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Comprehension: Weather forecast
This lesson is a resource lesson pack. In this lesson, we will follow step by step instructions to create a weather forecast. We will focus on the days of the week, different weather types and different things you may need for the weather conditions. We will then present the weather forecast to camera.
These slides will take you through some tasks for the lesson. If you need to re-play the video, click the ‘Resume Video’ icon. If you are asked to add answers to the slides, first download or print out the worksheet. Once you have finished all the tasks, click ‘Next’ below. |
Eating for Beauty: The Best Diet for Healthy, Clear Skin
Regardless of how much attention you are actively paying to your diet, you have surely noticed that you feel better or worse depending on what you ate that day.
Some foods make you bloated, some make you energized, others- fatigued.
How you feel in relation to food is fairly easy to deduce, on the other hand, how food affects the way you look may be a bit more difficult to figure out.
Our body fights really hard to maintain that healthy fresh look and that energized feeling by constantly flushing out toxins.
The first line of defense is- your gut, kidneys, and skin.
This is where you will first notice changes that reflect bad nutrition, however, the symptoms may be as subtle as you look tired, or your skin is not as dewy as before. You can appear older than you are or have a grayish, sickly complexion.
The more prominent changes are rashes, acne, redness, and itchiness.
All of which we tend to attribute to overexposure to the sun, natural monthly hormonal shifts, or an allergic reaction to a face cream.
Yes, outside factors can sometimes be the cause of your skin’s health, and you should take them into consideration, however, more often than not, issues showing on your skin are closely related to the food you are eating.
So next time, instead of spending thousands of dollars on a new skincare product, when you notice your complexion change in either direction, think about your diet in the previous week.
Try to observe a pattern between eating certain foods and how it affects your skin.
To avoid bad effects simply avoid foods that cause them, and opt for those that make you look dewy and fresh.
Each person has slightly different preferences; nonetheless, we created a list of foods and, even more specifically, substances that you should base your nutrition on in order to have healthy, clear skin.
Before we begin, let us mention that nutrition itself will not cure everything.
To get the most out of it you need to embrace a healthy lifestyle and that (along with eating healthy) entails-exercising, getting 7-8 hours of sleep, avoiding sun tanning without skin protection, and no cigarettes.
Do not be surprised that some of the foods find their application in face creams, scrubs, tonics, and various home remedies. Skin is highly absorbent both from the outside and from the inside.
If you are decisive about purchasing an anti-aging, collagen face cream, why not do the same from the inside, and help your skin heal itself naturally by using all that is available in foods and drinks?
WHAT DOES YOUR SKIN NEED?
Each food contains a lot of different nutrients and it is difficult to know what food contains which the most. So here’s a little help.
One of those things you hear everywhere is that water is essential for the proper functioning of your entire body. Skin is no exception. It needs hydration to look young and dewy.
There is a general opinion that you should drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.
This, however, cannot be applied to everyone as water intake needs depend on your weight, amount of physical activity and the climate you live in.
It is expected that a person living in a hot, dry climate will require substantially more water than somebody living in a cold or moderate climate.
The same rule applies when it comes to physical activity – the more active you are the more water you need.
The general rule of thumb is that you should drink additional 350ml of water for each hour of a (strenuous) activity.
If you are wondering how much water you should drink, there are online calculators that can help you determine the appropriate amounts.
Drinking plain water is not the only way of hydration. Drinking tea and coffee also counts. In addition to that, eating fruit and vegetables with a high percentage of water helps too. Eat foods like cucumbers, celery, strawberries, watermelon, and others.
Beware of juices, though, since they contain more sugar and less nutritive fibers so they can still damage your skin rather than help it. Instead of juicing it, eat an apple and drink a glass of water.
Protein helps in building healthy tissue that makes skin strong and elastic.
It is most commonly found in meats (from humanely-raised, pasture animals) and it contains a lot of amino acids, Vitamin B12 and D. If you do not eat meat, there is a solution- beans and legumes.
It is true that they contain a lot of phyto-proteins; however, it is difficult for your body to use them, so prepare your beans and legumes carefully, for example by fermentation.
In this way, you will make them more digestible and the nutrients will be easily used.
3. Healthy Fat
Pasture-raised meats and cold water fish are a great source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
They can also be found in avocados, seeds, and nuts. How do they help your skin?
They fight inflammation which can cause redness and itchiness along with cystic acne.
4. Vitamin A, C, and E
Those vitamins are antioxidants and they help repair damaged skin, improve the production of collagen, help allergic skin reactions, and protect the skin from free radicals that cause premature aging (among other things).
You can find them in broccoli, carrots, garlic, citruses, apples, cabbage, and many others.
5. B complex Vitamins
B Vitamins are usually found in combination with protein-rich foods (B12 can be found only in animal foods). They help combat your skin’s dryness.
This is why many skincare products have a B12 component.
Green tea and citrus fruits (lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc. ) are the sources of quercetins (a type of flavonoid- another antioxidant) which reduce skin reactions.
Also one of the reasons there are many face creams based on some or other citrus fruit, and many home-made skin treatments include green tea.
Some other nutrients (many of which are, again, antioxidants) that promote skin health are zinc, lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, selenium, manganese, and many, many others.
Now here is a list of foods which are packed with many of those skin-friendly substances.
FOODS TO EAT FOR HEALTHY, CLEAR SKIN
Picking the right diet for your healthy skin has never been easier since there are so many healthy options for you to choose from, and only a few to avoid.
1. Salmon, Mackerel, Tuna
Wild-caught, cold water fish such as those three are a great source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
The catch with those nutrients is that the body cannot produce them by itself, which is why it is essential for your skin to obtain them through food.
How do fatty acids affect your skin?
They keep the inflammation away -any skin reaction such as a rash for example.
A significant improvement has been noticed with conditions like eczema and psoriasis- characterized by dryness and itchiness. Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids soothe your skin.
Avocado is a non-animal source of those fatty acids. Include it in your daily nutrition and just watch your skin become more elastic and softer.
Even if you do not have any of those aforementioned conditions, the benefits are there for you to reap.
Well, scientists claim that, since fatty acids come combined with Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, they actually promote anti-aging and overall health of your skin.
Avocados can be used in various combinations as they go well with salty and sweet foods. It is a power fruit recommended for its benefits to your entire body, not just the skin.
Whether you opt for Brazil nuts, walnut, almond or any other nut out there, you will not make a mistake. Nuts are a favorite healthy snack, even substituting chocolate, for many reasons.
Vitamn E, Selenium, and Omega-3 fatty acids are just some of the reasons to make nuts a part of your daily diet.
They fight off inflammation, keep skin cancer away, and even out your complexion, especially if you are likely to develop any kind of discoloration.
Almond milk is a great solution for those of you who need to avoid dairy. It is tasty and it does not help Candida grow as regular milk does.
All types of berries- strawberries, raspberries, and especially blueberries are powerful antioxidant fruits, and they prevent oxygen caused damage to your skin. But this is not all.
Thanks to anthocyanins, berries take care of natural collagen production.
Another thing about berries is that they have a low GI, which means they are not as sugary as other fruits.
That makes them a ‘go to’ fruit if you are having serious breakouts and acne, especially if they are caused by Candida.
Berries act like pre-biotics as well, healing your gut and reducing skin inflammation.
5. Leafy Green Veggies
Leafy green veggies and other dark green vegetables are loaded with Vitamins C, A, and E, and despite their green color- beta- carotene as well. Spinach, celery, cabbage, and Kale (some call it the ultimate superfood) are all those vegetables you should have on your diet each day.
They are said to prevent cancer, even out your skin so it feels and appears smooth, and many more.
Leafy greens, with Kale ‘the superfood’ as the frontrunner, are rich in Vitamin K.
Blood clotting and circulation is promoted by it so it helps small lacerations heal faster, speeds up healing of the bruises and lowers the number of spider veins.
6. Red and Orange Veggies
Carrots, squash, tomatoes, red and yellow peppers and other vegetables of these colors are great source of various antioxidants.
The first one that comes to mind is beta-carotene which is the one responsible for the orange/red color.
Does its name sound familiar? It is because it is found in almost every sun protection cream, it soothes the skin, preventing sun damage.
Other beneficial nutrients are lycopene (tomatoes, peppers), Vitamin A(squash, carrots,), and even Vitamin C (yellow bell pepper) -all powerful antioxidants with special powers to protect the skin from harmful UV rays and sun caused damage.
They also keep your skin from over-producing itself, and, consequently, developing skin cancer.
Organically raised meets, especially beef, and poultry contain protein which is essential for building collagen and elastic tissue.
When collagen is damaged, your skin looks dull and is not as capable to withstand harmful outside factors and free radicals.
Along with protein, meets are rich in B complex Vitamins and are the only natural source of B12. Zinc, which is a powerful antioxidant, can also be found in meets and help fight off free radicals that damage and age your skin.
Despite the belief that it is actually not good for you and your skin due to the fact that it is a diuretic which means it drains out fluids, and that it contains substances that damage collagen, coffee found its place on the list of ‘go to’ beans for skin care.
Why is that?
The downsides of drinking coffee can be eliminated by simply limiting your daily caffeine intake. Drinking a cup or two of this favorite drink will not cause skin problems.
The fact is, it can do completely the opposite.
Coffee has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substances – Vitamin B3 (niacin), chlorogenic acid (CGA), and melanoidins.
B3 is crucial in preventing skin cancer while CGA and melanoidins help reduce redness, hyper-pigmentation (e.g. sun spots), and smaller wrinkles.
Due to its antibacterial properties, CGA aids and prevents skin infections that can cause serious breakouts.
Using freshly- made, cooled down coffee on sunburns can speed up the healing, and slow down anti-aging process.
9. Dark Chocolate
Yes, chocolate contains a lot of sugar which is not healthy for your skin so do not overindulge. A bar a day will not cause trouble, that is if you opt for the type with 70% (or more) cocoa.
If you want to avoid eating chocolate and adding sugar to your diet but you still want to reap the benefits of cocoa, you can always get the organic cocoa powder and make yourself a nice cup of hot cocoa.
Why is it good for you? Aside from being a top energizer and a mood enhancer, cocoa contains flavonoids, another type of antioxidants, that helps keep skin’s suppleness, reduces wrinkles, and even acts like an internal sun protecting agent.
No wonder coconuts are on this list! If you decide to implement it into your nutrition you will see benefits almost in an instant. You can consume raw coconut, coconut water or even butter and oil and you will not be mistaken.
Coconut has antimicrobial properties due to caprylic acid it contains. Caprylic acid heals your gut by destroying various bacteria and Candida- a fungus which causes breakouts and inflammation. In addition, coconuts (especially coconut water) are rich in potassium and electrolytes that hydrate skin keeping it fresh.
FOODS TO AVOID
Here is a list of foods that you should avoid, or cut out from your diet altogether.
If you are not one of those people with the will power to deprive themselves of an occasional guilty pleasure, it is okay, just make sure that you consume those foods in moderation.
So, what are the biggest enemies of your skin?
It is completely obvious that alcohol does not belong in a healthy diet plan.
Aside from the fact that its overconsumption causes hangovers, it also has a negative effect on your skin.
All the symptoms you are experiencing (headaches, dizziness, languor…) come as a consequence of cellular dehydration.
Newsflash, alcohol dehydrates. Your skin cells are deprived of water which results in looking pale or even grayish.
One of the main ingredients in alcohol is sugar which causes acne breakouts. Is this reason enough to avoid it?
If you still want to enjoy an occasional glass of wine, make it a rule to drink a glass of water for each glass of an alcoholic drink, it will somewhat neutralize the harmful, dehydrating effects.
The reason why sushi is on this list is that it contains a lot of salt and rice and both of them have bad effects on your skin.
Salt sucks the water out of your skin so it can not appear glowy and radiant, and rice causes breakouts. Salty foods cause you to retain fluids and fluid retention makes you look puffy and waxy.
Surprisingly, rice somehow wound up on the ‘avoid’ list although it is generally considered a healthy food.
Why is that?
Rice causes blotches and acne by damaging molecules called Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs).
Rice is also high on the glycemic index scale. Foods with high GI cause breaking down of collagen which in turn leads to irritable and dry skin with breakouts.
Milk is another controversial food on this list. Milk that is store-bought comes from cow farms, those cows are, more often than not, pregnant or have just given birth to a calf.
The milk you buy is loaded with pregnancy hormones.
This affects your skin the same way as if you were giving yourself a dose of estrogen each time you drink a glass of milk.
The hormone imbalance causes breakouts, redness, and even dark spots on your skin, just like when women get pregnant (the negative effects of milk are also applied to men, as their hormone levels also change).
Buy organic or raw cow milk from a local farm, where you can be sure that cows eat grass and are not used for reproduction and mass milk production.
Many people consider cereal the healthiest breakfast food (whole-wheat and all that).
However, the majority of cereal contains genetically modified substances, sugar, and other artificial chemicals that human bodies cannot use.
If you insist on consuming cereal, carefully look at the ingredients list and opt for the one that contains less than 5g of sugar per serving, and check all those chemicals.
6. Processed Meats
Store-bought processed meats contain a high level of sodium, salt, and sugar. Consuming a lot of sodium dries out your skin and makes your wrinkles more prominent.
Combine wrinkles, puffiness (salt), and breakouts (sugar) and you have a winning combo for dull, older looking, problematic skin.
Admittedly, juices are healthier than sodas; however, they do contain almost as much sugar.
With consuming too much sugar, skin collagen breaks down, allowing the microscopic damages to get infected and break out into acne.
To reap the benefits of a juice, make a smoothie. It will retain more of the molecular structure of nutritive fibers of a piece of fruit than if you simply juice it. The best option? Skip juices and eat raw fruits instead.
Aside from damaging collagen, sugar raises your insulin level and this has been scientifically proven to cause breakouts.
Foods that contain sugar have a high GI index like rice, fruits, and white bread which break down collagen.
Aside from an overall healthy lifestyle, daily skin care, and sun protection in order to have a beautiful, enviable complexion, you need to pay close attention to what you are eating.
Everything you eat or drink will show on your face. The choice is yours whether your diet will cause your skin to look younger and healthier, or if it will show signs of malnutrition.
This does not mean that you should never eat a piece of cake or drink a glass of wine. The key is in moderation.
Base your daily nutrition on the foods on our list, and strive to avoid the harmful ones, and your skin will be able to ‘survive’ an occasional slip, without permanent consequences on your skin and overall health.
