels threatened or intimidated by the other, or where trust levels between the two parties are low. A mediator can serve as a voice of reason and compromise in a potentially explosive situation, in addition to bringing legal knowledge that neither party may possess.
In civil trials where damages are sought or divisions of assets and responsibilities are required, mediation and conflict resolution can help cut down on the amount of court interference necessary. This can help cut down on court costs and the emotional stress caused by a long, contentious legal battle. Mediated cases, or those that have undergone some form of conflict resolution, tend to pass through the courts more quickly and feature settlements that are readily acceptable to a judge.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!
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Tjahjono, Lavinia (2002) A Study dating invitation expressions produced by the first year male and female students of Management Departement in Petra Christian University. Bachelor thesis, Petra Christian University.Full text not available from this repository.
The way how to express the dating invitation has been a kind of essential expression in a couple relationship, in this case, in different gender. It is because the dating invitation expression itself may be the initial step to build a further relationship between males and females.Unfortunately, my friends and I sometimes have difficulties in expressing dating invitation in order to show that we attract to someone in different gender.Thus, I am interested in studying more about what the elements that underlie the dating invitation made by males and females and the difference between them. In this study, I analyze the language functions, the types of sentences, and the topic as the theories which are often used by males and females based on their gender differences. After that, I analyze the similar and different ways of making dating invitation between males and females. The data are collected from males? and females? utterances based on the observation. Then, to back up the findings, I also interview several respondents. In conducting this research, I use the qualitative approach to study the dating invitation. In analyzing the data, I present the data into tables and compare them in order to find the similarities and/or differences of the invitation made by males and females.I find out that, in general, males tend to be direct in inviting females for a date by using interrogative. They use social language function.Therefore, their sentences are simple. Meanwhile, females tend to use complex sentence. It is affected by the their conventional style of language, that is more polite and indirect.They use descriptive language function which gives fact that relates to their invitation. In inviting, most of them talk about free time and entertainment.
|Item Type:||Thesis (Bachelor)|
|Uncontrolled Keywords:||linguistics, sosiolinguistics, dating, male, female, student, management, expressisons|
|Date Deposited:||23 Mar 2011 18:48|
|Last Modified:||29 Mar 2011 21:35|
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Gardening Articles: Flowers :: Perennials
Striking Purple-Leaved Pineapple Lily
by Charlie Nardozzi
Pineapple lily (Eucomis comosa) is a subtropical plant that produces sword-like leaves and pineapple-like flowers. Its hardy only in USDA zones 7 to 10 but can be grown as an annual in colder climates. While many pineapple lilies have green foliage, a few sport darker colored leaves, and one of the best is the variety Oakhurst.
Not only does Oakhurst feature deep purple leaves, in midsummer it produces pink-purple flower stalks in the shape of mini-pineapples. The flowers are excellent for cutting, lasting up to six weeks in a vase. Oakhurst grows best in full sun, is heat tolerant, and forms a clump 2 feet tall and wide at maturity. It makes a great container plant and in northern climates can be overwintered in a protected garage or shed, or grown indoors as houseplant.
For more information on Oakhurst pineapple lily, go to: Terra Nova Nursery.
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PHP script is written that makes it possible to query the database through a HTML form. This will work as any other search
engine: the user enters a word in a textbox, hits enter, and the interface presents a result page with links to the pages
which contains the word that is searched for.
In this example, the results are displayed the order in which the pages are presented is selected by the number of search
words appeared in each document.
Declare an associative array $CommonWords that contains common words like is, in, was etc.
First convert all the search words in to lower case.
Next, we have to perform an explode operation on search words that will store each search word in an array.
The code is shown here.
$arrWords = explode(" ", $search_keywords);
Next, remove duplicate words in $arrWords.
$arrWords = array_unique($arrWords);
In a search operation, first we have to remove the common words like is, in, was This refines our search criteria.
To implement this we store common words in an associative array $CommonWords.
Next, remove common words in the search words. Search words are stored in $searchWords and
common words are stored in $junkWords. Here is the code.
foreach($arrWords as $word)
//remove common words
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After being threatened with the loss of millions of dollars in federal highway funds, politicians in a mostly-white Ohio community are backing down in their quest to keep out mostly-minority bus-riders from a nearby city.
For years, the Beavercreek (OH) City Council has fought the construction of Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority bus stops. If built, the stops would give bus commuters, nearly three-quarters of whom are minorities, access to a shopping mall and other nearby attractions in Beavercreek, a largely-white suburb.
However, that decision came under scrutiny after a local group, Leaders for Equality in Action in Dayton, filed a discrimination claim in August 2011. The Federal Highway Administration agreed with the group, finding that Beavercreek’s actions violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act by harming minorities who relied on the bus to get to work, medical treatment, school, or commerce. If the city didn’t reverse itself and allow the construction, the FHA ruled, it could lose more than $10 million in federal highway funds.
Though the city council had put off a final decision for months, they finally backed down this week. On Monday, they voted 5-2 to allow bus stop construction to proceed, though not without gripes from some councilmembers. According to the Dayton Daily News, councilwoman Melissa Litteral (R) “said the potential loss of federal funding would be ‘catastrophic,'” and only voted in favor because “Our backs are to the wall.”
Despite suggestions by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and others that systemic racism is a thing of the past, the Beavercreek episode is another demonstration not only of the existence of discrimination at a local level, but also the need for federal intervention to combat it.
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Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Based on a narrative dictated by Captain Dornin in May 1982. The volume contains 19 pages of transcript plus an index. The transcript is copyright 1987 by the U.S. Naval Institute; Captain Dornin has placed no restrictions on its use.
In this short volume, Captain Dornin, a highly successful World War II submarine skipper with nine successive war patrols, discusses his wartime service as aide to Chief of Naval Operations Ernest J. King. Among the topics he covers regarding Admiral King are a meeting with General De Gaulle, a hair-raising tour of Allied holdings in the Central Pacific before they were totally secured, and the admiral's attitude toward the use of the atomic bomb to end the war.
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Rear Admiral (ret'd) James Goldrick AM, CSC is a Visiting Fellow at the Lowy Institute. In this three-part series he challenges claims by Lowy colleague Hugh White that Australia cannot achieve sea control.
Professor Hugh White's article, A Middling Power: Why Australia's defence is all at sea, in The Monthly makes some trenchant observations about Australia's level of defence spending and the state of defence policy. However, it also propagates some false thinking about the nature of Australia's strategic situation.
White asserts that, 'Australia has no serious chance of achieving sea control against any major Asian power, even in our own immediate approaches'. If true, this effectively undermines the thesis that Australia can be defended at all. But it is not true.
In particular, although his increasing acknowledgment of maritime strategic concepts in recent years has been welcome to those who study the subject, White continues to misunderstand the concepts of sea control and sea denial. Sea control is not about 'advancing by sea' as he asserts, it is about being able to use the sea as a medium for transportation.
In other words, the requirement for sea control is not necessarily or just about projecting military power, it is also about sustaining an economy by getting vital supplies to where they are needed: into, out of and around a country as well as allowing the movement of both exports and imports for trade and profit. In other words, sea control has a domestic aspect as well as being about our survival.
Even if we consider a defence of Australia scenario alone, this fixation on sea denial, which is central to White's thesis, fails. If Australia's general dependence upon the movement of shipping for exports and imports for trade purposes were to be discounted – and it cannot – the nation's substantial dependence upon imported petroleum, to name only one commodity, is still something that has to be borne in mind.
The fuel and lubricants that Australia cannot produce or refine come by sea. Nearly 38 million tonnes did so in 2009-10 and the imports of refined products will only increase, given the decision to close Sydney's Kurnell oil refinery.
Furthermore, the use of an airborne anti-ship campaign posited by White, as at least part of the sea denial defence of Australia, will have to be based on airfields in our north. For the rate of effort required by aircraft to do the job, the substantial amounts of fuel required will have to get to the north largely by sea, just as they have to go by sea, along with a vast range of other materials, for the normal commercial and civil activities of Australia's northern ports, cities, towns and settlements.
Thus, even if we were waiting for some aggressor to invade, we will still need to achieve the degree of sea control necessary to supply our northern outposts. Not to mention our cities in the south.
In part 2, why Australia can't abandon the sea.
Photo LSIS Helen Frank/RAN.
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(CNN)Here's a look at Liberia, a West African nation which borders the North Atlantic Ocean, and lies between Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire.
(from the CIA World Factbook)
Area: 111,369 square kilometers, a little larger than Tennessee
Population: 4,092,310 (July 2014 est.)
Median age: 17.9 years
Capital: Monrovia (named for U.S. President James Monroe)
Ethnic Groups: Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census)
GDP: $3,771 billion (2014 est.)
GDP per capita: $900 (2014 est.)
Unemployment: 85% (2003 est.)
Independence Day is July 26.
English is the official language.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is known as Africa's "Iron Lady."
A U.N. report on Liberia's 14-year civil war (1989-2003) claims that more than 250,000 people died in the conflict and more than 1.3 million were displaced from their homes.
1816-1817 - The American Colonization Society buys land in Liberia for the resettlement of freed slaves.
1822 - The first freed American slaves arrive in Liberia.
1847 - The American Colonization Society gives up control and Liberia gains its independence. Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a freed slave from Virginia, becomes the first president. For 133 years, Liberia is ruled by the True Whig Party, whose government and constitution are modeled after the United States.
1980 - Samuel Doe of the Krahn ethnic group takes power in a coup, overthrowing William Tolbert.
1996 - The United Nations, United States, African Union and Economic Community of West African States mediate a peace deal of sorts.
1997 - Charles Taylor gains power in a special election.
July 2, 2003 - President Taylor is given an ultimatum to leave office within 48 hours.
July 20-August 11, 2003 - Liberian rebels, aided by U.S. military and U.N. peacekeepers, fight to remove Taylor from office.
August 11, 2003 - Taylor officially relinquishes his office in a ceremony at the presidential palace. Vice President Moses Blah is sworn in as Liberia's 22nd president. Taylor later leaves for Nigeria, which had offered him asylum.
August 12-18, 2003 - The primary rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), agrees to withdraw its troops from Monrovia and the nearby port, on Thursday, August 14, to a point 25 miles from the city. It signs a comprehensive peace agreement with the Liberian government intended to end the civil war.
September 19, 2003 - U.N. Security Council Resolution 1509 establishes a peacekeeping force in Liberia.
October 14, 2003 - Gyude Bryant takes office in Liberia as the head of an interim government meant to disarm fighters and pave the way for elections.
February 6, 2004 - At a U.N.-hosted donor conference, Secretary of State Colin Powell says the United States is contributing $200 million in reconstruction and humanitarian aid to Liberia. In addition, as a U.N. member, the United States will pay another $245 million for U.N. peacekeeping operations.
January 6, 2006 - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf takes office as Liberia's first elected female president, promising to break the cycle of violence.
June 5, 2006 - The Liberian military announces that it will start recruiting female soldiers.
September 20, 2007 - The United Nations Security Council votes to reduce the number of peacekeeping forces (15,000 at the time) in Liberia by 2,450 troops and 498 police over the next several months.
2008 - Begins participation in a three-year Poverty Reduction Strategy program to improve the economy and get out of debt. The program ends in June 2011.
October 7, 2011 - President Johnson Sirleaf is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which she shares with Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni rights activist Tawakkul Karman. They are chosen "for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work."
October 11, 2011 - Liberia's presidential election is held. Results show current President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with 44% of votes and Winston Tubman with 32% of votes. A runoff is scheduled for November 8.
November 15, 2011 - Election officials announce that Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is re-elected with 90.7% of the vote in the November 8 runoff.
April 26, 2012 - Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is found guilty of aiding and abetting rebels who raped, killed and mutilated civilians in neighboring Sierra Leone.
September 2012 - The United Nations passes Resolution 2066, which will reduce the number of U.N. troops to under 4,000 by 2015.
August 6, 2014 - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declares a 90-day state of emergency amid the deadly Ebola outbreak.
August 19, 2014 - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declares a nationwide curfew beginning August 20 and orders two communities to be completely quarantined, with no movement in or out of the areas.
November 13, 2014 - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announces the end of the state of emergency put in place in August over the Ebola outbreak.
May 9, 2015 - The World Health Organization declares an end to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. More than 4,000 have died from the disease.
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It must have been the construction site across the street. Or maybe it was a tractor-trailer lumbering by, a train rumbling underground or even a pesky friend shaking one's beach chair.
Everything, that is, but what it actually was: an earthquake, so rare in these parts that when one emptied offices and homes, shook merchandise off store shelves and roused lazing sunbathers on Tuesday afternoon, it wasn't the first explanation that popped into many people's heads.
"Who would have thought there would be an earthquake in Baltimore?" asked Zinda Morris, 22, a member of a city Circuit Court jury pool.
With little serious damage reported, the earthquake in the Baltimore area was an initially unnerving experience that turned out to be more of a summer weekday distraction, a ready-made talking point for strangers thrown together on a sidewalk.
In today's climate, thoughts of a terrorist attack crossed more than a few minds as buildings started rocking, but just as quickly such fears proved unwarranted. Story after story began with an eye-widening, "I thought it was …" only to end in a shrug-inducing denouement.
"My house shook from side to side, and pots and pans rattled on the racks in the kitchen. I thought my flatscreen was going to rock off the counter," said James Gordon of Baltimore, vacationing in his townhouse in Rehoboth Beach. "But it did not."
It didn't take long — less than an hour, actually — for the Power Plant Live entertainment complex in the Inner Harbor to start promoting "Tremor Tuesday" drink specials.
The earth's shaking didn't rattle as much as confuse. Linda Jackson, driving from her West Baltimore home to her job as an environmental services worker at Mercy Medical Center, thought her minivan was having some sort of breakdown.
"It shook and shook," Jackson said. "I didn't have a clue what was happening. I thought my transmission was going up."
Once she got to work, she saw her co-workers on the sidewalk outside the downtown hospital, prompting misconception No. 2.
"I thought there had been a bomb threat," she said.
In Harbor East, the namesake products at Handbags in the City began falling off shelves and lights started flickering as Bree McNerney sat behind the register, mystified. As the trembling intensified, though, she bolted.
"I was out the front door," the 22-year-old said.
Along Frederick Road, the main drag in Catonsville, people spilled out onto the sidewalk to figure out what had happened. Pete Kriscumas, legislative assistant to Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk, was in a car parked behind the district office when the shaking started.
"It was really rocking," he said, as if someone was bouncing the back of the car.
"We looked in the [rearview] mirror," Kriscumas said, "but there was nobody there."
Similarly in Rehoboth, Michael Cormier of New York City suspected mischief as his chair "rocked back and forth" as well.
"I thought someone had come up from behind and was shaking it," he said.
But who? Maybe theelephants could have told him.
At the Maryland Zoo, general curator Mike McClure said the four Africanelephants must have picked up infrasound waves, which are lower in frequency than a human can hear and are believed to serve as early warning signals that earthquakes, tsunamis or other natural disasters are approaching.
The three females and the 3-year-old calf Samson "put their butts together, wrapped their trunks together and made a big ball of elephant," he said.
But the polarbears, coolly enough, slept soundly in the 2,000 pounds of snow brought in for a "Beat the Heat" event, McClure said.
That was what drew David Silver ofTowson and his family to the zoo Tuesday, and they were delighted to get an extra attraction as well.
"We got to see the polarbears, have free ice cream, and then we got a free earthquake," Silver said. "That's some entertainment they've got there."
The bears weren't the only beings oblivious to the quake.
Three window washers, suspended by ropes high above the ground, squeegee-d away at Mercy Medical Center's panes of glass even as crowds evacuated buildings around them. Drivers on the Orleans Street bridge over Calvert Street even rolled down their windows to alert them to the earthquake, to no avail.
"I thought they were messing with us," said Eric Ruhl, when he and his co-workers finally propelled themselves down to the ground at about 3 p.m., having finished a bank of windows.
None of the three workers for PSI of Harrisburg, Pa., hired to wash the windows, had any idea there really was a quake down below — perhaps, as Ruhl speculated, because their ropes stretch and have a lot of "give and bounce."
"Now that is scary," Adam Thomas said in hindsight.
"It was kind of funny, I saw everyone standing on the street," Michael DeJesus said, remembering that he thought it was just a late lunch crowd.
Even on the ground, there were those who missed all the excitement.
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Almost 60 premature babies are born with cerebral palsy in England and Wales every year because their mothers had previous abortions.
This is because 15% of babies born before 28 weeks develop cerebral palsy and 400 premature births before 28 weeks each year are attributable to abortion. 15% of 400 is 60. This calculation is based on the studies below.
I have blogged previously on the scientific evidence for this link. There are now at least 119 articles in the world literature attesting to the association, and very few indeed that contest it (see review).
A new Finnish study published just last month has further confirmed the link. It showed that prior induced abortions (IAs) result in a 28% higher risk of an extremely preterm birth (< 28 weeks’ gestation)
Another landmark study from Finland last year analysed data from 300,858 first-time mothers between 1996 and 2008. It showed that women were three times more likely to have a very premature baby, born before 28 weeks, if they had had three or more abortions.
Overall the paper showed three babies born before 28 weeks for every 1,000 women who had never had an abortion, four per 1,000 who had had one abortion, six in those who had had two abortions and 11 if the woman had had three or more abortions.
One of the more serious consequences of premature birth is cerebral palsy.
A major meta-analysis (study of studies) by Eveline Himpens et al published in 2008 quantified this risk (See ‘Prevalence, type, distribution, and severity of cerebral palsy in relation to gestational age: a meta-analytic review’). Twenty-six articles met the inclusion criteria.
The prevalence of cerebral palsy was found to decrease significantly with increasing gestational age as follows: 14.6% at 22 to 27 weeks’ gestation, 6.2% at 28 to 31 weeks, 0.7% at 32 to 36 weeks, and 0.1% in term infants.
In other words babies born before 28 weeks have 146 times the chance of having cerebral palsy of those born at term.
So how much cerebral palsy in very preterm babies can be attributed to previous abortions?
There are about 4,000 babies under 28 weeks born in England and Wales each year (there were 4,150 in 2005/6).
On the basis of the Finnish study quoted above I have previously calculated that 10% of these premature births – about 400 – are attributable to abortion.
If 14.6% of these 400 babies had cerebral palsy (Himpens’ figures), that would make 58 babies born each year in Britain who have cerebral palsy attributable to premature birth as a result of abortion.
A report last year showed that the NHS paid out £3.1bn in damages over a decade to babies and mothers injured as a result of staff errors during childbirth. Of this £3.1bn a total of 542 claims for cerebral palsy cost the NHS some £1.3bn alone.
But what about injuries which happen as a result of premature births which in turn have occurred as a result of abortion?
I wonder if those women who have a baby with cerebral palsy as a result of a premature birth attributable to a previous abortion might have a claim against those doctors who performed those abortions.
It’s an interesting question.
LifeNews.com Note: Dr. Peter Saunders is a doctor and the CEO of Christian Medical Fellowship, a British organization with 4,500 doctors and 1,000 medical students as members. This article originally appeared on his blog. He is also associated with the Care Not Killing Alliance in the UK.
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This book is really difficult for me to describe, so I will just give a short overview and then give my opinion.
“The Help” takes place in Mississippi in the 1960’s and revolves around three main characters: Abilene, an African-American maid who has raised 17 white children; Minny, Abilene’s friend and fellow maid who routinely gets fired for mouthing off to her white employers; and Skeeter, a young white lady fresh out of college who is wondering what to do with her life. The story is told from all three points of view, and deals with the turbulent times of the Civil Rights movement. Skeeter becomes interested in the lives of the maids and wants to write their stories.
I really liked this book. It was entertaining, insightful, daring, and just all-around interesting. The dialect used for the African-American women was difficult to read at first, but it got much easier as you got used to it. The perspective of the maids was shocking to me. I can’t believe that people were/are treated that way in America.
(One thing I thought was odd was that the white people at that time actually thought that black people were dirty and had different ‘diseases’ than white people. Therefore, they would not let them use the same bathroom as white people. But…they would let them take care of their children and cook their meals…That doesn’t make sense to me. I guess that is the point. Racism doesn’t make sense.)
I think everyone in my book club was in agreement that this was a really good book. We liked the characters, we liked the ‘story-within-a-story,’ and we liked the dialogue. We also found out that there is a movie being made of this book! It is supposed to be out sometime this summer. Ladies from Book Club…let’s go see it together!!!
Overall, I would recommend this book, and I will give it… 4 ½ Book Worms!
For more information about this book, please click here.
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City Wildlife was created to address the need for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Washington, DC. City Wildlife is Washington, DC's first and only wildlife rehabilitation center. Since opening in July of 2013, we have cared for over 9,000 animals. This includes more than 90 different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. In addition to our wildlife rehabilitation center, we have our Lights Out DC and Duck Watch programs. City Wildlife relies upon grants and personal donations to support our work. To learn more, visit citywildlife.org!
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- Basildon Borough Council identified Environmental Services as an area of their contact centre they wished to introduce an easy to use, low cost, automated telephone service to provide residents with twenty four hour access to the Council.
- The streetcare team felt a large proportion of the queries they dealt with were unnecessarily resource hungry and could be satisfactorily dealt with through automation.
- In an effort to improve efficiency and provide a better service across the department, there was a need for a flexible service which could handle a broad and evolving range of enquiries relating to areas such as refuse and recycling collections and enabling the reporting of street care issues.
- Although the Council website was already providing fast access to information relating to environmental issues and an online reporting facility, stakeholders wanted telephone users to benefit from the same round the clock service.
- Self Service from Inform Communications was introduced as a proven, efficient, low cost automated service to provide consistent, accurate information to every caller, allowing them to report missed bin collections, order new bins, receive advice and guidance on recycling, report street cleansing issues or book council venues in an easy to use, accessible way. Callers with more complex or urgent enquiries can be transferred to agents where necessary.
- Self Service was initially trialed via a six month pilot for Streetcare services in March 2011 and after a review of the financial, operational and customer service benefits it has delivered, the service has been extended and additional service areas, including Revenues and Benefits, are now being considered for 2012.
- A commitment to improve and enhance customer service across the Streetcare department.
- To extend the 24/7 service provided by its website to all residents who chose to communicate with the Council by telephone.
- To implement a service which could resolve the majority of calls which are straightforward and repetitive in nature and do not require agent intervention, whilst quickly identifying complex and urgent enquiries and route these straight to advisors who were now more freely available.
- To reduce call waiting times and high abandonment rates resulting from a significant shortfall in call handling resources relative to service demand.
- To increase efficiency and reduce work processing times in line with targets.
Operational and Financial benefits
- Since implementation, Self Service has successfully answered over 62,000 enquiries at an average of approximately 8,000 per month.
- Only 45% of callers chose to transfer to advisors, with 55% having their enquiry successfully resolved by Self Service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at an inclusive cost of less than one F.T.E.
- That is equivalent to the work of 3.64 FTE's at an annual cost of over £91,000 p.a. for a service charge of less than the cost of 1 FTE.
- Missed bin collection reports are exported to the council within thirty minutes of reporting so the Council can prioritise and action without delay.
- Staff time can now be spent on the callers who need direct interaction, either because they are vulnerable or their enquiry needs urgent attention.
- Work processing times have been reduced.
- Customer satisfaction is up as people can now be certain they will be able to obtain information round the clock as opposed to trying to phone at inconvenient times with the knowledge that they may need to wait in lengthy queues to report streetcare issues or obtain information.
- Customers' expectations are handled as they can be informed of estimated timescales for action which greatly reduces repeat callers.
- The team at Inform have always responded rapidly and effectively when we have requested changes to the service in response to customer feedback or changing requirements.
- The service has also proved highly useful at informing residents about temporary changes to services, for example delays to refuse and recycling collections due to bad weather or bank holidays.
'We are really pleased that callers can now receive consistent, accurate information relating to an ever increasing number of environmental issues affecting the residents of Basildon. The service is successfully resolving over 55% of the calls we receive which has released resources and reduced work processing times considerably. Self Service is now under wider consideration across further service areas in 2012'
(Steven Ireland, Streetcare Team Leader, Basildon Council)
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The continued existence of nationalist no-go areas in Belfast and Londonderry was a serious problem for the security forces as they provided refuge for provisional IRA terrorists. At the same time, the establishment of loyalist no-go areas made a mockery of law within Ulster. The British Army had planned an operation to clear both nationalist and loyalist no-go areas, but the Westminster government held off authorising the plan, fearing heavy civilian casualties. After repeated warnings, which allowed many terrorists to move to other loyalist areas (or across the border into the republic in the case of nationalists), the operation was finally given the go-ahead.
The operation began on 31 July 1972. Thirty thousand troops were involved, including 38 regular battalion-sized formations (27 of which were infantry battalions and two armoured regiments) and 5,500 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment. The operation met with almost no resistance in either nationalist or loyalist areas.
With the clearance of no-go areas and the imposition of direct rule from Westminster there was a possibility of a political solution to the troubles. On 9 December 1973, at Sunningdale in Berkshire, the British Government and the Irish Republic, together with representatives from mainstream parties in Northern Ireland, set up a Council of Ireland to provide a forum for discussions about Ulster and a power-sharing executive to replace direct rule by Westminster.
Hard-line loyalists vociferously opposed the Sunningdale Agreement. The <<Ulster Workers' Council>> organised a seven-day general strike that saw Northern Ireland brought to a halt. The power-sharing executive collapsed on 28 May 1974 and direct rule from Westminster was re-imposed. Throughout the 1970s the level of violence generally decreased, with neither the security forces nor the nationalists able to decisively defeat each other. The situation became a stalemate.
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Question: "Surviving the end times - what do I need to know?"
Often, people experience anxiety when they think about the future; however, it does not have to be that way. For those who know God, thoughts of the future bring eagerness and comfort. For example, describing a woman who knows and trusts God, Proverbs 31:25 says, “She smiles at the future.”
Two key thoughts to keep in mind about the future are, first, God is sovereign and in control over everything. He knows the future and absolutely controls what will happen. The Bible says, “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’ . . . Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it” (Isaiah 46:9–11, emphasis added).
The second thing to remember about the future is that the Bible outlines what will occur in “the end times” or “latter days.” Because the Bible is God’s revelation to humankind, and because God knows and controls the future (as Isaiah says above), then it stands to reason that when the Bible speaks about what will occur in the future, we can believe it. Concerning predictions about the future, the Bible says, “No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:21). This truth is evident in the fact that, unlike the false prophecies made in other religions or by individuals such as Nostradamus, the Bible has never once been wrong – every time the Bible has predicted a future event, it happened exactly as Scripture said it would.
When considering how to understand and survive in the end times, answer these three questions:
1. How should I interpret what the Bible says about the future (biblical prophecy)?
2. What does the Bible say will happen in the end times?
3. How should what the Bible says about the future affect the way I live today?
How to Interpret Biblical Prophecy
There are a number of viewpoints on what methods should be used when interpreting passages concerning the end times. While there are good people espousing different beliefs, there is good reason to believe that biblical prophecy should be interpreted (1) literally, (2) with a futurist view, and (3) in what is called a “premillennial” manner. Encouraging a literal interpretation is the fact that there are over 300 prophecies that concern the first coming of Christ, all of which were literally fulfilled. The predictions surrounding the Messiah’s birth, life, betrayal, death and resurrection were not fulfilled allegorically or in a spiritual manner. Jesus literally was born in Bethlehem, performed miracles, was betrayed by a close friend for 30 pieces of silver, was pierced in His hands and feet, died with thieves, was buried in a rich man’s tomb, and was resurrected three days after His death. All these details were predicted hundreds of years before Jesus was born and were literally fulfilled. And, while there is symbolism used in various prophecies (e.g., dragons, horsemen, etc.), all of it portrays literal beings or events, in much the same way as Jesus is spoken of as a lion and a lamb.
Regarding a futurist view, the Bible clearly states that prophetic books like Daniel and Revelation contain not only accounts of historical events, but also predictions of future events. After John was given his messages for the churches of his day, he received visions concerning what would occur in the end times. John was told, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things” (Revelation 4:1, emphasis added).
Perhaps an even stronger argument for a futurist view involves the promises God made to Abraham (cf. Genesis 12 & 15) concerning the land of Israel. Since God’s covenant with Abraham was unconditional, and His promises have not yet been fulfilled to Abraham’s descendants, then a futurist view of the promises to Israel is warranted.
Lastly, with respect to prophecy being interpreted in a “premillennial” manner, this means that, first, the church will be Raptured, then the world will experience a seven-year Tribulation period, and then Jesus Christ will return to reign over the earth for 1,000 literal years (Revelation 20).
But what does the Bible say will happen before then?
What Does the Bible Say Will Happen in the End Times?
Sadly, the Bible predicts a downward spiral of catastrophes, human sin, and religious apostasy before Christ returns. Paul writes, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. . . . Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:1, 13). The world will continue to reject God, His Word, and His people.
Some day in the future – a day no one knows – God will end the Church Age which began in the first century on Pentecost (cf. Acts 2) with an event known as the Rapture. At that time, God removes all believers in Christ from the earth in preparation for His final judgments. Of the Rapture, Paul says, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:14–18).
The erosion of peace and increase of turmoil that precedes the Rapture will reach epic proportions when untold numbers of people disappear from the earth. Such an event will cause panic and demands for a strong leader who will have answers to all the world’s problems. Preparation for this leader has been in progress for some time, as historian Arnold Toynbee has noted, “By forcing on mankind more and more lethal weapons, and at the same time making the world more and more interdependent economically, technology has brought mankind to such a degree of distress that we are ripe for the deifying of any new Caesar who might succeed in giving the world unity and peace.” Out of a revived Roman Empire, one that is organized in a European ten-constituency fashion (cf. Daniel 7:24; Revelation 13:1), the Antichrist will arise and sign a covenant with the nation of Israel, which will officially begin God’s prophetic seven-year countdown to Christ’s second coming (cf. Daniel 9:27).
