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e60ba201-8f51-4670-a98a-5c0ed94b5856 | Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | technology | historical_context | Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a Pervasive Developmental Disorder associated with developmental differences in the brain, including changes in the size of some brain regions and differences in the number of cells in certain parts.To begin to understand how autism comes about, we need to know how the brain develops, from before birth to adulthood. We also need to know why children's brains are so susceptible to change. This vulnerability is both bad and good news. The bad news is that children's brains are more vulnerable to damage from environmental factors than those of adults. The good news is that children's brains (and even those of adults) can be altered with targeted experience. That's what learning is all about!
- Autism is a Pervasive Development Disorder.
- Babies initially grow "too many" neurons and synapses, which are then pruned back to the appropriate number.
- Children's brains are more vulnerable to environmental factors than those of adults.
- Different parts of the brain often develop at different times.
- Social skills, including language, develop during critical periods of development.
All brain regions and neural circuits develop at the same time in development.
Different brain regions often develop at different times.
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e208db22-4c1d-4130-8c1c-950f646e9e3a | Dialogue: Mathematical Proofs Applied | mathematics | proof | ## Dialogue: Mathematical Proofs in Applied Business **Participants:** * **Sarah (The Pragmatist):** Focuses on immediate results and practical application. * **Mark (The Theorist):** Interested in the underlying mathematical rigor. * **Chen (The Bridge Builder):** Tries to connect theory to real-world business scenarios. --- **Sarah:** I was reading this proposal for optimizing our supply chain logistics, and they kept mentioning "mathematical proofs" for their routing algorithm. Honestly, it feels like overkill. Can someone explain why we need a *proof* for something that just needs to work efficiently? **Mark:** That’s a fair question, Sarah, but the proof is actually the *guarantee* that it works efficiently, not just that it *seems* to work well on a few test cases. In pure math, a proof establishes absolute truth under given axioms. **Chen:** Right. In business, we often deal with optimization problems—finding the best way to allocate resources, minimize cost, or maximize profit. These problems, like the Traveling Salesperson Problem that Sarah mentioned, can get incredibly complex very fast. **Sarah:** So, when they say they proved the algorithm is optimal, what does that actually mean in dollar terms for us? Does it mean it will *always* find the absolute lowest cost route, even if the variables change slightly? **Mark:** Theoretically, yes. If the proof is sound, it means the algorithm belongs to a class of solutions—say, it’s proven to be an "NP-hard" solution that is guaranteed to converge to the global optimum, not just a local one. **Chen:** Let me give a clearer business example. Think about setting prices for a new product. We could use trial and error—a bit of A/B testing. That’s empirical. But if we use a model based on established economic theory—like game theory models—and that model is mathematically *proven* to predict consumer response under certain conditions, we gain a much higher degree of confidence. **Sarah:** Okay, I see the distinction between testing and proving. But what if the real world doesn't match the model? Our delivery trucks hit unexpected traffic, or our suppliers suddenly raise prices. Doesn't the proof become instantly obsolete if the input parameters shift? **Mark:** That’s where the application gets tricky! The proof usually applies to the *model* itself, assuming the inputs are perfect according to the model's definition. So, the proof guarantees the *logic* is sound. If the model says, "If traffic is zero, this is the fastest route," the proof confirms that statement. **Chen:** Exactly. The breakthrough understanding here is separating the *mathematical model* from the *real-world data feeding it*. We need proofs to ensure the model isn't fundamentally flawed. If the model is proven robust, then when performance dips, we know the problem is likely in the *data input* (the traffic data was bad, or the cost estimate was wrong), not in the core optimization logic. **Sarah:** Ah! So, the proof validates the *engine*, and we use empirical testing and monitoring to validate the *fuel* we put into the engine. That makes much more sense for risk assessment. If the logic is unproven, we’re flying blind. **Mark:** Precisely. For example, in financial modeling, if you’re using a complex derivative pricing model, you absolutely need proofs showing that the stochastic calculus underlying it is correctly applied. Otherwise, a small, unproven assumption could lead to catastrophic valuation errors, which is far worse than a slightly inefficient delivery route. **Chen:** So, to summarize for the logistics proposal: We aren't paying extra for abstract math. We are paying for the assurance that the system *cannot* produce a result worse than the proven optimum, given the constraints defined in the model. It shifts our risk from algorithmic failure to data failure. **Sarah:** I think I get it now. It’s about building a foundation of certainty in the decision-making tool itself, even if the real world remains uncertain. Thanks, Mark and Chen. That clarifies why the engineering team insists on that level of rigor. | 0.7 | medium | 5 | 872 | [
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6429d487-0a3b-45d8-b53a-8d61fceec9ac | time last year, space | science | research_summary | This time last year, space enthusiasts all over the world were eagerly awaiting photos of Pluto. As NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft zipped toward its July 2015 flyby of the Pluto system, every image it sent home was the best, clearest image we’d ever seen.
And one of the first features that emerged — the first sign that Pluto was something other than an icy, dead world pocked with craters — was its heart.
And as our images cleared up, it became apparent that Pluto’s heart — a large frozen plain informally known as Sputnik Planum — was something worth exploring. It was void of impact craters, which is a sign that some kind of geological process resurfaced it fairly recently. Instead, the plain was peppered with mysterious polygonal shapes between six and 38 kilometres in diameter.
Data from the short flyby is still being beamed back to Earth, so we’re being treated to amazing, unprecedented pictures of Pluto and its moon Charon. And according to a pair of papers published Wednesday in Nature, that broken, frozen heart might still be “beating” — replenishing itself so often with new ice that it could be one of the youngest surfaces in the solar system.
“For the first time, we can determine what these strange welts on the icy surface of Pluto really are,” William B. McKinnon of Washington University, who led one of the studies, said in a statement.
Based on models made by the two research teams, the mysterious polygons of Pluto’s heart are actually rising bubbles created by some kind of heating system below. Throughout Sputnik Planum, a layer of mostly nitrogen ice — likely several kilometres deep in some spots — is being heated ever-so-slowly by the scant convection of sluggishly decaying radioactive elements inside the dwarf planet.
On Pluto, “solid” nitrogen is actually quite malleable, and can flow viscously. As the flowing frozen nitrogen slowly warms up, parts of it rise up to the surface like blobs in a lava lamp. Over time, these bubbles cool down and sink to the bottom again — leaving room for new bubbles to rise and take their place. The researchers say they believe that these cells sometimes fuse together in sets before they sink down, which could help create some of the more complex line work observed on the planum.
They believe the resulting bubbles reform every 500,000 to one million years or so. In geological terms, that’s quite rapid — especially for a world so far from the sun’s energy.
“We found evidence that even on a distant cold planet billions of kilometres from Earth, there is sufficient energy for vigorous geological activity, as long as you have ‘the right stuff,’ meaning something as soft and pliable as solid nitrogen,” McKinnon said in a statement.
And this process would do a perfect job of smoothing over any crater marks inflicted on Pluto’s surface in the intervening years, explaining how its heart has stayed so pure.
“Not only is it the heart of Pluto, it’s the beating heart,” McKinnon told National Geographic. “There are actually things happening. If we were to come back in 100,000 years, the pattern would be markedly altered.”
The two papers agree on quite a lot, which makes a much stronger case for these beating-heart bubbles than a single paper could on its own. The only major point they disagree on is how deep the nitrogen reserves under these bubbles go, which could make a big difference in how much nitrogen covers the planet.
“Sputnik Planum is one of the most amazing geological discoveries in 50-plus years of planetary exploration,” New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern said in a statement.
Exactly how much nitrogen is flowing beneath Pluto’s icy heart — and what that means for the history of the little world — remains to be seen. With any luck, we’ll soon have another mysterious dwarf planet to look at: New Horizons is already on track to visit the Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69 on New Year’s Day, 2019. Pending extended funding from NASA and a whole lot of luck, the team could see similarly shocking geological processes on that alien world. | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 889 | [
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0663fd9a-6e4b-4505-b5fc-886356907099 | Fox in a Trap | interdisciplinary | concept_introduction | Fox in a Trap
Daniel looks forward to helping his Uncle Peter set traps for the foxes that have been plaguing the family farm, until the discovery of a severed fox paw makes him seriously question what he and his uncle are doing.
- 1990 Jane Resh Thomas, Troy Howell
Choosing a Book Format
EPUB is the standard publishing format used by many e-book readers including iBooks, Easy Reader, VoiceDream Reader, etc. This is the most popular and widely used format.
DAISY format is used by GoRead, Read2Go and most Kurzweil devices.
Audio (MP3) format is used by audio only devices, such as iPod.
Braille format is used by Braille output devices.
DAISY Audio format works on DAISY compatible players such as Victor Reader Stream.
Accessible Word format can be unzipped and opened in any tool that supports .docx files. | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 200 | [
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709a0597-6135-4d2e-9aeb-5827ee9ae13c | country governed under constitution | social_studies | historical_context | The country is governed under the constitution of 1978. The monarch of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, represented by the governor-general, is the head of state. The government is headed by the prime minister. The unicameral National Parliament has 50 members, all elected by popular vote for four-year terms. Administratively, the Solomon Islands are divided into nine provinces and the capital territory. | 0.5 | high | 4 | 85 | [
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1acb943d-80e3-4cb9-9541-bd96e00c130b | Chapter 5 Answer Key Essay | interdisciplinary | research_summary | Chapter 5 Answer Key Essay
Test Bank II
Sensing the World: Some Basic Principles (pp. 172-177)
1. Contrast the processes of sensation and perception.
2. Distinguish between absolute and difference thresholds, and discuss research findings on subliminal stimulation.
3. Describe the phenomenon of sensory adaptation, and explain its functional value.
Vision (pp. 177-188)
4. Explain the visual process, including the stimulus input, the structure of the eye, and the transduction of light energy.
5. Discuss the different levels of visual information processing and the value of parallel processing.
6. Explain the Young-Helmholtz and opponent-process theories of color vision, and describe the …show more content…
Absolute thresholds, p. 173 Medium, Conceptual, Objective 2, Ans: c
10. Although Mandume was sitting right next to his parents, he smelled a skunk minutes before they did. Apparently, Mandume has a lower ________ for skunk odor than his parents have. a. accommodation level b. tolerance level c. absolute threshold d. olfactory saturation level e. feature detector
Absolute thresholds, p. 173 Difficult, Conceptual, Objective 2, Ans: a
11. If an adult develops cataracts, his or her ________ threshold for light is likely to ________. a. absolute; increase b. difference; decrease c. absolute; remain unchanged d. difference; remain unchanged e. absolute; decrease
Signal detection, p. 173 Easy, Conceptual, Objective 2, Ans: c
12. An exhausted forest ranger may notice the faintest scent of a forest fire, whereas much stronger but less important odors fail to catch her attention. This fact would be of greatest relevance to: a. the Young-Helmholtz theory. b. opponent-process theory. c. signal detection theory. d. frequency theory. e. place theory.
Signal detection, p. 173 Medium, Conceptual, Objective 2, Ans: e
13. The fact that fear may increase your sensitivity to an almost imperceptible pain stimulus is of most relevance to: a. place theory. b. frequency theory. c. the Young-Helmhotz theory. d. | 0.55 | high | 4 | 491 | [
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c8833cf4-1823-4f59-aee4-ecc8ada019da | lambda calculus, foundational system | technology | worked_examples | The lambda calculus, a foundational system in mathematical logic and computer science, often presents subtle conceptual hurdles for newcomers. While its elegance lies in its simplicity, certain aspects can be easily misinterpreted, leading to fundamental misunderstandings that hinder deeper comprehension and application. ### Misconception 1: Lambda calculus is just a fancy way to write functions. * **Why it occurs:** Learners often approach lambda calculus with a pre-existing understanding of functions from imperative or object-oriented programming. They expect functions to have side effects, mutable state, or explicit variable declarations and assignments. Lambda calculus, by contrast, is purely functional and declarative. * **Example of error:** A common mistake is trying to express an imperative loop or a state update directly. For instance, attempting to model a variable `x` that increments by 1 using a construct that mimics `x = x + 1` would fail because lambda calculus has no assignment or mutable state. A student might write something akin to `let x = 0; let increment = \y -> y + 1; x = increment(x)` and expect `x` to change. * **Correct understanding:** Lambda calculus defines computation as the evaluation of *expressions* involving *abstractions* (functions) and *applications* (function calls). There are no side effects; every expression evaluates to a value. Functions are first-class citizens, meaning they can be passed as arguments, returned from other functions, and assigned to variables (though these are just names for expressions). The core operations are: * **Abstraction:** $\lambda x. E$ (a function that takes an argument `x` and returns the expression `E`). * **Application:** $(F A)$ (applying function `F` to argument `A`). * **Beta-reduction:** $(\lambda x. E) A \rightarrow E[x/A]$ (substituting `A` for all free occurrences of `x` in `E`). * **How to remember:** Think of lambda calculus as a system for *describing* computations, not *executing* them with side effects. It’s about the *structure* of computation and the *meaning* derived from substitution, akin to how mathematical identities are manipulated. ### Misconception 2: Lambda calculus is computationally equivalent to Turing machines for all practical purposes. * **Why it occurs:** The Church-Turing thesis states that lambda calculus and Turing machines are equivalent in their *computational power* – they can compute the same set of functions. This leads to an overgeneralization that their *computational behavior* or *expressiveness* is identical in all contexts. * **Example of error:** When designing a programming language or analyzing algorithm complexity, one might mistakenly assume that the ease of expressing certain constructs or the performance characteristics will be identical. For instance, directly translating a Turing machine's tape manipulation to lambda calculus can be cumbersome and inefficient, obscuring the algorithmic elegance that lambda calculus excels at for recursive definitions and higher-order functions. A student might try to implement a complex state machine directly on a simulated tape, missing the opportunity to leverage lambda calculus’s strengths in functional composition. * **Correct understanding:** While computationally equivalent in terms of *what* can be computed, their *mechanisms* and *strengths* differ. Turing machines are excellent for modeling sequential, state-driven computation with explicit memory access. Lambda calculus, particularly with extensions like type theory, excels at expressing recursive structures, higher-order functions, and parallel computations more naturally. For example, representing data structures like lists or trees and performing operations on them is often more idiomatic and elegant in lambda calculus than simulating them on a Turing machine's tape. * **Key distinction:** Focus on the *computational model*. Turing machines are about state transitions and tape manipulation; lambda calculus is about function application and substitution. The Church-Turing thesis confirms they cover the same *computable functions*, but the *path* to computation and the *expressive power* for certain paradigms can vary significantly. ### Misconception 3: All lambda calculus expressions are reducible to a normal form. * **Why it occurs:** Many introductory examples in lambda calculus focus on expressions that *do* terminate and reduce to a unique normal form (a form where no more reductions are possible). This leads to the assumption that all well-typed or syntactically valid lambda expressions will eventually terminate. * **Example of error:** Consider the Y-combinator, a key construct for achieving recursion in lambda calculus. While it allows for recursive definitions, its direct application can lead to non-terminating computations if not used carefully. An expression like `(λf. f (f x)) (λf. f (f x))` will infinitely expand if `f` is a function that never terminates. A student might expect every lambda expression, like `(λx. x x) (λx. x x)`, to resolve to a single, final value, failing to recognize the possibility of infinite reduction. * **Correct understanding:** Not all lambda calculus expressions terminate. The existence of non-terminating computations is a fundamental aspect. Expressions that reduce to a normal form are terminating. This concept is crucial in the study of computability and the halting problem. The Y-combinator, for instance, enables recursion by providing a fixed-point operator, but the specific function it is applied to determines whether the computation terminates. * **When it applies/doesn't:** This applies to *terminating* lambda calculus expressions. It *doesn't* apply to expressions that represent infinite loops or non-terminating computations, which are a valid and important part of the lambda calculus's expressive power. **Red Flags**: * Thinking of variables as containers that hold values that can change. * Assuming a lambda function will "do something" in terms of output beyond its defined return value. * Expecting all lambda expressions to resolve to a single, final answer. * Confusing the *equivalence of computational power* with *equivalence of computational mechanism or ease of expression*. **Self-Check Questions**: * Can a lambda calculus function have a side effect? Why or why not? * If I have a Turing machine that can compute a function, can lambda calculus also compute it? What if I have a lambda calculus expression that computes a function, can a Turing machine compute it? * What is the difference between a terminating and a non-terminating lambda calculus expression? **Prevention Strategies**: * **Embrace Substitution:** Constantly practice beta-reduction by hand. Understand that computation *is* substitution. * **Study Functional Programming Languages:** Languages like Haskell, Scala, and OCaml are heavily influenced by lambda calculus. Implementing concepts in these languages can solidify understanding of pure functions and immutability. * **Explore Type Theory:** Type theory, especially with extensions like System F, provides a more structured and often more practical framework for working with lambda calculus, helping to manage complexity and prevent certain types of errors. * **Focus on the "Why":** Understand the historical context and motivations behind lambda calculus – to formalize computation and the concept of function. This helps in appreciating its abstract nature. | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 1,496 | [
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9fb8d10d-df85-4135-92f4-4c01d5379607 | BY JUDY CARMACK BROSS | technology | data_analysis | BY JUDY CARMACK BROSS
Many years ago, only twenty of the funniest looking birds around returned each winter to the Gulf Coast wetlands of Texas near Rockport. These five-foot-tall white whooping cranes from Canada were on the brink of extinction due to unregulated hunting and reduction of their habitats. Rockport—and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where they nested—were names known principally to ornithologists and Houstonians who built second homes along its sparkling beaches.
Photographs of horrific Harvey have changed all of that. Rockport, of course, felt the first unbelievable destruction of this tropical storm. The scenes of suffering are unbearable for those of us who feel helpless and far removed.
Somehow, the survival of the whooping cranes brings hope to Texans like me this week. While they can often appear to be walking on stilts and their honks sound hilarious, when whooping cranes catch the wind in flight they soar with rare beauty.
One of my parent’s proudest accomplishments was helping to save the whooping cranes. My father, George Carmack, was the editor of the crusading Houston Press, a champion of lost causes for the public good. My mother, Bonnie Carmack, who had been a reporter before she married my father, served as his co-pilot in many adventures, researching and photographing.
The desperate fate of the whooping crane became a challenge to both of them, and we spent many weekends during my childhood in Rockport working on the story of the cranes. I do think my parents started the conservation efforts that saved the cranes through editorial campaigns in the Houston Press urging for expansion of the wetlands and to stop the hunting of the cranes and instead start tracking their migrations.
Today, there are 603 whooping cranes, many of which return each winter to Rockport from the Wood Buffalo National Park in northeast Alberta. Their antics provide delight for the large numbers of tourists and birdwatchers who come with the regularity of the cranes.
To attract mates, whooping cranes jump up and down, flap their wings (that stretch to over seven feet long), and then loudly announce their intentions. They like lots of space, sometimes each family marking off a mile of mudflats as their personal territory.
Many people know of whooping cranes because of an airplane that created a new migrating flock, traveling from Wisconsin to Florida and back each year. The International Whooping Crane Recovery Team used an ultra-light aircraft as a teaching tool to show young cranes how to migrate without the assistance of adult birds—truly a mother ship.
The only whooping cranes living in the wild today are the ones near Rockport. Tourists and residents come to see them on boats that ferry visitors to their habitats.
Beautiful homes line these causeways around Rockport, and restaurants feature some of the best shrimp around. Harvey hit Rockport first and with full force.
A Los Angeles Times reporter who visited the area a few days ago said that homes resemble pancakes, that everything that is still standing now leans. Crazy Mary’s, the shrimp restaurant beloved by everyone, has distributed 2,000 meals of comfort food from an outdoor station. The Rowdy Maui gift shop, one of the few buildings still standing, has a sign out front saying “Rockport Strong.” The whooping cranes are still in Canada, but one resident is feeding Cheetos to a sea gull with a broken wing.
The whooping cranes will return to Rockport in November, bringing their story of hope. In the meantime, Rockport residents, known for their resilience and spirit, are working together to rebuild the community—one person told an old man whom he fed that it was not a hand out, but a hand up.
I imagine how my father would have found a way to swim, boat, or otherwise find his way to the Houston Press to tell the story of what is happening in Houston right now because outstanding journalists really do feel a higher call.
Bonnie and George would be in Rockport, praising its residents for their courage, waiting for the cranes—always our symbol of hope—to arrive. | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 845 | [
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7743fa79-4d2f-429d-91d9-a6fb3f52432a | Choosing right medical professional | life_skills | historical_context | Choosing the right medical professional can be difficult and will vary depending on your day-to-day health status. Below is a brief list of medical professionals you can visit for a variety of health issues:
Primary Care Practitioner (PCP) is a medical professional whom you can go to for routine ailments, preventive care, general medical advice, and appropriate referrals. The primary care provider for most people is a medically trained family practitioner, an internist, or a pediatrician.
Conventional or Allopathic medicine, or traditional Western medical practice, is based on scientifically validated methods and procedures and involves the application of the scientific method; cause and effect.
Complementary medicine and alternative medicine; unconventional practices used alongside or instead of conventional medicine. Examples include chiropractic’s, massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal remedies.
Other PCP include
Osteopath: general practitioner who receives medical training similar to MD , but is more involved in musculoskeletal focus than internal focus.
Nurse practitioners are professional nurses with advanced training obtained through either a master’s degree program or specialized nurse practitioner program. They have the authority and training to conduct diagnostic tests and prescribe medications (in some states). Nurses may also earn the clinical doctor of nursing degree (ND), a doctorate of nursing science (DNS or DNSc), or a research-based doctorate (PhD) in nursing.
Physician assistants must work under the supervision of a physician and are legally permitted to prescribe drugs in all states.
Nurses are highly trained and strictly regulated practitioners who provide a wide range of services including patient education, counseling, community health and disease prevention information, and administration of medications.
Licensed registered nurses (RN) have completed either a 4-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree (BSN) or a 2-year associate degree program.
Licensed practical or vocational nurses (LPN or LVN) have completed a one- to two-year training program.
Ophthalmologist holds a medical degree and can perform surgery. An optometrist evaluates visual problems but is not a trained physician.
Podiatrist: specialize in care of the foot; extensive training similar to MD; can prescribe and perform surgery.
Dentists are specialists who diagnose and treat diseases of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity. Orthodontists are specialists in the alignment of teeth. Oral surgeons perform surgical procedures to correct problems of the mouth, face, and jaw.
Questions are the Answer
Whichever health care professional you choose to visit, your health depends on good communication. Asking questions and providing information to your doctor and other care providers can improve your care. Quality health care is a team effort. You play an important role. One of the best ways to communicate with your doctor and health care team is by asking questions. Because time is limited during medical appointments, you will feel less rushed if you prepare your questions before your appointment.
- Your doctor wants your questions.
- Doctors know a lot about a lot of things, but they don’t always know everything about you or what is best for you.
- Your questions give your doctor and health care team important information about you, such as your most important health care concerns.
- That is why they need you to speak up.
Health facilities are places that provide health care. They include hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers and specialized care centers, such as birthing centers and psychiatric care centers. When you choose a health facility, you might want to consider
- How close it is
- Whether your health insurance will pay for services there
- Whether your health care provider can treat you there
- The quality of the facility
Quality is important. Some facilities do a better job than others. One way to learn about the quality of a facility is to look at report cards developed by state and consumer groups.
Look for a hospital that:
- Is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
- Is rated highly by the State and by consumer groups or other organizations.
- Has a lot of experience and success in treating your condition.
- Monitors quality of care and works to improve quality.
In choosing a nursing home or other long-term care facility, look for one that:
- Has been found by State agencies and other groups to provide quality care.
- Provides a level of care, including staff and services, that will meet your needs.
Choosing the right medications: Brand Name vs. Generic
You may need to take medicines every day, or only once in a while. Either way, you want to make sure that the medicines are safe and will help you get better. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is in charge of assuring the safety and effectiveness of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
Even safe drugs can cause unwanted side effects or interactions with food or other medicines you may be taking. They may not be safe during pregnancy. To reduce the risk of reactions and make sure that you get better, it is important for you to take your medicines correctly.
Understanding Generic Drugs
Generic drugs are important options that allow greater access to health care for all Americans. They are copies of brand-name drugs and are the same as those brand name drugs in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use.
Health care professionals and consumers can be assured that FDA approved generic drug products have met the same rigid standards as the innovator drug. All generic drugs approved by FDA have the same high quality, strength, purity and stability as brand-name drugs. And, the generic manufacturing, packaging, and testing sites must pass the same quality standards as those of brand name drugs.
Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers
What are generic drugs?
A generic drug is identical -- or bioequivalent -- to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price. According to the Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies. Even more billions are saved when hospitals use generics.
Are generic drugs as effective as brand-name drugs?
Yes. A generic drug is the same as a brand-name drug in dosage, safety, strength, quality, the way it works, the way it is taken and the way it should be used.
FDA requires generic drugs have the same high quality, strength, purity and stability as brand-name drugs.
Not every brand-name drug has a generic drug. When new drugs are first made they have drug patents. Most drug patents are protected for 20 years. The patent, which protects the company that made the drug first, doesn't allow anyone else to make and sell the drug. When the patent expires, other drug companies can start selling a generic version of the drug. But, first, they must test the drug and the FDA must approve it.
Creating a drug costs lots of money. Since generic drug makers do not develop a drug from scratch, the costs to bring the drug to market are less; therefore, generic drugs are usually less expensive than brand-name drugs. But, generic drug makers must show that their product performs in the same way as the brand-name drug.
How are generic drugs approved?
Drug companies must submit an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for approval to market a generic product. The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, more commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, made ANDAs possible by creating a compromise in the drug industry. Generic drug companies gained greater access to the market for prescription drugs, and innovator companies gained restoration of patent life of their products lost during FDA's approval process.
New drugs, like other new products, are developed under patent protection. The patent protects the investment in the drug's development by giving the company the sole right to sell the drug while the patent is in effect. When patents or other periods of exclusivity expire, manufacturers can apply to the FDA to sell generic versions.
The ANDA process does not require the drug sponsor to repeat costly animal and clinical research on ingredients or dosage forms already approved for safety and effectiveness. This applies to drugs first marketed after 1962.
What standards do generic drugs have to meet?
Health professionals and consumers can be assured that FDA approved generic drugs have met the same rigid standards as the innovator drug. To gain FDA approval, a generic drug must:
- contain the same active ingredients as the innovator drug (inactive ingredients may vary)
- be identical in strength, dosage form, and route of administration
- have the same use indications
- be bioequivalent
- meet the same batch requirements for identity, strength, purity, and quality
- be manufactured under the same strict standards of FDA's good manufacturing practice regulations required for innovator products | 0.7 | medium | 6 | 1,859 | [
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ceb9069f-a485-4e6c-8ed1-ee89fdc1c1d5 | How data become knowledge | philosophy_and_ethics | worked_examples | How does data become knowledge and finally wisdom? Explain the relationship between knowledge acquisition, knowledge processing, knowledge generation, knowledge dissemination, and wisdom. Then, provide examples from your clinical practice (or past work experiences) according to the following.
Examples of knowledge acquisition
Examples of knowledge generation
Examples of knowledge processing
Examples of knowledge dissemination
Examples of the use of feedback
needs to have intext citations
and references, one reference must be from this book
McGonigle, D. & Mastrian, K. (2018). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.) Jones and Bartlett.
the second reference and in text citation must come from a scholarly source. | 0.6 | high | 6 | 146 | [
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d794e36d-61cf-4f7d-9fa6-1cc2dc7602d1 | Case Study: Unlocking Molecular | science | historical_context | ## Case Study: Unlocking Molecular Behavior with Density Functional Theory (DFT) – A Breakthrough in Catalysis Design **1. Executive Summary** This case study details the successful application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) to accelerate the discovery and optimization of novel catalytic materials for a critical industrial process: the Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis. Facing limitations in traditional experimental screening and a growing demand for more efficient and sustainable ammonia production, researchers leveraged DFT to predict the electronic structure and reactivity of potential catalyst surfaces. This computational approach significantly narrowed down the experimental search space, leading to the identification of a promising new catalyst with superior activity and selectivity, thereby reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. The project underscores the transformative power of DFT in modern materials science and catalysis research. **2. Background and Context** The Haber-Bosch process, invented over a century ago, is responsible for synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, a cornerstone of global food production through fertilizer manufacturing. However, the process is notoriously energy-intensive, requiring high temperatures (400-500°C) and pressures (150-250 bar), and relying on iron-based catalysts that are susceptible to poisoning. The relentless pursuit of more efficient and environmentally friendly catalysts is a major scientific and industrial challenge. Traditional catalyst discovery relies heavily on empirical screening and trial-and-error experimentation, a process that is time-consuming, expensive, and often yields incremental improvements. In recent decades, computational methods have emerged as powerful tools to complement and guide experimental efforts. Among these, Density Functional Theory (DFT) has gained prominence due to its ability to accurately describe the electronic properties of materials and their interactions with reactants, bridging the gap between quantum mechanics and practical chemical problems. This specific project was undertaken by a collaboration between a leading chemical company and a university research group, aiming to develop next-generation catalysts for ammonia synthesis that operate under milder conditions and exhibit enhanced durability. **3. Problem Statement and Challenges** The core problem was to identify novel catalyst materials that could significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of ammonia synthesis. The key challenges were: * **Vast Materials Space:** The number of potential catalyst candidates (combinations of elements, alloys, and surface structures) is virtually infinite, making exhaustive experimental screening impractical. * **Predicting Reactivity:** Accurately predicting how a catalyst surface will interact with nitrogen (N₂) and hydrogen (H₂) molecules, including adsorption energies, activation barriers for key reaction steps (e.g., N₂ dissociation), and surface stability, is crucial but computationally demanding. * **Surface Complexity:** Real catalyst surfaces are not perfect crystalline planes but often exhibit defects, steps, and different facets, all of which can influence catalytic activity. Accurately modeling these complex structures is a significant challenge. * **Computational Cost:** While DFT is powerful, performing calculations on large, complex systems or simulating reaction pathways can be computationally expensive, requiring significant resources and time. * **Bridging Theory and Experiment:** Ensuring that theoretical predictions translate into real-world performance requires careful validation and understanding of the limitations of theoretical models. **4. Solution Approach and Methodology** The project adopted a multi-pronged approach, leveraging DFT as the central tool for *in silico* catalyst design: * **High-Throughput Virtual Screening (HTVS):** A library of potential catalyst materials, including various transition metals, alloys, and their common crystal structures (e.g., FCC, BCC), was curated. DFT calculations were performed to determine key descriptors related to catalytic activity, such as the adsorption energies of key intermediates (N, NH, NH₂, N₂H) and the activation barrier for the rate-limiting step, typically N₂ dissociation. * **Focus on N₂ Dissociation:** Recognizing that the breaking of the strong N≡N triple bond is the most challenging step in ammonia synthesis, the research focused on identifying materials that could significantly lower its activation energy. This involved calculating the potential energy surface for N₂ adsorption and dissociation on various surfaces. * **Thermodynamic and Kinetic Descriptors:** Beyond adsorption energies, DFT was used to calculate thermodynamic quantities (e.g., formation energies of surface species) and kinetic barriers for elementary reaction steps. This allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of the catalytic cycle. * **Surface Reconstruction and Defect Modeling:** For promising candidates identified in the initial screening, more detailed DFT calculations were performed to investigate the effects of surface reconstruction, vacancies, and step edges on catalytic activity. This provided a more realistic representation of active catalyst sites. * **Machine Learning Integration:** To accelerate the screening process and identify subtle structure-activity relationships, machine learning models were trained on the DFT data. These models could then predict the performance of new, untested materials with high accuracy, further reducing the need for experimental validation of every single candidate. * **Experimental Validation:** Promising theoretical candidates were synthesized and tested experimentally in a controlled laboratory environment. The experimental results were used to validate the DFT predictions and refine the theoretical models. **Methodology Details:** * **DFT Code:** The calculations were performed using well-established DFT codes such as VASP (Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package) and Quantum ESPRESSO. * **Exchange-Correlation Functional:** The PBE (Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof) functional, a widely used generalized gradient approximation (GGA), was employed for most calculations due to its balance of accuracy and computational cost. For critical steps where van der Waals interactions or more accurate electronic structure were deemed important, hybrid functionals (e.g., HSE06) were also utilized. * **Basis Set and Pseudopotentials:** Plane-wave basis sets with appropriate energy cutoffs were used, along with projector augmented-wave (PAW) pseudopotentials to represent the interaction between valence electrons and atomic cores. * **Convergence Criteria:** Standard convergence criteria for energy and forces were applied to ensure the accuracy of the calculated structures and energies. * **Surface Models:** Periodic slab models with vacuum layers were used to represent the catalyst surfaces, with typically 4-6 layers of atoms. Adsorbates were placed on these surfaces, and Brillouin zone sampling was performed using Monkhorst-Pack grids. * **Transition State Search:** The climbing-image nudged elastic band (CI-NEB) method was employed to locate transition states and calculate activation barriers for key reaction steps. **5. Implementation Details** The project spanned approximately 18 months and involved several key phases: * **Phase 1: Library Curation and Initial Screening (3 months):** A database of over 500 potential catalyst materials was compiled, drawing from existing literature and theoretical predictions. High-throughput DFT calculations were performed to determine adsorption energies of N and H on various facets of these materials. This initial screening identified approximately 50 promising candidates. * **Phase 2: Detailed Reactivity Calculations (6 months):** For the shortlisted 50 materials, more rigorous DFT calculations were conducted to determine the activation barriers for N₂ dissociation and other critical reaction steps. This phase also involved modeling the effects of surface defects and alloying on activity. This narrowed down the list to about 10 highly promising candidates. * **Phase 3: Machine Learning Model Development (3 months):** A machine learning model (Random Forest) was trained on the DFT data from the first two phases, using descriptors like adsorption energies, d-band center, and surface strain. This model was then used to predict the activity of another 200 hypothetical materials, identifying a further 5 candidates with potentially superior performance. * **Phase 4: Experimental Synthesis and Characterization (4 months):** The top 5 candidates identified through DFT and ML were synthesized using advanced deposition techniques. These materials were characterized using techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm their structure and composition. * **Phase 5: Catalytic Performance Testing and Validation (2 months):** The synthesized catalysts were tested in a bench-scale ammonia synthesis reactor under varying conditions. Performance was evaluated based on ammonia yield, selectivity, and catalyst stability. **6. Results and Metrics** The DFT-guided approach yielded significant improvements over traditional methods: * **Catalyst Discovery Rate:** The computational screening process reduced the number of materials requiring experimental synthesis and testing by over 95% compared to a purely empirical approach. * **Identification of Novel Catalyst:** A new bimetallic alloy catalyst, identified through DFT and ML predictions, demonstrated a **30% increase in ammonia synthesis rate** at a given temperature and pressure compared to the benchmark iron catalyst. * **Milder Operating Conditions:** The new catalyst showed comparable activity to the benchmark at **50°C lower temperature**, leading to an estimated **15-20% reduction in energy consumption**. * **Enhanced Selectivity and Durability:** The catalyst also exhibited improved selectivity towards ammonia and showed significantly higher resistance to poisoning by common impurities, leading to a longer operational lifespan. * **Computational Efficiency:** The use of HTVS and ML allowed for the exploration of a much larger materials space within the project timeline and budget. The ML model was able to predict the activity of new materials with an R² value of 0.85 against DFT calculations. **7. Lessons Learned and Recommendations** This project provided invaluable insights into the application of DFT in materials discovery: * **DFT as a Powerful Predictive Tool:** DFT is a highly effective tool for guiding catalyst design by accurately predicting adsorption energies and reaction barriers, significantly accelerating the discovery process. * **Importance of Descriptor Selection:** The choice of relevant descriptors (e.g., adsorption energies of intermediates, activation barriers) is critical for successful high-throughput screening and machine learning model performance. * **Bridging the Theory-Experiment Gap:** Close collaboration between computational and experimental teams is essential for validating theoretical predictions and refining models. Experimental feedback is crucial for understanding the limitations of DFT, such as the treatment of complex surface phenomena and the dynamics of catalytic processes. * **Computational Resources are Key:** Performing large-scale DFT calculations requires substantial computational resources. Efficient workflow management and access to high-performance computing (HPC) are paramount. * **Machine Learning Enhances DFT:** Integrating ML with DFT can dramatically accelerate the exploration of vast materials spaces and uncover non-intuitive structure-activity relationships. * **Beyond Simple Descriptors:** While simple descriptors are useful, incorporating more complex features related to electronic structure and surface morphology can lead to more accurate predictions. * **Future Work:** Further investigations should focus on modeling the long-term stability of the new catalyst under industrially relevant conditions, exploring the impact of particle size and morphology on performance, and investigating the potential of DFT for designing catalysts for other challenging chemical transformations. **Conclusion:** The successful application of Density Functional Theory in this project demonstrates its transformative potential in accelerating scientific discovery and industrial innovation. By providing a robust *in silico* platform for predicting catalyst behavior, DFT enabled the rapid identification and optimization of a novel catalyst for ammonia synthesis, leading to significant improvements in efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. This case study serves as a compelling example of how advanced computational methods can revolutionize the way we design and develop new materials for critical global challenges. | 0.65 | high | 6 | 2,352 | [
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36543a35-3110-4214-b22d-3ac83d3958b5 | Project “Data Literacy in NFDI” | life_skills | data_analysis | Project “Data Literacy in NFDI”
Data literacy describes the ability to collect, manage, evaluate and apply data in a critical way.¹ It is therefore a prerequisite for effective research data management. One goal of the association Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI) e.V. is to increase data literacy in science. To this end, the project “Data Literacy in NFDI” was launched in mid-July. It is funded for two years by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The offers and requirements for further education in the field of data literacy for scientists are very diverse and sometimes confusing. The project aims to support and make visible the holistic and sustainable development of data literacy for scientists through the targeted networking of different actors. The connection to the Training & Education Section will play an important role in the realisation of the project.
- Overview of existing resources (e.g. training materials)
- Needs and target group analysis
- Development of potential solutions (monitoring concept, recommendations, continuous needs analysis)
The goals are realised with the help of recurring workshops, expert interviews and online surveys.
If you are aware of data literacy offers, have questions or would like to get in touch with us, please write to us at datenkompetenz-projekt[at]nfdi.de.
1 C. Ridsdale, J. Rothwell, M. Smit, H. Ali-Hassan, M. Bliemel, D. Irvine et al.: Strategies and Best Practices for Data Literacy Education: Knowledge Synthesis Report. 2015, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.1922.5044
Scientific Officer project Data Literacy
Tel.: +49 721 988 994 28 | 0.65 | high | 4 | 391 | [
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21232927-1d06-49d1-97c5-e54006876048 | Life span: around 30 years | science | qa_pairs | Life span: around 30 years
Total population: Unknown
Gestation: 7-7.5 months
Height: 49.8 cm (M), 49.2 cm (F)
Weight: L. lagotricha: 7.28 kg (M), 7.02 kg (F); L. cana: 9.49 kg (M), 7.65 kg (F)
Species: L. cana, L. lagotricha, L. lugens, L. poeppigii
Subspecies: L. cana cana, L. c. tschudii
Other names: L. cana: L. lagotricha cana, Geoffroy's Peruvian woolly
monkey, Geoffroy's woolly monkey; L. c. cana: Geoffroy's woolly monkey;
mono barrigudo (Spanish); L. c. tschudii: Peruvian woolly monkey;
marimono del frio, mono barrigudo, mono rosillo (Spanish); L.
lagotricha: L. lagothricha, common woolly monkey, Humboldt's woolly
monkey, woolly monkey; Lagothriche de Humboldt, singe laineux (French);
macaco barrigudo, mono barrigudo, mono caparro, mono lanudo, mono lanudo
común (Spanish); grå ullapa, Humboldts ullapa (Swedish); L.
lugens: L. lagotricha lugens, Colombian woolly monkey; mono barrigudo
(Spanish); L. poeppigii; L. lagotricha poeppigii, Poeppig's woolly
monkey, red woolly monkey, silvery woolly monkey; macaco barrigudo, mono
The taxonomy of the genus Lagothrix is debated. Groves (2001; 2005)
recognizes two subspecies of L. cana: L. c. cana and L. c. tschudii. In
addition, Groves (2001; 2005) moved the Peruvian yellow-tailed woolly
monkey (Oreonax flavicauda) to its own genus Oreonax from Lagothrix, so
it is not included here as a member of the genus. Some authors disagree
with this taxonomic move (Rosenberger & Matthews 2008). Groves'
arrangement is followed here but due to presumable similarities in
ecology between the two genera, the reader is referred to the Oreonax
factsheet. Finally, there remains a persistent
disagreement about the proper spelling of the species L. lagotricha,
which is also spelled L. lagothricha (Fooden 1963; Defler 2003). Here
it will be spelled L. lagotricha, but this is not to imply that this
spelling is more correct.
Photo: Luiz Claudio Marigo
Woolly monkeys are large muscular monkeys with prehensile tails and
arms about as long as their legs (Ankel-Simons 2007; Napier & Napier
1967). The tail has a pad near its end on the distal side for grip and
is as long as, or longer than, the head and body combined (Fooden 1963;
Ankel-Simons 2007). They possess a pseudo-opposable thumb (Ramirez
1988). In general, woolly monkey species are distinguished from one
another by coloration and appearance (Fooden 1963). As a genus,
Lagothrix males have a head and body length of 49.8 cm (19.6 in) while
females measure 49.2 cm (19.4 in) (Fooden 1963; Rosenberger & Strier
In terms of body mass, woolly monkeys are among the largest New
World monkeys, the Atelines. While muriquis (Brachyteles sp.) are often
considered to be the largest of the New World monkeys, some evidence
indicates that woolly monkeys can weigh just as much (Peres 1994b).
However, it is important to note that woolly monkeys undergo significant
changes in body mass with the seasons (Peres 1993; 1994b). L.
lagotricha males average 7.28 kg (16.0 lb) while females average
7.02 kg (15.5 lb) (Smith & Jungers 1997). L. cana males
weigh on average 9.49 kg (20.9 lb) and one female weighed 7.65 kg (16.9
lb) (Peres 1994a). Some recorded averages may be on the low end of true
weights however, and heavier (over 10 kg (22.0 lb)) individuals are
known (Peres 1994b). Woolly monkeys exhibit sexual dimorphism by body
mass and males are heavier than females (Ford & Davis 1992).
As their name implies, the fur is very thick and woolly. Males and
females have the same coloration (Napier & Napier 1967). Generally,
woolly monkeys are pale gray or brown overall to black (Fooden 1963).
L. lagotricha is predominantly pale brown with a lighter head
and darker grey extremities (Fooden 1963; Groves 2001). The belly has a
black area down the middle of the ventrum (Groves 2001). L.
cana have more gray in their coloration, with a dark gray head and
brownish extremities and with some olive green in the torso (Fooden
1963; Groves 2001). The ventrum is black-gray with some dark red
(Groves 2001). L. c. tschudii are darker than L.
c. cana, and have black head, extremities and tail (Groves 2001).
Coloration in L. lugens is variable, but generally are gray or
silvery gray with a blackish ventrum and darker extremities (Fooden
1963; Groves 2001). Some specimens are more brownish-black and some are
a somewhat lighter gray (Groves 2001). L. poeppigii coloration
varies as well, but the species is typically reddish or reddish-brown,
with a gray tinge and with reddish or dark brown head and extremities
(Fooden 1963; Groves 2001).
Photo: Noga Shanee
Woolly monkeys use their prehensile tails extensively in locomotion.
In particular, the tail secures the animal while it is climbing
(Ankel-Simons 2007). At the Estación Biológica
Caparú in eastern Colombia, five types of locomotion are used by
L. lagotricha: quadrupedal walking and running, suspensory
movement, climbing, leaping and rarely, bipedalism (Defler 1999).
During travel, L. lagotricha use quadupedalism (41.8% of
bouts), suspensory movement (8.6%), climbing (38.8%) and leaping
(10.8%). During feeding, woolly monkeys use quadrupedalism (42.8% of
the time), suspensory movement (7.0%), climbing (44.2%), and leaping
(6.0%) (Defler 1999). Elsewhere, in northeastern Ecuador at the
Yasuní National Park, L. lagotricha move through
dropping and leaping (3.9%), bipedalism (0.2%), quadrupedalism (28.7%),
ascending or descending (14.4%), clambering (30.1%), bridging and
hoisting (10.2%), suspension (11.1%), and swaying (1.4%) (Cant et al.
2001). During suspensory movement, L. lagotricha use
brachiation (58.7%), forelimb swinging (11.7%), pronograde swinging
(20.2%), upside-down clambering (0.5%), upside-down quadrupedalism
(1.2%) and will swing from their tails (7.8%) (Cant et al. 2003). Wild
woolly monkeys are sometimes seen on the ground (Soini 1986).
In captivity, L. c. cana have lived over 29 years, L.
lagotricha have lived over 30 years, L. lugens have lived
30 years, and L. poeppigii have lived 24 years (Mooney &
Lee 1999; Weigl 2005). Individuals estimated at over 30 years old are
recorded in wild populations (L. lagotricha) (Nishimura 2003).
CURRENT RANGE MAPS (IUCN REDLIST):Lagothrix cana
| Lagothrix cana cana
| Lagothrix cana tschudii
| Lagothrix lagotricha
| Lagothrix lugens
| Lagothrix poeppigii
Woolly monkeys are found in Amazonian South America, inhabiting
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (Fooden 1963; Ramirez 1988;
Wallace & Painter 1999). According to Bodini &
Péres-Hernàndez (1987) it stands to reason that woolly
monkeys should be found in Venezuela, and Hernández-Camacho &
Cooper (1976) report L. lugens from Venezuela near the
Colombian border. The distribution of the genus extends from the Rio
Negro and the Rio Tapajós in Brazil west throughout the upper
Amazon basin (Defler 2004; Emmons 1997).
Among the individual species, distributions are generally not well
defined (Aquino & Encarnación 1994). L. lagotricha
are found in northwestern Brazil, southeastern Colombia, northeastern
Ecuador and northeastern Peru. They range north of the Amazon River
west of the Orinoco and Negro rivers, to the eastern slopes of the
Andes, and south as far as the Aguarico and Napo Rivers (Fooden 1963;
Aquino & Encarnación 1994). Within Colombia, they extend as
far north as the Guaviare River and meet the southern populations of
L. lugens roughly where piedmont forest meets lowland
rainforest in the region (Hernández-Camacho & Cooper 1976).
L. cana are the southeastern-most of the woolly monkey species.
They range from southwestern Brazil from their easternmost occurrence
at the Tapajós River, extending west to the Juruá River,
and into southeastern Peru (in the Ucayali, Pasco and Junín
Departments) from the Alto Purus River to Bolivia (Fooden 1963; Aquino
& Encarnación 1994; Iwanaga & Ferrari 2002). A
population of L. cana is recently reported from Bolivia, in the
Madidi National Park (Wallace & Painter 1999).
Photo: Luiz Claudio Marigo
L. poeppigii is found in western Brazil, eastern Ecuador
and in northeastern Peru (http://www.redlist.org; Fooden 1963). Specifically, they are found
south and east of the Amazon and Napo Rivers, east of the Andes, north
of the Marañón River and south of the
Marañón River, west to the Huallaga River, continuing
south to the Aguaytia and Pachitea Rivers (http://www.redlist.org; Aquino &
Encarnación 1994). L. lugens are found in Colombia and
are reported from Venezuela, near the Colombian border (http://www.redlist.org; Fooden 1963;
Hernández-Camacho & Cooper 1976). Within Colombia, the
species extends as far north as the Guaviare River with isolated
populations in the Córdoba Department and in the southeastern
Bolívar Department in the northwest of the country
(Hernández-Camacho & Cooper 1976; Defler 2004). L.
lugens extend to near the Venezuelan border east of the Cordillera
Oriental (Defler 2004). In the east, L. lugens meets the
distribution of L. lagotricha along the lower Guayabero River
(Hernández-Camacho & Cooper 1976).
Woolly monkeys inhabit a number of habitat types, including tropical
lowland rainforest, terra firme rainforest, old-levee forest, cloud
forest, low-ground forest, seasonally flooded forest, hilly forest,
terrace forest, transition forest, igapó forest, creekside
lowland forest and palm swamps (Kavanagh & Dresdale 1975; Soini
1986; Peres 1994a; Defler 1996a; Peres 1996; Bennett et al. 2001; Cant
et al. 2001; Stevenson 2006). They prefer primary forest (Soini 1986;
L. lugens is found up to 3000 meters (9842.5 ft) above sea
level (Defler 1996b).
At a study site at Tinigua National Park, Colombia, woolly monkeys
(L. lagotricha) use tropical lowland forests, including mature
forest (79%), open-degraded forest (8%), flooded forest (10%), and
secondary forest (4%) (Stevenson 2006). At this study site, rainfall is
very seasonal, with a pronounced dry season between December and March
and an average rainfall of 278.2 cm (109.5 in) during the rainy
remainder of the year (Stevenson 1998; Stevenson et al. 2000; Stevenson
2006). Elsewhere, along the upper Urucu River, in Brazil at a study
site of L. cana, rainfall averaged 302.8 cm (119.2 in) with a
dry season between July and September (Peres 1994a; 1996).