Although those slips into diets that are not skin-friendly can cause a zit or two, it is not the end of the world. Just quickly go back to feeding your skin the nutrients it needs.
Your body will be grateful and will reward you with glowing, fabulous skin in no time.
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Cryptocurrencies have gained significant traction over the years, evolving into a prominent investment option for individuals and institutions alike. Despite facing challenges on a global scale, the industry has continued to attract investors due to its potential for growth and innovation. In fact, the market cap of cryptocurrencies has surpassed $1 trillion in less than fifteen years, highlighting its rapid expansion and influence in the global economy.
One compelling reason to consider including cryptocurrencies in your retirement plan is the impact of inflation on traditional fiat currencies. Inflation gradually erodes the purchasing power of a currency, which is a characteristic feature of most government-backed money. We have witnessed this phenomenon in various countries, including the United States, where the value of the USD has been weakened through continuous printing of money by the Federal Reserve.
Investing in cryptocurrencies, often regarded as “digital gold,” can serve as a hedge against inflation. These digital assets have demonstrated a steady increase in value over time, making them a viable long-term investment option. Many employers now allow their employees to allocate part of their retirement savings into cryptocurrencies, providing an opportunity for individuals to safeguard their wealth against the effects of inflation.
Another factor enhancing the appeal of cryptocurrencies is the potential introduction of a spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF). This fund would allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly purchasing and holding the asset. The approval of such an ETF, like the anticipated Blackrock ETF application, could attract significant institutional investors and ignite exponential growth in the market. Ensuring your inclusion in this promising industry could be vital in securing your retirement funds.
Cryptocurrencies are also notable for their ease of management compared to traditional investments. While conventional investments often require expert advice and complex processes, investing in cryptocurrencies can be as simple as buying and holding your assets over time. Although patience is essential, as the market may take several years to mature, a 5-year or longer investment horizon aligns well with retirement plans.
Moreover, one of the unique advantages of cryptocurrencies is their global accessibility. Unlike many traditional investment options that may be limited by geographical boundaries, crypto assets can be accessed by anyone with internet connectivity. This presents an opportunity for individuals who may have missed out on certain investments due to their location or other constraints. Additionally, cryptocurrencies are increasingly being recognized as a legitimate form of currency, with thousands of merchants worldwide accepting them as payment for goods and services.
considering the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in your retirement plan can offer diversified and potentially lucrative investment opportunities. With its potential to hedge against inflation, the possible introduction of a spot Bitcoin ETF, ease of management, and global accessibility, the crypto industry presents a compelling investment option for securing your financial future. As the industry continues to evolve and grow, now is the opportune time to explore and invest in cryptocurrencies. |
Tampere by Mykkänen
- Martti Mykkänen
- Originally published
- 12 x 18 cm
- Product Code
About the artwork
Poster competitions began to be popular in the 1950s and they obviously served their purpose, since many of the great works of the decade were the result precisely of a competition.
In the mid-1950s the city of Tampere wished to find new visual ways of promoting the town. In other words, it was time
to organise a poster competition.
64 entries were sent in, in joint second place came this poster by Martti Mykkänen!
About the product
Our postcards are offset-printed in Finland on high quality Finnish cardboard. |
The PTC Community email address has changed to email@example.com. Learn more.
Hello an all and Mrs of PTC
Much of training of PTC Creo Parametric the students ask me about Symmetry Function
When we forget to put some function inside symmetry function, you have that delete or cancel symmetry function, and begin of new.
It would possible that inside the symmetry function display the functions chosen in model tree and you can add or remove this functions.
Thanks for all,
Consultant Engineer (PLM FEM CAD)
Integral Innovations Experts (Partner PTC Spain)
We are archiving your idea as part of a general review. This action is based on the age of your idea and the total number of votes received, as per this announcement.
You can always post a new idea with all the details required in the form.
Thank you for your participation.
You must be a registered user to add a comment. If you've already registered, sign in. Otherwise, register and sign in. |
Investing in Bitcoin remains a risky business. This much is a given when you look at how the cryptocurrency experienced dramatic and unpredictable price run-ups and painful crashes in its decade-long history. To this day, Bitcoin carries several risks, casting a cloud of doubt on whether it promises riches or ruin for interested parties.
But with Bitcoin gaining popularity and more people investing in this cryptocurrency, it’s important to be aware of the current trends surrounding this financial system. In this post, we compiled the latest Bitcoin trends to give you a better understanding of where things stand in the crypto market.
Bitcoin Trends Table of Contents
When Bitcoin was first launched back in 2009, the main idea was that someday, it would replace the current traditional financial system. For a while, there were talks of a future where the majority would pay for goods and services using a digital currency not controlled by any central bank or government. But fast forward to 2020, and this purpose failed to materialize. Bitcoin has been unable to grow as a payment option, and, until today, the mainstream media sees it as a complex, highly advanced piece of financial technology.
On the other hand, Bitcoin evolved and set its footing on a more persuasive and materialistic reality: it is now the new gold, rallying closely on par with its physical counterpart. Bitcoin is today’s “digital gold” and has retained its value, despite the wild fluctuations it experienced over a 10-year period and why some have opted to use crypto bot along the way.
The Bitcoin price over the years proved to be a rollercoaster ride for Bitcoin miners and investors. No one can accurately predict the Bitcoin value—it could reach a value of $1,000 and then skyrocket to $20,000 the following year, only to drop again after reaching an all-time high.
In 2017, for instance, Bitcoin was valued at $997.69, then rose to $13,421.44 in 2018. Then the following year, it spiraled downward from there, with its value dropping at $3,869.47 as 2019 ended.
Source: Leftronic (2019)
However, cryptocurrencies are increasingly becoming popular, and more people are taking an interest in Bitcoin investments. To better understand the power that Bitcoin holds and what it means to the future of finance, we compiled the latest Bitcoin trends you should pay attention to.
Crypto miners have much to look forward to in the coming months as this year marks the third halving of Bitcoin, and opinions are divided on how this will affect the Bitcoin price. Considering that the two previous Bitcoin halvings led to positive price movements, analysts believe that traders are in for another treat.
Also, surrounding this Bitcoin halving event is a spike in search interest regarding the cryptocurrency, with the term “bitcoin halving” experiencing a massive surge in Google Trends. As the much-anticipated event gains a lot of attention and hype in the mainstream financial media, it seems that the demand for Bitcoin could only soar, and a price surge would soon follow.
The halving of Bitcoin is a rare occurrence that happens every four years. In this event, the number of Bitcoin for every new block is cut into half. This means instead of the 12.5 Bitcoin reward for miners; it’s down to 6.25 Bitcoin.
In the two previous halvings, the months that followed saw significant appreciations in Bitcoin’s price. From $12 in November 2012, Bitcoin’s price peaked at $1,100 in the following year. Likewise, the second halving led to a price increase, from $650 in July to around $6,500 in the first half of 2017.
Thus, there are many positive predictions that surround Bitcoin’s price after the halving takes place. According to researchers and analysts at Nexo, a blockchain-based overdraft system company, Bitcoin is looking at a massive price surge due to the upcoming halving. Their study results revealed that Bitcoin could rise to $50,000 by the end of 2020.
Source: Coin Telegraph (2020)
Bitcoin as Digital Gold
It is no secret that Bitcoin shares some similar properties with gold and the Internet has gone as far as calling Bitcoin as “digital gold.” One striking similarity is how both gold and Bitcoins are finite resources, available only in limited quantities. As everyone in the crypto market knows, there can only be 21 million Bitcoins in circulation.
Like gold, Bitcoins are also obtained through a process called mining. But instead of physical mining, Bitcoins are mined virtually using a computer processing power to solve special computer encryptions.
Today, 18 million Bitcoins have already been mined, leaving more or less only three million Bitcoins to be introduced to the circulation. Once all Bitcoins are fully mined, the supply will simply be tapped out, with miners getting incentivized only from the transaction fees paid by Bitcoin users.
The idea of Bitcoin as digital gold became more prevalent when its 180-day Spearman correlation coefficient went above 0.1, marking a closer correlation with gold in the second half of 2019. On a related note, coefficients for Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin fell below 0.05. This led to US Congress describing Bitcoin as a valuable crypto asset that could soon threaten the dominance of the US dollar in the global economy.
Meanwhile, in the competition between gold and Bitcoin as a global, apolitical store of value, crypto analysts point out that Bitcoin still needs to do plenty of work in order to catch up. Even so, Bitcoin’s close correlation with gold separated it from the rest of the cryptocurrency market, indicating a wider range of opportunities for those in the crypto landscape.
Bitcoin as Payment Method
As Bitcoin continues to capture public interest, it is only natural that a number of services and merchants have started accepting Bitcoin as a payment option. Thanks to emerging Bitcoin payment gateway solutions today, businesses are now able to receive payments in Bitcoin. They work similarly to the standard credit or debit card payment processors, except that Bitcoin transactions are irreversible. For businesses, this means zero chargebacks or payment reversals and having much-heightened security against fraudulent attacks.
Furthermore, Bitcoin gives its users the upper hand when it comes to determining transaction fees, unlike in credit card transactions with fixed charges. Depending on your processor, credit card transaction fees can charge you up to 30%. Paypal, for instance, charges 3-4% plus a fee for every transaction. It may seem like a little amount, but these fees add up, especially for businesses that only sell low-cost products.
In Bitcoin, transaction fees depend on how fast you want to receive your money. The fees go to the computers hosting the network, so the larger the transaction fee you pay, the faster you get to receive payments.
Today, the number of active Bitcoin users is estimated at 5.8 million, a figure relatively small when compared to Paypal, Mastercard, and Visa users. Mastercard boasts 604 million active users globally, while Paypal has 235 million users worldwide. Meanwhile, Visa remains the top payment option for many, garnering approximately 736 million users from all over the world.
Nonetheless, businesses that managed to get the better seat on this bandwagon have discovered that it pays to develop a Bitcoin strategy—simply putting up the sign “Bitcoin accepted here” signals that their establishments are at the forefront of technological development, taking advantage of how the crypto community goes out of their way to support businesses that welcome digital currencies like Bitcoin.
Source: Bitcoin Market Journal (2020)
Facebook’s Libra Project
When Facebook released its proposal for a new cryptocurrency called Libra, it gained mixed reactions from the crypto community. This led to many now questioning what its long-term effect on Bitcoin will be. For some, Libra is basically just another Paypal, except that it also uses blockchain technology. There are also others who are led to believe that the launch of Libra could lead to more opportunities for traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to hit the mainstream financial media.
As the two cryptocurrencies become the talk of the town, their differences become more pronounced. For instance, Bitcoin operates in a decentralized peer-to-peer network. In contrast, Libra is operated by a group of large organizations that are subjected to government regulations from all over the world. In addition, Libra remains reliant on government-issued currencies, unlike Bitcoin that has its own fixed, apolitical supply schedule.
However, this doesn’t stop crypto enthusiasts from keeping tabs on recent development in the newest cryptocurrency. Since Facebook revealed its plan to create Libra, the Bitcoin community is high on guard, looking out for any possible sign on how this will affect Bitcoin’s price.
Most crypto analysts point out that Libra could not have any effects whatsoever on Bitcoin, except perhaps to introduce the value of blockchain transfer to billions of potential users. The crypto community is positive that Libra, being unable to operate in a permissionless manner — the main selling point of cryptocurrencies—will remain nothing more but a variation of traditional payment systems and should not have major effects on the bitcoin market.
Women Population in the Crypto Market
The historical dominance of men in the scientific, financial, and technological industries can explain the lack of women in the cryptocurrency market. In these areas, women only account for 10-30% of the total workforce. As a matter of fact, up until 2018, the women population in the cryptocurrency was scarce if not absent at all. Take, for example, this one cryptocurrency conference held in Japan: out of 42 participants, there were only two women attendees.
In the past, women faced difficulties in finding jobs in blockchain startups. A study by LongHash in 2018 revealed that female workers in blockchain startups accounted only for 14.5% of the total number of employees.
But while the crypto market was originally perceived as an all-male industry, today, this is no longer the case. Results from a study by Bitcoin fund operator Grayscale revealed that 43% of respondents who are interested in Bitcoin investments are made up of women. And in India, for instance, women are investing more in cryptocurrencies than their male counterparts.
In the blockchain and crypto industry, there is also a growing number of women who are mastering new professions: analysts, investors, traders, developers, and even leaders of blockchain companies. Leading crypto companies Bancor and Binance are at the forefront by having 40-50% of women employees.
The attractive investment opportunities found in the crypto market is one of the major factors driving the growing interest of women toward cryptocurrency. In the past two years, the number of women in blockchain technology increased from 8% to 12%.
Women Employees in Blockchain Technology
Source: Coin Telegraph (2020)Created by CompareCamp.com
Scalability and Privacy Upgrades
Bitcoin rarely sees major upgrades happening in its network, and if there’s development at all in the Bitcoin protocol, any kind of progress seems to move at a snail’s pace, especially from an altcoin promoter’s perspective. Unlike a countless number of altcoins, Bitcoin developers are determined to preserve the system’s current state, even if it means pivoting away from advanced features.
While other altcoin communities have embraced technological developments in terms of smart contracts, anonymity, and cheap transactions, Bitcoin’s strong focus remains on the soundness and stability of the system. Often at the expense of privacy and cryptographic experimentation, Bitcoin upgrades are centered around optimizing network propagation and minimizing bandwidth, disk space, and CPU resource storage.
However, the tides have turned, and major changes are bound to stir things in the Bitcoin network.
Three new BIPs (Bitcoin Improvement Proposals)—Taproot, Schnorr, and Tapscript—are vying to be added in the Bitcoin core code. In definition, Taproot and Schnorr are soft-fork updates aiming to improve the scalability and privacy of the Bitcoin network. On the other hand, Tapscript is the scripting language used by Taproot scripts.
Currently, developers are in the final works of preparing the finalized proposal for the activation of Bitcoin’s soft-forking upgrade.
The Future of Bitcoin
Trading in Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency has its ups and downs, as no one really knows where the market is headed in the coming years. Miners, investors, and traders continue to face the risk that comes with Bitcoin investments. For one, the finite amount of Bitcoins in regulation has resulted in more aggressive investments, and the mining process has become more difficult. Bitcoins are also extremely volatile, which means its value keeps spiraling up and down depending on the market.
However, it can’t be denied that Bitcoin has grown by leaps and bounds, with its value possibly conquering new heights as time passes. The trends above are proof that the public is becoming more interested in cryptocurrencies, and massive corporations are exploring new opportunities by investing more money and manpower in the crypto market.