For three and a half years, the Antichrist will reign over the earth and promise peace, but it is a false peace which will entrap the people of the earth. The Bible says, “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Wars, earthquakes, and famines will escalate (cf. Matthew 24:7) until the end of the Antichrist’s 3.5-year reign, when he will enter a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself to be God and demand worship (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24: 15). It is at that point that the true God responds to the challenge. For another 3.5 years, a Great Tribulation will occur, such as has never before been seen. Jesus predicted, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matthew 24:21–22).
Untold loss of life and destruction of the earth will occur during the Great Tribulation. Also, large numbers will come to faith in Christ, yet many will do so at cost of their lives. God will still be in control as He gathers the unbelieving armies of the world in order to judge them. Of this event, the prophet Joel wrote, “I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people” (Joel 3:2). John records the battle this way: “And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan] and out of the mouth of the beast [the Antichrist] and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. . . . And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon” (Revelation 16:13–16).
At this point, the Messiah Jesus will return, destroy His enemies, and claim the world, which is rightfully His. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in mid-heaven, ‘Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.’ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11–21).
After Christ has defeated all the armies gathered in the valley of Armageddon, He will reign with His saints for one thousand years and fully restore Israel to her land. At the end of a thousand years, a final judgment of the nations and all remaining mankind will occur, which is then followed by an eternal state: either spent with God or separated from Him (cf. Revelation 20-21).
The above events are not speculations or possibilities – they are exactly what will take place in the future. Just as all the Bible’s prophecies of Christ’s first coming came true, so will all the Bible’s prophecies of His second coming.
Given the truth of these prophecies, what impact should they have on us now? Peter asks this question: “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! ” (2 Peter 3:11–12).
The Effect of Bible Prophecy on Us Today
There are four responses we should have to Bible prophecy. The first is obedience, which is what Peter speaks of in the verses above. Jesus continually tells us to be ready for His coming, which could happen at any time (cf. Mark 13:33-37) and to live in such a way that we are not ashamed of our behavior.
The second response is worship. God has provided a way to escape His end-time judgments—His free gift of salvation offered through Jesus. We must be sure we receive His salvation and live in gratitude before Him. Our worship on earth will one day become worship in heaven: “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation’” (Revelation 5:9).
The third response is proclamation. The message of God’s salvation and the truth of His second coming need to be proclaimed for all to hear, especially to those who don’t yet believe. We must give everyone the chance to turn to God and be saved from His coming wrath. Revelation 22:10 says, "And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.’”
The last response to God’s prophetic Word is service. All believers should be diligent about carrying out God’s will and performing good works. Part of Christ’s judgments will be of the works performed by believers. They do not determine a Christian’s acceptance into heaven, but they do show what each believer did with the gifts given him or her by God. Paul says of this judgment, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
In summation, God is sovereign over all events and people of the world. He is firmly in control of everything and will bring a perfect end to everything He has started. An old Christian song puts it like this: “All is God’s creation … Fashioned by One hand … Satan and Salvation … Under One command.”
Fulfilled prophecy is one proof that the Bible is a supernatural book. Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies have already been fulfilled, and it is reasonable to conclude that what it says about the end times will be fulfilled as well. For those who know Jesus and have trusted Him as their Lord and Savior, His coming will be their blessed hope (cf. Titus 2:13). But for those who have rejected Christ, He will be their holy terror (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8). The bottom line is this: to survive the end times, make sure you are a believer in Christ: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
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Years ago when the The Regal Theatre was in the vicinity of 47th and South Parkway (now King Drive), Count Basie and his Orchestra entertained to packed houses. Their swinging sounds continue Friday at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Special gu
Years ago when the The Regal Theatre was in the vicinity of 47th and South Parkway (now King Drive), Count Basie and his Orchestra entertained to packed houses. Their swinging sounds continue Friday at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Special guests The Marcus Roberts Trio will also perform.
Count Basie was born William James Basie on August 21,1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey. He made famous the swinging jazz tune “One O’Clock Jump.”
As a young musician performing on organ and piano in venues on the East Coast and in the South, and in vaudeville during the 1920s, Basie was also active in the Midwest and was influenced by Fats Waller. Eventually, Basie established his own jazz orchestra and featured the tenor saxophonist Lester Young. The pianist and his small combos continued entertaining until he passed in 1984.
During the 1950s he was active in the company of Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson and other fabulous keyboard stylist. In fact Basie was the first black to win a Grammy in 1958. Along with Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, King of Swing, and Earl Hines, he was classed as the Count.
Marcus Roberts, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., became blind as a child. Still, he established his ability to perform musically after attending the Florida School for Deaf and the Blind in St, Augustine, Fla. It was trumpeter Wynton Marsalis who selected him as a member of his orchestra as a pianist. Roberts earned international significance as great interpreter of Monk, Ellington, Morton and Gershwin.
“ELMA AND COMPANY” Red Carpet Easter Jam, executive producer Elma Lucas celebrate the 20-year anniversary of her CAN-TV television series on Channel 19 with a special taping on Easter at 3:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Hall, 41st Street and Wabash Avenue. The Red Carpet Easter Jam Celebration is geared toward the youth, giving them the celebrity spotlight.
‘TANGO’ SMOLDERS AT BEVERLY ARTS CENTER GALLERY, 2407 W. 111th
Street, continues through May 29.
Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender
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Sarnia area First Nation facing health problems from exposure to pollutants
Residents of Aamjiwnaang First Nation live near “Chemical Valley,” one of Canada’s most industrialized areas.
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A new study is drawing attention to the health problems being faced by a First Nations community living near one of Canada’s most industrialized areas.
Members of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation living on a reserve near Sarnia, Ont., have long suspected harmful chemicals were behind an unusually low male birth rate and slew of other reported health issues.
Now, tests performed by a McGill University professor suggest mothers and children are being exposed to higher than average levels of harmful hormone-blocking pollutants.
While the study doesn’t prove that the pollutants are to blame for earlier research that found baby girls outnumbered boys by a two-to-one ratio in the community, it does suggest a possible link.
The reserve at the centre of the study is located near a patch of southern Ontario that some environmental activists call “chemical valley.”
There are 60 industrial facilities found within a 25-kilometre radius of Aamjiwnaang lands.
“It’s the first study to really show that mothers and children in the area are exposed to a number of pollutants,” said Niladri Basu, a McGill professor and the study’s lead author.
More detailed research is needed to establish a connection between pollutants, health risks and the surrounding environment, Basu said.
Residents of Aamjiwnaang have been calling for such a study for years, though a lack of funding continues to impede more detailed research.
Ada Lockridge, who helped found Aamjiwnaang’s environmental committee, said pollution is a fact of life for the reserve’s roughly 800 residents.
Like others in the community, Lockridge keeps a special plastic bucket — as part of a group known as the “bucket brigade” — to collect environmental samples that can be tested for toxins whenever the air seems especially poor. The results are sent to a U.S.-based monitoring organization.
“It’s a beautiful place, but there is all kinds of industry close by,” she said.
According to Lockridge, the evidence continues to mount in favour of stricter environmental controls in the area.
“Everything we do gets us a little further, but it’s moving very slowly,” she said. “Every study we’ve ever done, people say, ‘this is cause for concern,’ but more studies need to be done.”
Approximately 40 per cent of Canada’s chemical industry is clustered in the area, according to a 2007 report by the Canadian environmental group Ecojustice.
Located at the southernmost tip of Lake Huron on the border between Ontario and Michigan, activists say the area has become one of Canada’s pollution hot spots — lined with chemical plants, manufacturing plants, and refineries.
A 2006 community survey by Aamjiwnaang’s environment committee cited a number of health issues, including miscarriages, chronic headaches and asthma. Forty per cent of band members surveyed required an inhaler.
Elaine MacDonald, a scientist who co-authored the 2007 Ecojustice report, is hopeful Basu’s study will encourage further research.
As it stands, it’s difficult to draw a direct correlation between pollutants and health issues such as the low male birth rate.
“This is a start, and it’s a great start, but to me there’s so much that needs to be done, and there’s no money,” she said.
MacDonald said it’s been difficult to get government funding at both the federal and provincial level. A more comprehensive study that includes the surrounding area, Lambton County, has stalled due to lack of funding.
“The major exposures in this community are via air, so I would like to see a study focusing on air pollutants,” MacDonald said.
For the recent McGill study, 43 mother-child pairs from the community were tested for environmental pollutants. Blood, urine and hair samples were taken from those who participated.
Exposures were higher than average for chemicals such as cadmium, possibly mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs.
Potential sources of the chemicals are industry, the general environment, and the home. It’s not conclusive which is to blame in this case.
PCBs are used in industrial applications such as coolants in transformers and motors and have been largely banned, although they can remain in the environment for years.
Previous studies of other populations have linked exposure to PCBs with low male birth rates.
Aamjiwnaang’s low male birth rate was documented in research published in the U.S. journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Between 1999 and 2003, the sex ratio of boys to girls was roughly 33 per cent for boys and 67 per cent for girls.
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Equilibrium Selection in Signaling Games
The authors introduce a new solution concept, divine equilibrium, which refines the set of sequential equilibria in signaling games by requiring that off-the-equilibrium-path beliefs satisfy an additional restriction. This restriction rules out implausible sequential equilibria in examples. Divine equilibria exist because a sequential equilibrium that fails to be divine cannot be in a stable component. The authors demonstrate through examples that the stable component of signaling games is typically smaller than the set of divine equilibria and present a characterization of the set of stable outcomes in generic signaling games. Copyright 1987 by The Econometric Society.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
|Date of creation:||Oct 1985|
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Food for Thought
Spicy Thirst Destruction
A homemade paleta that’s perfect for spring
By Ari LeVaux
I ordered my first mangoneada because I thought it sounded vaguely like mango-lemonade, which seemed perfect on a warm day. Better Spanish speakers may have realized the word refers to an unscrupulous use of power, like graft or bribery. With my first slurp I began to see why. Mangoneadas are powerful and desirable. On a sunny day, you could bribe Satan with one.
A mangoneada consists of a mango popsicle and a dipping sauce of red chile powder, salt, lime juice and sugar. The sweet, caustic solution resides in a cup and is reapplied between slurps. Altogether, the mangoneada is at once too sweet, too spicy, too bitter, too sour and too salty. But these intense flavors somehow manage to play brilliantly together. The chile demands sweetness, which is improved by sourness, which likes salt, which goes great with chile. It's like a game of rock-paper-scissors in your mouth.
As the popsicle thaws, it softens around the edges and becomes increasingly impregnated with the red syrup. Chunks break off in your mouth to expose a bright mango core. It looks like a sunset, tastes like a hot day at the beach and makes you a little crazy.
I first encountered the mangoneada at a paletería, a kind of Mexican popsicle emporium that can be found throughout the Southwest. They serve a bewildering array of fruity and creamy popsicles, called paletas, as well as other treats. Rough-looking dudes can be seen smiling like kids. There's often someone selling sunglasses and pirated DVDs in the parking lot.
It's like a game of rock-paper-scissors in your mouth.
The most authentic mangoneadas will contain chamoy, a Mexican syrup made from pickled fruit. But real chamoy is rare these days, and some bottled chamoy don't even contain pickled fruit. You'll find some alternatives in my recipe.
Making a Mangoneada
One average-size mango blended with a cup of water will make an ice cube tray's worth of mango popsicle. Remove the flesh from a mango, cut it into cubes, add the fruit to a blender along with a cup or two of water. The second cup makes the popsicles more hydrating and stretches your mango supply. For each cup of water, add a tablespoon each of sugar and lime. Blend, then pour the puree into popsicle cups. After one to two hours in the freezer, insert popsicle sticks and allow to freeze completely.
At serving time, remove the popsicles from the cups. For each popsicle, combine a teaspoon each of sugar and red chile powder (mild to hot, depending on the person) and a big pinch of salt. Stir in a tablespoon of fresh lime juice. This sauce can be made ahead of time in large quantities, or mixed individually in each popsicle cup, allowing the mangoneada-maker to adjust for preferences in heat and sweetness.
The hot, sour, salty and sweet flavors of a mangoneada are in good company. Asian cuisine is often described in terms of the interplay of these very flavors.
Add a tablespoon or two of sauce to each cup, depending on the size of the popsicle, and, optionally, a teaspoon or two of real chamoy, if you can get it. Replace the popsicle in its cup. It is now a mangoneada.
If you can't find real chamoy and want that acidic, fruity sourness in your mangoneada, there are some alternatives. A fine store-bought solution is the sour orange marinade you can find in Caribbean food markets. Even better, make tamarind syrup like they do in some parts of Mexico. Soak 1/4 cup of dry or brick tamarind in 3/4 cups of warm water for about an hour (heat the water to speed the process). Stir and mash it around, and then filter out the seeds and skin. Over a low flame, reduce the tamarind water by about 80 percent, then let it cool. Use it as you would chamoy, adding a teaspoon or so to the chile sauce.
The hot, sour, salty and sweet flavors of a mangoneada are in good company. Asian cuisine is often described in terms of the interplay of these very flavors. The same ingredients can also be found in other good dishes, such as a bowl of freshly cut mango chunks sprinkled with chile and salt, spritzed with lime, and followed with a squirt of chamoy or tamarind. Alternatively, these ingredients can all go into the blender together with ice and perhaps tequila. If making a blended drink, add the chile powder last, a bit at a time, tasting as you go.
Among such variations on this brilliant flavor equation, the mangoneada remains in a league by itself. The use of dipping to control the flavor mix, the changing conditions as the popsicle melts, and the visual spectacle of the bright colors contrasting and blending—they all conspire for a singular experience. On a warm day, a mangoneada will command your attention completely as it quickly disappears. It is the tension and the resolution, the problem and the solution, the extortion and the bribe, in every slurp.
Spanish Cooking Classes: Tapas at Instituto Cervantes
Learn to cook typical dishes from Spain using fresh local ingredients from New Mexico. Attendees must bring a cutting board and kitchen knife.
Nob Hill Growers Market at Morningside Park
Santa Fe Wine Festival at El Rancho de las GolondrinasMore Recommended Events ››
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Dora B. Montefiore Justice, 12 November 1910
Source: “Our Women’s Circle, Justice, p.5, 12 November 1910;
Transcribed: by Ted Crawford
At the recent Conference on the Minority Report called by the I.L.P. in the Memorial Hall, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald was good enough to state from the chair that “women were the problem of the hour”; that he was not in favour of society providing for childbearing women; and that he looked on the family as the unit of society, and as likely to continue so. I do not know if women, as a sex, are duly impressed with the honour done them when they are spoken of by a statesman of Mr. MacDonald’s outlook as “a problem” but it strikes some of us who are working at some of the human problems of the day that if we were looked upon more as human beings and less as creatures of sex by some of these gentlemen with the reformer’s concept, we, as human beings, might perhaps be able to solve our own problem more cleanly and concisely than could any brainy statesman or fussy reformer.
The same formula surely applies to women as to any other of the unprivileged: “Give them access to the means of life, and let them work out the rest of their problem for themselves.” The well-to-do folk nowadays tell us such a proceeding would demoralise the people and take away all incentive to do more than the minimum task prescribed by the community. And the reforming folk tell us that such a proceeding would, as far as women are concerned, demoralise them and take away all incentive to virtue; because economic dependence on some man is the best way to ensure obedience and chastity on the part of maid and wife. They apparently forget – these well-to-do folk and these reformers – that some of the best work done, even under the present system, is done without the incentive of compulsion or reward; and that, though under capitalism an enormous number of women are economically dependent on some male relative, the number is daily lessening as women go out into the field of industry, or of the professions; and that, though the conditions under which both they and men have to work are bad – very bad – yet the women thus forced into economic independence are gaining in breadth of outlook, in knowledge of the real things of life, and of the matters of choice in conduct which life offers.
Let us look for a moment into what this question of the family as the unit of society means. So long as the individual family provided in the past its supplies by hand-labour, the family was necessarily the economic unit of society. As production becomes more and more socialised, the individual family becomes less and less the economic unit of society. Finally, as scientifically organised production and distribution (first through trusts and combines, and then through the community) becomes the order of the day, the family will lose altogether its importance as the economic unit, and will occupy only a sentimental position as regards society. All our Socialist demands and palliatives at the present time must keep these facts and interpretations strenuously to the front; and that is why, as Socialists, we repudiate any reforms tending to further enslave economically any group of individuals. If we interpret that every palliative must contain the germ of the future reconstruction of society, then – as child-bearing women, infants and young children will be maintained in that reconstructed society – we, as Socialists, must now carry on our agitation along those lines, and must refuse to be side-tracked by those who have merely a concept of reform of the existing state of things. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald was pleased to say on the same occasion that those who were demanding the maintenance of child-bearing mothers were “Young Women in revolt.” Again, I would retort it is not as women, whether old or young, we are demanding it but as human beings, realising that the interests of the future race make it the next step in our revolutionary programme.
It was for this reason that we of the British section of the Socialist Women’s International Bureau brought forward our resolution at the Copenhagen Women’s Conference, demanding that, as the Conference stood for the national and international socialisation of the means of life, international Socialists should agitate, for the maintenance of child-bearing women, infants and young children. As this resolution was passed almost unanimously by the international Socialist women, we can now carry on our agitation along those lines; for, having stated the principle and the revolutionary nature of our demand, we are then at liberty to snatch though legislation any palliative in harmony with the principle, and to point out why any reform which side-tracks the principle should be rejected.
With all deference to Mr. Macdonald’s perturbations, we Socialists look upon poverty, and not women, as the problem of the hour, and that problem of poverty can only be solved by the social and economic revolution about which Mr. Macdonald is so tired of hearing. The woman who is working as an economic unit of society will benefit by that revolution equally with the man; and together they will, solve the various human problems as they arise; for “the worker, having made everything, he can destroy everything, and he can remake everything.” As human beings, we are beginning to learn that there are no rights without duties, and no duties without rights; that once the idea of one human being having property rights in another human being is, with other private property ideas, shut way in the limbo of the past, all workers, whether men or women, will be able to throw themselves consciously into the task of the social struggle for existence against nature so as to achieve a victory over natural forces, which will redound to the advantage of all humanity.
DORA B. MONTEFIORE.
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- Dietary Supplements
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Causes of Irregular Menstrual Cycles
There are many causes of irregular menstrual cycles among women. Normally irregular periods are nothing to be concerned about, but occasionally, they can signal types of menstrual disorders or even health problems. Below is a list of the common causes of irregular menstrual cycles in women.
Stress is the most common of causes of irregular menstrual cycles. When a woman is under pressure at work or home, the stress can affect her health. Women, who experience fatigue, worry, or anxiety can cause their hormones to become unbalanced.
A poor diet over the long term can lead to more than just irregular periods. A poor diet brings about poor health. Extreme weight loss or even weight gain can cause irregular menstrual cycles as well. Women who suffer from anorexia or bulimia often times do not have a period.
Pregnancy is one of the common causes of irregular menstrual cycles. If you become pregnant, your body will produce various hormones that will put an end to your periods.
Extreme exercise can cause various types of menstrual disorders including irregular or missed periods. Some marathon runners who train year round have claimed to never have a period. Exercise is often used as a means of natural PMS control but should not be overdone unless advised by a physician.
Birth control pills are often prescribed by a doctor as a means of natural PMS control. Although synthetic and not natural they do help in regulated a woman’s period. At times birth control can cause irregular periods.
The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.
|Menstrual Disorders29 Nov 2009|
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How to write a novel.
Those 5 words have so many different answers that, as a newbie to the writing world, left me baffled. I clicked onto as many “How To” articles that my hungry little eyes could handle but after reading one and moving onto the next it would leave me confused and frustrated. One would say DO this and the next would say DON’T do that. Complete contradictions… I even found contradictions residing in the same books. What’s a writer to believe?
If you are lucky enough to have a writing mentor then the decision is easy, go with their advice. However, if you are like me and are on this roller coaster ride by yourself (for the time being hopefully) then you have to take the plunge and either pick a strategy that sounds right or fly by the seat of your pants. I’m not a “pantster” as I’ve heard some writers call it. I’m a “planner”.
The following steps are what I’ve put together after reading over 100 articles on “How to Write a Novel”.
Step 1: An Idea
Some of us are lucky to already have an idea floating in our minds. If that’s the case skip to step two. If not, you can find ideas by:
- using an application or website that posts daily writing prompts
- using the inspiration that you’ve written in your writers notebook (more info coming in another post)
- Checking out websites that post writing jobs and write what they are looking for (more info coming in another post)
- Researching agents and or publishers. Take notes on what they are looking for and go from there. A great resource for this is the Novel and Short Story Writers Markets by Writers Digest. They come out with a new version every year and it is extremely useful. A must have for every writers bookshelf.
Tip: Know the difference between what’s an idea and what’s a story line that you can create into a book. For a great example check out this article “The Difference Between Idea, Premise and Plot” by Janice Hardy.
Step 2: Decide on the genre and the tone of the book
Every genre has basic guidelines to follow when writing a book. Do a quick Google search to find the guideline you should use for the genre you are looking to write in. If you are interested in writing a Romance (like me) then pick a publishing house that you might want to work with. On their website they should have guidelines for each of their “imprints”. Here is a list of guidelines that Harlequin created for their imprints. (A post of the different Romance Publishing houses and their imprints is coming soon). Use the guideline you find as a tool on how to structure your novel.
Step 3: Plan out Your Book
I started this writing process by filing out character worksheets and then from there an idea for a story formed. I thought, why not write that story. I got to chapter 4 when I realized that an idea does not equal a book. I had great characters but I had no idea what ordeals they were going to have to go through and how it would all work out in the end. So, as all writers who are stuck do, I googled my way out of that problem and into many many more. I found out how useful it is to take the time at the beginning of your novel to:
- Create in-depth character profiles by using Charolette Dillon’s Character Worksheets
- Come up with plots that help to move your story along.
- Create scenes and setting that make sense in your story (check out Jamie Gold’s Worksheets for Romance Plotting and Scene building ” Romance Planning Beat Sheets“)
- Create a chapter by chapter basic outline to follow along. Here is How to Write a Novel.net’s Outline Sheet.
Step 4: Research
Once you’ve got your books mapped out it’s time to do the fun part (in my mind at least), Research! To make a believable work of fiction you need to at least have a basic knowledge of what your writing about. The best tool I have found to gather and organize this information is through Pinterest. On Pinterest I can find ideas on how I want my characters to look, what kind of clothes they might wear, the places they might live or visit, the occupations they might have, etc… The best part about it is I can create separate boards for separate subjects and it’s all visual. It’s safe to say I am addicted to this website but it’s a good addiction 😉 You can find me here, feel free to follow and I will do the same.
Some links that will also help in your research are:
- Info Please
- The Internet Public Library
- The Library of Congress
- Reference Desk
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- APB Online
These are just a few resources to tap into. Take some time to explore what the internet and your local library has to offer. You will be amazed!
Step 5: Write
Write your first draft from beginning to end without looking back or revising/editing. Many authors mention this as a key step in writing. Worry about getting it all out before you worry about getting it all right.
I am currently in this process and I have to say, it is extremely hard to not look back. I cheated once and went back a few chapters to reread and edit my first 5. It honestly screwed me up. My line of creativity towards the story stalled and I started focusing more on the rules of writing and how things needed to be towards the end of the writing process (something I am very far away from currently) and I freaked myself out. I started to think that my story wasn’t worth finishing. It took almost a month for me to get back into the groove of just writing the story out. Now I know, a story isn’t a story until it’s a beginning, a middle and an end.
Step 6: Read, Revise and Edit
After you have finished typing out your first draft, set it aside for a week or two and then come back to it. Doing it this way leaves you refreshed and feeling as though you are reading it for the first time. (Side note: I would go through the grammar and spelling check first. I don’t know about you but I just can’t focus on something that has a lot of errors.)
After rereading it start:
- Revision Process #1: This is where you will fix any obvious problems in the story line.
- Beta Reader: This can a friend, family member, or fellow writer who reads your book and gives you feedback on it.
- Revision Process #2: Revision after taking into consideration the critiques you received.
- Some writers will send their books to a Book Dr or to a professional Editor. That is completely up to you.
- Format it to fit into today’s submission standards
Step 7: Send it out
After your umpteenth revision and you feel comfortable with what you have created:
- Find an agent or publisher to work with
- Send out your queries
- Make revisions according to your agent or publishers direction
Step 8: Marketing
Today in the writing world, you don’t just write the book. You are responsible for at least half of the marketing to sell it. The best way to accomplish this is to create an Author Platform. (I will go into further detail about that in another post). Many suggest starting your Author Platform as soon as you decide to write a book you want to publish. Find your community of writer who can guide you to the right people and your beginning group of fans that will be eager to read your breakthrough novel.
I think the key thing I have learned is that if you have a story to write, write it. Then, go back and learn the right way to write a book and start slicing your book to pieces until it’s at its most purest form. Then, and only then will you have a chance at getting it published. Sounds pretty ruthless doesn’t it?! I hope I make it.
If you are a writer in the middle of writing your first book, let me know. I’d love to share this process with other people who are currently in the same situation as me.
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Dr. Marshall E. Foster, founder of The Mayflower Institute and The World History Institute, moar beloved husband, father, friend, author and educator died July 22, 2022 after being hospitalized due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Dr. Foster is survived by his life long love, Trish (Quigley); their son Darin Foster, and his wife Jennifer; and their daughter Dana Lynne Vrechek, and her husband Daniel. Marshall is also survived by seven grandchildren. He will be deeply missed.
Marshall was born in a Southern California Hospital. His young unwed birth mother flew out to Santa Ana from Alabama. In the hospital on the back of his birth certificate she wrote, “Please raise my son a protestant Christian.” Through God’s mercy and grace, Marshall’s loving adoptive parents, Hugh Foster and Mary (Arnett) Foster faithfully upheld this wish.
Marshall was led to Christ through Young Life in high school, and later found a deeper understanding of this faith through his service with Campus Crusade for Christ. There he met his wife, Trish, and they married in May of 1969. Later, as the chaplain of the L.A. Rams, Marshall began a large Bible study that would lead to a lifetime of ministry.
In 1976, Dr. Marshall Foster and his wife Trish founded the The Mayflower Institute, a nonprofit educational foundation, to teach the biblical and historical foundations of liberty. The World History Institute (formerly the Mayflower Institute) has become a major force in the movement to restore faith in the public square. His legacy continues through those he taught and loved.
Dr. Foster was a story-teller in the best sense of the word. He studied the paths of liberty from Moses to the Magna Carta to the Declaration and beyond. He admired the men and women who were willing to lay their lives down “as stepping stones” for a greater purpose in the furtherance of the Gospel. His stories of Alfred the Great, Columba of Scotland, the Signers of the Declaration, the Scottish Covenanters, William Wilberforce and Patrick of Ireland, were shared far and wide. His deep love for America’s founding period and “heroes of the faith” inspired him to travel and teach with others who shared the same passion. He wanted everyone to know that God could use us right where we are, just as He has always done, to move forward the great chain of liberty. History proves God’s providence and grace and Marshall found a way to connect stories of old to the modern world. He wanted to impart a true confidence in the faithfulness of God, His victory and His mighty plan through the ages in order to inspire an optimism for the future, in the midst of our current uncertainty.
A joyful minister of the Gospel, Marshall has trained tens of thousands through live seminars in 40 states, Canada, and Europe. He has been the co-host of a weekly syndicated radio broadcast entitled "The Story of Liberty" which has reached hundreds of thousands of Americans. Dr. Foster spoke as a keynote speaker at numerous conventions, schools, churches, retreats and political and business groups. He has been a keynote speaker for Promise Keepers, Coral Ridge Ministries, Vision Forum Ministries, Reclaiming America, Christian Coalition, ACSI Christian School Conventions, Worldview Weekends and many more. He has trained the national staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, the Christian Broadcasting Network, the National Day of Prayer, James Robison Ministries, and over 100,000 business associates of Amway Corporation and Boeing Aircraft, among many others.
The World History Institute has produced educational seminars including a 12 part series, Terror to Triumph, and Hope For Our Time.
Since 1988, Marshall has enjoyed leading tours of America’s historic East Coast with American Christian Tours. As the Director of Christian Education with ACTS, he trained tour guides to lead over 10,000 students and families each year on the trip of a lifetime. Some of his greatest memories were captured during this time with other families and teachers on these tours.
Marshall, in collaboration with actor Kirk Cameron, was co-producer for the film, Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure. The basis of the film revolves around the National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth. The film traces the heroic and harrowing travels of the early Pilgrims and encounters the unlikely men and women who risked everything for liberty.
Marshall was the co-producer of Kirk Cameron's film Unstoppable in 2013, and worked with Cameron to produce the American Campfire Revival training video series in 2021.
Dr. Foster’s book, "The American Covenant, the Untold Story", has been used as a training tool in Bible studies, classrooms, and study groups nationwide.
Marshall is a 1967 graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara. His graduate studies were accomplished at Talbot Theological Seminary, Christian Associates Seminary, with doctoral studies completed at the California Graduate School of Theology and Cathedral Bible College. He was ordained in 1973 and earned a Doctorate of Divinity degree from Cathedral Bible College.
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Summer is the singular season when many of us have the time to read more than a few selections from Uncle John's Bathroom Reader. So whether you spend it on the beach or alone in your urban bohemian bower envying your cash-flush corporate sell-out friends, use this summer to work your way through a book stocked with seven-syllable words, arcane philosophy, elusive allusions and an entire strapping young pine's worth of pulp.
To that end, we offer The Damn Big Book List: the be-all and break-all of maximum density reading and a gravity sink of 700-plus-page masterworks. Remember to lift with your legs!