Woolly monkeys are mostly frugivorous over the course of the year
(Defler & Defler 1996; Iwanaga & Ferrari 2001; Di Fiore 2004;
Stevenson 2006). Generally, western populations of woolly monkeys spend
more time foraging for live prey than other populations (Di Fiore &
Rodman 2001). In Tinigua National Park, Colombia, L. lugens
ate ripe fruits (53%), unripe fruit and seeds (6%), flowers (2%),
arthropods (25%) and other foods (1%) (Stevenson 2006). Insects,
spiders, termites, vertebrates, and beehives are also consumed at this
locality (Stevenson 1992). At the Yasuní National Park, Ecuador,
overall yearly diet of L. poeppigii included fruit (76.7%),
flowers (3.5%), leaves (7.4%), other plants (2.4%), fungi (0.2%) and
animal prey (9.3%) (Di Fiore 2004). At this study site, over 200
species of plant are consumed, but 46 species make up over half of the
diet (Di Fiore 2004). In southeastern Colombia, L. lagotricha
eat fleshy fruits (78.9%), seeds (4.3%), leaves (11.4%), invertebrates
(4.9%), flowers (0.1%), tendrils (0.1%) and bark (0.3%) (Defler &
Defler 1996). Frogs were also caught and consumed (Defler & Defler
Photo: Noga Shanee
Along the Urucu River, Brazil, L. cana ate nearly
exclusively plant material (99.9%) of over 200 species, with very small
numbers of arthropods, including katydids and spiders (Peres 1994a).
At this site, plant foods consumed included fruits (80.7%), flowers and
nectar (3.1%), and leaves (16.2%) (Peres 1994a). While fruit is
annually extremely important in the diet, during the dry season, such
foods may fall to very small percentages of what is eaten, replaced by
foliage, seeds, and exudates (Peres 1994a). Flowers are also consumed
as an alternative to fruit in the dry season (Peres 1994a). Elsewhere,
in the state of Rondônia, Brazil, 91.5% of the L. cana
diet was fruit (Iwanaga & Ferrari 2001).
In southeastern Colombia, over 90% of the fruits eaten by L.
lagotricha are evolutionarily adapted for dispersal by fruit-eating
species (Defler & Defler 1996). This means that the plants rely on
their seeds being carried in the digestive tracts of consumers and
evacuated elsewhere. In fact, woolly monkeys are important and
high-quality seed dispersers (Stevenson 2000).
Averaged annually, L. poeppigii spend their days eating
(19.0%), foraging (17.2%), moving (34.5%), resting (23.25%), in social
activity (4.7%), and in other activities (1.4%) (Di Fiore & Rodman
2001). In eastern Colombia, L. lagotricha spend their days
resting (29.9%), moving (38.8%), foraging (25.8%), and in other
activities (5.5%) (Defler 1995). In southeastern Colombia, L.
lagotricha spent their days moving (26%), resting (35%), feeding
(35%) and in social interactions (3%) (Stevenson 2006). Seasonally,
moving and social interactions decrease during fruit shortage (September
to December) while resting increases during that time (Stevenson et al.
1994; Stevenson 2006). With seasonal food availability, the time spend
feeding does not change, although the foods do, with the species eating
more unripe fruits, leaves, and flowers during times of fruit shortage
Daily, resting peaks around the middle of the day (Defler 1995).
Recorded woolly monkey group home ranges include 1.08-over 4.0 km²
(0.42-over 1.42 mi²) (L. poeppigii), 1.69 km² (0.65 mi²)
(L. lugens), 2.0-11.0 km² (0.77-4.25 mi²) (L.
lagotricha), and over 10.21 km² (3.94 mi²) (L. cana)
(reviewed in Di Fiore 2003; Stevenson 2006). Home ranges can overlap
extensively, and exclusive areas are not defended from other groups
although specific resources can be on a temporary basis (Kavanagh &
Dresdale 1975; Stevenson et al. 1994; Di Fiore 2003). Average day
ranges are 540-1878 m (1771.7-6161.4 ft) (L. poeppigii), 1633 m
(5357.6 ft) (L. lugens) and 2280 (7480.3 ft) (L.
lagotricha) (review in Di Fiore 2003). In L. poeppigii,
during periods of fruit scarcity, day range does not increase (Di Fiore
Sleeping sites are found throughout the home range and many are used
(Stevenson 2006). These consist of several trees around 25-35 m (82.0
ft-114.8 ft) tall, near to one another (Defler 2004).
Woolly monkeys are large. Because of their size, they may only be
exposed to low levels of predation (Stevenson & Castellanos 2000).
Nevertheless, eagles are said to be possible predators of woolly monkeys
and smaller non-adult individuals do disappear from groups (Ramirez
1988; Defler 2004).
Due to their widespread occurrence, woolly monkeys can be found with
a number of other primate species. For example, at the Pacaya-Samiria
National Reserve in Peru, L. lagotricha is found along with
pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea),
saddle-back tamarins (Saguinus
fuscicollis), owl monkeys (Aotus nancymai),
squirrel monkeys (Saimiri
boliviensis), white-fronted capuchins (Cebus albifrons),
brown capuchins (Cebus apella),
saki monkeys (Pithecia hirsute), black spider monkeys
and red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus)
(Soini 1986). L. poeppigii are sometimes found feeding and travelling
with howler monkeys (Alouatta sp.) and travelling and foraging with
spider monkeys (Ateles sp.) and
squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sp.) (Marsh
Woolly monkeys (L. poeppigii) are also sometimes followed
by double-tooth kites (Harpagus bidentatus), a bird that feeds on
insects that are stirred up by the activities of woolly monkeys (Marsh
2004). Also, L. lagotricha feces are particularly important to
dung beetles of the family Scarabaeidae (Castellanos et al. 1999).
Content last modified: September 30, 2010
Written by Kurt Gron.
Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2010 September 30. Primate Factsheets: Woolly monkey (Lagothrix) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/woolly_monkey/taxon>. Accessed 2014 December 18. | 0.6 | medium | 6 | 5,281 | [
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40296c07-5e9d-41ba-a70d-49d0f2484d9a | Found all over world | technology | worked_examples | Found all over the world, bed bugs gather in locations where people sleep in order to feed on their blood, including hotels, apartments, dorms, and cruise ships. Find these small, flat, red-brown insects hiding during the day in places such as crevices, mattresses or underneath anything you may have around your bed. You have a greater risk of being bitten by bed bugs if you travel often and sleep where others have slept. Knowing what to do when bed bugs bite you will help you prevent it from reoccurring.
Video of the Day
Treat Bite Areas
Try to stop scratching the areas where you were bitten by bed bugs and apply an antiseptic lotion or cream to the bites. Take an antihistamine if you are experiencing allergy symptoms. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), bed bug bites do not spread disease nor are they considered dangerous. The CDC states bed bug bites have different affects on people, ranging from having no bite marks and no reaction to having allergic symptoms of large, swollen bite marks and occasionally anaphylaxis, an extreme sensitivity to a protein found in the bite.
Prevent being bitten by bed bugs by looking for their hiding places in your home. Your bedding, which includes your sheets, pillowcases and pillows, blankets, and mattress may contain live bed bugs as well as shed skins from their larvae. Bed bugs usually cluster together. Look for blood stains on your bedding from bed bug feedings or dark brown or red smears, which represent bed bug excretions. Packing materials from purchases you made may also contain bed bugs.
When traveling and staying in hotels, check the bed mattress and box springs before laying on the bed. Put your luggage on luggage racks rather than placing them on the beds or furniture. When you are not using your laptop, brief case, or suitcase, close them to prevent bed bugs from entering. Check these items for bed bugs before you leave your hotel room, and then check again before bringing these items into your home. Vacuum out your suitcases and wash your clothing when you return home from a trip.
If you have an infestation of bed bugs in your home, eliminate all clutter in the rooms and throw out infested bedding. Contact a professional pest control representative who has the insecticides to treat the infected areas.
If you find bed bugs in your hotel room, report it to the hotel management as soon as possible, so they can take steps to keep an infestation from spreading. As of March 2011, 95 percent of pest control experts have treated bed bugs over the past year in the U.S., compared to 25 percent in 2000, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 550 | [
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ac2e6684-93e3-4f2e-9783-1497401b275f | Current Conditions Fri Oct | technology | historical_context |
Current Conditions
Fri Oct 28, 16 at 8:00 AM EDT
-4°C 25°F
Feels like: -10
Feels like: 14
Clear
Visibility: 16.1 Km
Sunrise: 8:09 AM
Sunset: 6:04 PM
Wind: S 18 km/h
Humidity: 90%
Pressure:
Weather information provided by Environment Canada
Today
Periods of rain
High: 5°
High: 41°
Tonight
Periods of rain
Low: 3°
Low: 37°
Summary
(Celsius) Fri Oct 28, 16 at 5:30 AM EDT Fri Oct 28, 16 at 5:30 AM EDT
Today
Increasing cloudiness. Periods of rain beginning near noon. Wind becoming south 20 km/h late this morning. High plus 5.
Tonight
Periods of rain. Fog patches developing overnight. Wind south 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low plus 3.
Saturday
Periods of rain ending near noon then cloudy with 40 percent chance of showers. Fog patches dissipating in the morning. Wind becoming north 20 km/h in the morning. Temperature steady near plus 4.
Extended Forecast
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
October 29
October 30
October 31
November 1
November 2
November 3
Periods of rain A mix of sun and cloud Chance of showers Chance of showers A mix of sun and cloud A mix of sun and cloud
High 4°
High 39°
High 3°
High 37°
High 4°
High 39°
P.O.P. 30%
High 12°
High 54°
P.O.P. 30%
High 5°
High 41°
High 4°
High 39°
National
CBC News: Weather Centre
Nationwide, you can view weather on CBC News Network, 7 days a week.
Don't forget, your local weather forecast is available in your area on the CBC regional nightly news.
Tune in for weather: regional, national and international, coming your way from our team of meteorologists!
| 0.65 | medium | 3 | 597 | [
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e636f3d5-9499-4089-be59-d2f985086503 | From MiT's technology review | science | historical_context | From MiT's technology review:
Soliant has designed a solar concentrator that tracks the sun throughout the day but is lighter and not pole-mounted. The system fits in a rectangular frame and is mounted to the roof with the same hardware that's used for conventional flat solar panels. Yet the devices will likely cost half as much as a conventional solar panel, says Hines. A second-generation design, which concentrates light more and uses better photovoltaics, could cost a quarter as much.Possibly 1/4th the price? It would be interesting to see what would happen if these concentrators are joined with the recently developed solar cells that have a 40.7% efficiency and show promise of a whopping 58% efficiency.
Thanks to a shortage of polysilicon plants the cost of silicon has gone up from $9 in 2001 to a current price of $60. Once more plants are built and the solar industry becomes established we will likely see another drop in solar prices. What this means in dollars and cents will be covered in more depth in the future. But there is certainly lots of potential in the solar industry.
So how much land would be required to power the world with solar? The squares in the map below is the amount of land that would be required to produce 20 terawatts. That's enough to give 10 billion people all the power they need.
What is more is that these squares represent solar cells at 10% efficiency. If we are converting at 58% efficiency then that means these squares are nearly six times the amount of land needed to power the planet.
MiT's Technology Review, Solar Power at Half the Cost, A new roof-mounted system that concentrates sunlight could cut the price of photovoltaics., Kevin Bullis, Friday, May 11, 2007
Physorg.com, 40% efficient solar cells to be used for solar electricity, Lisa Zyga
King, R. R., Law, D. C., Edmondson, K. M., Fetzer, C. M., Kinsey, G. S., Yoon, H., Sherif, R. A., and Karam, N. H. “40% efficient metamorphic GaInP/GaInAs/Ge multijunction solar cells.” Applied Physics Letters 90, 183516 (2007).
Silicon Shortage Stalls Solar John Gartner, Wired News, 28 March 2005. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
Shining a light on solar-power costs
Cnet, Solar systems don't come cheap, so HelioVolt is teaming with Exceltech to cut back on the installation costs., Michael Kanellos
Richard E. Smalley, Future Global Energy Prosperity: The Terawatt Challenge
Silicon shortage sends solar sky-high, SOLAR POWER — by Nick Rosen, 02 Nov 2006
Department of Energy, New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology, December 5, 2006 | 0.6 | medium | 3 | 659 | [
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7a37db6e-ecc3-40eb-86e8-480858ca5d1f | A Present For Our Teacher | technology | code_implementation | A Present For Our Teacher
Topic: School and community
Curriculum link: Society and Environment; Mathematics
Text type: Recount
Reading level: 9
Word count: 189
High-frequency words: we, but, to, the, she, he, for, my, her, his, our
Vocabulary: teacher, school, present, money, washed, raked, cleaned, fed, watered, brother
Possible literacy focus:
Understanding the use of writing conventions such as speech marks and how these enhance the meaning of the text.
Follow-up activities
Syllables
Ask children to choose words from the book and to identify the number of syllables in each word. They can clap to show the number of syllables. Make a list to show where the syllable break occurs.
| pres/ent |
| tea/cher |
| be/fore |
| mon/ey |
| per/son |
Explain that every syllable has a vowel sound in it. Children could use other books to find and list words with one, two, three and four syllables.
Raising money
As a class the children could decide on a charity to raise money for. Then, in small groups, they could come up with a plan of how they could raise the money. Once the teacher and/or parents check the plans, the children can put them into action. To keep the children focused, you could provide a cue card. For example:
Your Task
Decide on a way to raise money, e.g. doing odd jobs, having a stall, selling things.
Organise how this will be done.
When will you do it?
What do you need to make/bring?
Who do you need to tell? How will you do this? (posters, newsletter)
Readers theatre
In pairs, children read the book to each other, taking it in turns to read the direct speech parts. They then join with another pair to practise reading and role-playing the book ready to perform to the whole group. Encourage children to read with expression and fluency.
Make a card
You will need:
cardboard, coloured paper, felt pens, glue
1. Make a card for the teacher (or someone else you want to say thank you to).
2. Write a message inside telling why you think they are great.
Presents, presents, presents!
You will need:
advertising catalogues, scissors, glue, cardboard
1. Look at the catalogues.
2. Cut out pictures of presents.
3. Paste onto cards.
4. Order the cards from the best present to the worst.
A present for the teacher
Make a book.
Instructions Ask the children to retell the story to match each picture. Encourage the children to compare their retelling with the book. When finished, each strip can be cut out and assembled into a book.
Find and colour
Colour the pictures that start with ‘pr’.
Use ‘pr’ to finish these words.
Instructions Ask the children to say the name of each picture and listen for the ‘pr’ blend. Children then write ‘pr’ to finish the words. | 0.75 | medium | 4 | 691 | [
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a3d8aa43-4ec8-4a92-8205-76bbe65dc8f5 | International Human Rights Law Content | interdisciplinary | ethical_analysis | International Human Rights Law Content
The Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture, 1985
Torture shall also be understood to be the use of methods upon a person intended to obliterate the personality of the victim or to diminish his physical or mental capacities, even if they do not cause physical pain or mental anguish.” (art. 2).
- The implementation mechanism for women consists of:
(1) a reporting procedure to the Inter-American Commission of Women; and
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ade9bd43-8df5-47b3-9160-1af0e0eda0f0 | MEN Irresponsible Part 720p | science | historical_context | MEN Irresponsible Part 1 720p Alex Mecum & Brendan Phillips
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DescriptionSome may see Alex Mecum as irresponsible, but hes leading the life he wants to live. After calling out of work, he pursues his itinerary for the day: riding Brendan Phillips. After joining him in the shower, he loosens Brendan up and fucks him all over the apartment.
Rimming Facial Anal
Added2016-06-02 14:09:09
Size680.44 MB (713,496,334 bytes)
Views20
Num files1 files
Pictures | 0.55 | medium | 4 | 171 | [
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bcd2c660-5e33-44fe-b116-e4a951c3e49b | Let's dive into strategic | science | historical_context | Let's dive into the strategic thinking patterns that expert neuroprosthetics engineers employ. This isn't just about knowing the equations or the latest sensor technology; it's about *how* they approach the complex, multifaceted challenges in this field. ## Expert Thinking Patterns in Neuroprosthetics Engineering Experts in neuroprosthetics don't just react to problems; they proactively shape their approach. They think in terms of systems, feedback loops, and the intricate interplay between biology and technology. * **Systems Thinking:** They view the neuroprosthetic device and the human body as a single, integrated system. They consider how each component (implant, electrodes, processor, software, user's nervous system, user's intent, user's environment) affects the others. This is a departure from siloed thinking, where each part is optimized in isolation. * **Iterative Design & Refinement:** Mastery comes through cycles of design, testing, and learning. Experts expect initial designs to be imperfect. They build in mechanisms for gathering data, analyzing performance, and making targeted improvements. This is a continuous loop, not a linear progression. * **First-Principles Reasoning:** When faced with a novel challenge, experts often break it down to its fundamental scientific and engineering principles. Instead of relying on existing solutions that might not fit, they ask: "What are the absolute core requirements and constraints, and how can I build a solution from the ground up based on physics, biology, and materials science?" * **Abductive Reasoning (Hypothesis Generation):** Faced with unexpected data or performance issues, experts generate plausible explanations (hypotheses) and then design experiments to test them. They don't just look for what *is* wrong, but what *could be* causing the observed behavior. * **Constraint Management:** Neuroprosthetics are rife with constraints: biocompatibility, power consumption, data bandwidth, computational limits, user comfort, regulatory approval, cost, and the inherent variability of biological systems. Experts are adept at identifying, prioritizing, and creatively navigating these constraints. They don't see them as roadblocks but as design parameters. * **User-Centered Empathy:** Beyond the technical, experts deeply understand the user's experience, limitations, and goals. They consider the psychological, social, and emotional impact of their devices. This empathy informs design decisions, from the physical form factor to the user interface. --- ## Problem Recognition: Identifying Different Problem Types The first step to strategic thinking is recognizing the nature of the problem you're facing. In neuroprosthetics, problems can generally be categorized by their origin and complexity: 1. **"Known Knowns" (Well-Defined Problems):** * **Characteristics:** The problem is clearly understood, the underlying principles are known, and there are established methods for solution. Examples: optimizing a known electrode configuration for a specific nerve, improving the signal-to-noise ratio of a standard amplifier. * **Recognition:** You can articulate the problem precisely, identify relevant parameters, and recall or research standard engineering approaches. 2. **"Known Unknowns" (Ill-Defined or Partially Defined Problems):** * **Characteristics:** The problem has some known aspects, but key variables, interactions, or desired outcomes are unclear or subject to significant variability. Examples: determining the optimal stimulation pattern for a new prosthetic limb control, adapting a system to a wider range of user physiologies. * **Recognition:** You can describe the problem, but there's uncertainty about the best approach, the required data, or the expected performance metrics. You might have a general idea of the solution space but need to explore it. 3. **"Unknown Unknowns" (Novel or Emergent Problems):** * **Characteristics:** The problem is entirely new, unexpected, or arises from unforeseen interactions within the system. These are often discovered during testing or deployment. Examples: a new type of implant degradation, an unexpected user adaptation that renders the system ineffective, a software bug caused by a rare combination of user input and environmental conditions. * **Recognition:** You encounter something that doesn't fit existing models or expectations. The cause is not immediately apparent, and standard troubleshooting methods fail. This requires significant investigation and hypothesis generation. --- ## Strategy Selection: Decision Tree for Choosing Approaches Here's a decision tree to help you select an appropriate thinking strategy based on the problem type: ```mermaid graph TD A[Start: Identify the Problem] --> B{Is the problem clearly defined?}; B -- Yes --> C{Are there established solutions/methods?}; B -- No --> D{What is uncertain or unknown?}; C -- Yes --> E[Strategy: Apply Standard Engineering Practices]; E --> F[Refine: Use Iterative Design for Optimization]; F --> G[Self-Check: Verify against known principles]; C -- No --> D; D --> H{Can I break it down to first principles?}; H -- Yes --> I[Strategy: First-Principles Reasoning]; I --> J[Hypothesize: Generate potential causes/solutions]; J --> K[Test: Design experiments to validate hypotheses]; K --> L[Strategy: Iterative Design & Refinement]; L --> G; H -- No --> M[Strategy: Systems Thinking & Constraint Management]; M --> N[Explore: Model interactions, manage trade-offs]; N --> O[Empathize: Understand user context]; O --> P[Hypothesize: Generate plausible explanations for unknowns]; P --> K; %% Linking back to general refinement and self-check E --> L; F --> L; I --> L; J --> L; K --> L; N --> L; O --> L; P --> L; L --> G; ``` **Explanation of the Tree:** * **Start with Clarity:** The first step is always to define the problem as precisely as possible. * **Established Solutions:** If it's a "Known Known," leverage existing knowledge. Optimization is key here. * **Uncertainty:** If there's ambiguity ("Known Unknowns"), you need to explore. * **First Principles:** Can you strip away assumptions and build from the ground up? This is powerful for novel design. * **Systems Thinking:** If interactions are complex or unknown, model the whole system and manage the inherent constraints. * **Emergent Issues:** "Unknown Unknowns" almost always require a combination of hypothesis generation (abductive reasoning), experimentation, and systems thinking to uncover the root cause. * **Iteration is Universal:** Regardless of the starting point, iterative design and refinement are crucial for developing robust solutions. --- ## Error Prevention: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Expert engineers are vigilant about common pitfalls. * **Error Pattern:** **Optimization without Understanding (Local Maxima):** Focusing on improving one component in isolation, leading to suboptimal overall system performance because it doesn't account for interactions. * **Prevention:** Employ **Systems Thinking**. Before optimizing, model or analyze the entire system. Ask: "How will this change affect other parts, and the user's overall experience?" * **Error Pattern:** **Premature Fixation on a Solution:** Falling in love with an initial idea and resisting changes even when data suggests it's not optimal. * **Prevention:** Embrace **Iterative Design & Refinement**. Treat your initial design as a hypothesis to be tested and improved. Actively seek disconfirming evidence. * **Error Pattern:** **Ignoring Constraints:** Designing a theoretically perfect solution that is impractical due to power, size, cost, or regulatory limitations. * **Prevention:** Prioritize **Constraint Management** from the outset. Make constraints explicit design parameters, not afterthoughts. * **Error Pattern:** **Over-reliance on Existing Solutions:** Applying a solution from a similar but not identical problem without critical evaluation. * **Prevention:** Use **First-Principles Reasoning** when the context shifts. Ask: "Does this existing solution truly address the fundamental requirements of *this specific* problem?" * **Error Pattern:** **Not Accounting for Biological Variability:** Assuming a "one-size-fits-all" approach to user interfaces or stimulation parameters. * **Prevention:** Integrate **User-Centered Empathy** and **Systems Thinking**. Design for adaptability and personalization. Plan for data collection and system recalibration based on individual users. --- ## Self-Verification: How to Check Your Own Reasoning Experts constantly question their own thinking processes. * **The "Why" Chain:** For any decision or design choice, ask "Why?" at least five times. This drills down to fundamental principles and uncovers hidden assumptions. * *Example:* "I chose this electrode material." -> "Why?" -> "Because it has good conductivity." -> "Why is conductivity critical here?" -> "To efficiently transmit signals." -> "Why is efficient signal transmission the primary goal?" -> "To ensure accurate motor command decoding." This reveals the underlying objective. * **Assumption Audit:** List all assumptions made during problem-solving. For each assumption, ask: * "Is this assumption explicitly stated or implicit?" * "What evidence supports this assumption?" * "What would happen if this assumption were false?" * "Can I design an experiment to test this assumption?" * **"Pre-mortem" Analysis:** Imagine your project has failed catastrophically. Brainstorm all the reasons why it might have failed. Then, work backward to implement preventative measures. This is a powerful way to surface "Unknown Unknowns." * **Seek Diverse Feedback:** Present your problem framing, hypotheses, and proposed solutions to colleagues with different backgrounds or expertise. They will often spot flaws or blind spots you've missed. * **"Sanity Check" with First Principles:** Once a solution is developed, briefly revisit the core physics, biology, and engineering principles. Does the final solution align with these fundamentals? For example, does the power consumption adhere to basic energy conservation laws given the device's function? --- ## Cross-Domain Transfer: How These Thinking Skills Apply Elsewhere The strategic thinking patterns you develop in neuroprosthetics engineering are highly transferable: * **Systems Thinking:** Essential in **urban planning** (traffic flow, infrastructure, housing), **climate science** (interactions between atmosphere, oceans, biosphere), and **organizational management** (departmental dependencies, workflow optimization). * **First-Principles Reasoning:** Crucial in **software development** (debugging complex systems, designing efficient algorithms), **medical diagnosis** (identifying root causes of rare diseases), and **financial analysis** (understanding market behavior beyond surface trends). * **Iterative Design:** Fundamental in **writing** (drafting, revising, editing), **product development** (prototyping, user testing, feature iteration), and **scientific research** (hypothesis, experiment, analysis, refine). * **Constraint Management:** Vital in **event planning** (budget, venue, time), **personal finance** (income, expenses, savings goals), and **creative arts** (working within a medium's limitations). * **User-Centered Empathy:** Key in **education** (tailoring teaching to student needs), **customer service** (understanding and resolving client issues), and **policy making** (designing services that meet citizen needs). By consciously practicing these thinking patterns, you're not just becoming a better neuroprosthetics engineer; you're building a robust mental toolkit applicable to virtually any complex challenge. | 0.7 | high | 7 | 2,326 | [
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2ac1c8f5-3def-489b-8951-f09c7c62b658 | CLIMATE KELPIE BLOG: What | science | historical_context | THE CLIMATE KELPIE BLOG: What goes around – may bring rain to northern Australia
The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a global circulation system that can bring big rains to northern Australia during the wet season, but it doesn’t always deliver.
Essentially, it is a very large-scale wave in the atmosphere that can bring a ‘pulse’ of cloud and rain. It travels from west to east circling the globe near the equator every 30 to 60 days. This can lead to a major fluctuation in tropical weather on weekly to monthly timescales.
As the wave passes to the north of Australia it brings a change in the direction of the prevailing winds (favouring westerlies) and a change in the amount of cloudiness and rainfall across northern Australia, especially from November to April.
While it mainly influences the climate in northern Australia the MJO can also influence temperatures in southern and eastern Australia during spring and early summer, often resulting in heat waves across southern parts of South Australia and Victoria, and even Tasmania, about one week after the dry phase passes through northern Australia.
During our winter the MJO becomes weaker and its main influence shifts to the northern hemisphere, although it does influence night-time minimum temperatures in Queensland.
It’s just a phase
Australian Bureau of Meteorology researchers, Dr Matthew Wheeler and Dr Harry Hendon, have developed an index to plot the MJO’s strength and progress around the globe, which has now been adopted throughout the world.
“The index describes the MJO using eight numbered phases plus a ninth ‘weak’ or inactive phase,” says Dr Wheeler.
The biggest impact on rainfall in Australia’s north occurs during Phases 5 and 6 of the MJO (Figure 1).
“By analysing global observations of wind and cloudiness we can plot the daily progress of the MJO as a line moving in an anticlockwise direction on the diagram (Figure 2).
The numbered phases on the diagram allow us to visualise the location of the MJO’s rainy signal. Phase 3 and 4 are over the Indian Ocean, Phases 5 and 6 influence northern Australia and Phases 7 and 8 are over the Pacific Ocean.”
“The point on the diagram is plotted close to the centre when the MJO is weak and further away from the centre when it is stronger.”
Every cycle of the MJO looks different, with some events having more impact on northern Australia than others.
“We still don’t have a complete theory of what controls or influences the speed of movement of the MJO from west to east or how far south it will have an impact, but fortunately, our computer models are getting better at predicting this varying influence.” says Dr Wheeler.
“We can predict the movement of the strength and phase of the MJO very accurately with at least a two-week lead time.”
The MJO is not the only influence on Australia’s monsoon season, but it can have an impact on both the location and intensity of the monsoon trough.
“When the rainy phase of the MJO approaches northern Australia from the Indian Ocean, the monsoon trough tends to shift southwards from the Timor Sea to lie over the Australian landmass bringing more rain over northern Australia,” says Dr Wheeler.
“Then, about a week or so later as the rainy phase of the MJO shifts to the Pacific Ocean, the monsoon trough usually shifts back to the north again and the rain over northern Australia eases.”
During last summer (2019-2020) the monsoon arrived in Darwin on January 18, which is 24 days after the long-term mean date of December 25. This delay can be attributed to the late persistence of the positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
While the positive IOD was in place the MJO was in or near the weak phase, but once the positive IOD broke down, the MJO strengthened.
“Thankfully for northern Australia this coincided with the MJO’s passage across our continent, bringing welcome rain to many locations” Dr Wheeler said.
Because of the importance of the MJO for northern Australia’s climate and agriculture, its status is monitored and a discussion of its recent and expected impacts for the coming weeks is available on the Bureau’s Madden-Julian Oscillation page, which is updated weekly.
Bureau of Meteorology: Madden-Julian Oscillation
The climate dogs: Meet Mojo and the other Climate Dogs (Enso, Indy, Ridgy, Sam and Eastie) on the Climate Kelpie website to find out more about the major drivers of Australia’s climate and weather.
- ‘My Rain Gauge is Busted’ podcast series
- Health and productivity focus helps ride out extremes
- Probing the value of soil moisture monitoring
- The good, the bad and the ugly – charting the impact of East coast lows
- New forecasting tools aid Red Witchweed cull
- Western climate drivers take the road less traveled
- Consensus on forecasts informs decision making
- It takes teamwork to tackle the climate challenge
- What do forecasts really mean?
- Finding the window of opportunity with new forecasting products
- What La Niña means for Australia this summer
- Strict attention to moisture conservation drives grain production in the Wimmera
- How to assess your ‘green date’ probability using the CliMate app
- Why the late shift in the winter 2020 rainfall forecasts?
- What goes around – may bring rain to northern Australia
- ‘You got to know when to hold ‘em’ – managing livestock in extended drought
- Climate plan may hold keys to a better deal on farm finance
- Future-proofing the dairy industry in uncertain times
- Where have our winters gone?
- GrassGro puts pasture advisors in the know | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 1,230 | [
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2c38df36-fba5-459e-a07b-cfb1a4a4cb8e | It's up the gulch, you say | interdisciplinary | historical_context | It's up the gulch, you say?
The gold occurs in alluvial deposits designated as gulch-, bar-, beach-, tundraand bench-placers.
The surrounding country abounds in goldand silver-bearing quartz deposits, and it is estimated that from the famous Last Chance Gulch alone, which runs across the city, more than $40,000,000 in gold has been taken.
The city is built picturesquely on the sides of a gulch, down which runs the Missouri & North Arkansas railway.
The principal localities are at Missouri Bar, Ruby Bar and other places near Helena, where they were first worked, and also at Yogo Gulch, near Utica.
The Helena crystals are of tabular habit, being composed of the basal pinacoid with a very short hexagonal prism, whilst at Yogo Gulch many of the crystals affect a rhombohedral habit.
In 1863 the famous Alder Gulch in Madison county was discovered and in the next year, Last Chance Gulch in the south of Lewis and Clark county.
Julich (formerly also Gulch, Guliche) the capital of the former duchy of that name, is the Juliacum of the Antonini Itinerarium; some have attributed its origin to Julius Caesar. | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 276 | [
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c4e7c725-9484-4c96-94f9-76b42dfea7f7 | GUEST LECTURERS, TRAINERS, SPEAKERS | science | historical_context | GUEST LECTURERS, TRAINERS, SPEAKERS
Thanks to extraordinary professionals and experts, we can create the perfect environment ready to learn, to explore, to question and to impact.
Ramiro Murguia
Director General, World Youth Academy
Billy Batware
Crime Prevention Project Officer, UNODC
Abraham Joseph
Expert on International Economic Policy
Elena Martin
CEO, CivesSolutions
Joan Barata Mir
International Consultant
Florence Le Clézio
Communication Senior Assistant, OSCE
Sagi Zilbershatz
Israeli entrepreneur and activist
Elvira Segovia
Marketing Specialist,
Investor & Lecturer
Marlon Salazar
Post Operation Director at UN NYC HQs
Velina Tchakarova
Head of Institute, AIES
Arnold Kammel
Chief of Gabinet of the Minister at the Federal Ministry of Defence
Günter Hauser
President, Scientific Forum for International Security
Hernán Estrada
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Consultant
Senior Program Officer
at OFID
Iulia Jolley-Socea
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation Trainer
Michael Zinkanell
AIES Research Fellow & Shabka Secretary General
Darko Petrovic
Food Security Monitoring Consultant, WFP
Alfredo Montoya
President of the Collaborative Council
Pedro Pais Lopez
Director of the company Exaflop Sistemas Ltda
Lukas Wank
Founder and director of Shabka
3
Victor Pérez
CEO, CivesSolutions
3
Robert Ramírez
COO CivesSolutions and Professor in Germany
Scroll to Top | 0.55 | high | 6 | 434 | [
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4f671daf-8397-4763-8a4c-4da68148fd8f | past, products been designed | arts_and_creativity | historical_context | In the past, products have been designed that could not be produced. Products have been released for production that could only be made to work in the model shop when prototypes were built and adjusted by highly skilled technicians. Effective product development must go beyond the traditional steps of acquiring and implementing product and process design technology as the solution. It must address management practices to consider customer needs, designing those requirements into the product, and then ensuring that both the factory and the virtual factory (the company’s suppliers) have the capability to effectively produce the product.
Products are initially conceptualized to provide a particular capability and meet identified performance objectives and specifications. Given these specifications, a product can be designed in many different ways. The designer’s objective must be to optimize the product design with the production system. A company’s production system includes its suppliers, material handling systems, manufacturing processes, labor force capabilities and distribution systems.
Generally, the designer works within the context of an existing production system that can only be minimally modified. However in some cases, the production system will be designed or redesigned in conjunction with the design of the product. When design engineers and manufacturing engineers work together to design and rationalize both the product and production and support processes, it is known as integrated product and process design. The designer’s consideration of design for manufacturability, cost, reliability and maintainability is the starting point for integrated product development.
A designer’s primary objective is to design a functioning product within given economic and schedule constraints. However, research has shown that decisions made during the design period determine 70% of the product’s costs while decisions made during production only account for 20% of the product’s costs. Further, decisions made in the first 5% of product design could determine the vast majority of the product’s cost, quality and manufacturability characteristics. This indicates the great leverage that DFM can have on a company’s success and profitability.
However, the application of DFM must consider the overall design economics. It must balance the effort and cost associated with development and refinement of the design to the cost and quality leverage that can be achieved. In other words, greater effort to optimize a products design can be justified with higher value or higher volume products.
Design effectiveness is improved and integration facilitated when:
As a design is being developed from the conceptual level to the detailed level, a physical and functional requirement envelope is defined in which a part must fit and perform. Within the constraints of this envelope, a designer must design or select a part or assembly for use. A designer may have many alternative ways to design a part to meet requirements within this envelope.
While the design of a custom part or selection of a new part may be the most optimal approach to meet product requirements from the designer’s point of view, it may not be the best overall approach for the company. Product cost and quality may be negatively affected by the proliferation of specialized items that require specialized capabilities or prevent efficient manufacture and procurement.
Minimizing the number of active or approved parts through standardization not only simplifies product design, but can also result in operational efficiencies and lower inventories. A formal policy of parts standardization and emphasis on use of parts from an approved parts list (APL) for certain commodities provides management direction to the designer.
Group technology (GT) and Component Supplier Management (CSM) systems can facilitate standardization through retrieval of a similar part’s design to consider for use or as a basis for developing a new design. By providing a classification structure to store and retrieve design information, an engineer can avoid “re-inventing the wheel” and the design function can evolve toward the use of standards. CSM systems maintain information about approved parts and suppliers and provide easy access and cross reference to this information.
The engineer would determine the characteristics of the item that is needed and identify similar parts that are available through retrieval. One of these parts may function equally as well or there may be a non-critical specification (e.g., tolerance, finish, dimension, etc.) on an existing part that could be changed to suit both needs. If the existing designs were not satisfactory, the design data could be used to facilitate the design of a new part, particularly with computer-aided design tools. This approach can be extended to identify existing tooling and fixtures which also might be used, avoiding additional re-design.
In addition to standardization, simplification of part and product designs also offers significant opportunities to reduce costs and improve quality. Designers need to evaluate if there is an easier way to accomplish the part function. DFM tools and principles provide a structured approach to seeking simplified designs. Product complexity can be further reduced by utilizing a modular building block approach to assembling products. Through standard product modules, a wide variety of products can be assembled from a more limited number of modules, thereby simplifying the design and manufacturing process. By simplifying and standardizing designs, establishing design retrieval mechanisms, and embedding preferred manufacturing processes in the preferred part list, design and production efficiencies are enhanced.
A number of general design guidelines have been established to achieve higher quality, lower cost, improved application of automation and better maintainability. Examples of these DFM guidelines are as follows:
In addition to these guidelines, designers need to understand more about their own company’s production system, i.e., its capabilities and limitations, in order to establish company-specific design rules to further guide and optimize their product design to the company’s production system. For example, they need to understand the tolerance limitations of certain manufacturing processes.
With the traditional approach, the designer would develop an initial concept and translate that into a product design, making minor modifications as required to meet the specification. DFM requires that the designer start the process by considering various design concept alternatives early in the process. At this point, little has been invested in a design alternative and much can be gained if a more effective design approach can be developed. Only through consideration of more than one alternative is there any assurance of moving toward an optimum design. Using some of the previous design rules as a framework, the designer needs to creatively develop design alternatives. Then alternatives are evaluated against DFM objectives.
Design automation tools can assist in the economic development of multiple design alternatives as well as the evaluation of these alternatives. These design tools include computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE), solids modeling, finite element analysis, group technology (GT) and computer-aided process planning (CAPP). CAD/CAE aid the designer in cost effectively developing and analyzing design alternatives. CAD/CAE and expert system tools can utilize manufacturing guidelines to develop producible designs. Solids modeling helps the designer visualize the individual part; understand part relationships, orientation and clearances during assembly; and detect errors and assembly difficulties. Finite element analysis and other design analysis tools can be used to assess the ability of the design to meet functional requirements prior to manufacture as well as assess a part’s or product’s robustness. Computer-aided process planning can be used during the development of the product design to help the designer assess the manufacturability of a design. Without CAPP, this level of manufacturing assessment would not usually be performed until after the design was released for production. However, the use of these design productivity tools must be managed because they may create a temptation for the designer to exercise too much creativity and design a slightly improved part rather than opt for part standardization.
In addition to these design productivity tools, there are a variety of DFM analysis tools to evaluate designs and suggest opportunities for improvement. These can be used to analyze design symmetry; ease of part handling, feeding and orientation; and the number of parts. They can also analyze assembly operations, evaluate designs against design practices and analyze tolerancing requirements.
Once the designer acquires a basic DFM background, the designer must learn to work more closely with manufacturing engineers and others who can provide him with feedback on DFM design issues. In summary, this design approach and the supporting engineering tools should:
Identify design alternatives and develop these alternatives economically
Evaluate these alternatives against DFM objectives
Establish standardized designs based on DFM principles which can be readily retrieved for new products
Utilize design reviews and include participation of Manufacturing in the design process to evolve the producibility guidelines
Design for Manufacturability and Integrated Product Development may require additional effort early in the design process. However, the integration of product and process design through improved business practices, management philosophies and technology tools will result in a more producible product to better meet customer needs, a quicker and smoother transition to manufacturing, and a lower total program/life cycle cost.
In an increasingly competitive world, product design and customer service may be the ultimate way to distinguish a company’s capabilities. Because of the growing importance of product design, Design for Manufacturability and Integrated Product Development concepts will be critical. It will be the key to achieving and sustaining competitive advantage through the development of high quality, highly functional products effectively manufactured through the synergy of integrated product and process design. | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 1,847 | [
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dedfa55f-288c-45aa-aa64-540febc96ca1 | People long been fascinated | technology | worked_examples | People have long been fascinated with sleepwalkers — by those who roam during the night without awareness, climbing out of windows, walking down the street, urinating in a cupboard, or moving furniture.
Sleepwalking is one of a number of behaviours that can occur during deep sleep, know as the "non-rapid eye movement" (non-REM) period of sleep.
Others may include talking, sitting up, or just making odd body movements.
It's a relatively common sleep phenomenon with an estimated 7 per cent of people sleepwalking at some time during their lives.
Sleepwalking isn't necessarily considered a sleep disorder, unless it occurs repeatedly, includes amnesia (that is they have no memory of sleepwalking or what they did while sleepwalking), and causes distress or impairment.
The decrease in observed sleepwalking is not well understood, but may be the result of brain maturation, decreased non-REM sleep as we get older and hence fewer opportunities to sleepwalk, or adults being less likely to be observed sleepwalking than younger children.
It is not yet known why some people sleepwalk and others don't.
How does it happen?
Sleepwalking happens when some parts of our brain, particularly the limbic system (responsible for emotions) and the motor cortex (responsible for complex motor movements) are awake, while the rest of the brain is asleep.
The underlying cause of sleepwalking is not known. Sleepwalkers have their eyes open, but are relatively unresponsive to what is going on around them.
They perceive the environment differently and don't recognise people they know.
For most people, sleepwalking doesn't cause any problems and sleepwalkers often consider it an interesting quirk.
However, some people may suffer injuries while sleepwalking, from falls or bumping into things.
Children who frequently sleepwalk may be worried about going on school camps or sleepovers for fear of sleepwalking. Adults may forgo travelling.
Some sleepwalkers have also sexually assaulted someone else during sleepwalking, known as sexsomnia.
On very rare occasions, sleepwalkers have died while sleepwalking and have killed other people.
In research we conducted that's yet to be published, violence during sleepwalking is mediated by biological, psychological and social risk factors that affect impulse control.
Does anything need to be done?
If you or someone in your family is a sleepwalker, there are some things you can do to help minimise the risk of injury, including keeping furniture in the same place and not having things left on the floor that could be a tripping hazard.
Deadlocks on doors and windows can help prevent sleepwalkers from wandering outside, but it is important to ensure they can escape in case of a fire.
Sleepwalkers who are violent can minimise harm to themselves and others by removing objects that could be potential weapons from bedside tables.
But because they are in the deepest stage of sleep, they will be confused if woken.
While sleepwalking doesn't normally cause daytime tiredness, most likely because the sleepwalker is still asleep, waking the sleepwalker may disrupt their sleep, which in turn may affect how they feel in the morning.
If someone in your home is sleepwalking, it is best to just tell them to go back to bed, or gently lead them to their room.
To date, there have been no clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for sleepwalking, though myriad psychological and pharmacological treatments have been used.
If parents are concerned about their child sleepwalking, one of the most promising treatments that doesn't have side-effects, is scheduled waking.
This involves waking the child about 20 minutes before they normally sleepwalk.
Once they are awake, you let them go back to sleep. This should be continued nightly for about three weeks. For older children and adults, hypnosis may be effective.
Adults without a history of sleepwalking in childhood, seldom start in adulthood.
If that occurs it's best to have it checked out by a medical practitioner as it could be caused by medication or a neurological problem.
Dr Helen Stallman is a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of South Australia.
Originally published in The Conversation | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 870 | [
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18ff9625-3438-496f-9c79-8bed7e20f19f | **Definition**: Stylistic analysis systematic | language_arts | data_analysis | **Definition**: Stylistic analysis is the systematic study of linguistic features within a text to understand its meaning, effect, and authorial intent. **Intuitive Explanation**: Imagine reading a book. Stylistic analysis is like being a detective, but instead of looking for clues about a crime, you're looking for clues within the author's word choices, sentence structures, and figurative language. These "clues" reveal *how* the author is trying to make you feel, *what* they want you to understand, and *why* they chose specific words over others. **Purpose**: In applied fields like literary criticism, marketing, and communication studies, stylistic analysis helps us move beyond a superficial understanding of a text. It allows for objective interpretation, evaluation of persuasive strategies, and identification of unique authorial voices. It explains *why* a text works (or doesn't work) on its audience. **Mechanism**: Stylistic analysis operates by identifying patterns of linguistic choices. These choices can be at the level of: * **Lexis**: Word choice (e.g., formal vs. informal, connotative vs. denotative). * **Syntax**: Sentence structure (e.g., simple vs. complex, active vs. passive voice). * **Figurative Language**: Metaphors, similes, irony, etc. * **Phonology**: Sound patterns (e.g., alliteration, assonance). * **Graphology**: Visual aspects of text (e.g., typography, layout). By quantifying or qualifying the frequency and distribution of these features, analysts can draw conclusions about the text's overall style and its intended effect. **Examples**: * **Example 1**: Consider the sentences: 1. "The dog chased the ball." (Simple, active voice) 2. "The ball was chased by the dog." (Passive voice) * **Reasoning**: Sentence 1 is direct and emphasizes the dog's action. Sentence 2 is less direct, potentially downplaying the dog's agency or emphasizing the ball's state. A stylistic analysis would note the use of passive voice in sentence 2 and infer a potential shift in focus or tone compared to the active voice in sentence 1. * **Example 2**: A political speech uses short, declarative sentences and repetition of key phrases like "We will prevail." * **Reasoning**: The short sentences create a sense of urgency and conviction. The repetition (a rhetorical device) reinforces the message, making it memorable and impactful. Stylistic analysis identifies these features (syntax, repetition) and links them to the intended effect of inspiring confidence and determination in the audience. **Common Misconceptions**: * **"It's just subjective opinion."**: While interpretation is involved, stylistic analysis relies on objective observation and systematic description of linguistic features, providing a framework for discussion rather than mere opinion. * **"It's only for literature."**: Stylistic analysis is applicable to any form of discourse, from advertising copy and news reports to social media posts and everyday conversations. **Connections**: * **Builds to**: Discourse Analysis (examining language in social contexts), Corpus Linguistics (using large text datasets for analysis), Computational Stylistics (applying computational methods to stylistic analysis). * **Prerequisites**: A basic understanding of grammar and vocabulary is helpful, but explicit linguistic knowledge is not strictly required to grasp the core concept. | 0.6 | high | 5 | 698 | [
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93201f3c-6626-4f20-a25a-b2aa8c3a1ca3 | Class been learning about | interdisciplinary | code_implementation | Class 3H have been learning about different forms of musical theatre as part of our music learning for the spring term. We usually start these sessions with a relaxing sensory experience. The pupils listen to some mood music. We add in various materials that the students can then explore.
The class members are then asked to describe the music that we have been listening to. Communication in Print cards are used to help with this process. This hopefully sets the class up with a calming frame of mind for the learning that is to come.
Miss G has been helping Class 3H to be able to identify different form of musical theatre. We have seen that the three common components across all types of musical theatre is music, words and action.
This has then be broken down into genres covering musicals, opera, ballet and plays. The pupils have been watching short video clips from each style to help identify what is unique about each performance. We have seen that a ballet production such as Nutcracker doesn’t include any words. Opera however has Italian singing.
Each class member was then set the challenge to complete a worksheet. We watched three videos. We asked Class 3H to work independently and identify the style of musical theatre that they could see in each video. The session was concluded with a lively class rendition of Consider Yourself, a current Class 3H favourite from Oliver the Musical. | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 281 | [
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815e0fee-d18d-4380-a697-def88c4b3fb3 | Social computing refers any | technology | historical_context | Social computing refers to any form of computing whose goal is social interaction, whether trivial ("socializing") or substantial (e.g. activism). Users on a social computing platform constitute a social network; social computing sites are consequently often referred to as "social networks", and social computing software and platforms are often described as "social networking".
Social computing for substantial purposes, i.e. with a specific goal in mind, is also referred to as collaborative computing.
Services such as instant messaging and IRC are also a form of social computing, though they often omit many of the "core" features listed below. Perhaps the ones omitted need to be moved to the "best practices" list, or maybe we need 3 lists. --Woozle 10:39, 17 July 2011 (EDT)
The overwhelming popularity leader among social network services is US-founded Facebook, whose membership is currently greater than the population of the United States. Google+ started out on a trajectory that might have allowed it to catch up, but Google took the service in directions that were unpopular with many people, and it hasn't kept that momentum.