- Bitcoin Halving History: Hash Rate as a Clue to What Will Happen
- The Main Risks of Investing in Bitcoin
- What is a Bitcoin Halving?
- Why The Bitcoin Price Could Hit $50,000 In 2020
- 37 Cryptocurrency Statistics
- How Many People Use Bitcoin
- Bitcoin’s Third Halving: Survey Shows 50% of Miners Expect a Price Increase
- 5 Major Bitcoin Trends to Watch in 2020
- Taproot & Schnorr: Scalability and Privacy Upgrades for Bitcoin
- The Bull Case for Bitcoin in 2020
- Women in Blockchain: Has Gender Distribution Come to the Crypto Market? |
Keep Your Colon Healthy With Kale
No vegetable is more valuable to colon health than kale, the best food source of lutein. Lutein protects against colon cancer in both men and women. If you develop colon cancer, the more lutein you consume, the more likely the tumor is to be located where the surgeon can remove it without removing a long section of your colon. If you smoke, lutein is even more important for your colon health than if you don’t.
A single serving of kale provides 15,625 micrograms of lutein, more than you will get from any lutein supplement, and nearly twice as much as the second best food for lutein, turnip greens.
Kale is rich in antioxidants, but many people don’t eat it because it is bitter. Most bitter greens are more palatable in the late fall and winter because they are sweetened by frost. Here is an example of “just enough” fat and salt to make this antioxidant-rich vegetable completely palatable.
Minestrone You Can Eat with a Fork
- 1 cup (150 g) dried cannellini or navy beans soaked in water at least 4 hours (preferably overnight)
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 leeks, with green parts removed
- 1 bunch black kale (cavolo nero), the stems removed and the leaves cut into strips
- 1 small Savoy cabbage, cored, quartered, and chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley, or, if you don’t have fresh parsley, 1/4 cup dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
1. Drain the soaked beans, then put them into a pot. Cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until beans are tender about 90 minutes.
2. While the beans are simmering, chop all the vegetables. Be sure not to dry them.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, then add the olive oil. Sauté onion and leeks until the onion is translucent but not brown. Add the other vegetables and 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt. Lower the heat and cook the vegetables until soft, about half an hour.
4. When the beans are tender, add them along with 1 cup of their cooking liquid to the vegetables. Simmer until heated through. Serve with garlic toast, or as a side dish to roast chicken. |
2020 - Addressing and Handling Incivility, Conflicts and Other Behavioral Issues: Workplace Strategies to Adopt in 2020
VenueTraining Doyens 26468 E Walker Dr, Aurora, Colorado 80016, USA - United States
KeywordsConflict in the workplace; Workplace bullying harassment; Incivility in the workplace
Topics/Call fo Papers
Behavioral issues in the workplace are inevitable. Whenever you have diverse groups of people working together, issues will arise. That’s because each employee brings to the workplace a unique set of attitudes, ideals and beliefs that may differ from that of their co-workers. In addition to behavioral issues, the negative impact of incivility and bullying in the workplace can affect your organization’s culture in monumental ways.
Unresolved behavioral issues often result in loss of revenue, lessening of productivity, stifling of creativity, and the creation of barriers to cooperation and collaboration.
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND
Problematic behavior usually develops over time. As a manager, the more proactive you are in dealing with these problems, the more likely it is that you will increase your chances for a positive outcome. Issues that are avoided or ignored will only fester and grow into resentment.
The important issue is not whether there will be conflict in the workplace, but how we respond to it using different conflict resolution styles. Equally important are the communication skills we use in clarifying the conflict and defining the resolution. While dealing with conflict can be difficult and uncomfortable, it is vital that issues are acknowledged, assessed, and addressed immediately.
• The high cost of performance and productivity problems
• Defining behavioral issues, conflict and incivility in the workplace
• Types of behavioral problems and what creates behavioral issues
• Positive and negative outcomes of conflict
• Conflict resolution styles
• Addressing behavioral issues
• Civility vs. incivility in the workplace
• Dealing with bullying in the workplace and the impact it has on your organization
• Steps to successful resolution of issues
• Working knowledge of employment law
• Investigating complaints
• Business goals of an investigation
• Appointing the right investigator
• The interview process
• Importance of solid documentation
• Role of performance management and evaluations in dealing with behavioral issues
• Progressive discipline
• When to involve legal counsel
• Best practices for a healthy workplace
Within every conflict in the workplace there is the potential for tremendous teaching and learning opportunities. There is potential for growth and development. When an employer addresses divergent positions properly, innovation and learning can be stimulated in ways you can’t imagine.
Participation in this webinar will provide participants with the necessary tools and information to effectively and confidently address workplace issues in their organization. By following the information outlined in this presentation, you will be successful at investigating complaints, developing conflict management strategies in the workplace and handling other behavioral issues.
WHO WILL BENEFIT
• Senior Leadership
• Human Resource Directors, Managers & Representatives
• Operations Professionals
• Compliance Professionals
• Managers & Supervisors
• Project Managers
• Team Leaders
Diane L. Dee, President of Advantage HR Consulting, LLC has over 25 years of experience in the Human Resources arena. Diane’s background includes experience in Human Resources consulting and administration in corporate, government, consulting and pro bono environments. Diane founded Advantage HR Consulting, LLC in early 2016. Under Diane’s leadership, Advantage HR provides comprehensive, cost-effective Human Resources solutions for small to mid-sized firms in the greater Chicagoland area. Additionally, Diane conducts webinars on a wide-variety of HR topics for various compliance training firms across the country.
Use Promo Code LBRD20 and get flat 20% discount on all purchases.
To Register (or) for more details please click on this below link:
Toll Free: +1-888-300-8494
Last modified: 2020-09-07 16:08:12 |
Discussing the future of work is complicated because of its multifaceted nature. The way we work in the future will be affected by everything from policy and education to technology and the risks associated with innovation. Technology’s role in the workplace is particularly controversial, as many people are concerned about artificial intelligence (AI) and automation taking over jobs. A report from the Brookings Institution (via AP News ), for example, claimed that about 36 million Americans work in jobs with a high risk of becoming automated.
As the CEO and founder of an enterprise software company that leverages immersive technology to transform the workplace, this is something I think a lot about. Ultimately, I believe technology does lie at the heart of the future of work, but it’s not going to completely take over. Instead of using technology to replace humans, employers will focus on integrating technology and making it invisible in our day-to-day work. Technology will empower human connections, break down the barriers between people and data, and allow for more flexible workplaces.
Focusing on this technological innovation, here are five often overlooked factors that will shape how we experience work in the future:
1. Human-to-human communication will improve
Niney-five percent of organizations still use email as their primary method of communication, but this won’t always be the case. Forward-looking companies are exploring the next generation of collaborative technologies like software with built-in assistive artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-based storage and app delivery, and virtual reality.
For example, Cisco recently added AI features to its Webex conferencing tool that enhance human-to-human communication. These new capabilities — including automatic meeting startups, facial-recognition, automated mute suggestions for noisy participants and more — modernize collaboration in meetings, making communication between team members more efficient and streamlined.
This next wave of technological innovation in workplace tools will refocus us on what makes humans distinctively unique. This will make the connection between organizations and their employees more seamless than ever, enabling more effective communication, better collaboration, increased transparency and faster access to information. Instead of a huge portion of our days being focused on coordination, we will spend more time utilizing our deductive skills, our emotional intelligence and our abstract thinking.
A 2018 study found a significant flexibility gap in the modern workforce: 96% of workers need flexible work environments, but only 47% reported their employer offers the flexibility they need. Time, money and geography all stand in the way of a truly collaborative work environment.
However, this gap will shrink as asynchronous work environments, collaboration rooms with predictive technologies, improved remote security tools and long-distance communication platforms allow people to work together from different locations. For example, companies like Oktaand Atlassian are enabling better access to apps and collaboration tools across organizations and teams. Increased flexibility of this nature will give rise to more gig workers (36% of American workers are already part of the gig economy) and more people working while traveling or living abroad.
3. Soft skills will emerge as more important than ever
As the working world becomes more automated and technical, employees will need to focus on developing soft skills, which are applicable across multiple roles and can unlock exponential career and personal growth. Automation continues to eat away at the process-oriented jobs traditionally done by humans. As a result, excellent soft skills — such as communication, collaboration and leadership — will be required, not optional, and will be the tools employees rely on to navigate the workplace and their careers.
Today, employees put a heavy focus on training for hard skills (such as learning how to use specific software). This type of training is often limited to one job or role and can quickly become dated. Employees with adaptable skill sets can more easily work in any environment, empowering them to advance regardless of how technology evolves around them.
4. Workplaces will adopt continuous, democratized learning and training
When it comes to training, many employers offer one-time courses for employees at the start of a new position. While this is helpful in the short term, ad hoc training doesn’t allow for the same level of future growth as a continuous learning model. With ongoing training, employees can move horizontally and add new skills as they progress through their careers, creating a hyper-agile workforce.
By pairing a continuous learning philosophy with agile training technologies — such as mixed reality, interactive video conferencing and real-time feedback systems — employers will be able to merge the linear process of learning new skills with day-to-day work. With more flexible and realistic training tools, the trainee is free to focus entirely on developing new skills and enhancing their knowledge.
5. Career paths will become nonlinear
Today, career paths follow a linear model, with employees progressing up a traditional corporate ladder. But looking forward, companies will invest in adaptable, flexible personalities. Instead of seeking out employees with specific hard skills, employers will look for hires who are ready and able to learn. As a result, employees will be able to find more tailored, custom roles. Through AI-backed workplace matchmaking software like Pymetrics, employers and employees will be able to better align skill sets and purpose to job opportunities, resulting in careers more catered to people’s personalities and interests.
The future of work has become somewhat of a buzz term, but fundamentally, it’s about how technology will impact the experiences offered by organizations, both internally to their employees and externally to their customers. Connected, more efficient technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence will allow companies to deliver products and services with greatly improved customer experience. These same technologies will power the employee experience of the future as companies use them to align with workforce expectations through improved training and more flexibility in the workplace. While the future of work will certainly be driven by technology, people and the human experience are in the driver’s seat. |
If Half of Web Traffic Is Fake, Good Content Marketing Is Even More Important
In December, New York Magazine dropped an atom bomb on digital media. And no, I don’t mean this story on Snapchat filters for dogs.
The day after Christmas, tech reporter Max Read analyzed and synthesized reports from the Justice Department, a New York Times report on follower factories, one of many lawsuits against Facebook, a list from MarketingLand, and takedowns of YouTube, Instagram influencers, and deepfakes, all to conclude that digital metrics are fake and overinflated. We’re all just soaked in a seven layer dip of made-up, falsified baloney.
According to the article, roughly half of traffic and engagement is fraudulent. As if that wasn’t damning enough, Reddit’s ex-CEO Ellen Pao shared the article on Twitter, adding, “It’s all true: Everything is fake.” For many of us who make a living analyzing web metrics, it was a confusing time. I stopped checking Twitter for a full week, sitting in my kitchen like Dr. Manhattan on the moon, asking myself why I didn’t just go to law school.
You remember that panel from Alan Moore’s graphic novel Watchmen, right? Actually you shouldn’t, because just like half of the internet, from viewer statistics to monthly uniques to Twitter followers, it’s fake. It’s a Frankenstein, hack-job meme that many people just assume is a panel lifted from the comic because it’s so ubiquitous online. Freaky, right?
Now that I’ve had some time to reflect, I realize that great content marketing only becomes more important to the online ecosystem if most vanity metrics are so bloated. Let’s say that Pao is correct, and most sites like Reddit know that the number of mobile readers they attract every month is vastly inflated. And let’s assume that brands and publishers with thousands of social followers are actually posting content for an audience that’s full of bots and underpaid employees at Chinese click-farms. Those brands are houses built on sand, and the brands that rely on false metrics will never see conversion. Eventually, they will disappear.
However, when a company invests in content that actually resonates, they’re protected from the empty engagement. It all comes down to valuing trust over reach. Sure, having a big audience looks great, and it does carry some value, but honestly, your most important signals of success are the metrics that lead to action. Stats like newsletter sign-ups, webinar attendees, downloads, and lead generation. These metrics further your relationship with an audience instead of just boosting your ego.
Focus on telling good stories and building actual relationships, because that’s where the value of content is hard to fake. Anyone can chase clicks or jump on a relevant news story, but brands that invest in good content can rise above all that.
There are dozens of success metrics that you can point to, but this story was an important reminder to take some of them with a grain of salt. I’d caution any content marketers who blanched at the whole “the internet is fake” thing to take a breath, remind yourself of your mission and purpose, and aim higher than vanity metrics. Deep down, you’ll know if you have a real connection with your target audience. They’ll engage with you in a way that a bot never could. |
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) marks a historic milestone in the US FDA's oversight of cosmetics. It represents the most significant expansion of the US FDA since the inception of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act in 1938. MoCRA serves as a comprehensive framework aimed at standardizing business practices in the cosmetics industry while prioritizing cosmetic safety. Central to this transformative legislation is the concept of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which plays a pivotal role in ensuring the consistent production of safe and high-quality cosmetic products.
Compliance with MoCRA
To navigate MoCRA successfully, cosmetic manufacturers must understand its implications. The draft guidance focuses on areas such as documentation, records, buildings and facilities, equipment, personnel, raw materials, water quality, color additives, and prohibited or restricted cosmetic ingredients.
- Documentation: MoCRA emphasizes the importance of comprehensive documentation, which helps prevent errors, ensures traceability, and facilitates the identification of issues during production.
- Records: Manufacturers should maintain records in paper or electronic formats to capture details of operations, procedures, tests, and other relevant information. Proper record-keeping ensures product quality and supports recall efforts if needed.
- Buildings and Facilities: Manufacturing facilities must be of suitable size, design, and cleanliness. Adequate space, filth and pest controls, proper lighting and ventilation, and clean plumbing and washing facilities are essential to maintain a sanitary environment.
- Equipment: Equipment used in cosmetics production should be of appropriate design, size, and material. Regular calibration and maintenance of equipment ensure accurate measurements and product quality.
- Personnel: Proper training and supervision of personnel are essential to maintain a clean and safe working environment. This includes wearing appropriate clothing and protective gear and adhering to hygiene standards.
- Raw Materials: Raw materials must be stored and handled carefully to prevent contamination and degradation. Manufacturers must sample and test materials to ensure they meet quality specifications.