Nothing but Mammals
The Structure of Evolutionary Theory
By Stephen Jay Gould, 1,474 pages
(Harvard University Press)
Darwin was a primitive. Select Gould for the complete heart-(or adaptive circulatory analogue)-warming story of our ancestral slime mold's eons-long ambition to develop a good set of respiratory organs and become the next American Idol. To claim a 1,474-page book that gives such an exhaustively comprehensive explanation of the theory of evolution is written for "a lay reader" would mutate the truth, but Gould's brain dump requires no advanced degrees in biochemistry or genetics.
The Guide to Getting It On!
By Paul Joannides, 698 pages
(Goofy Foot Press)
OK, so this book comes in two pages under the 700-page threshold, but size doesn't matter, right? Besides, you're unlikely to finish more than a chapter at a time before taking a break to apply this book's advice for doing it like they do on the Discovery Channel. The Guide is a sometimes silly, sometimes serious, never sterile comprehensive handbook for everything from sexual health and happiness to Hoovers and hummers. (No word yet on a publication date for the special laminated edition.)
By Herman Melville, 704 pages
(Bantam; Reissue Edition)
If you last read it in high school -- or never read it at all -- ignore the conventional wisdom about this tale. It's actually -- swear on the unabridged OED -- often very funny. Melville has a playful way with language, dropping into imaginative on-board theatrical scripts, musical numbers and other clever commentaries on received literary forms. Lots of smart, serious stuff, too, of course. Oh, and no matter what symbolism camp you fall into, the whale is actually just a large marine mammal.
One Book to Rule Them All (and You Get to Bind Them)
The Tale of Genji
By Murasaki Shikibu, translation by Royall Tyler, 1,216 pages
This Japanese book, composed early in the 11th century by a noble woman in the imperial court, is believed to be the first novel ever written. (What? She couldn't start with a nice lightweight novella?) Originally published in serial as 54 books, it follows the life of a man born to the emperor's least-favored consort as he uses his good looks, poetry and old-fashioned Heian Dynasty ingenuity to seduce pretty women.
Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady
By Samuel Richardson, 1,536 pages
English-major friends giving you grief because they slogged through the entirety of Dickens' Bleak House? Turn (and maybe even break) the tables with the longest novel in English literature. This 1 million-and-more-word epistolary novel is written as the correspondence of a good girl gone wild, her bad-boy beau (named Lovelace, which is just perfect, don't you think?), and their friends, family, lawyers and the like. Originally intended as a cautionary tale for restless virgins, the novel was received as a powder-dampening romance in its time.
The Lord of the Rings
By J.R.R. Tolkien, 1,216 pages
As every good guardian of Minas Tirith knows, Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings as one Damn Big Book, but his iridescent-robed publisher demanded he divide it into three. Reforge the one book (with some Gandalf-gray duct tape), then impress all those elven beach hotties with your extended exegesis on the seven palantíri. Glutton for Galadriel? Tape The Hobbit (320 pages) to the front and The Silmarillion (480 pages) to the back for a book that will have you wandering through Middle Earth all summer long.
Some Superstrings Attached
By Neal Stephenson, 1,168 pages
The Da Vinci Code? Amateurs. This hard drive-crashing, hacker-set thriller follows a WWII cryptologist and his 21st century Web guru grandson in two storylines networked by a punch-card code and some Nazi gold. Stephenson's detailed explanations of computer security, cracking, networking, open source code and culture, encryption, code breaking, information flow, digital espionage, anonymizing, and all other things cyber cool make this required reading for any Information Age anarchist.
The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
By Brian Greene, 464 pages
(W.W. Norton & Company; Reprint Edition)
This inter-dimensional planetary physics book may appear to have only 464 pages, but that's because you're viewing them in three-plus-one-dimensional space. Written on CERN-spun 10-dimensional branes traveling at relativistic speeds through folded corner space, this well-woven explanation of quantum string theory (and cogent history of all the physics that preceded it) reveals the beauty wound up in the current attempt to unite general relativity with quantum theory. No advanced math required, but for those who have it, Greene provides mathematical glosses in the endnotes.
The Whole Wide World
Underworld: A Novel
By Don DeLillo, 832 pages
(Scribner; Reprint Edition)
The postmodernists have written more than their fair share of Damn Big Books. Ulysses needs longer than a single summer to complete, Gravity's Rainbow is a bit heavy on the scatology, and Infinite Jest is not quite as funny as you might think. Besides, DeLillo is the true poet of the postmodernists, arranging his unwoven words like sand mandalas of soda cans. His masterpiece of waste disposal, nuclear weapons and baseball is one of the finest American novels ever written.
A Suitable Boy: A Novel
By Vikram Seth, 1,488 pages
Before publishing this hernia-inducing hunk of high-minded Hindu melodrama, Seth was best known for The Golden Gate, a novel written entirely in rhymed sonnets (690 of them). The original manuscript for A Suitable Boy was reportedly about 2,000 pages long, but Seth eventually decided to trim it down a bit. This "abridged" version follows four families in post-colonial India as Lata Mehra -- a Hindu Juliet -- falls in love with a Muslim Romeo. All of India (minus those trimmed 500 pages) is revealed in the attempt to find her a more suitable mate.
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Panjab University, which has acted as a nursery for grooming political leaders projecting youths' voice and democratic values through the student council elections till the recent past, has steadily been witnessing trends like opportunism, use of power and political interference by mainstream parties.
Bemoaning the recent trends, Satya Pal Jain, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who was 'instrumental' in introduction of direct elections to student council says, "Those were the days when nationalistic issues used to dominate the student elections. The issues which dominate the election today such as fee hike, mess charges and parking are also important, but issues concerning the nation are not getting their right importance."
Jain was member of the students' council in 1974, three years before direct elections to students' council started in PU.
Senior Congress leader Jagmohan Kang, who was a student at the Panjab University from 1971-76 feels the leaders used to be sincere, loyal and affectionate in those days. He adds, "Now, in the type of student politicians we have today, we see more selfishness."
Senior BJP leader Satya Pal Jain Senior Congress leader Jagmohan Kang
Due to problems in Punjab, the elections were not held in the eighties and a large part of nineties, but when they started again in 1997, the national student parties like National Student Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) started losing grip, while PU saw emergence of non-political outfits such as Panjab University Student Union (PUSU) and Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) ruling the campus.
Congress MLA, who was one of the brains behind the formation of non-political student outfit at the university - PUSU - Kuljit Nagra, says, "The student leaders in pre and post independence era had a more nationalistic approach. As political interference started in student politics, criminalisation and money power started affecting the elections in the nineties."
Nagra adds, "Now, it has come to a stage where our student leaders lack requisite instinct and many of them are only bothered about their posts."
His contemporary DP Randhawa, a lawyer, who formed SOPU in 1997 among others, says he formed SOPU as national student wings had become 'inactive'. "Our idea then was to put forward strongly the demands of students which clicked with the students," says Randhawa. He adds, "But I feel students were mature back then. Now, with the introduction of undergraduate courses, we have students directly coming from schools. Use of money power has also spoiled the elections."
Among the former PU students, one voice which has slightly contrary views, is that of senior Congress politician and Haryana MLA Randeep Surjewala.
Though, he agrees with others and says money power has gone up and interference of mainstream political parties has become far more pronounced. But, he adds, "Quality of candidates and identification of issues has become more pronounced in student elections at PU now."
Current student council leader Satinder Singh Satti who switched over from SOPU to NSUI after winning the polls, says the new breed of politicians is equally good.
"We work tirelessly to get students' work done; be it of hostels or fee. National issues and our views on them also dominate the polls. If there are certain changes in the way we work, they are because of the changing face of the society," says Satti.
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6.0 ECTS credits
37.5h + 22.5h
|Place of the course:||Louvain-la-Neuve
This course aims at providing students with the competences in ecology necessary for an integrated and sustainable management of semi natural ecosystems - either forested, semi-open or open, in a changing environment.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- identify the main site constraints and potentials, so as to establish tree species in suitable sites and to manage them with appropriate methods;
- assess the abiotic risks within a given spatio-temporal context, and to propose appropriate management options;
- to diagnose dieback causes and to identify technical measures to mitigate or correct the impacts;
- to analyze and interpret vegetation patterns based on in depth ecological understanding.
| Main themes:||
- biogeochemistry of forested ecosystems: carbon, biomass and productivity, water, nutrients;
- environmental factors (resources, controllers): targets and impacts on trees and stands;
- abiotic stressors: reactivity of trees and stands;
- site characterization: risks, constraints, potentialities;
- forest diebacks (case studies): process identification, integrated protection strategies;
- fundamentals of vegetation analysis: concepts and principles of phytosociology, vegetation data collection and analysis, determinants of vegetation assemblages and dynamics;
- phyto-ecology: indicator values of species; demography, reproduction, dispersal.
This course is made of four modules.
Module 1 (15h): Fundamentals of vegetation analysis and phyto-ecology - 7 2-hour sessions (theoretical courses and seminars on more applied themes);
Module 2 (22.5h): Practical exercises in phytosociology - 2 one-day excursions (a third one is shared with the course 'Applied soil sciences' - BIRE2104), a lab devoted to statistical analysis of vegetation samples;
Module 3 (18h): Site evaluation, biogeochemistry of forested ecosystems, tree ecophysiology - 9 2-hour sessions;
Module 4 (4h): Case studies.
Precursory courses : Introductory course in silviculture, ecology, plant physiology, botanics, plant taxonomy.
Supplemental courses : Silviculture, forest mensuration, forest management and planning, wildlife ecology and management.
Evaluation : Oral and written examination, report based on the personal work.
Support : Lecture notes, slides, web site icampus.
Recommended readings : Barnes, B.V., Zak, D.R., Denton, S.R., Spurr, S.H., 1998. Forest ecology. 4th ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA, 774 p.
Bazzaz, F.A. 1996. Plants in changing environments. Linking physiological, population, and community ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 320 p.
Chapin III, F.S., Matson, P.A., Mooney, H.A. 2002. Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology. Springer, New York, USA, 436 p.
Fisher, R.F., Binkley, D. 2000. Ecology and management of forest soils. 3rd ed. Wiley, New York, 489 p.
Kimmins, J.-P., 1997. Forest ecology. A foundation for sustainable management. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, USA, 596 p.
Lambers, H., Chapin III, F.S., Pons, T.L. 2000. Plant physiological ecology. Corrected 2nd printing. Springer, New York, 540 p.
Larcher, W. 2003. Physiological plant ecology. Ecophysiology and stress physiology of functional groups. 4th ed. Springer, Berlin, 513 p.
Teaching team : Professor and invited speakers for lectures; Professor, assistant and technician for field excursions and labs.
Miscellaneous : Modules 1 and 2 (15h + 22.5h) constitute a mandatory 4-credit course entitled 'Forest ecology and phytosociology, partim phytosociology' for students of option S5E (Land development) within the master in environmental bioengineering.
|Cycle and year of study :||Première année de master bioingénieur : gestion des forêts et des espaces naturels, à finalité spécialisée
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**ABSTRACT NOT FOR CITATION WITHOUT AUTHOR PERMISSION. The title, authors, and abstract for this completion report are provided below. For a copy of the full completion report, please contact the author via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org or via telephone at 519-253-3000 x2726. Questions? Contact the GLFC via email at email@example.com or via telephone at 734-662-3209.**
THE MODULATION OF OLFACTION-ACTIVATED MOVEMENTS IN THE SEA LAMPREY
Barbara Zielinski¹, Réjean Dubuc²,³
¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario.
²Groupe de Recherche en Activité Physique Adaptée, Department of Kinesiology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec
³Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec.
Essential behaviors such as migration, reproduction, and feeding are driven by olfactory cues in the sea lamprey (reviewed in 6, 7, and 8). In 2010, we uncovered the neural substrate underlying olfactory-motor behavior in lampreys [Derjean et al. 2010 PLoS Biol 8(12): e1000567]. This consists of a specific neural pathway, extending from the medial part of the olfactory bulb (OB) to the mesencephalic locomotor region, with a single relay in the posterior tuberculum. This oligosynaptic pathway is dedicated to action by generating rapid motor responses to olfactory stimuli. The modulatory mechanisms that act on this pathway and that are responsible for the variability of behavioral responses of lampreys to olfactory inputs, are still unknown. We addressed this question by using anatomical (tracers and immunohistochemistry) and physiological (intracellular recordings) techniques. During the granting period, we focused our investigation on modulatory mechanisms acting on the OB, the point where olfactory sensory neurons enter the central nervous system, and where projection neurons extend to other brain regions. We examined GABA modulation in the OB (5). GABAergic neurons and fibers are present throughout the OB, including the medial OB, a central component of the olfactory-locomotor pathway, suggesting a role for GABA in the modulation of this pathway. Physiological experiments showed that this pathway was indeed strongly inhibited by endogenous GABA. Likewise, endogenous GABA attenuated OB responses to odors, including pheromones. Surprisingly, we found that olfactory inputs from the lateral OB were also capable of activating a descending motor pathway when GABA inhibition was removed. This finding led to the discovery of a secondary olfactomotor pathway. We will submit a paper describing these results to the high impact factor journal PLoS Biology (5). This newly-uncovered glutamatergic pathway relays olfactory inputs from the lateral OB to brainstem locomotor control centers via the lateral pallium and the posterior tuberculum. Our findings indicate that this pathway will contribute significantly to the motor responses of lampreys to olfactory stimulation in their environment as our previously discovered primary medial olfactomotor pathway. We also showed that the distribution and morphology of the OB projection neurons associated with the primary (medial) and secondary (lateral) olfactomotor pathways are different (1), as are the odor response profiles of these two regions (2). We also investigated the modulation of the OB neuron responses to the application of odors to the peripheral olfactory organ (3, 4). We found that OB responses to the reproductive pheromone, 3KPZS, are potentiated by estradiol. The olfactory responses to this pheromone were stronger in animals that were treated with estradiol. (3). Distributed throughout the olfactory nerve and OB are serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) fibers. We found that the 5-HT system modulates odor responses, as the application of 5HT1a antagonists increased the amplitude of the olfactory response to all tested odors, suggesting that endogenous 5HT attenuates olfactory responses in both the medial and lateral region of the OB (4). We are preparing a publication on these results, as well. Therefore, the hormonal changes that take place during sexual maturation, as well as endogenous neurotransmitters GABA and serotonin are key players in modulating olfactory-locomotor behavior in the sea lamprey.
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2015 is THE year for every human on planet Earth to add their voice to the demand for action to stop climate chaos.
The chance to preserve a healthy climate is slipping from our grasp—and this is the year we need to take it back. The stakes are high and the Harper government is dead-set against us, but we're seeing signs that the tide might be starting to turn—from the Bank of England warning people to get out of fossil fuels, to Oslo becoming the first capital city in the world to divest.*
To make sure the tide turns we need you to take to the streets and add your voice to build a magnificent crescendo of public outcry!
Creating the change we need will take a lot of planning, so we've got a lot planned—make sure you're planning ahead too!
March 14th: Harper's dangerous Bill C-51 would give CSIS and the RCMP unprecedented powers, creating a secret police force that will be used to push Harper's oily agenda. It's come to light that the RCMP are climate deniers; by contrast, the US security establishment views climate change as real and a dangerous threat to national security. Under this bill anyone who speaks out about climate change could become a target—the RCMP actually considers "eco-terrorism" a more serious threat than ISIL. Thousands of us took to the streets in dozens of rallies across the country. Check out the coverage.
April 11th: The First Ministers of every province and territory will be meeting in Québec City. They'll be discussing climate change and tar sands pipelines, and we're hoping to see tens of thousands of people there to make it crystal clear: we want concerted action! The experience in Quebec is not one you want to miss—get on the bus! (get your bus ticket and accommodation). Can't make it to Quebec? In Toronto we'll be going to the doors of MPs with Block Parties to Block Energy.
July 3rd-6th: Just before the Pan-Am Games, Ontario will be hosting the Pan-American Climate Summit. We're excited that this is happening, and yet we know that in order to see the ambitious action that is needed we're going to have to press hard. So we'll be running a weekend of climate action, culminating in some BIG events. You don't wanna miss this one!
Early December: The United Nations climate summit (aka COP21) will be in Paris this year. This will be the make or break conference for a universal agreement on real action to deal with climate change. Their website says "We're counting on you!" Join people in communities around the world to say loud and clear that we're ready for monumental change.
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Hi everyone! I'm having some difficulty with this problem:
A pharmaceutical company has developed a new drug. Thirty monkey were given the drugs. Researchers intend to wait 6 weeks and then count the number of monkeys who have improved. Any inexpensive drug capable of being effective 60% of the time would be considered as a major breakthrough. Medications whose chances of success are < 50% are unlikely to have commercial potential.
The company hopes to avoid two errors: rejecting a drug that was actually marketable, and spending additional dollars on a drug that would in the end have chances < 50%. As a tentative decision rule, the project manager suggests that unless 16 or more monkey show improvement, research should be discontinued.
a) What are the chances that the rule will cause the company to reject the drug, even if the drug is 60% effective?
b) How often will the rule allow a 50% effective drug to be perceived as a major breakthrough.
I'm not sure where/how to start. I thought of finding the probability that 16 or more monkeys show improvement, but then i don't know how to incorporate the 60% effectiveness.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Are you familiar with testing of hypothesis?
No I'm not, sorry.
Originally Posted by Sambit
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The rusty-topped delma (Delma borea) is an unusual lizard with a long, snake-like body that lacks obvious limbs. Although it has completely lost its front limbs, the rusty-topped delma does have tiny, vestigial hind limbs in the form of scaly flaps (2) (5) (6) (7), which completely encase the much-reduced limb bones and toes (5) (6). These flaps give this and other species in the Pygopodidae family the name ‘flap-footed lizards’ (2) (5).
As in other Delma species, the rusty-topped delma’s tail is much longer than its body and is easily broken, although it can be regenerated (2). Delma species are most closely related to geckos, and like geckos they have lidless eyes covered by transparent scales, which the lizard can wipe clean with its wide, flat tongue (2) (5).
The rusty-topped delma’s scales are smooth and shiny (2) (6) (7), and in comparison to other Delma species its body is relatively small and stout (3). The rusty-topped delma is brown to reddish-brown or grey above (2) (4), with a whitish throat and underside (3) (4). Juveniles and young adults have three to four conspicuous dark bands on the head and the back of the neck, but these often fade as the lizard matures (2) (3) (4). The male and female rusty-topped delma are thought to be similar in size and appearance (6).
If disturbed, the rusty-topped delma may produce a low buzzing or squeaking sound (6) (7).
- Also known as
- blackbanded scalyfoot.
- Snout-vent length: c. 9.8 cm (2) (3)
- Total length: up to 40 cm (4)
Rusty-topped delma biology
In general, Delma species are quite secretive, and retreat rapidly through thick vegetation if disturbed (2). The rusty-topped delma is capable of shedding its tail as a defence mechanism if threatened by a predator, but a new tail quickly grows back (2) (4).
The rusty-topped delma is likely to feed on a range of insects and other invertebrates (2) (4) (5) (7). Like other species in the Pygopodidae family, the rusty-topped delma lays two eggs per clutch (2) (4) (5) (6) (7), with each egg being elongate and having a parchment-like shell (5) (6) (7).
Rusty-topped delma range
The rusty-topped delma is found across northern Australia, a fact which is reflected in its scientific name, borea, which comes from the Greek for ‘north’ (6). Its distribution stretches from north-western Queensland, across the Northern Territory to Western Australia, including several offshore islands (1) (2) (3) (4) (6). It also ranges into central parts of the continent, as far south as north-western South Australia (1) (3) (6).
Rusty-topped delma habitat
The rusty-topped delma typically inhabits spinifex (Triodia) grasslands on rocky or stony soils (2) (4) (6), but tends to avoid grassland in sandy areas (6). This species has also been collected from disturbed areas such as rubbish heaps (6), and may take shelter under rocks, logs, among roots or in cracks in the ground (4) (7).
Like other flap-footed lizards (Pygopodidae species), the rusty-topped delma is likely to have evolved its long, limbless body form to enable it to move easily through low, dense vegetation (5).
Rusty-topped delma status
The rusty-topped delma has yet to be classified by the IUCN.
Rusty-topped delma threats
Little information is currently available on the potential threats to the rusty-topped delma.
Rusty-topped delma conservation
There are no specific conservation measures currently known to be in place for this small, unusual lizard, and it has not been listed on Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. However, all reptiles are protected on Barrow Island, off the coast of Western Australia, so the rusty-topped delma may receive some protection there (4).
Find out more
Find out more about the rusty-topped delma and its conservation:
More information on conservation in Australia:
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
- Animals with no backbone, such as insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, spiders, cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones) and echinoderms.
- Describing a structure or organ that has diminished in size, through evolution, to the point where it no longer functions. Only traces may remain.
The Reptile Database (November, 2012)
Wilson, S. (2005) A Field Guide to Reptiles of Queensland. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
Maryan, B., Aplin, K.P. and Adams, M. (2007) Two new species of the Delma tincta group (Squamata: Pygopodidae) from northwestern Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 23: 273-305.
Moro, D. and MacAulay, I. (2010) A Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Barrow Island. Chevron Australia, Perth. Available at:
Wilson, S.K. (2012) Australian Lizards: A Natural History. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
Kluge, A.G. (1974) A taxonomic revision of the lizard family Pygopodidae. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 147: 1-221.
Kluge, A.G. (1976) Phylogenetic relationships in the lizard family Pygopodidae: an evaluations of theory, methods and data. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 152: 1-72.
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Here you will find 200 amazing pork recipes; including roasts, stews, slow cooked pork recipes, spicy gammon, sausages, curries and even step by step details on how to cure and smoke bacon at home and how to cook a pigs head.
Scroll down and start cooking!
Lean pork should be firm and pink with slight marbling.
If you want good crackling, get your butcher to score the skin. Even the supermarket butchers will do this if you ask.
Score the crackling and baste while roasting, but never let the skin touch the boiling fat in the dripping tin, or it will fry, and be "as tough as leather". It will become 'Cuir Boullie", that is 'boiled leather armour plate' (which was specifically manufactured in olden days to withstand battle axes!); so keep your crackling well raised above the fat in the pan.
Do ensure pork is properly cooked, raw pork can be very dangerous.
Fillet (tenderloin) is great for curries, kebabs and especially stir-frys. A step-by-step guide to prepearing fillet of pork can be found here.
Welfare of pigs
- Join the RSPCA - Think Pig Campaign
- In the UK, pork showing the quality mark (left) are guaranteed to have come from farms that are committed to high standards of animal welfare.
We have an interactive meat cooking time calculator here.
Pages in category ‘Pork recipes’
The following 200 pages are in this category, out of 208 total.(previous 200) (next 200)
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Published on May 10th, 2018 | by Deb Wolf0
World No Tobacco Day
Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is “Tobacco and heart disease.” The campaign will increase awareness on the:
- link between tobacco and heart and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including stroke, which combined are the world’s leading causes of death;
- feasible actions and measures that key audiences, including governments and the public, can take to reduce the risks to heart health posed by tobacco.
Facts about tobacco, heart and other cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) kill more people than any other cause of death worldwide, and tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure contribute to approximately 12% of all heart disease deaths. Tobacco use is the second leading cause of CVD, after high blood pressure.
The global tobacco epidemic kills more than 7 million people each year, of which close to 900 000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke. Nearly 80% of the more than 1 billion smokers worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest.
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Suzuki Hayabusa, 194 miles per hour
Hayabusa is named after the Japanese name of Peregrine Falcon, the fastest bird in the world which flies at a speed of 203 mph. At a top speed of 194 miles per hour, the Suzuki Hayabusa could even reach close to Peregrine falcon.
Hayabusa is the fastest superbike from Suzuki. This ultimate superbike features a 1397 cc four-cylinder 16 valves, liquid cooled engine that produce power of 197HP@6750 rpm.
- 1340cc, four-stroke, DOHC, 4-cylinder 16 valves engine.
- 6-speed constant mesh transmission.
- Maximum power:197 hp@9500 rpm.
- Maximum Torque : 155 Nm@7200 rpm.
- Top speed : 194 miles per hour.
- 0 to 60 mph : 2.5 seconds.
- Idle Speed Control System to keep engine stable in different conditions
- Advanced fuel injection system from Suzuki for high combustion efficiency.
- Front Brakes : 2*310 mm discs, Brambo, monobloc radial-mount calipers.
- Rear Brakes : Single 260 mm disc with Tokico caliper.
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Carroll Hills School provides classroom instruction for students ages 5-21 who have mental retardation along with other disabilities including speech or motor delays and behavioral difficulties. Currently, the school houses 4 school age classes: Elementary, Intermediate, Junior High/High School 1 and High School 2. The focus of these classes is not only on learning academics in a way that can be used for success in everyday life, but also on daily living skills such as money management, housekeeping, meal planning, personal care and vocational skills. Students work at community job sites once they are in the high school classes and earn regular paychecks, paying taxes just like you and I.
It is our hope to provide the students with the tools necessary to live
as independently as possible as an adult. Speech, occupational and
physical therapies are also key components of the school program. Carroll
Hills School classes are provided in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Ohio Department of Education.
Carroll Hills Preschool offers 4 half-day preschool classes for children ages 3-5 from Carroll County. The classes are licensed by the Ohio Department of Education and are designed to work with children with documented delays in speech, fine and gross motor skills, learning abilities, and/or behavioral difficulties.In addition, slots are allotted in each classroom for children who are considered to be developing typically. This allows for integration and modeling of appropriate behaviors and skills for the age level. Here again, intervention at a young age is key to future success.
Early Intervention (E.I.) provides services to infants and toddlers who have been diagnosed with a disability (such as Down Syndrome) or are at high risk for developmental delays due to premature births or other environmental or familial factors.
E.I. services include home visits by the Developmental Specialist, Carroll Hills Playgroup to help develop socialization skills, and parent education as well as speech, occupational and physical therapies.
Research shows that by beginning this young, a child's chance for
meeting developmental milestones and achieving at grade level later in
school greatly increases.
Developmental Specialists - Jesssica Lafferty and Ryan Buck 330-627-7651
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(1787 - 1856)
Theodor Mattenheimer was active/lived in Germany. Theodor Mattenheimer is known for Still life painting.
Biography Theodor Mattenheimer
Like his bother Karl, Theodor Mattenheimer received his first training in art from his father. In 1807 the duchess Maria Anna in Bavaria recommended him to King Max Joseph I, who from then on supported his painting. In 1817, Mattenheimer became gallery inspector in Bamberg and in 1823 he held the same post in Augsburg. Afterwards he became director of the local art and drawing school. Johann Georg von Dillis the first director of the Pinakothek, which opened in 1836, respected Mattenheimer both as a painter as well as a restorer and hired him as inspector for the Pinakothek.
Theodor Mattenheimer specialized in still lives from an early point on. In the early 19th century he was among the pioneers o
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Re: Trout and minnows
Interesting. It is just that while I was down in Colorado I did most fishing with small size 0 mepps and 4 panthers. The one lure that I found to be a great lure for both stream and pond trout (bows and browns) was the Yo-Zuri Killi fish and Goby. They are small cranks, one floats the other sinks. They got a jointed tail. The one small stream we found was easy to get 12 or so fish for each person. My best day yup there was 18 fish. These though were all 5"-15". Nothing very big. The more reading of forums and such, I see that most use nymphs, buggers, or a type of dry fly. In the end I wonder why minnow imitators donít get more publicity. Or is it that most are fishing in areas of big trout that are too wary to hit such a thing? Though larger fish are going to at some point in their life turn over to having fish in their diets if they are going to continue to grow. The few fish that donít are mainly some Carps and a few other fish that spend most of their time filter feeding, but thatís another story.
<*))))>< Fish with teeth ... If I ty it a fish will hit it
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Technolory continues to RULE!!!
Everyday we come across new technology that develop rapid inprovement in quality and comfort.Especially in the display screen in tv, monitors n more.. However we witness the growth of television screens from black n white to flat LCD displays.. the list still grows..
A new develepment from PANASONIC .. A screen that gets u the maximum utility!! Jus hav a look!!
FUTURE COMPUTERS !!! i wish i had it!!
Check this out too..
Filed under: Computer techie, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Just came across a classic website, that made me roam around the world thru satelite.Yeah.. i got my place marked there! you can also spot ur place in your city.
my place is here
The other features are the zoom level, that can be adjusted for our convenience and the scale at the bottom that differs according to the places we drag on the page.All these works are done using java scripting.
Now link to www.wikimapia.org and have fun!
Filed under: browsing tips, Computer techie, Web Technical | 1 Comment
My mobile used to warn me for ” No space for new messages” often , as i used get many forwarded messages very often from my friend!.Wondering about the traffic in my single mobile ,I comparing it with the companies conducting sms contests!.Definitely they would end up with a crash,I thought.But that was not true,with the Sms Gateways , provided for this purpose.
A technology that routes all the messages to thier destination, making sure that none go missing on the way – sms gateway!.This technology helps to effectively manage large number of messages in the network.
How Does This Work?
A SMS Gateway routes all the incoming messages from various mobile phone operators to the client’s server.It can also send bulk SMSs to many mobile numbers from the server.All these works are one by a customised software program.This technology is use by many number of businesses to manage thier business and generate revenue.
The SMSC(Short Message Service Centre)is usewd my the mobile operators for peer to peer messaging.When a user sends a message , it is first recieved by the SMSC that is located on the mobile operator’s location and then sent to the desired number.
On the other hand, An SMS Gateway acts as a open interface between various mobile operators and the client’s application.When a person wants to participate in a sms contest, he sends a message to the desired number , which is first recieved by the SMSC and then the message reaches the SMS Gateway at the service provider’s end.The service provider then routes all the messages through its gateway to the company’s application.This could be an FTP.HTTP,or SMPP protocol.The server automatically responds to the queries and no manual intervention is needed.The server actually transfers the SMS protocol to Html format , which is then send to the web server or companies sms application.Finally they use the same technolegy to inform u about the results!
So, with this gateway 3 sms based solutions are possible,
Outbound campaign - sends bulk sms to all costemers in the database of the company.