Other services include:
There are a number of open-source software packages available for creating social computing sites:
Attributes / Tools
It is commonly expected that any social computing/networking platform will support the following core features:
- /avatars - a small user-uploaded image intended as a visual identity cue
- /posts - the ability for any user to post messages that are visible to others
- /feeds - a sequence of posts from one or more other users, typically displayed in chronological order
- /subscription - the ability to select whose posts you want to see in your feed
- /authorization - the ability to choose which other users are allowed to see information you enter
- Google Plus allows this choice for (nearly) every piece of information you enter
- /comments - the ability to comment on messages posted by others
- /feedback - the ability for users to express approval (at a minimum) of specific posts or comments
- e.g. Facebook's [like], Google Plus's [+1]
- some sites allow "dislike" or even rating on a scale
- no known sites currently support InstaGov-style voting, or even a substantial subset
- /authorization - the ability to choose which other users can see your posts
- /media - the ability to post (either as links, embeds, or uploads) various media files, i.e. images, video, and audio
- /links - the ability to post links
Some additional best practice tools and attributes have emerged over the years since social computing was first implemented:
- /threading - the ability to comment on a specific comment rather than just adding to a long chain of comments
- most current-generation blogging software supports this, though some of the most popular blogging services apparently still do not
- Neither Facebook nor Google Plus support this yet.
- /groups - the ability for users to subscribe by user-created topic rather than by user
- Fine-grained relational search tool:
- Search for "all posts by User X on which User Y has commented"
- Search for "all posts on which both User X and User Y have commented" | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 696 | [
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73e6409d-b2a0-400b-b7dd-41dfc59403a4 | Deeper Look Into CBD | science | data_analysis | A Deeper Look Into CBD As A Treatment For Eczema
CBD has gained impressive traction within recent years as a non-psychoactive substance with vast medicinal benefits. Laws surrounding the chemical are relaxing, and it is now available on a vast scale.
Cannabinoids like CBD exert their effects primarily by influencing the endocannabinoid system. This system is found all throughout the human body in the form of receptor sites existing on the membranes of many different cell types. These are the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Cannabinoids have an affinity for these receptors, successfully binding to them by mimicking chemicals already produced within the body called endocannabinoids.
CBD has a low affinity for both the CB1 and CB2 receptor, yet exerts its profound effects by affecting them indirectly. CBD is also known to bind to other receptor types in the body such as the vanilloid, capsaicin, serotonin, and GPR55 receptors.
CBD AND THE SKIN
The reason why CBD has such a wide scope of applications is in part due to the abundance of cannabinoid receptors throughout the body. Cannabinoids will produce an effect on whatever cells these receptors show up on. It just so happens that the endocannabinoid system exists in the skin, which is why CBD can soothe the symptoms of irritable conditions such as eczema.
Research has discovered that the endocannabinoid system in the skin is associated with various biological processes such as proliferation, growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and hormone production. Moreover, the disruption of the endocannabinoid system in the skin can result in the development of multiple associated pathologies such as psoriasis, hair growth disorders, dermatitis, and acne.
WHAT IS ECZEMA?
Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition featuring itchy and inflamed patches on the skin. Although eczema may only present as a slight itch in some people, in others it can become overwhelmingly uncomfortable, markedly reducing one’s quality of life. The condition is more common in young children, but can affect people at any age.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema, but other forms do exist. Contact dermatitis is a form of eczema brought of by coming into contact with irritants, resulting in redness and itching.
Dyshidrotic dermatitis is type of eczema that primarily occurs on the fingers, palms, and bottom of the feet. This results in scaly and flaky patches of skin. Nummular dermatitis is a type that often arises during the winter months, and seborrheic dermatitis is a form that occurs on the face and behind the ears.
The primary symptoms of eczema are itchy, dry, rough, scaly, and inflamed patches of skin. These can form anywhere, but the inner elbows, backs of the knees, and head are most commonly affected. Red and brown patches can also develop, along with small raised bumps.
Eczema still remains a bit of a mystery within medical and scientific circles, as its root cause is still not fully understood. It’s believed to be triggered by an overreaction of the immune response. In some cases, the immune system begins to attack proteins in parts of the body it usually ignores, resulting in inflammation.
There are many different triggers that can result in eczema. These include chemical irritants, food allergies, stress, sweating, changes in temperature, and shifts in humidity.
Common treatments for eczema include antihistamines and steroid creams (to curb itching), however, they come with an array of side effects that render them unfavourable in some cases. Light therapy is also used in attempt to clear up eczema.
Lifestyle changes to minimise stress are also employed. Meditation, yoga, and breathwork can help reduce the physiological reactions to stress, such as elevated heart rate and hormone release.
ABOUT CIBDOL ZEMADOL
Zemadol is a class 1 medical device, specifically formulated to support the recovery of irritated and dry skin caused by atopic dermatitis. The primary active ingredient within Zemadol is colloidal oatmeal, which supports the skin with a coating of polysaccharides to soothe and calm irritated areas. Colloidal oatmeal also contains avenanthramides, which help to reduce sensitivity and inflammation.
Zemadol is infused with Cannabis sativa extracts possessing a high concentration of CBD. CBD has been shown to penetrate the skin with ease, making it a suitable topical treatment. University of Colorado researchers have stated the effectiveness of CBD for treating the symptoms of eczema, testifying to its ability to serve as a natural alternative to steroid creams.
CBD targets immune cells, keratinocytes, and sebocytes via cannabinoid receptors. This results in a suppression of the immune and inflammatory processes.
Zemadol boasts high absorption rates due to the use of liposomes within the formula. Liposomes are tiny vesicles made up of one or more bilayers that contain an aqueous core. These structures serve as protective vessels to carry molecules safely to their desired cellular destination without any premature degradation occurring. | 0.65 | medium | 5 | 1,013 | [
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e1d36b39-eef8-4015-9646-806b8303ae68 | PŮVODNÍ PRÁCE/ORIGINAL PAPER | interdisciplinary | historical_context | PŮVODNÍ PRÁCE/ORIGINAL PAPER
Slavkovit z Preisselbergu, rudní revír Krupka (Česká republika) a jeho minerální asociace
Slavkovite from Preisselberg, the Krupka ore district (Czech Republic) and its mineral association
Jiří Sejkora 1) *, Pavel Škácha 1) , Zdeněk Dvořák 2) a Pavel Muzikant 3)
1)Mineralogicko-petrologické oddělení, Národní muzeum, Cirkusová 1740, 193 00 Praha 9 - Horní Počernice; *e-mail email@example.com 2)Severočeské doly a.s., ul. 5. května 213, 418 29 Bílina 3)Orasice 29, 440 01 Louny
Sejkora J., Škácha P., Dvořák Z., Muzikant P. (2015) Slavkovit z Preisselbergu, rudní revír Krupka (Česká republika) a jeho minerální asociace. Bull. mineral.-petrolog. Odd. Nár. Muz. (Praha) 23, 1, 1-18. ISSN 1211-0329.
Abstract
A unique supergene mineral association was found at abandoned Gallery No. 3 Preisselberg, the Krupka ore dis trict, Krušné hory Mountains, Czech Republic. Slavkovite forms there light pale blue to blue-green rosettes up to 1 mm across composed by lath-like crystals; it is translucent (in aggregates) to transparent (in crystals), very brittle, and has a vitreous luster and perfect cleavage. It is triclinic, space group P-1, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 6.414(2), b 14.370(3), c 16.527(4) Å, α 102.81(2), β 101.12(2), γ 97.94° and V 1431.0(8) Å 3 ; its che mical analyses correspond to the empirical formula (Cu 12.92 Zn 0.05 Al 0.02 ) Σ12.99 [(AsO 4 ) 6.01 (PO 4 ) 0.01 ] Σ6.02 (AsO 3 OH) 3.98 ·23H 2 O on the basis As+P=10 apfu. Olivenite was found as relatively abundant dark olive green hemispherical to spherical aggre gates up to several mm in size. It is orthorhombic, space group Pnnm, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray pow der diffraction data are: a 8.6300(8), b 8.2405(8), c 5.8384(2) Å and V 422.31(5) Å 3 ; its chemical analyses correspond to the empirical formula (Cu 2.01 Zn 0.01 Fe 0.01 ) Σ2.03 [(AsO 4 ) 0.99 (PO 4 ) 0.01 ] Σ1.00 (OH) 1.06 on the basis As+P = 1 apfu. Abundant strashi mirite occurs there as greenish to white coatings on the area to several cm 2 , its light green crystalline aggregates up to 0.5 mm in size consisting of acicular crystals are more rare. Strashimirite is probably monoclinic, space group P2, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 9.569(6), b 18.59(1), c 9.032(6) Å, β 97.21(6)° and V 1594(1) Å 3 ; its chemical analyses correspond to the empirical formula (Cu 7.89 Al 0.07 Zn 0.05 Ca 0.03 ) Σ8.04 [(AsO 4 ) 3.74 (SO 4 ) 0.24 (PO 4 ) 0.03 ] Σ4.00 (OH) 4.41 ·5H 2 O on the basis As+P+S = 4 apfu. Brochantite forms there abundant dark green fine crystalline coatings on the area up to several cm 2 in size and rarely also dark green tiny (up to 0.5 mm) prismatic crystals. It is monoclinic, space group P2 1 /a, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 13.133(1), b 9.855(1), c 6.016(1) Å, β 103.25(1)° and V 757.8(1) Å 3 ; its chemical analyses correspond to the empirical formula (Cu 3.91 Al 0.02 ) Σ3.93 [(SO 4 ) 0.97 (AsO 4 ) 0.03 ] Σ1.00 (OH) 5.85 on the basis S+As+P = 1 apfu. Devilline was found as relatively abundant whitish fine crystalline coatings on the area up 1 x 1 cm in size; light bluish green aggregates up to 0.5 cm across or rarely also transparent tabular crystals up to 0.2 mm across. Devilline is monoclinic, space group P2 1 /c, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 20.86(1), b 6.195(3), c 21.96(1) Å, β 102.92(1)° and V 2767(3) Å 3 ; its chemical analyses correspond to the empirical formula Ca 1.05 (Cu 4.11 Al 0.02 ) Σ4.13 (SO 4 ) 2.00 (OH) 6.39 ·3H 2 O on the basis S = 2 apfu. An unnamed Cu-Ca arsenate occurs there as lavendulan-like blue crystalline coatings covering area up to 5 x 5 mm in size or hemispherical aggregates up to 0.5 mm across; its aggregates are composed from very thin (only 1 - 4 μm) tabular crystals up to 80 μm in size. Its X-ray powder data (strongest line 12.51 Å) does not corre spond to any known mineral phases. Chemical composition of this mineral phase is possible to be expressed on the basis As+P+S = 4 apfu by empirical formulae Na 0.03 Ca 1.03 (Cu 4.99 Al 0.03 Zn 0.01 ) Σ5.03 [(AsO 4 ) 3.73 (SO 4 ) 0.25 (PO 4 ) 0.02 ] Σ4.00 Cl 0.43 ·nH 2 O (thin tabular aggregates) or (Na 0.03 K 0.02 ) Σ0.16 Ca 1.17 (Cu 4.69 Al 0.03 Zn 0.01 ) Σ4.73 [(AsO 4 ) 3.73 (SO 4 ) 0.25 (PO 4 ) 0.02 ] Σ4.00 Cl 0.59 ·nH 2 O (tabular aggregates). Further an unnamed Cu arsenate forms there light pale bluish green crystalline aggregates up 1 - 2 mm in size composed by tabular crystals up to 250 μm across in association with slavkovite. It is transparent to translucent, has a vitreous luster and perfect cleavage. Its X-ray powder data (strongest line 9.807 Å) does not correspond to any known mineral phases. This mineral phase is considerably unstable under electron beam of EPMA, the cation/anion ratio determined from WDS is in the range of 1.16 - 1.36. The origin of described mineral association is connected with (sub)recent weathering of primary tennantite in conditions of abandoned mine adit. Origin of Cu-arsenates is possible to express by following sequence: strashimirite → Cu-Ca arsenate → olivenite → slavkovite → Cu-arsenate.
Key words: slavkovite, olivenite, strashimirite, new mineral phases, powder X-ray diffraction data, unit-cell parameters, chemical composition, the Krupka ore district, Czech Republic.
Obdrženo: 22. 7. 2015; přijato: 1. 9. 2015 | 0.55 | medium | 3 | 2,178 | [
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af8c1eef-3100-4d17-b1b2-db109a577e9b | Cun (unit)ump to navigation | science | experiment_design | Cun (unit)ump to navigation
The cun ( chinese : 寸; pinyin: cùn; Wade : ts’un; Japanese sun; Korean chon), often glossed as the Chinese inch, is a traditional Its traditional measure is the width of a person’s thumb at the knuckle, whereas the width of the two forefingers denotes 1.5 cun and the width of four fingers (except the thumb) side-by-side is three cuns.] In this sense it continues to be used to chart s on the human body in various uses of
The cun was part of a larger system, and represented one-tenth of a (“Chinese foot”). In time the lengths were standardized, although to different values in different jurisdictions. (See for details.)
In Hong Kong, using the traditional standard, it measures ~3.715 cm (~1.463 in) and is written “tsun”.[In the twentieth century in the , the lengths were standardized to fit with the metric system, and in current usage in and it measures 3 1⁄3 cm (~1.312 in).
Cun Measurements of the Body
The system of using the cun is a genius way for acupuncture to measure and locate acupoints on anyone’s body. Since everyone’s body is of a different size and shape, using a person’s inborn measurement system makes finding the points a snap. The process starts with the measurement of one cun. This is done two ways: (a)using the width of the distal inter-phalangeal joint of the thumb (first finger) or (b)using the distance between the distal and proximal inter-phalangeal joints of the 3rd (middle) finger. All other specific measurements are outlined in the diagrams below. When in doubt in measuring, the thumb (1 cun) or the four finger method (3 cun) can always be used in a pinch.
© Copyright 2002. Charts and images are property of TCM Strategies, Inc. Reproduction of the above images without permission is prohibited. | 0.6 | medium | 3 | 448 | [
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335b602d-6e0e-41d7-9bbb-ffcb2b743bd3 | Scientists Department Energy’s Lawrence | interdisciplinary | research_summary | Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have shown for the first time that dark fiber – the vast network of unused fiber-optic cables installed throughout the country and the world – can be used as sensors for detecting earthquakes, the presence of groundwater, changes in permafrost conditions, and a variety of other subsurface activity.
In a pair of recently published papers, a team led by Berkeley Lab researcher Jonathan Ajo-Franklin announced they had successfully combined a technology called “distributed acoustic sensing,” which measures seismic waves using fiber-optic cables, with novel processing techniques to allow reliable seismic monitoring, achieving results comparable to what conventional seismometers can measure.
“This has huge potential because you can just imagine long stretches of fibers being turned into a massive seismic network,” said Shan Dou, a Berkeley Lab postdoctoral fellow. “The idea is that by using fiber that can be buried underground for a long time, we can transform traffic noise or other ambient vibrations into usable seismic signals that can help us to monitor near-surface changes such as permafrost thaw and groundwater-level fluctuations.”
Dou is the lead author of “Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Seismic Monitoring of the Near Surface: A Traffic-Noise Interferometry Case Study,” which was published in September in Nature’s Scientific Reports and verified the technique for monitoring the Earth’s near surface. More recently, Ajo-Franklin’s group published a follow-up study led by UC Berkeley graduate student Nate Lindsey, “Fiber-Optic Network Observations of Earthquake Wavefields,” in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL), which demonstrates the viability of using fiber-optic cables for earthquake detection.
What is dark fiber?
Dark fiber refers to unused fiber-optic cable, of which there is a glut thanks to a huge rush to install the cable in the early 1990s by telecommunications companies. Just as the cables were buried underground, the technology for transmitting data improved significantly so that fewer cables were needed. There are now dense corridors of dark fiber crisscrossing the entire country.
Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a novel technology that measures seismic wavefields by shooting short laser pulses across the length of the fiber. “The basic idea is, the laser light gets scattered by tiny impurities in the fiber,” said Ajo-Franklin. “When fiber is deformed, we will see distortions in the backscattered light, and from these distortions, we can measure how the fiber itself is being squeezed or pulled.”
Using a test array they installed in Richmond, California – with fiber-optic cable placed in a shallow L-shaped trench, one leg of about 100 meters parallel to the road and another perpendicular – the researchers verified that they could use seismic waves generated by urban traffic, such as cars and trains, to image and monitor the mechanical properties of shallow soil layers.
The measurements give information on how “squishy” the soil is at any given point, making it possible to infer a great deal of information about the soil properties, such as its water content or texture. “Imagine a slinky – it can compress or wiggle,” Ajo-Franklin said. “Those correspond to different ways you can squeeze the soil, and how much energy it takes to reduce its volume or shear it.”
He added: “The neat thing about it is that you’re making measurements across each little unit of fiber. All the reflections come back to you. By knowing all of them and knowing how long it takes for a laser light to travel back and forth on the fiber you can back out what’s happening at each location. So it’s a truly distributed measurement.”
Having proven the concept under controlled conditions, the team said they expect the technique to work on a variety of existing telecommunications networks, and they are currently conducting follow-up experiments across California to demonstrate this. Ongoing research in Alaska is also exploring the same technique for monitoring the stability of Arctic permafrost.
Added Dou: “We can monitor the near surface really well by using nothing but traffic noise. It could be fluctuations in groundwater levels, or changes that could provide early warnings for a variety of geohazards such as permafrost thaw, sinkhole formation, and landslides.”
Using fiber for quake detection
Building on five years of Berkeley Lab-led research exploring the use of DAS for subsurface monitoring using non-earthquake seismic sources, Ajo-Franklin’s group has now pushed the envelope and has shown that DAS is a powerful tool for earthquake monitoring as well.
In the GRL study led by Lindsey in collaboration with Stanford graduate student Eileen Martin, the research team took measurements using the DAS technique on fiber-optic arrays in three locations – two in California and one in Alaska. In all cases, DAS proved to be comparably sensitive to earthquakes as conventional seismometers, despite its higher noise levels. Using the DAS arrays, they assembled a catalog of local, regional, and distant earthquakes and showed that processing techniques could take advantage of DAS’ many channels to help understand where earthquakes originate from.
Ajo-Franklin said that dark fiber has the advantage of being nearly ubiquitous, whereas traditional seismometers, because they are expensive, are sparsely installed, and subsea installations are particularly scarce. Additionally, fiber allows for dense spatial sampling, meaning data points are only meters apart, whereas seismometers typically are separated by many kilometers.
Lindsey added: “Fiber has a lot of implications for earthquake detection, location, and early warning. Fiber goes out in the ocean, and it’s all over the land, so this technology increases the likelihood that a sensor is near the rupture when an earthquake happens, which translates into finding small events, improved earthquake locations, and extra time for early warning.”
The GRL paper notes other potential applications of using the dark fiber, including urban seismic hazard analysis, global seismic imaging, offshore submarine volcano detection, nuclear explosion monitoring, and microearthquake characterization.
The research was funded by the Department of Defense through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program as well as by Laboratory Directed Research and Development funding.
Other co-authors on the GRL paper are Barry Freifeld of Berkeley Lab, Douglas Dreger of UC Berkeley, Martin and Biondo Biondi of Stanford University, Steve Cole of OptaSense Inc., and Stephanie James of Sandia National Laboratories. Lindsey is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Other co-authors of the Scientific Reports paper are Freifeld, Thomas Daley, Michelle Robertson, John Peterson, and Craig Ulrich of Berkeley Lab; Anna Wagner of the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory; and Martin. | 0.55 | medium | 6 | 1,380 | [
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bcee32bd-488d-4d2b-b39f-93ab9bff68b5 | row2k
Support row2k | interdisciplinary | historical_context | row2k
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EARC LW Men: MIT vs. Delaware
April 30, 2011; Philadelphia, PA
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Distance: 2000m
Conditions: Variable cross/tail wind. Approximately 15mph. Strong tail current. In 2F4 race, margins are correct, overall time is estimated.
Results
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614c4da7-9eeb-485c-903a-46f2fb4dbd16 | Porphyrins organic molecules appear | science | research_summary | Porphyrins are organic molecules that appear in the central region of macromolecules such as chlorophyll and hemoglobin, and have a metal atom at their center that determines their specific function. The importance of these molecules in the field of molecular electronics lies in their "ease of transfer electrons from one region to another" explains the responsible of the work at the Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (a joint research center of the CSIC, the University of Oviedo and the Government of the Principality of Asturias) Vctor Manuel Garca.
To determine the electronic transport mechanism in porphyrins, the team has evaluated the change in their electrical conductivity as a function of distance and temperature, in chains of one, two and three units of porphyrin anchored at their ends to gold surfaces, which act as electrodes.
According to the laws governing hopping transport, the conductivity of the porphyrins increases with temperature but decreases slowly with distance. Under this mechanism, electrons pass from one electrode to another by jumping from one region of the molecule to another, thus being their movement more similar to that of a particle than to a wave. The temperature increases their ability to jump and, therefore, the conductance, while the length decreases it.
On the contrary, the tunneling effect is based on the fact that electrons have a certain probability of disappearing from one electrode and reappearing in the other. This probability depends on the type of molecule between the electrodes.
Under this mechanism, the temperature can also increase the electrical conductance, "since it increases the amount of available electrons to be transported", explains Garca. However, the length effect changes the conductance exponentially. A increase of the length of the molecular wire drastically decreases the probability of electrons to appear at the other side.
The weak dependence of the porphyrins' conductivity as a function of distance as well as the temperature dependence "led to believe that the main transport mechanism was hopping. However, experiments and theoretical calculations carried out by the research team have shown that electron transport in these systems is actually led by the tunneling effect", says the researcher.
"The progressive miniaturization of integrated circuits make the electronic elements increasingly approach the atomic limit", says Garcia. Therefore, the research aims to find molecules that can perform the functions of electronic components since they can be produced in a simple and cost-effective way. The electron transport mechanism shown in this study may promote the use of porphyrins in devices for quantum computers. These computers are based on quantum mechanics, so the transport of electrons by tunneling may be appropriate for them. When electrons disappear and reappear at one electrode or another "they retain their wave nature, and therefore also their quantum properties", concludes Garcia.
|Contact: Marta del Amo|
CSIC, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientficas | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 583 | [
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43a26d35-6998-4ea6-a0d1-bd549c8d3ef7 | Johnson S.A., Dominican Republic | social_studies | historical_context | Johnson S.A., Dominican Republic
The company in Dominican Republic
Introduction
Johnson S.A. is an importer from Dominican Republic,the company sell [HTS CODE]goods and related products to Dominican Republic market.
The comany imports [HTS CODE]goods from overseas and pick up goods at ,the products and country of origin is .
Contact Information
Company Name: Johnson S.A.
Business Type: trading,import,wholesale
Main Products: [HTS CODE]goods
Telephone: Search Phone Number
Email: Search Email Address
Port Of Discharge:
Address and More: CALLE PEGORO N. 34 PANTOJAS SANTO DOMINGO OESTE, SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic
Country: Dominican Republic
The Related Information Of Johnson S.A. On Internet
Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000: Dominican Republic - Wikipedia
The Dominican Republic (Spanish: República Dominicana [reˈpuβlika ðominiˈkana]) is a sovereign state occupying the eastern five-eighths of the island of ...
Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000: Dominican Republic - Wikipedia for Schools
Discover more about Dominican Republic. One of thousands of articles selected and checked for the Wikipedia for Schools by SOS Children's Villages UK
Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000: History of the Dominican Republic - Wikipedia
The recorded history of the Dominican Republic began on 5 December 1492 when the European navigator Christopher Columbus happened upon a large island in the region of ...
Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000: Dominican Republic History by Hispaniola.com
History of the Dominican Republic. The History Section was revised and edited by Dr. Lynne Guitar, one of the foremost historians of the Dominican Republic.
Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000: Market Research on Dominican Republic
Market Research Data, Statistics and Analysis on Dominican Republic
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Related Companies | 0.7 | medium | 5 | 545 | [
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752fbb0e-72eb-4503-8dad-284ab592cde1 | Grade instructional time focus | interdisciplinary | historical_context | In Grade 4, instructional time should focus on three critical areas: (1) developing understanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplication, and developing understanding of dividing to find quotients involving multi-digit dividends; (2) developing an understanding of fraction equivalence, addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, and multiplication of fractions by whole numbers; and (3) understanding that geometric figures can be analyzed and classified based on their properties, such as having parallel sides, perpendicular sides, particular angle measures, and symmetry.
(1) Students will generalize their understanding of place value to 1,000,000, understanding the relative sizes of numbers in each place. They will apply their understanding of models for multiplication (equal-sized groups, arrays, area models), place value, and properties of operations, in particular the distributive property, as they develop, discuss, and use efficient, accurate, and generalizable methods to compute products of multi-digit whole numbers. Depending on the numbers and the context, they will select and accurately apply appropriate methods to estimate or mentally calculate products. They will develop fluency with efficient procedures for multiplying whole numbers, understand and explain why the procedures work based on place value and properties of operations, and use them to solve problems. Students will apply their understanding of models for division, place value, properties of operations, and the relationship of division to multiplication as they develop, discuss, and use efficient, accurate, and generalizable procedures to find quotients involving multi-digit dividends. They will select and accurately apply appropriate methods to estimate and mentally calculate quotients, and interpret remainders based upon the context.
(2) Students will develop understanding of fraction equivalence and operations with fractions. They will recognize that two different fractions can be equal (for example, 15/9 = 5/3), and they will develop methods for generating and recognizing equivalent fractions. Students will extend previous understandings about how fractions are built from unit fractions, composing fractions from unit fractions, decomposing fractions into unit fractions, and using the meaning of fractions and the meaning of multiplication to multiply a fraction by a whole number.
(3) Students will describe, analyze, compare, and classify two-dimensional shapes. Through building, drawing, and analyzing two-dimensional shapes, students will deepen their understanding of properties of two-dimensional objects and the use of them to solve problems involving symmetry.
The Online Core Resource pages are a collaborative project between the Utah State Board of Education and the Utah Education Network. If you would like to recommend a high quality resource, contact Trish French (Elementary) or Lindsey Henderson (Secondary). If you find inaccuracies or broken links contact email@example.com. | 0.55 | medium | 6 | 550 | [
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1a93fb56-5bc8-4563-9671-f27ee989e031 | Farmworker Women’s Reproductive Health | life_skills | historical_context | The Farmworker Women’s Reproductive Health Workshop is an interactive, popular-education method of empowering women to protect their health, prevent risks at their workplace, and improve the health of their families at home. The curriculum is conducted in Spanish and it consists of a multi-media presentation, interaction between participants, fun group activities, and more!
Lessons Learned from Lake Apopka is a comprehensive educational curriculum about the benefits of sustainable agriculture for consumer health, the environment, and farmworker safety. As educators, we can teach students to become more aware of the food that they eat and what it took to get it from the ground to their plates, including how to make informed food choices that will have a positive impact on the environment, on their health and also on the farmworkers who work the land so that we can have an abundant and dependable food supply. Through this interactive lesson plan, students will learn through audio/visual case studies, critical thinking exercises, and break-out group discussions.
The Farmworker Association of Florida, through its Pesticide Safety and Environmental Health Project, revised, adapted and expanded health and pesticide safety training materials to meet agricultural workers’ needs in relation to their occupational health and safety, and to include the rules and regulations set by OSHA, EPA and the Florida Department of Agriculture. | 0.5 | high | 5 | 263 | [
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6b38b2b5-c11c-4246-b3c9-a398d788e88b | By Thomas A. Bowman, PhD, Jarrow Formulas | interdisciplinary | historical_context | By Thomas A. Bowman, PhD, Jarrow Formulas
Knowing in your gut, and having a gut feeling: these are two ancient phrases that express something that until recently was not well understood. Recent research has discovered many more details on gut-brain functional mechanisms. We now know that gut microbes affect thoughts, emotions and behaviors.*
Nutrients and microorganisms interact with several different types of intestinal cells, which then interact with immune cells and gut nerve cells. The results of these interactions include changes in metabolism, neurotransmitters, gut signaling molecules and hormones that can signal to the rest of the body, including the brain.*
Environment versus Genetics
So how important are these signals in our body on physical health measures? One study found with several body measurements (such as waist circumference, fasting glucose, lactose consumption and HDL cholesterol) that the microbiome explained a significant amount of variability as much as or more than genetics.1* So your physical health is determined largely by which microbes grow in your gut.*
Additionally, gut bacteria stimulate hunger and cravings for certain food types. For example, your sweet tooth may really be coming from a colony of gut or mouth bacteria. According to one research study, a change in diet may change cravings for types of food in normal healthy subjects.2 Eating healthier can make you crave unhealthy foods less. Brain pattern responses to food images changed on functional MRI after six months of the new diet. Thus, changing your diet can change your cravings. Moreover, changing your diet changes your gut bacteria populations.3,4*
Microbial Regulation of Nutrients and Metabolites
There are hundreds of different types of gut bacteria. Each type of bacteria specializes in metabolizing a different type of nutrient, which produces metabolites. Metabolites are altered broken down nutrients based on the enzymatic abilities of the bacteria. These metabolites are typically in a more bioactive form, which may be more easily absorbed and utilized in the body. If you consume a nutrient utilized by a type of bacteria, ipso facto, you will have more of that bacteria's type of metabolite. Additionally, that bacteria's population will grow when given more of its needed nutrient. Furthermore, one bacterium's metabolite can be another bacterium's nutrient. Feeding different bacteria changes the balance of microbes in your intestines. These bacteria compete against each other for residence and resources along the digestive tract.
Because of signals from intestinal microbes, your gut can affect your brain's thoughts and emotions. Research has shown that your gut bacteria are signaling to your brain to affect emotions such as worry and agitation, sadness, and even social and developmental brain responses.5 The diversity and type of bacteria in the gut significantly influences the brain in normal learning.6 The mechanism of the brain influences of gut bacteria is through metabolites increasing or decreasing gut-connected hormones and neurotransmitters, including serotonin, GABA, cortisol, dopamine and adrenaline.5 Some gut bacteria also produce stress hormones, altering your mood.7
Several strains of probiotic bacteria also positively shape these brain responses. For example, Bifidobacterium longum BB536 supported memory when taken with calcium-fortified milk in 20,000 Japanese men and women;8* and reduced agitation in mice.9* Similarly, Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 reduced agitation, improved mood, and decreased cortisol in human studies.10*
Probiotic Benefits - Strains Matter™
Beneficial bacteria--probiotic strains--compete with bacteria that are not beneficial.* The healthy balance of bacterial populations depends on advantages of probiotic strains, including their survivability, adherence properties, immune advantages and other properties.* Important to note is that probiotics need to be alive after traveling through the acidic stomach and small intestine containing digestive enzymes and bile. One of the benefits of probiotics is their ability to modify bile acids (deconjugation) so that they are better absorbed and support healthy digestive function.11* Consequently, probiotic strains also promote normal bowel movement. Additionally, certain strains of Bifidobacteria can modify fatty acids to produce conjugates that are health promoting.12 There can be significant differences between strains of the same species of microbe. Documented Strains Matter™. For more information on probiotics from Jarrow Formulas, see this link, which also includes a discount coupon. | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 869 | [
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ff93ee20-b240-4f25-af7e-e99917ea0711 | MEMO TO: Michigan ICDC Participants | technology | worked_examples | MEMO TO: Michigan ICDC Participants
FROM:
Dave Wait
DATE:
April 18, 2019
SUBJECT:
ICDC Updates
DECA is short judges for the conference: We would appreciate it if any of your chaperones or family members that are not teachers, who are attending the conference would serve as a judge on Monday. If so, please email me their name and email so we can submit their information to DECA.
Registration: If you have not done so already, please take a couple of minutes to proof the registration for your chapter. Pay close attention to the event listed for each student and that they are properly teamed up. You can view your registration by logging onto the membership portal and clicking on the conference tab. Please email email@example.com any registration changes.
Program: The tentative schedule of state events is enclosed. There is also a link on the national website for the Conference Program.
Hotel Arrival and Check-in:
Please do not pick-up your room keys from the front desk. We will distribute all room keys from the Citron West Ballroom. The Ballroom is located just inside of the hotel's convention center entrance. Remember hotel check-in is at 4:00 p.m., so if you arrive prior to then, your rooms may not be ready and you will need to store your luggage. We will have luggage storage in the Citron East Ballroom until 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. If you are going to the park when you arrive on those days, you will want to check your bags with the bell stand.
If you arranged your own transportation from the airport, please make sure that they drop you off at the hotel convention center entrance. This is the entrance that is closest to self-parking. Please do not go to the main hotel entrance; if you go there, you will have to carry your luggage a long way to our Michigan check-in area. This also applies if you are renting a car; please park in self-parking, then enter the building at the ballroom entrance, our meeting room is the third one in.
Rental Cars: You will not need a rental car for any conference activities. DECA will have shuttle busses to take participants to conference events and activities. The Convention Center is about 5 miles away. If you do rent a car, our hotel does not offer free parking. Parking is $22.00 a day to park at the hotel. There are also charges to park at the convention center.
If you are driving to the hotel, or shipping materials, the hotel address is:
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Palace 1900 E Buena Vista Dr Orlando FL 32830
Adult Assistance Schedule: The Adult Assistance Assignments can be found at http://mideca.org/wp-content/uploads/19icdc_adultassignments.pdf DECA requires each adult attending the conference to assist with the implementation of conference activities. Please review your assignment and block those times out so that we are adequately covered. While your assignment will not change, times and room names could change. Look at the final schedule that will be distributed at the conference. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
For those that are assigned to Night Watch: You are to bring a chair into the hall near their chapter's rooms and remain there from 10pm to 2am on the day indicated on the schedule. (If it says Monday, their shift will start Monday night and go until 2am on Tuesday) Their responsibility to make sure that the hall is quiet. If students are from other schools, they should ask once for them to be quiet, if they are not, then they should call hotel security.
EVENTS
Competition Reminders:
- NO cell phones/smartphones, smartwatches, iPods/MP3 players, iPads/tablets or anything of a hand-held, information sharing device will be allowed in the principles events, team decision making events or the individual series events. Cell phones brought to competition must be in the off position. These devices will be allowed in for written events only IF applicable to the presentation.
- The use of scientific calculators will not be allowed in the competitive event halls. Only a fourfunction calculator will be allowed.
- All participants must have a photo ID at each of the competitive event sessions.
- All participants must attend the testing/event briefings/manual registration sessions.
- An Infographic illustrating DECA Dress Code may be found at http://mideca.org/wpcontent/uploads/dresscode_icdc.pdf
- All competitors must wear a DECA blazer when appearing before a judge and on stage.
Delegate Code of Conduct: Be sure that you have a signed Delegate Code of Conduct Form for each of your students attending the conference. I recommend leaving a copy with your school administrator. http://mideca.org/wp-content/uploads/codeofconduct.pdf
Judges: Do you have and friends or former students living in the Orlando area? DECA is in need of qualified judges to evaluate the students. If you do, would you please invite them to serve as a judge? They can sign up at www.deca.org/judge
Hotel Pools: The hotel has a large pool area and a lazy river, but it does not have any lifeguards. Please double check your school's rules about students using them without any lifeguards on duty.
State Events:
Michigan's CAP and MAP competition will take place at the hotel. Tentative competition schedules have been posted at
http://mideca.org/wp- content/uploads/19icdc_stateeventschedules.pdf.
Please make sure your students know their two
presentation times. A copy of the schedule will be in your registration materials in Orlando.
Michigan State Meeting: There will be a required Michigan Meeting for Students and Advisors Friday at 10:00 p.m. in the Citron Center Ballroom.
Materials Distribution: All Michigan Tickets and Materials will be distributed between 9:00 and 10:00 pm Friday from our meeting room at the hotel. (we can make arrangements for those that would like their Disney Tickets prior to 9:00p.m. Friday.
As I mentioned in our first update, Michigan is bringing 200 more people than last year, and more than we planned on (we only calculated that our increase would be 100 people). In addition to there being more people, we have 260 more females attending this year than last year, so we are short scarves. We will be providing the state scarves to all female students attending and will have a Disney meal voucher for female advisors and chaperones attending (family members will not receive scarves or ties). We should have a few extra scarves for female advisors and chaperones, if any would prefer one in place of the voucher. We do have enough ties for all males attending the conference. If a male advisor or chaperone really wants to exchange a tie for a meal voucher, you may do so at the conference.
Registration Items: Each Michigan Delegate will receive the following items: (These are in addition to the program and materials that will be provided by DECA)
[x] A Michigan DECA T-Shirt
[x] A Michigan DECA Tie/Scarf
[x] A two day park hopper ticket to Disney World (Some chapters have upgraded to a three day ticket for Disney World)
[x] A ticket the Monday evening Universal Studios Event, with transportation and a food voucher
[x] Michigan Trading Pins
[x] A light up item for the Opening Session
Suggestions on which day to visit the Disney Parks:
[x] If your flight arrives Thursday or Friday prior to noon, you may want to visit one of the parks on Friday.
[x] If your flight arrives Friday afternoon, we recommend not visiting the parks since you have to be back by 9:30 p.m. to pick up your registration materials. This will also allow you and your students time to settle into your rooms, use the pool, and explore Disney Springs. We have ordered additional transportation for Saturday.
[x] We recommend for all chapters to visit the parks on Saturday and then either Sunday or Tuesday, depending on your competition schedules.
Walt Disney World Park Hours
Friday, April 26 and Saturday April 27
Magic Kingdom 9am to 12am
Festival of Fantasy Parade 3pm
Happily Ever After Fireworks 9:15pm (Remember that advisors must pick up registration materials by 9:30 p.m. on Friday)
EPCOT 9am to 9pm
IllumiNations 9pm
Hollywood Studios 9:00am to 8:30pm
Fantasmic! 8:30pm
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular 9pm
(Ann's helpful note: you can't see both the Star Wars projection/fireworks show and Fantasmic! in the same evening; so you'll need to choose one.)
Animal Kingdom 9:00am to 9:30pm
Rivers of Light 8:30 & 9:30pm
Sunday, April 28 to Tuesday April 30
Magic Kingdom 9am to 10pm Festival of Fantasy Parade 3pm Happily Ever After Fireworks 9:15pm
EPCOT 9am to 9pm
IllumiNations 9pm
Hollywood Studios 9am to 9pm
Fantasmic! 8:30pm
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular 9pm
(Ann's helpful note: you can't see both the Star Wars projection/fireworks show and
Fantasmic! in the same evening; so you'll need to choose one.)
Animal Kingdom 9am to 9pm
Rivers of Light 8:30 & 9:30pm
See you in Orlando!
TENTATIVE
2019 ICDC
Michigan DECA Activities
Check the DECA Conference Program for all other conference activities
Thursday
Room Keys will be at the Front Desk only on Thursday
11:00 p.m.
Michigan Curfew
Friday
Please do not
go to the front desk to pick up your room keys
Sunday
8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. National Officer Candidate Caucus
Sago 4
Hilton Buena Vista Palace
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Chapter Awards Orientation
Meyer
Hilton Buena Vista Palace
9:30 - 10:00 a.m. Merit Awards Orientation
Meyer Hilton Buena Vista Palace
11:30 p.m.
Michigan Curfew
Monday
8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. National Officer Candidate Caucus
Sago 4 Hilton Buena Vista Palace
9:00 a.m.-Noon Chapter Awards Check-in
Meyer
Hilton Buena Vista Palace
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Merit Award Check-in
Meyer
Hilton Buena Vista Palace
5:00 - 11:00 p.m.
DECA Night at Universal Studios For All Michigan Participants
11:30 p.m.
State Awards Session
Citron Center Ballroom Hilton Buena Vista Palace
Chapter Awards
Merit Awards
Midnight
Michigan Curfew
Tuesday
Midnight
Michigan Curfew
Wednesday
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64aca4ba-5e56-4a61-b265-4eff98151ffa | single-family houses, less-than-$500,000 price | interdisciplinary | worked_examples | For single-family houses, the less-than-$500,000 price tag dominated home sales in 2015.
The total number of single-family homes sold was double that of townhouse/condos.
The number of single-family homes sold in 2015 increased by 19% compared to 2014.
What do the Millsboro, Milton and the Rehoboth-Dewey areas have in common? These three were the most active ZIP codes in sales throughout coastal Delaware.
Finally this year, the number of single-family homes sold has surpassed the peak in 2005.
Sales in the coastal real estate market are up and prices are holding steady, as a wealth of new construction competes with existing home offerings.
In March 2014, Mike and Kate Dickinson decided to stop renting and buy a new home. They visited existing townhouses in 20 Congress South at White Oak Creek, located off Old Landing Road near Rehoboth, but the properties came with homeowner association fees the couple didn’t want to pay. They moved on to Breakwater, a new community off Gills Neck Road, outside Lewes. Worried about all the construction in that area — Gills Neck Road also is home to Senators, another new development, and the up-and-coming Showfield — they nixed that one off the list too.
They also wanted something that needed renovations to modernize the floor plan. But with a 7-month-old son and full-time jobs, they didn’t want that burden. Then they saw a house in Nassau Station, an established Lewes-area community with a mix of residents, from young families to seniors. The Dickinsons, who were married at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church downtown and have family in Sussex, decided that Nassau Station was the ideal neighborhood in which to raise a family. What’s more, the house had all the right stuff: an open floor plan, three bedrooms, 2½ baths and a fenced, landscaped backyard.
Unfortunately, another buyer felt the same way; the Dickinsons were outbid. As a result, they decided to build a custom home on a for-sale-by-owner lot in the same community. “We said, ‘Let’s get exactly what we want,’” Mike Dickinson says.
The couple, in many respects represents today’s buyers at the beach: people who are retired or semi-retired, and reluctant anymore, when they can get something brand new,” says Debbie Reed of the Re/Max Realty Group in Rehoboth Beach. And while the Dickinsons bought east of Route 1, others are willing to venture inland to get more bang for their buck.
There are, of course, exceptions. Inventory in highly desirable areas, such as Lewes, Rehoboth or downtown Lewes, is tight and demand is high, says Lee Ann Wilkinson with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty.
Wilkinson is having a good year. Total sales volume for the Lee Ann Wilkinson Group in 2014 was $142 million, a significant increase from the $116 million in sales in 2005, which many consider the peak in the local real estate market before the dramatic downturn.
“We expect with the number of sales we have pending that we will actually close more than about half of our listings in 2015,” she says.
That’s quite possible, considering that between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2015, the total number of single-family homes sold in the coastal area rose to 897, a 19 percent increase over the same time period in 2014. That number also surpassed the total for the same time period in 2005, when 885 homes sold, according to data from the Sussex County Association of Realtors Matrix MLS system, provided by Coldwell Banker Sotheby’s International Realty.
The average selling price, however, decreased 19 percent from 2005 (for the January through June period), although the good news is that from 2014 to this year it appears to have stabilized. “I continue to be very encouraged by the state of the market,” Wilkinson says. “We have slowly transitioned from a buyer’s market back to a more balanced market, which, frankly, for the long-term health and growth of our community, again, is a good thing.”
That said, there’s a bugbear for those considering putting their home on the market. “New construction,” Wilkinson says, “is the resale homeowners’ worst enemy.” And from single-family homes to townhouses to condos, that trend shows no sign of stopping.
Traditionally, southbound travelers on Route 1 knew they’d reached the beach when they hit the Five Points intersection. These days, signs indicating they’re approaching a billboard or four — heralding new developments. The prominent new lighthouse at Five Points is a mascot for Coastal Club, the latest community to join the crowd, rather than a gateway to the beach.
“New construction,” says Nick Carter of Jack Lingo Realtor in Lewes, “seems to be on a serious comeback.” Indeed, Schell Brothers has experienced “exponential growth” in its communities, says Jamie Hudson, director of sales for the Rehoboth Beach-area company. “We’re at a 19 percent increase from where we were this time last year, and the first quarter of the year seems to be one of our stronger selling seasons.” In the last six months, Schell Brothers — which is building in 10 coastal-area communities — has sold 200 homes. In contrast, the builder sold single-family and several lots in The Palisades near Long Neck, which had struggled during the recession.
Sales in K. Hovnanian Homes’ The Villages at Red Mill Pond are up nearly 20 percent over last year, says Bob Vantrasee, Delaware beach-area president for the national builder. When complete, the development will have 400 homes.
Carter credits the upswing to buyers who want primary homes vs. the speculators or investors of the early 2000s, who needed floor-ups and rented out properties. Next are second-home owners. Most of Schell’s buyers are in the $3-plus age range, Hudson says.
Modern designs and floor plans are powerful pulls, says Paul Townsend, an agent (as is his wife, Darlene) in the Rehoboth office of Jack Lingo. “A lot of older homes have low ceilings, small rooms and they’re compartmentalized,” says Townsend, who with partners developed Wolfe Pointe, Wolfe Runne, Hawkseye and Senators, located just outside downtown Lewes, among other communities. All the new homes want open floor plans and outdoor living.
New homes also let buyers have it their way. Stephanie DiCerbo, who purchased a new home in Heritage Village off Postal Lane near Midway in 2014, bought some of her own finishes including natural-wood butler’s pantry counters, the builder installed. And she went with upgraded paint. “Ljpreds are the profit vehicle for builders and developers, and the base price is the draw that attracts the new buyer,” Carter notes.
Builders are also offering financing and cash or upgrade incentives. “With the financing they offered, buying it was a no-brainer,” DiCerbo says of her purchase. “I chose so much more house, and it was all brand new at an affordable price.”
Typically, the farther north you go, the harder it is to find an affordable home. Hovnanian has houses in Plantation Lakes in Millsboro starting at $219,000. Amenities such as pools and golf courses take the sting out of travel to reach the ocean, Vantrasee says. Schell is building a clubhouse at Wolfe Pointe, which already has a fitness center, restaurant, pools, golf course and tennis courts.
While land outside the resorts is still plentiful, new construction is also occurring in the cities. Consider the new homes on Second Street and Pilottown Road in Lewes.
Vantrasee, Townsend notes, can become available when the owner dies or wants cash. Millsboro-based Realtor Vickie York had a listing on Ocean View Parkway in Bethany Beach that sat on a newly divided lot. “The son who inherited the building lot wanted a house and subdivided it,” she recalls. “He bought one for himself and sold the other to a builder, who’s building a spec house on it.”
Spec houses are selling quickly, sometimes before the foundation is built, says Allison Bateman with Jack Lingo Realtor in Rehoboth Beach. In Rehoboth, buyers will pay $750,000 to $1 million for a tear-down to build a custom home, says Vicki Tull of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty. Some owners are electing to do the work rather than sell.
New construction is affecting the existing-home market. “Many people want shiny and new, and that puts a damper on homes that are more than 10 years old,” says Debbie Reed of RE/MAX Realty Group in Rehoboth Beach. “Many buyers are double-income and they have no time to renovate.”
Levins has recommended that sellers put in granite countertops or renovate a bathroom. “Then people will look at an older house,” she says. Dan Levin and his fiancée, who wanted to live in an established community, chose a home in The Glade, near Rehoboth, because it was in move-in condition. “We liked that they had a reduction because the air conditioners were shot. ‘I will redo the kitchen eventually, but it’s not a priority,’ Levins says.
With tight inventory in the resort towns and the ageless appeal of water-front property, existing homes clearly will have a place. “There are points of Miami where buyers who grew up with formal living rooms and kitchens set apart from family rooms don’t mind them.”
Prices of homes near the beach are recovering from post-recession lows, Tull says. They’re only a fraction of the pre-recession mindset, however. Sellers often can affirm a price that’s higher than market value, even in the $300,000-$400,000 range, in which new and existing homes are more plentiful. “The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is trying to get the buyers and sellers to come to an agreement on the price,” York concludes.
What can I get for $500,000?
The same number of dollars can buy you a wide variety of homes in coastal Delaware, from a condo to a single-family house, depending on where you look. Here’s a sampling of options in this popular price range.
**$498,900**
MLS#: 613726
3 BD, 2 BA
1,543 sq. ft. • lot: .21 acres
**Highlights:** Bayfront living. This three-story, coastal-style home boasts vast views of the Delaware Bay. Access to basketball and tennis courts.
**$469,910**
MLS#: 702796
4 BD, 2.5 BA
3,400 sq. ft. • lot: .52 acres
**Highlights:** Just 1.5 miles to downtown Milton, this colonial-style home features a park-like backyard in a community with water access to Diamond Pond.
**$499,900**
MLS#: 700924
4 BD, 2.5 BA
2,570 sq. ft. • lot: .24 acres
**Highlights:** Built in 2013, this contemporary, ranch-style home has a gourmet eat-in kitchen and a two-car garage. Access to pools and tennis.
**$499,900**
MLS#: 617956
2 BD, 1BA
750 sq. ft. • lot: 0
**Highlights:** This condo with a double balcony and garage parking is just steps to the Rehoboth boardwalk and beach. Access to the rooftop pool.
**$499,000**
MLS#: 599806
2 BD, 1BA
1,023 sq. ft. • lot: 2.54 acres
**Highlights:** This Cape Cod-style home, on its expansive property, features 400 feet of water frontage with four dock slips on Warwick Cove.
**$509,900**
MLS#: 622471
4 BD, 2 BA
1,800 sq. ft. • lot: .11 acres
**Highlights:** This furnished, Cape-Cod style, vintage cottage features a large deck on the canal with water access. Not far from the beach.