- Water: The quality of water used in cosmetics is crucial. Procedures must ensure that the water used is of defined quality and is regularly monitored for compliance with chemical, physical, and microbiological standards.
- Color Additives: Compliance with approved color additives and labeling is crucial to avoid Regulatory hurdles.
- Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients: Manufacturers must ensure their products do not contain prohibited ingredients and follow Regulatory guidelines for restricted ingredients.
The Crucial Role of GMP
GMP, integral to MoCRA, guides safe and consistent cosmetic manufacturing to meet high-quality standards. MoCRA obliges the US FDA to create custom GMP rules for cosmetic facilities, in line with global standards to protect public health and prevent product adulteration. MoCRA also lets the US FDA set rules for inspecting records to verify GMP compliance. Manufacturers must follow GMPs adhering to these standards to ensure product safety. The US FDA has two (02) years from enactment for the notice of proposed rulemaking for cosmetic GMP. The final GMP ruling is expected by December 29, 2025.
Exemptions and Exceptions
While MoCRA offers exemptions to specific small businesses regarding GMP compliance, registration, and product listing requirements, certain exceptions exist. Notably, manufacturers or facilities involved in the production of cosmetic products designed for contact with the mucus membrane of the eye, those intended for injection, or those intended for internal use do not qualify for these exemptions.
In conclusion, MoCRA represents a substantial expansion of the US FDA's authority in the regulation of cosmetics, imposing significant new obligations on the cosmetics industry, both domestically and internationally. The cornerstone of MoCRA compliance lies in adhering to GMP regulations, ensuring that cosmetic products meet rigorous quality standards and prevent adulteration. The increased responsibilities encompass comprehensive record-keeping and labeling requirements, particularly those pertaining to contact information for reporting adverse events, are pivotal aspects of MoCRA. As the cosmetics sector navigates these transformative changes, the utmost priority remains the safety and quality of products for consumers. For further guidance on MoCRA compliance, book a meeting with our Regulatory experts at Freyr. |
This course is an introduction to computational problem solving and computer programming, with a particular emphasis on applications to engineering problems. It is intended for students with little or no programming background. Students will learn to analyze problems and design algorithms as well as implement their solutions using a high-level programming language such as C++. The programming skills taught in this course are language-agnostic and can be applied to other programming languages as well.
Minimum Credits: 3 Length: 90 hours Prerequisites: Minimum 65% in either MATH 090, MATH 100, Pre-Calculus 11 AND Pre-Calculus 12; or Pre-Calculus 12 and a minimum of 75% in Calculus 12 or equivalent. It is recommended that students have programmed in some programming language before. Delivery Method: On-campus Cost: $358.14 Lab Fees: $82.11 Total: $440.25 Course Outline: https://sps.cotr.bc.ca/Outlines/Course%20Outlines/CSCI105.pdf |
Why Is Creatine So Cheap
Creatine helps your muscle mass produce energy during hefty lifting or high intensity workout. Athletes and also bodybuilders usually take a creatine supplement to enhance strength and also enhance efficiency, while older adults and also vegetarians might take it to support mind wellness and also lifestyle.
Creatine is the top supplement for improving efficiency in the health club.
Studies reveal that it can enhance muscle mass, workout, and also toughness efficiency (1Trusted Source).
Additionally, it might assist lower blood sugar level as well as improve brain feature, although more research is needed in these areas (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Some people believe that creatine is risky and also has lots of adverse effects. Nonetheless, scientific evidence does not support these insurance claims (1Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
In fact, creatine is one of the world’s most checked supplements and has an exceptional safety account (1Trusted Source).
This article explains every little thing you need to understand about creatine.
What is creatine?
Creatine is a substance discovered normally in muscle cells. It assists your muscles produce power during hefty lifting or high strength workout.
Why use creatine?
Taking creatine as a supplement is very popular amongst bodybuilders and athletes . They utilize it to acquire muscle, improve stamina, and enhance workout efficiency (1Trusted Source).
Chemically speaking, creatine shares numerous resemblances with amino acids, important compounds in the body that assist construct healthy protein. Your body can create creatine from the amino acids glycine as well as arginine (1Trusted Source).
About fifty percent of your body’s creatine stores originate from the food you consume– specifically red meat and fish and shellfish– et cetera is made in your liver and kidneys from amino acids (1Trusted Source).
Where is creatine phosphate discovered in the body?
Regarding 95% of the body’s creatine is saved in the muscles, generally in the form of phosphocreatine. The other 5% is located in the mind as well as testes (1Trusted Source).
You boost your shops of phosphocreatine when you supplement. This is a form of saved power in the cells. It assists your body produce even more of a high energy particle called ATP.
ATP is usually called the body’s energy money. Your body can carry out much better during exercise when you have much more ATP.
Creatine additionally modifies several cellular processes that bring about raised muscle stamina, mass, and also recovery .
How does creatine job?
Creatine can boost health and wellness and sports efficiency in a number of means.
In high intensity workout, its key function is to enhance the phosphocreatine shops in your muscles.
The extra stores can then be used to produce more ATP, which is the key energy source for heavy training and high strength exercise (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
Creatine additionally assists you gain muscle in the following methods:
Improved work. It makes it possible for extra complete work or volume in a solitary training session, a crucial factor in lasting muscle growth (10Trusted Source).
Enhanced cell signaling. It can increase satellite cell signaling, which helps muscle repair work and also new muscle developmentWhy Is Creatine So Cheap
Increased anabolic hormones. Researches note a surge in hormonal agents, such as IGF-1, after taking creatine (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
Increased cell hydration. Creatine raises water web content within your muscle cells, which triggers a cell volumization effect that may play a role in muscle development (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).
Decreased protein failure. It may raise total muscle mass by lowering muscle failure (17Trusted Source).
Reduced myostatin levels. Elevated levels of the healthy protein myostatin can slow or prevent new muscle growth. Supplementing with creatine can reduce these degrees, increasing growth capacity (18Trusted Source).
Creatine supplements also boost phosphocreatine shops in your mind, which might promote mind health as well as improve symptoms of neurological illness.
Exactly how does creatine impact muscle growth?
Creatine works for both short- and also long-term muscle development (23Trusted Source).
It assists lots of people, consisting of inactive people, older adults, and elite athletes (15Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).
One 14-week research in older adults identified that including creatine to a weight training program considerably enhanced leg toughness as well as muscle mass (25Trusted Source).
In a 12-week study in weightlifters, creatine increased muscle fiber development 2– 3 times greater than training alone. The increase in complete body mass also increased, alongside one-rep max for bench press, a usual toughness workout.
A huge testimonial of one of the most popular supplements picked creatine as the single most effective supplement for including muscle mass.
Effects on stamina as well as exercise efficiency
Creatine can additionally enhance strength, power, and high intensity exercise performance.
In one testimonial, including creatine to a training program increased stamina by 8%, weightlifting performance by 14%, as well as bench press one-rep max by as much as 43%, compared with training alone (27Trusted Source).
In trained strength athletes, 28 days of supplementing increased bike-sprinting efficiency by 15% and bench press performance by 6% (28Trusted Source).
Creatine likewise aids preserve stamina as well as training performance while enhancing muscle mass during extreme overtraining.
These visible enhancements are mostly caused by your body’s enhanced ability to create ATP.
Generally, ATP becomes depleted after approximately 10 seconds of high intensity activity. However due to the fact that creatine supplements aid you create more ATP, you can preserve ideal efficiency for a few secs longer.
Creatine impacts on the brain
Like your muscular tissues, your brain stores phosphocreatine and also requires a lot of ATP for optimum feature (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).
Supplementing might improve the following problems (2Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source, 31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source):.
mind or spinal cord injuries.
motor nerve cell condition.
memory and also mind function in older grownups.
Regardless of the prospective advantages of creatine for treating neurological disease, most current research study has actually been done on pets.
Nonetheless, a 6-month research study in youngsters with distressing mind injury observed a 70% decrease in exhaustion as well as a 50% reduction in wooziness.
The bottom line.
Creatine is just one of the most affordable, most efficient, as well as most safe supplements you can take.
It supports quality of life in older adults, mind health, as well as workout performance. Vegetarians– who may not acquire sufficient creatine from their diet plan– and older adults might discover supplementing particularly useful.
Creatine monohydrate is most likely the most effective type if you’re interested in attempting creatine to see if it benefits you.Why Is Creatine So Cheap |
Seven Stone Pyramid
Sacred Seven Stone Pyramid
Pyramids amplify and then tightly focus energy through the apex.
This pyramid is composed of seven semi precious stones layered to create a unique and powerful stone for use in meditation, an altar, or decoration. The seven stones may include Onyx, Jade, Sodalite, Serpentine, Red Jasper, Leopardite, Aragonite and Quartz.
The number seven is a sacred number in many cultures. Among the Babylonians, Egyptians, and other ancient peoples, there were seven sacred planets. There are seven days in Creation, seven days in the week, seven graces, seven deadly sins, seven divisions in the Lord’s Prayer, seven rays in the rainbow, and seven ages in the life of man.
Seven represents perfect completeness.
In Hebrew, the word seven derives from a root word meaning to be complete or full. “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3
God’s rest on the seventh day siginifies that his work of creation was complete, entire, perfect!
2 1/2" base
Bands may include Onyx, Jade, Sodalite, Serpentine, Red Jasper, Leopardite, Aragonite and Quartz.
Power, Perfection, Wholeness |
AsUnordered C# with Example
Ordered sequences may hurt performance when dealing with a large number of elements. To mitigate this, it's
possible to call AsUnordered when the sequence order is no longer necessary.
var sequence = Enumerable.Range(1, 10000).Select(x => -1 * x); // -1, -2, ...
var evenNumbers = sequence.AsParallel()
.OrderBy(x => x)
.Where(x => x % 2 == 0) // This line won't be affected by ordering |
Washington –- President Obama’s decision to press for new clean air regulations this week dealt another blow to the already troubled nomination of former Connecticut environmental chief Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Senate Republicans have already blocked McCarthy from a confirmation vote. Their opposition makes it tough to find the 60 votes needed to move the nomination forward.
Now Democrats from coal-producing states are under pressure to abandon McCarthy, too.
The reason: Obama this week said he would use executive powers to limit the carbon dioxide that power plants could emit, and he ordered the EPA to draft tough new emission regulations.
“By announcing imminent restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants … this administration will impose bureaucratic mandates with no regard for the people and communities of West Virginia that depend on coal and the inexpensive energy it creates for their very existence and survival,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association.
In his speech on the dangers of climate change, Obama also urged the Senate to confirm McCarthy.
“It didn’t help,” said Jonathan Kott, communications director for Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Jason Bostik, vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, also said the president’s actions this week “certainly did not help [McCarthy] at all.”
The coal industry is lobbying Manchin; Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.; and other Democrats on the issues of climate change and McCarthy.
This is just the latest bit of trouble for the prospective appointee.
For weeks her nomination has been held up by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who says he’ll block the nomination until he gets an update on an Army Corps of Engineers project to repair a levee on the Mississippi River system.
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has also threatened to put a hold on the nomination because he says McCarthy has not fully addressed questions he posed to her during her nomination hearing in April.
Republican Sen. John Barrasso, whose home state of Wyoming produces the most coal of any state in the nation, suggested McCarthy had lied during her confirmation hearing in April about the agency’s plans to regulate existing power plants.
“The agency is not currently developing any existing source of greenhouse gas regulations for power plants,” McCarthy said several times.
Barrasso said, “either she was ignorant about what’s going on at EPA, a place where she’s been an assistant director for the last four years, or she is arrogant. Either way, I think this tarnishes her chances of being approved by the Senate, tarnishes her nomination.”
But McCarthy could have been correct. The EPA may not have been told by the White House at that time it was ready for the agency to develop greenhouse gas regulations.
As Connecticut’s environmental chief during Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration, McCarthy helped create the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which allows power companies in New England and the Mid-Atlantic to sell emissions allowances if they invest the money from those sales in clean energy.
Before working for Rell, McCarthy held key spots in the administration of another Republican, that of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Her bipartisanship would have, under normal circumstances, helped her.
But after she was confirmed in 2009 as the EPA administrator in charge of air quality, McCarthy shaped some of the agency’s most contentious rules, including emissions regulations for new cars and power plants and air pollution standards for oil and gas drilling.
Manik Roy, vice president for strategic outreach for the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, said Obama moved forward on the new clean air regulations without regard to how it would impact McCarthy.
“He felt Gina’s nomination was not a reason for delaying the decision,” Roy said.
He said he believes the president decided in the last few weeks to address the issue. Obama was under pressure by an April notice from 12 states, including Connecticut, that they intended to sue the EPA for its failure to develop new clean air regulations mandated by the Clean Air Act and a Supreme Court decision.
If McCarthy is not confirmed, it would be the first time in the EPA’s 40-year history that a nominee to head the agency was shot down.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has not set a date, but Roy thinks a confirmation vote will be scheduled in July.
He said votes against the nominee would not be personal.
“She is an excellent administrator of the president’s agenda,” Roy said. “The votes against her will be, for the most part, people voting against the president’s agenda.”
If McCarthy’s nomination fails to get the required 60 votes, it would likely be rescinded by the White House. |
Raul Castro permanently succeeded his elder brother as Cuba’s president in 2008, but he is believed to have led the communist country for more than a decade prior to Fidel’s death last month.
Although Raul was part of the revolution that brought Fidel to power in 1959, he remained in the political background, holding several positions while being regarded as Fidel’s second in command. When his succession became official in 2008, he began enacting political, economic and social reforms, including restoration of diplomatic relations with the United States. But the changes fell far short of what many observers had hoped for.
By the time Raul permanently took over the country, his wife had died (in 2007) and his four children were grown. He began reshaping Cuba’s socialist programs, allowed businesses to be owned by citizens, loosened travel restrictions and foreign investment, brought in his own people to staff his cabinet, and set limits on presidential terms, which would legally force him to step down in 2018.
It appears things are accelerating for the better judging by some important changes in the short time since Fidel’s death. Here are the most important (not listed in terms of importance):
1. Three cruise companies — Pearl, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean — are among several that were rushing to conclude deals with Cuba before the start of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. These new cruise itineraries start in early 2017. Simply put, this means a lot more engagement, cash flow and commerce between the U.S. and Cuba. Here is the outlook for the cruise industry in Cuba in 2017.