Inbound campaigns - allows companies to recieve messages from subscribers.
SMS solutions for business processes - They also helps the companies in various business processes like marketing, database updates, virus alerts etc by integrating with the back-end applications like intranet, database, ERP solutions etc
This is the latest technolgy , fetching more revenue for SMS based businesses.
Filed under: networking, Web Technical | 9 Comments
Static Sites vs Dynamic Pages
Many people who are unfamiliar with web content management systems wonder what the benefits of such a system over traditional static HTML and server page languages like ASP, JSP, and PHP. Well lemme explain that first!
A website is collection of documents written in the HTML language. When a user looks at a website with a browser , the browser is able to follow the instructions presented to it in HTML to make a website look a certain way. Click Here to open a new browser window which will show you an average website. If you were to look at the HTML code for this site, you would see the following:
<html> <title>An html Website</title> <body bgcolor="#003399" text="#ffcc33"> <h1>An html Website</h1> <p>This is an average website. this html page will show same content forever. </html>
The above HTML code for “the html website” is static. That is, if the user were to reload a static website, they would see the exact same content every time. Its content was written directly by an author, and when the user goes to the site, that code is downloaded into a browser and interpreted.
In contrast to a static website, a dynamic website is one whose content is regenerated every time a user visits or reloads the site. Click Here to open a new browser window to a dynamic page( here i hav used PHP code) which tells the time at the particular second that it was accessed. If you click on the “Reload” button several times, you should notice that the time will change.
If u try to get the code of this page from the html source you will get the following:
<html> <title>Today's Date & Time:</title> <h1>Today's Date & Time:</h1> <p>Wednesday 05th of July 2006 11:30:36 AM the time will change when the page is refreshed. try it!! </html>
But the actual code was:
<html> <h3>The Date & Time: </h3> <? echo (date ("l dS of F Y h:i:s A")); ?> <p>the time will change when the page is refreshed. try it!! </html>
This is the difference between a static page and a dynamic page! got it!!
In common , the html page is run on ur system as such, but the dynamic pages( server pages) will send the file to the particular server engine from ur system browser and then will be published back on ur browser after processing the dynamic codes.When you create a static web page, you simply write HTML code. Writing a dynamic page with PHP(or any other) is similar, except you embed the PHP(or any other) code inside of the HTML code.
The Server Pages Commonly used in Web management are ASP , PHP , JSP,XSP,perl Cold fusion etc. We will see them in detail now.
ASP vs. PHP vs JSP
Today’s world is flooded with technologies , especially in the web genre, Ofcourse, it’s difficult to keep track of the new (or old for that matter) technologies.But there are two acronym that stand strong in today’s web design vernacular! than any other do.ASP and PHP are different approaches to building dynamic Web sites that can incorporate database interactivity and other application server uses into your Web site.
ASP stands for Active Server Pages
ASP is a product from the Microsoft and is used with “Internet Information Server” (IIS) which is a program that runs on Microsoft servers. ASP is generally not supported beyond Microsoft servers. However, there are 3rd party applications that can make it compatible with a few other servers. ASP is widely used for large companies Web needs.
PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor.
PHP is a parsing language. The major NT and UNIX Web servers support it and it is widely used with the mySQL database. Small and medium Web developers use it religiously. Independent Web developers as well as a growing number of small and medium sized businesses love PHP.
Java server Pages – by Sun microsystem
JSP – Java Server Page is an extension to the Java servlet technology pioneered by Sun. Like ASP and PHP it provides a simple programming vehicle for displaying dynamic Web content. JSP is the Sun/Java attempt to compete with Microsoft’s ASP. JSP is not widely used however it has a small core of enthusiasts who are claiming it to be as powerful and dynamic as ASP. These patrons usually fail to even acknowledge the PHP genres existence (probably because PHP is far more popular than JSP).
ColdFusiom – By Macromedia
This is a product of Macromedia and it is a GUI software.We are not discussing more about this now!
Why do we need these server pages??
The need for either of these Web development tools is derived from the inability to control the end-users computer(the site visitor’s computer). In other words Web developers don’t have control over what applications their site traffic may or may not have on their user system.For example, whether the client uses MS access or MYSQL. for database? or MS word or Corel word perfect for word processing? ans so.. If your site is going to incorporate a Web page design that will include database, word-processing and other application data, a developer has to know exactly what apps will be used to generate Web content. The best way to control this is to have all content generated on the Server instead of the client.
Sever Side Scripting is the way today’s Web pages are run. Static Web sites (no dynamics) that just have information and no interactivity with server programs are becoming less . It is no longer a huge financial burden to pull off dynamic content. There are many free servers that allow you to write scripts to the server and you can run a full throttle business class site with just a small financial contribution each month using some of the more sophisticated Web hosting packages.
Now the problem is to decide which dynamic program to use for the web design? is it!! Lets see that now.
ASP is not a straightforward program that can be picked up from scratch easily. However this is typical of a Microsoft application. The major reasons that large companies are running it instead of PHP include the following 3 important factors.
- Microsoft products are all over the globe and it makes their site compatible with a significant number of other big businesses sites. This makes business to business transactions easier because everyone involved is running the same platforms and applications. (this is microsoft’s market bang!!)
- Large companies already have their computers running Microsoft products and their employees are trained in the Microsoft program environment. This keeps training investments down to a minimum and keeps companies from investing in new equipment and software.
- If a large company wants to take over another (an acquisition or merger) or is bought out themselves, the ability to easily integrate systems (databases, document processing, spread sheet and accounting applications) is invaluable and can make a company appear to be a much more attractive prospect to potential benefactors. Therefore keeping your business dressed up in MS clothing can have a certain appeal.
Trying to incorporate existing Microsoft application data into a PHP run Web site would require starting from scratch with a great deal of headaches including purchasing new programs. Therefore some small and medium sized businesses that already are hooked on Microsoft products may opt for ASP as well.
However PHP is the developers tool that has gained the most respect amongst Web gurus. Most describe it as an easy to use and feature packed program that allows you to create dynamic and database driven Web sites effortlessly. It is a free program that is open source so it can be modified to fit developers needs. Most developers who like Linux and mySQL are also fans of PHP. ( Setting up server with PHP and MYSQL is provided in the previous post by madan)
But , there is a rapid growth on the usage of PHP among most independent developers. The reasons behind its rapid growth are:
- - It’s easy to learn and the available support for it is through the roof. The Web has always been about individuals banding together to create resources for one another. PHP is loved by the Web community and you will find and abundance of tutorials, tools, Web sites and other online support ready and available to guide you from your Web sites conception to it’s launch.
- - More and more host servers are supporting PHP; chances are you can find a good free or cheap host for your site that will allow you to run a dynamic PHP site.
- - ASP is supported by Microsoft servers only (unless you use a 3rd party utility that facilitates support); however, PHP is supported by many different “html” servers.
Choosing the products for ur page is based on many variables but none more important than preference. No one visiting your site would says that ur page is designed in php or asp , as he never bothers about them. What they will do is evaluate the site’s usefulness based on design and content. Therefore as long as your site follows the good design and also provides the content that the client was looking for any of these dynamic content tools will work just fine, so take your pick.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 3 Comments
Cryptology – a common stuff on networks- hope many should be familiar with dis. k anyway… this stuff deals with the encryption of data during transfer from one place to another for security basis. heck the problem is some how some trudy(a intruder) tries to get them by various tries.
Anyway there are many methods for encryption and easy retrieval too..
find more ideas here to make your message safe on your network!–>Networking-cryptology
Filed under: networking | Leave a Comment
Dudes, normally download sites that offer upload and download pattern does not allw us to download more than a particular download limit if we are a non-registered free users. This is due to the control act to maintain its traffic in a good state. For which they make us wait for 3 to 4 hrs according to the limits to start up for new downloads.
this can be delt not by any legal means , but only illegal approach can be adopted..he he…
we don need to wait for such a long time instead disconnect ur internet connection and reconnect again .. and now try it i ll work..!
as the site may permit us with a different id!… this works in an illegal way !!
for more link to TECHNICAL page
Filed under: browsing tips | Leave a Comment
DUDES,This is my blog site with lots of stuff based on my site of knowledge!!.You find every thing u need.There are blogs on technical areas , web design , networking stuffs and many other computer related topics.
Normally my hobbies are designing , poems, dreaming..!..hav put some pages on em too!
have those cool links categorized for ur convenience!
keep watching for more updates on each stuffs!!!
have a nice time!!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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Consumer Reports released a survey on Tuesday that claims customers are willing to purchased an automobile based on fuel economy even if the vehicles safety and overall value is lower than other vehicles available to them.
In its study Consumer Reports found that 37% of buyers cited fuel economy as their most important car buying consideration. In fact fuel economy was considered twice as important as vehicle quality (17%) and safety (16%). Behind those consideration was overall value (14%) and performance (6%).
According to Consumer Reports deputy auto editor Jeff Bartlett:
“These results make it clear that high fuel prices are continuing to impact driver behavior and influencing future purchase considerations. While quality, safety and value are still important, this may be foreshadowing a market shift by folks seeking relief at the pump.”
The study also found that nearly 66% of respondents said they would buy their next vehicle with better gas mileage than their current automobile.
The study also found that 73% of Americans are willing to look at alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids, diesel and full electric cars.
In what likely isn’t a surprise for our readers, SUV owners often said during the survey that they were looking to downsize to a smaller vehicle.
The report included 1,702 adults living in a household with at least one car.
Survey takers cites their want to help reduce the US’ dependence on foreign oil as one of their considerations for examining alternatively fueled vehicles while other respondents were more considered directly with the current cost of gasoline.
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My physics lab group and I have to build a house out of cardboard that will remain pretty cool when put under a heat lamp. It has to be 3000 dm^3 at the most and has to have 5 rooms and only 20% windows. The roof will be painted. Should we do 1 story or two? Do you know of any cites we can do research on this at? What color of paint: brown, black, grey or white? why?
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Museums and other organisations will often use a 'Title Wall' to present an exhibition. I read about this in the current IdN World and as I did thought about the Tate (London and Liverpool) and the visit to the National Gallery last February. The title wall will feature dedicated design, specific use of colour, typography and layout to communicate the promise that is the exhibition inside.
Perhaps Hodges' model is a Title Wall for health and social care?
Immediately, what title are we to use?
To begin with it is "Mrs Moore", until "Jessica - is fine."
The title wall is an invitation for a dialogue with an artist or artists. Hodges' model is an invitation to patient, carer, health professional and student to engage in a care dialogue.
The story still needs to be told whether by an artist or the patient. Listen to the wall. It should say nothing, despite the divide. Self. Other.
Words. Icons. Threaded in time. Often disjoint in mind.
What a job that combines the arts and the sciences - to collaborate in formulating THE BIG PICTURE of a person's health and social care situation.
A museum such as MOMA apparently has an in-house design team.
Can we provide the patient, carer and the general public with the level of health literacy for them to engage in self-care?
Image source: http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/tag/ann-temkin
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Moving west: Emissions put to tough test
Dear Tom and Ray:
We live in Buffalo, N.Y., and our son will be living and attending graduate school in Glendale, Ariz. He owns a 2000 Ford Contour. We are having it transported out there. From what I have learned, his car will have to pass an emissions test once he is out there. With the car being so old, we are concerned that it might not pass. Is there anything we can do before we go through the expense of transporting his car to Arizona to determine if we will have to put money into it to meet Arizona's emissions standards?— Richard
RAY: Does this involve taping a Benjamin Franklin to the underside of the registration?
TOM: No, this is legit. For cars that are model year 1996 and later, the emissions inspection is done by computer. You can have the same test done locally before you ship the car.
RAY: All 1996 and later cars have a system called OBD II. That stands for On Board Diagnostics ... uh, Two! This is the second generation of OBD. OBD is a system of monitors that continuously check things that relate to a car's emissions— things like the catalytic converter, whether the engine is misfiring and whether the fuel-tank vapor-recovery system is keeping gas fumes from leaking out into the air.
TOM: If anything that affects the car's emissions is not working correctly, that monitor will tell the computer, and the computer will command the Check Engine light (also known as the MIL— Malfunction Indicator Light) to light up on your dashboard.
RAY: So if the Check Engine light is off and the car's monitors all report that they are "ready," then your car will pass that part of the emissions test. TOM: You can have that stuff checked at any repair shop that has a scan tool, which almost every shop has these days. They simply plug their scan tool into your car's OBD port, and it gives them a readout. If the readout says "monitors ready" and the Check Engine light is off, you're good to go in New York or Arizona.
RAY: Actually, they allow you to pass even if you have one monitor that is not "ready." For instance, one thing that's monitored is the fuel-tank pressure. The tank is supposed to be able to hold pressure rather than release gasoline fumes to the environment. But if you just refueled the car, that monitor may show "not ready." So the one monitor exception is designed to give you a pass on reasonable faults.
TOM: The second part of Arizona's emissions test just checks your gas cap, to make sure it holds pressure. Your local garage can check that, too. RAY: Keep in mind, though, that one thing that leads to emissions-test failures is a dead battery. If your battery dies, or it is disconnected while the car is being shipped, all of the information in the OBD II system will be wiped out. That means you'll need to drive the car 25 or 30 miles, with enough restarts, for the OBD system to collect enough data to be able to report again.
TOM: But other than that, if it passes the OBD II in New York, it should pass in Arizona, too.
Get more Click and Clack in their new book, "Ask Click and Clack: Answers from Car Talk." Got a question about cars? Write to Click and Clack in care of this newspaper, or email them by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com.
(c) 2013 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.Read more on: Click and Clack
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A colon polyp, also called a colorectal polyp, is a collection of cells that clump together in the colon lining. Although the majority of colon polyps are benign, doctors advise they be removed as they may become malignant if untreated. More than 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon polyps each year. Since polyps often have no symptoms, doctors recommend several different screening tests to detect and remove them. If symptoms related to polyps are present, they include bleeding from the rectum, black or bloody stools, abdominal pain, anemia, and constipation.
Smoking, being overweight or obese, having a family member with colon cancer, and being over fifty years old all increase an individual's risk of developing a polyp. Some studies suggest dietary factors such as eating red or processed meats may further increase this risk, especially for females. The screening tests and interventions outlined below can help detect and treat colon polyps as well as reduce the risk of developing them.
In the United States, colonoscopies are one of the most commonly performed medical screenings. They are generally recommended for adults over fifty years old, and doctors often advise patients have this test completed once every ten years if they are at an average risk for colorectal cancer. Before the test, patients are required to fast on a clear liquid diet the day before the procedure and drink a special laxative solution that completely empties the bowel contents.
Most patients are sedated for the screening test. During the exam, doctors insert a thin tube with a camera into the rectum and up into the colon to examine the lining. The test can pick up ulcers, scarring, diverticulitis, and polyps. If a polyp is located, doctors can remove it immediately during the procedure by using a special pair of scissors inserted through the tube. Patients usually go home on the same day of the colonoscopy and are advised to rest for at least twenty-four hours afterward.
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“Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley
Clocks and mirrors are two ‘gadgets’ people have used for a long long time. A mirror is a reflective device. A clock is a measurement of time. The earliest known use of mirror, or a reflective device, goes back to about 6000 BC using polished reflective stone such as obsidian. As long ago as 30,000 years, peoples were measuring time using the phases of the moon. From sun dials to digital watches, our inherent capacity to measure time is expressed outwardly with gadgets.
Time is a mystery. A relative mystery. A mystery that is our master for are we not all slaves of time? Are we not scheduled by the clock. Subject to the circadian rhythms of life, generally sleeping at night and awake during the day. The Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Hindus, to name a few, all have a ‘God of Time.’ The Greek name for the God of Time is Chronos which is the basis of the word chronology, the demarcation of benchmarks and milestones, and chronograph, a mapping of incremental time periods. The Hindu God of Time is Kala and may be the root for the word ‘calendar’ measuring months, years, eras and ages. Time measurement is of course dependent upon one’s ‘time consciousness.’ The time consciousness of an adult is different than that of a child, or that of a sorcerer. Time consciousness alters depending on state of mind, mood, intensity of experience, or lack thereof. Our experience of time is illusive, deceptive and ever outside our grasp, despite our attempts to contain it, with gadgets.
How to measure the time of one’s life? In years? If one lives to be 90 years of age, does it feel the same to say that one has lived for 32,850 days, or 788,400 hours, or 47,304,000 minutes, or 2,838,240,000 seconds, or 9 decades? The average adult breath rate is 16 times/minute. Can we measure one’s life in breaths? 90 cycles around the sun would then be equivalent to about 756,864,000 breaths in a lifespan of 9 decades. Gadgets are available that measure time in fractions of a second, which can make the difference in a time sensitive competition such as races. If you believe you are a member of a species race, then time is of importance to you. If it’s not a race, time is less important.
The mirror, as a gadget for and a symbol of, self reflection has been around as long as there have been still pools of water, and a person to look into the water. The Greeks have a myth about this named Narcissus. A character becomes enamored of his own reflection in a pool of water. Narcissus is not the only important character in this thematic myth. Echo is the rejected lover of Narcissus, who is too absorbed in his own reflection to bother with his suitor. Echo is rejected and forelorn, she withers away, leaving nothing but her fading voice.Their are generally two endings to the myth one with Narcissus drowning in the pool, and the other him being transformed into a flower, named after him. The moral of the story may be we can get too absorbed in gadgets and neglect the echo of our consciousness.
Gadgets are one of those creations that sets us apart from the lower animals. We have gadgets that run other gadgets, which run other gadgets. We are gadget makers. We have evolved from homo sapien to homo gadgetus. Perhaps one of our most dexterious gadgets are our hands, and fingers. Gadgets have the potential to make one’s personal day to day life extra-ordinarily convenient, efficient, economical, creative and pleasant. As is the case with all gadgets, all technology, how it is used is in the hands of the user, and can be misused. With so many gadgets though, you’d think creativity, happiness, comfort and ease would be the norm. And yet, with so many gadgets, we seem to be drowning in anxieties and depressions, not to mention an excessive amount of violence. Smash the mirror and break the clock. Existence is more than seeing reflections and measuring time. Life is more than clocks and mirrors.
“The hours of folly are measured by the clock; but of wisdom, no clock can measure.”
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Okay then, here's a few questions that may or may not be easy. Some historical, and some musical, but all interesting:
Name the Puritan torture device that wasn't even made illegal in England until the middle of the 20th century. However rare cases were people could actually go to court and get permission to humiliate their wives with this publicly, up until the late 1920's when it hadn't been used for decades and people were really starting to wonder why it still existed.
Which country and famous city did we get our table manners from during the Renaissance period?
Which composer wrote a piece for Piano and Violin duet that was literally a representation of hell and was titled hell in french? It was in f minor, if that helps just a little bit.
Which famous Russian pianist played at the Potsdam conference for Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill?
Who was the director of the Moscow Radio Symphony orchestra during the February of 1966?
Why was Charles Valentin Alkan afraid of facing the camera when pictures were taken of him?
What color is the pair of boxer briefs i am wearing? I don't expect an answer but it would be awesome if someone actually guessed correctly.(one of you is looking at me with binoculars in the house right next to me, i am sure of it
What time did Mozart arise every day to pray before going on about his business during the day?
Which two pieces intended for Sibelius' Kung Kristian II (King Christian II) Suite, Op. 27 did Sibelius leave out?
A century ago in Spain what did the gesture of lightly tugging on your left eyelid symbolize during a social outing?
Which local language of Europe has a word in it that dates back literally to the ice age? The word means sword and originally meant sharp rock...
These are very interesting, and difficult but doable. I love trivia. If any one person gets all of these they deserve the title of neurotic.
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The air filters for your HVAC system, whether for heating or cooling, are your first line of defense against higher energy consumption and repairs. Dirt is the main cause of furnace or air conditioner failure, and the sole job of the filter is to stop it before it enters your blower. Keeping a supply of filters on hand helps you make those changes quickly and exactly when you need to.
You have options when it comes to the air filters you use for your system. Filters carry ratings called MERV, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, and it’s a measure of the size of particles that the filter traps. The scale runs from 1 to 16 for residential use; the higher the rating, the smaller the particles that the filter traps.
While it’s better to trap more airborne particles for the health of your HVAC system and your breathing, there’s a limit to the MERV rating that your blower can handle. Check your owner’s manual to learn the maximum value. If it doesn’t state it, ask an HVAC technician or the manufacturer for the highest MERV-rated filter you can use.
Be sure that the filter fits the frame precisely. Your blower works like a big vacuum and it pulls air wherever it can get it. If the air filter doesn’t fit precisely in the frame, you’re bringing in unfiltered air, causing damage to your HVAC system. Dirt that enters your blower can create problems by collecting on the heat exchanger or evaporator coil.
Dust on these parts makes them work less efficiently, and in the case of the heat exchanger, can actually cause it to crack, emitting carbon monoxide into your home, prompting an expensive repair or replacement. If a utility or HVAC technician detects cracks, he is legally bound to shut down your furnace until it’s fixed. When an air conditioning evaporator coil is dirty, your compressor may run outdoors continually, eventually causing system failure.
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White starch has been pummeled pretty bad over the past few years. It started with the Atkins diet craze, and ended with pasta, potatoes and rice on the ropes — at least figuratively, as consumers were told to seek out whole grains, fiber and unprocessed foods.
Well, it’s once again a topical time for pasta — but in a good way, according to Peter Smith, president of the National Pasta Association, and CEO of Ebro North America, aka New World Pasta, the Spain-based conglomerate’s division over here.
“We see a shift occurring,” he tells us. “There’s less emphasis on weight loss and more on weight control.”
The difference is that weight loss (dieting) comes after the gain. Weight control, Smith points out, is an attitude that’s incorporated into one’s present lifestyle, and is more proactive and participatory in nature.
Look at wellness through those glasses, and you’ll see that pasta, rice and potatoes have a place on the table. It’s not any more fattening than any other carbohydrate. The secret is portion size. A serving of regular, plain pasta has 180 calories.
Indeed, pasta is still a huge staple in every cupboard. Americans consume six billion pounds a year, or 25% of the global total.
The “Pasta Fits” campaign that launched in April and culminates during October’s National Pasta Month, seeks to convey that critical loss vs. control message. The initiative takes advantage of the new My Plate dietary icon from the U.S. government, which depicts one-quarter of the plate reserved for grains, qualified with the statement: “Make at least half your grains whole grains.”
Smith said whole grain pasta has improved dramatically in taste and texture since it was introduced in the wake of the Atkins hurricane. Currently, 15% of category sales are in whole-grain varieties, and the numbers are growing exponentially every year.
Then there are value-added pastas such as Ronzoni’s Garden Delight, introduced last year, with strands of carrot-orange, spinach-green and tomato-red spaghetti, all fortified with vitamins appropriate to those vegetables. Future pasta products might offer plant sterols to control cholesterol, or similar ingredients that give the product the distinct feel of a functional food.
Starches might be down, but don’t count them out. They’re planning a big bounce back. They already have convenience and popularity on their side. Like beef, nuts and other once-maligned foods, consumers will now find ways to keep pasta on the table and still follow a healthy lifestyle.
[Photo credit: Paul Indigo]
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Termites are among the few animals known to have the capacity to subsist solely by consuming wood. The termite gut tract contains a dense and species-rich microbial population that assists in the degradation of lignocellulose predominantly into acetate, the key nutrient fueling termite metabolism (Odelson & Breznak, 1983). Within these microbial populations are bacteria, methanogenic archaea and, in some ("lower") termites, eukaryotic protozoa. Thus, termites are excellent research subjects for studying the interactions among microbial species and the numerous biochemical functions they perform to the benefit of their host. The species composition of microbial populations in termite guts as well as key genes involved in various biochemical processes has been explored using molecular techniques (Kudo et al., 1998; Schmit-Wagner et al., 2003; Salmassi & Leadbetter, 2003). These techniques depend on the extraction and purification of high-quality nucleic acids from the termite gut environment. The extraction technique described in this video is a modified compilation of protocols developed for extraction and purification of nucleic acids from environmental samples (Mor et al., 1994; Berthelet et al., 1996; Purdy et al., 1996; Salmassi & Leadbetter, 2003; Ottesen et al. 2006) and it produces DNA from termite hindgut material suitable for use as template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
25 Related JoVE Articles!
Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Institutions: Western Washington University, Washington State University Northwestern Research and Extension Center, Texas Tech University.
Fungi native to agricultural soils that colonized commercially available biodegradable mulch (BDM) films were isolated and assessed for potential to degrade plastics. Typically, when formulations of plastics are known and a source of the feedstock is available, powdered plastic can be suspended in agar-based media and degradation determined by visualization of clearing zones. However, this approach poorly mimics in situ
degradation of BDMs. First, BDMs are not dispersed as small particles throughout the soil matrix. Secondly, BDMs are not sold commercially as pure polymers, but rather as films containing additives (e.g.
fillers, plasticizers and dyes) that may affect microbial growth. The procedures described herein were used for isolates acquired from soil-buried mulch films. Fungal isolates acquired from excavated BDMs were tested individually for growth on pieces of new, disinfested BDMs laid atop defined medium containing no carbon source except agar. Isolates that grew on BDMs were further tested in liquid medium where BDMs were the sole added carbon source. After approximately ten weeks, fungal colonization and BDM degradation were assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Isolates were identified via analysis of ribosomal RNA gene sequences. This report describes methods for fungal isolation, but bacteria also were isolated using these methods by substituting media appropriate for bacteria. Our methodology should prove useful for studies investigating breakdown of intact plastic films or products for which plastic feedstocks are either unknown or not available. However our approach does not provide a quantitative method for comparing rates of BDM degradation.
Microbiology, Issue 75, Plant Biology, Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Soil Science, Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Genetics, Mycology, Fungi, Bacteria, Microorganisms, Biodegradable plastic, biodegradable mulch, compostable plastic, compostable mulch, plastic degradation, composting, breakdown, soil, 18S ribosomal DNA, isolation, culture
Microfluidic Picoliter Bioreactor for Microbial Single-cell Analysis: Fabrication, System Setup, and Operation
Institutions: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH.
In this protocol the fabrication, experimental setup and basic operation of the recently introduced microfluidic picoliter bioreactor (PLBR) is described in detail. The PLBR can be utilized for the analysis of single bacteria and microcolonies to investigate biotechnological and microbiological related questions concerning, e.g.
cell growth, morphology, stress response, and metabolite or protein production on single-cell level. The device features continuous media flow enabling constant environmental conditions for perturbation studies, but in addition allows fast medium changes as well as oscillating conditions to mimic any desired environmental situation. To fabricate the single use devices, a silicon wafer containing sub micrometer sized SU-8 structures served as the replication mold for rapid polydimethylsiloxane casting. Chips were cut, assembled, connected, and set up onto a high resolution and fully automated microscope suited for time-lapse imaging, a powerful tool for spatio-temporal cell analysis. Here, the biotechnological platform organism Corynebacterium glutamicum
was seeded into the PLBR and cell growth and intracellular fluorescence were followed over several hours unraveling time dependent population heterogeneity on single-cell level, not possible with conventional analysis methods such as flow cytometry. Besides insights into device fabrication, furthermore, the preparation of the preculture, loading, trapping of bacteria, and the PLBR cultivation of single cells and colonies is demonstrated. These devices will add a new dimension in microbiological research to analyze time dependent phenomena of single bacteria under tight environmental control. Due to the simple and relatively short fabrication process the technology can be easily adapted at any microfluidics lab and simply tailored towards specific needs.
Bioengineering, Issue 82, Soft lithography, SU-8 lithography, Picoliter bioreactor, Single-cell analysis, Polydimethylsiloxane, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Escherichia coli, Microfluidics, Lab-on-a-chip
Analysis of Fatty Acid Content and Composition in Microalgae
Institutions: Wageningen University and Research Center, Wageningen University and Research Center, Wageningen University and Research Center.
A method to determine the content and composition of total fatty acids present in microalgae is described. Fatty acids are a major constituent of microalgal biomass. These fatty acids can be present in different acyl-lipid classes. Especially the fatty acids present in triacylglycerol (TAG) are of commercial interest, because they can be used for production of transportation fuels, bulk chemicals, nutraceuticals (ω-3 fatty acids), and food commodities. To develop commercial applications, reliable analytical methods for quantification of fatty acid content and composition are needed. Microalgae are single cells surrounded by a rigid cell wall. A fatty acid analysis method should provide sufficient cell disruption to liberate all acyl lipids and the extraction procedure used should be able to extract all acyl lipid classes.
With the method presented here all fatty acids present in microalgae can be accurately and reproducibly identified and quantified using small amounts of sample (5 mg) independent of their chain length, degree of unsaturation, or the lipid class they are part of.
This method does not provide information about the relative abundance of different lipid classes, but can be extended to separate lipid classes from each other.
The method is based on a sequence of mechanical cell disruption, solvent based lipid extraction, transesterification of fatty acids to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), and quantification and identification of FAMEs using gas chromatography (GC-FID). A TAG internal standard (tripentadecanoin) is added prior to the analytical procedure to correct for losses during extraction and incomplete transesterification.
Environmental Sciences, Issue 80, chemical analysis techniques, Microalgae, fatty acid, triacylglycerol, lipid, gas chromatography, cell disruption
Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose
Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology.
Guts of most insects are inhabited by complex communities of symbiotic nonpathogenic bacteria. Within such microbial communities it is possible to identify commensal or mutualistic bacteria species. The latter ones, have been observed to serve multiple functions to the insect, i.e.
helping in insect reproduction1
, boosting the immune response2
, pheromone production3
, as well as nutrition, including the synthesis of essential amino acids4,
Due to the importance of these associations, many efforts have been made to characterize the communities down to the individual members. However, most of these efforts were either based on cultivation methods or relied on the generation of 16S rRNA gene fragments which were sequenced for final identification. Unfortunately, these approaches only identified the bacterial species present in the gut and provided no information on the metabolic activity of the microorganisms.