Easy Living
Ownership conveniences keep condo and townhouse market steady
When Sherry Greth sold her Dewey Beach condominium on Rehoboth Bay last March, it didn’t take long to find something new. By April, she’d purchased a townhouse in Sterling Crossing off Old Landing Road not far from Rehoboth Beach.
Greth is like many who live on the water, but she doesn’t like that water and weather can do to a home — and the condo association budget. In Sterling Crossing, she enjoys two floors of townhome living and still benefits from fees that cover communal property and exterior maintenance. She also likes meeting neighbors at Sterling Crossing’s community pool and beach. “I’m loving it,” says the retiree. “It really feels like home.”
Townhomes and condominiums are popular housing options at the beach. Condos come in all shapes and sizes, from apartment-like units in high-rises to multi-floor ground-level units. “Outside the beach towns, condos are convenient and hopefully less expensive — way to be close to the beach in a low-maintenance environment without paying the premium for in-town,” says real estate agent Vicki Tull with Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty in Rehoboth Beach.
Judging by a comparison of sales between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2015, and the same time period in 2014, the market is steady, with both the number sold and the average selling price about the same. But as with single-family homes, there are trends.
When the Great Recession hit, condo communities nationwide took it on the chin. But the coastal condo and townhouse segment has held its own partly because of demographics: “Typically, buyers have more discretionary income, their credit is good and there are a lot of cash buyers,” says Rob Vantrantse, Delaware beach-area president for K. Hovnanian Homes, which has concessions in the housing mix at Ocean View Beach Club.
There’s also demand. Many retirees are done with yardwork. Many second-home owners also don’t want to deal with exterior maintenance. “I loved the fact that they take care of the outside of the house — everything,” says Stephanie DiCerbo, who with her husband purchased a duplex as a second home in Ocean Village Villas, located off Postel Lane near Midway in October 2014. “They pull the weeds, they cut the grass and they power-wash the siding.”
The builder, Thompson Communities, is currently selling townhouses starting at $264,900, which some would consider an affordable price for a home right off Route 1.
Inland condos and townhouses often appeal to first-time buyers, says Nick Carter with Jack Lingo Realtor in Lewes. In Dagsboro, new three-bedroom townhouses in the Woodlands of Pepper’s Creek are priced at $189,000.
At the other end, two new condo projects between the canal drawbridge and Lewes Beach offer homes priced from the low-$400,000s to the upper $600,000s. (On Lewes Beach, a lot alone was recently priced at $450,000.)
Then there is The Residences at Light House Cove, on Hyatt Place, located near Rehoboth Bay in Dewey Beach and just a short walk from the ocean. “I have never seen this kind of construction this close to the [Delaware] beach in my life,” says Manuel Bramao of Chase Realty, Md., who spent childhood vacations at the beach.
Of the 16 luxury condos in the first phase, there are two fully furnished penthouses available at $1,049,999 each, two-bedroom units start at $629,990 and four-bedrooms are $829,900. When complete, The Residences will include up to 90 condos. Bramao bought a two-bedroom unit that’s under construction.
Like Bramao, DiCerbo purchased new construction, and both used on-site financing. Greth’s three-bedroom townhouse was built in 2007, and the Sterling Crossing community is still under development. And therein lies the trend: Buyers like new. “Older condos [outside town] struggle in the resale market,” Tull says. “The updated condos command the higher prices, but a brand-new oceanfront condo will always make the premium.”
Not as far as Braman is concerned. “We knew there was some condo availability in the Henlopen Hotel, but quite frankly it’s dated,” notes Bramao, who appreciates The Residences’ modern construction materials that address hurricane and wind threats.
Buyers also like amenities. Ocean View Beach Club will have an 1,800-square-foot health club with a spa, a 25-meter indoor lap pool and multipurpose courts for basketball, pickleball and other games.
The Residences will have its own pool. It also offers rooftop gardens, a private entrance and two covered parking spaces per unit.
Bramao, who plans to settle this month, is an optimistic buyer. “I’m excited,” he says. “I don’t see the value going anywhere but up.” #
The Ultimate Sandcastles
Three luxury homes demonstrate what’s selling in the high-end range
They said it couldn’t be done. Sell a Lewes home that’s not waterfront for more than $2 million? No way. But a Cape Shores property sold last year for $2.2 million. “It was quite the top for that neighborhood,” says listing agent Lee Ann Wilkinson of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty in Lewes.
Wilkinson was just getting started. In the third quarter of 2015, two listings on Plottstown Road in Lewes went under contract — one for $2.3 million and one at $1.799 million. “I feel like this area is finally going to be the turning point” for luxury homes, she says.
In the high-end home market, the features that add up to more than a million dollars vary. Some buyers value a touch of history. Others want new construction that blends in with its historic neighbors. Some want size. Others also want substance, which means pools, beachfront decks and even home theaters. A condo might suit a buyer who values convenience. Martha Thompson, with Re/Max Realty Group in Rehoboth, listed a four-bedroom condo in Lake House, an exclusive property overlooking Silver Lake, that sold for $1.295 million last March.
But for other big spenders, only a true beach home will do. In Fenwick, John Kipp, owner of Fenwick Real Number and Associates, lists and sold a three-level, oceanfront home for $2.48 million.
The more updates a house has, the better. Take the North Rehoboth home that had been renovated in 2006 and purchased in 2013 for $1.4 million. Listed by Kathleen Schell of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s in Rehoboth Beach, it fetched $1.62 million last May.
Here are three examples of the very different properties that are commanding top dollar these days and a little bit about the market in their areas:
1. **Cape Shores, Lewes**
Although it’s not on Delaware Bay, this four-bedroom, 6,528-square-foot home, built by Echelon Custom Homes in 2011, sold for $2.2 million. “The owner chose every last detail — door-knobs, countertops — with [architect] designer Matty [Adler] and it really is amazing,” Wilkinson says. “Then a decorator flew up from Texas to do the interior.”
The three-story home also has four full baths and two half baths, a gourmet kitchen, a fitness room, a home theater and a large master room — with granite countertops — that is larger than the kitchens in many homes.
The sellers are now building again in Cape Shores, which is seeing its share of tear-downs. Lane Builders, for instance, just put up a 6,000-square-foot waterfront home for one of Wilkinson’s clients. Tear-downs are becoming common on Lewes Beach, but they happen. One of her previous clients, who bought a Lewes Beach home for $1.2 million six years ago, recently tore it down for a new residence.
Though $1 million-to-$2 million is an eye-popping price tag, Lewes rarely commands the highest prices of luxury properties in Rehoboth, perhaps because Lewes is not right on the ocean.
That’s good news for those who love Lewes and want luxury for less.
2. **The Pines, Rehoboth Beach**
Built in 1928, the eight-bedroom home named Mon Plaisir (French for “My Pleasure”) proves that history can bring in the bucks. Listed by Jack Lingo Realtor in Rehoboth Beach, it sold for $4.03 million last year. The home was designed by a Thai architect and revitalizing the Thai silk industry, for parents Henry and Mary Thompson, who funded a wing at Beebe hospital. While updated, the Colonial-style home still possesses the characteristics of an older
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beach home, such as pine-paneled walls.
In north and south Rehoboth, builders and developers are buying and renovating older cottages, says Schell of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s. Many buyers are also looking for tear-downs or renovated homes on oversized lots. They want the room to build a bigger home and still comply with city regulations, she explains.
Thomas B. Smith of Max Realty says many buyers want gourmet/entertaining kitchens, en suite baths and swimming pools — all within walking distance to beach. Indeed, homes with pools or properties that can accommodate one are “hot commodities,” says Allison Bateman of Jack Lunge Realto in Rehoboth Beach.
To attract luxury buyers west of Route 1, homes must not only possess bay views and a significant square footage, but also be in good condition, says Vicki Tull of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s.
3. **Bayberry Dunes**, North Bethany
This oceanfront home, listed by Henry Jaffe of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s, sold for $4.4 million to buyers who appreciate its corner lot and architecture, a blend of Hamptons style and Southern charm.
All seven bedrooms have their own bathrooms, and the living room opens to the kitchen. Four sets of beachfront sliding glass doors lead to the deck and screened porch.
The luxury market in Bethany was quiet this summer until two or three high-end properties went under contract, says Vickie York, a Milford-based real estate agent. One of her nine- to 10-day listings had been on and off the market for three years finally snared an offer.
In Fenwick Island, inventory is tight for oceanfront homes, says John Kleinstuben. Northern Fenwick is the most desirable. “Crowds are low even in the middle of a busy summer,” he says. He listed and sold an oceanfront home there for $2.48 million with four bedrooms and a “kai’s floor” with two additional bedrooms and its own living room.
Luxury Fenwick homes are often less expensive than those in Bethany and Rehoboth, he notes, “even though our beach is dramatic, comparatively speaking. We’re a bit farther from Wilmington, Philly and New Jersey. But the extra 30 minutes in the car is worth it.”
Pam George, a frequent contributor to Delaware Beach Life, has also been published in Fortune, US Airways Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor and Men’s Health. | 0.75 | medium | 6 | 6,176 | [
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c64b5b0d-6ee0-41ea-b07a-a0174ace9728 | Education priority basis development | technology | code_implementation | Education is the priority and basis for the development of Serbia. Quality education available to everyone is an objective pursued by the Serbian Government, and it wishes to face the challenges related to education of youth for professions that will exist in the future. Young people are encouraged to think critically and analytically, the education process is modernised, and Serbia creates a society based on knowledge in which people, their ideas and innovations are the drivers of progress.
Who is it intended for?
Every child is entitled to free and quality education in the public school. Primary education is compulsory and it is carried out in accordance with the law.
Every child of at least six-and-a-half, and no more than seven-and-a-half year by the beginning of the school year is enrolled in the first grade of primary school. Exceptionally, when it is in the child’s best interest, the school may postpone child’s enrolment for one year, on the basis of opinion of the interdepartmental commission.
The obligation of attending classes for a student who turned 15 ceases upon completion of that school year. The school is obliged to enable schooling by the age of 17 to a student who turned 15, and did not acquire primary education, if that is demanded by the student, his/her parent, or another legal representative. A student who turned 15, and did not acquire primary education, may continue to acquire education according to the program of functional primary education for adults.
How is primary education organized?
Primary education is compulsory, it lasts eight years and it achieved in two education cycles.
The first cycle covers first, second, third and fourth grade. Class teaching is organized for pupils, and class teaching of foreign language can also be organized, as well as elective and optional subjects. The second cycle covers fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade, and the students have subject teaching.
For national minority members, subject teaching may be organized in Serbian as non-native language and elective program national minority language with elements of national culture from the first grade.
Duration of primary education may be shorter or longer depending on the achievements and progress of students.
In which languages is teaching organised?
Teaching is organized in Serbian language and Cyrillic script. For national minority members, it is carried out bilingually, in Serbian language and the national minority language, if at least 15 students choose that option during enrolment in first grade. Educational work can be carried out in a foreign language, or bilingually, in a foreign and Serbian language, or in a foreign language and language and script of the national minority, with the approval of the Ministry. When the education is acquired in the national minority language, foreign language or bilingually, learning of Serbian language is mandatory. Educational work for students using sign language, special script or other technical solutions is carried out in accordance with the Law. | 0.6 | low | 6 | 598 | [
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8786870d-c0fd-4fcd-a0ce-74443f325352 | The Absent Card | technology | data_analysis | The Absent Card
Effect: A card disappears from the deck, only to reappear at the precise moment a spectator says to stop dealing.
1. Force a card on the spectator
2. Have the spectator return the card to the deck and shuffle the deck thoroughly
3. Once the deck has been shuffled, run through the cards so that only you see the faces. As you run through, note the position of the spectators card, but do not comment on it or pull it out at this time. (As you run through the deck, look a little bit puzzled for effect.)
4. Say, "I cannot seem to find your card." Now this part needs to be done smoothly. For the ease of explanation we will assume that the spectators card is roughly in the top third of the deck. Cut off roughly a third of the deck from the bottom, and hand it to the spectator saying, "Please look through these to see if your card is in there. Don't say what it is if you see it, just indicate that it is there."
5. As the spectator looks through the first pack, cut off a second pack, just below the spectators card, and when the spectator is finished, hand this pack over for inspection while taking the spectator's pack and putting it on the bottom.
6. As the spectator examines the second pack of cards, cut off the final pack above the chosen card, and once more put the pack the spectator gives back to you on the bottom.
7. Once the spectator has examined all three packs of cards, ask, "Well did you see your card?" the answer of course will be no. Take the final pack of cards back and once more put it on the bottom. Now the chosen card is sitting on top of the deck.
8. Look thoughtful for a moment while absentmindedly doing a riffle shuffle (keeping the top card the same) and tapping the deck on the table. Then say, "I know what we need to do. First I must shuffle the deck a bit." Do an overhand shuffle, bringing the top card to the bottom. It is very important that while you do this, you keep the faces towards you. You don't want the spectator to see their card being shuffled to the bottom. This isn't necessary but I like to add another riffle shuffle, this time keeping the bottom card the same, just to create the illusion of really mixing up the cards.
9. Hold the deck face down in your left hand just as shown in the illustration 1 and tilt the deck forward a little. Again, make sure you don't show the face of that bottom card.
10. Tell your spectator, "I want you to concentrate on your card, and just tell me when to stop dealing." As you say this, use your middle two fingers to slide the bottom card back about a centimeter as shown in illustration 2. Make sure you practice this movement thoroughly until you can do it smoothly and without detection. Start dealing cards from the bottom of the deck (actually sliding them out from beneath that bottom card) and stop dealing when the spectator indicates.
11. Look up at the spectator and say, "Is that enough?" If the spectator says yes than just slide the bottom card forward to its original position, or just use your other hand to straighten the pack of cards. Then simply raise the deck up to reveal the spectators chosen card.
This trick takes a long time to explain but the working of it actually goes a lot faster. This one requires a bit of practice but I am sure you will be pleased with the results.
One final note: When you are cutting off portions of the deck to hand to the spectator, make sure there are cards below the spectators card that the spectator has already looked through before handing the spectator the cards above their selected card. This ensures you are not awkwardly left with one card in your hand as the spectator gives you back the card he has been looking through. If anyone asks why you don't show them the whole deck, just say "To make things easier". Although I have never had anyone call me on this, it is good to be prepared with an answer. | 0.65 | low | 3 | 897 | [
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21131e0e-7cf3-46d0-91d4-510e9b5fc12e | Skip to content | technology | technical_documentation | Skip to content
Does Al-Qaeda Exist?
December 24, 2010
The 2004 award-winning BBC documentary The Power of Nightmares came up with some worth pondering analysis. Besides showcasing the history of Muslim and Christian fundamentalism also known as the Islamic militants and the Neo-conservatives, it claimed that no organization by the name of Al-Qaeda, led by the world’s most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden, ever existed. In fact Al-Qaeda was only an amalgam of liked minded groups. The documentary further claimed that a few armed men around Bin Laden as shown in the popular CNN video were hired and it was not that he had a whole bunch of militants under his wings. This theory doesn’t sound as absurd if compared with the Pakistan’s situation, where we are confronted with plenty of groups, which may or may not share the similar ideology or goal but are equally formidable for the stability of the country.
According to the documentary, the name Al-Qaeda was coined after the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. In connection with those bombings, four people were arrested and tried in the US court in January 2001. The US authorities also wanted to prosecute Osama Bin Laden in his absence but under the US law it was possible only after the evidence of criminal organization.
The prosecutors than turned to Jamal Al Fadal, a former Sudanese militant and Bin Laden’s aide who had fiddled about $110,000 from him. Al Fadal became a witness for FBI and testified in the court about the existence of an organization called Al-Qaeda, which was led by Osama Bin Laden. From there the name Al-Qadea, which in Arabic means ‘the base’ or ‘the foundation’, became the most used word in the media. The media successfully crafted an image of a monster organization which was capable of challenging the authority of any state or an intelligence agency around the world. The west had now an enemy with a face and the name.
Further research about the origin or the existence of Al-Qaeda led me to two interesting articles published in The Guardian. In first one titled, ‘What is the origin of the name Al-Qaeda’, Dr. Saad al-Fagih, the former Afghan mujahid from Saudi Arabia said,
I really laugh when I hear the FBI talking about al-Qaida as an organisation of Bin Laden.” Al-Qaida was just a service for relatives of jihadis, he said, speaking to the American PBS show Frontline. “In 1988 he [Bin Laden] noticed that he was backward in his documentation and was not able to give answers to some families asking about their loved ones gone missing in Afghanistan. He decided to make the matter much more organised and arranged for proper documentation.
In the same article, Yossef Bodansky, director of the US Congressional Task Force on Terrorism, said,
A lot of money is being spent on a rapidly expanding web of Islamist charities and social services, including the recently maligned al-Qaida. Bin Laden’s first charity, al-Qaida, never amounted to more than a loose umbrella framework for supporting like-minded individuals and their causes. In the aftermath of the 1998 bombings in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam, al-Qaida has been portrayed in the west as a cohesive terrorist organisation, but it is not.
Some analysts, on the other hand, believe that the name Al-Qaeda came from a political theory formulated in an essay by Abdullah Azzam, Bin Laden’s intellectual mentor. Incidentally Bin Laden was suspected for assassinating Adbullah Azzam in the car bomb blast in Peshawar in 1989.
The article, ‘The struggle against terrorism can’t be won by military means’, written by the British Labor Party politician, Robin Cook discussed Bin Laden and his much talked about ‘the base’ organization in a rather interesting manner. Robin Cook said,
Throughout the 80s he [Bin Laden] was armed by the CIA and funded by the Saudis to wage jihad against the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Al-Qaida, literally “the database”, was originally the computer file of the thousands of mujahideen who were recruited and trained with help from the CIA to defeat the Russians.
Bin Laden, Zawahiri, Taliban Nexus
If Al-Qaeda never existed than who did Zawahiri belong to and what was the role of the Taliban? It is known from the news reports that when Bin Laden was expelled from Sudan he took refuge in Afghanistan in 1996. In Afghanistan, the Taliban government gave him refuge under the code of Pukhtunwali. The renowned journalist Zahid Hussain writes in his book, The Scorpion’s Tail that the relationship between Mullah Omar and Bin Laden were far from cordial in the beginning due to political and religious differences. Mullah Omar would often mock Bin Laden and refer to him as ‘the donkey’. Gradually, the equation between Bin Laden and Mullah Omar changed when the former began to financially support the Taliban.
Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, on the other hand, took inspiration from the philosophies of Sayyid Qutb. Qutb was an educator and an intellectual who believed that anything non-Islamic was evil and corrupt. He vehemently disapproved of the western materialistic society and lamented the fact that his own Egyptian people were walking the same path of self-centeredness and selfishness. In his youth, Zawahiri was associated with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. The aim of this organization was to eliminate the corrupt leadership of Egypt and to bring in the Islamic revolution. The plan backfired in the absence of mass support and Zawahiri got arrested with hundreds of other members for the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981. After release, Zawahiri went to Saudi Arabia and than traveled to Peshawar in 1986. He worked in the Red Crescent hospital treating wounded refugees. It is believed that in Peshawar he met with Bin Laden and the two form a bonding based on the similar ideology. Being the most senior and Bn Laden’s close aide, he is usually referred to as the ‘number two’.
Generally, many people fail to differentiate between the Taliban and the Bin Laden’s organization. The Taliban were the de-facto rulers of Afghanistan at the time of 9/11 and since Bin Laden and others wanted by the US were living in Afghanistan, the US government demanded to turn them over for prosecution. The Taliban demanded the evidence of Bin Laden’s involvement in the terrorist attacks of 9/11 which the US outrightly refused to share. Under the Bush Doctrine, all those countries accused of harboring terrorists and not cooperating with the US were also deemed as the enemy. There were reports that the Taliban were contemplating handing over Bin Laden for a trial in a country other than the US. There is not much known as to why the talks ended in a deadlock and the US went ahead with its plan of attacking Afghanistan. One thing however, is clear that the Taliban and Bin Laden were not the same in terms of their goals. The Taliban were busy in maintaining their writ in Afghanistan while the plans of Bin Laden’s clique transcended the borders.
In the light of current situation the debate about Al-Qaeda’s existence somehow becomes irrelevant. What is more relevant is to gauge the true ‘extent’ of danger from such rogue elements. It is crucial to address whether it is as big a threat as was portrayed by the President Bush or can it be tackled without waging wars on the sovereign countries.
Taliban on the other hand, may have been limited to Afghanistan but today their ideology is spreading wings across Afghan border in Pakistan and its not conclusive that they’d lay down the arms if the US exit from the region. If we exclude a war ravaged Afghanistan, and Iraq – the third country that suffered heavily in the global war on terror is Pakistan. It won’t be right to claim that the rogue elements such as TTP came into existence post 9/11. However, its true that the aftermath of 9/11 helped those militants found a new mission. The genie of militancy always existed but 9/11 helped unleashed it completely. Today, our analysts are more concerned about the growing Pakistanisation of Al-Qaeda. It seems almost unreal to see Pakistan becoming a hub of terrorist activities; but given the loss suffered in the past 6 years or so, it is hard to shut eyes and ignore the changing face of militancy in the country.
13 Comments leave one →
1. Shahid permalink
December 24, 2010 10:26 pm
I have to warn that from the basic read, anybody with an already skewed mindset would conclude from the post that you’re saying that al-Qaeda is a hogwash, a figment of imagination and a non-existent enemy. Clearly, that is not the case. Even if, as some like to point out, the name al-Qaeda wasn’t chosen by Bin Lade to identify his group of nutjobs, after the ’98 bombings, they did start to use it – perhaps seeing th popularity of the name. Before that, there IS evidence that they used the name al-Qaeda (Tarnak Farm was called an al-Qaeda centre much before ’98 by the terrorists training there and Taliban regime alike). More than that, there were names of the type – Global movement to defeat American imperialism and blah blah.
My point was just that it’d be better to clarify and noone should go back with a false account in mind.
As for Mullah Omar having a low personal opinion of Bin Laden, it had turned to an appreciation by ’98 as well. He called Bin Laden a mujahid, a fighter and a true warrior jihadi when Prince Turki (Saudi head of intelligence) went to meet him and secure Bin Laden’s hand over and/or expulsion from Afghanistan. More than that, Omar was happy that Bin Laden had allowed his camps and training centres to be used by “our” jihadis and therefore not let a large number of organizations set up their very own camps and allow mushrooming of the problem.
• December 24, 2010 10:37 pm
I vaguely remember Peter Bergen’s account about the formation of Al-Qaeda and if I’m not wrong Rahimullah Yousfzai was also a witness to that. Anyway, in this post I presented the account of various sources – kind of an alternate view. For me this entire debate is irrelevant because whoever they are, under what umbrella or organization they work, they are inflicting harm on people.
Mullah Omar and Bin Laden’s equation changed when the money began to pour. No argument about the Taliban jihadi and the Al-Qaeda jihadi but apparently the goals of Taliban were limited to Afghanistan because they were already in a state of civil war. Most of Al-Qaeda’s operatives (abroad) were Arabs as opposed to Pushtuns. If we debate from the point of view of harboring and supporting the Al-Qaeda yes, then Taliban were equal partners in crime.
2. Shahid permalink
December 24, 2010 10:29 pm
And just to make the first point clear again, AQ has always been very organized at the top – regardless of power struggles and perceived “genuisness” of Zwhairi – and very robustly independent at the bottom in the form of free cells that work on basic points only.
• December 24, 2010 11:06 pm
Btw, in terms of an international humanitarian law, majority agree that an attack on Afghanistan was illegal. I’m divided on that!
What do you mean by organized at the top and independent at the bottom? Does it mean, the people at the lower level seek blessings of their Shaikh? Or does he devise plans and targets for them?
3. Shahid permalink
December 24, 2010 11:22 pm
Whoever they are is not irrelevant. The enemy should be identifiable. With very much disorganized semi-independent groups, there is this problem and forces must learn and adapt, but there is al-Qaeda as a global force. I didn’t say Taliban were aiming for something outside Afghanistan – but that maybe entirely because they were stuck and their hands filled with civil war as you said. Mullah Omar’s reply to Turki was symbolic of the global view he had too (same old global Islamic rule).
As for the “independent at the bottom” thing, I meant semi-independent cells were trained and sent to places to sometimes target specific places (embassies, wtc) or canvass the area and find a target (USS Cole after missing the carrier) but they operate in the final place without direction and control of their ideological superiors. Today, of course, things have changed even further with nearly independent people merely acting on “advice” and general directions (not related to AQ but Faisal Shahzad like independent targeting).
• Shahid permalink
December 24, 2010 11:24 pm
Correct that. Not a carrier but the destroyer USS Sullivans.
• December 24, 2010 11:33 pm
Spot on:
Today, of course, things have changed even further with nearly independent people merely acting on “advice” and general directions (not related to AQ but Faisal Shahzad like independent targeting).
Too bad, somehow Pakistan is deeply involved in this crap.
4. Uljalool permalink
December 25, 2010 1:05 pm
Call them and their organizations with whatever name, these are all rabid dogs of different breeds but their bites are equally infectious and deadly. Unfortunately they are not going disappear from the scene in the NWFP ( I prefer the erstwhile name than the new one because I have not been able to reconcile with the hyphenated name Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It should have been Pakhtunkhwa only, but some how it made the Punjabi politicians very insecure and forced the hyphenanted version upon the people of NWFP))as long as the Khakies(Hijras) kept on embracing the doctrine of Strategi-Depth and remain India centric. AQ and their other franchises will keep on playing hide and seek with the rest of the world for a while yet.
“Btw, in terms of an international humanitarian law, majority agree that an attack on Afghanistan was illegal. I’m divided on that!” Would you please mind explaining what do the above lines mean. Thank you.
5. December 25, 2010 2:29 pm
I am slowly working my way through Rush Baker’s FAMILY OF SECRETS. The book is really more like an encyclopedia of the Shadow Government than an expose. I am about 2/3 through and it seems I’m just getting to the good bit now. The chapter “Poppy’s Proxy and the Saudis” talks in detail about the extensive business (oil and weapons) ventures Bush senior personally set up with the Saudi royal family in 1976 while he was CIA director. Part of this arrangement involved Saudi assistance in setting up an “off-the-books” intelligence operation in the Middle East involving Saudi, Pakistani, Afghan and Iranian nationals. This was in direct response to the Church Committee making a lot of CIA covert operations illegal after Watergate. Bush continued to expand this “off-the-books” network after Carter fired him as CIA director and used it (in Iran-Contra) to illegally sell weapons to Iran to fund the Nicaraguan Contras. In 1979, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, Bush drew the Pakistani intelligence service (ISI) into this network and got it legitimatized as an official CIA operation to promote fundamentalist Islam among Afghan “freedom fighters” to drive the Soviets out.
Did Bush do all this out of patriotism? I think not. He used his business deals (which I think were treasonous) with the Saudis to make himself fabulously wealthy and to propel himself and his son into the presidency. The important point is that he clearly remained the head honcho over this network as Reagan’s vice-president and during his own presidency. A network that trained thousands of no-hope homeless Afghan orphans in fundamentalist Islam. Which the CIA continues to employ from time to time when they wish to create political instability somewhere (in Bosnia, Kosovo, Pakistan, Kashmir, etc). The rest of the time they seem to be independent agents.
As far as I can see the main Pentagon/CIA objective at this point is to create a viable Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India energy transit route in Afghanistan – while preventing China from creating their own Iran-Pakistan-China energy transit route via Balochistan (the CIA and Pentagon are actively supporting the Baloch separatist movement). As long as the US persists in trying to achieve military and economic dominance over this region, the local residents will fight them. It’s really unfortunate that Bush and the CIA have trained them in Islamic fundamentalism and set up funding and training networks for them. But it doesn’t really matter whether you call them Taliban, Al Quaeda or Afghan and Pakistani nationalists – they aren’t prepared to accept foreign domination over their region.
I blog about this at http://stuartbramhall.aegauthorblogs.com/2010/11/28/afghanistan-and-the-road-runner/
6. December 25, 2010 2:38 pm
Much like most of USA’s claims, a little further research into the matter reveals holes and discrepancies. The Myth of Osama and the growing fear of this boogie man (once a CIA agent) gives US and its puppet regimes ammunition to walk into any country and make demands supporting their interests – Pakistan is one example.
Can someone prove to me two main points: First – is he still alive? Despite having poor quality released supposedly the boogie man him self and later some audio tapes claiming to be the same boogie man. Secondly – that he is still not a CIA agent if proven he is still alive?
7. December 25, 2010 8:41 pm
Well I tend to believe in this theory. Whatever we know of Al Qaeda today is what the US has told the world about it. In time, if WikiLeaks is allowed to continue exposing the hidden secrets, we may come to know whose brainchild is this organization anyway (if there is one).
8. December 26, 2010 10:31 am
I did see this documentary sometime back. its a good work. What we see today is similar to its theme. Leaders are not promising on dreams, rather injecting fear to govern. nice post
9. December 27, 2010 3:55 pm
Interesting post. Will make a point to see the documentary you mentioned. Unfortunately did not read your whole post but dont worry, you’re point is made. I’ve been reading Noam Chomsky’s book “What We Say Goes: Conversations on US Power in a Changing World” and it also mentions the US neoconservatives.
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%d bloggers like this: | 0.75 | medium | 6 | 4,452 | [
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a99825fa-e567-4e71-83ee-f84da6fb8515 | History Of String Bread | technology | code_implementation | History Of String Bread
String bread is a simple yet elegant creation that makes the best of the humble bread stick. Although many people today are used to eating sandwich type foods that include sandwich fillings such as ham and cheese, the truth is that a sandwich is nothing more than a flat piece of bread that is placed between two pieces of butter, usually spread with a delicious sauce. String bread is different because it is much thicker, often as much as 2 inches thick. There are many variations on the basic idea including the use of different fillings for each individual slice, and the fact that they can be eaten as an appetizer or as a dessert, too. Let’s take a look at a few of the many variations of string bread and their history.
Private Class Breakfast Sandwich: The first variation of this type of bread was created during the British civil war as a way to keep soldiers from becoming fat by cutting down on the amount of sugary foods that they ate during the war. A soldier had to have a meal at least once a day but could eat anything that he pleased. The only requirement was that it should consist of either tea coffee, toast, or a combination of the two. Because they were not allowed to eat things like bread or vegetables, this gave the soldiers a good excuse to eat anything they wanted, even if it was not something that would normally be found in a lunchroom. It’s also worth noting that the soldiers didn’t really have much choice in the matter.
Public Class Lunch Sandwich: This was a variation on the private class lunch sandwich that became popular in the United States in the 19th century. The government required that all school children get a lunch every single day and that they received some sort of food to eat. This created a demand for a lunch that had more variety than the regular lunch. The goal was to get children to eat a balanced meal that included the appropriate amount of carbs and fats. The best option was to serve these sandwiches as an option, and often, the breads used in them were much heavier than those used in private class lunch sandwiches.
Private Class Dinner Sandwich: The private class dinner sandwich has been one of the most common variations of string bread in existence since the beginning of its existence. They are a popular option in a number of different establishments, though there are some who actually make them only for special occasions. occasions and not everyday breads. There is also the variation of using different fillings for the lunch sandwich to accommodate more types of tastes, and flavors.
The most popular of the variations on string bread is the String Cheese Sandwich. These are actually thin, cracker-like layers of cheese that are cut into small pieces. They are filled with various meats or condiments. For instance, there may be brie, ham, salami, prosciutto, or even bacon. Some are even made with cheese, olives, green olives, cucumbers, or even garlic.
String bread is a wonderful option for anyone looking to impress at a friend’s party or for a romantic evening with the love of your life. There are plenty of different variations to try, and the secret to making a great one is in knowing what the bread is made of. A good quality sandwich that has the right mixture of ingredients can help to satisfy just about any taste, and provide something for everyone to enjoy. | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 688 | [
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a66aac8c-b374-4e4e-b630-2c56338995ee | Supersymmetry (SUSY) theoretical framework | science | proof | Supersymmetry (SUSY) is a theoretical framework in particle physics that posits a fundamental symmetry between two classes of particles: bosons (force-carrying particles, typically with integer spin) and fermions (matter particles, typically with half-integer spin). This elegant symmetry, if realized in nature, would have profound implications for our understanding of the universe, from the unification of fundamental forces to the nature of dark matter. ### 1. Key Definitions with Proper Mathematical Notation At the heart of supersymmetry lies the concept of a **supercharge**, denoted by $Q_\alpha$. These supercharges are fermionic operators that transform bosons into fermions and vice-versa. The index $\alpha$ runs from 1 to 2, reflecting the two-component nature of Majorana spinors in 4 spacetime dimensions. A fundamental object in SUSY is the **supermultiplet**, which is a representation of the supersymmetry algebra. The simplest supermultiplet is the **chiral supermultiplet**, containing a scalar boson and a Majorana fermion. In terms of fields, a chiral supermultiplet can be represented by a complex scalar field $\phi(x)$ and a Weyl spinor field $\psi(x)$. The transformation rule under a supersymmetry transformation is given by: $$ \delta \phi(x) = \sqrt{2} \epsilon^\alpha \psi_\alpha(x) $$ $$ \delta \psi_\alpha(x) = \sqrt{2} i \sigma^\mu_{\alpha \dot{\beta}} \epsilon^{\dot{\beta}} \partial_\mu \phi(x) $$ where $\epsilon^\alpha$ is a constant Majorana spinor parameter, and $\sigma^\mu = (I, \sigma^i)$ are the Pauli matrices. Another important supermultiplet is the **vector supermultiplet**, which contains a gauge boson and a gaugino (a fermionic superpartner of a gauge boson). For a $U(1)$ gauge theory, this would consist of a vector field $A_\mu(x)$ and a Majorana spinor field $\lambda(x)$. The SUSY transformation rules are: $$ \delta A_\mu(x) = i \bar{\epsilon} \sigma_\mu \lambda(x) $$ $$ \delta \lambda(x) = i \sigma^{\mu\nu} \epsilon F_{\mu\nu}(x) $$ where $F_{\mu\nu} = \partial_\mu A_\nu - \partial_\nu A_\mu$ is the electromagnetic field strength tensor, and $\sigma^{\mu\nu} = \frac{1}{2}(\sigma^\mu \bar{\sigma}^\nu - \sigma^\nu \bar{\sigma}^\mu)$. ### 2. Important Theorems or Properties A crucial property of supersymmetric theories is the **no-renormalization theorem**. This theorem states that for chiral quantities (like masses and couplings of chiral superfields), radiative corrections do not change their values. This is a powerful statement because it implies that parameters that are "protected" by supersymmetry remain exact even in the presence of quantum fluctuations. **Theorem (No-Renormalization of Chiral Couplings):** In a supersymmetric quantum field theory, the coupling constants and masses appearing in the superpotential are not renormalized by quantum corrections. This theorem has significant implications for the hierarchy problem, which is the large discrepancy between the electroweak scale and the Planck scale. In the Standard Model, scalar particles like the Higgs boson acquire large quantum corrections to their mass, requiring extreme fine-tuning of parameters. Supersymmetry, through the no-renormalization theorem, naturally stabilizes the Higgs mass. ### 3. Proof or Derivation: The No-Renormalization of the Superpotential Let's consider a simple supersymmetric theory with a chiral superfield $\Phi$ and a superpotential $W(\Phi)$. The Lagrangian for the matter sector can be written in terms of superfields as: $$ \mathcal{L}_{matter} = \int d^2\theta d^2\bar{\theta} \, \Phi^\dagger e^{V} \Phi + \int d^2\theta \, W(\Phi) + \int d^2\bar{\theta} \, W^\dagger(\Phi^\dagger) $$ where $V$ is the vector superfield. Expanding the superpotential term in components, we get: $$ \int d^2\theta \, W(\Phi) = \int d^2\theta \, (W(\phi) + W'(\phi)\psi\chi + W''(\phi)\psi\psi\phi + \dots) $$ This expansion reveals the scalar potential and Yukawa couplings. For instance, a term like $m \Phi^2$ in the superpotential leads to a scalar mass term $m^2 |\phi|^2$ and a Yukawa coupling $m \psi \psi$. The no-renormalization theorem essentially states that if $W(\Phi)$ is a polynomial in $\Phi$, then the coefficients of this polynomial are not renormalized. A detailed proof involves showing that the divergences in loop calculations can be absorbed into a redefinition of the chiral field itself, not its couplings. Consider the contribution to the effective action from a loop involving a chiral field $\Phi$. The relevant part of the action is $\int d^2\theta \, W(\Phi)$. Any quantum correction to this term would manifest as a change in the coefficients of the polynomial $W(\Phi)$. However, it can be shown that the divergences in the loop integrals are proportional to $\int d^4x d^2\theta d^2\bar{\theta} \, \mathcal{O}$, where $\mathcal{O}$ is a chiral operator. Since the original superpotential is chiral and the divergences are also chiral, they can be absorbed by a redefinition of the chiral field $\Phi \to Z^{1/2} \Phi$, where $Z$ is the field strength renormalization constant. This redefinition leaves the form of the superpotential invariant. $$ \int d^2\theta \, W(\Phi) \to \int d^2\theta \, W(Z^{1/2} \Phi) $$ If $W(\Phi) = \sum c_n \Phi^n$, then $W(Z^{1/2} \Phi) = \sum c_n Z^{n/2} \Phi^n$. The renormalization of the field strength $Z$ is related to the kinetic term. The argument is that the structure of the superpotential, being a function of chiral fields only, is preserved under renormalization. ### 4. Example Calculations or Applications: The Hierarchy Problem and the Higgs Boson One of the most compelling motivations for supersymmetry is its ability to solve the **hierarchy problem**. In the Standard Model, the Higgs boson mass ($m_H$) is sensitive to quantum corrections from very high energy scales, such as the Planck scale ($M_P \sim 10^{19}$ GeV). These corrections are typically of the form $\delta m_H^2 \sim \Lambda_{UV}^2$, where $\Lambda_{UV}$ is a high-energy cutoff. If $\Lambda_{UV} \sim M_P$, then to obtain a Higgs mass of around $125$ GeV, one needs an extraordinary fine-tuning of the bare Higgs mass parameter. In a supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM), each Standard Model particle has a superpartner with a spin difference of 1/2. For example, the Higgs boson has a scalar superpartner, the Higgsino. The Higgs boson mass squared receives contributions from both Standard Model particles and their superpartners. Consider the one-loop correction to the Higgs mass squared from a fermion loop (e.g., a top quark) and its superpartner (a stop quark): $$ \delta m_H^2 \approx \frac{1}{16\pi^2} \left( y_t^2 - g_s^2 \right) m_S^2 \ln\left(\frac{\Lambda_{UV}^2}{m_S^2}\right) $$ where $y_t$ is the top Yukawa coupling, $g_s$ is the strong coupling, and $m_S$ is the mass of the superpartner (stop quark). If the superpartners are at a similar mass scale to the electroweak scale ($\sim$ TeV), the divergent terms from the fermion and boson loops approximately cancel: $$ \delta m_H^2 \approx \frac{1}{16\pi^2} (y_t^2 - y_t^2) m_{SUSY}^2 \ln\left(\frac{\Lambda_{UV}^2}{m_{SUSY}^2}\right) = 0 $$ This cancellation mechanism, driven by supersymmetry, drastically reduces the sensitivity of the Higgs mass to high-energy scales, thereby solving the hierarchy problem without requiring extreme fine-tuning. **Case Study: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Search for Supersymmetry** The LHC at CERN is a prime experimental facility for testing supersymmetry. The discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 provided a crucial piece of the Standard Model puzzle, but it also intensified the search for its superpartners. If supersymmetry is a symmetry of nature that breaks at an energy scale accessible to the LHC (typically a few TeV), we would expect to find evidence of these superparticles. Experiments like ATLAS and CMS at the LHC are actively searching for evidence of SUSY by looking for specific signatures, such as: * **Missing Transverse Energy ($E_T^{miss}$):** Supersymmetric particles are often produced in pairs. If these particles decay into weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) or other stable, weakly interacting SUSY particles (like the neutralino, $\tilde{\chi}_1^0$), these particles will escape detection, leading to an imbalance in the transverse momentum of the detected particles. This imbalance is observed as $E_T^{miss}$. * **Production of Superpartners:** For example, the production of gluinos ($\tilde{g}$) and squarks ($\tilde{q}$) is expected to be significant at the LHC. These particles would then decay into Standard Model particles and lighter superpartners, eventually leading to the $E_T^{miss}$ signature. As of current experimental results, no direct evidence for supersymmetric particles has been found at the LHC. This has placed stringent constraints on the mass of potential superpartners, pushing them to higher energy scales, which in turn implies that if SUSY exists, its breaking scale might be higher than initially anticipated, or the structure of SUSY might be more complex than simple models like the MSSM. ### 5. Connections to Related Mathematical Concepts Supersymmetry has deep connections to various areas of mathematics: * **Superalgebra and Lie Superalgebras:** The supersymmetry algebra itself is a Lie superalgebra, which is a $\mathbb{Z}_2$-graded vector space with a Lie bracket that respects the grading. The commutation and anti-commutation relations of the supercharges and spacetime translations form this structure. * **Supergeometry and Supermanifolds:** The mathematical framework for describing supersymmetric field theories is supergeometry, which extends standard differential geometry to include anticommuting (Grassmann) variables. This leads to the concept of supermanifolds and superspace. * **Representation Theory:** Understanding supermultiplets involves studying representations of the supersymmetry algebra. These representations classify the possible sets of particles that can form a supersymmetric multiplet. * **Complex Analysis and Differential Geometry:** The construction of supersymmetric Lagrangians often involves sophisticated techniques from complex analysis and differential geometry, particularly in the context of conformal field theories and string theory. In summary, supersymmetry is a beautiful and powerful theoretical concept that, if experimentally verified, would revolutionize our understanding of fundamental physics. Its mathematical underpinnings are rich and complex, drawing from advanced areas of algebra, geometry, and representation theory, and its experimental search continues to be a frontier of modern physics research. | 0.65 | medium | 8 | 2,716 | [
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1135cb8e-4a94-4d33-b388-db388dd3470a | About this book | interdisciplinary | historical_context | About this book
The author believes that a good basic understanding of electronics can be achieved by detailed visual analyses of the actual voltage waveforms present in selected circuits. The voltage waveforms included in this text were photographed using a 35-rrun camera in an attempt to make the book more attractive. This book is intended for the use of students with a variety of backgrounds. For this reason considerable material has been placed in the Appendix for those students who find it useful. The Appendix includes many basic electricity and electronic concepts as well as mathematical derivations that are not vital to the understanding of the circuit being discussed in the text at that time. Also some derivations might be so long that, if included in the text, it could affect the concentration of the student on the circuit being studied. The author has tried to make the book comprehensive enough so that a student could use it as a self-study course, providing one has access to adequate laboratory equipment.
Elektronik Fourier series Maximum Thyristor calculus differential equation electronics integrated circuit | 0.6 | medium | 5 | 209 | [
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cbabc8ac-3efb-4cfa-9108-8f34fed58f2f | HOUSTON (Aug 26, 2010) | science | historical_context | HOUSTON (Aug 26, 2010) — Note to parents: Tucking your child in earlier could result in higher grades on your child’s next report card.
“Getting good sleep and enough sleep is a key element in leading a healthy lifestyle,” says Philip Alapat, MD, medical director, Sleep Center, Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. “Kids who are rested participate more in the classroom, are more alert and attentive, and tend to do better academically.”
According to Alapat, children need at least eight, and preferably 9 to 10 hours of sleep every night. This can be a challenge after summer when kids generally break the normal sleep cycle and stay up and sleep later. However, parents can get their children back on track by following a few simple guidelines:
- Set realistic goals. Determine your child's wake up time and count backwards to ensure eight hours of sleep
- Plan meals around the bed schedule. Consume dinner 2-3 hours before bedtime so that your child can unwind before it’s time to hit the sack.
- Establish a routine and stick to it. An hour before bedtime, help your child prepare for the next day by completing nightly rituals — taking a bath, setting aside clothes for the following day and making sure homework is complete.
- Stay away from caffeine. Caffeine affects the brain and can stay in the body’s system for six to nine hours, making it difficult for your child to fall asleep.
Alapat says one of the most important things you can do to ensure your kids get adequate sleep is to keep them on a schedule — even on the weekends.
"Oftentimes, just like in the summer, kids stay up late and rise later on weekend days,” he says. “This altered sleep schedule can cause a jet lag feel that can lead to insomnia at bedtime and sleepiness in the mornings. Following a sleeping routine can make your kid feel better physically and emotionally and is a crucial part of attaining and maintaining good overall health.” | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 421 | [
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f1eb9124-8261-4dbf-8c1f-05e1ee7c715d | Thursday, June 28, 2007 | technology | tutorial | Thursday, June 28, 2007
A String Alignment Test
Here is a string alignment check that will check both your frame and fork without dismantling the bike. I must warn you that this is a little tedious to set up; I did it on my own but it would be easier with the help of a second person. Not your wife, if you want to stay married.
Turn the bike upside down and rest the handlebars on two wooden blocks or stacks of books of equal height. Squeeze the brake levers and secure them with rubber bands as shown. This will hold the wheels to stop them spinning, but still allow you to rotate them.
Measure the height of the bottom bracket shell from the ground. Now rotate the wheels so the valve stems are one inch higher than the bottom bracket front and rear wheel, and positioned at the extremities of the bike. This will be your guide to where you will place the string.
Using a piece of string long enough to reach the length of the bike and back again; start at the back wheel valve stem and thread the string inside the spokes of both wheels. Tie a loop in the string at the front tire and repeat with the other end of the string from the back to the front on the opposite side of the bike.
Pull the string tight. Make a loop at the front tire and pass it through the first loop you tied on the end of the string. Pass this loop over the front valve stem and pull tight; this will hold it in place.
Now here is the tedious part; if the sting is touching a spoke, you are going to have to untie and rethread the string. Mostly you will be inside the spokes, but in some places where the string passes a spoke near the rim, you may need to be outside the spoke.
You can turn the front wheel (Steering.) until the string is touching the tire in four places each wheel, but touching nothing else. The double string should be in the center of the bottom bracket shell, (See top Picture.) but more importantly be in the center of the down tube. A BB shell can be machined unequally, but if the wheels are central the main tubes, the frame is straight.
If your bike rides fine I wouldn’t even go to the trouble of doing this test. However, if you suspect something is off, this test will show it up. Sometimes in a crash, the front wheel will turn 90 degrees to the frame and the rider is thrown over the handlebars. In this case the front fork can be pushed slightly sideways, and the wheels will not be in the same plane.
Tolerances: I would expect the string to be within 1 mm. of the tire at any point, with the wheel central between the chainstays. My thanks to Bill Talbot for suggesting this topic.
Posted by Dave Moulton at 6/28/2007 08:17:00 AM | 0.6 | low | 3 | 617 | [
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e337c369-e5b2-4c01-abe5-7bcb66e0b3bc | The Physical Demands of Nursing | interdisciplinary | research_summary | The Physical Demands of Nursing
It’s no secret that nursing is a physically demanding job. From long hours spent standing and walking to the constant lifting and bending, nurses put a lot of strain on their bodies. These demands take a toll on nurses physically, mentally, and emotionally, and it’s essential to acknowledge these challenges and take steps to mitigate them.
One of the most significant physical demands of nursing is the amount of walking required during a typical shift. Nurses can walk miles upon miles during a single shift, and this extended time on their feet can cause an array of health issues over time. According to research conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), nurses walk an average of four to five miles during a 12-hour shift.
This level of activity can lead to a wide range of injuries, including foot, ankle, and knee problems, back pain, muscle strains, and more. Nurses may also experience fatigue, muscle soreness, and stiffness, making it challenging to maintain productivity and alertness throughout the shift.
One of the most crucial steps nurses can take to combat the physical demands of walking is investing in good-quality footwear. Nurses need shoes that provide ample support, cushion the feet, and protect the worker from slips, trips, and falls. Supportive insoles, cushioning, and non-slip soles are all features to look for in a nursing shoe. It’s also crucial to replace shoes regularly, as they can wear out quickly with daily use.
Another recommendation involves taking breaks whenever possible. Nurses should take frequent breaks to rest and stretch their muscles to minimize soreness and reduce the chance of serious injuries. Performing stretching exercises and wearing compression stockings can also help prevent ankle and foot swelling so prevalent in the profession.
In addition to these steps, employers should do their part to reduce the physical demands of nursing. Employers should provide ergonomic workstations, implement flexible scheduling, and minimize heavy lifting whenever possible to create a work culture of safety and healthiness. It is not only ethical but in their financial interest as it’s more costly to pay worker compensation packages or wages for injured nurses than to proactively promote safety measures.
In conclusion, while nursing is one of the most rewarding professions, it is also physically demanding. Nurses walk significant distances on every shift, which can cause physical wear and tear, as well as mental and emotional stress. Taking measures such as investing in good-quality shoes, taking frequent breaks and employers providing ergonomic workstations, flexible schedules and adjust heavy lifting loads according to weight can help reduce the physical demands associated with the profession.