2. Cuban farmers are allowed to hire laborers directly rather than through cooperatives. This news emerged amid media reports of tourists causing shortages of food in the island nation – despite vast amounts of fertile soil and plenty of labor. “The new resolution aim fundamentally to stimulate the hiring of workers related to agricultural labor in an agile, orderly and legal way,” according to Cuban state-run media.
3. ETECSA, Cuba’s monopoly telecommunications company, this month announced a price reduction for Internet browsing at its Wi-Fi hot spots around the country. Effective immediately, the new price was reduced to 1.50 CUC (equivalent to 1.65 USD) per hour from 2.00 CUC.
4. Data for Google services will be stored on Google servers in Cuba, under a deal announced last week between the company and the Cuban government. As the Associated Press reports, the deal will not expand public internet access in Cuba, one of the world’s least-connected countries, but it is expected to decrease load times for Google services like Gmail and YouTube. Speeds for non-Google services will likely not be affected. |
A Weird Place to Be by Hena Khan from her blog. Peek: “I drew from my personal experience when I imagined the community in Amina’s Voice (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster, March 2017)….I never in my worst nightmares imagined ever being in her shoes and actually having to grapple with those emotions in real life. But today, in an alarming rash of threats across the country targeting mosques and Jewish centers and schools…”
11-Year-Old Starts Club for Young Black Boys to See Themselves in Books by Taryn Finley from The Huffington Post. Peek: “Sidney Keys III. started his own reading club for boys called Books N Bros to show his peers that reading can be fun.” Boys in St. Louis meet monthly to discuss a book they’ve picked featuring a black protagonist. Ty Allan Jackson, author of Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire, illustrated by Jonathan Shears (Big Head Books, 2010), joined their first meeting via Skype. Sponsorship from Serving With The Badge, a St. Louis community group, allows club members to take the books home.
Judging Books by Their Covers by Laura Reiko Simeon from The Open Book, Lee & Low. Peek: A parent asked her son how he picked books “to borrow and he said that he looked for books ‘with brown people on the cover.’ I was deeply moved because despite the fact that we still have a long way to go in terms of achieving equity in the publishing industry, there actually are enough diverse books out there for this to work as a selection strategy…. “
Día – El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) resources are now available for download from the American Library Association and the Association for Library Services to Children. Add your Dia event to the national registry, get a press kit to let the community know about the celebration, and check out programming and activity guides. See also Día founder author and poet Pat Mora will receive the Texas Institute of Letters Tinkle Award for Lifetime Achievement.
How Diversity Makes Us Smarter by Katherine W. Phillips from Scientific American. Peek: “Being with similar others leads us to think we all hold the same information and share the same perspective…when we hear dissent from someone who is different from us, it provokes more thought than when it comes from someone who looks like us.”
Reading Without Walls: A Conversation with Gene Luen Yang by Roger Sutton from The Horn Book. Peek: “I knew that I wanted to do something that was related to diversity, and I was particularly interested in the diverse interpretations of the word diversity, so we ended up landing on three different ways of thinking about it: diversity in terms of people, diversity in terms of topic, and diversity in terms of format. See also readingwithoutwalls.com.
It’s Not About Us by Donalyn Miller from the Nerdy Book Club. Peek: “The most important part of our connection to the children’s and young adult literature world lies in helping kids find their own stories. It’s not about us. It’s about them.”
On Fiction, History, and Wishing the World Were Otherwise by Anne Nesbet from Project Mayhem. Peek: “…the power of a historical fantasy like A Crack In The Sea (by H.M. Bouwman, Putnam, 2017) depends very much on the reader knowing … that in real life, these real people died terribly–and we wish so much that that could be otherwise that we are willing to write stories in which something else happens.”
Margaret Peterson Haddix on Uprising by Uma Krishnaswami from Writing With a Broken Tusk. Peek: “I felt like I heard a voice telling me, ‘They thought we didn’t matter’….I also stopped thinking about how I was different from the workers and started thinking instead about how much I had in common with them.”
In Conversation: Laura Amy Schlitz and Brian Floca from Publisher’s Weekly. Author and illustrator discuss Princess Cora and the Crocodile (Candlewick, March 28, 2017) (Brian) “Croc never gave me trouble…. he was so busy giving other people trouble, and other people’s trouble is fun to draw….I knew who he was from the moment Cora first sees him, and exclaims, ‘An alligator!’ to which he….replies, ‘Guess again!’….the sort of writing that makes an illustrator’s life easy.”
Books on Film: Shannon Hale, Jerry Pinkney, and Raina Telgemeier on Literacy by Travis Jonker from the School Library Journal. Library of Congress videos from kidlit authors at the National Book Festival. Peek: (Shannon Hale) “…literacy directly affects the quality of people’s lives in terms of jobs…85 percent of incarcerated youth are illiterate.”
SCBWI Books For Readers by Lee Wind from SCBWI: The Blog. Peek: “It’s SCBWI’s new literacy initiative, aimed at increasing book access, promoting SCBWI authors and illustrators, and advancing the mission of SCBWI: to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books around the world.” Nominate a local cause or organization that connects children with books by April 30, 2017.
The Benefits of Having a Day Job by Margaret Dilloway from Writer UnBoxed. Peek: “If you give up your day job, the myth goes, you have it made. Yet I find myself having a lot of hours to fill once I’m done with my work. And giving an anxiety-prone writer too much free time can be bad.”
100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections by Mark Nichol from Daily Writing Tips. Peek: Interjections may “seem disreputable” but “actually do a lot of hard work and are usually pretty persnickety about the tasks to which they are put.” Includes spelling variations and definitions.
What Does It Mean To “Raise the Stakes”? by Jami Gold from Writers Helping Writers. Peek: “Low stakes—such as when there are no consequences or failure would be no big deal—can create problems with our story’s conflicts, tension, and pacing, as well as weaken motivations and make goals seem less important.”
Learning From Reading: Change Up Your Patterns to Gain More by Annie Neugebauer from Writer UnBoxed. Peek: “As with any endeavor, routine can build good habits, but it can also become mundane. It’s harder to find inspiration when you know exactly what to expect, and it’s harder to be surprised when you’re doing exactly what you always do. So my suggestion for writers today is this: change up your reading habits”
Congratulations to Texas Institute of Letters Award winners: Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee for Maybe a Fox (Atheneum Books, 2016), Phillippe Diederich for Playing for the Devil’s Fire (Cinco Puntos Press, 2016) and Dianna Hutts Aston for A Beetle is Shy (Chronicle, 2016). Meet Kathi in person at the Austin SCBWI Writers & Illustrators Working Conference, May 20-21.
|Illustration by Kyle McBride|
- 2017 Disability Rights Storyteller Fellowship provides opportunity to learn and apply skills in digital media storytelling.
- Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence Program Selected writer receives a $20,000 stipend and office space at the Central Library.
- Library of Congress Opens Applications for Teacher-in-Residence Professional development experience—a year at the Library in Washington, D.C.
This Week at Cynsations
- Guest Post: New Voice Katie Bayerl’s Path to Publication
- In Memory: Josanne La Valley
- Author Interview: Longy Han on Crowdfunding Books
- Bookseller Interview: Gauri Manglik on Connecting Children with South Asian Culture
More Personally – Cynthia
|Best Kong movie ever! A pleasant surprise.|
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who celebrate it!
SXSW has descended on my city–sunny Austin, Texas! A perfect week for this creative local to hunker down and write.
I have progress to report! After a major plot reconfigeration, the new scenes are now all first-drafted, and I’m doing that sort of global hollistic revision necessary to smooth transitions, forge connections–essentially nudge the small elements into a resonate story that makes sense.
In the short term, that means one more read-through. As of this moment, I’m about 50 pages into that. I’ll finish and key in another round of changes to pass off to my next genius reader this weekend and then turn my full attention for the following week to VCFA packets and speech writing.
The manuscript is still running tight. All those years of having to streamline to integrate seamless fantasy worldbuilding are impacting–for worse or better–my contempo realism work.
|Cynthia is honored to speak on the faculty with one of her heroes, Pat Mora!|
Cynthia Leitich Smith will be a keynote speaker for the 33rd Annual Virginia Hamilton Conference on April 6 and April 7 at Kent State University in Ohio.
In addition, she will deliver the keynote address at The Color of Children’s Literature Conference from Kweli Literary Journal on April 8 at the New York Times Conference Center in Manhattan.
She is also a faculty member for the Highlights Foundation Workshop: The Joke’s On You! The Scoop on Humor for MG and YA writers, Oct. 12 – 15. She will teach with author Uma Krishnaswami, writer-poetic-comedian Sean Petrie and Curtis Brown Ltd. agents Ginger Knowlton and Elizabeth Harding. Note: this program is: (a) a rare opportunity to gain insights from top writing teachers and Curtis Brown vice presidents: (b) both for comedy writers and those writing more serious works that include some comic relief.
- The Strength of Indigenous Women: Making a Difference, Part I
- UT students elect history-making student body president
- Wonder Woman Official Origin Trailer
- Harriet Tubman Visitor Center Opens
- Recommended Nonfiction on Feminism from the Horn Book
More Personally – Gayleen
I was inspired by P.J. Hoover‘s talk at the Austin SCBWI meeting: 10 Reasons to Never Give Up. Reason 4 – Time: You own your time. I put this into practice this week, dialing back television viewing in favor of more revision time. You’d be surprised how much writing you can accomplish in an hour! |
It is evaluated that in the following 20 years we will achieve our pinnacle limit with respect to oil utilization. Request keeps on ascending for unrefined petroleum, in spite of the way that the worldwide creation of oil is diminishing, and request is the same with regards to the development business…
This shouldn’t come as any amazement; the development business contributed $779 billion USD to GDP in the second quarter of 2016, which expanded to $784bn USD in the second from last quarter. What we can read from these figures, is that development contributes such a great amount to the economy, and acquires so much income, that it turns out to be progressively hard to settle something that doesn’t give off an impression of being broken.
Ventures, for example, development rely upon modest unrefined oils to use in their machines to execute creation or fabricate. Inside the UK, half of all carbon discharges are represented by hardware and creation strategies.
The business is starting to change its states of mind towards how development forms are executed, and is currently perceiving the issues with contamination. The market is utilizing recyclable strategies similarly as driving auto makers and the design business, by ensuring waste is kept to a base. And also this, the UK government is starting to actualize more enactment that stipulates development firms ought to incorporate green activities, for example, including vitality proficient innovation.
And in addition this, the US a year ago observed assessed income in eco-accommodating development ascend to $245 billion, and in spite of the fact that this is a littler extent of the general sum development is adding to US GDP, despite everything it proposes that there is promise for the development business, and particularly how it can turn out to be all the more monetarily proficient, while as yet being focused inside worldwide as opposed to residential markets.
Eco-accommodating procedures amid development
Three things are considered amid the outline and usage stages when constructing a proposed structure in the event that it is to be naturally advantageous. Requested into three classifications, these contemplations can be assessed inside the pre-fabricate stage, amid the construct, and the post-assemble stage.
Prior to the manufacture and amid
Before you begin the manufacture, consider regardless of whether the materials have been privately sourced, or would they say they are restored materials from a past activity? Besides, could these materials be reused later on? Besides, where would they be able to be utilized as a part of future development improvements, and is this a savvy and reasonable thought in the event that they would have been utilized as a part without bounds? In case you’re ready to set up one of these three things previously the fabricate arrange, at that point the structure will be contributing towards a naturally neighborly plan that will profit green frameworks in the long haul; this will likewise profit local economies, as makers don’t have to outsource new materials at a cost, as they can reuse old ones.
Furthermore, is vitality being utilized to assemble the structure being squandered amid its development? Machines can be abused and exhausted, which prompts vitality being squandered instead of being utilized proficiently. Cross breed engine advancements, for example, Nifty Lift careful selectors, guarantee all vitality is utilized to finish the activity, considering nature. And also effectiveness, this spreads cost; if machines are running superfluously amid down time, this brings about a more prominent fuel cost inside the general development process. In the event that the ‘electric just’ choice is turned on, at that point 0% emanations are created, which can likewise keep running close by the diesel motor if needs be when loads are especially overwhelming or the activity requires more power.
After the fabricate
Once the plan has been actualized and development is done, is vitality being squandered inside the structure itself?
As opposed to utilizing new protection, reused paper can be utilized as protection. Working as a less expensive and pragmatic other option to the generation of new protection materials particularly for singular rooftops, there is no additional expenses, and there is no compelling reason to arrange huge amounts of protection on a challenging task, which would bring about a noteworthy cost.
What’s more, any timber that is utilized ought to dependably be sourced locally where conceivable from reasonably oversaw woodlands, or recovered wood can be utilized. Not exclusively does this guarantee development forms are greener, it additionally guarantees that our characteristic scenes stay as they ought to be, and are not harmed by man-made procedures.
Environmental structures and plan usage
By consolidating vitality productive and eco-accommodating advancements inside planned structures, this is the thing that the development business is now doing to stay green:
Sunlight based Energy. Utilized for either creating power inside a building, or to control a heater and produce boiling water inside a household property, sunlight based vitality is a characteristic method for picking up a quality wellspring of vitality. Expansive organizations have additionally fused sunlight based vitality outlines into assembling plants, which implies that an extent of their aggregate vitality utilization is delivered by regular procedures rather than nursery gasses.
Water filtration and waste frameworks. These frameworks are planned so water inside a building is reliably reused; and also this, organic waste is reused and treated securely. Channels can likewise be planned with the goal that they prompt green spaces, guaranteeing that no water that is gathered is squandered. Water can be gathered for plants; thusly, water doesn’t should be inefficiently utilized from a tap.
Low-vitality lighting. Representing a 100% vitality sparing, low-vitality lighting can keep going twice the length consistent knobs.
Profiting from eco-accommodating development
Representing 80% of a building’s aggregate running expenses through the span of its lifetime, task and upkeep costs represent a huge extent of costs by and large. With regards to water and vitality, working expenses can be decreased by a third when utilizing environmentally friendly power vitality activities. This sparing shouldn’t be disregarded, as this might be the distinction between a business earning back the original investment and creating a net-benefit.
To limit counterfeit lighting costs, once a building has been developed, sunshine can be utilized inside the plan; this is something worth being thankful for on the grounds that vitamin D from daylight can help enhance the ‘indoor condition quality’ for laborers or tenants utilizing that working, as the medical advantages are expanded for those utilizing it.