To characterize the metabolically active bacterial species in the gut of an insect, we used stable isotope probing (SIP) in vivo
C-glucose as a universal substrate. This is a promising culture-free technique that allows the linkage of microbial phylogenies to their particular metabolic activity. This is possible by tracking stable, isotope labeled atoms from substrates into microbial biomarkers, such as DNA and RNA5
. The incorporation of 13
C isotopes into DNA increases the density of the labeled DNA compared to the unlabeled (12
C) one. In the end, the 13
C-labeled DNA or RNA is separated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation from the 12
C-unlabeled similar one6
. Subsequent molecular analysis of the separated nucleic acid isotopomers provides the connection between metabolic activity and identity of the species.
Here, we present the protocol used to characterize the metabolically active bacteria in the gut of a generalist insect (our model system), Spodoptera littoralis
). The phylogenetic analysis of the DNA was done using pyrosequencing, which allowed high resolution and precision in the identification of insect gut bacterial community. As main substrate, 13
C-labeled glucose was used in the experiments. The substrate was fed to the insects using an artificial diet.
Microbiology, Issue 81, Insects, Sequence Analysis, Genetics, Microbial, Bacteria, Lepidoptera, Spodoptera littoralis, stable-isotope-probing (SIP), pyro-sequencing, 13C-glucose, gut, microbiota, bacteria
An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei
Institutions: University Hospital Heidelberg, Research Center Borstel.
Coinfections naturally occur due to the geographic overlap of distinct types of pathogenic organisms. Concurrent infections most likely modulate the respective immune response to each single pathogen and may thereby affect pathogenesis and disease outcome. Coinfected patients may also respond differentially to anti-infective interventions. Coinfection between tuberculosis as caused by mycobacteria and the malaria parasite Plasmodium
, both of which are coendemic in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, has not been studied in detail. In order to approach the challenging but scientifically and clinically highly relevant question how malaria-tuberculosis coinfection modulate host immunity and the course of each disease, we established an experimental mouse model that allows us to dissect the elicited immune responses to both pathogens in the coinfected host. Of note, in order to most precisely mimic naturally acquired human infections, we perform experimental infections of mice with both pathogens by their natural routes of infection, i.e.
aerosol and mosquito bite, respectively.
Infectious Diseases, Issue 84, coinfection, mouse, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Plasmodium berghei, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, natural transmission
Detection of Live Escherichia coli O157:H7 Cells by PMA-qPCR
Institutions: Food and Drug Administration.
A unique open reading frame (ORF) Z3276 was identified as a specific genetic marker for E. coli
O157:H7. A qPCR assay was developed for detection of E. coli
O157:H7 by targeting ORF Z3276. With this assay, we can detect as low as a few copies of the genome of DNA of E. coli
O157:H7. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were confirmed by intensive validation tests with a large number of E. coli
O157:H7 strains (n = 369) and non-O157 strains (n = 112). Furthermore, we have combined propidium monoazide (PMA) procedure with the newly developed qPCR protocol for selective detection of live cells from dead cells. Amplification of DNA from PMA-treated dead cells was almost completely inhibited in contrast to virtually unaffected amplification of DNA from PMA-treated live cells. Additionally, the protocol has been modified and adapted to a 96-well plate format for an easy and consistent handling of a large number of samples. This method is expected to have an impact on accurate microbiological and epidemiological monitoring of food safety and environmental source.
Microbiology, Issue 84, Propidium monoazide (PMA), real-time PCR, E. coli O157:H7, pathogen, selective detection, live cells
Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains
Institutions: Georg-August University.
Many microorganisms such as bacteria proliferate extremely fast and the populations may reach high cell densities. Small fractions of cells in a population always have accumulated mutations that are either detrimental or beneficial for the cell. If the fitness effect of a mutation provides the subpopulation with a strong selective growth advantage, the individuals of this subpopulation may rapidly outcompete and even completely eliminate their immediate fellows. Thus, small genetic changes and selection-driven accumulation of cells that have acquired beneficial mutations may lead to a complete shift of the genotype of a cell population. Here we present a procedure to monitor the rapid clonal expansion and elimination of beneficial and detrimental mutations, respectively, in a bacterial cell population over time by cocultivation of fluorescently labeled individuals of the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis
. The method is easy to perform and very illustrative to display intraspecies competition among the individuals in a bacterial cell population.
Cellular Biology, Issue 83, Bacillus subtilis, evolution, adaptation, selective pressure, beneficial mutation, intraspecies competition, fluorophore-labelling, Fluorescence Microscopy
Characterization of Complex Systems Using the Design of Experiments Approach: Transient Protein Expression in Tobacco as a Case Study
Institutions: RWTH Aachen University, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft.
Plants provide multiple benefits for the production of biopharmaceuticals including low costs, scalability, and safety. Transient expression offers the additional advantage of short development and production times, but expression levels can vary significantly between batches thus giving rise to regulatory concerns in the context of good manufacturing practice. We used a design of experiments (DoE) approach to determine the impact of major factors such as regulatory elements in the expression construct, plant growth and development parameters, and the incubation conditions during expression, on the variability of expression between batches. We tested plants expressing a model anti-HIV monoclonal antibody (2G12) and a fluorescent marker protein (DsRed). We discuss the rationale for selecting certain properties of the model and identify its potential limitations. The general approach can easily be transferred to other problems because the principles of the model are broadly applicable: knowledge-based parameter selection, complexity reduction by splitting the initial problem into smaller modules, software-guided setup of optimal experiment combinations and step-wise design augmentation. Therefore, the methodology is not only useful for characterizing protein expression in plants but also for the investigation of other complex systems lacking a mechanistic description. The predictive equations describing the interconnectivity between parameters can be used to establish mechanistic models for other complex systems.
Bioengineering, Issue 83, design of experiments (DoE), transient protein expression, plant-derived biopharmaceuticals, promoter, 5'UTR, fluorescent reporter protein, model building, incubation conditions, monoclonal antibody
Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes
Institutions: North Carolina State University, North Carolina State University.
The kraft process is applied to wood chips for separation of lignin from the polysaccharides within lignocellulose for pulp that will produce a high quality paper. Black liquor is a pulping waste generated by the kraft process that has potential for downstream bioconversion. However, the recalcitrant nature of the lignocellulose resources, its chemical derivatives that constitute the majority of available organic carbon within black liquor, and its basic pH present challenges to microbial biodegradation of this waste material. Methods for the collection and modification of black liquor for microbial growth are aimed at utilization of this pulp waste to convert the lignin, organic acids, and polysaccharide degradation byproducts into valuable chemicals. The lignocellulose extraction techniques presented provide a reproducible method for preparation of lignocellulose growth substrates for understanding metabolic capacities of cultured microorganisms. Use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry enables the identification and quantification of the fermentation products resulting from the growth of microorganisms on pulping waste. These methods when used together can facilitate the determination of the metabolic activity of microorganisms with potential to produce fermentation products that would provide greater value to the pulping system and reduce effluent waste, thereby increasing potential paper milling profits and offering additional uses for black liquor.
Environmental Sciences, Issue 82, biodegradation (bacterial degradation), pulp mill waste, black liquor, kraft process, lignocellulose extraction, microorganisms, fermentation products, GC-MS
A Restriction Enzyme Based Cloning Method to Assess the In vitro Replication Capacity of HIV-1 Subtype C Gag-MJ4 Chimeric Viruses
Institutions: Emory University, Emory University.
The protective effect of many HLA class I alleles on HIV-1 pathogenesis and disease progression is, in part, attributed to their ability to target conserved portions of the HIV-1 genome that escape with difficulty. Sequence changes attributed to cellular immune pressure arise across the genome during infection, and if found within conserved regions of the genome such as Gag, can affect the ability of the virus to replicate in vitro
. Transmission of HLA-linked polymorphisms in Gag to HLA-mismatched recipients has been associated with reduced set point viral loads. We hypothesized this may be due to a reduced replication capacity of the virus. Here we present a novel method for assessing the in vitro
replication of HIV-1 as influenced by the gag
gene isolated from acute time points from subtype C infected Zambians. This method uses restriction enzyme based cloning to insert the gag
gene into a common subtype C HIV-1 proviral backbone, MJ4. This makes it more appropriate to the study of subtype C sequences than previous recombination based methods that have assessed the in vitro
replication of chronically derived gag-pro
sequences. Nevertheless, the protocol could be readily modified for studies of viruses from other subtypes. Moreover, this protocol details a robust and reproducible method for assessing the replication capacity of the Gag-MJ4 chimeric viruses on a CEM-based T cell line. This method was utilized for the study of Gag-MJ4 chimeric viruses derived from 149 subtype C acutely infected Zambians, and has allowed for the identification of residues in Gag that affect replication. More importantly, the implementation of this technique has facilitated a deeper understanding of how viral replication defines parameters of early HIV-1 pathogenesis such as set point viral load and longitudinal CD4+ T cell decline.
Infectious Diseases, Issue 90, HIV-1, Gag, viral replication, replication capacity, viral fitness, MJ4, CEM, GXR25
Unraveling the Unseen Players in the Ocean - A Field Guide to Water Chemistry and Marine Microbiology
Institutions: San Diego State University, University of California San Diego.
Here we introduce a series of thoroughly tested and well standardized research protocols adapted for use in remote marine environments. The sampling protocols include the assessment of resources available to the microbial community (dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic matter, inorganic nutrients), and a comprehensive description of the viral and bacterial communities (via direct viral and microbial counts, enumeration of autofluorescent microbes, and construction of viral and microbial metagenomes). We use a combination of methods, which represent a dispersed field of scientific disciplines comprising already established protocols and some of the most recent techniques developed. Especially metagenomic sequencing techniques used for viral and bacterial community characterization, have been established only in recent years, and are thus still subjected to constant improvement. This has led to a variety of sampling and sample processing procedures currently in use. The set of methods presented here provides an up to date approach to collect and process environmental samples. Parameters addressed with these protocols yield the minimum on information essential to characterize and understand the underlying mechanisms of viral and microbial community dynamics. It gives easy to follow guidelines to conduct comprehensive surveys and discusses critical steps and potential caveats pertinent to each technique.
Environmental Sciences, Issue 93, dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic matter, nutrients, DAPI, SYBR, microbial metagenomics, viral metagenomics, marine environment
Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading (TED)
Institutions: University of Wuerzburg, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich.
Visualization of calcium dynamics is important to understand the role of calcium in cell physiology. To examine calcium dynamics, synthetic fluorescent Ca2+
indictors have become popular. Here we demonstrate TED (= targeted-esterase induced dye loading), a method to improve the release of Ca2+
indicator dyes in the ER lumen of different cell types. To date, TED was used in cell lines, glial cells, and neurons in vitro
. TED bases on efficient, recombinant targeting of a high carboxylesterase activity to the ER lumen using vector-constructs that express Carboxylesterases (CES). The latest TED vectors contain a core element of CES2 fused to a red fluorescent protein, thus enabling simultaneous two-color imaging. The dynamics of free calcium in the ER are imaged in one color, while the corresponding ER structure appears in red. At the beginning of the procedure, cells are transduced with a lentivirus. Subsequently, the infected cells are seeded on coverslips to finally enable live cell imaging. Then, living cells are incubated with the acetoxymethyl ester (AM-ester) form of low-affinity Ca2+
indicators, for instance Fluo5N-AM, Mag-Fluo4-AM, or Mag-Fura2-AM. The esterase activity in the ER cleaves off hydrophobic side chains from the AM form of the Ca2+
indicator and a hydrophilic fluorescent dye/Ca2+
complex is formed and trapped in the ER lumen. After dye loading, the cells are analyzed at an inverted confocal laser scanning microscope. Cells are continuously perfused with Ringer-like solutions and the ER calcium dynamics are directly visualized by time-lapse imaging. Calcium release from the ER is identified by a decrease in fluorescence intensity in regions of interest, whereas the refilling of the ER calcium store produces an increase in fluorescence intensity. Finally, the change in fluorescent intensity over time is determined by calculation of ΔF/F0
Cellular Biology, Issue 75, Neurobiology, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Virology, Medicine, Anatomy, Physiology, Surgery, Endoplasmic Reticulum, ER, Calcium Signaling, calcium store, calcium imaging, calcium indicator, metabotropic signaling, Ca2+, neurons, cells, mouse, animal model, cell culture, targeted esterase induced dye loading, imaging
Electricity-Free, Sequential Nucleic Acid and Protein Isolation
Institutions: CUBRC, Inc., State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Traditional and emerging pathogens such as Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
(EHEC), Yersinia pestis,
or prion-based diseases are of significant concern for governments, industries and medical professionals worldwide. For example, EHECs, combined with Shigella
, are responsible for the deaths of approximately 325,000 children each year and are particularly prevalent in the developing world where laboratory-based identification, common in the United States, is unavailable 1
. The development and distribution of low cost, field-based, point-of-care tools to aid in the rapid identification and/or diagnosis of pathogens or disease markers could dramatically alter disease progression and patient prognosis. We have developed a tool to isolate nucleic acids and proteins from a sample by solid-phase extraction (SPE) without electricity or associated laboratory equipment 2
. The isolated macromolecules can be used for diagnosis either in a forward lab or using field-based point-of-care platforms. Importantly, this method provides for the direct comparison of nucleic acid and protein data from an un-split sample, offering a confidence through corroboration of genomic and proteomic analysis.
Our isolation tool utilizes the industry standard for solid-phase nucleic acid isolation, the BOOM technology, which isolates nucleic acids from a chaotropic salt solution, usually guanidine isothiocyanate, through binding to silica-based particles or filters 3
. CUBRC's proprietary solid-phase extraction chemistry is used to purify protein from chaotropic salt solutions, in this case, from the waste or flow-thru following nucleic acid isolation4
By packaging well-characterized chemistries into a small, inexpensive and simple platform, we have generated a portable system for nucleic acid and protein extraction that can be performed under a variety of conditions. The isolated nucleic acids are stable and can be transported to a position where power is available for PCR amplification while the protein content can immediately be analyzed by hand held or other immunological-based assays. The rapid identification of disease markers in the field could significantly alter the patient's outcome by directing the proper course of treatment at an earlier stage of disease progression. The tool and method described are suitable for use with virtually any infectious agent and offer the user the redundancy of multi-macromolecule type analyses while simultaneously reducing their logistical burden.
Chemistry, Issue 63, Solid phase extraction, nucleic acid, protein, isolation, silica, Guanidine thiocyanate, isopropanol, remote, DTRA
Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen
Institutions: University of Bath.
Here we will describe how we study the invasion of human endothelial cells by bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus
. The general protocol can be applied to the study of cell invasion by virtually any culturable bacterium. The stages at which specific aspects of invasion can be studied, such as the role of actin rearrangement or caveolae, will be highlighted. Host cells are grown in flasks and when ready for use are seeded into 24-well plates containing Thermanox coverslips. Using coverslips allows subsequent removal of the cells from the wells to reduce interference from serum proteins deposited onto the sides of the wells (to which S. aureus
would attach). Bacteria are grown to the required density and washed to remove any secreted proteins (e.g. toxins). Coverslips with confluent layers of endothelial cells are transferred to new 24-well plates containing fresh culture medium before the addition of bacteria. Bacteria and cells are then incubated together for the required amount of time in 5% CO2
at 37°C. For S. aureus
this is typically between 15-90 minutes. Thermanox coverslips are removed from each well and dip-washed in PBS to remove unattached bacteria. If total associated bacteria (adherent and internalised) are to be quantified, coverslips are then placed in a fresh well containing 0.5% Triton X-100 in PBS. Gentle pipetting leads to complete cell lysis and bacteria are enumerated by serial dilution and plating onto agar. If the number of bacteria that have invaded the cells is needed, coverslips are added to wells containing 500 μl tissue culture medium supplemented with gentamicin and incubation continued for 1 h, which will kill all external bacteria. Coverslips can then be washed, cells lysed and bacteria enumerated by plating onto agar as described above. If the experiment requires direct visualisation, coverslips can be fixed and stained for light, fluorescence or confocal microscopy or prepared for electron microscopy.
Infection, Issue 49, Bacterial pathogen, host cell invasion, Staphylococcus aureus, invasin
Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Volume Transfers with Serological Pipettes and Micropipettors
Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles .
Microorganisms are everywhere - in the air, soil, and human body as well as on inanimate surfaces like laboratory benches and computer keyboards. The ubiquity of microbes creates a copious supply of potential contaminants in a laboratory. To ensure experimental success, the number of contaminants on equipment and work surfaces must be minimized. Common among many experiments in microbiology are techniques involving the measurement and transfer of cultures containing bacterial cells or viral particles. To do so without contacting non-sterile surfaces or contaminating sterile media requires (1) preparing a sterile workspace, (2) precisely setting and accurately reading instruments for aseptic transfer of liquids, and (3) properly manipulating instruments, cultures flasks, bottles and tubes within a sterile field. Learning these procedures calls for training and practice. At first, actions should be slow, deliberate, and controlled with the goal being for aseptic technique to become second nature when working at the bench. Here we present the steps for measuring volumes using serological pipettes and micropipettors within a sterile field created by a Bunsen burner. Volumes range from microliters (μl) to milliliters (ml) depending on the instrument used. Liquids commonly transferred include sterile broth or chemical solutions as well as bacterial cultures and phage stocks. By following these procedures, students should be able to: •Work within the sterile field created by the Bunsen burner flame. •Use serological pipettes without compromising instrument sterility.• Aspirate liquids with serological pipettes, precisely reading calibrated volumes by aligning the meniscus formed by the liquid to the graduation marks on the pipette. •Keep culture bottles, flasks, tubes and their respective caps sterile during liquid transfers. •Identify different applications for plastic versus glass serological pipettes. •State accuracy limitations for micropipettors. •Precisely and accurately set volumes on micropipettors. •Know how to properly use the first and second stop on a micropipettor to aspirate and transfer correct volumes.
Basic Protocols, Issue 63, Microbiology, Aseptic technique, sterile field, serological pipette, micropipettors, Pipetman, cell culture, contamination
Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients
Institutions: San Paolo Hospital University of Milan, Italy.
The healthy gastrointestinal tract is physiologically colonized by a large variety of commensal microbes that influence the development
of the humoral and cellular mucosal immune system1,2
Microbiota is shielded from the immune system via a strong mucosal barrier. Infections and antibiotics are known to alter both the normal
gastrointestinal tract barrier and the composition of resident bacteria, which may result in possible immune abnormalities3
HIV causes a breach in the gastrointestinal barrier with progressive failure of mucosal immunity and leakage into the systemic circulation of bacterial bioproducts, such as lipopolysaccharide and
bacterial DNA fragments, which contribute to systemic immune activation4-7
. Microbial translocation is implicated in HIV/AIDS immunopathogenesis and response to therapy 4,8
We aimed to characterise the composition of bacteria translocating in peripheral blood of HIV-infected patients. To pursue our aim we set up a PCR reaction for the panbacteric 16S ribosomial gene
followed by a sequencing analysis.
Briefly, whole blood from both HIV-infected and healthy subjects is used. Given that healthy individuals present normal intestinal homeostasis no translocation of microflora is expected in
these patients. Following whole blood collection by venipuncture and plasma separation, DNA is extracted from plasma and used to perform a broad range PCR reaction for the panbacteric
16S ribosomial gene9
. Following PCR product purification, cloning and sequencing analyses are performed.
Medicine, Issue 52, Plasma DNA extraction, 16S rRNA gene PCR, sequencing analysis, HIV
Optimized PCR-based Detection of Mycoplasma
The maintenance of contamination-free cell lines is essential to cell-based research. Among the biggest contaminant concerns are mycoplasma contamination. Although mycoplasma do not usually kill contaminated cells, they are difficult to detect and can cause a variety of effects on cultured cells, including altered metabolism, slowed proliferation and chromosomal aberrations. In short, mycoplasma contamination compromises the value of those cell lines in providing accurate data for life science research.
The sources of mycoplasma contamination in the laboratory are very challenging to completely control. As certain mycoplasma species are found on human skin, they can be introduced through poor aseptic technique. Additionally, they can come from contaminated supplements such as fetal bovine serum, and most importantly from other contaminated cell cultures. Once mycoplasma contaminates a culture, it can quickly spread to contaminate other areas of the lab. Strict adherence to good laboratory practices such as good aseptic technique are key, and routine testing for mycoplasma is highly recommended for successful control of mycoplasma contamination.
PCR-based detection of mycoplasma has become a very popular method for routine cell line maintenance. PCR-based detection methods are highly sensitive and can provide rapid results, which allows researchers to respond quickly to isolate and eliminate contamination once it is detected in comparison to the time required using microbiological techniques. The LookOut Mycoplasma PCR Detection Kit is highly sensitive, with a detection limit of only 2 genomes per μl. Taking advantage of the highly specific JumpStart Taq DNA Polymerase and a proprietary primer design, false positives are greatly reduced. The convenient 8-tube format, strips pre-coated with dNTPs, and associated primers helps increase the throughput to meet the needs of customers with larger collections of cell lines.
Given the extreme sensitivity of the kit, great care must be taken to prevent inadvertent contamination of samples and reagents. The step-by-step protocol we demonstrate highlights the precautions and practices required for reliable mycoplasma detection. We also show and discuss typical results and their interpretation. Our goal is to ensure the success of researchers using the LookOut Mycoplasma PCR Detection Kit.
Microbiology, Issue 52, Mycoplasma detection, mycoplasma contamination, cell culture, sigma mycoplasma detection, acholeplasma contamination, polymerase chain reaction, PCR
Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Plating Methods
Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles .
Microorganisms are present on all inanimate surfaces creating ubiquitous sources of possible contamination in the laboratory. Experimental success relies on the ability of a scientist to sterilize work surfaces and equipment as well as prevent contact of sterile instruments and solutions with non-sterile surfaces. Here we present the steps for several plating methods routinely used in the laboratory to isolate, propagate, or enumerate microorganisms such as bacteria and phage. All five methods incorporate aseptic technique, or procedures that maintain the sterility of experimental materials. Procedures described include (1) streak-plating bacterial cultures to isolate single colonies, (2) pour-plating and (3) spread-plating to enumerate viable bacterial colonies, (4) soft agar overlays to isolate phage and enumerate plaques, and (5) replica-plating to transfer cells from one plate to another in an identical spatial pattern. These procedures can be performed at the laboratory bench, provided they involve non-pathogenic strains of microorganisms (Biosafety Level 1, BSL-1). If working with BSL-2 organisms, then these manipulations must take place in a biosafety cabinet. Consult the most current edition of the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
(BMBL) as well as Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) for Infectious Substances to determine the biohazard classification as well as the safety precautions and containment facilities required for the microorganism in question. Bacterial strains and phage stocks can be obtained from research investigators, companies, and collections maintained by particular organizations such as the American Type Culture Collection
(ATCC). It is recommended that non-pathogenic strains be used when learning the various plating methods. By following the procedures described in this protocol, students should be able to:
● Perform plating procedures without contaminating media.
● Isolate single bacterial colonies by the streak-plating method.
● Use pour-plating and spread-plating methods to determine the concentration of bacteria.
● Perform soft agar overlays when working with phage.
● Transfer bacterial cells from one plate to another using the replica-plating procedure.
● Given an experimental task, select the appropriate plating method.
Basic Protocols, Issue 63, Streak plates, pour plates, soft agar overlays, spread plates, replica plates, bacteria, colonies, phage, plaques, dilutions
Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum
Institutions: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Many eukaryotic cells can detect gradients of chemical signals in their environments and migrate accordingly 1
. This guided cell migration is referred as chemotaxis, which is essential for various cells to carry out their functions such as trafficking of immune cells and patterning of neuronal cells 2, 3
. A large family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) detects variable small peptides, known as chemokines, to direct cell migration in vivo 4
. The final goal of chemotaxis research is to understand how a GPCR machinery senses chemokine gradients and controls signaling events leading to chemotaxis. To this end, we use imaging techniques to monitor, in real time, spatiotemporal concentrations of chemoattractants, cell movement in a gradient of chemoattractant, GPCR mediated activation of heterotrimeric G-protein, and intracellular signaling events involved in chemotaxis of eukaryotic cells 5-8
. The simple eukaryotic organism, Dictyostelium discoideum
, displays chemotaxic behaviors that are similar to those of leukocytes, and D. discoideum
is a key model system for studying eukaryotic chemotaxis. As free-living amoebae, D. discoideum
cells divide in rich medium. Upon starvation, cells enter a developmental program in which they aggregate through cAMP-mediated chemotaxis to form multicullular structures. Many components involved in chemotaxis to cAMP have been identified in D. discoideum
. The binding of cAMP to a GPCR (cAR1) induces dissociation of heterotrimeric G-proteins into Gγ and Gβγ subunits 7, 9, 10
. Gβγ subunits activate Ras, which in turn activates PI3K, converting PIP2
on the cell membrane 11-13
serve as binding sites for proteins with pleckstrin Homology (PH) domains, thus recruiting these proteins to the membrane 14, 15
. Activation of cAR1 receptors also controls the membrane associations of PTEN, which dephosphorylates PIP3
to PIP216, 17
. The molecular mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved in chemokine GPCR-mediated chemotaxis of human cells such as neutrophils 18
. We present following methods for studying chemotaxis of D. discoideum cells
. 1. Preparation of chemotactic component cells. 2. Imaging chemotaxis of cells in a cAMP gradient. 3. Monitoring a GPCR induced activation of heterotrimeric G-protein in single live cells. 4. Imaging chemoattractant-triggered dynamic PIP3
responses in single live cells in real time. Our developed imaging methods can be applied to study chemotaxis of human leukocytes.
Molecular Biology, Issue 55, Chemotaxis, directional sensing, GPCR, PCR, G-proteins, signal transduction, Dictyostelium discoideum
Establishment of Microbial Eukaryotic Enrichment Cultures from a Chemically Stratified Antarctic Lake and Assessment of Carbon Fixation Potential
Institutions: Miami University .
Lake Bonney is one of numerous permanently ice-covered lakes located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. The perennial ice cover maintains a chemically stratified water column and unlike other inland bodies of water, largely prevents external input of carbon and nutrients from streams. Biota are exposed to numerous environmental stresses, including year-round severe nutrient deficiency, low temperatures, extreme shade, hypersalinity, and 24-hour darkness during the winter 1
. These extreme environmental conditions limit the biota in Lake Bonney almost exclusively to microorganisms 2
Single-celled microbial eukaryotes (called "protists") are important players in global biogeochemical cycling 3
and play important ecological roles in the cycling of carbon in the dry valley lakes, occupying both primary and tertiary roles in the aquatic food web. In the dry valley aquatic food web, protists that fix inorganic carbon (autotrophy) are the major producers of organic carbon for organotrophic organisms 4, 2
. Phagotrophic or heterotrophic protists capable of ingesting bacteria and smaller protists act as the top predators in the food web 5
. Last, an unknown proportion of the protist population is capable of combined mixotrophic metabolism 6, 7
. Mixotrophy in protists involves the ability to combine photosynthetic capability with phagotrophic ingestion of prey microorganisms. This form of mixotrophy differs from mixotrophic metabolism in bacterial species, which generally involves uptake dissolved carbon molecules. There are currently very few protist isolates from permanently ice-capped polar lakes, and studies of protist diversity and ecology in this extreme environment have been limited 8, 4, 9, 10, 5
. A better understanding of protist metabolic versatility in the simple dry valley lake food web will aid in the development of models for the role of protists in the global carbon cycle.
We employed an enrichment culture approach to isolate potentially phototrophic and mixotrophic protists from Lake Bonney. Sampling depths in the water column were chosen based on the location of primary production maxima and protist phylogenetic diversity 4, 11
, as well as variability in major abiotic factors affecting protist trophic modes: shallow sampling depths are limited for major nutrients, while deeper sampling depths are limited by light availability. In addition, lake water samples were supplemented with multiple types of growth media to promote the growth of a variety of phototrophic organisms.
RubisCO catalyzes the rate limiting step in the Calvin Benson Bassham (CBB) cycle, the major pathway by which autotrophic organisms fix inorganic carbon and provide organic carbon for higher trophic levels in aquatic and terrestrial food webs 12
. In this study, we applied a radioisotope assay modified for filtered samples 13
to monitor maximum carboxylase activity as a proxy for carbon fixation potential and metabolic versatility in the Lake Bonney enrichment cultures.
Microbiology, Issue 62, Antarctic lake, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Enrichment cultivation, Microbial eukaryotes, RubisCO
Polymerase Chain Reaction: Basic Protocol Plus Troubleshooting and Optimization Strategies
Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles .
In the biological sciences there have been technological advances that catapult the discipline into golden ages of discovery. For example, the field of microbiology was transformed with the advent of Anton van Leeuwenhoek's microscope, which allowed scientists to visualize prokaryotes for the first time. The development of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of those innovations that changed the course of molecular science with its impact spanning countless subdisciplines in biology. The theoretical process was outlined by Keppe and coworkers in 1971; however, it was another 14 years until the complete PCR procedure was described and experimentally applied by Kary Mullis while at Cetus Corporation in 1985. Automation and refinement of this technique progressed with the introduction of a thermal stable DNA polymerase from the bacterium Thermus aquaticus
, consequently the name Taq
PCR is a powerful amplification technique that can generate an ample supply of a specific segment of DNA (i.e., an amplicon) from only a small amount of starting material (i.e., DNA template or target sequence). While straightforward and generally trouble-free, there are pitfalls that complicate the reaction producing spurious results. When PCR fails it can lead to many non-specific DNA products of varying sizes that appear as a ladder or smear of bands on agarose gels. Sometimes no products form at all. Another potential problem occurs when mutations are unintentionally introduced in the amplicons, resulting in a heterogeneous population of PCR products. PCR failures can become frustrating unless patience and careful troubleshooting are employed to sort out and solve the problem(s). This protocol outlines the basic principles of PCR, provides a methodology that will result in amplification of most target sequences, and presents strategies for optimizing a reaction. By following this PCR guide, students should be able to:
● Set up reactions and thermal cycling conditions for a conventional PCR experiment
● Understand the function of various reaction components and their overall effect on a PCR experiment
● Design and optimize a PCR experiment for any DNA template
● Troubleshoot failed PCR experiments
Basic Protocols, Issue 63, PCR, optimization, primer design, melting temperature, Tm, troubleshooting, additives, enhancers, template DNA quantification, thermal cycler, molecular biology, genetics
A Hybrid DNA Extraction Method for the Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Bacterial Communities from Poultry Production Samples
Institutions: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Oregon State University, University of Georgia, Northern Arizona University.