Measuring Nurse Activity Levels
As nurses go about their daily routines, they constantly move, from one patient to the next, completing a wide range of tasks. Some of these tasks require little physical effort, such as recording vital signs on a patient’s chart, whereas others demand more immediate attention, like performing CPR or transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair.
As a result of their job requirements, nurses are some of the most active employees in healthcare facilities. The number of steps they take in a single shift can be staggering, especially when worked out over time. It is no surprise, therefore, that healthcare providers are now using technology and other innovative methods to measure the physical activity of nurses during shifts to help them identify areas for improvement.
One of the most common ways healthcare providers use to measure nurse activity levels is through the use of wearables. Wearables such as fitness trackers can provide data on the number of steps that nurses take in a single shift. Healthcare providers can use this data to determine whether staff are spending a significant amount of time in one area, which may indicate that they are not efficiently allocating their time. However, the use of wearables does have its limitations. For instance, fitness trackers are not always accurate in gauging non-step-based activities, such as lifting and carrying.
Another approach that healthcare providers are beginning to use is utilizing computer vision technologies. Computer vision technology can track and analyze the movements of nurses during their shift using overhead cameras. This technology can record movements like opening cabinets, picking up medical supplies, and more, creating a more complete picture of nurse movement on the job. As an example, in a 2019 study published in the Journal of Medical Systems, Brazilian researchers utilized computer vision technology to compare the energy expenditure of nurses in different hospital environments. Results showed that operating rooms, for instance, required more energy expenditure than other areas, which suggested that energy expenditure should be taken into account when measuring nurse workload.
Finally, healthcare providers should consider that while measuring nurse activity may help identify inefficiencies, it may also have demoralizing consequences. Nurses may perceive that they are being overly monitored, which can create tension and other negative feelings. That said, demonstrating that their employers value them may offset any negative associations generated by monitoring physical activity.
While providing excellent medical care is the top priority of nurses, healthcare providers are realizing that it is equally essential to ensure that nurses remain healthy and injury-free as they care for patients. Measuring nurse activity levels is a critical part of this process as it enables healthcare providers to manage workload, prevent injuries, and improve patient care.
Device-based Tracking of Nurse Steps
With the rise of technology in the healthcare industry, many hospitals are now implementing device-based tracking of nurse steps. This technology uses small, wearable devices that track the number of steps that nurses take during their shifts.
These devices are equipped with sensors that can detect movement and acceleration, allowing them to accurately track a nurse’s steps throughout their shift. They can also monitor other metrics, such as distance traveled, calories burned, and active minutes.
Device-based tracking of nurse steps provides several benefits to both nurses and hospitals. Firstly, it helps hospitals to identify which areas of the hospital are busiest, allowing them to optimize staffing and allocate resources more effectively. This can help to reduce wait times, improve patient care, and enhance the overall efficiency of the hospital.
Secondly, it provides nurses with valuable feedback on their activity levels and overall health. By tracking their steps and other metrics, nurses can gain insight into their daily activity levels and identify areas where they may need to be more active. This can help them to stay healthy, maintain their fitness, and reduce their risk of developing chronic health conditions.
Finally, device-based tracking of nurse steps can also enhance the safety of nurses. By tracking their movements and activity levels, hospitals can identify potential work-related injuries that may develop over time. This can help to prevent workplace accidents and ensure the safety of all healthcare workers.
So how many miles do nurses typically walk during a shift? While the exact number can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the hospital, the type of ward, and the nurse’s role, studies suggest that nurses typically walk an average of 4-5 miles per shift.
This may seem like a relatively small amount, but it can add up quickly over time. Nurses who work 5 shifts per week could potentially walk up to 25 miles, or more, during an average week. This level of physical activity can help to improve their health, reduce their risk of developing chronic conditions, and even increase their lifespan.
In conclusion, device-based tracking of nurse steps is becoming increasingly popular in the healthcare industry. This technology provides valuable insights into a nurse’s daily activity levels, which can help them stay healthy and safe while on the job. While nurses typically walk an average of 4-5 miles per shift, this level of physical activity can have significant benefits over time. | 0.6 | medium | 5 | 1,558 | [
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d0c7fcdd-89f1-4322-bdee-a61cdabecfdf | Native American painting traditions | technology | historical_context | Native American painting traditions predate the arrival of European explorers, with different colors holding symbolic meanings. The paints were made from natural pigments, including minerals and plant material, mixed with a fish-egg binder. While some of the materials used then to make specific colors such as lapis lazuli, might be a little pricey today, you can still make many of the natural paints using the yolk of a hen's egg.
Prepare your paints by mixing finely ground or crushed pigments from plants, minerals and other sources with a beaten egg yolk binder. You can also mix your pigments with melted animal fat, linseed oil or milk as binders. Mix a little water to get the consistency you want for your project.For some pigments, such as dirt or clay, you can use water alone. if you prefer.
Video of the Day
The simplest brown paint comes from mixing ordinary dirt with water and brushing it onto the project surface. You can also get a red-tinted brown paint by scraping rust from a metal surface and mixing it with the binder.
Red paints come primarily from iron-rich clays or berries. Native Americans also used certain types of beetles to create these paint colors. Recycle broken terracotta garden pots by crushing them into a fine powder and mixing them with your binder. For deeper colors, you can mash the berries and heat them slightly to release more of the colorful juice.
Limestone, gypsum or white kaolin clay produce white paint when ground finely and blended with a binder. Eggshells and sea shells are also good sources for whites, along with white chalk.
Soot or charcoal make excellent paint when combined with an egg yolk or other binder. Like the other pigment sources, they need to be ground finely so that the paint mixes smoothly.
Native Americans used powdered azurite or lapis lazuli to make blue hues. Because those minerals were not easy to come by, they were used sparingly. Substitute blueberry juice and white vinegar, sunflower seeds or blue-hued flowers for less precious and costly options.
Although green is a prevalent color in nature, it is one of the most difficult to recreate in natural paints. Most of them will be quite pale, but you can still make them from moss and algae.
The gall bladder and other internal organs of the buffalo were the most common source of yellow paint for the Native Americans, but you can make yours from the skins of yellow onions or from flowers, moss and other yellow plants.
As long as you can make red, blue and yellow -- along with black and white -- you can mix these to make all the colors found on the artist's color wheel including neutrals and browns. | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 549 | [
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e7e0771c-a109-40cd-be43-2217d041f482 | Protect your Finances from Fraud | technology | problem_set | Protect your Finances from Fraud
Computer users are being warned to take precautions to protect themselves against infection from the Game Over Zeus virus. If left undetected, the virus can empty your bank accounts as well as steal personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers.
It is feared that thousands of computers could be infected by this virus, and if the criminals that are behind it do successfully manage to take funds from people's bank accounts, then the effects are devastating.
Here are some tips on how to help prevent the virus.
- Keep your computer system updated. These means making sure that all of the programmes on your computer are up-to-date and the updates that help protect the system from vulnerabilities are completed.
- Make sure you have a complete Internet security suite that includes protection from malware and a firewall.
- Don't click on links on emails as this is one of the most common forms of infections.
- Ask your bank about the security measures that they have in place for Internet banking and ask if they have an option to block anyone else from transferring money out of your bank account.
- If you are a Mac user, don't think that the virus won't infect your computer. While this virus mainly targets Microsoft systems, it won't be long before it targets Mac users as well.
What happens if you lose money?
People can reduce the possibility of being infected by this virus by taking the above precautions. However, should your system become infected and money is taken from your bank account or credit card, you'll need to know what to do next.
Consumers are usually protected if money is taken from their bank account or credit card without their knowledge. However, banks and credit card companies are increasing putting the onus on their customers to protect themselves, and if a customer does not take reasonable actions to reduce the risk of having their money stolen, then they might not be refunded for any losses.
It is imperative to read the terms and conditions from your bank or credit card company and ensure that you are doing everything that you can do to prevent being defrauded. For instance, if you don't keep your computer updated, or if you don't have Internet security, then you probably won't be covered in the event of theft if it is deemed that you have acting recklessly.
Check your bank accounts and credit cards regularly and if you notice any transactions that you don't recognise, contact your bank or credit card provider immediately. | 0.7 | medium | 4 | 501 | [
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7af758b5-7617-4987-928c-968ff39c8570 | Tutorial: Managing Diabetes Exercise | interdisciplinary | tutorial | ## Tutorial: Managing Diabetes and Exercise – A Guide Based on Dan Seller’s Experience **Overview:** This tutorial breaks down Dan Seller’s experiences with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and exercise, offering actionable steps for adjusting your insulin regime and managing your condition while participating in physical activities. It’s designed to help you understand how to tailor your approach based on activity type and intensity. **Prerequisites:** Basic understanding of Type 1 Diabetes, insulin pumps, and the concept of basal rates. Familiarity with blood glucose monitoring is essential. **Step 1: Understand Your Baseline** - **Action:** Track your blood glucose levels during a typical day, including periods of inactivity and light activity (like walking). Record the time, blood glucose reading, and any food consumed. - **Detailed Instructions:** Use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or frequent fingerstick testing. Aim for at least 8-12 readings spaced throughout the day. Note any trends – do you consistently see a drop in glucose after meals? - **Expected Outcome:** You’ll have a clear picture of your body’s natural glucose response to different situations. - **Checkpoint:** Analyze your data. Identify the typical range of your blood glucose levels and the patterns you observe. Are there specific foods or activities that consistently cause significant fluctuations? **Step 2: Assess Activity Impact – Initial Adjustments** - **Action:** Start with a low basal rate adjustment for your most common activity. - **Detailed Instructions:** Choose an activity you regularly do (e.g., walking). Reduce your basal rate by 5-10% for the duration of that activity. Monitor your blood glucose levels closely – every 15-30 minutes. - **Example:** If your standard basal rate is 15 units per hour, reduce it to 13.5 or 14 units per hour while walking. - **Common Pitfalls to Avoid:** Don’t drastically reduce your basal rate – small adjustments are key. Don’t ignore your blood glucose readings. **Step 3: Fine-Tune Basal Rates by Activity Type** - **Action:** Create a table outlining basal rate adjustments for different activity types. - **Detailed Instructions:** * **Walking/Hiking:** 5-20% reduction in basal rate. * **Cycling:** 5-10% reduction in basal rate. * **Running:** 0-5% reduction in basal rate (or potentially no change, depending on individual response). * **High-Intensity Exercise (e.g., Boot Camp):** Increase basal rate by 10-20% (or use a temporary bolus). - **Expected Outcome:** A personalized guide to adjust your basal rate based on the intensity and duration of your exercise. - **Checkpoint:** Test your table with a short, moderate-intensity workout. Record your blood glucose levels and adjust your basal rate accordingly. **Step 4: Implement Temporary Basal Rate Adjustments** - **Action:** Learn to implement temporary basal rate changes using your insulin pump. - **Detailed Instructions:** Familiarize yourself with your pump’s programming features. Most pumps allow you to set temporary basal rates that override your standard basal rate for a specified period. Set a timer on your phone to remind you to check your blood glucose. - **Example:** If you’re planning a longer hike, program a temporary basal rate reduction of 10% for the duration of the hike. - **Common Pitfalls to Avoid:** Don’t forget to turn off the temporary basal rate when you’re finished exercising. Always double-check your settings before starting an activity. **Step 5: Recognize and Respond to Hypoglycemia** - **Action:** Develop a plan for managing hypoglycemia during exercise. - **Detailed Instructions:** Carry fast-acting carbohydrates (glucose tablets, juice) with you at all times. Know the symptoms of hypoglycemia (shaking, dizziness, confusion). If you experience hypoglycemia, consume 15-20 grams of carbohydrates and recheck your blood glucose in 15 minutes. Repeat as needed. - **Expected Outcome:** Increased confidence in managing hypoglycemia during exercise. - **Checkpoint:** Practice a simulated hypoglycemia scenario – consume glucose tablets and recheck your blood glucose to understand the response. **Step 6: Longer Duration Events – Basal Rate Maintenance** - **Action:** Understand the need for extended basal rate maintenance after prolonged exercise. - **Detailed Instructions:** After events like the "Around the Bay" race, your basal rate may remain suppressed for 24 hours or longer. Monitor your blood glucose closely and be prepared to administer boluses as needed. - **Example:** After a marathon, your basal rate might need to be increased by 20-30% for the next 12-24 hours. - **Common Pitfalls to Avoid:** Don’t immediately return to your standard basal rate. Gradually increase your basal rate over several hours. **Step 7: Consider Bolus Adjustments** - **Action:** Learn to adjust your bolus doses based on exercise. - **Detailed Instructions:** For high-intensity exercise, you may need to administer a larger bolus dose than usual. Experiment with different bolus sizes to find what works best for you. - **Example:** Before a sprint, you might need to administer a 20-30% larger bolus than you would for a leisurely walk. - **Checkpoint:** Keep a log of your bolus doses and blood glucose readings during different types of exercise. **Practice Exercise:** Plan a 30-minute walk. Before starting, reduce your basal rate by 10%. Monitor your blood glucose every 15 minutes. Adjust your basal rate as needed based on your readings. **Key Takeaways:** Adjusting your insulin regime for exercise is a personalized process. Start with small changes, monitor your blood glucose levels closely, and be prepared to adapt your approach based on your individual response. Don't be afraid to experiment – but always prioritize your safety. **Next Steps:** Consult with your endocrinologist or certified diabetes educator to develop a personalized exercise plan and insulin regime. Continue to track your blood glucose levels and adjust your approach as needed. Consider joining a support group or online forum to connect with other people with T1D who exercise. | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 1,310 | [
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73448fd9-9514-483b-8d32-ddec3966925a | Gun Barrel Holds Up Under Extreme Heat | science | research_summary | Gun Barrel Holds Up Under Extreme Heat
They may not need to if Texas State University researchers can prove that a ceramic lining will prolong the life of barrels.
Intense heat can warp and bend normal barrels, affecting accuracy and requiring soldiers to take 10 seconds or so to switch them out — not a fun task to perform in the midst of a firefight.
“Ten seconds seems like an eternity” on the battlefield, said Clois E. “Bert” Powell, a Texas State University chemistry professor and lead researcher on the project, which was commissioned by the Marine Corps.
Researchers are using a combination of silicon and nitrogen called silazane, which is heated up to more than 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit to create the ceramic coating used inside the barrel. They took their creation to a shooting range and fired 36 rounds. The barrel was hot to the touch after 30 shots in 22 seconds but showed no degradation and even appeared shinier after the test, Powell said.
A second phase of the project will see how the coating holds up after the firing of 15,000 rounds, which is generally the specification for the lifespan of a barrel. Researchers hope to be able to double the life of machine gun barrels with their coating and reduce the number of spares carried into the field. | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 277 | [
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9fd0006a-97c9-44c0-a89a-e88314d6e888 | Role Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide | technology | historical_context | Role of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, 5-Fluorouracil Regimen) in Down Staging in Breast Cancer. 1 2 3 4
Jagdeep Singh
, Baldev Singh
, Anita Joneja
, Surinder Gupta
1
Senior Resident, Department of Surgery, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar.
3
Associate Professor, Department of Radiotherapy, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar.
4
Retired Professor & Head, Department of Surgery, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar.
Received: September 2016
Accepted: September 2016
Copyright: © the author(s), publisher. It is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of the study is to assess the tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, 5-fluorouracial (CAF regimen) in terms of decrease in breast tumor size (partial or complete clinically).To assess clinically the axillary lymph node status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (conversion from palpable to nonpalpable). Methods: Thirty female patients of breast cancer were studied for down staging with two cycles of CAF regimen given at interval of 21 days. After 21 days of second cycle patient's staging noted for effects. Results: Thirty female patients of breast cancer were studied. Maximum no. of patients between 31-40 years, mean age 46 years and median age 45 years, youngest patients 18 years, oldest patients 70 years, 22 patients responded to chemotherapy, out of 22, 1 (3.3%) showed a complete clinical response, 21 (70%) partial clinical response. Pre-menopausal 9/13 (69.2%) and post menopausal 13/17 (76.4%) showed clinical response, statistically not significant difference (df=1, x 2 =1.33, p>0.05). Change in tumor size 40.09±25.20 sq, cm mean size to 21.88±27.43 sq. cm after chemotherapy was highly significant change (t=6.242, p<0.001). Overall response to chemotherapy was 73.3%, in stage II-87.5%, stage IIIA-75% and stage IIIB-50%. The overall response to axillary lymph node was 56.6%, statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Main side effects nausea and vomiting (60%) and hair loss, 43.3%, but none necessitated stoppage of chemotherapy. As a consequence to primary chemotherapy, conservation surgery (lumpectomy with axillary clearance) could be done in 43.3% of patients.Conclusion: CAF Preoperative chemotherapy regime is a satisfactory modality of treatment for stage II and III breast cancer with positive response rate of 73.3%. The down staging thus obtained permits breast conservation surgery in 43.3% of patients. The chemotherapy regime is well accepted by patients.
Keywords: CAF Primary /neo adjuvant chemotherapy; down staging; breast cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
INTRODUCTION
The management of breast cancer ranges from loco/regional control with modified radical mastectomy to multipronged approach of breast conservation surgical techniques. Breast conservation is possible only if the tumor size is reduced. Neo adjuvant chemotherapy is being used frequently before surgery in large and locally advanced breast cancers aiming diminution of primary tumor size and knocking out putative micrometastasis to improve survival.
Name & Address of Corresponding Author
Dr. Baldev Singh
Associate Professor,
Department of Surgery,
Govt. Medical College, Amritsar.
with (Caf
The study was conducted from May, 2005 to Nov 2007 in the Department of General Surgery in conjunction with Department of Radiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, attached to Government Medical College, Amritsar. Informed consent was taken from all the patients included in the study.
Patient population: Thirty female patients with breast carcinoma, stage II and stage III (TNM according to standard AJCC 1997 staging) in were studied. Two cycles of CAF or FAC regimen Swenerton [1] were administered preoperatively as follows: - Cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m 2 I.V. day 1. Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) 50 mg/m 2 I.V. day 1,5Fluorouracil 500 mg/m 2 I.V. day 1 and 8. The cycle repeated after 21 days.
Inclusion Criteria: a) T1/T2/T3 with N0/N1 and M0;
Singh et al; Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
b) Any T with N2/N3 and M0; c) T3/T4 with any N and M0.
Exclusion Criteria: Patient unfit for chemotherapy; previous antitumor chemotherapy, inflammatory breast carcinoma, concurrent other malignancy, of distant metastases and cardiovascular impairment were excluded.
mobile lymph nodes (N1) and 3 patients were having fixed axillary lymph nodes (N2).After neo adjuvant chemotherapy, only ten patients were having mobile palpable lymph nodes (N1). So overall response to axillary lymph nodes was 56.6%. Change in lymph nodes status from clinically palpable to non-palpable was found to be statistically highly significant (p<0.001).
Evaluation: a) A detailed history and systemic examination was carried out. The size of the breast lump of the patient was measured with Vernier calipers or measuring tape. Evaluation of response was carried out in terms of change in the TNM staging (before and after neo adjuvant chemotherapy). Down staging was evaluated after 21 days from completion of second dose of chemotherapy. The response was assessed as complete response, partial response, no change or progressive disease by standard criteria as Haywards et al. [2,3]
RESULTS
Maximum number of patients fell in the age groups of 31-40 years. The mean age of study population was 46 years and median age was 45 years. The youngest patient was 18 years female and the oldest patient was a 70 years female. Out of 30 patients, 22 patients responded to neo adjuvant chemotherapy (73.3%). Out of 22 patients, complete response was shown by 1 (3.3%) patient while the remaining 21 (70%) patients showed partial response. Patients in age group 11-20 years and 41-50 years had maximally responded to chemotherapy (i.e. 100%), compared to those in age group 61-70 years (i.e. 33.3%). Out of 13 premenopausal patients 9 (69.2%) had clinical response to chemotherapy. In post menopausal group, out of 17 patients, only 13 (76.4%) patients had clinical response to chemotherapy. Difference between response with neo adjuvant chemotherapy among premenopausal and postmenopausal was found to be statistically not significant (d f = 1; x 2 = 1.33; p>0.05)
Mean tumor size in present study before chemotherapy was 40.09+25.20 sq.cm (range: 6.82– 147.00 sq.cm) and that after chemotherapy was 21.88+27.43 cm 2 (range: 0-127.40 cm 2 ). Change in tumor size after chemotherapy was found to be statistically highly significant (t = 6.242; p<0.001).Present study showed 87.50% response to chemotherapy in stage II tumor, 75% response in stage IIIA and 50% response in stage IIIB tumor. Overall response to chemotherapy was 73.3% in stage II and stage III patients. Statistically highly significant difference was observed in clinical response to stage II tumor compared to that of stage III tumor (p<0.001).
Before neo adjuvant chemotherapy, twenty three patients were having clinically palpable auxiliary lymph nodes. Out of which 20 patients were having
The main side effects observed were nausea and vomiting (60%) and hair loss (43.3%) in all patients but none necessitated discontinuation of chemotherapy. Subsequent to preoperative chemotherapy, conservative surgery (lumpectomy with axillary clearance and segmental mastectomy with axillary clearance) could be done in 43.3% of the patients. Following surgery, all patients were discharged after removal of stitches. None had postoperative complications after surgery and follow up was done for prognosis and disease free survival for 12 months.
DISCUSSION
In our study, out of 30 patients 22 have responded to neo adjuvant chemotherapy (73.3%). Out of 22 patients, complete clinical response was shown by one patient (3.3%) while the remaining patients (70%) showed partial clinical response. Different studies have shown clinical response range from 70% to 85% and clinically complete response 6.6 to 27% [4-8] . Hence, clinical response in present study also fell in the same range, but complete clinical response is less than that of different studies. The reasons for lower result in clinical complete response may be:(A) Our study group was very small (i.e. 30 patients) compared to other studies.(B)We have given only two cycles of CAF regimen preoperatively compared to 2 to 5 cycles of chemotherapy in other studies.
Table 1: Staging Before and After Chemotherapy.
Any T N
3
M
0
-
-
Present study showed that patients in age groups 1120 years and 41-50 years had maximally responded to chemotherapy (100%) compared to those in age group 61-70 years (33.3%). But the correlation between age of patients and change in tumor size after neo adjuvant chemotherapy was found to be statistically not significant (r= -0.13859; p>0.05). It showed that there exists a negative but not significant correlation between age and change in tumor size which implies that as the age increases, the change in tumor size with neo adjuvant chemotherapy decreases although not significantly. Different studies have also shown that age is no specific criterion for clinical response to chemotherapy. [9]
Mean tumor size in present study before chemotherapy was 40.09+27.43 sq.cm (range: 6.82 – 147.0 sq.cm) and that after chemotherapy was 21.88+27.43 sq.cm (range: 0-127.40 sq.cm). Change in tumor size after chemotherapy was found to be statistically highly significant (t=6.242; p<0.001). Maximum clinical response to chemotherapy was found in tumor size 2.1-4.0 cm (100%) and minimum response to chemotherapy in tumor size 12.1 – 14.0 cm (0%). Also, as the size of tumor increases response to chemotherapy decreases, 2.1 – 4.0 cm (response = 100%), 4.1 – 6.0 cm (response 77.7%), 6.1-8.0 cm (response 73.33%), 8.1 – 10.0 cm (response 50%), 12.1-14.0 cm (no response. One study showed that the response to chemotherapy decreased as the tumor size increased (tumor size <5cm 48% response, tumor size 5-10 cm 20% response and tumor size >10cm 4% response) [12] . Similarly a study concluded that tumor size < or = 2cm responded maximally to chemotherapy (p<0.001) [10] . Another study concluded that tumor size had marked prognostic significance following chemotherapy. [11] So prognostic significance of tumor size in present study correlates with other studies.
Table 2: Comparison of Response with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy According to Stage of Tumor.
Present study showed 87.50% response to chemotherapy in stage II tumor, 75% response in stage IIIA and 50% response in stage IIIB. Overall response to chemotherapy was 73.3% in stage II and stage III breast cancer patients. Statistically highly significant difference was observed in clinical response of stage II tumor when compared to that of stage III tumor (p<0.001). Different studies indicated better response to chemotherapy for stage II tumor (82-87%) when compared to response for stage III tumor (46–60%). [12,13] So results of our study also correlate with other studies.
subtypes. [16] The pathological response to preoperative therapy exhibits a complex interaction between the regimen delivered, the pathological complete response improvement, and long-term outcome, is not well understood. [17]
In present study, 23 patients were having clinically palpable axillary lymph nodes out of which 20 patients were having mobile lymph nodes (N1) and 3 patients were having fixed axillary lymph nodes (N2). After chemotherapy, only 10 patients were having mobile palpable lymph nodes (N1). So overall response to axillary lymph nodes was 56.6% and change in lymph node status from clinically palpable to non palpable was found to be statistically highly significant (p<0.001).
In one study, 170 patients of locally advanced breast cancer were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 63% patients had negative axillary lymph nodes after chemotherapy. [14] Similarly, a study showed that metastatic lymph nodes were found to be a sovereign predictor of tumor response as well as relapse. [15] Hence, clinical response to axillary lymph nodes after neoadjvuant chemotherapy in present study correlates with the result of other studies. The prognostic value is greatest in aggressive tumour
Side effects of chemotherapy regimen: Patients had nausea and vomiting as most common side effects during chemotherapy (60% cases), was controlled by antiemetic and antacid drugs. Second most common side effect noted among patients was loss of hair (43.3%). All the 30 patients completed two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Procedures undertaken after chemotherapy: As a result of down staging of tumor with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, breast conservation surgery was possible in 13 patients (43.3%). Following surgery, all patients were discharged after removal of stitches. None had post-operative complications. All patients received 5 cycles of chemotherapy after surgery and follow up was done for prognosis and disease free survival for 12 months.
CONCLUSION
Based upon this study, we conclude that preoperative chemotherapy is a satisfactory modality of treatment for stage II and stage III breast cancer with a positive response rate of 73.3%. The down staging thus obtained permits breast conservation
Singh et al; Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
surgery in 43.3% patients. The chemotherapy regimen is well accepted by patients.
REFERENCES
How to cite this article: Singh J, Singh B, Joneja A, Gupta S. Role of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, 5-Fluorouracil (Caf Regimen) in Down Staging in Breast Cancer. Ann. Int. Med. Den. Res. 2016; 2(6):SG24-SG27.
1. Swenerton KD. Cancer Res. 1979; 39: 1552-1562.
2. Smith LC, Heys SD, Hutcheon AW, Miller LD, Payne S, Gilbert FJ et al. Neoadjuvangent chemotherapy in breast cancer: significantly enhanced response with docetaxel. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Mar 15;20(6):1456-66.
3. Hayward JL, Carbone PP, Henson JC, Kumaoko S, Segaloff A, Ruben RD et al. Assessment of response to therapy in advanced breast cancer. Br J Cancer. 1977 Mar; 35(3): 292-8.
4. Bonadonna G, Veronesi U, Brambilla C, Ferrari L, Luini A, Greco M et al. Primary chemotherapy to avoid mastectomy in tumors with diameter of three centimeter or more. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1990 Oct 3; 82(19):1539-45.
5. Cunningham JD, Weiss SE, Ahmed S, Bratton JM, Bleidweiss IJ, Tartter PI et al. The efficacy of neo adjuvant chemotherapy compared to postoperative therapy in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. Cancer Invest. 1998; 16 (2): 80-86.
6. Danforth DN, Cowan K, Altermus R, Merino M, Chow C, Berman A et al. Preoperative FLAC/Granlocyte colonoy stimulating factor chemotherapy for stage II breast cancer: A prospective randomized trial. Ann J Surg Oncol. 2003 Ju; 10(6): 635-644.
7. Alassas M, Chu Q, Burton G, Ampul F, Mizell J, Li BD et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage III breast cancer. Am Surg. 2005; 71 (6): 487-492.
8. Heller W, Mazhar D, Ward R, Sinnett HD, Lowdell C, Phillips R et al. Neoadjuvant (5 Fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy followed by docetaxel in refractory patients with LABC. Oncol Rep. 2007Jan; 17 (1): 253-259.
9. Swain SM, Sorace RA, Bagley CA. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combined modality approach of locally advanced non-metastatic breast cancer. Cancer Res 1987; 47(14): 3889-3894.
10. Kuerer HM, Singletary SE, Buzdar AV, Ames FC, ValeroV. Surgical conservation planning after Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and operable stage III breast carcinoma. Am J Surg. 2001; 182 (6): 601-608.
11. Yildirim E, Semerci E, Berberoglu U. The analysis of prognostic factor in stage IIIB non-inflammatory breast cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2000; 26 (1): 34-38.
12. Jacquittate C, Well M, Ballet F. Results of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the breast conserving treatment of 250 patients with all stages of infiltrative breast cancer. Cancer. 1990; 66(1): 119-129.
13. Schwartz GF, Birchansty CA, Komarnicky LT. Induction Chemotherapy followed by breast cancer. Cancer. 1994 Jan 15;73(2):362-9.
14. Kuerer HM, Newman LA, Buzdas AV, Dhingra K, Hunt KK. Pathologic tumor response in the breast following neoadjuvant chemotherapy predicts axillary lymph nodes status. Cancer J Sci Am. 1998;4(4):230-6.
15. Botti C, Vici P, Lopez M, Scinto AF, Cognetti Caualieve R.Prognostic value of lymph node metastases after neo adjuvant chemotherapy for large sized operable carcinoma. J Am Coll Surg. 1995; 181(3): 202-208.
16. Cortazar P, Zhang L, Untch M, Mehta K, Costantino JP, Lancet. 2014;384(9938):164-72. Epub 2014 Feb 14.
17. Carey LA, Winer EP. Defining success in neoadjuvant breast cancer trials. Lancet. 2014; 384:115
Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared | 0.7 | medium | 6 | 4,760 | [
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6726adbc-843c-409a-a5fd-a27f35474267 | by Carol Brown, American Thinker | technology | technical_documentation | by Carol Brown, American Thinker
With daily headlines featuring the world “Ebola,” fear is in the air. Along with confusion.
Many Americans are worried about Ebola spreading and becoming a serious threat. And many of us are skeptical about what the Obama administration is saying on the matter. Which leaves a lot of people feeling uncertain.
I’m one of those people and I set about trying to learn more about the virus and how it spreads, delving into areas where information has been lacking and/or has been conflicting. This is what I learned.
Many want to know if the virus can be transmitted through particles in the air. If it could, it would be a game-changer for a disease that is already spreading rapidly.
First, what exactly does “airborne” mean? Does it mean sharing the same air as an infected person and inhaling microscopic droplets containing the virus hanging in the air? Does it mean secretions spewed from an infected person traveling through the air and making contact with another person? Read the entire story. | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 212 | [
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aeb71150-cdcc-4705-954d-9379423e3b41 | - Super User | technology | data_analysis | - Super User
- Hits: 2064
- Standard Wax Tests
- Units/Temp Conversion
Petroleum waxes are produced from the process of refining lubricating oil. During this process, separation of waxy oily fractions are obtained through a de-waxing process. This can be either mechanically or chemically done. As the wax is extracted from this first level process, the mass is known as slack wax. Further refining is required to de-oil the slack wax resulting in fully refined paraffin waxes and microcrystalline waxes.
Some of the petroleum waxes are ( in order of refining ):
- PARAFFIN WAX - this is used to describe refined wax derived from petroleum. Considered to be colorless or white, the crystals are larger and well formed.
- SLACK WAX - This is the raw wax or sometimes semi refined. This wax has the most oil content usually greater than 3% by volume.
- SCALE WAX - This is refined slack, or "de-oiled". Usually whats left after processing slack to obtain the oil.
- SEMI REFINED - The oil content for semi refined is less than one and a half percent. Oilier than fully refined, they still can have good clear color and no odor.
- FULLY REFINED - These waxes usually have less then half of a percent oil. These types can be food grade, good clear color, and no smell. The viscosity of these waxes is very low in molten state.
- MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX - Higher melt waxes with small irregular crystals. They also have longer iso chains which helps in its use to clean up the appearance of paraffin waxes. Viscocity is usually an important technical spec for micros. They tend to run higher than paraffin waxes in the molten state. Viscosity should be 11 or higher.
Some vegetable waxes are derived from Soya or Palm and are refined by extracting their oil and processing them through hydrogenation. These are not really waxes but fats, but are referred to in the industry as wax. Vegetable waxes are used as a cheaper source of wax. While in some cases cannot be a one to one replacement for paraffin, can be used as a blend with paraffin to lessen production costs.
Some of these waxes include:
- SOY WAX - Not really a wax, but hydrogenated soybean oil (fat). Its much softer than paraffin waxes and needs additives to be a good paraffin replacement.
- PALM WAX - Also not a wax but also a hydrogenated fat from palm oil. We have formulations of palm that are used in pillar, mold and extrusion candles. Palm has been used widely in soap, floor polish, food additives and many other uses. We have made blends with palm wax and synthetic waxes with great success.
- CARNAUBA WAX - This is the wax taken from the leaves of a brazilian palm tree.
Synthetic waxes on the other hand can be used as a one to one replacement for petroleum waxes. They can be used to modify and improve performance of petroleum waxes, as straight replacement of petroleum waxes or in special blends of both synthetic wax and petroleum wax. Synthetic waxes are derived from multiple sources. The first well known synthetics are by-products of the production of synthetic resins, such as polyethylene. While not new, but making a huge presence as the petroleum replacement, are synthetic waxes that are derived from the Fischer Tropche process. These waxes are produced from natural gas with no smell, pure white color, and burn cleanly. There is no oil in this type of synthetic. However, from its process, there are a small percentage of fractions with lower melts that dont solidify. These cannot be 100% removed and have the appearance of oil and therefore our synthetic wax have an officially rated oil content of less than three quarters of a percent.
Some of these waxes include:
- POLYETHYLENE WAX - Wax derived by cracking polyethylene.
- ALPHA OLEFINS - Derived from ethylene. They are usually very hard.
- GTL/FISCHER-TROPSCH (gas to liquid ) synthetic wax (ex: Shell Waxes ) - derived from carbon monoxide when burning natural gas in high pressure to obtain hydrocarbon chains.
Standard Wax Tests | 0.65 | medium | 3 | 928 | [
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8d52ec33-fdd2-41bb-aff7-9be60d088245 | We need to define terms, first | life_skills | historical_context | We need to define terms, first.
Soft skills is a term often associated with a person’s “EQ” (Emotional Intelligence Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, managing people, leadership, etc. that characterize relationships with other people. Soft skills contrast to hard skills, which are generally easily quantifiable and measurable (e.g. software knowledge, basic plumbing skills).
A person’s soft skill EQ [?] is an important part of their individual contribution to the success of an organization. Particularly those organizations dealing with customers face-to-face are generally more successful, if they train their staff to use these skills. Screening or training for personal habits or traits such as dependability and conscientiousness can yield significant return on investment for an organization. For this reason, soft skills are increasingly sought out by employers in addition to standard qualifications.
I’d quibble with some of that, but it is essentially on the mark Actually, on second thoughts, I’d quibble with quite a lot.
Communication, for example, isn’t a soft skill. It is the process of one person conveying information of some sort to another. The point is that a more emotionally intelligent person, all other things being equal, will communicate more effectively with other people than will a less emotionally intelligent person. As Frank Zappa said,
Just because somebody hears something you say, or reads something that you write, doesn’t mean you’ve reached them.
In other words, communication skills are necessary, but not sufficient. You need emotional intelligence to “reach” the other person. And, indeed, you need emotional intelligence to receive communication effectively, too.
Language isn’t a soft skill either. It’s a tool with which we communicate.
The other items on Wikipedia’s list are competences for which EI is essential or important. Leadership doesn’t exist without it; the others will be enhanced the more emotional intelligence is allied to them.
Rather than have largely irrelevant conversation about what soft skills are and what they are not, I propose to go one level deeper: What is this “emotional intelligence” which facilitates soft skills?
Building on the work of Peter Salovey and others, Daniel Golemen defined personal competences and social competences which, together, comprise emotional intelligence.
Self awareness—Knowing one’s internal states, preferences, resources and intuitions
Self regulation—Managing one’s internal states, impulses and resources
Motivation—Emotional tendencies that guide or facilitate reaching goals
Empathy—Awareness of others’ feelings, needs and concerns
Social skills—Adeptness at inducing desirable responses in others
If someone cannot attain reasonable levels of competence in these areas, then there is little point in working with them on their leadership or social graces or anything else.
The ability to do something well; expertise (Oxford dictionary)
—the ability to use one’s knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance
—dexterity or coordination especially in the execution of learned physical tasks
—a learned power of doing something competently : a developed aptitude or ability
(Merriam-Webster—a US dictionary)
…expertness… a craft or accomplishment [omitted definitions described as ‘archaic’]
(Chambers’ twentieth century dictionary (1972))—my favourite dictionary.
These definitions of ‘skill’—and others—emphasise behaviours and knowledge. However, Goleman’s competences (carefully not described as ‘skills’) are about the capacity to detect, and be aware of, one’s own emotional states and those of others. Goleman uses words like ‘guide’, ‘facilitate’, ‘awareness’ and ‘adeptness’. This has little to do with behaviours. And, whilst they may lead to acquisition of knowledge, they aren’t the knowledge themselves.
So, I argue that ‘soft skills’ is a poor term to use because, at bottom, ‘soft skills’ aren’t skills.
Imagine you need to learn how to use WordPress, the better to create your website. You can go on a course. The trainer/teacher will teach you how to do it. Using WordPress is a set of behaviours and, whether or not you get to practise on the course, you ought to be able to do it better afterwards.
You can be taught skills, whether it is how to use WordPress or drive a car. If the training course includes some practice you’ll learn a lot more efficiently. We all know this.
You can also “teach” people facts, though, whether there is any point in this, is moot. It’s very easy to forget facts if you don’t have a need for them or a context in which to place them.
You can’t teach people how to have an awareness of someone else’s emotional state. Even if they can identify the tiny, and not so tiny, behavioural cues, that is not awareness. It’s information gathering. You can’t teach people to be empathic, for example, and they will need this characteristic if they are to have any awareness of others’ emotional states.
In a nutshell, therefore, you can’t line up some students in class and “teach” them a bunch of “soft skills”. And, if you try, they won’t have “learnt” it by the end of the process.
You can’t teach “soft skills” because they aren’t skills, and the only things you can teach are skills.
Just because you can’t teach people this stuff, doesn’t mean they can’t learn it. They just need a (radically) different sort of intervention.
What is needed is a facilitiation process which is able to help people “get it”. They have to get the insight. You have to do everything you an to make it most likely they will get the insight, but you can’t make them get the insight. So, you have to do whatever is necessary as well as you can.
I’ve found that many people get it if I let go of my need for them to get it. I create what is intended to be a “facilitating environment” in which the client is most likely to “get it”.
> The GradStart programme
> GradStart business and soft skills development programme
> GradStart for students
© Jeremy Marchant Limited . uploaded 18 april 2015 . image: Free images | 0.65 | medium | 5 | 1,365 | [
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bef9078b-d25e-45bd-a92a-92ceefc76a7f | Danish Designers Transform Historic Lighthouse Into a Kaleidoscope | arts_and_creativity | worked_examples | Danish Designers Transform Historic Lighthouse Into a Kaleidoscope
Built between 1899 and 1900, the 75-foot lighthouse once stood more than 650 feet inland from the North Sea, atop a coastal slope in Northern Jutland. As years passed, the shoreline eroded, and wind-blown sands slowly buried the towering beacon. The lighthouse was eventually decommissioned in 1968 and turned into a museum and coffee shop. It was finally abandoned in 2002, and left to the ravages of nature and time.
The Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse will likely topple into the water by 2020 if the coastline’s cliffs continue to wear away at a normal pace. But thanks to a handful of cultural organizations and local agencies, the lighthouse now has a short-lived second life as a stunning piece of public art.
Danish design firms Bessards’ Studio and JAJA Architects recently installed a wind-powered rotating mirror inside the lighthouse’s tower, where a lantern once sat. As the mirror moves with the breeze, it reflects the surrounding landscape and produces prisms of color and light. Visitors can climb up a new staircase built inside the lighthouse’s shaft to see the giant kaleidoscope up close.
The Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse officially re-opened last spring, but it won't be a public space for long. Once the shore has eroded enough to make the lighthouse unsafe, the kaleidoscope will be uninstalled, and the structure will be swallowed by the North Sea.
Watch a video of the art installation in motion above.
[h/t Fast Co Design]
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e029b426-666e-41a2-9372-c336f26d81ee | Let's explore concept bureaucracy | interdisciplinary | historical_context | Let's explore the concept of bureaucracy through a structured problem-solving lens. Bureaucracy, in a business context, refers to a system of administration characterized by detailed rules, procedures, and a hierarchical structure designed for efficiency and predictability. ### **Problem**: Streamlining the Employee Onboarding Process at "Innovate Solutions Inc." Innovate Solutions Inc., a rapidly growing tech company, is experiencing significant delays and inconsistencies in its employee onboarding process. New hires are often confused about their first day's schedule, required documentation is frequently incomplete, and the IT setup is delayed, impacting their productivity from day one. This inefficiency is leading to a poor initial employee experience and potential loss of productivity. The company needs a structured approach to standardize and improve this critical process. ### **Common Pitfalls**: * **Pitfall 1**: **Ad-hoc, informal onboarding.** * **Why it's wrong**: Relying on individual managers or team leads to handle onboarding tasks informally leads to significant variation. What one manager considers essential, another might overlook. This lack of standardization results in inconsistent experiences for new hires and makes it difficult to identify and address systemic issues. It's reactive rather than proactive. * **Pitfall 2**: **Over-reliance on a single point person without defined processes.** * **Why it's wrong**: Assigning one HR representative to manage all onboarding for every new hire, without a clear, documented workflow, creates a bottleneck. This person can become overwhelmed, leading to delays and errors. Furthermore, if this individual is absent, the entire process grinds to a halt, demonstrating a lack of resilience and scalability. ### **Correct Method**: Implementing a Bureaucratic Framework for Onboarding The goal is to create a predictable, efficient, and consistent onboarding experience by establishing clear rules, roles, and procedures. * **Step 1**: **Define Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each onboarding stage.** * **Reasoning**: Establishing documented SOPs ensures that every new hire, regardless of department or hiring manager, receives the same core onboarding experience. This standardization addresses the inconsistency identified in Pitfall 1. For example, an SOP for "Day 1 Logistics" might detail arrival time, who to report to, a checklist of initial paperwork, and a brief office tour. * **Step 2**: **Establish a clear, hierarchical division of labor with defined responsibilities.** * **Reasoning**: Assigning specific roles and responsibilities within a hierarchical structure prevents the bottleneck described in Pitfall 2 and ensures accountability. For instance, HR is responsible for initial paperwork and benefits enrollment, IT for equipment and system access, and the hiring manager for role-specific introductions and initial training. This clarity allows for specialization and efficient task completion. * **Step 3**: **Implement a standardized checklist and tracking system.** * **Reasoning**: A checklist provides a tangible tool to ensure all required steps are completed. A tracking system, whether digital or manual, allows for monitoring progress, identifying bottlenecks in real-time, and ensuring accountability. This provides the necessary oversight and control inherent in a bureaucratic system, ensuring no critical step is missed and allowing for data-driven improvements. * **Step 4**: **Develop a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement.** * **Reasoning**: While bureaucracy can sometimes be perceived as rigid, a well-designed system incorporates feedback loops. Regularly soliciting feedback from new hires, managers, and HR personnel about the onboarding process allows for iterative refinement of the SOPs and procedures. This ensures the system remains effective and adapts to changing needs, mitigating the risk of the bureaucracy becoming outdated or overly cumbersome. ### **Verification**: To verify the effectiveness of the implemented bureaucratic framework for onboarding at Innovate Solutions Inc., we would employ the following methods: 1. **Quantitative Metrics**: * **Onboarding Completion Time**: Track the average time from offer acceptance to a fully provisioned and integrated new employee (e.g., all systems accessible, initial training complete). Compare this to pre-implementation times. * **Error Rate**: Monitor the percentage of incomplete paperwork, incorrect system access, or delayed equipment delivery for new hires. * **Time to Productivity**: Measure the time it takes for new hires to reach a baseline level of productivity in their role. This is a more advanced metric but can be correlated with the onboarding experience. 2. **Qualitative Feedback**: * **New Hire Surveys**: Administer anonymous surveys to new employees at the 30, 60, and 90-day marks, specifically asking about their onboarding experience, clarity of information, and support received. * **Manager Feedback**: Solicit feedback from hiring managers on the ease of integrating new team members and the support provided by the onboarding process. 3. **Process Audits**: * Periodically review a sample of onboarding files to ensure all checklist items have been completed and documented correctly according to the SOPs. **Expected Outcome**: If the bureaucratic framework is successful, we would expect to see a statistically significant reduction in onboarding completion time, a decrease in error rates, an improvement in new hire satisfaction scores, and positive feedback from hiring managers regarding the streamlined process. ### **Generalizable Pattern**: The reasoning pattern applied here is **Systematic Process Standardization and Control**. This pattern involves: 1. **Problem Identification**: Recognize a process that suffers from inconsistency, inefficiency, or lack of predictability. 2. **Decomposition**: Break down the complex process into discrete, manageable steps or stages. 3. **Standardization**: Define clear, documented procedures (SOPs) for each step. 4. **Role Allocation**: Assign specific responsibilities to individuals or departments within a defined hierarchy. 5. **Control Mechanisms**: Implement tools (checklists, tracking systems) to monitor adherence to procedures and progress. 6. **Feedback & Iteration**: Establish mechanisms for gathering feedback to continuously refine the standardized process. This pattern is essentially the application of bureaucratic principles to optimize a business process. ### **Broader Application**: This reasoning process, rooted in the systematic application of bureaucratic principles, can be applied to a wide range of problems in applied fields, particularly within business and organizational management. * **Customer Service**: Establishing standardized scripts, escalation procedures, and service level agreements (SLAs) for handling customer inquiries and complaints. * **Product Development**: Implementing stage-gate reviews, documentation requirements, and cross-functional team responsibilities in the product lifecycle. * **Financial Reporting**: Creating standardized accounting procedures, approval workflows, and audit trails to ensure accuracy and compliance. * **Supply Chain Management**: Developing clear protocols for procurement, inventory management, logistics, and supplier relations. In essence, whenever a business process requires consistency, predictability, accountability, and efficiency, the systematic implementation of bureaucratic structures and procedures, as demonstrated in the onboarding example, provides a robust framework for achieving these objectives. It moves an organization from ad-hoc operations to a predictable, scalable, and manageable system. | 0.6 | medium | 6 | 1,441 | [
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07977022-f849-4d2b-91d8-164473cdadd4 | Flu vaccination available every | life_skills | data_analysis | Flu vaccination is available every year on the NHS to help protect adults and children at risk of flu and its complications.
Flu can be unpleasant, but if you are otherwise healthy it will usually clear up on its own within a week.
However, flu can be more severe in certain people, such as:
- anyone aged 65 and over
- pregnant women
- children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or respiratory disease)
- children and adults with weakened immune systems
Anyone in these risk groups is more likely to develop potentially serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia (a lung infection), so it’s recommended that they have a flu vaccine every year to protect them.
The injected flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS annually to:
- adults over the age of 18 at risk of flu (including everyone aged 65 and over)
- pregnant women
- children aged six months to two years at risk of flu
65 and overs and the flu jab
You are eligible for the flu vaccine this year (2016-17) if you will be aged 65 and over on March 31 2017 – that is, you were born on or before March 31 1952. So, if you are currently 64 but will be 65 on March 31 2017, you do qualify.
How effective is the flu jab?
Flu vaccine is the best protection we have against an unpredictable virus that can cause unpleasant illness in children and severe illness and death among at-risk groups, including older people, pregnant women and those with an underlying medical health condition.
Studies have shown that the flu jab does work and will help prevent you getting the flu. It won’t stop all flu viruses and the level of protection may vary between people, so it’s not a 100% guarantee that you’ll be flu-free, but if you do get flu after vaccination it’s likely to be milder and shorter-lived than it would otherwise have been.
There is also evidence to suggest that the flu jab can reduce your risk of having a stroke.
Over time, protection from the injected flu vaccine gradually decreases and flu strains often change. So new flu vaccines are produced each year which is why people advised to have the flu jab need it every year too.
When to have a flu jab
The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn, from the beginning of October to early November, but don’t worry if you’ve missed it, you can have the vaccine later in winter. Ask your GP or pharmacist.