Green building producers can likewise profit the earth by utilizing recyclable and enduring materials amid the development procedure; what this implies, is that less materials are required inside the outlined structure – and this outcomes in a cost sparing and less vitality being utilized, as diesel powers being used inside the development procedure. And also this, if the proposed structure is being utilized for a local or business reason, at that point individuals will probably lease or purchase these premises or properties. The explanation behind this, is individuals are more disposed to put resources into something that is environmentally cognizant, instead of something that isn’t.
These components consolidated help to back off the rate at which environmental change is happening, and it’s likewise enhancing the long haul eventual fate of our planet and the maintainability of development later on. By utilizing less procedures that dirty nature, and increasingly that assistance to support it, ecologically agreeable development holds the financial and natural maintainability of the development business in the long haul.
http://www.nationwideconstruction.us/eco-accommodating development 8-focal points of-green-building/
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/joined states/gross domestic product from-development |
In this detailed study, you will learn about Turkey’s fascinating beauty and rich history. Explore this unique country’s marvels and embark on a trip through its breathtaking landscapes and cultural heritage.
“Turkey” a nation where East meets West, has enchanted tourists for ages with its tapestry of history and natural beauty. Turkey provides a one-of-a-kind and memorable experience, from its breathtaking scenery to its colorful culture. In this post, we’ll dive deep into Turkey’s heart, revealing hidden gems and giving insights that will make your vacation absolutely unforgettable.
Table of Contents
The Marvels of Istanbul
Istanbul is a real marvel, straddling two continents. The UNESCO World legacy Site Hagia Sophia is a testimony to architectural grandeur and cultural legacy. Exploring the Grand Bazaar is an adventure in and of itself, allowing you to get immersed in the colourful tapestry of Turkish life. A Bosphorus Cruise provides a magnificent glimpse of this enchanting city.
“Enchanting Istanbul: Where Ancient Marvels and Modern Wonders Unite”
Turkey’s Rich History
“Turkey” past is as varied as it is fascinating. Ephesus’ magnificent remains take you to the golden days of ancient Greece. The mythical city of Troy conjures up images of the Trojan War. Explore the Hittite civilisation and other vanished kingdoms that have left their imprint on this continent to delve further into history.
“Journey Through Turkey: Discover a Land of Rich History, Natural Beauty, and Timeless Culture.”
Natural Wonders of Turkey
It has magnificent natural beauty. Pamukkale, often known as the Cotton Castle, is a natural wonder of mineral-rich hot spring terraces. The exotic scenery of Cappadocia, with its fairy chimneys and cave houses, is breathtaking. The Turquoise Coast, with its crystal-clear seas and picturesque harbors, entices those looking for peace and quiet.
Turkish Cuisine and Delights
No trip to this place is complete until you indulge in its gastronomic pleasures. Enjoy the rich tastes of kebabs and the sweetness of its Delights. The skill of preparing Turkish tea is a cultural experience in and of itself, and the world of baklava and sweets takes your taste buds on a fascinating journey.
Cultural Traditions and Festivals
Participate in Turkish rituals and festivals to immerse oneself in Turkish culture. Eid al-Fitr, a festival of religion and solidarity, floods the streets with joy and merriment. Witness the hypnotic Whirling Dervishes as they execute their magical dance. For cinephiles, the International Istanbul Film Festival exhibits Turkey’s thriving modern cultural sector.
“Vibrant Traditions and Colorful Celebrations: Unveiling Turkey’s Cultural Riches”
With its rich history, natural beauty, delicious food, and dynamic culture, it is a nation ripe for study. Whether you’re seeing the ancient ruins of Ephesus or enjoying Turkish tea with locals, the experience is unforgettable. Accept this interesting country’s beauty and kindness, and allow its timeless appeal to captivate you.
When is the greatest time to pay them a visit?
The best seasons to visit are spring (April to June) and fall (September to November), when the weather is good and the tourist throngs are smaller.
Do I need a visa to visit the?
Yes, most visitors require a visa to enter. Before your journey, you can apply for an e-visa online or at Turkish airports.
Is it safe for visitors to visit here?
Tourists are typically safe here. However, it is critical to remain current on travel warnings and take conventional safety procedures.
Which Turkish cuisine should you try?
When in Turkey, don’t miss out on kebabs, baklava, Turkish delight, and classic foods like köfte and manti.
Is credit card acceptance widespread?
Yes, credit cards are frequently accepted in this country’s major cities and tourist locations. However, for smaller places, it’s best to have some cash on hand.
What are some cultural etiquette guidelines for visitors?
To demonstrate respect for Turkish customs, dress modestly while visiting religious places, remove your shoes before entering houses, and greet residents with a warm “Merhaba” (hello). |
Back to school is looming, and you’re probably thinking of the mountains of tasks you need to do to prepare for the return of your little ones to school, including the new stuff you have to buy. We feel your pain! But if you’re already dreading the time and money you will spend acquiring things, imagine how much worse you will feel when they go missing and need to be replaced? Luckily, there is a solution. There is a fabulous range of name labels and other personalized products that are not only stylish and fun, but they will also survive being wet, dropped, scratched… anything your child cares to throw at it. Well, almost anything…
Why is labeling so important?
You might feel like labeling adds to your already onerous to-do list, but we guarantee that it will spare you hassles in the long run. Here’s why:
- Label it or lose it! Children possess the remarkable ability to lose things at the drop of a hat – sometimes literally! Throw in back to school time – with the chaos of many other children, new things to learn, and boisterous lunchtime fun – and you have a sure fire recipe for even more lost things… including dropped hats.
- Stay out of the Lost and Found! Wading through other children’s jumpers and hats at the Lost and (not always) Found really isn’t the best or most enjoyable use of your spare time – especially if you come up empty-handed.
- Stop wasting money! At least on losses that could’ve been easily prevented.
- Prevent fights! Or at least reduce them. Labeling helps to remove the ambiguity of who owns what, especially important in an environment where everyone’s things look similar.
Why are Stuck on You’s labels particularly awesome?
Two decades ago, a young mom had the clever idea of adding a familiar icon to name labels, to help her then pre-literate son recognize his belongings. When her seemingly simple request was met with blank looks from the local printer, a brilliant business idea was born. Further proof that necessity is the mother of invention!
Stuck On You has since evolved into a one-stop shop for personalized products, loved and trusted by families in over 120 countries. Their personalized name labels are:
- Easy to use. Just stick or iron on, then go!
- Durable. Waterproof, dishwasher and microwave safe, scratch resistant, child resistant…
- Safe. They use lead free, child-friendly inks.
- Lovingly created by their amazing team of in-house graphic designers, with over 50 icons available.
Stuck On You also has a range of other personalized products including:
They also offer value packs that incorporate a variety of the above products according to your family’s needs (for example, 0-5 Preschool Pack, School Kit, etc.).
Check out Stuck On You and let them help you live a more organized life full of beauty, color, and fun!
Love this tip? We’ve got lots of Back To School ideas and guides here!
Photo Credits: Stuck On You, Pixabay |
After battling an uphill struggle against the nationwide recession, Santa Barbara’s tourism industry is finally making a recovery.
The Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau is set to receive more than $1.3 million from the Santa Barbara City Council for marketing programs highlighting the city’s tourist destinations. The CVB is planning several new projects including the establishment of Tourism Business Improvement Districts — marketing and funding programs for hotels and other lodgings — to speed up the economic revival.
According to CVB Director of Communications Shannon Turner Brooks, tourism steadily increased during the last year.
“We definitely felt the effects of the recession [in 2008 and 2009], but since February of 2010 the tourism business has been picking up so we’ve seen steady incremental inclines in [hotel] occupancy,” Brooks said. “We are definitely on our way out of … the recession.”
Although the city collects a Transient Occupancy Tax from hotel guest fees, Ramada Limited Hotel general manager and former CVB board president, Tom Patton said the amount channeled into tourism promotion has decreased in recent years.
“When the transient occupancy tax was established in the ’60s or ’70s, CVB used to get 50 percent,” Patton said. “Over the years that has eroded down to 10 percent.”
According to Brooks, the CVB is establishing TBIDs to supplement the decline in government funding
“It is independent of the city and county,” Brooks said. “Basically the industry is taxing itself. This is a very common model now. About 50 different communities are doing this in California.”
Patton said the revenue will fund several promotional projects for tourism in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria and Goleta.
“By the summer we will have collected enough money to start launching some marketing initiatives,” Patton said. “Government funding for tourism has either been greatly reduced or, in a lot of communities, eliminated completely.”
About 18 percent of Santa Barbara’s tourism is dependent upon international visitors. Brooks said that proportion has remained relatively stable throughout the recession.
“[Foreign tourists] will stay longer and spend more money, so even though it is a small segment they will be here midweek when we need the business and spend more per day than domestic travelers,” Brooks said.
Other local industries are also adapting to suit the needs of travelers. The Santa Barbara Airport recently replaced a terminal that was constructed in 1942. Terry Gibson, the Santa Barbara Airport’s director of marketing, said he thinks the new terminal will further increase tourism.
“The new terminal is going to be marrying the airport with downtown and have a lot of the features people expect to see downtown,” Gibson said. “We have lost a few airline routes due to the fact that the airlines were adversely affected by the economy. We are working to have those airlines come back.” |
NZ’s ‘COVID expert’ Michael Baker warns of a ‘fifth wave’ and advises Kiwis to get their boosters in time for Christmas.
But in a recent interview South African-based medical doctor, professor and critical care specialist Paul Marik told viewers that, ‘the more shots you get, the more you’re vaccinated, the greater your risk of getting COVID. So we have negative efficacy. They are trying to promote a vaccine to prevent a disease that it is causing.’
Meanwhile excess deaths in New Zealand have increased 70% over the past year. The same trend can be observed in other highly jabbed countries, leading to calls on the government and health authorities to record the vaccine status on death certificates so that a comparison of the rate of deaths of the vaccinated and unvaccinated be made.
According to Dr. Guy Hatchard in an opinion piece published on DTNZ yesterday, this was, ‘a fundamental bit of established science that the government and Medsafe have ignored, despite the fact that overseas data points unequivocally to a safety signal [with the COVID jab].’
Legacy media picked up on the pronouncements of Baker and other establishment medical representatives, publishing multiple reports across all platforms last week for their ‘get your booster’ messaging. For a balanced view watch the latest video by content creator extraordinaire CoronavirusPlushie. |
Types of Traffic Violations
Our Dallas traffic ticket attorneys can help keep those City of Dallas traffic tickets off your driving record.
We have decades of experience handling a large number of types of traffic violations including:
- Speeding tickets
- No Insurance (also known as failure to maintain financial responsibility or FMFR)
- Driving without a license (No DL)
- Driving while license suspended (DWLS)
- Failure to signal
- Running a red light or stop sign (also known as disregard a traffic control device or DTCD)
- No registration or expired registration (no MVR)
- No inspection or expired inspection (no MVI)
- Reckless driving
- Failure to appear (FTA)
- Following too close
- Failure to maintain a single lane of traffic
A traffic ticket conviction may increase your insurance premiums for up to three years. If you are judged to be anhabitual violator, you could even lose your drivers license. We handle traffic tickets throughout the Dallas area. Has your license been suspended? We may be able to obtain an occupational license for you Have you been issued aspeeding ticket in Dallas County? Do you want to keep this ticket off you driving record, but aren’t sure what to do? At Berlof & Newton, P.C., we can help. We have assisted thousands of people, just like you, with their traffic ticket cases. We want to help you, too! Have you received a traffic citation? Call us now! 214.827.2800.
If your speeding ticket ends up on your driving record, serious consequences may follow. You may be fined by the court. The Texas Department of Public Safety may impose surcharges. Your auto insurance rates may go up. You could even lose your drivers license. Fortunately, help is available. We are experienced lawyers, who handle traffic ticket cases for our clients on a daily basis. We can help, even if you cannot appear in court.
We have help thousands of people, just like you, keep their traffic tickets from appearing on their driving record. Call us today! 214.827.2800, or contact one of our lawyers directly by using the contact form in the left hand margin of this web page. The initial consultation is free. Do you drive a truck for a living? If so, it is extremely important that you keep your driving record clean.
Commercial Drivers License (CDL)
Speeding tickets, or other moving violation convictions, could result in the loss of your commercial drivers license (CDL). Don’t jeopardize your livelihood! If you are a professional truck driver who has been issued a traffic citation, call the experienced traffic ticket lawyers at Berlof & Newton, P.C. @ 214.827.2800. We will work hard to get the best possible outcome of your traffic ticket case. Even if we cannot obtain an outright dismissal of your case, Texas law provides for several other means by which your traffic violation may be kept from appearing on your driving record. For example, deferred adjudication (also called “deferred disposition”) is a method of resolving your case that allows you to pay the court, without being found guilty. If you receive no citations or speeding tickets during the “deferral period,” the ticket will not appear on your driving record.
Other traffic ticket offenses In Texas, many different traffic citations can result in big problems for your license. These can include license suspensions and increased insurance premiums, not to mention big fines from the court and surcharges that can be imposed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Speeding tickets are the most common type of traffic ticket, but many other citations can have a serious impact on your drivers license. We are Berlof & Newton, P.C., and we can help you in your effort to keep your driving record clean. Traffic Violation in Texas? Not all traffic violations are considered “moving violations.” You have the right to have your day in court, regardless of the alleged offense for which you have been issued a citation.
We have three decades of combined experience representing clients in a wide variety of traffic ticket cases: * Speeding tickets * No Insurance * Driving without a license (No DL) * Driving while license suspended (DWLS) * Failure to signal * Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (FMFR) * Running a red light or stop sign (DTCD) * No registration or expired registration (MVR) * No inspection or expired inspection (MVI) * Reckless driving * Failure to appear (FTA) * Following too close * Failure to maintain a single lane Texas State Point System Payment of a traffic ticket fine results in a conviction, which can negatively affect your driving record. As the result of such a conviction, you may be assessed traffic points by the State of Texas. If you accumulate too many points, you may be required to pay a mandatory yearly surcharge for three years in order to retain your license.
We can help you keep these charges off your record, and avoid these surcharges. Seemingly minor traffic infractions can have serious impacts. Don’t just pay your traffic ticket! We may be able to help you get your case dismissed without your ever having to go to court. Call us today for a free consultation. Non-traffic “Class C” misdemeanors These include issuance of a bad check, theft under $50, public intoxication, “simple assault,” possession of drug paraphernalia, and violations of city code. Call us. We can help! Our firm has vast experience, and offers the following services: * Keeping traffic violations off your record * Posting bonds to remove arrest warrants * Jury trial representation Berlof & Newton, P.C. will make an aggressive effort to bring about the best possible result on your traffic ticket case.