The efficacy of DNA extraction protocols can be highly dependent upon both the type of sample being investigated and the types of downstream analyses performed. Considering that the use of new bacterial community analysis techniques (e.g.,
microbiomics, metagenomics) is becoming more prevalent in the agricultural and environmental sciences and many environmental samples within these disciplines can be physiochemically and microbiologically unique (e.g.,
fecal and litter/bedding samples from the poultry production spectrum), appropriate and effective DNA extraction methods need to be carefully chosen. Therefore, a novel semi-automated hybrid DNA extraction method was developed specifically for use with environmental poultry production samples. This method is a combination of the two major types of DNA extraction: mechanical and enzymatic. A two-step intense mechanical homogenization step (using bead-beating specifically formulated for environmental samples) was added to the beginning of the “gold standard” enzymatic DNA extraction method for fecal samples to enhance the removal of bacteria and DNA from the sample matrix and improve the recovery of Gram-positive bacterial community members. Once the enzymatic extraction portion of the hybrid method was initiated, the remaining purification process was automated using a robotic workstation to increase sample throughput and decrease sample processing error. In comparison to the strict mechanical and enzymatic DNA extraction methods, this novel hybrid method provided the best overall combined performance when considering quantitative (using 16S rRNA qPCR) and qualitative (using microbiomics) estimates of the total bacterial communities when processing poultry feces and litter samples.
Molecular Biology, Issue 94, DNA extraction, poultry, environmental, feces, litter, semi-automated, microbiomics, qPCR
Monitoring Plant Hormones During Stress Responses
Institutions: University of Texas.
Plant hormones and related signaling compounds play an important role in the regulation of plant responses to various environmental stimuli and stresses. Among the most severe stresses are insect herbivory, pathogen infection, and drought stress. For each of these stresses a specific set of hormones and/or combinations thereof are known to fine-tune the responses, thereby ensuring the plant's survival. The major hormones involved in the regulation of these responses are jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), and abscisic acid (ABA). To better understand the role of individual hormones as well as their potential interaction during these responses it is necessary to monitor changes in their abundance in a temporal as well as in a spatial fashion. For the easy, sensitive, and reproducible quantification of these and other signaling compounds we developed a method based on vapor phase extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis (1, 2, 3, 4). After extracting these compounds from the plant tissue by acidic aqueous 1-propanol mixed with dichloromethane the carboxylic acid-containing compounds are methylated, volatilized under heat, and collected on a polymeric absorbent. After elution into a sample vial the analytes are separated by gas chromatography and detected by chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The use of appropriate internal standards then allows for the simple quantification by relating the peak areas of analyte and internal standard.
Plant Biology, Issue 28, Jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, abscisic acid, plant hormones, GC/MS, vapor phase extraction
Transformation of Plasmid DNA into E. coli Using the Heat Shock Method
Institutions: University of California, Irvine (UCI).
Transformation of plasmid DNA into E. coli using the heat shock method is a basic technique of molecular biology. It consists of inserting a foreign plasmid or ligation product into bacteria. This video protocol describes the traditional method of transformation using commercially available chemically competent bacteria from Genlantis. After a short incubation in ice, a mixture of chemically competent bacteria and DNA is placed at 42°C for 45 seconds (heat shock) and then placed back in ice. SOC media is added and the transformed cells are incubated at 37°C for 30 min with agitation. To be assured of isolating colonies irrespective of transformation efficiency, two quantities of transformed bacteria are plated. This traditional protocol can be used successfully to transform most commercially available competent bacteria. The turbocells from Genlantis can also be used in a novel 3-minute transformation protocol, described in the instruction manual.
Issue 6, Basic Protocols, DNA, transformation, plasmid, cloning
Purifying Plasmid DNA from Bacterial Colonies Using the Qiagen Miniprep Kit
Institutions: University of California, Irvine (UCI).
Plasmid DNA purification from E. coli is a core technique for molecular cloning. Small scale purification (miniprep) from less than 5 ml of bacterial culture is a quick way for clone verification or DNA isolation, followed by further enzymatic reactions (polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion). Here, we video-recorded the general procedures of miniprep through the QIAGEN's QIAprep 8 Miniprep Kit, aiming to introducing this highly efficient technique to the general beginners for molecular biology techniques. The whole procedure is based on alkaline lysis of E. coli cells followed by adsorption of DNA onto silica in the presence of high salt. It consists of three steps: 1) preparation and clearing of a bacterial lysate, 2) adsorption of DNA onto the QIAprep membrane, 3) washing and elution of plasmid DNA. All steps are performed without the use of phenol, chloroform, CsCl, ethidium bromide, and without alcohol precipitation. It usually takes less than 2 hours to finish the entire procedure.
Issue 6, Basic Protocols, plasmid, DNA, purification, Qiagen
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"Healthy Forests" money for LA area National Forests
lhfotoware at hotmail.com
Wed May 12 16:56:10 EST 2004
May 12, 2004 Los Angeles Times
U.S. Funds Project to Cull Dying Trees
The $70-million plan will help cut fire risk in the San Bernardino
By Hugo Martín
Times Staff Writer
San Bernardino County and federal conservation officials approved a
$70-million project Tuesday to remove thousands of dead and dying
trees from the San Bernardino Mountains, the biggest effort so far to
clear timber that could fuel another deadly firestorm.
The agreement is part of a $120-million package approved by Congress
to clear swaths of dead forest that could ignite and threaten the
lives of up to 90,000 residents in San Bernardino, Riverside and San
Diego counties, according to authorities.
The counties are not required to match the funding.
"This is the most amount thrown at this forest or any other forest in
a long time," said Greg Boll, president of the Big Bear Valley Fire
Safe Council, a nonprofit volunteer organization.
"It will make a huge difference in what is being done on the ground."
Efforts to remove the dead trees gained new urgency after a wildfire
swept through the San Bernardino Mountains last fall, leading to eight
deaths and destroying more than 1,000 homes and other structures.
The $70 million approved for San Bernardino County will pay to remove
an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 trees over the next three years, federal
officials said. The remaining $50 million in federal money will be
used for similar fire prevention efforts in Riverside and San Diego
Under the agreement with San Bernardino County, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service will hire contractors to clear dead trees on
private property where the hazard is greatest. The land includes
wooded areas along roads and evacuation routes, and property next to
homes, schools, hospitals, utility lines and power plants.
San Bernardino County fire officials already have met with residents
to select the areas that will be cleared first.
The first trees removed under the program could come down as early as
June 1, officials said.
Federal officials acknowledge that the funding approved Tuesday is
only a fraction of what is needed to reduce the threat.
As many as 12.5 million, or 36%, of the region's 35 million trees are
dead or dying, according to the most recent aerial surveys of the San
Bernardino National Forest conducted in September before last fall's
The fires charred more than 91,000 acres in San Bernardino County, but
destroyed only 7% of the dead trees. Making matters worse, fire
protection groups say, is that the beetle infestation has continued to
In the San Bernardino Mountains alone, forestry officials estimate it
could cost at least $1.2 billion over the next 10 to 12 years to
remove enough dead trees to eliminate the threat to residential
Comment by poster: Should the nation pay for the LA Basin's
"preservationism"? Apparently so. Of course, this money will be
"stolen" from other National Forests, which also needs the funding.
Are these LA Forests worth saving, since they are already on the brink
from drought, air pollution and global warming? Personally, I do think
good things can be done there to save parts of those forests. I also
think it's too late to "restore" those forests to what residents (and
the eco-media...specifically the LA Times) wanted it to be like. It is
imminently inevitable that a mega fire will take out whole towns and
make the Old Fire look like a BBQ.
Larry, forest prophet
More information about the Ag-forst
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I remember attending a play date once, at the house of a two-year-old boy, and being absolutely amazed when I witnessed him discard his used disposable plate. The little boy’s mother told me that Jack, too, would soon learn to do little tasks like this, and she was right. Even at a young age, your children can, and usually want to, help with little chores around the house. Just remember to ask, and be patient.
When my twin girls were just babies, I taught Jack to bring me what I needed during changing, and to throw away all of the used diapers after I finished. Although Jack was only 16-months-old when the girls were born, he was able and excited to help out.
During the last few months, the girls have also taken pride in throwing away their diapers, or whatever other trash they find. Just beware, if your children get in the same habit, they just might throw away items that aren’t trash (like one of your red Tom’s shoes).
Other ways that children can help:
- Clean, using natural cleaning supplies
- Put drinks back on the table or counter
- Pick up toys
- Put away books
- Clean up the tub after bath time
- Help make snacks
- Put shoes in order
- Dust, with just a rag
- Pair socks
- Fold wash clothes
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Open editor, drag your excel from your computer and release over the editor
Yup i tried but it prompts that new user cannot upload any attachments. I upload the excel file onto a web sharing file platform instead.
Hope this helps.
Oh @WadeShon you are new user I didnt see sorry, welcome then, that easyupload access denied ok, just take a screen shot of one sheet And do the pasting here
So @WadeShon from your excel sheet you want to create seperate two sheets one for CHARIZARD and another for BLAISTOISE
Yes correct. Usually what I do is i will set the range up to specific cells and then copy to a new worksheet.
However, it will not work this time round, because I am getting a different worksheet daily. What i mean is for example, today CHARIZARD have 6 rows and BLASTOISE have 12 rows to copy over. Tomorrow it may be 18 and 26 rows, the next day may be 32 and 48 rows, so on and so forth.
So I am thinking if there is a way to copy everything from CHARIZARD down to page break, paste it on a new workbook, then continue the same for BLASTOISE.
The logic what needs to be done for creating these 2 sheets is
For Charizard: - do read range (dtCharizard) with a table in between CHARIZARD and BLAISTOIS keyword row index value. i.e
A(rowIndex_CHARIZARD): M(rowIndex_BLAISTOISE - 1)
For Blaistoise:- do read range (dtBlaistoise) with a table in between BLAISTOIS and end of the excel rows) i.e
Finding the rowIndex_CHARIZARD, rowIndex_BLAISTOISE and TotalCountOfDt
dtMain is datatable of your main excel after doing a
rowIndex_BLAISTOISE =dtMain.Rows.IndexOf(dtMain.AsEnumerable().Where(Function(row) row(0).ToString.ToLower.Contains(“blaistoise”)).ToArray()(0))+1).ToString
Note: Check row index by putting message box and adjust in the range.
Thank you so much! What you have mentioned makes perfect sense to me and I believe it can work.
Let me try it out and I will let you know the results. Really appreciate your help!
Sure @WadeShon if that works fine then mark this as a solution
I have tried your previous method and it works for the sample file, but i realised that it will not work for my actual process. Let me explain with an attachment.
Games.xlsx (22.2 KB)
Every day, this report will be generated, and you can see that there is Game 1, Game 2 etc, up to Game 13.
However, it is not guaranteed that there will be Game 1 to Game 13 in the report every day. On certain days, some Games may be missing. As you can see in my excel file, Game 3 and Game 4 is not inside.
My task is to find each Game, copy everything until the break, paste into a new workbook and save to a desktop folder, and repeat.
If there is a missing Game for that day, the script should skip that Game and continue running for the rest. I was thinking of looping but not sure how to do so.
Here below is the solution for your query. 11 days before same issue has been solved.
Refer the below thread for the same. Just make changes as per your excel file.
Mark as solution and like it
Er Pratik Wavhal
Please find this xaml file , just store to a folder and run
main.xaml it will generate all game tables inside
OutputFilesGames folder. Anotations written inside will help you to understand the workflow
WadeShon.zip (22.7 KB)
let me know if anything else needed
Thanks for the solution. I tried running the script and it works! But i was just informed of new requirements again .
Instead of generating all game tables immediately, I will need to follow this template: Template.xlsx (12.4 KB)
That means i need to generate the game table inside the template, exclude:
- Column M (as the template has a new column M)
- Game Title (i.e. Game 1, Game 2 etc.)
- Game Reference (i.e. 101A, 102A etc.)
In gist, is to copy from S/No onwards, excluding the 2 rows above which contains the game title and reference.
After generating the game tables inside the template, i will need to password protect the file. The password needs to be read from an excel file: Password.xlsx (9.2 KB)
Once it is password protected, then it is saved to the OutputFilesGames folder.
This will be the whole process flow. Sorry for the trouble caused, and really appreciate your help in this
Your template is blank
Row 1 - 6 will have certain words/pictures that is relevant to the game (the details on what to use is not confirmed yet, thus i left it blank).
What i need to do is copy S/No to A7, 1 to A8, 2 to A9, 3 to A10, and Record Type into B7, Game Type into C7, so on and so forth, until L.
@WadeShon Check this Workflow :
I think I was able to use the template and Append the Data Starting from A7. The Splitting and recognising of different tables in Excel is working based on the Game Number (Game 1, Game 2 etc…) So this is a required data in the excel to separate.
I have not used any extra Activities for this, only UiPath related activities.
Check the Output Folder Execute the Workflow. All files should be generated in the Ouptut folder.
If it is not the expected one, please explain a bit more in detail.
Split Excel Tables Into Separate Sheets.zip (31.3 KB)
Also This does not Protect the Excels using Password. There are a few ways of making it possible using Balareva activities such as below one :
Refer my solution and do changes as below
- You can modify my read range of particular sheet from A:L instead of A:M
I have used
+2 to start from SLno row because your
rowIndexOfGameStart will give the row index of
Read range your Password.xlsx and name it as dtPassword and use link query to
getPasswordForSheet by sending Game=game1 or game2 etc which you get the name in the loop
Now you have fetched the Dt of the game then do write range starting cell with A7.
While saving excel protect the using the password you have got in step 2. Protecting of excel you can try if you get any solution in other forums by using custom activities or using VB.net code
You try it, If you still wanted XAML file then let me know I will implement and send you.
@Vishal_K hi, I tried to edit it but can’t seem to work
Are you able to implement it in the xaml file and I can go through from there to understand it? Thanks in advance!
Refer to this XAML
WadeShon.zip (39.3 KB)
- It will read your template and write the game data over it and copy to the output folder
- Also, it will set password reading from Password template to each game excel files
Find the output screenshots below (It write ranges on your template the way it is formatted)
This topic was automatically closed 3 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
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PLEASE NOTE: The article presented here has been stripped of its footnotes. In most cases the footnotes which accompany the article are extensive and offer important guidance to substantiating evidence and further reading. This article should not be cited from the reduced version offered on this web site, but from the full version published in ByzAus vol. 10.
Through the Tunnel with Leontius of Jerusalem: The Sixth-Century Transformation of Theology
When one thinks of the sixth century in relation to the ages before and after it, an image springs to mind: the eastern Mediterranean world approaches the sixth century as a train approaching a tunnel. Even allowing for the usual qualifications, it is recognizably a late-antique train – the Christian late-antique, by this time, but late-antique nonetheless. At the other end of the tunnel the train emerges and, though it is patently the same train, it has become, again with all the usual qualifications, a recognizably Byzantine train. The interesting question is “What happens in the tunnel”? What, to put it differently, is it that ends in that tunnel, what is it that begins there, so that a new age can emerge?
The project undertaken here is to try to answer this question for one aspect of the sixth century only, its engagement in the peculiar discourse known as theology. Let us be careful here: we are not talking about theology as doctrine, but as a kind of discourse, a way of thinking and talking about the world. Let us be careful, too, to admit the inevitable overemphasis on the one moment, the mid-sixth century, implied by the choice of Leontius of Jerusalem as the single example to illustrate the argument. Leontius is a good choice: as can be concluded from the close resemblance between his position and the one espoused by the eastern Church, shortly after his withdrawal from theological controversy, at the Fifth Council of 553, he is representative of the main characteristics of dogmatic theology in the period. Nonetheless, many of the changes he is here taken to represent have their origins in the fifth century. He represents not so much a single moment of decisive change as the single moment at which the decisive quality of changes already under way becomes most clearly apparent.
What we want to do is locate the set of interrelated pivotal points on which changes in the discourse – transformations in the ways in which theology functions – turn during this period. The argument made here is the following: (1) that the central point on which all of these transformations ultimately turn has to do with a radically new attitude towards the authorities theology uses; (2) that this new privileging of certain authorities leads to transformation in the literary constructs theology employs, in the historical constructs it creates, in the kinds of argumentation to which it resorts, and in the understanding it comes to have of its own abilities; and (3) that the end results of these changes are, on the one hand, a radically altered and scholastic kind of discourse within the realm of dogmatic theology and, on the other hand, a situation ripe for theology’s turning to the other realms, specifically the spiritual and liturgical, characteristic of the new age of Byzantium.
To see the sixth-century transformations clearly, it is helpful to consider what things looked like in dogmatic theology before the tunnel. For the age of the church fathers, theological discourse was about the meaning of the biblical revelation, and its authorities were biblical texts. It took place in the context, and out of the ongoing liturgical and community experience of life in the Church. The language, the conceptual framework, was often provided, admittedly or unadmittedly, by the ancient discourse of philosophy, widely construed. These three poles – the Bible, ecclesiastical experience, and “philosophy” – can be used fairly to locate theological discourse in the first centuries. Nothing ever remains static, of course. Councils like Nicaea and the First Council of Constantinople excluded some approaches that had formerly been open, and never again after the third century would there be quite the daring and range of an Origen. (Not that Origen admitted or claimed that he was using philosophy, any more than did Gregory of Nyssa. The point is that such theologians, nurtured by the ancient paideia, could adapt the categories and patterns of thought of pagan philosophy virtually without being aware of what they were doing, so natural did it seem to do so, and so clearly did that conceptual set seem to be, not a construction, but simply the objective way of seeing the world.) Then too, the fourth-century condemnation of Origen spelled a sharp turn away from admitted and confident use of “philosophy” in the theological enterprise, at least at Alexandria (a major shift not yet, one might think, adequately remarked). (This shift, though a turning away from philosophy, did not imply an escape from its categories or way of thinking, but rather a turning away from the tradition within which theologians were educated in the tradition that had created them, and so from a fully learned and easy use of them. Theologians who used philosophical categories in the fifth century and thereafter would not be as capable of using them clearly and consistently as were the theologians of the third and fourth centuries.) Nonetheless, the battle between a Cyril and a Nestorius in the fifth century was prosecuted more or less within the familiar terms of patristic theology: each still claimed that his position most adequately represented the truth of biblical revelation and of Christian experience in the Church; each used, though not necessarily admittedly, the categories of the philosophical tradition to present the dogmas of theology. This is not Byzantine theology.
To begin our task, we turn now to a detailed study of Leontius of Jerusalem, and particularly of his Contra Monophysitas. Not a frequently-utilized source, Contra Monophysitas provides a rich insight into theology as it was engaged in in the period, since it represents an argument in process between Leontius (a Melkite) and an anonymous monophysite opponent. It cites extensively from the opponent, so that we have bits of his argument and his citations from authorities, as well as Leontius’ own argument and authorities.
Note what comprises the heart of the argument, for here lies the key to theology’s transformation:
We know [says the monophysite] what the patristic tradition is in so many words, i.e., the “one incarnate nature of God the Word”, in accordance with holy Athanasius and Cyril, but you speak of a foreign saying, which we find expressly set down by the fathers nowhere, namely “two natures” …
The monophysite rejection of Chalcedon, in short, is a rejection of what they see as a betrayal of the tradition in the introduction of a non-traditional formula, Nestorius’ “two natures”. They see themselves as the loyal defenders of the traditional christology enunciated by the great champions of orthodoxy in the Arian and Nestorian controversies, Athanasius and Cyril, and will never agree to accept such a novelty.
From this monophysite’s point of view, the Melkite side is wrong because it ignores the really important patristic texts and their genuine context:
Why [he demands] do you fly all over the patristic texts like bees, anthologizing only the parts of the texts that please you, and continually buzz around us with them, but fly right past the parts that are hostile to your ideas, secretly shying away from them?
Leontius has no choice, in the face of such an attack, but to argue that his position is really the traditional one, and it is precisely the attempt to demonstrate that his side represents the tradition rightly interpreted that takes up the rest of his time in Contra Monophysitas. He states quite clearly the position he is arguing:
Really, the patristic sayings which, in your view, agree with your dogmas, rather recommend ours, when they are properly examined according to their intended sense …
By the time of this exchange between Leontius and his anonymous opponent, the argument has been going on for generations.
Generations of arguing that one is loyal to the traditions, though, leave their mark: the tradition that thus functions as the reference point for orthodoxy comes to be valorized as the reference point for orthodoxy. That is, if you prove your orthodoxy for generations by showing that you are true to the teaching of the fathers, then you cannot help but assume more and more that the fathers are the standard of orthodoxy to whom one must prove one’s faithfulness to be orthodox. Or, to use the metaphorical terms employed by Leontius and his opponents, if you have for generations claimed to suck the nectar of true doctrine from the glorious spiritual meadow of the fathers, then you can hardly help thinking that the fathers are the “one fount of divinity”. Leontius of Jerusalem and his monophysite opponent inhabit the same theological space: for them, the “patristic tradition” is the privileged authority for theological discourse. This is something quite new for theology.
It is thus the monophysite-Melkite debate which transforms theological discourse by privileging patristic texts as the sole functional authorities in doctrine and so making them the centre of the discourse. This is the single most important transformation to take place in theology in this period, and it is the pivotal point on which all other transformations turn. Its implications for what theology becomes are enormous, and at its door can be laid the fact that dogmatic theology becomes such a reduced discourse within Byzantium, seeing itself as a mere exegete and expositor of the truth formulated by the great ones of the past. No wonder, then, that theologians turned to the more fruitful fields of spiritual and liturgical theology. Moreover, insofar as they continued to do dogmatic theology, this transformation led them to do so in an extraordinarily convoluted way.
For instance, this new and unprecedented privileging of the patristic tradition as functionally the authority for theology requires an address to the patristic past so that it can actually function in this way. That address has to be radical, for a past that is the single authority will have to speak with one unmistakeable voice on each matter of doctrine. For the past required by the sixth century it will have to be the case, as Leontius of Jerusalem puts it, that “None of the ‘select’ fathers is at variance with himself or with his peers in respect of what is intended as the meaning of the faith …”. The sixth-century requires, that is, a reliable way of presenting a monolithic patristic tradition of doctrinal teaching, one so monolithic that every “father” speaks with exactly the same voice, so monolithic that no “father” ever changes his mind.
Notice that the very humility of sixth-century theological discourse before the revered tradition disguises its very powerful and active role in constructing the past for its purposes. This requires several kinds of activity: the development of a characteristic literary form within which the tradition can be “captured”; the creative task of selecting the texts to capture in that form so as to “represent” the tradition; and in general the reconstruction of the tradition by the various means required to make it presentable within the terms the sixth century conceives as necessary for it. It should be noted that there is a convoluted quality, a proceeding by indirection, implied in such activities, since the creative role is disguised by the claimed humility and objectivity of “merely” representing the fathers.
The new literary form the sixth century takes up to meet these needs is the florilegium, and the sixth century is the century of the florilegium. A florilegium is, by its very definition, a selection, a bouquet of texts. To select certain texts is also to privilege those texts, since the texts selected have to represent the whole tradition of the fathers. The decision about who represents the tradition, then, and about which texts of the selected authors represent them, is a highly sensitive one, though of course the very claim that the selection is intended to represent the tradition implies the denial of any creative reshaping of the tradition that might be involved.
About seventy per cent of Leontius of Jerusalem’s Contra Monophysitas is florilegium material of one kind or another. In fact, it contains several florilegia, one, as has been mentioned, from his monophysite opponent, but also two of Leontius’ own which can be taken as representative of how sixth-century Melkite theology uses the genre. A florilegium is organized to cover a topic. For his first florilegium, Leontius chooses texts that address the topic “What is Christ, who is adored by us”? Part of what may be seen as the scholasticism that is emerging as the characteristic new theology of the period involves this tendency to see the task of theology, denied at least publicly the opportunity actually to formulate doctrine, as organizational: the diffuse writings of the fathers can be distilled into their “key” texts on each of several theological topics, divorced from their place in a very different kind of theological discourse. Another kind of organization involves the choice of theologians to stand for the tradition. In Leontius’ first florilegium the central names stand out with stark clarity, since only they are represented: Athanasius, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzen, Cyril of Alexandria. These same names form the obvious core of the second florilegium, entitled “What kind of a union the fathers call the union in Christ”. The core is expanded by extensive quotations from other fathers, in particular “John Chrysostom” – the name is put in quotation-marks because it is not the authentic Chrysostom, but Ps. Chrysostom , who is the most often represented here. This last fact is important, since no real representative of the School of Antioch is represented directly, and the only quasi-Antiochene Chrysostom is misrepresented. Some very interesting and important flowers get left out of the bouquet – the negative implications of selection are as important as the positive – and the garden is not, then, fully represented by the bouquet that results. The tradition of which Leontius sees himself as the humble exegete is thus already, by selection alone, a radically reconstrued tradition. It will be but a short step to the Three Chapters controversy and the Fifth Council’s radical excision of the School of Antioch not only from the citations of the florilegia, but from the ranks of orthodoxy and (if conciliar anathemas mean anything) of heaven itself.
The first florilegium is particularly interesting as an example of how the new kind of theological discourse achieves a reconstruction of the tradition within the florilegium form. It sets out very brief texts from its select fathers, in which there is no context provided, not even a complete sentence, but just what Leontius chooses to describe as “descriptive definitions of Christ”. There is, for instance, Basil’s “divinity making use of animated flesh”. Such pieces of passing insight on a father’s part have become, by the process of selection, technical definitions. Moreover, certain things follow from these definitions, and not just individually but also collectively. “If”, says Leontius, ” those who defined these things agree in their ideas both with themselves and with each other” – an assumption, as we have seen, that he holds to be axiomatic – then conclusions follow that are binding in theology. “What other conclusions can you reach about what to think from these sayings”, asks Leontius rhetorically, “than that two natures of Christ have been united in his one hypostasis?” The texts of the fathers have for him an authority that requires consent to what a judicious process of selection can lead one to believe is their single, agreed teaching. It is, though, a concealed activity of theological construction that has turned the texts of the fathers into that single teaching.
Clearly the literary construction that is the florilegium is also a historical reconstruction, and the humble theology of the sixth century is not quite so humble as it understands itself to be. We have already seen that texts that once existed as parts of a father’s extended thinking on various issues have been lifted out of their contexts, elevated to the status of theological definitions, and weighted with an authority their authors never dreamed of. Within the conservative form a considerable creative activity thus takes place. Leontius can, of course, claim all this is simply the humble process of exegeting the tradition, merely the representation in an abbreviated and convenient way of its inner and harmonious theological position.
That this is not quite the case becomes clear when we address more directly the most convoluted aspect of the new discourse, namely forgery. When Marcel Richard undertook the first serious modern study of the florilegia of the period, he was appalled at the historical “errors” he found in them, particularly in the florilegia of Leontius of Jerusalem. Among the errors Richard noted were the following: texts that are so brief as to mislead the reader as to their meaning; texts that are misleadingly taken out of context; texts that present themselves as direct quotations, but which are (sometimes misleading) paraphrases; many texts falsely attributed (for instance, a text of Cyril attributed to Gregory; astonishingly, texts of Severus attributed to Cyril and Athanasius; even more astonishingly, a text of Theodoret of Cyrus attributed to Justin Martyr); many pseudonymous texts presented as authentic (I have noted the use of Ps. Chrysostom, but there are also citations from Ps. Gregory of Nyssa, Ps. Ephrem of Syria, and Ps. Cyril of Jerusalem); and several otherwise unknown texts of dubious authenticity.
To Richard, Leontius of Jerusalem was simply guilty of poor research. He misses the point. Leontius, like his contemporaries, was actually quite capable of determining an historically authentic text, as his very incisive critique of some Apollinarian forgeries used by his opponent in the latter’s florilegium demonstrates. The simultaneous ability to dismiss evident forgeries in an opponent, while maintaining equally evident forgeries as authentic in one’s own florilegia, is a phenomenon of the sixth century, widely evident even in that great monophysite theologian, Severus of Antioch. Leontius is clearly able, by means of these “forgeries”, to create a more consistent and satisfying image of the patristic tradition in his florilegium than would otherwise have been possible. His “Chrysostom” is more of a neo-Chalcedonian than the historical Chrysostom; his Cyril is consistently in favour of admitting two natures, unlike the historical Cyril. Precisely because he holds that the fathers were entirely consistent and never changed their minds, Leontius must present them as consistent. Significantly, when Leontius and others allow themselves to observe what they do with the fathers, the image that occurs to them is that of the good sons of Noah, who cover their father’s nakedness by walking backwards with their eyes averted. That is, the reconstruction of the past is denied by the very people who are reconstructing it in a more seemly image of consistency and orthodoxy!
There is another new literary feature of theological discourse in the sixth century, the emergence of aporetic argument as a major part of theological discourse. There is probably no modern reader who can approach with delight this particular feature of the sixth century, and no doubt it was this aspect of Leontius of Jerusalem’s writing – almost one third of whose Contra Monophysitas, and all of whose voluminous Adversus Nestorianos are made up of aporetic argument – that led Richard to describe him as “almost unreadable”. This unpleasantness perhaps explains, too, why so little note is taken of what the emergence of aporetic argument implies.