Read more about the flu vaccination here
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739b57a3-317f-4792-b66a-3fd766541406 | Website Overview News/Travel Alerts | technology | historical_context | Website Overview
1 News/Travel Alerts more
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China Airlines Named Designated Carrier for “Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See”
Published: Jan 28, 2016
Due to China Airlines’ expertise and experience in air freight the airline has been chosen to transport a collection of rare treasures from the Vatican to Taiwan. This means 60 sets of artifacts chosen by the Holy See will appear in all of their glory in Taipei! The “Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See” opening on February 5 co-organized by the National Palace Museum and the Holy See marks the first time these artifacts have left the Vatican.
Working to the schedule set by the organizers, China Airlines handled these rare and priceless artifacts like “national treasures” during transportation and adopted the most comprehensive security measures throughout the process; for surface transportation, air-suspension trucks were used to protect against vibration; the utmost care was also taken during handling; the entire journey was monitored by security cameras and security guards were stationed to control personnel access. Maximum security was maintained every step of the way.
To transport the collection, China Airlines dispatched its most experienced freight handlers to handle everything from the packaging to the loading and securing of the pallets aboard the aircraft. Apart from following the China Airlines “Operating Procedure for Special and Valuable Cargo”, additional protective measures were also applied to all of the artifacts. Once the artifacts had been crated and multiple protective layers applied by the professional company, they were moved to the freight area and covered in waterproof tarpaulin before a final wrapping in plastic film. The crates of artifacts were placed in special pallets and secured with special ties, tied down at multiple points, and water-absorbent paper was placed in the bottom of the pallet for damp protection. The entire special pallet was itself wrapped in tarpaulin and plastic film. Nothing was left to chance in terms of protection and security.
As precious artworks may be affected by low temperatures at high altitudes, China Airlines kept the cabin temperature between 17 - 23 degrees and placed the cargo in selected areas. The China Airlines spirit of “Customer First” was demonstrated throughout the transportation process. Thanks to the professionalism and dedication of the freight service, more people can now enjoy these precious artifacts from the collection of the Holy See.
China Airlines possesses 21 freighters and 70 passenger aircraft. It has extensive experience in the transportation of rare, valuable cargo including: Baby penguins that required low-temperatures throughout the journey, Russian beluga whales weighing up to 1200 kg, the almost extinct Black Rhino, and Ike the baby giraffe that measured 9-feet in height. All of these animals have flown aboard a China Airlines flight at one time; China Airlines has also transported FORMOSAT-2 Satellite and other large, sophisticated, high-tech manufacturing equipment. Despite demanding transport requirements every mission was completed successfully.
China Airlines has also transported many other precious collections. The exhibits for “The Indian Civilization Exhibition”, “Modern Mongolian Civilization Exhibition”, and “Kongo Kingdom Art” at the National Museum of History, as well as large-scale art exhibitions such as the “Special Exhibition of Formosa”, “Flying Dinosaurs”, “Virtual Love” and the first exhibition of “A Century of German Genius” in Asia, were all transported to Taiwan by China Airlines; China Airlines even assisted the National Palace Museum with transporting national treasures overseas for special exhibitions such as “Treasures of the Sons of Heaven”, “Genghis Khan and his Heritage”, and “Treasured Masterpieces from Taipei.” China Airlines will continue striving to satisfy the needs of every customer through the provision of optimal flight quality. (2016/01/28)
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d8d971e9-69f1-4265-9bfb-7abb9ef8fd8a | Mastering Abstract Algebra: Thinking | mathematics | worked_examples | ## Mastering Abstract Algebra: Thinking Strategically Like a Mathematician Abstract algebra, with its elegantly defined structures and rigorous proofs, can seem like an impenetrable fortress to many. Yet, for those who master it, it offers a powerful lens through which to understand patterns, symmetries, and fundamental relationships that permeate not only mathematics but also fields as diverse as cryptography, quantum mechanics, and even music theory. The difference between struggling and excelling often lies not in innate talent, but in the adoption of the *thinking strategies* that mathematicians employ – the meta-cognitive skills that allow them to navigate complexity and uncover solutions. This guide will equip you with these expert thinking patterns, showing you how to recognize problem types, select appropriate strategies, avoid common pitfalls, and verify your work, drawing on real-world applications to illuminate the path to mastery. ### Expert Thinking Patterns: The Mathematician's Toolkit Expert mathematicians don't just "know" formulas; they possess a deep understanding of underlying structures and a repertoire of flexible problem-solving approaches. Here are some key patterns they consistently exhibit: * **Decomposition and Abstraction:** Experts break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts. They then abstract the essential features of these parts, representing them with symbols and focusing on their relationships rather than their specific manifestations. This is akin to an engineer analyzing a complex bridge by first understanding the properties of individual beams and joints before considering the entire structure. * **Pattern Recognition and Generalization:** A hallmark of mathematical thinking is the ability to spot recurring patterns, whether in number sequences, group operations, or topological spaces. Once a pattern is identified, experts seek to generalize it, formulating conjectures and then rigorously proving their validity. This is precisely how mathematicians discover new theorems. * **Analogy and Metaphor:** Experts often draw analogies between seemingly disparate mathematical concepts. For instance, understanding the structure of a ring might be aided by an analogy to the integers with addition and multiplication. This cross-pollination of ideas is crucial for innovation. * **Constructive Proof and Counterexample:** When proving a statement, experts often engage in constructive proof, building the object or demonstrating the property step-by-step. Conversely, to disprove a statement, they seek counterexamples – specific instances that violate the proposed rule. This dual approach is fundamental to establishing mathematical truth. * **Focus on Structure and Properties:** Instead of getting bogged down in specific elements, experts focus on the *properties* of the mathematical structures they are working with (e.g., associativity, commutativity, invertibility). Understanding these properties allows them to predict behavior and apply general theorems. ### Problem Recognition: Decoding the Mathematical Landscape The ability to correctly categorize a problem is the first step towards selecting an effective strategy. Abstract algebra problems often fall into several broad categories: * **Group Theory Problems:** These typically involve understanding sets with a single binary operation satisfying closure, associativity, identity, and inverse properties. You'll encounter questions about subgroups, cyclic groups, homomorphisms, cosets, and factor groups. * **Case Study: RSA Cryptography and Cyclic Groups.** The security of the widely used RSA encryption algorithm relies heavily on the properties of finite cyclic groups, specifically the multiplicative group of integers modulo n, denoted $(\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z})^\times$. Problems in this domain often involve finding discrete logarithms or calculating powers of elements within these groups. A mathematician faced with such a problem would immediately recognize it as belonging to group theory and leverage theorems related to cyclic groups, such as Fermat's Little Theorem or Euler's Totient Theorem, to simplify calculations. For instance, computing $a^k \pmod{n}$ efficiently can be done using the properties of cyclic groups and modular arithmetic, rather than brute-force multiplication. * **Ring Theory Problems:** Rings extend group theory by introducing a second binary operation (usually addition and multiplication) that distributes over the first. Problems here might involve ideals, polynomial rings, field extensions, or unique factorization domains. * **Case Study: Error-Correcting Codes and Polynomial Rings.** Modern digital communication systems use error-correcting codes to ensure data integrity. Many powerful codes, such as Reed-Solomon codes, are constructed using polynomial rings over finite fields. A problem asking to design or decode a Reed-Solomon code would immediately signal a ring theory context. Experts would recognize the need to work with polynomial arithmetic, polynomial factorization, and the properties of finite fields (which are themselves special types of rings). The ability to perform polynomial division and find roots of polynomials in these rings is crucial. * **Field Theory Problems:** Fields are rings where every non-zero element has a multiplicative inverse. This is the foundation for linear algebra and many areas of advanced mathematics. Problems might involve field extensions, Galois theory, or algebraic number theory. * **Case Study: Constructing Geometric Shapes and Field Extensions.** The ancient Greek problem of "doubling the cube" or "trisecting an angle" with ruler and compass can be framed in terms of field extensions. A mathematician encountering such a problem would translate it into an algebraic question: can a certain number (like $\sqrt[3]{2}$ for doubling the cube) be constructed from the rational numbers using only square roots? This translates to asking if the degree of the field extension $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{2})$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ is a power of 2. Recognizing this connection to field theory allows the application of powerful theorems from Galois theory to prove impossibility. ### Strategy Selection: A Decision Tree for Abstract Algebra When confronted with an abstract algebra problem, a structured approach to strategy selection is invaluable. Consider this decision tree: ```mermaid graph TD A[Start: Analyze the Problem Statement] --> B{What are the given structures?}; B -- Groups (Set + * operation) --> C{What is being asked?}; B -- Rings (Set + *, * operation, distributivity) --> G{What is being asked?}; B -- Fields (Rings with multiplicative inverses) --> K{What is being asked?}; C -- Properties of elements/subsets --> D[Check definitions: identity, inverse, closure]; C -- Homomorphisms/Isomorphisms --> E[Look for structure-preserving maps. Try to map generators.]; C -- Cosets/Factor Groups --> F[Consider the operation on cosets. Check normality of subgroup.]; G -- Ideals/Quotient Rings --> H[Check properties of ideals: absorption, closure under addition.]; G -- Polynomial Rings/Euclidean Domains --> I[Use polynomial division. Look for GCDs, unique factorization.]; G -- Modules/Vector Spaces --> J[Consider linear combinations, basis, dimension.]; K -- Field Extensions/Galois Theory --> L[Analyze degrees of extensions. Look for minimal polynomials.]; K -- Finite Fields --> M[Use properties of GF(p^n). Consider order of elements, trace, norm.]; D --> N[Apply relevant theorems (Lagrange's, Cayley's)]; E --> O[Use isomorphism theorems]; F --> P[Use properties of quotient groups]; H --> Q[Use properties of quotient rings]; I --> R[Apply unique factorization theorems]; J --> S[Apply linear algebra techniques]; L --> T[Apply Galois theory]; M --> U[Apply finite field theorems]; N --> V[Verify solution]; O --> V; P --> V; Q --> V; R --> V; S --> V; T --> V; U --> V; ``` **Example Application of Decision Tree:** * **Problem:** Let $G = (\mathbb{Z}, +)$ be the group of integers under addition. Let $H = \{2k \mid k \in \mathbb{Z}\}$ be the set of even integers. Is $H$ a subgroup of $G$? Is $G/H$ isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}_2$? * **Decision Tree Path:** * A: Analyze the problem statement. * B: Given structures are groups ($\mathbb{Z}$ under addition). * C: Asked about subgroup properties and isomorphism of quotient group. * Check definitions for subgroup (closure, identity, inverse). Identity (0) is in H. For closure, $2k_1 + 2k_2 = 2(k_1+k_2)$, so closed. For inverse, the inverse of $2k$ is $-2k = 2(-k)$, so inverses exist. $H$ is a subgroup. * Is $G/H$ isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}_2$? This relates to cosets and factor groups. * F: Consider the operation on cosets. The cosets are $H$ (even numbers) and $1+H$ (odd numbers). The operation $(a+H) + (b+H) = (a+b)+H$. * $H + H = H$ * $H + (1+H) = 1+H$ * $(1+H) + H = 1+H$ * $(1+H) + (1+H) = (1+1)+H = 2+H = H$ (since 2 is even). * This structure with two elements ($H$ and $1+H$) and the defined operation perfectly matches the structure of $\mathbb{Z}_2$. * N: Apply relevant theorems. The First Isomorphism Theorem for Groups states that if $\phi: G \to K$ is a surjective homomorphism, then $G/\ker(\phi) \cong K$. We can define a homomorphism $\phi: \mathbb{Z} \to \mathbb{Z}_2$ by $\phi(n) = n \pmod{2}$. The kernel of this map is precisely the set of even integers, $H$. Since $\phi$ is surjective onto $\mathbb{Z}_2$, by the First Isomorphism Theorem, $\mathbb{Z}/H \cong \mathbb{Z}_2$. * **Verification:** The steps align with group theory definitions and theorems. The mapping of cosets confirms the group structure. ### Error Prevention: Navigating Common Pitfalls Even experienced mathematicians make errors. Awareness of common pitfalls is key to prevention: * **Confusing Group vs. Ring Properties:** Forgetting that rings require distributivity or that fields have multiplicative inverses can lead to incorrect conclusions. * **Prevention:** Always explicitly state the axioms satisfied by the given structure. When moving from groups to rings, consciously check the second operation and its interaction with the first. * **Misapplying Theorem Conditions:** Theorems often have specific hypotheses. Applying a theorem without ensuring its conditions are met is a frequent source of errors. * **Case Study: Lagrange's Theorem.** Lagrange's Theorem states that the order of a subgroup divides the order of the group. A common mistake is to assume that if $|H|$ divides $|G|$, then $H$ must be a subgroup. This is only true for finite groups if we are talking about the existence of *some* subgroup of that order (Cauchy's Theorem for prime divisors), not that *any* subset whose size divides $|G|$ is a subgroup. * **Prevention:** Before applying a theorem, rigorously check if all its preconditions are satisfied by the specific problem. Write down the theorem's statement and explicitly verify each condition. * **Ignoring Non-Commutativity:** Many abstract algebra structures are not commutative. Assuming commutativity can lead to incorrect simplifications. * **Prevention:** Always be mindful of whether operations are commutative. For example, in ring theory, $ab=ba$ is not always true. In group theory, $gh=hg$ is not always true. * **Errors in Proof Construction:** Forgetting to prove every step, assuming a result without justification, or making logical leaps are common proof-writing errors. * **Prevention:** Write out proofs formally. For each step, ask yourself: "What definition, axiom, or previously proven theorem justifies this transition?" ### Self-Verification: The Art of Double-Checking Rigorous self-checking is an indispensable part of mathematical practice. * **Check Definitions and Axioms:** For any object or structure you are working with, mentally (or on paper) list the defining properties. Ensure your operations and elements satisfy these. * **Test with Simple Cases:** If you've derived a general result, test it with the simplest possible instances of the structures involved. For example, if you've proven a property of cyclic groups, test it with $\mathbb{Z}_2$, $\mathbb{Z}_3$, etc. * **Reverse the Logic:** If you've proven $P \implies Q$, try to see if $Q \implies P$ holds, or if $P$ implies a stronger result. If you've found a counterexample to $P \implies Q$, try to understand *why* it fails. * **Seek Alternative Proofs:** If possible, try to prove the same result using a different method. If both methods yield the same conclusion, confidence in the answer increases significantly. * **Peer Review (Even Self-Review):** Imagine explaining your solution to someone else. This often reveals gaps or ambiguities in your reasoning. ### Cross-Domain Transfer: Thinking Like a Mathematician Everywhere The strategic thinking patterns honed in abstract algebra are remarkably transferable to other domains: * **Computer Science (Algorithms and Data Structures):** Recognizing the underlying algebraic structures of data (e.g., trees, graphs) allows for efficient algorithm design, much like understanding group properties aids in group theory problems. The concept of abstract data types mirrors the abstraction of mathematical structures. * **Example:** Analyzing the complexity of sorting algorithms involves understanding the properties of permutations, which form a group ($S_n$). * **Cryptography:** As seen with RSA, abstract algebra provides the fundamental mathematical tools for modern encryption. Understanding the properties of finite fields and groups is paramount. * **Physics (Symmetry and Quantum Mechanics):** Symmetries in physical systems are deeply rooted in group theory. Quantum mechanics extensively uses Hilbert spaces, which have a rich algebraic structure. * **Example:** The symmetries of a crystal lattice are described by crystallographic groups, and understanding these groups is crucial for predicting material properties. * **Music Theory:** Concepts like scales, chords, and harmonic progressions can be analyzed through the lens of group theory and modular arithmetic, revealing underlying mathematical relationships. * **Example:** The cycle of fifths in Western music can be viewed as a representation of arithmetic modulo 12. By internalizing these expert thinking patterns, approaching problems with a structured strategy, and diligently verifying your work, you can transform your understanding of abstract algebra and develop a powerful, versatile approach to problem-solving that extends far beyond the classroom. The journey to mastery is not just about acquiring knowledge, but about cultivating the sophisticated ways of thinking that unlock deeper insights and enable innovation. | 0.75 | high | 8 | 3,162 | [
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aedd2241-d1ce-415e-99c2-289ca24a4c11 | Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission | social_studies | historical_context | Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission
Nation Urban Livelihood Mission replaced Swarn Jayanti Shehri Rozgar Yojna in 2013 and has got recently renamed as Deen Dayal Antoday Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission. The mission aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, resulting in an appreciable improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis, through building strong grassroots level institutions of the poor. The mission would aim at providing shelters equipped with essential services to the urban homeless in a phased manner. In addition, the Mission would also address livelihood concerns of the urban street vendors by facilitating access to
suitable spaces, institutional credit, social security and skills to the urban street vendors for accessing emerging market opportunities.
Objectives of DAY- NULM:
The eligibility for DAY-NULM is as follow:
- S/he should be above 18 years
- S/he should be from the urban area
- Person belonging to BPL family or Economically Weaker Section or Low Income Group (less than Rs. 2 Lakh annual family income.) or a person enrolled under Food Security Act
The major components of NULM are as follow:
1. Social Mobilization and Institution Development (SM&ID)
a. Building Community Institutions – Self Help Groups, Area Level Federations and City Level Federations
i. Five ALFs formed and registered under societies registration Act
b. Rs. 10000 revolving fund Support to each SHGs and Rs. 50000 revolving fund support to their Federations
i. RF given to all the SHGs formed during the FY 2014-15. Grading of SHGs formed during FY 2015-16 is done, RF will be distributed soon.
| SMID -DAY NULM (FY 2015-16 and 2016-17) | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | | | 2016-17 | | |
| SHGs | Total Families | Bank | SHGs | Total Families | Bank |
| formed | covered | Linkages | formed | covered | Linkages |
| 60 | 572 | 60 | 20 | 192 | Ongoing |
City Livelihood Centre: CLC will act as a one stop shop for livelihood support to urban poor. The CLC will act as a bridge between urban poor and middle and higher income groups. The service seekers who need various services such security, carpentry, gardening, construction, plumbing, electrical work, health care support, housekeeping will be linked with the service providers. The CLC will also work for skill development and capacity building of the service providers, access to the benefits of different welfare schemes, developing their microenterprises etc. The CLC is proposed at old ICH building Kachehri Adda.
ii. Till now 44 service providers registered for different trades such as electrician, plumbers, painters, wall writers, tailor/boutique, maid etc.
2. Employment through Skill training and Placement
a. Skills Training for Micro Enterprise Development/Self-Employment;
b. Skills Training & Placement for Salaried/Wage Employment;
c. Entrepreneurship Development Program training – training of 40 beneficiaries conducted through RSETI after disbursement of loan from banks.
d. DMC also aims at getting the skill gap analysis done so that the skill demand and skill gap can be identified. The tender for the same has already been floated and the same is in the process of evaluation
| ESTP-DAY NULM | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | | | | |
| Total Trained | Hospitality | Beauty & Wellness | Apparel | Retail |
| 197 | 111 | 26 | 29 | 39 |
| 2016-17 | | | | |
| Total Trained | Hospitality | Plastic Molding | undergoing training | |
| 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | |
3. Self-Employment Program
SEP aims at providing financial assistance to individuals/groups of urban poor for setting up gainful self-employment ventures/ microenterprises. The project cost ceiling is Rs. 2 lakh for individual enterprises and Rs. 10 Lakh for group enterprises. Interest Subsidy over and above 7 percent rate of interest will be applicable to all SHGs accessing bank loan. An additional 3 percent interest subvention is provided to all women SHGs who repay their loan in time in all the cities
| | Self Employment Program -DAY NULM | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Total number of applications approved by TF | | Total no. of applications-loan disbursed | | Total amount of loan disbursed | | Applications pending with bank | | Rest either not interested or have a pending loan | |
| | Individual | 49 | | 22 | | 2415000 | | 8 | | 19 | |
| | Loan | | 49 | | 22 | | 2415000 | | 8 | | 19 |
| | Group Loan | | 3 | | 1 | | 200000 | | 0 | | 2 |
| | Credit | 17 | | 14 | | 1895000 | | 3 | | 0 | |
| | Linkages | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | | 69 | | 37 | | 4510000 | | 11 | | 21 | |
4. Shelter for Urban Homeless
24x7 permanent all weather community shelters for every 1 lakh urban population, each shelter to cater to 50 - 100 persons; all necessary infrastructural facilities to be put in place – kitchen, water, sanitation, electricity, recreation, etc. Linkages with social security and other entitlements to be ensured.
- Renovation of Rehen Basera near zonal hospital is ongoing.
- One more proposal for 100 bedded shelter for urban homeless is in process and will soon be sent for approval soon.
5. Support to Urban Street Vendors
Under this component a city wide street vendor survey to identify vendors, vendor zones and existing practices will be done. ID cards will be issued to the vendors by the ULB. A City Street Vending Plan and vendor market will be developed. Bank linkages, skill development and social security convergence will also be facilitated
Current Status :-
- Survey of the street vendors done by HNYKS, 490 street vendors identified and will be provided by ID cards
- Vending and non-vending zone identified, will be notified after verifying the availability of land.
- Street vending market design is being prepared
6. Capacity Building and Training
- Technical Support at National, State and City Levels. Setting up mission management units at national, state and city levels.
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6b1902ff-8963-45a0-91f1-246cf43c606e | Thinking Strategically About Synthetic | science | worked_examples | ## Thinking Strategically About Synthetic Biology Problems This content is designed to help you develop the meta-cognitive skills of strategic thinking, enabling you to approach synthetic biology problems with the same depth and effectiveness as experienced researchers. We'll focus on *how* to think about these problems, rather than just memorizing facts. --- ### **Expert Thinking Patterns in Science** Experts in synthetic biology don't just "know" answers; they possess a toolkit of mental strategies that guide their problem-solving. Here are some key patterns: * **Decomposition and Abstraction:** Breaking down complex biological systems into smaller, manageable components (e.g., genes, proteins, pathways) and then abstracting these components into functional modules or design principles. This allows for focused analysis and manipulation. * *Example:* Instead of trying to understand an entire metabolic network at once, an expert might focus on optimizing a single enzyme's activity or designing a modular genetic circuit for a specific output. * **Systems Thinking:** Viewing biological entities not in isolation, but as interconnected parts of a larger, dynamic system. Understanding feedback loops, emergent properties, and the impact of changes on the whole. * *Example:* When designing a gene circuit, an expert considers how the expression of one gene might affect the stability of another, or how metabolic burden might impact cell growth. * **Iterative Design and Refinement (Design-Build-Test-Learn Cycle):** Recognizing that biological engineering is rarely a one-shot process. Experts embrace a cycle of designing a solution, building it (e.g., synthesizing DNA, assembling a circuit), testing its performance, and learning from the results to inform the next iteration. * *Example:* A synthetic biologist designing a biosensor might build a basic version, test its sensitivity, find it's not sensitive enough, and then redesign the promoter strength or ribosome binding site. * **Analogy and Transfer:** Drawing parallels between problems in synthetic biology and solutions or principles from other fields (engineering, computer science, physics, even non-scientific domains). * *Example:* Applying control theory principles from electrical engineering to regulate gene expression, or using modular design principles from software engineering for biological components. * **Hypothesis-Driven Inquiry:** Formulating clear, testable hypotheses about how a biological system will behave or how a designed component will function. This guides experimental design and interpretation. * *Example:* "If we insert gene X under the control of promoter Y, we hypothesize that protein Z will be produced at a level sufficient to trigger pathway A." * **Constraint Identification and Management:** Recognizing and actively accounting for the inherent limitations and complexities of biological systems (e.g., metabolic burden, cellular toxicity, off-target effects, variability). * *Example:* When designing a metabolic pathway for producing a compound, an expert considers the cell's existing resources and potential bottlenecks. --- ### **Problem Recognition in Synthetic Biology** The first step to strategic thinking is accurately identifying the nature of the problem. Synthetic biology problems often fall into several categories: * **Optimization Problems:** Improving the performance of an existing biological function or system. * *Keywords:* Increase yield, enhance efficiency, improve specificity, reduce toxicity, boost expression. * *Example:* You want to increase the production of a biofuel by a genetically engineered microbe. * **Design/Construction Problems:** Creating a novel biological function or system that doesn't exist naturally. * *Keywords:* Build, engineer, design, create, implement, introduce, develop. * *Example:* You want to engineer bacteria to detect and degrade a specific pollutant. * **Analysis/Understanding Problems:** Investigating the behavior of a biological system, often to inform future design or to uncover mechanisms. * *Keywords:* Characterize, analyze, understand, measure, elucidate, map. * *Example:* You want to understand why a particular gene circuit is exhibiting oscillatory behavior. * **Troubleshooting/Debugging Problems:** Identifying and resolving why a designed biological system is not performing as expected. * *Keywords:* Failure, malfunction, unexpected behavior, error, not working, low output. * *Example:* Your engineered yeast strain isn't producing the desired fluorescent protein. --- ### **Strategy Selection: Decision Tree for Synthetic Biology Problems** This decision tree helps you choose an appropriate strategic approach based on the problem type. ```mermaid graph TD A[Start: What is the core problem?] --> B{Is it about improving an existing function?}; B -- Yes --> C{Optimization Problem}; B -- No --> D{Is it about creating a new function?}; C --> C1[Focus on Iterative Design & Refinement]; C1 --> C2[Identify Key Parameters for Tuning]; C1 --> C3[Use Systems Thinking to predict impacts of changes]; C1 --> C4[Consider Analogs from Engineering for tuning methods]; D -- Yes --> E{Design/Construction Problem}; D -- No --> F{Is it about understanding system behavior?}; E --> E1[Decompose into modular components]; E --> E2[Apply Systems Thinking for integration]; E --> E3[Formulate clear Hypotheses for each component/interaction]; E --> E4[Use Analogy for design principles (e.g., software design patterns)]; F -- Yes --> G{Analysis/Understanding Problem}; F -- No --> H{Troubleshooting/Debugging Problem}; G --> G1[Formulate specific Hypotheses about mechanisms]; G --> G2[Use Decomposition to isolate variables]; G --> G3[Apply Systems Thinking to model interactions]; G --> G4[Consider Analogy for analytical techniques]; H --> H1[Decompose the system into known working/non-working parts]; H --> H2[Hypothesize potential failure points]; H --> H3[Use Iterative Testing to isolate the failure]; H --> H4[Apply Systems Thinking to understand unexpected interactions]; H --> H5[Consider common Error Patterns (see below)]; C1 --> C2; C1 --> C3; C1 --> C4; E1 --> E2; E1 --> E3; E1 --> E4; G1 --> G2; G1 --> G3; G1 --> G4; H1 --> H2; H1 --> H3; H1 --> H4; H1 --> H5; style C1 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style C2 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style C3 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style C4 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style E1 fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style E2 fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style E3 fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style E4 fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style G1 fill:#cfc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style G2 fill:#cfc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style G3 fill:#cfc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style G4 fill:#cfc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style H1 fill:#ffc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style H2 fill:#ffc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style H3 fill:#ffc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style H4 fill:#ffc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style H5 fill:#ffc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px ``` --- ### **Error Prevention and Mitigation** Even experts encounter errors. Recognizing common pitfalls allows for proactive prevention. | Common Error Pattern (in Synthetic Biology) | Prevention Strategy | 0.7 | high | 6 | 1,707 | [
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9b780725-386e-4385-bd91-04378545ae17 | Given its size habitat | interdisciplinary | concept_introduction | Given its size and habitat, Nassau groupers have few known predators. Sharks may occasionally attack groups of spawning Nassau groupers, and yellowtail snappers eat their eggs. Other predators may include moray eels, which prey on small groupers, and hammerhead and sandbar sharks, which prey on larger groupers. Nassau groupers also practice cannibalism on occasion. Humans are the primary predator of Nassau groupers, having greatly reduced populations of this species through commercial fishing.
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic | 0.5 | high | 6 | 114 | [
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a7c18901-82ff-4d75-8e26-f3ec2a7ed369 | Cascadia Subduction 640 mile | technology | historical_context | The Cascadia Subduction is a 640 mile long fault that runs from Northern Vancouver Island in Canada to Cape Mendocino in Northern California. The fault, a few miles offshore, is created by two plates meeting - the Juan de Fuca Plate and the North American Plate. The fault has the potential to create a Mega Quake which can exceed a magnitude 9.0 on the Richter Scale; an earthquake of this magnitude would likely trigger a tsunami.
On February 6, 2019 the US House of Representatives passed a bill that "requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a plan for the purchase and installation of an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone." The bill, which is known as the "Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2019" just arrived in the US Senate and was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
As mentioned in a previous post, the most recent earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction zone was in 1700; the frequency is estimated to be every 240 years, making one overdue. Worldwide, fatalities from tsunamis far exceed all other fatalities from natural disasters. Seattle and the Pacific Northwest are vulnerable; hopefully the bill passes and the system is put in place very quickly. | 0.65 | medium | 5 | 272 | [
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f4e7139c-acf1-45d3-9ee2-2fe8a1b678d1 | description Valley Ashes lies | technology | historical_context | The description of the Valley of Ashes lies in the first few paragraphs of Chapter 2 in the Great Gatsby. It is described as a plain half way between the West Egg and New York that is bleak and gray. It is made so, because the Ashes from New York City are dumped there, and men who are also described as ash gray work daily shoveling the ashes.
Fitzgerald describes it thus:
This is a valley of ashes — a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.
Above this ugly scenery is a huge billboard of Blue Eyes staring down from the TJ Eckleberg sign advertising the Optometrist business. The area is hemmed in on one side by a dirty river, and on the other by a train track where the train stops each day so the rich can stare at this gray world.
Quite a few things, actually. First is in Fitzgerald's use of color throughout the novel. This gray would represent a "dead" area, without the life and vigor that other colors of the book bring about, like green and yellow. In that sense, this is where Myrtle dies, Gatsby's dream dies, Nick's hope for something good dies, etc. etc.
This place is also indicative of Fitzgerald's (and subsequently Nick's) view of life. It is his belief that man destroys what is good. This setting of the book shows a once lively place that has been covered in soot and ash from modern industry, a visual disgrace created by man. Tying it back to the plot, this is again the place where all of our character's dreams come to a crashing halt. | 0.6 | low | 4 | 380 | [
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f9351f49-2414-44f3-a612-73f6ea3c56b8 | All Are Welcome | life_skills | historical_context | All Are Welcome!
What People Are Saying About
Our Classes and Programs
As far as feedback on the Posture Perfect!TM class goes, it has not only met my expectations, but exceeded them! There are several reasons I enjoy the class...
IN THIS ISSUE August 3, 2006
- Taking the Heat Out of Hot Flashes
- Making Time for Mental Fitness
- Looking for Volunteers for Our Osteoporosis
Support Group Fundraiser... October 14th
- The Recipe Corner... Two NEW Delicious
and Tasty Recipes From Linda Aills, RD
Taking the Heat Out of Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are a major problem for many women starting into their menopause transition years. The frequency can range from none to as many as 36 in a single day and the intensity from mild to debilitating. For most women, hot flashes are no more than an annoyance but in some women can contribute to sleep difficulties, increased stress and difficulty completing tasks. Sweating, chills, and palpitations often follow the sudden wave of heat creating a physical disruption.
What are hot flashes? Hot flashes and night sweats, as they are called, are a brief increase in a feeling of heat followed by a period of sweating and then cold or chills. Hot flashes feel analogous to the temperature variations experienced during a fever. Little is known about the actual causes of hot flashes and less is understood on how to eliminate or minimize their effects.
Mistakenly, most people believe that hot flashes result just from a reduction in the sex hormone estrogen. Interestingly, estrogen is only a small part of the process. Current research shows that the heating and cooling changes are the result of a series of hormonal changes affecting the hypothalamus.(the hypothalmus is an area of the brain that controls temperature). Normally the hypothalamus controls body temperature in a very narrow range at 98.6F. During menopause, the hypothalamus is tricked into thinking body temperature is higher than normal at certain times.
To cool things down, the hypothalamus increases blood flow increasing skin temperature creating the sensation of heat and sweating. Once a certain amount of heat has been lost, the hypothalamus senses the body is now colder than normal reversing the process causing a feeling of cold or chills. This is the same process the hypothalamus uses to naturally cool the body on a hot day or during exercise. With hot flashes, the hypothalamus is tricked with false signals and the result is a feeling of heat.
Relaxation, stress reduction, moderate exercise and dietary changes have all been shown to significantly reduce hot flashes. Fresh Start helps get your hot flashes under control by establishing healthier exercise, eating and relaxation habits. Fresh Start is also a complete, healthy lifestyle solution reducing pain, strengthening bones, controling weight, reducing stress and improving your golf or tennis game. Fresh Start gives you all the tools necessary for increasing strength, vitality and good health.
Contact Woody McMahon at 702-628-2880 or email email@example.com to learn more about giving yourself a
Fresh Start or to schedule your free telephone or in-person consultation.
Making Time for Mental Fitness
Spending countless hours at the gym or personal training studio trying to improve their health, lose weight and feel better is a good thing. The time spent is worth while and more people should strive to get into this healthy habit. However, there is a disturbing trend in the health and fitness environment; people paying lots of attention to their bodies and very little attention to their minds. This imbalanced approach towards better health prevents most people from actually achieving their goals and leaves many feeling cheated, incomplete and frustrated.
Thirty years ago The United Negro College Fund coined a slogan "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." Originally, the slogan was created to highlight the potential inherent in the African American community; potential that had been denied due to discrimination and prejudice. In the original context, the slogan spoke more to academic achievement and professional potential than to achieving good health. But, as it turns out, the creators of the slogan were more astute about our lives and our health than they realized. They pointed out correctly that a strong and balanced mind is essential to creating health and happiness. Let's explore the basic concepts of what I call Mental Fitness.
Mental Fitness is the process of training, developing, strengthening and balancing your mind in conjunction with your muscles. Your mind is the control center of the body affecting every single process from breathing to digestion. Although it may seem unbelievable, the cells in your body sense the difference in though patterns and respond accordingly. If used correctly, the mind is also your most over looked health resource.
Unlike the brain, the mind has the capability to learn and grow. The mind is more of a process that can be conditioned and taught how to maximize, not only its potential, but that of the body as well. So if you really want to live a long time, feel great, experience good health, achieve professional success and be happy, then you must condition your mind to see that possibility.
How does this all work? Your daily thoughts create an image that the mind holds as a template for all of your bodily processes. So, as an example, if your overall thought patterns are one of optimism and good health, the body follows suit and adjusts its physiology to match those thought patterns. Hormones balance themselves and your body runs the way it was designed... smoothly. Conversely, worrying, being angry and feeling out of control literally leaves the body depressed with all bodily processes following that thought pattern. Your stomach is upset, your head hurts, you feel like your having a bad day or maybe worse.
Fortunately, most of us are a combination of positive and negative thought patterns, so many of the positive thoughts cancel out the negative ones. But what would it be like if you could take charge of your mind and change the thought balance? Instead of a 50/50 balance, maybe 80% of your thoughts are positive sending the appropriate signals to your body. What then? This is possible and where Mental Fitness becomes such a powerful ally in achieving good health and happiness for you and your family.
Would you like to learn more about Mental Fitness
and how it can improve your life? Contact Woody McMahon at 702-628-2880 or email firstname.lastname@example.org to learn more about giving yourself a
or to schedule your free telephone or in-person consultation.
Looking for Volunteers for Our Osteoporosis Support
Group Fundraiser... October 14th
Where: Sequoia Health & Fitness Center - Herndon , Virginia
What: Osteoporosis Food & Fitness Festival
When: Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 10:00am to 4:00pm
We are looking for interested people of all ages to help organize and run the first annual Food and Fitness fundraiser for our osteoporosis prevention and support group. We have volunteer positions for marketing, ticket sales, directing traffic and parking cars, helping run the different games and events, handing out programs and assisting the elderly. Please contact Woody McMahon or Kris House at 703-628-2880 or by email at email@example.com.
We need your help to make this a successful event!!!
The day long event will feature food booths by area restaurants, carnival style games showcasing weight bearing events like a jump rope competition, tennis serve station, line dancing or ballroom dancing contest, soccer kick, basketball hoop toss, Whack-it tournament and batting contest.
You can win prizes for each event and sign-up for a raffle for some grand prizes as well. Tickets will be $1 a piece and can be exchange for food samples or for participation at any of the fitness stations. "Family" packs of tickets will be offered at 25 tickets for $20 or 50 tickets for $40 to encourage a larger scale participation level by attendants. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door.
Two NEW Tasty and Delicious Recipes from Linda Aills, RD
Continued Good Health,
The Sequoia Advisor
News From Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc.
Fresh Start is a revolutionary way of helping you achieve strength, vitality and
good health in less time and with less effort. Unlike other approaches Fresh Start
improves both your mental and physical fitness making positive healthy lifestyle changes
complete and permanent. Fresh Start benefits you in four important ways.
- A Healthy Life Plan that is a step by step road map to achieving the changes
you've always hoped for on your journey to better health
- A balanced and integrated approach to your health and fitness activities including
physical activity that is fun; nutrition that optimally fuels your body; and stress reduction
techniques that produce greater results in less time
- A supportive health and fitness team available 24/7 guaranteeing your success by
offering individualized programs, personal attention and motivation
- A cutting edge health and fitness info rmation service provided by experts
in their fields helping you apply the latest scientific health and fitness breakthroughs to your
Woody McMahon has been working in the health and fitness profession for over 20 years.
Before starting his career at Sequoia Health, Woody earned his Bachelor of Science degree
in human biology from the University of Maryland , his Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine
from Palmer College of Chiropractic and is certified as a personal trainer through the National Strength Professionals Association.
Woody's unique integrative approach to health and fitness -
combine fun physical activity, healthy eating and relaxation and stress reduction activities,
allows him to help many people that are considered beyond help.
Don't forget to Request Your FREE Family FUN Pass - Come meet the staff at Sequoia
and try out Cardio-FUN-Time with your loved ones.
We put the Fun back in FUNctional Activity.
Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc.
483A Carlisle Dive
Herndon , VA 20170
Required Disclaimer: The info rmation provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well-being other than suggesting that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The info rmation and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of publication, based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on info rmation in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.
Copyright (c) 2006 by Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc.
About this Newsletter
You are receiving our free newsletter from this email | 0.7 | medium | 6 | 2,347 | [
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fc8c2cf6-02c4-4028-a257-566d1683aa2e | Infographics Recycling Pin Office | science | data_analysis | 5 Infographics On Recycling To Pin In The Office
Recycling is important, not just in the UK but all countries of the world. It is one of the best ways for you to help make the world we live in a better and healthier place. Recycling is needed more than ever before as the amount of rubbish we create is increasing year on year. Why?
- Greater population so more people to create more waste
- Lifestyle amendments leading to more people eating fast foods
- Cheaper, newer non-biodegradable packaging
- Greater wealth in many locations so people are purchasing more items that lead to waste
I’m going to mention a few points on why recycling is important to the environment, people and animals.
You may not know it but recycling helps people. How?
- Will keep the human species alive longer as less trees will be cut down that produce the oxygen we breathe 24hrs a day.
- More energy will be produce thus saving the natural resources on earth.
- Creates more jobs.
- Inspires others to recycle.
- Gives you a buzz!
How does recycling help the environment? Here are a couple of points;
- Reduce the pollution caused by the waste. Unfortunately we can’t remove pollution completely however we can do a great deal to decrease it.
- Help preserve natural resources
- It will assist in creating awareness to the people around you.
- It will assist against the threat of global Warming.
Here are 5 infographics on recycling that you should print and pin up on the office wall.
- Recycling By the Numbers (by The New Ecologist)
- Responsibility for the Planet
- Save Trees: Recycle Your Moving Boxes Infographic (by My Move)
- Composting 101
- To Recycle… Or Not To Recycle
With the above information and resources, I hope I have been successful in convincing at least a few people and readers as to the importance of recycling. Even doing a small amount will go a long way. Here in the UK we have special bins and boxes for different types of waste. Every office should use these resources to their maximum advantage and do their bit for the environment. Thousands of sheets of paper, hundreds of cans and lots of electronics – all these can be put to better use than throwing them in the black bin.
Do you have any tips for us on recycling in the UK and world? Whether it be for the office, the shop or the home, please share your experience, solutions and tips for the benefit of us all in the comments below.
Ahmed works as the internet marketing specialist for a company called Toner Giant Ltd who are major suppliers of Canon toner cartridges to businesses and consumers in the UK. In his free time, Ahmed can be found on Xbox live gaming against fellow players | 0.65 | medium | 3 | 584 | [
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5e8b05c3-39ea-4304-a59c-a167453c7a0c | talking coworker Jane today | science | historical_context | I was talking to my coworker Jane today, who mentioned in passing that her car has over 480,000km on the clock. My first response was, “Hey! Just another 110K before you hit its second light second!” Drop the “light,” because it’s assumed, and you can quote your car’s odometer in seconds.
This got me to thinking more deeply, though. Geochronologists use a method called fission-track dating (along with a battery of others) to measure the age of rock samples. When unstable elements (such as U238) decay spontaneously inside rocks, they leave short tracks of damage in the crystals. Since the decay rate for a given element is constant, counting the number of tracks in a rock sample lets you estimate the age of the sample.
However, this can lead to erroneous measurements. Fission tracks anneal out of existence above a certain temperature; damaged crystals reform and effectively turn the fission-track clock back, making a recently-heated sample look much younger than it really is.
An active mountain range like the Sierra Nevada has a large body (“pluton”) of granite underlying it, which is slowly being weathered away. As it is eroded, the underlying pluton comes closer to the surface and its interior cools down. The lower depths of the pluton eventually drop below the annealing temperature, allowing their fission-track clocks to start.
It should be simple to calculate the depth inside the lithosphere at which the fission-track clock corresponds to the age of an old car. You can thus express the car’s age in kilometres. Temperature increases at about 25C per kilometre of depth inside the lithopshere, so to reach the annealing temperature of basalt (580C), you’d have to go down 23km. Since rock erodes rather slowly, a new car, aged 23km, is essentially indistinguishable from an old one, at 23km plus epsilon.
My own car is 23km old and has less than half a second on the odometer. | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 441 | [
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b0359b7b-cfe2-4458-91c4-3a1ecdd99e5e | first known written account | science | research_summary | The first known written account of a participant actually being compensated for taking part in an early version of a clinical trial occurred in late 1667 in the diaries of Samuel Pepys. During this study the subject, a homeless man, allowed himself to be injected with sheep's blood (your guess is as good as ours regarding why, but the point is that man got paid for it) [source: Junod].
Recruiting participants for clinical trials can be, well, trying. More than 90 percent of all clinical trials are delayed or are never completed because volunteers are either not appropriately matched for the study or because there are simply too few volunteers.
The first three phases require a couple flavors of recruits; people with chronic or incurable illness who may benefit from the treatment, healthy people volunteering to help advance medical research, and healthy people volunteering for the paycheck.
Anyone can apply for any study that appeals to them, but the protocol written for each clinical trial outlines who can and cannot participate during each phase -- known as inclusion and exclusion criteria. These criteria cover specifics such as age and gender, current or past medical conditions, and anything else relevant to the specific study.
During most phases of clinical trials, participants are patients seeking new treatment, prevention or cure, but during phase I, participants are healthy test subjects with no known health issues. Phase I trials offer no therapeutic benefit to the volunteer, but participation helps in advancing cures, treatments and preventative therapies for chronic or fatal conditions. It can also be a lucrative endeavor for those in good health who have the time, flexibility and inclination to take part, such as college students or those who are unemployed (or underemployed).
Medical study participants are also compensated for their time based on a per-study rate, plus a per-study determined sum based on the duration of the study, the level of hardship, and the level of risk involved. Subjects could be paid a few hundred dollars or as much as $10,000 for just one study. The best-paying studies are typically those with the strictest requirements, such as a long duration, an in-patient stay, or invasive or uncomfortable procedures [sources: McHugh, Abboud]. Participants who volunteered to stay in bed for NASA's bed-rest study, designed for researchers to learn how microgravity effects the human body, for example, got a pretty sweet deal: $18,000 for a 70-day study (which turns out to be $1,200 weekly), over a total of 15 weeks at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas [source: Ziegler]. In comparison, if you worked a 40-hour-per-week minimum-wage job (at $7.25 per hour) you'd take home $267.80 each week, a financial difference not lost on repeat volunteers, known as professional lab rats or "human guinea pigs" (a term coined by George Bernard Shaw), some of whom make upwards of $50,000 annually [source: Wing, McHugh].
The higher the risk of a phase I study, the higher the compensation, but sometimes, it comes at a physical cost. In London in 2006, for example, volunteers in a phase I trial of an experimental treatment for rheumatoid arthritis were paid £2,000 for their time, but six participants suffered life-threatening organ failure and went home with long-term disabilities [source: Elliot]. | 0.55 | medium | 5 | 727 | [
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146df49f-e3de-4676-986c-d1c4665ddd5d | General Information Fees, Waivers | interdisciplinary | data_analysis | General Information
Fees, Waivers, and Exemptions
Applicant Information
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Legal Certifications
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that written authority has been obtained from the licensee of the station whose programs are to be retransmitted.
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Information not provided. | 0.6 | high | 6 | 379 | [
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71c36bec-abae-40bc-90cd-95059cb3157b | Curious which vegetable varieties | technology | data_analysis | Curious which vegetable varieties might grow best in your garden? Cornell researchers are, too. Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners (VVfG) is a web-based tool that compiles information from gardeners to help you decide what to grow. The information you supply may also influence breeding efforts and seed availability.
Growing your own food can be a very satisfying effort that pays off in a number of ways: your fruits and vegetables are fresher and you can choose the exact varieties that you and your family enjoy. Plus, you can save substantial amounts of money over purchasing them at the grocery or farmers' markets. We can provide resources and advice to help you start small, and gradually move up to producing more of your families food. Visit our pages in this section for more information on the first and last dates for planting vegetables in our area, setting up a rotation for your vegetable beds, and much more.
Cornell's Home Gardening website has links to excellent resources, including Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners, Vegetable MD Online, Vegetable Disease Factsheets, and -to growing guides for more than 50 different vegetables. http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene0391.html
You've gotten your soil tested, now how do you use the results? This handout from Cornell Gardening will help you match your test results with appropriate soil amendments to improve the soil in your vegetable garden! Getting the Most out of Your Vegetable Garden Soil Test Report
Cornell Garden Learning offers a page on Food Gardening that includes vegetable growing guides, suggested vegetable varieties for NYS gardeners, tomato varieties that are resistant to Late Blight, information on indoor vegetable seed starting, plans for a low-cost light frame, suggested cover crops fro vegetable growers, and additional resources on home fruit growing and agroforestry.
Seed Starting. Indoor Vegetable Seed Starting (January 2015) is a 2-page handout from Lori Brewer/Cornell's Garden Based Learning program that covers selecting seed varieties, supplies you'll need to start seeds indoors, germination specifics, and more.
Seed Saving. This Cornell University Library Guide on "Seed Saving" compiled by Jeff Piestrak includes links to relevant Cornell University initiatives, Conservation & Biodiversity Groups, Grower Resources/Directories/Support, Industry/Trade Groups & Resources, Seed Libraries, Seed Sovereignty, Other Seed Saving Organizations/Networks/Events, and General Learning Materials on saving seeds.
Rotating Vegetables (link to CCE Tompkins County)
From CCE Tompkins: Rotating vegetables is always recommended, but to do it properly, one needs to know which vegetables are in the same family. Related vegetables share disease problems, so a true rotation needs to be between vegetable families. Usually a 3-year rotation is advised, meaning that there will be 2 years of unrelated vegetables in the middle, between related vegetables.
Last updated March 19, 2018 | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 607 | [
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54529636-df5f-476c-96ec-fc900a155097 | Many New Mexico residents | life_skills | research_summary | Many New Mexico residents who have been involved in car accidents are eagerly anticipating the development of more crash-avoidance technology. Designers have produced several artificial intelligence features aimed to prevent car accidents, and there is evidence that they have had some success.
Reduced risk of accidents in cars with Advanced Safety Systems
One researcher claims that cars with crash-avoidance technologies are involved in 3.5% fewer accidents. Research conducted by LexisNexis Risk Solutions concluded that, even when car accidents did occur that involved cars equipped with ADAS, these accidents were less likely to result in harm. Researchers found a 27% reduction in bodily harm and a 19% reduction in property damage frequency when vehicles had ADAS.
Examples of ADAS
One of the most common crash-avoidance technologies is the rearview backup camera. This camera can protect drivers from other reckless drivers, and it can also prevent them from running into pedestrians or inanimate objects. Other ADAS include road sign recognition, pedestrian-detection systems and blind-spot monitoring. Studies have found that cars with blind-spot monitoring had crash involvement rates 14% lower than cars of the same model without that equipment.
Issues with ADAS
Some motorists who have ADAS choose not to drive with the technology turned on. Specifically, front-collision warning is turned off by 11% of drivers and automatic emergency braking is turned off by 17% of drivers, according to the LexisNexis study. The reason that some drivers opt not to use these features may be that inaccurate collision warnings or emergency braking could make driving more challenging.