Our attorneys have many years of experience, and will work hard to represent you in court. So don’t delay. We want to be you attorneys. Call 214.827.2800 or contact us via the contact form on this website. If you call Monday through Friday between 8:30 and 5:30, you will be able to speak with a member of our staff who will be happy to assist you with the following legal issues: * Traffic ticket arrest warrants * Other arrest warrants * Criminal defense * DWI/DUI representation * Expungements/expunctions * Orders of Nondisclosure * Posting bond * What to expect when you go to court SCHEDULE OF FEES: $45 (and up)- legal fee for traffic tickets that are not in warrant. $75 (and up)- legal fee for traffic tickets that are in warrant. traffic ticket warrant jail release also available (legal fee varies).
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW… Either of the following may result in your drivers license being suspended: *two convictions for not having valid auto liability insurance. *one conviction for not wearing your corrective lenses (i.e., glasses or contacts). In most cases, we can help keep your traffic ticket from appearing on your record. Even if you are unable to appear in court, we can assist you. |
Program Type:Arts, Culture, & Literature
NaNoWriMo-- it stands for National Novel Writing Month, and is a challenge where novelists attempt to write 50,000 words of a story draft during the 30 days of November. Whether you want to work on your first book or have already written plenty of them, this hard but exciting challenge offers you the external motivation you need to type out those words.
Want to write in the company of fellow novelists? That's great because we are hosting two writing get-togethers! Bring your laptop, bring your notes, bring your lunch, and let's get to work! |
The law firm of Dalton & Tomich PLC has become a leader in defending the rights of donation bin owners to place collection bins, who receive used clothes and shoes, and redistribute them throughout the world for people in need. A brief explanation of this industry is in order.
Recycling donation bins, usually made of steel and are typically 8 by 8 feet or larger as they are recycled shipping containers, are typically placed by non-profits on private property solely for the collection of used clothes and shoes. The bin operator first identifies a property that would be suitable for donations, then secures permission from the property owner to place the bin on the property. Next, the operator reviews the local zoning code to see how the community regulates the placement of the bin. If there is no regulation, the bin is placed on the lot. If there is a reasonable regulation, the bin operator will go through the permitting process to place the bin on the property.
When the community enacts an ordinance to ban donation bins, or interprets an existing ordinance to ban bins, operators may contact our law firm and we challenge the ban either through an internal process with a community or in federal court. We have established a line of case law in federal courts where Courts have concluded that donation bins are entitled to First Amendment Free Speech protection and ordinances denying the use will be subject to strict scrutiny analysis, resulting in the Court invalidating the bin ban
So how did this industry start and where is the industry going? A recent article in the Kansas City Star explain the clothing donation business.
Most Americans don’t realize that all but 5 percent of textiles can be recycled this way. You may think no one wants your smelly old shoes or ketchup-stained shirt, but they do.
Becoming aware of this fact is the first step in reducing a growing problem: 25 billion pounds of textiles are generated each year and only 15 percent get recycled, according to the Council for Textile Recycling.
Discarded textiles not only take up landfill space when they could be reused or repurposed, but they also release methane as they break down, a highly destructive greenhouse gas.
Keeping textiles out of landfills is a new priority for Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), which is doing outreach to spread the awareness, targeting businesses and organizations with its At Work consultation program, and the public with its website RecycleSpot.org, where consumers can look up which items are recyclable and where to donate them.
When you drop off a load of clothes at a charity such as Goodwill or Planet Aid, perhaps only a fraction will actually be placed on a retail floor for sale. Your 1970s vintage prom dress or faded denim jacket might make the cut, but most textiles get packed up and sent off to wholesalers with other intentions.
Some may be shipped to Africa where a secondhand market booms or be turned into rags for industrial use.
Charities have tried to make the donation process as convenient as possible.
RecycleSpot.org lists thrift stores accepting donations by zip code, where you can drop bags at the back door, while Planet Aid provides bright yellow bins in the parking lots of many area businesses and organizations. You can find your nearest bin at PlanetAid.org.
You can even make the task of donating easier for yourself by designating a bag or box in your basement and placing items you no longer want inside over several months until it’s full. “Once it reaches the top, take it to the thrift store on the way to buy groceries,” Riggs suggests.
Riggs gives credit to a handful of retailers who run a Take Back recycling program, including H&M, Levi’s, Patagonia, Puma, North Face and Target, where you can drop off items purchased at the store for recycling. Although, he notes, most giant retailers are creating the glut of cheap clothes headed for the landfill in the first place.
“The biggest issue is the phenomenon of fast fashion with its rapid cycles,” Riggs says. “In grandma’s day, you had a spring collection and a fall collection; now lines are coming out every two weeks.”
More than the overabundance of textiles that must be dealt with are the side effects associated with their production, including the harvesting of virgin cotton, chemical pollution from applications to control pests and weeds, and extreme water consumption (500 gallons to produce a pair of jeans, according to The Wall Street Journal).
“Unlike, say, paper, a lot goes into making an article of clothing,” says John Nagiecki, communications director for Planet Aid. “You have to grow the fiber, produce the cloth and dye it. All these steps impact the environment negatively. There’s also the human cost. Most work under conditions that are not exactly favorable.”
Unless or until the garment industry can close the waste loop, responsibility lies with the consumer.
“We need to change people’s whole mindset. People’s first thought should be that shopping used can be as good as shopping new — and for pennies on the dollar. Second, everyone should buy well-made items that fit well and will last a long time. Third, we need to learn to mend clothing, sew buttons and properly launder and store clothes.”
By donating and extending the life of your clothes after they leave your closet, you contribute to a measurable environmental benefit. According to EPA statistics, in 2015, 23 million tons of textiles were recycled, resulting in a greenhouse gas reduction of 5.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
“That’s equivalent to taking 1.2 million cars off the road for a year,” Nagiecki says.
It’s not the end-all answer, but it sure does help.
Many communities have tried to ban the donation bins through local ordinances. We have successfully invalidated the bans throughout the United States asserting a variety of federal claims which Court’s have adopted. If you operate a clothing donation bin operation, whether it is for profit or non for profit, and are running into issues with local communities over bin placement or banning, please contact a professional at Dalton & Tomich PLC to assist you in placing the recycling bin. |
The age-old debate of whether facial hair makes a man more attractive has been around for centuries. While some people may think that beards are unhygienic, itchy and unattractive, others may argue that beards can add a certain level of sophistication and a masculine look to a man’s face. In this article, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of having a beard, as well as some tips on how to maintain a healthy and attractive beard.
Do Beards Make A Man More Attractive?
When it comes to determining whether or not a beard makes a man more attractive, the answer is subjective. Some people may find a man with facial hair more attractive, while others may find it unappealing. However, there are some benefits to having a beard that could potentially make a man more attractive.
The most obvious advantage of having facial hair is that it can make a man look more masculine and mature. This can be appealing to some people who are looking for a strong, confident partner. Beards can also make a man look more distinguished and can even make him look older, which can be attractive to some people.
Another advantage of having facial hair is that it can make a man look more rugged and outdoorsy. This can be appealing to people who are looking for someone who is adventurous and enjoys spending time outdoors.
The Disadvantages of Having a Beard
While there are some advantages to having facial hair, there are also some disadvantages that should be taken into consideration.
The first disadvantage is that facial hair can be unhygienic if not taken care of properly. If not washed and groomed regularly, facial hair can become greasy and full of bacteria, which can lead to skin irritation and breakouts.
Another disadvantage of having facial hair is that it can be itchy and uncomfortable. This can be especially true for those who have sensitive skin or are prone to allergies.
Tips for Maintaining a Healthy and Attractive Beard
If you decide to grow a beard, there are a few tips you should follow to ensure that it looks and feels healthy and attractive.
• Clean Your Beard Regularly: It is important to wash your beard regularly with a mild shampoo to remove dirt, oil and bacteria.
• Condition Your Beard: After washing your beard, use a conditioner to keep it soft and manageable.
• Use a Beard Oil: Using a beard oil can help to nourish and condition your facial hair, as well as prevent it from becoming too dry and brittle.
• Trim Your Beard: Trimming your beard regularly can help to keep it looking neat and tidy.
• Comb Your Beard: Use a beard comb to detangle and style your beard, as well as to ensure that it looks neat and put together.
• Use a Beard Balm: Beard balm can help to keep your beard looking healthy and shiny.
• Moisturize: Make sure to moisturize your skin and facial hair to keep it hydrated and prevent irritation.
In conclusion, whether or not facial hair makes a man more attractive is subjective. However, there are some benefits to having a beard, such as looking more masculine and mature. The key is to maintain a healthy and attractive beard by following the tips listed above. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if a beard is the right look for you. |
From cloud computing to mobile devices, the US government is powered by the same technology that drives industrial America. The biggest differences lie in regulatory requirements. Agencies in the government sphere, and the vendors that cater to them must adhere to standards that are far more strict than those mandated to non-government firms. TAA compliance is a classic example of such distinctions.
TAA compliance mandates that government agencies obtain products and services from jurisdictions covered under the federal Trade Agreements Act enacted in 1979. This goes for USB drives and other storage media as well as PDF readers and the simplest of software programs.
Dictated by the General Services Administration (GSA), it states that said offerings must originate from the US, or a location on its list of approved countries. Failure to meet TAA compliance can result in severe penalties, including a loss of federal contracts and millions of dollars in fines.
Like any legislation, the language included in the TAA is both specific and complex, starting with the country of origin. Nations on the designated list are validated through existing US trade agreements, and thus considered reliable sources of procurement.
Implications of the standard span across four internationally recognized categories:
- World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement countries
- Caribbean basin countries
- Least developed countries
- Free trade agreement countries
Perhaps the most important aspect of TAA compliance is understanding which countries haven’t been whitelisted. This is critical because the forbidden list includes some locations you might not expect to find. For instance, China, despite being a long time trade partner of the US, is excluded due to a number of unresolved diplomatic issues. Also noticeably absent is Russia, widely recognized as the ransomware capital of the world.
Another fundamental component relates to production. According the TAA, goods and services must be manufactured, or substantially transformed in a signatory country. The term “transformed” is particularly vague, but generally refers to additions or alterations made prior to completion of the end product. Not withstanding, TAA compliance is determined via detailed investigation and analysis of the product or service in question, and therefore, the process varies from one case to the next.
How TAA Compliance Impacts Business
Companies that fail to prove TAA compliance run the risk of losing their GSA contracts and violating the False Claims Act. This is no mere loss of opportunity. Medical supply firm Ambu is one example of a company that paid heavily for its failure to meet TAA compliance — to the tune of $3.3 million!
TAA compliance benefits both the government and the businesses that service it. Sure, navigating all the red tape can be a real pain, but those that endure the process have plenty to gain.
The TAA Advantage
Brand recognition: TAA compliance is a ringing endorsement for any business. In essence, it acts as the seal of approval that speaks to the quality and reliability of a given product.
Exclusive revenue opportunities: Upon achieving compliance, companies unlock access to a lucrative marketplace that is exclusive to the government. A report published by Bloomberg Government estimates that the White House requested an , which marks a record high. This is particularly good news for distributors of compliant goods and services.
Attractive pricing: The government marketplace adheres to strict industry standards. Compliant products are deemed fairly priced by GSA scheduling, which means vendors instantly gain the benefit of competitive pricing.
Quality procurement: By default, TAA compliance eliminates low-quality offerings from the equation. As a result, businesses can stand by their claims of servicing government clientele with the best breed of products and services.
Validating TAA Compliance
If you’re in the market for USB drives or other TAA compliant products, you should know what to look for when browsing the marketplace. Some vendors will showcase the results of certification analysis on their company websites to verify compliance. DataLocker is transparent in highlighting its credentials for the most stringent industry regulations. In fact, any vendor claiming TAA compliance should be willing to provide official documentation to prove it upon request. |
What is 99984 in hex?
Table of Contents
Here we are going to show you how to obtain hexadecimal 99984, along with useful information and the math 🙂 .
If you have been searching for what is 99984 in hexadecimal form?, then you have come to the right site, too.
Make sure to understand that 99984 hexadecimal means the same as 99984 base 16.
Below you can find the result of the conversion straightaway:
Hexadecimal 99984 is 18690
As any other integer, 99984 can be written as sum of potencies to the power of 16, known as hexadecimal code.
Here’s the proof that 18690 is the base-16 notation of 99984:
1×16^4 + 8×16^3 + 6×16^2 + 9×16^1 + 0x16^0 = 99984; Remember A = 10, B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15.
Note that 1869016 means the same as 0x18690, the former notation is more common in math, whereas the later with the prefix 0x can frequently be seen in programming.
If you want to know how to change 99984 dec to hex please read the instructions further below.
How to Convert 99984 Decimal to Hexadecimal?For the 99984 to hex conversion we employ the remainder method explained in detail on our home page:
- Divide 99984 by 16, record the integer part of the result as new quotient
- Write down the remainder of 99984 over 16 in hexadecimal notation
- Proceed the two steps above with the quotient until the result is 0
- The result of 99984 to hex is the RTL sequence of the remainders: 18690
Simply insert your value, the result is calculated automatically.
Next are the frequently asked questions in the context of this article.
99984 in Hex FAQs
What is 99984 a as hexadecimal?
99984 decimal = 18690 hexadecimal.
Why is 99984 in hex 18690?
Because 18690 stands for 1*16^4 + 8*16^3 + 6*16^2 + 9*16^1 + 0*16^0 = 99984.
What is 99984 hex to decimal?
99984 hex = 629124 decimal.
How do you write 99984 in hexadecimal?
How do you convert 99984 base 10 to base 16?
Employ the integer division with remainder method dividing 99984 by 16.
For other questions and comments fill in the designated form at the bottom.
Similar conversions on our website include:
Hexadecimal 99984As we have shown above, getting hexadecimal 99984 is not very difficult with our algorithm.
Changing he numeral system means you carry out the procedure we have discussed, or insert the decimal value (e.g. 99984) into our calculator in the first field.
Our app changes the writing system on the fly.
Give it a try right now!
Are you perhaps also interested in 99984 equivalent in the other positional numeral system?