There are two important things to be said about the aporetic argument of Contra Monophysitas as revealing of the changes in the discourse taking place. In the first place, aporetic argument can be seen as in some ways ancillary to the argument implied in the florilegia. In the second place, aporetic argument must be understood in terms of a negative function, which is to expose inconsistency. In some cases, to take up the first point, it can be seen that Leontius’ aporiae at the beginning of Contra Monophysitas turn on the very terms used in texts of the monophysite florilegium that he attacks, providing a different forum from direct attack on the interpretation of texts for showing that they must have been misunderstood, since so understood they lead to inconsistencies. On the second point, all of the aporiae are intended to demonstrate internal inconsistencies in the opponent’s presentation of the tradition. For Leontius, the fundamental inconsistency of all inconsistencies is the monophysites’ maintenance of the notion of Christ as “one incarnate nature” while at the same time admitting that this oneness is “from” or “out of” two natures, since the oneness and the duality are being posited, in a verbally contradictory way, of the same entity, Christ’s nature. The implication is always that Leontius’ own vocabulary, using hypostatis for union, and nature for difference, is the proper vocabulary for maintaining the consistent christology of the fathers.
Here Leontius is the voice of rationality, insisting on a coherent vocabulary for christology, though his is, of course, the humble rationality of the scholastic. Aporetic argumentation as it takes place in Contra Monophysitas is really just another facet of the scholastic task, parallel to the activity of organizing texts into florilegia: the goal is really the same, the elimination of inconsistencies and the arrival at a fully consistent and uniform expression of what was established by the fathers.
Quite a different view might seem to be implied by Leontius of Jerusalem’s second known work, Adversus Nestorianos. The extensive clever arguments here might be taken as revealing a confident kind of theological discourse proud of its ability to apply philosophical and scientific definitions to theology. The scribe who leaves us the manuscript of Leontius’ corpus, perhaps for this reason, calls Leontius “the all-wise monk”. This would not be a perceptive way to read the evidence. In Adversus Nestorianos, Leontius is faced with the aporiae posed by an anonymous Nestorian opponent who thinks there are both two natures and two hypostases in Christ, and who seeks to show the inconsistency and irrationality in Leontius’ maintenance of a simultaneous difference and union in Christ. It is the Nestorian who raises the endless arguments about what all differences and all unions known to human experience rationally must entail. What in his view they must entail is, of course, that things cannot be both the same and different. Theologians like Leontius, as he sees it, must confuse the two natures if they will insist on a single hypostasis.
Here we are dealing with quite a new situation, the situation of a typical sixth-century Melkite theologian up against a highly articulate adversary who lives outside the world we have been discussing., with its assumptions – shared by Melkite and monophysite alike – about the tradition and its finality for doctrine, and about the humble role that theology must assume. This Nestorian opponent is willing to formulate doctrine boldly and in radically new ways – even to assert the new doctrine of two hypostases. Whoever this theologian is, he is extraordinary.
In confrontation with this kind of brash and confidently rationalistic understanding of theological discourse, our very ordinary Leontius reveals a good deal about theological discourse as he understands it. His defence in Adversus Nestorianos does indeed struggle to meet the adversary on his own ground, to establish the consistency and rationality of his, Leontius’ view. Usually, though, he employs a form of the argument “There are exceptions in nature to your universal statements about unions, so that what you assert need not necessarily apply to the christological union”. This is not a confident use of reason, but rather a rearguard action. What is most striking is the fact that, when he finally gets around to expounding his own view, Leontius is frequently driven to insisting on the uniqueness of the christological union, on the way it transcends normal rational categories. “All of your shoots spring from one and the same impious root”, he says. “The similarity in your aberrations lies in this: the unexpected mixing up with all things of the God who is above all things.” That is, the rules of rational discourse which enable generalizations about unions of one kind or another in the created realm cannot be applied to the unique case of a union that God the Word chooses to engage in with a human nature. The Melkite understanding of a union by hypostasis in Christ, asserted in Contra Monophysitas as the uniform and consistent teaching of the tradition of the fathers, and defended in the aporiae as free of logical inconsistencies, acquires here a more fundamentalist cast: it is simply what the fathers assert, and therefore it is true; it is, the fathers tell us, what God chose to do, and since he is God it is possible for Him, no matter how impossible it might seem to be under the general rules by which unions within the created realm take place, and which reason can infer from observation of such unions.
The Incarnation of the Word, Leontius characteristically asserts at such junctures, is incomprehensible. What is new and significant here is not the use of this concept per se, but rather the fact that the incomprehensibility of God is used as a principle to defend a theological position presumed to be inherited from the past. In a certain sense, this concept’s use marks the nadir of sixth-century theology’s self-understanding: in that self-understanding, the dogmatic heritage of the fathers is true, and must be accepted humbly, even though it can really be neither understood nor defended in rational terms, simply because the authorities teach it. The implications of the argument in Adversus Nestorianos is thus the very opposite of what it might seem to be at first glance. This is not a celebration of the power of rational discourse to apply philosophical insights in theology at all; it is, rather, the abdication of the very task – that exercise of reasonable understanding to comprehend and formulate doctrine about God’s claimed saving activity as revealed in the scriptures and appropriated in experience by the Church – which defines the theological discourse of the age of the fathers.
The argument presented here has attempted to show that, in some important ways, the monophysite-Melkite debate transforms the nature of theology by the sixth century. The relatively open and creative discourse that theology was in the age of the fathers is abandoned in favour of a discourse for which dogma has been established by the fathers, and which sees its task as organizing and exegeting a monolithic doctrinal heritage in the image of monolithic consistency it has come to assume for that heritage. With the florilegium as its genre of choice for theological argument, it sees itself as conservative, as merely scholastic in scope. We have also seen, however, that it contrives to do some dogmatic theology unadmittedly. This it does by engaging in a reconstruction of the patristic doctrinal heritage; to do so, it employs devices that range from simple selection to out-and-out forgery. The ambivalences involved in such an unadmitted reconstruction give to the new discourse its peculiarly convoluted quality, a quality that marks it as clearly as its scholasticism and its characteristic use of the florilegium form. The other genre favoured in the period, aporetic argument, has been seen in Contra Monophysitas to perform only a supporting role in attacking an opponent’s florilegium, and his inconsistent vocabulary. In Adversus Nestorianos, despite the extensive use of aporetic argument in response to a confident Nestorian opponent, the low self-understanding of this new discourse is fully apparent in its willingness to accept the incomprehensibility of christological doctrine, and to abase itself before the authority of the past.
All of this then, can be said to happen in the sixth-century tunnel. To speak first of what ends in that transition through the tunnel, one may adapt Hegel’s description of philosophy, and say that “when [sixth-century theology] paints its grey in grey, then is an age grown cold”. Leontius of Jerusalem, intent on organizing, harmonizing, representing, and distilling the theology of the fathers, is clearly no longer of their age, but looking back on it. He is no longer engaged in the great theological enterprise of making and formulating doctrine that was its glory. The age of the fathers, the Christian late-antique, is over, and we can now point to specific ways in which that closure was achieved. For theology the world to which the sixth century leads is a very different world from the world it leaves behind. In that new Byzantine world there is a new kind of scholastic dogmatic discourse, understanding itself as playing the modest role of organizer and representer of the great tradition, though also, unadmittedly, reconstructing that tradition in its own image of what that tradition ought to have been. The Byzantine future, though, does not lie with dogmatic theology, but with spiritual and liturgical theology.
In part that radical shift in direction can be explained by a negative reflection about the sixth century: the aridity of the kind of dogmatic theology it introduced meant that the energies of those who wished to articulate their religious situation, no longer being permitted to do dogmatic theology in the mode of the fathers, were bound to find a venue within which they could be expressed; they found that venue in spiritual and liturgical theology such as that offered by the Dionysian forgery.
A final suggestion can be made about another and more positive point of connection in the dogmatic theology of Leontius with the spiritual/liturgical theology that emerged. That point is the notion of the incomprehensibility of God. If an incomprehensible God cannot be apprehended rationally, through dogmatic theology, then is not the ground prepared for an approach which asserts the possibility of apprehending such a God experientially, through liturgy and spirituality?*
[*A highly speculative way to put it would be to suggest that Christianity absorbed only partly the deep pessimism of the second-century philosophers about human reason's ability to grasp the divine. They took the point about the necessity of theurgy, but claimed that they possessed a complete theurgy in the form of the self-revelation of God through Jesus Christ recorded in scripture. On its basis they proceeded to construct a theology just as confident of its claims to comprehend ultimate reality rationally as was Plato at his most optimistic. Is it any accident, though, that the deepening pessimism of the sixth-century theologians about rationality in theology should have coincided with a new and more complete appropriation of Proclus' philosophical pessimism about rationality in the form of the Ps. Dionysian forgeries? In them lies a renewed sense of the urgent need for theurgy, not in the quasi-rationalistic form of revelation, but in the direct experience of the divine through the liturgy and the hierarchy of the Church. One of the tantalizing aspects of the whole question is the part played by John of Scythopolis, a theologian closely identified with Leontius of Jerusalem, in establishing the "authenticity" of the Ps. Dionysian corpus through his scholia. Does the notion of ineffability appealed to by Leontius of Jerusalem provide some insight into how John of Scythopolis held his "neo-Chalcedonian" = Melkite christology together with his Dionysian sympathies?]
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Botox® Treatment for Excess Sweating
Austin has its share of humid summer weather which results in the whole city bathed in a blanket of sweat. However, excessive sweating is a serious and real medical condition affecting 7.8 million people in the United States. Overactive sweat glands can limit clothing choices, ruin fabrics, run up dry cleaning bills and cause embarrassment in social situations. Excessive sweating occurs in different parts of the body including underarms, palms of the hand, soles of the feet or scalp area. Many patients have tried using clinical strength antiperspirants to stop sweat, but have found them to be ineffective.
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If you suffer from excessive sweating, call us today at (512) 402-6694 to set up a consultation and treatment.
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The story of Conservative party conferences and soft furnishings has not always been a happy one. Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher once glowered at each other from matching Ikea chairs.
That didn't stop George Osborne leading a clunky informal chat this afternoon with a series of "ordinary people" and party spokesmen.
He didn't quite say "I'm glad you asked me that" but tough questioning this was not.
"How's this coming along, Theresa?" he asked the shadow transport secretary, Theresa Villiers, about a campaign. Guess what: it was going well.
Osborne even blushed after asking one patsy question of the shadow business secretary, Alan Duncan, turned to the hall and said: "I already know the answer by the way."
The model was GMTV: informal chat and real-life stories.
But if the Tories thought they were doing something new, they were wrong. Rewind to the party's first ever party election broadcast, back in 1951, starring the shadow foreign secretary, Anthony Eden, being "interviewed" by Britain's first ever television star, Leslie Mitchell.
The pair tried to look relaxed and asked each other unchallenging questions. Hail to Anthony Eden, the scriptless wonder. "He needed no cues," said the Daily Telegraph, the next day.
In fact he had learnt a script by heart.
The difference is that in 1951 people still believed political spontaneity was real.
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We connect to equal expressions with an equals sign to show that their values are the same. What symbol do we use to show that two expressions are not equal? In this tutorial, you will learn all about the not equal sign, including what it looks like, and when to use it.
Source: Video created by KirstinMilks
Sophia's online courses not only save you money, but credits are also eligible for transfer to over 2,000 colleges and universities.*
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Ok, this looks like the right place for this question:
Does a ship's total mass affect Warp drive? Let's say I have a freighter and I load the hull full of stuffed teddy bears and my warp drive's maximum speed to Bajor is Warp 5. Let's say I then pack the hull full of Bajoran granite counter tops. Will I need bigger warp engines to go warp 5 to Bolarus? Will it consume more fuel? Do I only loose acceleration? If mass has no effect, what stops someone from warping a proton mass into a planet? Are Warp engines sizes strictly dependant on ship volume? Is the Warping of space and the forward movement of the ship separate functions?
I've gone to several sites looking for this answer, but it appears there is no canon answer, so what I am really looking for is what would make the most sense to you?
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Bangkok, May 20, 2014--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns military censorship of the media, including the forced broadcasting of martial law orders and announcements, in Thailand.
Army Commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha invoked martial law today amid rising political tension and escalating violence between pro- and anti-government protest groups in the national capital. The country's 1914 martial law act gives the army leader sweeping discretionary powers to limit civil liberties and curb press freedoms.
At least 10 cable and satellite TV stations were ordered to stop broadcasting until further notice under a public announcement by the newly created Peace-Keeping Command Center, according to news reports. The stations included ASTV, Asia Update, BlueSky, DNN, FourChannel, MFTV, MV5, P&P, Tnews, and UDD, the reports said.
The stations, some of which serve openly as mouthpieces for political protest groups, were shut down to prevent them from spreading "false information" and to "maintain law and order," according to news reports citing the military announcement. Unlicensed radio stations were also ordered to stop broadcasting, reports said.
A separate martial law announcement requires all local radio and television stations to stop regular programming upon command and broadcast military announcements, according to news reports. The order affects all government and privately run broadcast media, the reports said. More than 100 troops seized control of the two facilities of the country's sole satellite operator in Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi provinces to enforce the censorship order, the reports said.
The same order gives the military authority to ban the print media from publishing, distributing, or selling news or images that could adversely affect the PKCC's operations. The statement said the discretionary powers were necessary to ensure the public receives only "correct and accurate information." There were no immediate reports today of censorship of print or online media.
"Thailand's military has wrongly equated censoring the media with restoring stability," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative. "Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha should roll back immediately all martial law orders that aim to suppress and control the media, and refrain from censoring the press. Thailand needs more, not less, open debate about its political problems."
The media has come under fire by both sides of Thailand's conflict. On May 9, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) anti-government protesters occupied several state-owned TV stations in an attempt to stop them from broadcasting news about the caretaker government and to instead air news about the protest group's activities, according to news reports and a statement by local journalist groups. PDRC protesters have laid siege to and attempted to influence news coverage of the country's six main local free-to-air TV stations on at least three separate occasions since the group began protesting in November 2013, according to CPJ research.
On May 14, local Channel 7 news reporter Tomchan Boonsai was assaulted by a group of pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters after he filmed a group of them complaining to a broker that they had not received promised payments for participating in the rally, according to local reports. Protesters forcibly confiscated the video of the incident from his camera, the reports said.
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Main navigation | Main content
September 2013: Dr. Tim Laske presented an abstract at the International Conference of Bear Research and Managment, Human Cardiac Monitoring Technologies help Advance Understanding of Free-ranging American Black Bears Timothy G. Laske, David L. Garshelis, Karen V. Noyce, Mark A. Ditmer, Henry J. Harlow, Paul A. Iaizzo
February 2013: Recently published article, Wound healing during hibernation by black bears (Ursus americanus) in the wild: elicitation of reduced scar formation, was chosen by Integrative Zoology as a 2012 board pick.
February 27, 2012: David Garshelis received the Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership, in recognition of his work on global bear conservation. The award was presented by Simon Stuart, chair of the Special Survival Commission, at the IUCN meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 27, 2012.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts research on the Minnesota black bear in order to better understand the bear population, behavior, and research conservation. This research is vital to the black bear population in Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR has graciously allowed researchers from the University of Minnesota's Visible Heart Laboratory and Medtronic Inc. to accompany them in the field to gather additional information. The goal of the Visible Heart Lab's research is to develop an understanding of the behaviors and physiological parameters of these amazing animals and develop translational applications to human medicine.
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Conservative Anglican bishops have criticised their leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury, for allowing the Bible to be too liberally interpreted. Talks have been opened in Jerusalem at the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), a meeting for conservative Anglican leaders. BBC News Website readers on either side of the divide have sent in their views.
Click here to read the main story
WHAT THE LIBERALS SAY
As a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church of the US I am saddened by what is happening. My denomination, or part of it, is telling me that I, as a gay man in a 15 year relationship, am not welcome in the Church. I do not understand how these conservative priests can speak with any more authority than anyone else. Christ challenged people who were without sin to throw the first stone at the condemned woman, yet these prelates are doing exactly that.
Andrew F. Johnson, California, US
I was just confirmed into the Episcopal Church yesterday, after years of feeling uneasy with the tensions in the Communion. But I've come to realise that, no matter what Akinola and his loud bunch say or do, we will continue to be the Church we are and help thousands of people learn that not all Christianity is hateful or divisive. Let the Communion do what it feels it is called to do; that's all we're doing.
Jake, Chicago, US
The Gafcon conference is a retrogressive step. Archbishop Rowan Williams has tried his best to deal with the sexuality issue in a manner that promotes dialogue, listening and inclusiveness. The Anglican Church has always stood for reason, pluralism and tolerance, which is why I am an Anglican. I am deeply distressed by the action of the Bishops who encouraged Gafcon and who plan to boycott the Lambeth conference. This is just not the Anglican way.
Rohan Edrisinha, Colombo, Sri Lanka
If the Church is about love, then unity is key. But unity does not mean sameness. A healthy community can accept difference and disagreement within itself. One of the strengths of the Anglican Communion is the diversity of spirituality and approaches to the Biblical text it has within itself. It would be sad to see such richness broken up into competing factions by demands within certain wings of the communion. The Bible also does not push for such certainty, as it says itself, 'we see through a glass darkly'. I think that leaves room for grace.
Peter Manning, Leamington Spa, England
WHAT THE TRADITIONALISTS SAY
I am a member of the US Episcopal Church. I believe the Archbishop of Canterbury is the leader of the communion but only in a pastoral capacity. What he suggests, we do not have to obey. He is too liberal. I am a conservative in biblical leanings but realise we all may serve Christ in differing beliefs.
Caroline Smoogen, S Carolina, US
I agree with the traditionalist Anglican bishops. It is either what the Bible says or nothing. The Gafcon conference has the support of true believers of the word of God not only from the Anglican church but worldwide. It is a shame that the third world is now teaching the western world what true Christianity means. I am happy there are lots of people standing on the Lord's side, and they must surely survive.
Anen Nwadukwe, Lagos, Nigeria
This time the Traditionalists are right. I do admire the Archbishop of Canterbury and the mantle he has to carry but he has to remember he represents Christians and Christianity as in the Bible. Too often we human beings alter the Bible and their meanings for our convenience. We need to take a stand in our beliefs as Christians - the Bible does categorically state the Christian stand on gays and I am sure these Biblical quotes include gay bishops and priests.
Yeside, United Kingdom
In my opinion, the Church of England will divide. There will be one Church which advocates its own moral compass and priorities, based on its desire to be influenced by 'worldy' wisdom. There will be another Church which refuses to rewrite the Bible, and whose desire is to reflect the character of its founder - Jesus Christ. This latter Church will be considered divisive and unloving by the former. However, there cannot be unity without purity, agreement without holiness. Only the Church which chooses to serve the true God can understand and recognise the voice of God. For such a Church there are extremely tough times ahead.
David Meseg, Liverton, England
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Issues / Drugs
There are good reasons to be cynical about the return of the PRI in Mexico. Even so, when it comes to human rights in Mexico, there's plenty of room for improvement.
Obama will need to recast a foreign policy that has been weak or downright contradictory in standing up for the principles he himself has espoused
In the foreign policy debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, expect these issues to get short thrift.
Mexican families touched by the drug war have brought their Caravan for Peace to the U.S., laying the groundwork for a binational peace movement.
International standards for drug control are increasingly unscientific and deleterious.
Legalizing narcotics would strengthen democracy at home and abroad.
Mexico has strict gun control laws. Who knew?
In an attempt to improve the security of its citizens.
Momentum is building for drug law reform in Latin America.
Why was the State Department involved in a shooting of Mosquito Coast villagers in Honduras?
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Santa Cruz, Ca (PRWEB) November 14, 2012
The most common reasons for developing outside of work relate to skills improvement or acquisition, though almost half (48.5%) claim their outside development work is spurred on by personal passion or as a hobby, while almost one-third say they like the idea of creating an app, selling it, and making money on the side.
“There’s been a lot of conjecture over the last couple of years about just who are the people writing all those apps for app stores,” said Janel Garvin, CEO of Evans Data Corp. “While there obviously are specific companies focused on that space, and maybe a handful of hobbyists or students, we see lots of evidence that the bulk of those apps are being developed by the same developers who write traditional software for many types of companies as their day job.”
The North American Development Survey is part of Evans Data’s newly released Global Development Survey, an ongoing comprehensive technology survey of over 1400 software developers worldwide with regional focus on North America, EMEA and APAC. The survey covers demographics as well as platform, languages, mobile development, cloud development, high performance computing, tool purchasing, app distribution, technology and tool adoption and other topics.
See complete table of contents here:
About Evans Data Corporation
Evans Data Corporation provides regularly updated IT industry market intelligence based on in-depth surveys of the global developer population. Evans' syndicated research includes surveys focused on developers in a wide variety of subjects.
Copyright 2012 Evans Data Corporation. All other company names, products and services mentioned in this document are the trademarks and property of their respective owners.
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I remembered that behavior with Solaris as well. However, this should be an anacron job. There is a text file in /var/spool/anacron/cron.weekly with the date of the last time the job was run. The files here are also owned by root. Nothing under /var/spool/cron. I have also disabled SELinux.
The script I have under /etc/cron.weekly does get installed by an rpm package I made and installed (using sudo rpm –ihv). I can’t imagine the audit system queries rpm for who installed the file?
Even if the cron is owned by root, I believe the audit records the user id of the last user to edit the /var/spool/cron/croncrontab file (or wherever your crontab is located). I have seen this using Solaris but I haven’t specifically noticed it with Linux.
I have some puzzling behavior, can anyone shed some light here?
I have a script in cron.weekly that has a command being executed which I am auditing for execve. That part seems to work fine. However, in the detailed audit report my user id is associated with the execution. Root owns the files there and ultimately root is the effective UID in the record, but why am I associated with the activity at all?
Audit version is: 2.0.4-1
Kernel version is: 2.6.32-71
I did not notice this behavior in RHEL5.
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Economics Lecture Two
One miracle is mentioned in all four Gospels of the Bible: the multiplication of the loaves and fish by Jesus to feed the crowd of thousands. It illustrates God easily overcoming a scarcity in food. Similarly, the devout Puritans overcame scarcity and created wealth under harsh conditions in New England in the early 1600s. Scarcity is no problem for God, but it can be a huge problem for those who turn away from God.
Economics is the study of the transfer of goods and services. What determines the price and quantity of goods transferred? How much must a buyer pay in order to acquire the good (the price), and how many units of the good (the quantity) will the seller be able to sell at that price?
Let's take an example. Suppose you own a candy store, and you sell chocolate candy bars. What price should you use to sell those candy bars? If you sell them for $1 each, many people will buy them. But if you charge $5 per candy bar, fewer will buy them at that price. You will not be able to sell as many candy bars at the price of $5 each. If, on the other hand, you sell the candy bars for only 10 cents per bar, you'll sell out quickly as people rush to buy the bars at that low price. It might seem like you'd be happy at selling so many, but you make much less money overall at 10 cents per bar than at $1 per bar. As the candy store owner you're worse off if you set the price at only 10 cents per bar, because you receive too little for each bar, and you're worse off if you set the price at $5 per bar, because you sell too few bars. The price at which you make the most money is probably around $1 per bar.
The above example is the sale of a good (a candy bar). The same analysis applies to the sale of services (such as a car mechanic repairing cars). People sell their time as much as they sell what they own. In this sense, "time is money" because time can be converted into money by spending that time working. You could convert 8 hours of time into about $60 by working at minimum wage.
Price of Stocks
The price of a company’s stock is a compromise between (i) the price at which people are willing to sell it (the supply price) and (ii) the price at which other people are willing to buy it (the demand price). A "sale" of the stock occurs only when the supply price equals the demand price.
Specifically, stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ (the stock exchange for new and often high-tech companies) are determined entirely by the “bid” and “ask” prices of the buyers and sellers. Someone will “bid” a certain amount to buy a stock, and a seller will “ask” for a higher price. When the bid and ask prices are equal, then a sales transaction occurs. Prices can move very quickly and unpredictably when millions of people are involved. When the overall trend of most stocks from day-to-day is an increase in their prices, then it is known as a "bull market"; when the overall trend of stocks from day-to-day decreases in price, then it is known as a "bear market." You can remember that by thinking of how bears are scary, and stock markets that crash in their prices are scary things.
As explained above, the price that a stock trades on the exchange is where the “supply” by sellers equals the “demand” by buyers. When a seller of stock asks too high a price, then there are no buyers and the stock does not trade. When a buyer of stock offers to pay too little a price, then there are no sellers at that low price and the stock does not trade. The transaction (trade) occurs only when SUPPLY EQUALS DEMAND.
This is the most basic concept in all of economics: transactions occur only where "supply meets demand." Let's discuss this further.
Supply and Demand
The supply of a good is how much of it (the quantity), and at what price, is provided by a seller of the good. Grocery stores, factories, malls, amazon.com, and candy stores all supply goods. Services, like entertainment, are supplied by Hollywood, Major League Baseball, the NFL and also doctors, lawyers, accountants, and so on. The supply side consists of the producers, providers and sellers of goods and services.
The demand for a good is how much of it, and at what price, is wanted by the public seeking to buy it. Shoppers, moviegoers, baseball and football fans, and people needing medical care, are on the demand side. Often buyers of goods and services are called "consumers".
For any given good or service, there is a supply and demand. The supply can be described in terms of the possible production of different quantities at different prices. The demand can be described separately as the willingness of the public to purchase different quantities at different prices. The price is the key to both the supply and demand side; it is the price that determines the quantity transacted.
No company can afford to build cars (supply them) if the sales price is only $1. But at a sales price of $30,000, a vast number of cars can be built. The cause is price, and the effect is quantity: the higher the market price for something, the more that manufacturers will want to make and sell it.
The demand for a good is also described in terms of price and quantity. At a given price, there is a specific quantity demanded by the public for the good. A billion people might buy a car if the price were only $1 (unrealistic). At a much higher price of $30,000, the demand drops to a quantity of millions sold (realistic). At a still higher price of more than $100,000, the demand falls much further to the range of only a few thousand that can be sold (these are the very luxurious cars, like the Lamborghini sports car shown at the right).
Because supply and demand can both be expressed in terms of price and quantity, they can be plotted on the same graph. Price (P) is on the y-axis, and quantity (Q) is on the x-axis. This is in alphabetical order: "p" for price is lower in the alphabet than "q" for quantity, and "p" appears first on the graph as one reads from left to right. Put another way, the graph is of "Ps and Qs," in that order from left to right (P on the y-axis to the left, and Q on the x-axis to the right).
The supply curve is always upward sloping: the higher the sales price, the higher the quantity that companies will produce for sale. That is because higher sales prices bring in greater revenue -- and greater profits -- to provide the incentive to increase the supply quantity.
The demand curve is always downward sloping: the higher the sales price, the lower the quantity the public is willing to buy. Few people will buy a candy bar if it costs $5: if that price is lowered to $2, then more people will want to buy it, and if its price is lowered to $1, then even more will want to buy it, and if its price is lowered to 50 cents, then the demand by the public for that candy bar will be even greater. As the price for something goes down, the demand goes up. That results in a downward-sloping demand curve: as the price goes down the slope of the curve, the quantity demanded (sought) by the public goes up (see the curve labeled "Demand" on the graph below).
The supply and demand form the most basic relationship in all of economics. They are independent of each other, but are placed on the same graph so that it becomes easy to find "equilibrium": the point where supply and demand have the same value for their price, and the same value for their quantity (the point of the intersection of their curves).
If the price is higher than the equilibrium price, then there will be unsold goods due to fewer people wanting to pay the higher price. The sellers then need to lower their price in order to sell these leftover or unsold goods, and that forces the price downward to the equilibrium price. Conversely, if the price is lower than the equilibrium price, then the sellers will not have enough goods to satisfy the higher demand by the public. The sellers will then increase their price (and their revenue) to take advantage of the higher demand. These market forces both above and below the equilibrium price are what push the final price to the point where the supply curve intersects the demand curve. At this point the price and quantity for the supply are precisely equal to the price and quantity for the demand.
The supply and demand curves usually look like this:
In the graph above, P* and Q* are the price and quantity at which the good is sold: the equilibrium price and quantity.
The point where supply equals demand can be found either by graphing the two curves and seeing the point of intersection or, if you have the equation for each curve, by solving the equations algebraically. For example, if the supply curve is P = 100 + Q and the demand curve is P = 500 - Q, then the point of intersection can be found by solving these two simultaneous equations as follows. When the P in the first equation equals the P in the second equation, then 100 + Q = 500 - Q, thus 2Q = 400, and thus Q = 200. From there you can solve for P by plugging Q back into one of the two original equations: P = 500 - 200 = 300. You can check this answer by plugging Q into the other original equation to confirm that you get the same P = 100 + 200 = 300. So the final answer -- the point where supply equals demand -- is this: P=300, Q=200.
Changes in Supply and Demand
The above model for supply and demand helps us consider the effect of changes or shifts in supply and demand. First consider an increase in demand by the public for a particular good, from demand curve 1 (D1) to demand curve 2 (D2):
An increase in demand causes the price to rise from P1 to P2. The new equilibrium is at a point with higher price and greater quantity than before. What could cause an increase in demand? For gasoline, more people driving would cause an increase in demand. For heating oil, a colder winter would cause an increase in demand. For sports entertainment, a close rivalry (as in a close pennant race between the Yankees and Red Sox) can cause an increase in demand (spectators). In all these cases, price and quantity tend to rise. Conversely, if there is a decrease in demand by the public, then the opposite is generally true: prices and quantity decrease.