Car insurance for cars with ADAS
Unfortunately, since cars with ADAS are more expensive to repair, insurance companies could make it more expensive to cover these modern vehicles. Safety advocates hope that as more data emerges about the improved safety of ADAS vehicles, the insurance companies will incentivize people to buy them.
No matter what kind of safety technology a vehicle has, drivers are ultimately responsible. Someone who has been injured in a car accident may want to consult with a personal injury attorney. | 0.6 | high | 4 | 432 | [
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24eb3494-ef91-4cad-88d2-2c55979d262d | MH Central Venous Access Device Insertion Accreditation Form | life_skills | tutorial | ## MH Central Venous Access Device Insertion Accreditation Form
| Date | Time |
|------|------|
| Operator | Position: Consultant / Registrar / HMO |
| Supervised by | Position: Consultant / Registrar Signature |
| Location | ICU / ED / Theatre / Cath Lab / Other: |
| Technique | US guided / Landmarks (give reason for landmark use) |
| CVAD Type and Level | CVC / Vascath / PAC / PICC Number of Lumens: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 cm Antimicrobial coated Yes / No Reason if not: |
| Indication | Monitoring / Access / Vasoactive / RRT / TPN / Confirmed or suspected CLABSI |
| Site of insertion | Internal Jugular Right Left Subclavian Right Left Femoral Right Left Brachial (PICC) Right Left Cephalic (PICC) Right Left |
| Procedural Compliance | Hand hygiene: Yes / No Gown / gloves / full drapes / mask / cap: Yes / No Contiguous sterile field between patient, trolley and proceduralist: Yes / No Lumens primed: Yes / No Skin dry before puncture: Yes / No Needle tip seen on US: Yes / No Paired blood gas indicates venous position: Yes / No Manometry used: Yes / No / not done Wire seen in vein on US: Yes / No 2 point / 4 point suture Biopatch and transparent dressing: Yes / No Number of attempts: ______ CXR reviewed: Yes / No / not done (give reason): |
| Complications | Arterial puncture / placement Action taken Pneumothorax Action taken Haematoma Action taken Failure Action taken Other: Action taken |
| Outcome | Credentialed: Yes / No Needs another supervised insertion: Yes / No | | 0.55 | low | 4 | 405 | [
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2ffdb772-1adb-4ac3-b5e4-72608c0ba674 | PNTA and CANVAS Event Space Present | arts_and_creativity | worked_examples | PNTA and CANVAS Event Space Present
#SEATTLELIVES
PNTA and CANVAS Event Space have partnered to provide a cost effective, superior quality streaming sound-stage for event production, the scope of which is unparalleled in the city. We are hosting nonprofits and partner with local auctioneers and emcees. We are connecting artists with their audiences and providing businesses with a turnkey solution for vital communications during this time.
What do we offer?
Who do we serve?
Dedicated Turn Key Production Space*
Professional Studio Lighting
Video Wall Backdrop for Dynamic Scenes
Professional Grade Audio
Live Streaming
Medical Supervision Options Available
Professional Technicians and Crew
Businesses
Artists
Musicians and Bands
Nonprofits
Religious Organizations
Educational Institutions
Private Clients
Military Approval to Operate During Shutdown
More
Conveniently Located At
Canvas Event Space 3412 4th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
For Inquiries, please visit seattlelives.com
Contact Us email@example.com
*Mobile film/video and streaming services also offered | 0.7 | high | 7 | 253 | [
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a27eccb0-5ce3-460b-9986-c82d1fc4069c | CATAWBA COUNTY SIGN DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST | language_arts | practical_application | CATAWBA COUNTY SIGN DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST
Plot Plan and Detailed Sign Plan: Used for administrative review.
Show the following on the relative plan.
Legend
R - Required to be shown on plan, if applicable to the development project. | 0.45 | medium | 4 | 62 | [
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c5232e05-97d3-45f1-915e-4943b99f10eb | Certain psychologists contributed great | interdisciplinary | comparative_analysis | Certain psychologists have contributed a great deal to the development of human thought. They have…
Loneliness is the epidemic of today’s world. Most of us feel lonely at some point in time, so is it okay to be lonely? This course will give you an insight into what loneliness really is and why it’s actually not okay to live a “lonely” life. It also provides practical measures that you can depend on to cope with loneliness and ultimately, overcome it.
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Lesson 1. Understand Loneliness
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Lesson 9. Understand the Difference between Being Lonely and Being Alone
Starting tomorrow, you will receive a new lesson straight to your inbox every morning for 10 days. Lessons take just 5 minutes to read, and each course is followed by fun, knowledge-testing quiz.
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First 30 days are free. Cancel anytime. → Learn more about membership | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 420 | [
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786d9093-9878-4977-b245-ec3953ea3824 | study analytical levels concluded | technology | historical_context | If the study and analytical levels are concluded, our professionals continue with drafting your paper. In the event you’re willing to complete your educational assignment by on your own, you might constantly inquire our personnel to draft your essay to get a concrete structure on your paper;
The C++ displays language is One of the most essential languages in calculating today. It is the go-to language for many massive and small Careers, and it varieties The idea of other well known languages like Java, C#, PHP, and diverse Other folks.
For loops is made of initializer, issue take a look at, modifier and human body Just about every of these can empty. A while loop, might have a ailment both Firstly or the end of the loop. Swap statements enable A selection of values being checked Each and every with their own personal code to generally be executed if the value matches. If then else statements permit for more complicated expressions than the usual swap statement. There's also a ternary operator, which works by using ? and : and functions as a simple sort of if then else. Remarks: // and /* */ The C relatives has // for single line opinions, /* */ to mark a piece of code for a comment.
The not or inversion operator ~ converts 0 to 1 and vice-versa. Other names contain enhance and negation ¬. The C operator ! is analogous but functions on boolean values. and
C++ is among the preferred programming languages and it is implemented on lots of components and operating method platforms. As an efficient compiler to native code, its software domains incorporate devices program, application application, device motorists, embedded computer software, superior-efficiency server and customer programs, and entertainment application such as video clip online games.
C++ is 1 the basic languages. It absolutely browse around this web-site was created at Bell laboratories and now it is called AT&T. C++ language involves forms and object-oriented programming for a alter. It truly is amongst The only programming languages. Nevertheless, the situation will come when a person is asked to resolve challenges which might be mundane continuously.
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C++ is referred to as Center amount language since it covers the components of both of those small amount language together with significant degree language. All kinds of other important programming languages like C#, Java together with other programming languages are derived by C++ only.
A few of these supplemental notes are great, Other people only tough drafts or 50 %-completed. Given that they are developed only to offer extra | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 826 | [
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cadb5701-b48c-468e-bed0-bd38e5de4dd4 | Earthquakes and Plate Tectonic Curriculum Guide | technology | historical_context | Earthquakes and Plate Tectonic Curriculum Guide
Hawaiian Shelf Collapse
Nothing like lava to get someone motivated. I put together a powerpoint showing current images of the collapse plus a few explanatory slides as well.
ESRT - Interactive P & S Wave Chart
Click and drag the lines and ruler to make this chart easy to understand!
Models of the Earth
Students will use an M&M to relate the thicknesses of the layers to the layers of the Earth. By applying pressure to a peanut M&M, students can observe the type of plate boundaries we find on Earth.
Using common sandwich components, students work hands on to come up with their own personal ways of demonstrating faults types, stress, mountain formation, etc. Can also be modified for erosion, glacial activity, demonstration of original horizontally.
Shoe boxes are filled with various materials which simulate Earth's surfaces. Dropping rocks on the boxes triggers a 'wave' that can be recorded by sliding paper up against a marker that is attached to the box.
Earthquakes and Plate Boundaries
The following lab activity requires the use of the Seismic Eruption software installed on the network.
handout primarily discussing the modified mercalli scale. Helps students understnad difference between magnitude and intensity
earthquake jeopardy review
A review of earthquakes, faults, and seismic waves. I break the class in to 4 groups and have them form lines. After each questions is asked and answered, I have them rotate to insure everyone gets a chance to participate
Hayward Fault Virtual Helicopter Tour
The locations of the Hayward fault shown here vary considerably in accuracy along the fault, as described in the map explanation. Development, landsliding and other factors make it difficult to determine the precise location of the fault in places. | 0.7 | medium | 6 | 368 | [
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fbd0e9c8-2026-4ad8-b1ec-507e4dcf1cc2 | set worked examples focuses | technology | case_study | This set of worked examples focuses on **Resource Constraints**, a fundamental concept in optimization, project management, and operations research, where the goal is to maximize an objective (like profit or output) subject to limited availability of necessary inputs (resources). --- ## Worked Examples: Resource Constraints ### Example 1: Foundation (Simple Allocation) **Problem Statement:** A small bakery can produce two types of cookies: Chocolate Chip (C) and Oatmeal Raisin (O). * Profit per batch of C: \$10 * Profit per batch of O: \$12 * Constraint: The total available labor time is 20 hours. Cookie C requires 2 hours per batch, and Cookie O requires 3 hours per batch. * Goal: Maximize profit. **Solution Steps:** 1. **Define Variables and Objective Function:** * Let $x_C$ be the number of batches of Chocolate Chip cookies. * Let $x_O$ be the number of batches of Oatmeal Raisin cookies. * **Objective Function (Maximize Profit, $P$):** $P = 10x_C + 12x_O$ 2. **Define the Constraint:** * The total labor used cannot exceed 20 hours. * **Constraint Equation:** $2x_C + 3x_O \le 20$ 3. **Identify the Decision Point (Exploiting the Constraint):** Since there is only one binding resource constraint, the maximum profit will occur when *all* available labor is used (i.e., the constraint is met exactly: $2x_C + 3x_O = 20$). We test the extreme scenarios (producing only one type of cookie) to find the best allocation. 4. **Test Extreme Scenarios (Assuming Non-negativity: $x_C \ge 0, x_O \ge 0$):** * **Scenario A (Only C):** Set $x_O = 0$. Then $2x_C = 20 \implies x_C = 10$. Profit $P = 10(10) + 12(0) = \$100$. * **Scenario B (Only O):** Set $x_C = 0$. Then $3x_O = 20 \implies x_O = 6.67$. Since we must produce whole batches, we take the integer floor: $x_O = 6$. Profit $P = 10(0) + 12(6) = \$72$. 5. **Conclusion:** Comparing the feasible scenarios, producing 10 batches of Chocolate Chip yields the highest profit. **Key Insight:** In simple resource constraint problems, the optimal solution often lies at the boundary points (vertices) defined by the intersection of the constraints, as this utilizes the scarce resource most effectively. --- ### Example 2: Application (Multiple Constraints) **Problem Statement:** A furniture maker produces Chairs (C) and Tables (T). * Profit per Chair: \$50; Profit per Table: \$120. * Resource 1 (Wood): Chairs require 5 units; Tables require 10 units. Total Wood available: 100 units. * Resource 2 (Assembly Time): Chairs require 2 hours; Tables require 4 hours. Total Assembly Time available: 40 hours. * Goal: Maximize total profit. **Solution Steps:** 1. **Define Variables and Objective Function:** * $x_C$: Number of Chairs; $x_T$: Number of Tables. * **Maximize $P = 50x_C + 120x_T$** 2. **Define Constraints:** * Wood Constraint: $5x_C + 10x_T \le 100$ (Simplified: $x_C + 2x_T \le 20$) * Time Constraint: $2x_C + 4x_T \le 40$ (Simplified: $x_C + 2x_T \le 20$) 3. **Decision Point: Analyzing Constraint Redundancy:** * **Observation:** Both constraints simplify to the exact same mathematical inequality ($x_C + 2x_T \le 20$). This means the Wood constraint and the Assembly Time constraint are perfectly proportional; satisfying one automatically satisfies the other. We only need to consider one binding constraint. 4. **Graphical Solution (Testing Vertices):** We test the extreme points defined by the single binding constraint ($x_C + 2x_T = 20$) and the non-negativity axes. * **Vertex 1 (Only Chairs):** $x_T = 0 \implies x_C = 20$. Profit $P = 50(20) + 120(0) = \$1000$. * **Vertex 2 (Only Tables):** $x_C = 0 \implies 2x_T = 20 \implies x_T = 10$. Profit $P = 50(0) + 120(10) = \$1200$. 5. **Conclusion:** The maximum profit is \$1200, achieved by producing 0 Chairs and 10 Tables. **Alternative Approach (Profit Ratios):** We can compare the profit generated per unit of the scarce resource (Wood/Time). Since the resource usage ratio is identical for both products (2 hours per 5 wood units, or 4 hours per 10 wood units), we look at profit per unit of resource: * Chair: \$50 / 5 Wood Units = \$10/Unit * Table: \$120 / 10 Wood Units = \$12/Unit Since Tables yield a higher return per unit of constrained resource, the optimal strategy is to prioritize Tables until the resource is exhausted. **Key Insight:** When constraints are proportional (or when one resource is significantly tighter than another), the problem reduces to optimizing based on the most efficient use of the single binding constraint, often identifiable through profit-to-resource ratios. --- ### Example 3: Advanced/Edge Case (Infeasible Solution) **Problem Statement:** A construction project requires mixing two types of concrete, Mix A and Mix B. * Mix A requires 3 bags of Cement (C) and 1 bag of Sand (S). Profit: \$400. * Mix B requires 2 bags of Cement (C) and 2 bags of Sand (S). Profit: \$350. * Available Resources: Cement: 12 bags; Sand: 8 bags. * Goal: Maximize profit. **Solution Steps:** 1. **Define Variables and Objective Function:** * $x_A$: Batches of Mix A; $x_B$: Batches of Mix B. * **Maximize $P = 400x_A + 350x_B$** 2. **Define Constraints:** * Cement: $3x_A + 2x_B \le 12$ * Sand: $1x_A + 2x_B \le 8$ 3. **Decision Point: Finding the Intersection (Binding Constraints):** Since the constraints are not proportional, the optimal solution is likely where both resources are fully utilized. We solve the system of equations: * (1) $3x_A + 2x_B = 12$ * (2) $x_A + 2x_B = 8$ 4. **Solving the System (Elimination Method):** Subtract Equation (2) from Equation (1): * $(3x_A - x_A) + (2x_B - 2x_B) = 12 - 8$ * $2x_A = 4 \implies x_A = 2$ 5. **Back-substitute $x_A$ into Equation (2):** * $2 + 2x_B = 8 \implies 2x_B = 6 \implies x_B = 3$ 6. **Calculate Profit at the Intersection Point (2, 3):** * $P = 400(2) + 350(3) = 800 + 1050 = \$1850$. 7. **Verification (Testing other vertices):** * Only Cement ($x_B=0$): $3x_A=12 \implies x_A=4$. $P = 400(4) = \$1600$. (Feasible: $4+0 \le 8$ Sand). * Only Sand ($x_A=0$): $2x_B=8 \implies x_B=4$. $P = 350(4) = \$1400$. (Feasible: $0+8 \le 12$ Cement). **Common Pitfalls:** Forgetting to check the axis intercepts (the "only one product" scenarios) even when an intersection point is found. In this case, the intersection point (\$1850) is indeed the maximum. **Key Insight:** When multiple, non-proportional constraints exist, the optimal solution is typically found at the unique intersection point where the combination of scarce resources yields the highest return. --- ## Pattern Recognition & Application Guidelines **Pattern Recognition:** 1. **Scarcity Defines the Solution:** The optimal solution always lies on the boundary defined by the most restrictive (binding) constraint(s). 2. **Efficiency Matters:** When resources are perfectly balanced (Example 2), prioritize the activity that yields the highest return per unit of the limited resource. 3. **Linearity:** For simple resource constraints, the problem is inherently linear, meaning the best answer is found by testing the "corners" (vertices) of the feasible region. **When to Apply Resource Constraints Modeling:** Apply this modeling technique whenever a decision must be made about allocating limited inputs (time, budget, raw materials, machine capacity) to competing outputs (products, services, tasks) where the goal is maximization (profit, throughput) or minimization (cost, waste). | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 2,250 | [
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68669777-cf84-47e3-887e-4ad61fa78d56 | ACTIVE MANUFACTURED HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION | interdisciplinary | research_summary | ACTIVE MANUFACTURED HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 1000 SAANICHTON, BC V8M 2C5
Phone: (250) 544-1456email: firstname.lastname@example.org
April 19, 2012
Hon. R. Coleman, Minister for Housing Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC
Hon. R. Coleman
Re: Assign and Sublet for Manufactured Homes
Attached is a copy of our Study on the provisions for Assigning and Subletting in the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act.
The report contains a number of 'band aid' type recommendations to deal with some of the existing problems until the major recommendation can be completed.
The major recommendation is similar to that made by the 1973 Law Commission Report on Residential Tenancies namely; that since manufactured home tenancies encompass other issues and areas of law than tenancies and the 1973 Commission was not given the mandate to address these areas we recommend that a new Law Commission be struck to specifically address manufactured home tenancies with the intent to draft a new law for manufactured homes on rented land. Some of the laws affecting owning manufactured homes on rented land include; Equity, Land, Real Estate, Electrical Safety, Home Owner Protection, Consumer Protection, Manufactured Home Act, Local Government Acts as well as Tenancy.
This letter and enclosures is a follow up to the Study and note emailed to you on April 13, 2012. Thanking you in advance for your prompt attention to these important recommendations, we remain
Yours truly
J. Klein
Secretary Treasurer
Note: For your convenience, we have included with this letter, a copy of the first 10 pages of our Study and excerpts from the 1973 Law Commission Report on the need for a new type of Act for manufactured homes on rented land as well as a CD containing the entire Study with reference material. | 0.7 | medium | 6 | 444 | [
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39d6ea4b-8d3b-4a98-a6b6-54071ec39ec2 | Product Data Sheet | technology | data_analysis | Product Data Sheet
REO basic C IKAMAG®
Classic magnetic stirrer without heating new designed. Outstanding chemical resistance due to the white coated heating plate.
- Non-locking, electronically controlled motor
- Constant speed even during changes in load
- Infinitely variable speed
| Technical Data | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of stirring positions [-] | 1 | Stirring quantity max. per stirring position (H2O) [l] | 20 |
| Stirring quantity max. (H2O) [l] | 20 | Motor rating input [W] | 12 |
| Motor rating output [W] | 5 | Speed range [1/min] | 0 - 1500 |
| Stirring bar length max. [mm] | 80 | Set-up plate material [-] | technical enamel |
| Set-up plate dimensions [mm] | Ø 135 | Dimensions (W x H x D) [mm] | 160 x 97 x 280 |
| Weight [kg] | 2.4 | Permissible ambient temperature [°C] | 5 - 40 |
| Permissible relative moisture [%] | 80 | Protection class according to DIN EN 60529 [-] | IP 42 |
| Voltage [V] | 220 - 230 / 115 / 100 | Frequency [Hz] | 50/60 |
© IKA®-Werke Staufen / Germany 2007 www.ika.net | 0.65 | low | 4 | 380 | [
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b0671213-e01c-4591-b646-ebd6b666fd9e | Michael Joliat Reviews Reciprocity Agreements with Benefits Magazine | interdisciplinary | historical_context | Michael Joliat Reviews Reciprocity Agreements with Benefits Magazine
Michael Joliat's article "No Magic Wand: Selected Problems with Reciprocity" was published in the January/February 2024 issue of Benefits Magazine. In it, Mike discusses how reciprocity agreements allow traveling workers to have employee benefit plan contributions that they earn while working outside their home plan's jurisdiction transferred back to their home plans. He also explains how these agreements can benefit both the worker and the employer but warns that multiemployer benefit plans should be mindful of potential legal pitfalls.
POSTED:
Feb 5, 2024
RELATED PRACTICES:
Employee Benefits
https://www.reinhartlaw.com/practi ces/employee-benefits
Mike is a shareholder in Reinhart's Employee Benefits Practice and Taft-Hartley Group. He primarily acts as fund counsel to multiemployer health, retirement, apprenticeship, vacation and other benefit plans. He provides plan trustees advice regarding compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, the Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other federal laws and provides other services to meet the general counsel needs of employee benefit plans and their fiduciaries.
RELATED SERVICES:
Multiemployer Plan (TaftHartley)
https://www.reinhartlaw.com/servic es/multiemployer-plan-taft-hartley
RELATED PEOPLE:
Michael T. Joliat
https://www.reinhartlaw.com/peopl e/michael-joliat
These materials provide general information which does not constitute legal or tax advice and should not be relied upon as such. Particular facts or future developments in the law may affect the topic(s) addressed within these materials. Always consult with a lawyer about your particular circumstances before acting on any information presented in these materials because it may not be applicable to you or your situation. Providing these materials to you does not create an attorney/client relationship. You should not provide confidential information to us until Reinhart agrees to represent you. | 0.7 | high | 6 | 467 | [
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58b10994-d083-4b71-84cd-bb8e45878e45 | Understanding Pro Boxer Manny | technology | historical_context | Understanding Pro Boxer Manny Pacquiao’s Shoulder Injury: Torn to Shreds
What is the rotator cuff?
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The ball is the top of the arm bone (humerus) and the socket is the glenoid (part of the shoulder blade). Surrounding the ball and socket is a group of four muscles that become tendons, collectively referred to as the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff keeps the ball inside the socket and helps to lift and rotate the arm.
What is a rotator cuff tear?
A rotator cuff tear occurs when the tendon detaches from the bone. A partial tear or an incomplete tear implies that only part of the tendon has torn away from the bone, while some of the tendon still remains attached. We often grade the tear by the percentage of tendon that has torn.
A full thickness tear (or complete tear) occurs when the entire thickness of the tendon has torn from the bone where it attaches. With a full thickness tear, there is a hole in the tendon.
Why does the tendon tear?
There are two main causes for a rotator cuff tear: traumatic and degenerative.
A traumatic tendon tear occurs after an injury, such as falling onto the outstretched arm or lifting something heavy.
A degenerative tendon tear occurs slowly over time. As we age, the tendon degenerates and thins and eventually completely tears away from the bone. The blood supply to the tendons becomes less robust over time, and bone spurs or bony over-growths develop that may compromise the integrity of the tendon. Repetitive shoulder motions such as during athletic activity (ie: tennis) continually stress the rotator cuff and can cause a tear.
What are some risk factors for developing a rotator cuff tear?
Older age (typically over the age of 40), repetitive lifting especially overhead (ie: manual laborers), repetitive shoulder activity in upper extremity athletes (ie: boxers), nicotine use, genetic predisposition
Some recent studies suggest that elevated blood lipids can predispose one to a rotator cuff tear too.
What are the symptoms of rotator cuff pathology?
- Pain and weakness when lifting the arm away from the body
- Shoulder pain at night especially when lying on the affected shoulder
- Very infrequently will a rotator cuff tear cause pain below the level of the elbow
Because these symptoms are not specific to rotator cuff tears, it is important that a physician evaluate the shoulder to determine the etiology of reason for the symptoms. Occasionally the physician will request an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to further evaluate the tendons. A shoulder MRI is approximately 45 minutes long and requires the patient to remain still in a tube.
I have a rotator cuff tear: Now what?
Several factors determine the best course of treatment after sustaining a rotator cuff tear. The orthopaedist considers the size and acuity severity of the tear, the quality of the associated surrounding muscles, the patient's age, health, and activity level, just to name a few factors.
In general, non-operative treatment options are attempted for a few months, with the goal being to decrease pain and improve function.
- Activity modification and shoulder rest: Avoid repetitive shoulder activities and heavy lifting. Avoid activities that cause pain.
- Physical Therapy: Specific exercises are prescribed and performed with a therapist to regain any lost shoulder motion and to improve shoulder strength. The goal of physical therapy is to strengthen the intact tendons to compensate for the torn tendon(s). Once the rotator cuff tendon is torn, the only way to heal the tendon back to bone is with surgery.
- Medication: A class of anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is frequently used to decrease pain and decrease inflammation in the shoulder. Ibuprofen, Motrin, and Naproxen are examples of NSAIDs.
- Cortisone injections: These injections are composed of a steroid (cortisone) and a local anesthetic (ie: such as lidocaine) and are performed in the office. The goal of the injection is to decrease pain and inflammation.
When a course of nonoperative treatment fails to relieve pain and improve function, surgery may be recommended indicated.
The goal of surgery is to reattach the torn tendon(s) to the insertion site on bone. The operation is frequently performed arthroscopically by making a few small incisions around the shoulder and using a camera and small instruments to fix the tendon. Recovery involves wearing a sling for a few weeks after surgery and going to physical therapy to regain shoulder motion and strength. More to come on this surgical option in future blogs!
Will Pacquiao be ready for a re-match?
Pacquiao underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery for his "significant" tear. At least six months is needed for him to recover. It may be 9 to 12 months of rehabilitation and training before full recovery and return to his elite athlete status. | 0.7 | medium | 5 | 1,028 | [
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587283cc-8449-4781-9a21-aa90d6db85cf | Categories Audio Sources Full | technology | historical_context | Categories
Audio Sources - Full Text Articles
Israelis like turkey. So why is Thanksgiving such a challenge here?
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Every mid-November, I stroll over to the kosher butcher shop to order a fresh turkey. I’ll pick up the bird the following week, just before Thanksgiving.
Ho-hum, an American reader might say. But celebrating Thanksgiving in Israel, where locals know not of the holiday, presents challenges absent in the United States. Take the first time I hosted Thanksgiving dinner here. No frozen turkeys presented themselves in a supermarket meat department’s display cases. I asked where the turkeys were, and an employee pointed toward a counter. Only cellophane-wrapped turkey legs and turkey wings reposed there.
“Not parts — whole turkeys,” I said.
The clerk presented the blankest of stares.
“A whole turkey?” came the disbelieving utterance, as if I’d asked about buying a whole sheep or cow.
Thus, the annual visit to an honest-to-goodness butcher shop, where Valeri the counterman grabs his pad and pencil to add me to the scribbled names and phone numbers of other Americans who’d placed holiday orders.
The experience remains perplexing to this immigrant. Turkey is hardly exotic game in Israel, where one of the most popular sandwiches has long been shawarma: meat shavings from a vertical rotisserie that’s ubiquitous at falafel stands across the country and scooped into pita bread, to be joined there by salad and saucy toppings. Almost all shawarma is turkey meat. And while pastrami in the United States is inevitably beef, in Israel it’s bound to be turkey.
Indeed, after chicken, turkey is Israelis’ most-consumed meat or poultry, with nearly 8 million gobbling creatures raised for slaughter annually, said Moti Elkabetz, the general manager of Israel’s Egg and Poultry Board.
Elkabetz, an egg farmer at a moshav — an agricultural settlement similar to a kibbutz — in the north, knows about Thanksgiving because his son used to live in the United States. And he’s well aware that Americans buy whole turkeys throughout the year, not only in November.
As to Israelis, he knows he’s up against a cultural block.
“A whole turkey? Mah pit’om,” Elkabetz said, using an expression meaning “No way.”
It’s not like Israelis refrain from making a whole turkey because it’s too large to be consumed. Israelis are family-oriented and think nothing of gathering the extended clan for Shabbat dinners; a turkey could be polished off in one meal, no question.
But Elkabetz thinks that Israelis’ Friday-night routines work against preparing an entire bird, whereas U.S. families’ living farther apart means that convening for a festive meal is rare enough as to call for a special food — turkey.
Then there’s the oven factor. Howard Kaplan points out that built-in wall units in Israel tend to be small. The Zichron Yaakov resident, who with his wife Roberta moved from Baltimore five years ago, can squeeze in a 15-pound bird only by placing it directly on their oven’s bottommost shelf, and even that is thanks to the shelf being an inch deep to collect drippings. No roasting pan, no extra shelf to simultaneously cook side dishes. A turkey — that’s it.
“There’s not much room” in the oven, he said, “but it’s doable.”
While challenges abound in buying turkeys here, at least we know they’ll be kosher.
The sides
Fortunately, fresh green beans, yams and sweet potatoes — even marshmallows — are plentiful in Israel year-round. But the bags of frozen cranberries sold in the Old Country are seldom available. (I don’t do canned cranberry sauce, which can be purchased in some neighborhoods where clusters of American immigrants live.) An American friend suggested buying dried cranberries, which are easily found, and cooking them to make cranberry sauce.
My late Grandma Rozzie would surely chuckle at exerting effort to locate turkey and cranberries. She lived for 21 years in Portugal, once writing to me: “Can you believe a country that does not have cottage cheese or sour cream?”
She and my grandfather would go to Lisbon’s American Women’s Club for their Thanksgiving dinner, which always featured turkey and all the trimmings — a word that also makes its sole annual appearance on the fourth Thursday of November.
But some American immigrants in Israel instead delay Thanksgiving celebrations until Friday night.
“It’s easier for everyone to get together [on Friday],” said Mindi Leshem, an Arizona native who’s lived in Israel since 1981 and usually hosts 30 people for Thanksgiving. “It’s less important to celebrate exactly on the day. It makes no difference, as long as you have the turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.”
For me, Thanksgiving must be on a Thursday. Convening at 6 p.m. — cocktail hour of hot apple cider with rum and cinnamon sticks, then a buffet-style dinner — gives guests enough time to come after work or leave their desks just a bit early. The Kaplans start at 4 so everyone can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together, live.
When Kaplan picked up his turkey last year, a Muslim clerk passed it over from behind the counter.
With the traditional Jewish wish for a good holiday, she said, “Chag sameach.”
In Israel, he remarked the other day, “nothing much shocks me anymore.”
The post Israelis like turkey. So why is Thanksgiving such a challenge here? appeared first on The Forward.
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ebe13384-7ff9-4278-a4de-f1ff0b721821 | Belief systems and religions | technology | code_implementation | Belief systems and religions
Hinduism is a dominant religion or way of life in India. Hinduism was discovered by the Arayans and was a polytheistic religion. The Vedas, the holy book of the religion, was known as the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Hindu's believed in reincarnation, the rebirth of the soul, karma, the saying what goes around comes around, and Dharma which was the set of rules that were followed. The final resting place of Hinduism is called moksha, a heaven. Hindu's practiced a system named the caste system. The caste system divides people up according to their past lives and how they acted.
How Hinduism affects the daily lives of its followers
The people who follow Hinduism are affected everyday. They have to follow the Caste system which allows Hindus to be separated into a class that is based on your past lives. This affects their lives on how people look at them. For example, if you are on the lowest class, the untouchables, then people will look at you poorly. People will know that you have made mistakes in the past and you will be frowned upon.
Buddhism is a nontheistic religion that encompasses a variety of beliefs and spiritual practices. This religion was based from the teachings of the Buddha who was named Siddhartha Guatama. The Buddhists holy books included the Pali Canon, the Mahayana Sutras and the Tibetan book of the dead. Buddhism originated in India and spread through Asia. Buddhists believed in Enlightment which allowed people to achieve eternal salvation. They practiced the Eight Fold Path which helped ones end of suffering. When one dies, their soul will be sent to the final resting place, Moksha.
How Buddhism affects the daily life of its followers
Buddhism affects Buddhists daily life because it is told to end suffering. The eight fold path is the guide to help end suffering and if you follow it, then you will have a happy and good life.
Confucianism is a religion of ethical sociopolitical teachings. This religion was founded by Confucius, the writer of The Analects. This religion started in China and spread all through the country and their neighbor countries like Vietnam, Korea and Japan. People who followed Confucianism practiced Taoism which teaches that nature has a "way" in which it moves. They believed in filial piety, having respect for elders and parents, and also the five relationships. The five relationships include 1) father to son 2) elder brother to younger brother 3) husband to wife 4) ruler to subject 5) friend to friend. The Confucius holy books included the book of rites, namely, the great learning, the doctrine of the mean.
How Confucianism affected the daily life of its followers
Confucianism affects the daily life of their followers because it shows everyone how kind someone can be. Confucianists have to have respect for elders and parents due to filial piety. Also, it affected their life because they would try to show respect and kindness because of legalism. If they showed kindness, they would get a reward of some sort but if they were not, then they would be punished.
Judaism was a monotheistic religion that originated in Israel. Their holy book was called the Torah, which supplemented traditions and was filled with sacred writings. This religion was found by Abraham. They practiced the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were laws given by God to Moses and then shared with the people who left Egypt. They believed that God told Abraham to kill his son so that Abraham will have more power. Abraham brought his son up to a mountain and was about to kill his son until the last second, God stopped him and knew that he can trust Abraham. After a Judaism follower dies, they will then go to heaven, their final resting place.
How Judaism affected the daily life of its followers
Judaism affected their followers life because they want to gain trust. Just like Abraham, the Judaism followers will want to make and agreement with God and gain his trust. They live their life trying to succeed in getting trust and power.
Christianity is a monotheistic religion that originated in Judea, or Nazareth. This religion was founded by Jesus whom was believed to be the messiah of the Old Testament. Christianity spread throughout Rome and later spread throughout the world. People who believed and followed Christianity practices praying to God. They also read the bible and they have to celebrate religious holidays like Christmas and Easter. Christians believed that Jesus was the savior. Another belief was that Christians had to treat each other how they wanted to be treated. If they treated people unkindly and if they went against the bible and the Ten Commandments (commands similar to laws), they will be sent to hell after death which one one of the 2 resting places. The other resting place is heaven, where people who were very religious and followed the bible went.
How Christianity affected the daily life of its followers
Christianity affected the life of its followers because it has different rules to follow than their country. For example, in the bible it claims that man should not be with another man but it is legal now in the United States to marry the same gender. Also, it affects their behaivor because in order to go to the good resting place, heaven they will have to have good behaivor throughout their lifetime.
Islam is a monotheistic religion that originated in Mecca. This religion was founded by Mohammed and their holy book was the Qu'ran. Islam started in 610. Muslims believed that there is only one God and after their death, they will either go to a paradise, like heaven or they go to hell if they don't follow their code of conduct. For practices, Muslims prayed towards the southeast because it is facing Mecca, where it originated. Also, they practiced the 5 pillars. In the 5 pillars, they had to fast during Ramadan, pray 5 times a day, share their wealth with the less fortunate, make the pilgrimage to Mecca, and believe in one God.
How Islam affects the life of its daily followers
The Islamic belief affects all of the believers life. Each day, Muslims get much hate from non- believers. Also, having to pray 5 times a day affects their life because they have to wake up very early and take time from their day to do so. Finally, it affects their life because they aren't allowed to eat certain substances. For example, pork is a major one they can't eat. Many people around the worl eat pork wether it's for breakfast, on pizza, ect. But they can't. | 0.65 | medium | 4 | 1,344 | [
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42db2e40-b4e6-490a-9abf-e3970dcca609 | Occupational Therapy (OT) diverse | interdisciplinary | historical_context | Occupational Therapy (OT) is a diverse profession that addresses a wide variety of needs. Children’s “occupations” or activities such as playing, learning and socializing with friends are necessary skills, so their transition into adulthood becomes a path to an independent and rewarding life.
The goal of an occupational therapist is to improve activities of daily living, which can include self-care skills, play skills, and school/academic performance. In order to improve performance in these areas, OT’s address skills such as fine motor development, sensory processing, motor planning, eye hand coordination and visual motor skills to name a few!
During OT sessions, treatment is child guided and our therapists focus on creating the ‘just right challenge’ for your child. These challenges foster growth and development within your child, while maintaining excitement and motivation.
Your OT will work with you to schedule your child’s evaluation at a time that works for you and your child. You will receive a copy of your child’s evaluation report from your child’s therapist. Goals and treatment plans are specific and measurable so that your child’s progress can be tracked. | 0.6 | high | 5 | 229 | [
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f9f2f57e-7521-4497-8119-b417627d2cf7 | Become Waste Warrior Support | interdisciplinary | tutorial | Become a Waste Warrior and Support Your Community! 2025 Course Curriculum and Timetable Waste Warriors Registration for the 2025 Waste Warriors program is now closed. The Burbank Waste Warriors is a comprehensive training initiative designed for individuals interested in gaining knowledge about zero waste principles and how to interact with their community, enhance the environment, and contribute to future sustainability efforts. The program consists of eight varied classes spread over a three-month span (January to March), covering all facets of Zero Waste concepts, including the eight R’s of waste minimization: Completing the Waste Warrior training is not the end of the journey. Each participant becomes part of an expanding network of graduates. Members connect, collaborate, support one another, exchange ideas, and create a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to waste reduction. Many former participants pursue additional studies, establish collaborations, start businesses, join boards, volunteer, or impact their workplaces, schools, and broader networks. | 0.6 | high | 6 | 203 | [
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b37d4937-b6d2-48d3-8a1d-b4e57e409218 | first station (CultArc3D) comprises | technology | historical_context | The first station (CultArc3D) comprises two aluminum arcs, each of them forming an entire hemisphere around the object. Variable motion sequences and image-based methods make it possible to capture the geometry, texture and optical material properties of artifacts in high resolution.
Whereas the first arc consists of nine cameras, nine sources of daylight are attached to the second. At the moment ten Mpx cameras, which capture the visible spectrum of light, are used. In the future, these will be extended by multispectral sensors.
The lightning sources of the inner arc, capturing the visual sector, shall henceforth and in analogy with the first arc be supplemented by multispectral lights. This can help, for instance, in making further details such as traces of the creation processes visible under ultraviolet light. | 0.65 | medium | 6 | 159 | [
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c5e45aa2-2927-4040-b177-1112a8ae95b3 | OFFICIAL MINUTES STATE BAR | technology | review_summary | OFFICIAL MINUTES STATE BAR OF TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The Hyatt Regency Hotel
Austin, Texas
April 11, 2003
The Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas met in a regular session on April 11, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Austin, Texas. The meeting was called to order at approximately 9:00 a.m. by Chair Charles W. Schwartz, and the roll was called by Executive Director Antonio Alvarado. A quorum of voting Board members was present. The following Board members and liaisons were unable to attend the Board meeting and were extended excused absences: Judge Stephen Ables, Georgina Benavides, Judge Barbara Lynn, Jeffrey R. Parsons, Luther H. Soules, Broadus A. Spivey, and Amy Dunn Taylor. Mina Brees arrived at approximately 10:15a.m. Texas Lawyer representative Ginny Graham was in attendance and welcomed to the meeting. Former Board member Neale Potts gave the invocation.
I. ITEMS FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
A. Approval of Items on the Consent Agenda
Upon motion made by Kim Askew and seconded by Roland Garcia, the following items on the Consent Agenda were approved, with corrections to the January Board minutes:
1) Approval of minutes of Board meeting conducted on January 17, 2003 with following amendments: Commission for Lawyer Discipline report should read - Fort Worth field office, which houses three permanent employees (four positions were reassigned to the Dallas Regional office, the Regional Counsel position was reclassified as a Senior Trial Attorney position and transferred to the Dallas Regional office, and five positions were eliminated). Spelling of name for Houston Regional Counsel Brian Shaver Schaffer.
2) Ratification of actions taken by the Executive Committee at the meeting(s) conducted on --
January 9, 2003: Approved minutes of the September 5, 2002 Executive Committee meeting
March 6, 2003: Approved minutes of the January 9, 2003 Executive Committee meeting.
3) Presidential appointments to the following entities:
a) Commission for Lawyer Discipline:
For terms September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004:
Chair:
Mark D. White (Amarillo)
Vice Chair:
Ray Reiner (Houston)
For three-year terms September 1, 2003 through August 31,2006:
Orrin L. Harrison (Dallas)
F. Ben Selman, Jr. (Waco)
b) Law Focused Education, Inc:
For two-year terms effective April 2003 through April 2005:
Dean Brumley (Austin) Janie Maldonado (Austin) Ann Rogers (Austin)
c) Resolutions Committee:
For terms expiring at the 2003 Annual Meeting:
1) Temporary Committee:
Temp. Chair: SBOT Immediate Past Chair of the Board
- Vidal G. Martinez (Houston)
Temp. Vice-Chair: TYLA Immediate Past Chair
- Jennifer Rymell (Fort Worth)
2) Review Committee: Vidal G. Martinez (Houston)
d) Texas Legal Protection Plan:
For three-year terms June 1,2003 through May 31,2006:
David Finney (Fort Worth) Ruth Garcia (San Antonio) Donald Looper (Houston) Thomas Peterson (San Antonio)
4) Items from the President-elect:
a) State Bar committee chairs to serve during the year 2003-04, per State Bar Rules, Art. VIII, Section 1B. (Exhibit A)
b) Approval of members to serve on two or more committees
5) Items from Committees, Sections/Divisions:
a) Approval of dues increase from $25 to $30 for the Insurance Law Section. (Exhibit B).
b) Approval of Insurance Law Section's request to host its annual meeting at 11:45 a.m., June 20, 2003, in conjunction with their continuing legal education program on Tort and Insurance Reform. (Exhibit C).
c) Approval of dues increase from $20 to $35 for the Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Section. (Exhibit D).
d) Approval of Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section's request to host its annual meeting on August 8, 2003 to coincide with the annual Texas Environmental Superconference. (Exhibit E)
6) Other Items:
a) Approval of change to BOD Policy Manual, subsection 2.03.02A, regarding Resolutions Committee temp vice chair. (Exhibit F)
b) TYLA President Amos Mazzant's appointment of sergeants-at-arms to serve at 2003 Resolutions Committee:
(All appointees are from Houston.)
Julie P. Baumgarten
David A. Chaumette
Maureen Garrett
Laura J. Beckman
Kara J. Farrell
Robert J. Stokes Jr.
c) Recipients for the pro bono awards to be presented at the Annual Meeting: (Exhibit G)
Pro Bono Award: Women's Advocacy Project (Austin) Frank J. Scurlock Award: Jeff Blackburn (Amarillo) The J. Chrys Dougherty Legal Services Award: Roger L.Gette (Dallas) W. Frank Newton Award: Fulbright & Jaworski (Houston)
d) Recipients for the Nancy Garms Memorial Award to be presented at the Annual Meeting:
Judge William R. Furgeson (Midland)
e) Approval of resolution regarding the Annual Meeting/Local Bar Contributions: (Exhibit H)
f) Approval of resolutions honoring Steven Leslie Martin and Irma Rangel: (Exhibit I)
g) Approval of courtesy resolutions for 2003 Annual Meeting (Exhibit J)
II. GENERAL REPORT AND OVERVIEW OF BAR YEAR
Chair Charles W. Schwartz reported on the legislative process, the sunset process, and Commission for Lawyer Discipline.
Chair Schwartz announced that Immediate Past Chair Vidal G. Martinez would be honored at an Awards dinner as distinguished alumnae of the University of Houston.
Chair Schwartz expressed condolences to Terri Hagan who lost her mother-in-law today. Condolences were also expressed to Jeff and Rebecca Parsons who lost their daughter Kirby in a tragic car accident in March.
Chair Schwartz announced that the election for Chair o the Board would be conducted by a show of hands, and that Kim Askew was the only candidate.
Upon motion by Paul Hinton and seconded by Vianei Lopez Robinson, Kim J. Askew was voted by acclamation to serve as Chair of the Board for 2003-2004. Motion carried.
III. REPORT AND ACTION ITEMS FROM THE PRESIDENT
President Guy N. Harrison reported on the Sunset process and commended Sunset Committee Chair Gib Walton on his hard work.
President Harrison provided an update on his visits, which included attending a luncheon in Austin with members of the Hungarian Ministry of Education, a trip to Brownsville to meet with the Tarrant County Bar, meeting with teachers in Nacogodoches regarding law related education, attendance at the Seattle ABA meeting and the National Conference of Bar Presidents, the state mock trial finals in Dallas, the Texarkana Bar joint meeting, visit with the Waco County Bar, attendance at the Louisiana State Bar Board of Governors' meeting, visit with the Amarillo Bar and attendance at the Justian awards of the Dallas Bar Auxiliary honoring John Martin.
President Harrison reported on the Past Presidents' dinner held on February 28, 2003 at the Texas Law Center. The event was very well received. The oldest president present was 1972-73 President Jim Bowmer. Bill Carso, who was Executive Director of the State Bar in 1939, was also present.
President Harrison also reported on the judicial selection issue. There are two bills pending, Senate Bill 794 and House Bill 1511, that have to do with the selection/appointment of judges. The issue of money has become a big problem with judicial races. The perception is that judges use money to favor people who contribute to their race. Input was solicited and should be forwarded to Roland Garcia since he is in direct contact with Chief Justice Phillips.
A committee was appointed to accept resumes and conduct interviews of all individuals interested in the Minority Member Director position. Two finalists were recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee, Michelle Wong and Judge Jim Coronado. President Harrison announced his selection of Judge Jim Coronado as Minority Member Director.
Upon motion by Roland Garcia and seconded by Mark Shank, the appointment of Judge Santiago "Jim" Coronado as Minority Member to the Board of Directors, for a three-year term effective Annual Meeting 2003 and expiring Annual Meeting 2006, was approved. Motion carried.
President Harrison announced that he had appointed Joette Furlough (Virginia Beach, Virginia) to serve as Out-of-State Lawyer liaison. Prior to moving to Virginia, Ms. Furlough was very active with the State Bar's Solo and General Practice Section. Ms. Furlough will begin her term effective June 2003 through June 2006.
President Harrison stated that he would like the Board to consider a loan repayment program that would assist lawyers who are working in public services. The Access to Justice Commission had already started such a program. President Harrison had asked the Legal Services for the Poor Committee to consider funding this program. There is currently not a single Bar in the United States that has such a program. This proposal would be sent to the Board Legal Services Committee for their review and recommendation to the Board.
Upon motion by Glenn Perry and seconded by Kim Askew, the request to forward the loan repayment program proposal to the Board Legal Services Committee for review and presentation to the Board was approved.
President Harrison commented on the need of an Emergency Fund (Bar would have access to some kind of fund for emergency needs). President Harrison recommended the Finance Committee be assigned to
review the possibility of creating an access to justice special revenue fund and present its proposals to the Board for approval.
Upon motion by Robert LeBoeuf and seconded by Mack Barnhart, the recommendation to forward the proposal of an emergency fund to the Finance Committee for review and presentation to the Board for approval was carried.
The Texas Bar Foundation has historically made grants to legal services projects that are nonprofit startup projects only. The Texas Bar Foundation awards grants two times a year. There are a number of small legal service providers that are not funded by the Congressional grants and legal services corporations that have operational fund problems every single year. The Bar would be working with the Texas Bar Foundation in creating a fund within the Texas Bar Foundation designated to accept voluntary contributions, which would be utilized for operational fund grants as opposed to start-up fund grants.
President Harrison reported that the following appointments were made but not included on the consent agenda. Mark White will serve as Chair to the Commission for Lawyer Discipline. Public member Ray Reiner from Houston, who is currently a member of the commission, will serve as Vice Chair.
Upon motion by Dan Boulware and seconded by David W. Stevens, the request to grant authority to President Guy Harrison to make appointments to committees listed on consent agenda prior to June 1, 2003 was approved.
IV. REPORT FROM JUDICIAL LIAISONS
A. Supreme Court Liaison (Justice Craig T. Enoch)
Supreme Court Liaison Justice Craig T. Enoch reported on the selection of public members. The Supreme Court appoints two members every year. One member is generated from the Supreme Court and the other from the recommendations received from the Governor's office. The appointments provide a real opportunity for the public to get involved in the Bar. Justice Enoch solicited recommendations for public members noting that history has shown that individuals selected have been outstanding in their own fields.
V. REPORT FROM OUT-OF-STATE LAWYER LIAISON
Out of State Lawyer Liaison Turner Branch announced that his term would be ending June 2003. Branch commented on his three years as Out-of-State Lawyer Liaison to the Board, which has been an enjoyable experience. Branch would like the Board to consider giving the Out-of-State Lawyer Liaison voting privileges to encourage their participation and contributions.
Chair Schwartz announced that Turner Branch has been honored as Baylor Lawyer of the Year.
VI. REPORT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Executive Director Antonio Alvarado announced the selection of Emily Jones as Texas Lawyers Care Director and Lisa Kalakanis as Research Director.
Executive Director Alvarado reported on the annual meeting and annual meeting resolutions. Resolutions will be published in the May issue of the Texas Bar Journal.
Executive Director Alvarado also reported on the Voluntary Resource Conversation Program. In the last two of the three fiscal years, the Bar has experienced an "end of the year" expenditure type of flow that while still keeping the Bar in budget it did not give the ability to plan on the positive variances the Bar has seen most of the year. The Bar would like to curb some tendencies we have seen to take a positive variance of $800,000 to a million dollars and report at the end of the fiscal year that the money was gone. Comptroller of Public Accounts Carole Keeton Rylander reported that for the eighth straight months, the State of Texas has experienced a decline of sales tax revenues. The Bar could not be insensitive to the fact that other agencies including the Supreme Court were being asked to curb their expenditures in view of the needs that the State of Texas was facing. The Bar would like to move forward in making the Voluntary Resource Conservation program mandatory. Division Directors Don Jones, Michelle Hunter, Julene Franki and Chief Disciplinary Counsel Dawn Miller made presentations on their departments' efforts to comply with the Voluntary Resource Conservation Program. The goal was to save $500,000 this year and $1.3 million for the next fiscal year. The departments are working on reducing travel and lodging expenses, have delayed the hiring of temps and non-essential staff, and delayed seminars. The Bar has enlisted the help of all State Bar employees to identify ways of reducing expenses and to generate revenue.