Next consider an increase in supply by the producers. Suppose farmers have better weather, for example, causing more crops at the harvest. Or suppose there is discovery of huge new oil reserves underground. Or suppose a new invention, such as Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, increases the production of a good (cotton). This curve shows what happens when there is an increase in supply, from supply curve S1 to supply curve S2:
Can you interpret that? When the supply curve shifted to the right as supply increased, the price decreased but the quantity increased. The new equilibrium is at a lower price and greater quantity than before. Consumers are happier as supply increases. The discovery of new oil reserves, or inventions like the cotton gin, make consumers (the public) better off.
Laws exist to encourage greater supply, because it is good for the public. Antitrust laws, for example, make it illegal for companies to agree with each other to reduce supply.
The "Free Market"
The interaction of supply and demand is what we call the "market". The "free market" is the interaction of supply and demand without any interference or control by government. The dictionary definition states that the "free market" is "an economic market operating by free competition."
The free market drives down prices, which helps the poor enormously. It is the free market that makes the Bible and food and communications inexpensive for the poor, and which helps bring Christian missionaries to serve the poor in faraway places. The following example illustrates how the free market has made air travel available to the poor, and available to others in order to help the poor.
In the 1960s and 1970s, government set the prices for airline tickets, and only the wealthy could afford to travel by plane. Then, in 1978, Congress "deregulated" the airplane industry, which allowed the free market to set the prices based on supply and demand. The benefits were tremendous in enabling far more Americans to be able to afford air travel:
- Airfares, when adjusted for inflation, have fallen 25 percent since 1991, and ... are 22 percent lower than they would have been had regulation continued. Since passenger deregulation in 1978, airline prices have fallen 44.9 percent in real terms according to the Air Transport Association. ... [W]hen figures are adjusted for changes in quality and amenities, passengers save $19.4 billion dollars per year from airline deregulation.
The above analysis was written five or more years ago. Airline fares have fallen even more since then. That is because the free market lowers costs for everyone. Poor people can buy airline tickets now, when they could not before.
Wal-Mart is another example of this, as it provides goods at lower and lower prices for everyone. This is very helpful to the poor. Someone can have no money, or lose all his money, and yet if he tries then he can live nearly as well as the wealthiest man in the nation -- if the free market is allowed to exist to drive down prices and provide equal opportunity. Where the free market does not exist -- as in many countries of the world -- then the poor may suffer, because prices are too high and opportunities are too limited for the poor to improve their lives. Thus one of the best ways to help the poor is to provide them with the free market in order to lower prices and increase opportunities for them.
The free market can have a politically beneficial effect also. The free market is a powerful force against tyranny. Government cannot easily control and limit free market supply and demand.
So the next time you're flat broke without any job and facing a hopeless economic situation, remember this: in the United States you still have the free market on your side, the most powerful tool of all. Put it to work for you. The free market is a hardworking servant.
What Supply and Demand Are Not
In learning what something is, it sometimes helps to learn what it is not.
The preference of any single individual, such as yourself, is nearly irrelevant to the overall supply and demand. You may dislike the Yankees, but your own view is less than a "drop in the bucket" compared to the view of the public. Similarly, the opinion of the wealthiest person in the world does not affect supply and demand any more than the opinion of the poorest person can, in a free market. Wealthy people may avoid Wal-Mart, but that did not keep it from becoming the richest and most successful store in the world. Supply and demand transcend and are above the views, preferences, and buying habits of any individual or small group of people. Supply and demand are like a massive ocean that's not going to change based on what a few people do.
Notice also that the free market treats everyone fairly and equally. Supply and demand do not care about someone's status in society. The free market is independent and above prejudice. A restaurant owner makes the same amount of money from the most disliked person in society as from the most popular person in town.
Notice this too: the "market price" set by supply and demand is often unrelated to the historical cost of the good. Someone may have paid $300,000 for his house in 2006, when houses were high in value, but the market price for that same house in 2009 may be only $200,000. When that person tries to sell his house in 2009 it does not matter what he paid for it in 2006. All that matters is what the supply and demand for that house is at the time he tries to sell it.
The free market and supply and demand are similar to a sports competition. It really doesn't matter how many trophies one team may have won in prior years, or who likes which side better, or who thinks which side should win. All that matters is which team is better on game day. Likewise, all that matters to setting the price in a free market is the supply and demand at the time of sale. That may seem harsh if it causes someone to lose money, just as it can be sad when someone trains extremely hard to win a match, but is defeated in an upset by someone nobody likes. But in other ways this is fair, because it gives full opportunity for someone to do well no matter who he is and no matter where he comes from.
The important concept of “equilibrium” arises frequently in economics. It is similar to the concept of equilibrium as in chemical reactions. The term “equilibrium” means a state of balance between opposing forces. It is a settling down. In a tug of war between opposing teams, “equilibrium” would be where the rope is stationary with each side pulling an equal amount on it. But usually one side wins in a tug of war, so that is not the best example. A better example of an “equilibrium” is when you have eaten just enough to satisfy your hunger, and not too much to make you feel bloated or nauseous. You are then in “equilibrium” between hunger and overeating. If you're still hungry then you eat more; once you are "full", you stop eating until later.
“Equilibrium” is “where things are going” or where they have already arrived. Economic equilibrium is when all the imbalances in the forces of selling and buying have disappeared and a perfect balance between the sellers' desire to make more money (that's like hunger) and the buyers' desire to pay as little as possible (that's like not eating). When the market has reached a balance between these two powerful, opposing forces, then it is equilibrium. The opposing forces of the sellers trying to make money and the buyers trying to keep money are what "drive" the price to its equilibrium level, like a tug of war.
When there is perfect competition in the sale of a good or service, then the equilibrium is when the marginal revenue to the seller (the extra dollar that he charges and receives as revenue) equals his marginal cost in producing the good (the extra dollar he paid to produce the good). At that point the seller's marginal profit (the extra amount that he can keep after paying his costs) has fallen to zero and he has no incentive to produce any more goods. In other words, the supplier keeps producing more and more goods only until his marginal profit on each extra good falls to zero such that he does not make any more money by trying to sell additional quantity. The seller does not want his marginal revenue to fall below his marginal cost, because then he is losing money.
Here is an example. How long does the owner of a store keep it open at night? As long as the flow of customers into his store pays him more money (marginal revenue) than it costs him to keep the store open (marginal cost). As it gets later at night, the flow of customers declines, the owner makes less, and eventually his costs of keeping the store open will exceed the money that is being paid to him by new customers. As soon as the owner realizes that he is paying more to his workers to keep the store open than he is getting from new customers, he closes his store for the night. After a few weeks of this, the owner realizes that he usually makes money before a certain hour (perhaps 9pm), and loses money afterward. Then he puts a sign on his door telling everyone that he closes at 9pm every night. Marginal revenue exceeds marginal cost before 9pm for him (so he makes a marginal profit by staying open), while marginal costs exceed marginal revenue after 9pm (so he avoids losing money and closes his store for the night).
Example: Health Care
By far the single biggest industry in the United States is health care (medical care). It represents a massive one-sixth of our entire economy -- including annual expenditures of more than $2.2 trillion -- and costs are increasing each year. It has three major components: government-controlled (Medicare and Medicaid), insurance-controlled, and private pay or uninsured. Though many are unhappy with our system, it is the finest in the world and foreigners travel to the United States to have their medical problems treated. The survival rate for the most prevalent form of cancer in men -- prostate cancer -- is 92% in the United States, but the survival rate for that same disease in England is only 51% under its government-controlled system.
Most other countries have some form of government-controlled, or socialized, medicine. In the countries of Canada, North Korea and Cuba, it is actually illegal to pay money to a doctor to see you. You can see only a doctor paid by the government in those countries. In England, there is a two-tiered system: good care is provided to the few who can afford to pay for it, and free but inferior care is provided by the government to the vast majority who cannot afford it.
In the United States, under the free market, anyone can pay his own money for medical care at any time. But in Canada, someone with an illness is typically put on a waiting list and, depending on his age and likelihood of survival, may not see a doctor for months. In some cases, patients pass away before they obtain the treatment they need. The Canadian government sets limits on wages and prices for medical care, and that causes shortages because there is always less supply when the price is artificially lowered by government control. (Look again at the shape of the supply curve: at lower P, there is lower Q).
Lowering wages and prices prevents supply from rising to satisfy demand. Then demand is much greater than supply, and patients have to wait a long time to see a doctor. There is a lower survival rate for cancer in Canada than the United States because of the delays in diagnosis and treatment in Canada. In Buffalo, which is on the Canadian border, doctors treat many Canadians who come over the border to pay for immediate American medical care rather than wait for it in Canada.
This limiting of supply by government-set pricing causes what is known as "rationing". More people want the service (a medical operation or treatment) than is available. A waiting list is created to handle the surplus in demand over supply. But when someone has a cancer growing inside of him, delay by being placed on a waiting list can be agonizing and deadly. Quick treatment helps improve survival from cancer. In the United States, where government does not set all prices and there is not any rationing yet, the survival rate for five common forms of cancer is over 90%. Thanks to the powerful benefits of the free market, the rate of survival continues to improve in the United States.
But in Scotland, the birthplace of Adam Smith and his theory of the invisible hand that he wrote about in 1776, the survival rate from cancer under government-controlled medicine has fallen to "the worst in Europe, lagging behind countries such as Poland and Slovenia. ... Cancer experts blamed ... long waiting lists for the poor results."
A free market in health care benefits children too. The life expectancy for a child born with cystic fibrosis in the United States is 37 years, but only 27 years in Ireland under its government-controlled (or nationalized) health care.
Read the lecture, and reread any section that you did not fully understand. Complete the homework assignments through the level in which you choose to participate in this course. You can post your answers for prompt grading here: http://www.conservapedia.com/Economics_Homework , or hand them in next class. These questions are for a "free market" (when government does not control the prices and quantities).
1. Fill in the blanks in the following sentence: The supply and demand for a good determine both the _________ and ___________ at which the good is sold.
2. Suppose the price demand curve for a particular good is P = $30 - Q, where P is the price and Q is the quantity. Also suppose the price supply curve is P = $6 + Q. At which price and quantity will the good be sold?
3. When the supply of a good or service increases, such as increasing the number of oil wells, what happens to the market price of oil? Explain. When the demand for a good or service increases, such as more people driving cars that need gasoline (refined oil), what happens to the market price of oil? Explain.
4. Why do grocery stores lower the price of their fruit (such as grapes) when they have an oversupply of ripened fruit? Explain by citing the downward slope of a demand curve, and describe what happens to this fruit after the grocery store lowers its price.
5. When the New York Yankees built their new $1.5 billion ballpark, they made a decision about how many "obstructed view" bleacher seats to include. Due to the design of this new stadium, people sitting in these "obstructed view" bleacher seats would not be able to see all of the field because stadium walls or poles or other fans would block part of their view. An economist studied the "supply and demand" in the market, and developed this table:
|Price/Ticket for an "Obstructed View" seat||Supply quantity at that price||Demand quantity at that price|
|$30||1000 (the high sales price => high supply)||300 (the high sales price => low demand)|
|$8||300 (the low sales price => low supply)||1200 (the low sales price => high demand)|
(A) Given the above supply and demand (you might find it easier to graph it), how many "obstructed view" bleacher seats did the New York Yankees build, and how much does the team make from sales of "obstructed view" tickets at each game?
(B) Suppose the City of New York passed a law for a maximum price (a "price control") of $2 per "obstructed view" bleacher ticket, because politicians felt that fans should not pay more if they do not get a full view of the field. Will the obstructed-view seats sell out under this law, and will people have to wait in line in order to buy them? Would you oppose or support such a law, and why?
6. Suppose you own a restaurant, and your average customer spends $10. Suppose further that your marginal cost for each customer is $5. But in addition you have costs of $20 per hour in electricity and wages. From 6-7pm each night, you usually have about 40 customers, but then it decreases by 50% each hour thereafter as it gets later in the evening. At what time do you close your store for the night? Explain your answer.
7. Explain why waiting lists develop in countries (like Canada) where the government prohibits anyone from charging more than fixed prices for medical services, assuming that these fixed prices are lower than what the prices would be under supply and demand in the free market. (Hint: the reason is related to the effect of price controls on the supply of a good or service.)
Write an essay of about 300 words total on one or more of the following topics:
8. "Time is money." Explain. Or, as an alternative, improve on our definition of a "free market." Or, as a third alternative, explain how the free market is so much powerful than even the wealthiest people in the world.
9. Relate the supply and demand curves to the basic economic concept of scarcity. For a good that has no scarcity, such as air, are there any supply and demand curves that are meaningful? Discuss.
10. Discuss any aspect of the economics of health care.
11. How are the forces of supply and demand and the free market helpful to someone who might otherwise be an social outcast and victim of prejudice in a community? In addition or alternatively, discuss the social benefits of a "free market" more generally.
12. Compare "equilibrium" in economics to "equilibrium" in other fields (such as chemistry or physics) or in life itself (such the flow of traffic on highways), using specific examples.
- ↑ Merriam Webster's Collegiate Tenth Edition (1994).
- ↑ http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/AirlineDeregulation.html (emphasis added, citation omitted).
- ↑ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-12923478.html
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US mining, energy sectors face workforce shortage
- Article by: VICKI SMITH
- Associated Press
- March 21, 2013 - 10:02 AM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The United States isn't producing enough qualified workers to meet the future needs of the mining and energy sectors, from coal digging and gas drilling to solar and wind power, a new report says.
The report released Thursday by the National Research Council urges new partnerships to tackle the problem of retiring Baby Boomers who cannot readily be replaced. That includes a retooling of higher education to produce more young people competent in science, technology, engineering and math.
The report predicts a "bright present and future" for energy and mining jobs, with continuing demand for workers and good pay for those who are hired. But it says some industries already face labor shortages and others soon will because the nation's colleges and universities aren't cranking out graduates with the skills that growing companies need.
Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration data, for example, show 46 percent of the workforce will be eligible to retire within five years, but there are too few younger workers in the pipeline to replace them.
The oil and gas industry, meanwhile, has a workforce that's currently concentrated at both the older and younger ends of the spectrum, the report says, "creating a gap in experience and maturity" in between and making it difficult to replace retiring leadership.
The report recommends several wide-ranging solutions, including outreach efforts to improve both the public's understanding and perception of energy-producing industries such as oil and gas.
Negative perception driven by concern over pollution, environmental damage and health issues, it notes, "dissuades some from pursuing careers."
It also notes that universities are seeing a faculty shortage that could affect oil and gas, mining and geothermal employers.
"Unless this is corrected," the report says, "the nation risks losing its capacity to provide new science and engineering professionals for the workforce."
The independent, nonprofit National Research Council is the main operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences. The nearly 400-page document was authored by 14 experts from universities, government and the private sector.
It warns the higher education community that the traditional routes to degrees "do not adequately align" with industries' needs and notes "they are increasingly not affordable and accessible" for prospective students.
Community colleges are proving to be the best vehicle for delivering the technician-level, skills-based education the energy and mining industries need, the report says, offering programs ranging from one-year certifications to two-year associate's degrees.
Schools and employers should form more partnerships like those, the report said, and federal agencies should consider more research funding to schools to help drive technological innovation and develop faculty.
National Academy of Sciences: http://www.nas.edu/
© 2015 Star Tribune
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@ -- Mar 11, 2011 --
Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began has struck the north-east coast, triggering a massive tsunami.
Cars, ships and buildings were swept away by a wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude quake, which struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo.
A state of emergency has been declared at a nuclear power plant but officials said there were no radiation leaks.
The death toll is unclear, but police say 200 to 300 bodies have been found in the port city of Sendai.
At least 90 other people are reported to have died, and many more are unaccounted for.
Measured at 8.9 by the US Geological Survey, the tremor struck at 1446 local time (0546 GMT) at a depth of about 24km.
The first waves from the tsunami have reached the US mainland at Oregon, and people have been evacuated from coastal areas of that state and in California and Washington.
The first waves from the tsunami have reached the US mainland at Oregon, and people have been evacuated from coastal areas of that state and in California and Washington.
Some of the biggest waves of between 6-7ft (about 2m) would hit near California's Crescent City, predicted the US National Weather Service.
The waves earlier passed Hawaii, but there have been no reports of major damage.
A tsunami warning was extended across the Pacific to North and South America, where many other coastal regions were evacuated, but the alert has since been lifted in most parts, including the Philippines and New Zealand.
Strong waves hit Japan's Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, officials said, damaging dozens of coastal communities.
Kyodo news agency said a 10-metre wave struck Sendai, which is in Miyagi.
Japan's NHK television showed a massive surge of debris-filled water sweeping away buildings, cars and ships and reaching far inland.
Motorists could be seen trying to speed away from the wall of water.
Farmland around Sendai was submerged and the waves pushed cars across the runway of the city's airport. Fires broke out in the city's centre.
Thousands of people are being evacuated from near the Fukushima power plant, where a state of emergency has been declared. The cooling system failed in one of its reactors when it shut down automatically because of the earthquake.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said no radiation leaks at that power plant or any of the other reactors in the quake-hit zone had been detected.
In a televised address, he extended his sympathy to the victims of the disaster and said an emergency response headquarters had been set up.
The UN's nuclear agency said four nuclear power plants had shut down safely.
In Iwate prefecture, also near the epicentre, an official said it was difficult to gauge the extent of the destruction.
"Roads were badly damaged and cut off as the tsunami washed away debris, cars and many other things," said Hiroshi Sato, a disaster management official in Iwate.
Residents and workers in Tokyo rushed out of apartment buildings and office blocks and gathered in parks and open spaces as aftershocks continued to hit.
Many people in the Japanese capital said they had never felt such a powerful earthquake.
In central Tokyo, Jeffrey Balanag said he was stuck in his office in the Shiodome Sumitomo building because the elevators had stopped working.
"We're almost seasick from the constant rolling of the building," he told the BBC.
Bullet train services to northern Japan were halted and rapid transit in Tokyo was suspended, stranding many workers in the city centre.
About four million homes in and around Tokyo suffered power cuts.
27 July 1976, Tangshan, China: est 655,000 killed, 7.5
12 Jan 2010, Haiti: 222,570 killed, 7.0
8 Oct 2005, Pakistan: 80,361 killed, 7.6
31 May 1970 Chimbote, Peru: 70,000 killed, 7.9
In other developments:
A passenger train was missing in one coastal area, and a ship carrying 100 people was swept away, police told Japanese media
Fire is engulfing swathes of coastland, including homes and buildings, at Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture
A major explosion hit a petrochemical plant in Sendai; further south a huge blaze swept through an oil refinery in Ichihara city, Chiba prefecture
A dam burst in north-eastern Fukushima prefecture, sweeping away homes, Kyodo news agency reports
There were reports of about 20 people injured in Tokyo after the roof of a hall collapsed on to a graduation ceremony
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAUGHT ON TAPE: "EXTRATERRESTRIALS WALK AMONG US!"
by Anthony Bragalia
Copyright 2010, InterAmerica, Inc.
(Any use of this material, in its entirety, without permission from InterAmerica, Inc. will provoke legal action)
Over four decades ago a meeting of high-ranking military and intelligence officials, academic scholars and senior-level government scientists convened to analyze the nature of the mysterious UFO phenomena. This dynamic mix of professionals hailed from the Air Force, NASA and other esteemed organizations.
At the meeting these learned and accomplished men considered that the truth about the visiting extraterrestrial is far more disturbing than we would ever dare to imagine:
The aliens walk among us undetected! They have already inserted themselves into our culture and our world. And as you will soon hear for yourself, these stunning statements were taped, leaving no doubt about their intended meaning.
And just as our government inserts its intelligence agents into "countries of interest" by having them look and act like the target populus - the extraterrestrials would do the same. Before any open contact is made, they no doubt engage in the standard practice of learning as much about "the natives" as possible by "becoming" them!
THE AMAZING MEETING
On February 8, 1966 the civilian UFO research group NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) held a small reception in Washington, DC in honor of noted Brazilian UFO researcher Olavo Fontes, MD. Fontes was most known for his early work on the Brazil "Ubatuba" UFO case and resulting debris sample. Long defunct, NICAP was a credible research organization that counted among its members those within many professions throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
According to archived records of the organization, at this meeting there were 14 people in attendance. Many of these attendees were rather notable:
- The former Chief of Intelligence of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
- Two senior-level NASA scientists
- A retired USAF Colonel and NASA Program Manager
This meeting was (in part) recorded and had included some conversations among those that were assembled that concerned what the intentions may be of the "beings behind the UFO craft" that were being sighted in our skies.
The roster of attendees included NICAP officers and "friends of NICAP":
- Frank Bloss (Trident Missile Engineer)
- Robert Suggs, PhD (Noted Anthropologist)
- Leon Katchen (NASA Physicist later a developer of the Space Shuttle)
- Eli Bernzweig (Attorney and Ethicist)
- Frank Rawlinson (NASA Physicist later with Goddard Space Flight Center)
- Edward C. Russell (President of the non-profit English Speaking Union and early Peace and Cultural Exchange Advocate)
- Col. Howard Wright (USAF Ret., Decorated Pilot, Intel Agent, NASA Program Manager)
- Col. Howard McCoy (USAF Ret., Chief of Intelligence, USAF Wright Patterson AMC)
It is these last two attendees (and the meeting's honoree himself) who offer the most telling information about UFOs, their pilots and what they are doing here...
THE STUNNING STATEMENTS
Seated among this small gathered group was retired USAF Col. Howard Wright. Wright served as a decorated pilot in WWII, was engaged in many military intelligence missions, and later was employed at NASA as a Deputy Program Manager working on projects that were closely associated with the Air Force.
Wright made these remarkable statements about the extraterrestrial presence to his associates:
"I was in Intelligence for a long time, military intelligence. I was in the War. It is logical, not just military thinking, but as logical thinking, that there was never a successful military occupation or adventure where prior to the invasion or prior to the mass landing there were not agents sent ahead. This is standard practice. In Germany we and the British inserted Americans and we inserted British who looked like the Germans and spoke their language. In Japan we inserted them, but we had agents in their country exactly the same as we have agents behind the Iron Curtain now.
The main purpose of these people is to be as exactly like the natives as possible and yet the fact of life, the fact of military logic, the fact of cultural logic -and especially since they have not been hostile - dictates that there would be, if they are humanoid , that there can be humanoids picked out since the range of size and shape and color on this planet covers almost the entire spectrum.
"It almost dictates the fact that there would be agents of the space people, wherever they come from, living among us at the present time and having been here over the last hundred years."
Fortunately for history, someone in attendance had privately recorded parts of the meeting (perhaps unbeknownst to those in attendance) and later had stored it in the NICAP archives to be retrieved only decades later. You can hear Wright speaking to the group here:
Col. Howard Wright Discussing ET's Infiltration of Society,
From NICAP Archive:
THE INCREDIBLE IMPLICATION
Wright's comments are very insightful and make complete sense. What is equally telling is that Wright is one of two retired Air Force Colonels at this invite-only function. The other is Air Force Chief Col. Howard McCoy, a professional colleague and friend of Col.Howard Wright's. Howard McCoy was in fact a very senior-level officer in our nation's military after WWII. He was the Chief of Intelligence for the United States Air Force Air Materiel Command. He was close to the Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington and with General Curtis LeMay. McCoy was also instrumental in initiating the 1948 official government UFO study "Project Sign."
So here then we have the former head of Air Force Intelligence listening intently to his Air Force Intelligence compatriot seated right next to him in the same room speaking rather surely about the extraterrestrial infiltration of society! In fact so similar were the two Colonels that these statements on the alien reality were originally attributed to Colonel McCoy himself, but later investigation proved that the words were that of Col. Wright.
Skeptics may point out that it was McCoy who wrote in 1948 (in a document written after the Roswell crash from the year before): "I can't even tell you how much we would give to have one of those crash in an area so that we could recover what they are." But McCoy wrote this to a USAF Scientific Advisory Board Conference whose members have been shown to not all have possessed such sufficient clearance and need to know about such a crash. Either McCoy was misstating to misdirect and to protect security surrounding the issue- or he did not know at the time but later found out. Of course had such a crash event occurred, its existence would not be made known in such a general letter, circulated broadly to numbers of individuals.
Because we do not have the entire recording of this meeting that McCoy attended, we do not know precisely what he thought about Col. Wright's statements on visiting extraterrestrials "blending in" with our world. But we must wonder: Why in the world was McCoy even there in the first place?
Why was the former Director of USAF Intelligence at a private function honoring Ufologist Dr. Olavo Fontes (who had some years before studied what was believed to potentially be debris from a UFO) ?
Why was McCoy considering statements about infiltration of our world by those from another?
What was he doing there with a fellow Air Force intelligence officer and scientists from NASA?
Why was McCoy still privately obsessed by "things alien" long after he had retired from service- and decades after his Project Sign project was completed?
THEY LOOK LIKE US TO KNOW US
If the extraterrestrial has mastered the ability to traverse the cosmos by manipulating space, time and matter to its advantage- it certainly has developed advanced camouflage technologies. They can no doubt "disguise" themselves to appear human. Or perhaps they are a continuum of things human. Such a humanoid could create a semblance to us so as to appear as we do. Perhaps they know that to one day face us, their face must look like us. They may be so different that immediate assimilation would be hindered by their radically different appearance. Or perhaps they are only a few thousand years ahead of us and don't look that much different.
As our own military and intelligence professionals know, this "blending in" would allow such "visitors" to gain first-hand information on us in advance- and undetected. They would understand us more completely if they walked amongst us. Wildlife researchers also know this. They cloak themselves in bear-skin to film the behavior of bear up close. In a similar way, the extraterrestrials would "cloak" themselves to seem more like those they are observing. In this way they know us better, without us ever even knowing!
Col. McCoy himself understood about the infiltration of other lands. He was in WWII and was instrumental in capturing German enemy technologies. The former head of our nation's Air Force Intelligence probably concurred with his associate Col. Wright: The people from other planets have already immersed themselves in our own!
posted by RRRGroup at Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Russian Satellite Network could Save the Earth from Asteroid Collisions, Resulting Tsunamis
Russian astronomers have developed an innovative satellite network that would alert people when any space objects are on a collision course with the Earth. Some argue the system isn't effective and is too expensive.
A large asteroid hitting the Earth could mean the worst natural disaster in millions of years – and threaten most forms of life. A giant tsunami wave will rise, submerging coastal cities.
If a giant meteor hits land, a massive dust cloud will rise, and cause severe climate change, Director of the Space Systems Research Centre, Valery Menshikov explains. As a leading space engineer, Menshikov believes we have to do anything it takes to make sure this never happens. His team has developed IGMASS, a groundbreaking network of satellites and telescopes on different continents. The system would give advance warning of anything from space on course for a collision, meaning that action could be taken to save the Earth.
Read more: Asteroid, Tsunami threat Methane Explosions from Deep Ocean Sea Floor has Happened Before, Causing Giant Tsunamis and Worldwide Disasters --May 2010 --
6.6 Earthquake In Japan At some point we have to admit that something strange is happening- something really different that we've never experienced before. Yes, earthquakes happen every day- somewhere! However, the frequency and the magnitude of the earthquakes is far from normal. A strong earthquake hit off the eastern coast of central Japan today, rattling buildings across a broad swath of the country, including Tokyo.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, and the government said there was no danger from tsunamis. Japan's early warning system predicted the earthquake just before it hit, with public broadcaster NHK interrupting a sumo match to warn residents to take cover.
But, it's not just the earthquakes that are weird.
We are entering the fullness of the "2012 window". We are approaching not only December 21, 2012, but also the Carl Johan Calleman date of October 28, 2011 which he says is the real Mayan date. Regardless of which date you choose, there is so much exponential change going on that dates don't matter- actual and pending events do!
We've got a planet telling us that change is on the way. My trees are showing behaviors that I've never seen before. Can I attribute it to the colder than normal winter here in Houston? Maybe, maybe not. What's happening on the micro level is also happening on the macro level. The solar system is heating up, doing weird stuff. The sun of course is a major reason for the solar alterations. Is it coincidental that the massive magnetic filament on the sun that collapsed last month did so at the same time of the Chile earthquake?
There aren't plausible answers, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't seek them.
About the Author(Ernie Fitzpatrick)
As a spiritual-futurist, I have a BA degree majoring in history. One cannot know the future without knowing the past which holds clues to what is on the horizon. The world is in such a rapid expansion of knowledge that we are close to entering a tipping point that will forever change earth as we know it.
More Ernie Fitzpatrick articles in Global Rumblings Archives
@ -- January 18, 2010 -- Haiti - After Five Days trapped in the earthquake debris, a little two year old girl is rescued by our Miami-Dade County, Florida Search and Rescue Team.
Brian, (my daughter's stepson) carries the baby to her father. When he removes his helmet his patriotic Red White and Blue 'do-rag" is obvious. Red, White and Blue to the Rescue!
Sadly, the mother is still under the debris.
Can you turn the clock back, feel frisky, decrease wrinkles, get a flat belly?
Yes you can! Check it out: Safely Turn the Clock Back HEAVENLY Jerky! -- Turkey, Beef and Buffalo Disaster-Proof your Food Supplies with Healthy Long-Lasting Jerky
CHEMTRAILS DISAPPEAR? Rep. Kucinich rewrites the Space Preservation ActWell, what do you think? They're still up there - only now the term is excluded along with 'tectonic' weapons and others.
Government Bill Look Up Do a search for ChemtrailsCompare Bills HR2977 and HR3616 - Does this mean that Chemtrails and the others mentioned are 'Weapons' that are 'already developed' which are not included in the banning of space weapons?
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Tales of Escape is a Text Adventure Game about the Underground Railroad. This game was made with the Learning team at the International Slavery Museum (Liverpool) working with five students from Belvedere Academy History Club. Over a course of four weeks we created a series of scenarios, each with choices and consequences based upon the Underground Railroad, the code name for a network of secret routes, places and people that aided fugitives in the United States escape from Slave States to Free States.
The girls learned more about the transatlantic slave trade, examined objects from the museum’s handling collection and learned to use Twine. The game was officially released during Slavery Remembrance Day (23rd August)
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