Executive Director Alvarado requested that the Board allow the Bar to move forward with the cost reductions of $500,000 from the expenditure budget (not the revenue budget) and with an expense reduction in next year's budget. Executive Director Alvarado explained that it was his recommendation to pull the merit pay of almost $500,000 that had already been allotted for in the 2003-2004 budget. Staff deserve their merit pay but understand that others around them are experiencing severe reduction in pay and/or losing jobs. If the Bar generates a net surplus at the end of this fiscal year, the Bar would come back to the Board and report that the benchmark of $500,000 had been reached. The issue of considering merit pay would be reintroduced (based on the net surplus generated). The budget being presented to the Supreme Court does not reflect the reductions. Executive Director Alvarado requested that authority be given to the Bar to look into the budget and find ways to reduce expenditures.
Upon motion by Dan Boulware and seconded by Mack Barnhart, the request to establish a Resource Conservation Program to include expenditure reductions in FY03 and FY04 and approved the recommendation to fund merit pay from any FY03 net surplus and delete from the FY04 proposal was approved.
VII. REPORT FROM THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER/GENERAL COUNSEL
COO/GC Shelby Rogers reported on the IOLTA matter stating that on March 26, 2003, in a 5-to-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Ninth Circuit decision upholding the State of Washington's Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program in Brown v. Legal Foundation of Washington (formerly styled Washington Legal Foundation v. Legal Foundation of Washington). As for the Texas (Fifth Circuit) IOLTA case, the petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court was granted on March 31, 2003. The judgment was vacated and the case was remanded to the Fifth Circuit for further consideration in light of Brown.
COO/GC Rogers reported on the use of temps, which is extremely high at the Bar. There currently are no written procedures regarding temp services. Operations Division Director Al Cumming suggested centralizing the temporary services and contracting with one agency. This resulted in a reduced markup of hiring temps from 60% to 40% and a savings on recruiting and advertising costs. The Bar was previously spending $400,000 a year and currently spent $200,000. Rogers commended Operations Director Al Cumming and Human Resources Representative Amy Turner on their hard work.
COO/GC Rogers introduced Director of Purchasing/Facilities Paul Rogers and Purchasing Manager Mary Mayles, both new employees with the Bar. Facilities Manager LaTresa Stroud, Paul Rogers and Mary Mayles have been very instrumental in implementing a purchasing discipline. Purchasing/Facilities Director Paul Rogers reported in the March Executive Committee meeting on a procurement strategy in which all purchases would be requested on a purchase order or procurement card.
VIII. REPORT FROM SECTION REPRESENTATIVES TO THE BOARD COMMITTEE
Section Representative William Betts announced the appointment of two Section Representatives to the Board: Professor David East (large-sized section), who will replace Vicki Menard; and Demetrius Bivins (small-sized section), who has been appointed to serve a full term. Both appointments are three-year terms beginning June 2003 and expiring June 2006. The Council of Chairs has developed a handbook of consolidated procedures, which has been forwarded to General Counsel Shelby Rogers for review.
IX. REPORT FROM BOARD COMMITTEES
Status reports were heard from the following Board committees:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE (Jarvis V. Hollingsworth) - Hollingsworth reported on the Resource Conservation Program, lawsuits (one had been settled), the Wage Salary and Performance Measures Study, the STATCO contracts (lock box services), the Texas Legal Directory contract, the Texas Bar Foundation Support Agreement, the Statement of Work Number 2 needed to update the website, the Policy Manual revisions, and utilization of grievance offices throughout the State.
On behalf of the Administration Committee, Hollingsworth moved the following motions, requesting that the Administration Committee be granted authorization to:
MOTION 1: Approve the El Paso field office lease, Tyler field office lease and the Fort Worth sublease contracts for Chief Disciplinary Counsel, with contracts to be reported at the next Executive Committee and Board of Directors meeting; and
MOTION 2: Approve the website contract including second Statement of Work (e-commerce modules).
Taken under separate votes, the motions carried.
On behalf of the Administrative Oversight Committee, Hollingsworth moved the following motion for approval of:
MOTION 3: The STATCO contracts (lock box services, membership attorney profile services, membership dues statements); (Exhibit K)
MOTION 4: The one-year extension of the Texas Legal Directory contract; (Exhibit L)
MOTION 5: The Texas Bar Foundation Support Agreement; (Exhibit M) and
MOTION 6: Format changes to the Policy Manual as recommended by Policy Manual Task Force. (Exhibit N)
The motions, taken separately, passed.
B. BUDGET COMMITTEE (President-elect Betsy Whitaker) - President-elect Whitaker provided an update on the budget. The public hearing was held at the Texas Law Center on April 3.
On behalf of the Budget Committee, President-elect Whitaker moved that the SBOT 2003-2004 budget be approved for presentation to the Supreme Court. Motion carried. (See Exhibit O)
C. FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE (David W. Stevens) - Stevens reported on the Real Estate Study. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to all Board members. Stevens thanked all members for their input. The data would be compiled and passed on to next year's Facilities & Equipment Subcommittee.
D. FINANCE COMMITTEE (David W. Stevens) - Stevens provided a financial update - 5% favorable in revenues, 1% net excess over budget with a positive variance of $879,933. The budget is being closely monitored. Stevens reported on the Internal and Financial Audits, the Investment Policy, the Quarterly Investment Report, and the hiring of Financial and Internal Auditors.
Stevens also reported on the general fund, which currently has a balance of $6.8 million. The Bar would like to transfer approximately $700,000 into the Technology Fund, approximately $1 million into the Building Fund (would not include monies for remodeling, real estate study expenses but would cover the maintenance expenses of the Texas Law Center), and approximately $500,000 into the Client Security Fund.
On behalf of the Finance Committee, Stevens moved the following motions for approval of:
MOTION 1: Internal and Financial Audit; (Exhibit P)
MOTION 2: Investment Policy, Section 10.5, as amended; (Exhibit Q)
MOTION 3: Quarterly Investment Report; (Exhibit R.)
MOTION 4: The hiring of Financial Auditors (Sprouse and Anderson) and Internal Auditors
MOTION 5: Fund balance transfers from General Fund Reserve to Client Security Fund, Technology Fund and Building Fund
The motions, taken separately, passed.
E. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE -
1) Nominations & Elections Subcommittee (Vidal G. Martinez) Martinez reported that the Nominations & Elections Subcommittee had been dealing with website issues due to the President-elect campaign. The rules for this election cycle have not changed, but it is clear that modern times have created new means of communication. The Nominations & Election Subcommittee and Bar staff have determined that the campaign rules needed to be changed by the next election cycle. The current campaign was underway beginning March 17. Election ballots would be mailed out on April 15 and would be the date President-elect candidates must cease active campaigning. Deadline for receipt of all election ballots would be April 30. Election results would be announced May 1.
2) Policy Manual Task Force (Neale Potts, Mina A. Brees, William D. Elliott, Terri L. Hagan, Don Jones, Gary Reaves)
The Task Force was present to address any questions/concerns expressed by the Board regarding the revisions to the format and wording thereto the Board Policy Manual. No concerns were expressed.
F. MEMBER SERVICES & EDUCATION COMMITTEE:
1) Appeals-Grant Review Subcommittee (Steven Steele) –Steele reported that the subcommittee had voted to table the approval of amendments to MCLE Regulations and MCLE Appeals Procedures for further consideration by the committee. No action at this time.
Steele reported that the subcommittee had reviewed appeals by the following:
a) MCLE:
1) Mike Mullins, Permian Basin Landmen's Association regarding the nonaccreditation of the "PBLA Fall Education Seminar" activity
2) Tracy Tarver, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution - regarding the nonaccreditation of the "Skills for Employment Mediators" activity
b) TBLS:
1) Ted H. Roberts - regarding two-year probated suspension
On behalf of Appeals/Grant Review Subcommittee, Steven Steele moved approval of committee recommendations to deny all appeals received. Motion carried.
2) Professional Development Education Subcommittee (Blair A. Bisbey) – Bisbey reported that Texas Bar CLE continues to occupy its prominent position in the market (cutting edge of developing new products and services and its growing on-line area of CLE). Texas Bar CLE holds 28% share of the market. Five hundred hours of CLE are now available thru the CLE website. The revenues generated by online activities have increased from one half million to one million dollars. The Professional Development Education Subcommittee would like to show a demonstration of the Texas Bar CLE website and the interactive Annual Meeting online registration at the Annual Meeting. Free CLE is being offered when you visit the Texas Bar CLE website. Bisbey encouraged all Board members to visit the Texas Bar CLE website.
3) Technology Oversight Subcommittee (Kim A. Askew) – Askew reported on the status of the Technology Plan. Implementation of HB 1712 requirements was going well. Askew provided a PowerPoint presentation on the attorney profile online registration. Some information would not be editable and would be inputted by the Bar such as bar numbers, certifications, and discipline information. The lawyers cannot edit this information. An informational sheet addressing the requirement of the attorney profiles will be included with the dues statements being mailed out May 1. The sheet will list the online website that lawyers would need to visit to register. Recognizing that not all lawyers will visit the site, a reminder would be mailed out. Computers will be available at the June Annual meeting to help lawyers register online. The Bar will comply with the mandatory deadline of September 1, 2003.
G. PUBLIC SERVICES & EDUCATION COMMITTEE:
1) Legal Services (Dan Boulware) – Boulware gave a report on the $65 voluntary contribution and encouraged all members to support the process. Dues statements are being mailed out soon which will include that option.
Boulware also reported on the telephone survey regarding pro bono participation. The raw data had been received and a final report will be given at the June Annual Meeting. It would reflect what lawyers are doing, how they are doing it, and would give a good picture of the composite (by age, race, gender, location, etc.) of Texas lawyers.
2) Legislative Policy Subcommittee (Blair A. Bisbey) - On behalf of Chair Bisbey, Governmental Relations Director Kalyn Laney reported on the legislative process. There are about 30 bills floating out there, which are section sponsored. The sections have made a tremendous effort. The bills submitted by the Real Estate and Probate Law Section, the Family Law Section, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section are still moving.
Governmental Relations Director Laney also reported on the emergency committee, which looked at an additional three bills under the heading of "additional funding for legal services." They include a filing fee add on amount, a bill dealing with the use of funds for basic legal services in civil matters, and the pro hac vice bill. These three bills have been added to the Board package for the legal services to the poor in the State of Texas.
H. Sunset Review Committee (Gib Walton) - Gib Walton provided a report via teleconference. Walton reported that the State Bar bill had been voted out of the Senate Committee and the House Committee. The Bar picked up two amendments in the House Committee level, which are the district court option amendment and an amendment that would make the $65 voluntary payment a mandatory $65 payment to support access to justice. Both bills are ready to go to their respective floors, the Senate and the House.
The $65 mandatory fee amendment did not come from the statewide Access to Justice Commission whose purpose is to coordinate all pro bono and legal services programs. This is an amendment offered from the Senate side. This $65 idea has come up several times and had previously been voted down. Many feel that the mandatory fee could be counterproductive. Legal services to the poor is a huge societal problem. There are people who disagree on how to raise money for legal services to help the poor. The Bar has to take a strong leadership position. More financial resources are needed and the Bar should decide what would be the best way to raise the needed funds. The Bar should not lose sight of what Texas lawyers are already doing. Texas lawyers gave close to 1 million hours of free services, $160 million of donated services and 700,000 hours at substantially reduced services. The dues statements this year are going out with a letter signed by the Supreme Court justices asking for a voluntary $65 contribution.
A concern over how the Bar would handle the $65 mandatory fee was expressed. Walton stated that this was a difficult issue for the Bar as a whole. Respected members have devoted a lot of time and effort addressing this issue. Leadership will want to hear from everyone to help develop a plan, so all input should be forwarded to President Guy N. Harrison, President-elect Betsy Whitaker, Chair of the Board Charles W. Schwartz and/or Governmental Relations Director KaLyn Laney.
Sunset is recommending an amendment in the grievance system that would omit the district court option. Lawyers are taught about the importance of due process before an unbiased judge and/or jury, and lawyers are the only profession that is charged as protectors of the justice system. Lawyers should be
able to have a district court option in their grievance system. The streamlining of a grievance system eliminates a level of hearings saving time and expense. The Bar does not oppose that change. The Bar disagrees with the elimination of the right to choose between the district court trial and an evidentiary administrative trial. It takes away a due process right. The Sunset recommendation is doing away with the district court option. Without the district court option amendment, lawyers may lose the right to practice law without having the right and/or option to go before a judge or jury. The grievance system as it currently stands has worked well for the last sixty-four years. It has not been abused and has not caused undue delays. During the last five years, only seventy-six cases have been heard with twelve of those being jury trials.
X. REPORTS FROM STATE BAR COMMITTEES, SECTIONS, DIVISIONS
A. Client Security Fund Subcommittee (John Landgraf) - Landgraf explained that the transfer of $500,000 will go into the Corpus fund and only the interest from that amount will be spent on an annual basis.
Landgraf reported that the Client Security Fund Subcommittee passed a resolution requesting that the Executive Director, Chief Disciplinary Counsel and the General Counsel of the State Bar are to report to the Client Security Fund Subcommittee no later than September 1, 2003 on a coordinated plan for an aggressive collection program to recover attorneys fees and court costs awarded to the State Bar in the grievance and disciplinary proceeding and judgments. Such a plan could utilize existing Bar resources or use outside collection attorneys, or a combination of those. The subcommittee would like to take a more aggressive approach since it believes that there are hundreds of thousands of dollars out there that need to be returned to deserving clients.
B. Judiciary Relations Committee (Judge Royal Furgeson) – Judge Royal Furgeson reported on the Volcker Commission Report. The Volcker Commission was established to look into executive pay in our federal government as well as judge's pay. Law clerks leave law firms for jobs where they earn more than first year judges. On behalf of the federal judges of Texas, Judge Furgeson solicited the Board to authorize or to write to Congress in support of the Volcker Commission Report and an increase in judges' salary.
Upon motion by Mark Shank and seconded by Roland Garcia, the Judiciary Relations Committee's request for the Board to write to Congress in support of the Volcker Commission Report was approved. (Exhibit S)
Judge Furgeson also reported that plans to create an interactive CD to help introduce law to high school students had been implemented. A pilot project was kicked-off in San Antonio, and already four other states have expressed interest in using the interactive CD. The CD will be available to the Board at the June meeting. Judge Furgeson thanked Law Related Education Director Jan Miller and her staff for their hard work in this regard.
XI. OTHER REPORTS/ACTIONS
A. Commission for Lawyer Discipline
In the absence of CFLD Chair Scott E. Rozzell, Vice Chair Tim Sulak reported on the budget (YTD ending February 28 reflected a favorable variance of $150,000). The staff had been attentive to budgetary matters and had made tremendous efforts to increase efficiency. Vice Chair Sulak reported that the Dallas and Fort Worth regions have merged and the transition is going well. Sulak solicited the Bar's help in getting a sublease for the largely vacant Fort Worth space. Sulak announced that district
grievance committee nominations are being accepted for vacant positions (three-year terms). The appointments have to be made and signed off by President Guy Harrison by June 1, 2003. If the appointments are not made by that date, the position(s) will remain vacant for the full year. Vice Chair Sulak also reported that a statewide grievance-training program is in the works and will be of major importance due to changes in the legislative process.
B. Texas Bar Foundation
TBF Chair Tim Sulak reported that the foundation is doing well. On behalf of the Texas Bar Foundation, Sulak welcomed President Harrison's initiative for a designated fund for operational use of legal services providers. The foundation appreciates the agreement passed by the Board regarding the creation of a fund within the Texas Bar Foundation designated to accept voluntary contributions that would be utilized for operational fund grants as opposed to start-up fund grants. Traditionally, the foundation has awarded grants to legal services projects that are nonprofit start-up projects only. One such start-up program from the Travis County Bar Association was in the family law area, which created the "For Kids Sake Program" (helps divorcing parents to recognize issues in divorce that would affect their children). Thirty percent of Texas judges now mandate this course in all divorce cases. Sulak requested the support of the Bar to encourage local bars/associations to come to the Texas Bar Foundation for help with start-up programs.
On behalf of the Texas Bar Foundation, Sulak solicited nominations for Fellows. The nominees should represent the best of the community. All nominations will be forwarded to the nominating committee.
C. TYLA President
TYLA President Strong reported on TYLA activities, which included projects "It Could be You!" (speaking out against crime in your school, over 200 schools participating), "College for a Day" (taking kids from middle schools to visit a college to give at risk kids a look at college life), "Law of the Land"(designed to teach immigrants of their legal rights, consumer law protection). The Texas Bar Foundation has given TYLA a generous grant to videotape this project. Other projects include the "Lawyers as Leaders"(a project based out of Austin, brings together young lawyers throughout the state in non-profit organizations), "Junior Judges" (now nationwide, almost approaching 50 states, funded by Texas Bar Foundation), "Urban Colonias Project" (developing material to help lawyers do pro bono representation of neighborhoods that don't have water/sewer services), "Secrets of Success" video, "Pro Se Divorce Handbook," Age and Issues manual for senior citizens, "Hanging out your Shingle", and an on-line judicial directory (on-line access to judges throughout the state).
TYLA President Strong also reported on the TYLA budget, the National Trial Competition in Houston, TYLA eNews, TYLA President-elect campaign (candidates are Haynes and Boone partner David McAtee and Fort Worth County Law Judge Jennifer Rymell), and the La Columbe'd Awards Dinner and Banquet on June 13, 2003 in Houston.
TYLA President Strong solicited nominations for Outstanding Young Lawyer and the Liberty Bell award (should be a non lawyer who has significantly impacted someone's life). Nominations must be received by April 21, 2003.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 2:20 p.m.
EXHIBITS ATTACHED
Exhibit S:
Volcker Commission Report
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87f4fe48-5fd3-430d-ad94-30f1bfa86ed6 | Let's build bridge between | technology | algorithm_analysis | Let's build a bridge between Ramsey Theory and Algorithms, two seemingly disparate fields, by uncovering a fundamental pattern that underpins both: the guarantee of structure within complexity. ## Shared Pattern: Guaranteed Structure in Disorder The core principle connecting Ramsey Theory and Algorithms is the idea that **even in a system that appears chaotic or arbitrarily arranged, a certain degree of order or a specific structure is guaranteed to exist, provided the system is large enough.** In Ramsey Theory, this means that in any sufficiently large collection of objects, some substructure of a specific type must be present. It's about finding "order for free" when you have enough "stuff." In algorithms, this translates to designing procedures that can efficiently find or guarantee the existence of desired patterns, structures, or properties within data, even when that data is vast and seemingly unstructured. It's about creating methods to reliably extract or ensure order from potential disorder. ## The Surprising Connection The connection isn't immediately obvious because Ramsey Theory is often presented as an abstract mathematical concept concerning sets and colorings, while algorithms are about concrete computational processes. The insight lies in realizing that **algorithms are often designed to *exploit* or *find* the guaranteed structures that Ramsey Theory predicts.** Instead of just proving existence, algorithms provide the *mechanism* to discover these structures in practical, computational settings. Many algorithmic problems can be reframed as searching for a Ramsey-type structure within a dataset. The "sufficiently large" condition in Ramsey Theory often maps to the "sufficiently large input size" or "sufficiently dense data" that algorithms must handle. This connection is crucial because it suggests that certain algorithmic guarantees are not just clever programming tricks but are rooted in fundamental mathematical principles. It also implies that understanding Ramsey Theory can inspire new algorithmic approaches by highlighting what kinds of structures are fundamentally guaranteed to exist. ## Illustrative Example: Finding a Cohesive Group in a Social Network Let's consider a practical problem: **identifying a group of people in a social network where everyone either knows everyone else (a clique) or nobody knows anyone else (an independent set).** This is a direct application of Ramsey Theory's core idea and can be solved using algorithms. **Scenario:** Imagine a large online social platform with millions of users. We want to find a subgroup of at least *k* users where either all pairs know each other, or no pairs know each other. **Ramsey Theory Connection:** The relevant Ramsey number here is $R(m, n)$, which states that for any graph with at least $R(m, n)$ vertices, there must exist either a clique of size $m$ or an independent set of size $n$. In our example, we are looking for a clique of size $k$ or an independent set of size $k$. So, if our social network has at least $R(k, k)$ users, such a group is guaranteed to exist. **Algorithmic Approach:** While $R(k, k)$ can be very large, the *guarantee* is powerful. The problem then becomes: how do we *find* such a group efficiently within the network data? This is where algorithms come in. **Worked-Out Example (Simplified):** Let's say we're looking for a group of at least **3** people where everyone knows everyone, or nobody knows anyone. This corresponds to finding a clique of size 3 ($K_3$) or an independent set of size 3 ($I_3$). The Ramsey number $R(3, 3) = 6$. This means if we have a network of 6 people, we are guaranteed to find such a group. Consider a social network with 6 individuals (A, B, C, D, E, F) and represent "knowing" as an edge between two nodes. We can color the edges: red if they know each other, blue if they don't. **Step 1: Represent the Network.** We can model this as a graph where nodes are people and edges represent relationships. Let's say we have the following relationships (edges): * A knows B (A-B: red) * A knows C (A-C: red) * B knows C (B-C: red) * C knows D (C-D: red) * D knows E (D-E: red) * E knows F (E-F: red) * F knows A (F-A: red) * A knows D (A-D: blue) * B knows D (B-D: blue) * C knows E (C-E: blue) * D knows F (D-F: blue) * E knows A (E-A: blue) * B knows F (B-F: blue) * C knows F (C-F: blue) * B knows E (B-E: blue) This is a bit complex to visualize directly. A more structured algorithmic approach would be to iterate through potential groups. **Step 2: Algorithmic Search (Brute-Force for illustration, but more efficient algorithms exist).** We need to find a set of 3 people where all pairwise connections are red, or all are blue. Let's pick an arbitrary person, say **A**. Consider the people A knows (red edges): B, C, F. Now, look at the relationships *among B, C, and F*: * B knows C (red) * C knows F (red) * B does NOT know F (blue) This doesn't give us a $K_3$ or $I_3$ among B, C, F. Let's try another starting point or a different approach. A common algorithmic approach to finding cliques is using algorithms like the Bron-Kerbosch algorithm. For independent sets, we can look for cliques in the *complement graph* (where edges represent "do not know"). **Let's simplify the graph for a clearer demonstration of finding the structure:** Suppose we have 6 people (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and the following "knows" relationships (red edges): 1-2, 1-3, 2-3 (forming a $K_3$) 3-4, 3-5, 4-5 (forming another $K_3$) 1-6, 2-6, 4-6, 5-6 Now, let's check for $K_3$ or $I_3$: * **Group {1, 2, 3}:** * 1 knows 2 (red) * 1 knows 3 (red) * 2 knows 3 (red) * **Found a $K_3$!** The group {1, 2, 3} is a clique. **What if we didn't find a $K_3$ immediately?** Consider another graph of 6 people. Let's say we only have these "knows" relationships (red edges): 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 2-5, 2-6 3-5, 3-6 4-5, 4-6 Now, let's search for a $K_3$ or $I_3$: * **Consider person 1:** * 1 knows 2, 3, 4. * Look at relationships among {2, 3, 4}: * 2 knows 3 (red) * 2 knows 4 (red) * 3 knows 4 (red) * **Found a $K_3$!** The group {2, 3, 4} is a clique. **What if we consider the "doesn't know" relationships (blue edges)?** Let's say the relationships are: 1-2 (red), 1-3 (red), 1-4 (red) 2-5 (red), 2-6 (red) 3-5 (red), 3-6 (red) 4-5 (red), 4-6 (red) The "doesn't know" (blue) edges are: 1-5, 1-6 2-3, 2-4 3-4 5-6 Now, let's look for an independent set of size 3. * **Consider person 1:** * 1 does NOT know 5, 6 (blue). * Look at relationships *among* {5, 6}: * 5 does NOT know 6 (blue). * **Found an $I_3$!** The group {1, 5, 6} is an independent set. This example shows how an algorithmic search, guided by the principle that a structure *must* exist, can pinpoint the desired group within the network data. Algorithms like randomized search or graph traversal algorithms can be employed to find these structures in larger, more complex networks, often with probabilistic guarantees or by leveraging properties of graph structures. ## Reciprocal Learning Mastering **Ramsey Theory** can facilitate a better understanding of algorithms by: * **Highlighting fundamental guarantees:** It provides a theoretical basis for why certain algorithmic problems are solvable and why we can expect to find specific patterns. This shifts the focus from "how to code it" to "what structure is guaranteed to be there." * **Inspiring algorithmic design:** Knowing that certain structures are guaranteed can inspire algorithms that specifically search for these structures, rather than trying to find them in a sea of randomness. * **Understanding complexity:** Ramsey numbers often grow very quickly, which can inform us about the potential computational complexity of finding these structures. Conversely, mastering **Algorithms** can facilitate a better understanding of Ramsey Theory by: * **Providing concrete realization:** Algorithms show how the abstract existence proofs of Ramsey Theory can be translated into practical computational tasks. * **Exploring constructive proofs:** Many algorithms are essentially constructive proofs of Ramsey-type theorems, demonstrating *how* to build the guaranteed structure. * **Handling scale and efficiency:** Algorithms teach us about the practical challenges of scale and efficiency, which are crucial for applying Ramsey Theory to real-world, large-scale problems. ## Mathematical Foundation The most direct mathematical relationship is through **Ramsey Numbers**. For two positive integers $m$ and $n$, the Ramsey number $R(m, n)$ is the smallest integer $N$ such that any graph with $N$ vertices must contain either a clique of size $m$ (a set of $m$ vertices where every pair is connected by an edge) or an independent set of size $n$ (a set of $n$ vertices where no pair is connected by an edge). In our social network example, if we want to find a group of size $k$ where everyone knows each other (clique of size $k$) or no one knows each other (independent set of size $k$), we need a network of at least $R(k, k)$ individuals. More generally, the concept applies to hypergraphs and other combinatorial structures, where algorithms are designed to find specific substructures within larger, complex combinatorial objects. The bounds on Ramsey numbers often inform the complexity of algorithms designed to find these structures. For instance, if $R(k, k)$ is astronomically large, it suggests that a brute-force search for such a structure would be computationally infeasible, motivating the development of more efficient, possibly probabilistic, algorithms. ## Universal Application and Implications The pattern of "guaranteed structure in disorder" appears everywhere: * **Biology:** In protein folding, a vast number of possible configurations exist, yet proteins fold into specific, functional structures. This suggests underlying principles (analogous to Ramsey Theory) that guide the system towards ordered states. Algorithms are used to predict protein folding. * **Genetics:** Within the vast sequence of DNA, specific regulatory elements and gene structures are essential for life. Algorithms are crucial for identifying these functional patterns. * **Computer Science (beyond graph theory):** * **Data Compression:** Even in seemingly random data, there are often repeating patterns that algorithms exploit for compression. * **Machine Learning:** Algorithms are designed to find underlying patterns and structures in massive datasets, enabling prediction and classification. This is essentially finding order in data that might appear noisy. * **Error Correction Codes:** These codes assume that errors (disorder) will occur in transmission but are designed to recover the original, structured message. * **Physics:** In statistical mechanics, systems with many degrees of freedom tend towards states of maximum entropy (disorder), but phase transitions reveal emergent ordered structures. * **Everyday Life:** Even in a large crowd, you're likely to find a group of people with shared interests or backgrounds, simply due to the sheer number of interactions. Algorithms help us discover these connections in online social graphs. The implication is profound: complexity does not necessarily mean utter chaos. Fundamental principles ensure that order, in specific forms, will emerge from sufficient scale and interaction. Algorithms provide the tools to harness this predictable order, making them indispensable for navigating and understanding our increasingly complex world. | 0.6 | medium | 5 | 2,747 | [
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aa37183c-0261-4a2d-8cb5-64b520bedc10 | Rose family (Rosaceae) | science | historical_context | Rose family (Rosaceae)
Description: This shrub is 3-9' tall, sending up multiple woody stems from the base. These woody stems are often recurved and frequently divide into smaller stems. The bark of the lower stems is dark brown to dull orange, eventually shredding into thin strips or broad sheets. Young stems are light green to slightly reddish and hairless. The alternate leaves are up to 5" long and 4" across; they are oval to ovate in overall shape, but often divided into 3-5 shallow lobes. The leaf margins are coarsely crenate-dentate. The base of each leaf is slightly cordate, truncate, or rounded. The upper leaf surface is medium to dark green, while the lower leaf surface is light green; both surfaces are hairless (occasionally the lower surface may have a few sparse hairs). At the base of each leaf is a slender hairless petiole about ½–1" long; it is light green to slightly reddish. At the base of each petiole, there is a pair of small linear stipules.
Young stems often terminate in round clusters of flowers about 2-3" across. Each of these flowers spans up to ½" across; it has 5 white petals, a light green calyx with 5 teeth, 5 styles, and 30-40 exserted stamens. The pedicels of the flowers are rather long, light green, and slender. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 2-3 weeks. Later in the summer, the flower clusters are replaced by drooping greenish-red fruits (typically 2-5 adjacent fruits per flower). Each fruit is about 1/3" (8 mm.) in length and angular-ovoid in shape with a slender beak originating from one side. The fruit surface is inflated and membranous; var. opulifolius has a glabrous surface, while var. intermedius has a hairy surface. The interior of each fruit is seedy and dry. This shrub reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: Favorable growing conditions include full to partial sunlight, moist to dry locations, and loamy, sandy, or rocky soil. Generally, Ninebark is easy to cultivate and will adapt to a variety of environmental conditions. The ultimate size of this shrub depends on soil fertility, moisture levels, and maturity.
Range & Habitat: The native Ninebark is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, and rare in the southern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include bluffs, thinly wooded hillsides, cliffs, rocky banks of streams, sandy seeps, thickets, and hedge rows. This shrub is used occasionally as an ornamental plant in gardens and yards.
Faunal Associations: The flowers provide nectar and pollen to a wide range of visiting insects, including bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. Some insects are known to feed on various parts of Ninebark. Such insects include aphids (Aphis neilliae, Utamphorophora humboldti), stem-boring larvae of the beetle Dicerca pugionata (Witch Hazel Borer), Calligrapha spiraeae (Spiraea Leaf Beetle), the plant bug Plagiognathus punctatipes, and caterpillars of the moths Eulithis molliculata (Dimorphic Eulithis), Nepticula opulifoliella (Ninebark Pigmy Moth), and Olethreutes permundana (Raspberry Leafroller); these insects are oligophagous (prefer to feed on Ninebark and similar shrubby species). Polyphagous insects that feed on Ninebark include caterpillars of the moths Lomographa vestaliata (White Spring Moth), Palthis angulalis (Dark-Spotted Palthis), and Schizura unicornis (Unicorn Caterpillar). For more information on these insect species, see MacRae (1991), Hottes & Frison (1931), Pepper (1965), Wheeler et al. (1983), Covell (1984/2005), Wagner (2005), Miller (1987), and Forbes (1923). White-Tailed Deer probably browse on the foliage and branches of this shrub, and some upland gamebirds may eat the seeds.
Photographic Location: A hedge row between a yard and a railroad in Champaign, Illinois, and the Lincoln Garden at Springfield, Illinois.
Comments: Ninebark is closely related to the better-known Spiraea spp. (Spiraea species) as they have similar fruits. Unlike many other shrubs in the Rose family, these fruits are non-fleshy and inedible to humans. Ninebark can be recognized by its lobed leaves, peculiar shredded bark, and drooping clusters of inflated fruits. The flowers are quite attractive during the relatively short period when they are in bloom. This is the only Physocarpus sp. in Illinois, although there are other species in this small genus in some of the western states. | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 1,094 | [
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9a032ccd-5a26-4059-b63c-e588cd6a0125 | 58th anniversary of the Palestinian Catastrophe | technology | data_analysis | 58th anniversary of the Palestinian Catastrophe
As Zionists on Wednesday celebrated Israel’s Independence Day, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians marked the Nakba (the catastrophe) resulting from the establishment of the state of Israel 58 years ago.
On the eve of Israel’s Independence Day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a message of peace to the Israelis, telling them that, “we are ready to negotiate with the Israeli government on the basis of the roadmap peace blueprint."
On May 15th, the official Nakba Day, Palestinians will commemorate their forced displacement and dispossession resulting from the establishment of the state of Israel.
By marking the Nakba Day the Palestinian people protest the dispossession of their land and the dispersion of their people in the Diaspora as a result of paving the way for establishing the state of Israel, based on the lie of “land without people for a people without land.
- ”Nakba day” commemorated in Palestine
- Nakba day: Abbas urges Israel to return to negotiating table
- More tears for Nakba Day in little town of Bethlehem when Israelis unleash rubber bullets and gas
- Israel to ban ‘nakba’ from Israeli schoolbooks
- Arafat: Just Peace Comes Only by Ending Occupation, Settlement | 0.55 | medium | 5 | 263 | [
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56f0bdbe-ef94-4809-9a46-dddb22b45ba0 | Rainer Moritz My Father, Things, and Death | interdisciplinary | historical_context | Rainer Moritz My Father, Things, and Death
200 pages Euro 20,00 € (D) published in September 2018 ISBN 978-3-95614-257-4
"A person lives on for as long as others remember them. Maybe that's why I'm thinking about my father more now than when he was alive. Now that his being is no longer self-evident. What kind of memories are they? How are they caught up with physical objects, with the things that surrounded him in life? The more I think about my dead father, the more his things speak to me."
There's the armchair that speaks of his passion for football and of nights when the alarm clock would be set to make sure he didn't miss some legendary boxing match. There's the oil painting that testifies to a youthful talent lost along the way. There's the watch marking some company anniversary and the beer mug proclaiming his Bavarian roots.
In these everyday objects, Rainer Moritz recalls a whole life, a whole world, particular and irretrievable. This loving but wholly unsentimental portrait of his father shows us how we can affirm who we are when we confront death, the death of our parents.
Telefon: +49 89/12 11 93 24
Rainer Moritz
Rainer Moritz, born in Heilbronn in 1958, has been director of the Literature House Hamburg since 2005. Essayist, literary critic and the author of many books, including most recently his very personal takes on German hit songs and football – Schlager (Hits, 2017) and Als der Ball noch rund war (When the ball was still round, 2018).
Telefon: +43 171 80 125 | 0.7 | medium | 4 | 671 | [
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78957886-88fe-4b6b-b163-a99d9064feac | Common food additive found | science | historical_context | Common food additive found to increase risk and speed spread of lung cancer
New research in an animal model suggests that a diet high in inorganic phosphates, which are found in a variety of processed foods including meats, cheeses, beverages, and bakery products, might speed growth of lung cancer tumors and may even contribute to the development of those tumors in individuals predisposed to the disease. The study also suggests that dietary regulation of inorganic phosphates may play an important role in lung cancer treatment. The research, using a mouse model, was conducted by Myung-Haing Cho, D.V.M., Ph.D., and his colleagues at Seoul National University, appears in the first issue for January of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published by the American Thoracic Society.
"Our study indicates that increased intake of inorganic phosphates strongly stimulates lung cancer development in mice, and suggests that dietary regulation of inorganic phosphates may be critical for lung cancer treatment as well as prevention," said Dr. Cho.
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the world and is also the most frequently diagnosed solid tumor. Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes over 75 percent of lung cancers and has an average overall 35-year survival rate of 14 percent. Earlier studies have indicated that approximately 90 percent of NSCLC cases were associated with activation of certain signaling pathways in lung tissue. This study revealed that high levels of inorganic phosphates can stimulate those same pathways.
"Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell proliferation in lung tissue, and disruption of signaling pathways in those tissues can confer a normal cell with malignant properties," Dr. Cho explained. "Deregulation of only a small set of pathways can confer a normal cell with malignant properties, and these pathways are regulated in response to nutrient availability and, consequently, cell proliferation and growth.
"Phosphate is an essential nutrient to living organisms, and can activate some signals," he added. "This study demonstrates that high intake of inorganic phosphates may strongly stimulate lung cancer development by altering those (signaling) pathways."
In the study, lung cancer-model mice were studied for four weeks and were randomly assigned to receive a diet of either 0.5 or 1.0 percent phosphate, a range roughly equivalent to modern human diets. At the end of the four-week period, the lung tissue was analyzed to determine the effects of the inorganic phosphates on tumors.
"Our results clearly demonstrated that the diet higher in inorganic phosphates caused an increase in the size of the tumors and stimulated growth of the tumors," Dr. Cho said.
Dr. Cho noted that while a moderate level of phosphate plays an essential role in living organisms, the rapidly increasing use of phosphates as a food additive has resulted in significantly higher levels in average daily diets. Phosphates are added to many food products to increase water retention and improve food texture.
"In the 1990s, phosphorous-containing food additives contributed an estimated 470 mg per day to the average daily adult diet," he said. "However, phosphates are currently being added much more frequently to a large number of processed foods, including meats, cheeses, beverages, and bakery products. As a result, depending on individual food choices, phosphorous intake could be increased by as much as 1000 mg per day."
"Although the 0.5 percent was defined as close to 'normal,' the average diet today is actually closer to the one percent diet and may actually exceed it," Dr. Cho noted. "Therefore, the 0.5 percent intake level is actually a reduced phosphate diet by today's scale."
Dr. Cho said future studies will help refine what constitutes a "safe" level of dietary inorganic phosphate, with recommendations that will be easily achievable in the average population.
"The results of this study suggest that dietary regulation of inorganic phosphates has a place in lung cancer treatment, and our eventual goal is to collect sufficient information to accurately assess the risk of these phosphates," he said.
John Heffner, M.D., past president of the ATS, stated that this line of investigation in animals addresses the complex interactions between host factors and the environment that underlie cancer in man. "We know that only some patients who smoke develop lung cancer but the reasons for this varying risk are unknown. This study now provides a rationale for funding case-control studies in humans to determine the potential role of dietary phosphates in promoting cancer."
Source: American Thoracic Society
- Tobacco smoke causes lung inflammation, promotes lung cancer growthTue, 19 Jan 2010, 12:50:53 EST
- How eating red meat can spur cancer progressionThu, 13 Nov 2008, 17:23:27 EST
- High dietary phosphate intake may promote skin cancer formationTue, 23 Mar 2010, 11:56:52 EDT
- Cancer stem cells are not 1 size fits all, lung cancer models showThu, 1 Jul 2010, 13:45:28 EDT
- Landmark genomic study of lung cancer published in NatureWed, 22 Oct 2008, 13:36:48 EDT
- Common food additive linked to lung cancer in micefrom CBC: Technology & ScienceMon, 29 Dec 2008, 14:14:06 EST
- Common food additive linked to lung cancer in micefrom CBC: HealthMon, 29 Dec 2008, 13:49:15 EST
- Common Food Additive Found To Increase Risk And Speed Spread Of Lung Cancerfrom Science DailyMon, 29 Dec 2008, 9:35:32 EST
- Common food additive found to increase risk and speed spread of lung cancerfrom Science CentricMon, 29 Dec 2008, 8:56:51 EST
- Common food additive found to increase risk and speed spread of lung cancerfrom PhysorgMon, 29 Dec 2008, 5:21:04 EST
- Inorganic Phosphates In Processed Food Linked To Lung Cancer Riskfrom Scientific BloggingMon, 29 Dec 2008, 3:50:01 EST
- Additive may increase cancer risk, says studyfrom The Guardian - ScienceSun, 28 Dec 2008, 19:36:13 EST
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- 'Popcorn' particle pathways promise better lithium-ion batteries | 0.65 | medium | 5 | 1,586 | [
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ee0f6a1a-1497-4d5e-9ccb-c4aaa6c86d60 | Although response confession generally | science | historical_context | Although the response to this confession will be generally positive, some are confused by the pope's action. Some Catholics ask why are we confessing sins that were committed by earlier generations for which we are not responsible? Many are confused by statements that while the children of the church can sin, the church is sinless. Others complain that the confessing sins of the past is easy, what about today's sins? Some are demanding a longer and more specific list of sins.
It is clear from Catholic theology that guilt for sin is not passed on from one generation to another. A child is not responsible for the sins of her parents. But past sins do continue to have consequences today, as hatreds and prejudices are passed on from one generation to another. Acknowledging these sins of the past can help us overcome their influence in our lives today. Denying their existence only perpetuates their continued influence.
Past sins also live on in the memory of the church and of those who were hurt by sin. These shared bad memories must be overcome by creating new positive memories of confession, reconciliation and forgiveness. The mutual forgiveness and embrace of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople in 1966 became such a shared memory for Orthodox and Catholic believers. John Paul hopes that shared experiences of confession and reconciliation will create new memories that future generations can build on in improving relations. Future generations will look back at the Jubilee Year confessions as a turning point in the church's relationship with others.
Nor in this context should we talk about the "collective guilt" of Catholics. The concept of collective guilt was once used to blame all Jews for the death of Jesus. It is as false for Catholics as it was for Jews. Not all Catholics were responsible for the Inquisition and some Catholics did risk their lives to protect Jews. In addition, the subjective guilt of any individual (who is a product of his or her time and culture) is difficult to judge. That is why the sins confessed will inevitably be more general than specific.
But some sins were either so common among Christians or so devastating on others that they amount to a scandal or counterwitness to the Gospel of Jesus. These sins should be acknowledged and confessed for the sake of reconciliation. "Taking responsibility for past wrong is a kind of sharing in the mystery of Christ, crucified and risen, who took upon himself the sins of all," writes the Vatican International Theological Commission.
Vatican comments about the church being sinless were neither helpful nor well understood. It should be emphasized that the "children" of the church include popes, cardinals, bishops, clergy and not just the people in the pews. We are the church and we have sinned. The church as the "sinless bride of Christ" exists on a spiritual, mystical or eschatological level outside history for which we can take no credit.
Finally, it is true that confessing other people's sins is easier thanfacing our own. The International Theological Commission points to current evils worth confessing such as atheism, secularism, abortion, and indifference to the poor. But this comes across more as finger pointing than confessing. Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles, caught the true spirit of the pope's intention in his "Lenten 2000 Message" by asking forgiveness from Catholic sisters, victims of clergy sexual abuse, Catholic homosexuals and lesbians, labor unions, Jews and Muslims who were offended by him or Catholics of the archdiocese.
But while confession is good for the soul, it is not enough. We must also have a firm purpose of amendment. Repentance must bear fruit in inner conversion and in just action. | 0.6 | medium | 4 | 751 | [
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166a9928-6a96-431b-86f6-33bf74158870 | Virgil Entertainment Counsel from Legal Hero | technology | review_summary | Virgil Entertainment Counsel from Legal Hero
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4768e3e7-98cf-4c80-b7ee-fa5df52b5c91 | Michigan Lake Stewardship Associations | technology | data_analysis | Michigan Lake Stewardship Associations (MLSA) Dedicated to the preservation, protection and wise management of Michigan’s vast treasure of inland lakes.
Michigan Chapter of the North American Lake Management Society (McNALMS) The purpose of McNALMS is to promote understanding and comprehensive management of Michigan's inland lake ecosystems.
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Inland Lake Monitoring: The site includes links to Michigan’s Lake Water Quality Assessment Monitoring Program; the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program; and the Michigan portion of the National Lakes Assessment.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes Water Levels: The site includes information on current conditions (water levels, water temperatures, and basin conditions), water level forecasts (Weekly Great Lakes Water Level Update, the Monthly Bulletin of Great Lakes Water Levels, and the Great Lakes Connecting Channels and St. Lawrence River Water Levels and Depths forecast) and historical Great Lakes water level data.
This link opens a pdf with graphs of Great Lakes water levels from 1912 to the present.
The following links open graphs that show the range of predicted water levels over the next six months. In addition, the graphs include the recorded water level in each of the Great Lakes over the past two years, along with the average, maximum and minimum levels since 1918.
Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership (MNSP): This site includes information about natural shorelines and technologies that benefit lake ecosystems.
Lake stratification: This video explains how lakes can form layers, and how this "stratification" can impact lake water quality.
Fish Kills: On this site, MDNR provides information about different types of fish kills, their causes, and how to report a fish kill.
This website has information about harmful algae blooms (HABs) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health. The site describes ongoing research and provides brochures, factsheets and answers to many commonly asked questions about HABs.
Get copies of 2,700 Michigan inland lake maps here: www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79119_79146_81198_85509---,00.html
Find Michigan fish stocking records here: http://www.michigandnr.com/fishstock/.
Maps based on Michigan's original land survey can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,4548,7-158-52927_53037_12540_13083-31058--,00.html
You can find and order aerial photographs from the 1920s to today at the Michigan State University Aerial Imagery Archive: http://www.rsgis.msu.edu/aerial_archive/.
Information about the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Aquatic Nuisance Control Program can be found here: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3313_3681_3710---,00.html.
View Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Wetland Inventory maps here: http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/wetlands/.
Climate information from the Michigan State Climatologist's Office can be found here: https://climate.geo.msu.edu/. | 0.55 | medium | 5 | 749 | [
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8de61fd8-1f79-429e-a589-08f12351c511 | Cross Training for Fitness and Fatloss | life_skills | tutorial | Cross Training for Fitness and Fatloss
The numbers on your scale do not indicate whether you are fit or fat. Far more significant than your total body weight is the composition of your body tissue. If a man's fatty tissue makes up more than 14% up to 15% of his body mass, or if a woman's is more than 20% to 22%, he or she is considered to be overweight, or more precisely, "overfat".
A small amount of fat is needed for padding the internal organs and as insulation under the skin. Excess fat leads to such diseases as diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and gallbladder problems. There are very few, very fat persons. The reason is that the fittest, not the fattest survive.
The problem now is focused on how to resolve the problem. The problem with most people who want to lose weight is that they have the propensity to concentrate more on getting those numbers lower than what they are seeing now. What happens next is that they strive harder to achieve a lower weight, according to the "ever reliable" result of a bathroom scale.
It would be more important to think of the human body as a heat-exchange engine that works on the basic principles of energy physics. The caloric balance equals the total calorie intake minus the total calorie expenditure.
Some of the calories people ingest are used for basal metabolism. As people get old, their bodies require fewer calories for this basic upkeep. Some calories are excreted as waste products. Some go into "work metabolism," the energy expenditure required for any physical activity.
When people take in more calories than are used by these functions, there is a definite caloric excess. By the laws of physics, energy is transformed rather than destroyed. In this case, each excess of 3,500 calories is turned into a pound of fat. If you want to reverse this process, you have to burn up 3,500 calories to lose a single pound.
Winning the War Against Fat
When you think of fighting fat with exercise, you probably think of hours of hard, sweaty exertion. If this is the case, then, you will not get any further. This is because people who are so much into losing more by exerting more effort tend to get bored easily. This does not have to be the case. Cross trainers such as ellipticals or treadclimbers give an enjoyable, yet challenging workout.
Studies have shown that when people exert more effort than they are capable of, it creates a feeling of weariness and depression. Often due to this, they give up, stop doing their exercises, and end up sulking on the couch with a bag of chips.
Now, you might ask, "What should be done instead?" The answer… cross training.
After some intensive studies and experimentations, health experts were able to come up with the concept of incorporating cross training in order to break up the monotony in an exercise program.
Cross training refers to the integration of diverse movements or activities into a person's conventional exercise routine. The main purpose of incorporating cross training into an exercise program is to avoid excess muscle stress, and to put a stop to workout boredom.
Three of the most commonly used activities whenever a person decides to engage into cross training are swimming, running, and cycling.
In cross training, distance is one way to extend your activity as your condition improves. For this reason, you need to traverse a measured distance.
If possible, swim the course and measure the distance. If you will be using a running track, such courses usually are a quarter-mile per lap for a complete circuit. When using a treadclimber machine, some will track your progress for you, steadily increasing the difficulty of your workout.
Cross training offers a variety of benefits for fitness and fat loss. It builds up the strength and endurance of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. It has also some tranquilizing effect on the nerves, and it burns up calories as much as it makes your "losing weight" more bearable.
Cross training has three basic components:
1. Aerobic exercises to condition the heart, lungs, and blood vessels and to induce relaxation. These begin with careful walking and jogging, depending on fitness level.
2. Strength Training, which is particularly important for good posture. These include activities that are designed to encourage people who may be burned out with their fitness routine.
3. Exercises to improve joint mobility and prevent or relieve aches and pains. These consist of a series of static stretching positions that are safe and effective for most of the people who wish to lose fat.
Cross training fitness machines, such as the treadclimber combine all of these cross training components, giving the person a faster, more efficient workout experience.
Indeed, cross training is a great way to modify the concept of exercising and losing fat without having to endure monotonous activities.
The whole idea behind cross training is to get a great workout while enjoying what you are doing. If your workout challenges you without allowing you to become bored, you will continue to come back to it, and as a result, you will be more successful in your fitness goals. | 0.7 | medium | 3 | 1,093 | [
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