You can find it right below:
99984 in Common Numeral Systems
Ahead is the conclusion.
|Binary (Base 2)||11000011010010000|
|Ternary (Base 3)||12002011010|
|Quaternary (Base 4)||120122100|
|Quinary (Base 5)||11144414|
|Senary (Base 6)||2050520|
|Septenary (Base 7)||564333|
|Octal (Base 8)||303220|
|Nonary (Base 9)||162133|
|Decimal (Base 10)||99984|
|Duodecimal (Base 12)||49A40|
|Hexadecimal (Base 16)||18690|
|Vigesimal (Base 20)||C9J4|
|Duotrigesimal (Base 32)||31KG|
|Hexatrigesimal (Base 36)||255C|
Summary of 99984 in HexYou have reached the end of our information.
We summarize our post about the 99984 place-value notation conversion in form of an image:
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More information related to 99984 to hexadecimal can be found on our main page.
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Nota bene: the table in the appendix contains value close to 99984.
99984 Decimal Conversion Table |
Dr. Emily Nguyen is a pediatric dentist who loves working with children. She believes that a positive dental experience can set a child up for a lifetime of good oral health. In her free time, she enjoys baking and playing board games with her family.
As a periodontist, my role is to specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases, also known as gum diseases. I work closely with patients to help them maintain healthy gums and prevent further damage to their oral health.
Prevention: One of the key aspects of my job is educating patients on proper oral hygiene practices to prevent gum diseases. I provide guidance on effective brushing and flossing techniques, as well as the importance of regular dental check-ups and cleanings. By promoting good oral hygiene habits, I aim to prevent the development of periodontal diseases.
Diagnosis: When patients come to me with concerns about their gums, I conduct a thorough examination to diagnose the specific condition. This involves assessing the health of the gums, measuring the depth of periodontal pockets, and evaluating the stability of the teeth. I may also take X-rays or use other diagnostic tools to get a comprehensive view of the patient's oral health.
Treatment: Once a diagnosis is made, I develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to the patient's needs. This may include non-surgical procedures such as scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar from below the gumline. In more advanced cases, surgical interventions like gum grafting or pocket reduction surgery may be necessary to restore gum health and prevent further damage.
Collaboration: As a periodontist, I often collaborate with general dentists and other dental specialists to provide comprehensive care for patients. For example, if a patient requires dental implants, I work closely with an oral surgeon or prosthodontist to ensure the successful placement and restoration of the implants. This collaborative approach ensures that patients receive the best possible care for their specific needs.
Continued Care: Periodontal diseases are chronic conditions that require ongoing management. I provide regular follow-up appointments to monitor the patient's progress, make any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan, and provide additional support and guidance. By maintaining a long-term relationship with my patients, I can help them achieve and maintain optimal gum health.
In summary, a periodontist plays a crucial role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gum diseases. By focusing on the health of the gums, I help patients maintain a strong foundation for their teeth and overall oral health. If you have concerns about your gums or are looking for specialized periodontal care, don't hesitate to reach out to a qualified periodontist like myself. |
Evolving the design thinking framework towards greater equity: an interview with Tania Anaissie of Beytna Design
To kick off the new year, I interviewed Tania Anaissie, the Founder and CEO of the social justice design firm Beytna Design and the co-creator of a new form of design thinking called Liberatory Design.
Liberatory Design combines the innovative potential of design thinking, the systemic lens of complexity theory, and the healing powers of equity practices to redesign how people work and live.
I met Tania when I was a coach for the Designing for Social Systems program at the Stanford d.school, and was struck by her deep commitment to design processes in which people experience belonging, exercise their full agency and power, and collectively co-design the future. In her work, Tania builds new frameworks and tools that expand upon the traditional design thinking framework with the goal of creating greater equity for those most impacted by oppressive systems.
This new and “evolved” approach to design thinking work is complementary to work being done in the museum sector by groups like OF/BY/FOR ALL, MAAS Action, and The Empathetic Museum, and is timely with the discussions in our sector about how museums can foster more equitable and inclusive practices and connect with our communities in effective and authentic ways.
The interview has been edited for clarity.
Q: Tania, how did you get into this work?
Much of this grew out of my lived experiences with inequity growing up as an Arab-American in Arkansas. As I made sense of my own experience, I saw how many systems were designed to oppress, and wondered if we could use new tools to redesign them. At the same time, I was practicing and teaching design thinking at Stanford, where I previously earned my design degree. I had questions about how design thinking was being practiced. I felt there were some unethical elements built into the design process itself, for example, in the re-creation of unhealthy power dynamics.
I basically reached a point where I was having a “crisis” about how design was practiced, and I felt a strong pull to re-examine the whole thing to imagine it as a force for equity.
Q: So what did you do during your “design crisis”?
I found other people who were asking the same questions. A group of us, designers and equity practitioners, came together to merge our best practices. We launched our co-creation, Liberatory Design, at a workshop for SXSWedu in 2017. We started meeting people across the nation who were doing similar work, and we started connecting and eventually came together as the Equity Design Collaborative.
I also founded my firm, Beytna Design, and I now work to support social sector leaders to bring their visions of equity to life using Liberatory Design.
Liberatory Design is a way of being and working that facilitates change towards equity. It’s an innovation practice rooted in sharing power, recognizing oppression, and centering those most impacted by inequity.
Q: Tell me more about how this is different from the traditional design thinking approach.
The biggest shift is in who is considered a “designer.” We believe that in order to create equitable outcomes, you have to design equitably, and that means involving people most impacted by the problem in the decision-making. Traditional design thinking consults those impacted, but the design team still goes behind closed doors to make interpretations and decisions. We’re pushing towards co-design and community-led design, which means those most impacted are on the team, making decisions with you as you transform power together.
Liberatory Design also includes a deeper examination of the history of how systems were designed, the equity implications, the origins of a problem, and the systemic ripple effects.
This is about prioritizing the design’s impact on the community over the intentions of the designer. It’s about being incredibly intentional about potential unintended consequences to a solution, and having protocols in place to reduce the risk of harm to those who are directly impacted by the outcomes of the design process.
And by design, I mean create with intention. You can design an experience, program, policy, system, product, or relationship. But if you are designing for equity, that means your end goal is to create greater equity.
Q: What can we as practitioners do in order to create with intention and design for greater equity?
We can examine the ways in which we practice, and question if (our practices) truly align with our values and are creating the kind of change we seek.
It starts with inquiry. For example, ask yourself, who is present at each stage of the project, and why? Who gets a say in how a problem is framed, or if it’s even a problem in the first place? Do those impacted get a say in decision-making, or if not, what other ways can you share power with them?
A lot of this work is also tied to personal reflection, like exploring your own identities and power because they all come to play in our work.
Q: What might the Liberatory Design process look like in museum?
My invitation is to consider, “How much are we willing to share power with the community we want to design with, and how might we invite them to collaborate?” In my opinion, the more they are involved, the higher the chance you will create truly transformative and equitable ideas.
The best way to engage a community is to authentically involve them, while remembering that no one owes us their trust or time, and the best we can do is design an invitation with respect and humility, and be willing to listen to their feedback.
Think about ways to build trust with the community and learn from where they are, for example, Chris Rudd, a friend and amazing designer was working on a project related to shared public spaces in a neighborhood of Chicago. He wanted to involve folks living there in the synthesis of empathy interviews, so he set up a “synthesis station” with Post-Its in a shipping container to engage passersby and invite them to make sense of the learnings. He shared what his team was hearing and seeing and asked them to tell him what was relevant and important.
One of the challenges of working this way is being willing to acknowledge that despite your academic expertise, there are other sources of knowledge that are critical to design work, including lived expertise. There are many kinds of expertise, and all bring richness to the work, but if we get caught up in feeling like we know “better” because of our education or work experience, we need to pause and ask instead, “What do I not know given I see one view of this, and how could I learn from others?” This shift requires you to share power and act as an ally and/or facilitator.
In my work, this means that I’m not here to make final decisions; I’m here to facilitate. I believe that people can solve their own problems under the right conditions, and my goal is to create some of those conditions. This gives space for a more sustainable, community-led approach.
Q: Any final thoughts for emerging or experienced design thinkers?
I invite everyone in the design field to be dedicated to questioning and iterating their own practices. The work isn’t easy, but I’m committed to it, and it has deepened relationships and sharpened my practice in ways I never imagined. I invite everyone to access the tools we’re creating, share your ideas, and join the movement! |
Roles are a very powerful, but little understood, feature in Apple Final Cut Pro X. They can help organize clips in the Browser or Timeline, control captions in multiple languages, clean up the Timeline and simplify audio mixes. Plus, the latest version of Final Cut (10.4) added even more flexibility to this feature.
In this week’s session, join Larry Jordan as he illustrates what Roles are, how they work and how to use them in your projects. This session includes using Roles to:
Roles can simplify even highly-complex projects – and this week’s session shows you how to put them to work.
In this short video excerpt, Larry shows how to organize clips in the Timeline using Roles.
Apple Final Cut Pro X: Use Roles in the Timeline
TRT: 9:20 — MPEG-4 HD movie
Our website offers lots more video training in our store.
NEW & Updated!
Edit smarter with Larry’s latest training, all available in our store. |
When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for. Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying, ‘Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.’ But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. Since the harbour was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favour of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbour of Crete, facing south-west and north-west.
Before moving to Orkney I really didn’t think much about wind – after all I slept through the Great Storm of October 1987 despite trees being uprooted in the park opposite where I then lived. Since moving, I’m always conscious of the wind – we live at the top of a hill. More than that, we know that strong winds disrupt the ferries and flights which secure our connections with both the Scottish mainland and our smaller isles. This greater awareness made me smile when I read of Paul’s difficulties in today’s passage and the repeated phrase “because the winds were against us.”
Political winds were against left wing policies at the last election yet Covid made the winds change direction as massive state invention was welcomed. The winds were against the idea of state intervention in the energy market, but they have changed direction and now the public seems to want significant change there too. The winds of opinion are against those of us who think there’s life in organised religion. Instead the quest for spirituality and meaning is often undertaken outwith the Church. The winds in the Church seem to suggest secularisation is dangerous despite the freedoms many of us enjoy because of it. Will those winds change?
One of the many challenges for contemporary Christians is to work out how to react to these changing winds. Are these winds the energy of the Holy Spirit pushing us to places we’d not otherwise go? The increasing secularisation of our society has made the Church think deeply about social issues; the King and Queen Consort are on their second marriages and society isn’t that bothered. The winds have changed profoundly.
We need to learn when to bend with the wind, when to change our plans to avoid them, as Paul and his companions had to, or when to hang on for dear life and see where we end up!
Eternal One, you blow through our lives and our world like a mighty wind, uprooting, powering, changing and sometimes destroying what is in your way. Give us grace to know when to bend, when to resist and when to hang on and see what happens! Amen.
The Rev’d Andy Braunston, Minister for Digital Worship, Member of the Peedie Kirk in Orkney |
Inspiration Electricity is one of the major drivers of the economy. In fact, it is identified as one of the prime movers of the modern sector of the economy in Kenya’s vision 2030. Currently the Kenya power and lightning company has no efficient method of monitoring the illegal tapping of electricity. The company depends on the goodwill of people to inform them if a neighbour is stealing power. This leads to people not bothering to report the crime because they also beginning to depend on it. According to (R, 2009), commercial or non-technical losses accounts for more than 1% of the electricity use around the world. The dominant component of these losses is electricity theft. In some countries this is in the range of or far exceeding the technical losses in the transmission and distribution of electricity. Amounts of unbilled electricity may completely disturb the normal process of regulation of electricity distribution. It is also a moral problem that the energy conservation efforts of one group are wasted by others. Theft is not only a major reason for frequent power interruptions, but the financial loss occurring from theft also does not allow KPLC to improve upon its distribution system hence aggravating the problem of blackouts causing a great deal of inconveniences to customers.
What it does The system monitors the flow of electricity and makes a judgement whether there is theft/tapping going on and contact the authorities or not all-in real time. This is done with the use of Arduino uno and other sensors. The limitation is that the parts required to create a prototype were difficult to acquire and the possibility of vandals destroying the system, it also may be difficult to maintain depending on the location.
How we built it
At the beginning of the system development, there was the need to identify what component would need to be used in order for the proper functioning of the system. The main components that were needed were: The current sensor, relay switch, GSM module, LCD screen, and lastly the Arduino board itself.
Each of the components above play a vital role in the proper functioning of the system. The current sensor for starters is involved in the measurement of the AC current. The sensor used is the ACS712 5A, this sensor uses the hall effect meaning that any current passing through it will create a voltage proportional to the current. It is able to measure both AC and DC but in this case AC current was used. This module was chosen for its precision. The next module is the relay switch that the user interacts with when over-loading has been detected. The user will manually have to reset this when they come to fix the over-loading issue. It is set-up in such a way that promotes security i.e., the system cannot function when it is removed thus preventing tampering. The GSM module is responsible for sending the information to the user when over-loading is detected. It receives this information from the Arduino board that is in charge of managing all processes. The LCD is a simple addition to display the current voltage and make life easier for the user when they do not have access to a computer. The system runs in real time displaying and reporting information as it comes in for maximum efficiency.
Challenges we ran into The main challenge during the development of the system was finding a way in which electricity theft could be reported without anyone being harmed in any way. This was one of the main priorities of the system. Thus the system was built in order to remotely report theft with no human interaction.
Accomplishments that we're proud of In the course of the development of the system, it was found out that ensuring the safety of those around the device was paramount. This is to prevent the unfortunate incidents for example, fires. In the process of finding out the safety features to implement it was found that using a relay was the best course of action. This relay provided security in that the current would not pass through if the device is tampered with.
What we learned For the Electricity theft prevention system to properly work the devices used by the users of the system while accessing the system are required to have a strong connection to a network and have their location turned on. This is because the GSM technology that shall be used in the system requires an environment with a stable connection for it to be able to send the information.
What's next for ELECTRICITY THEFT DETECTION SYSTEM USING ARDUINO Despite this research aiming to solve the problem of electricity theft, sourcing more in-depth information about how the Kenyan grid was challenging, thus not all areas that could have potentially been covered have been covered. Therefore, the future work to enhance the research can involve the seamless integration of the developed system with the Kenya Power and Lighting grid system. This would eliminate the need of the GSM module which as stated above may not work in certain regions in Kenya. Having the developed project integrated could provide much more information to KPLC than having it separate from their system. |
A Day in the Life at Christian Beginnings Kindergarten
9:00a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Mon thru Fri
Our kindergarten class benefits from our curriculum that uses Saxon Phonics and Math. In addition to specials like Chapel, CrossFit Kids and music students engage in both in-class and hands-on learning. With typically smaller class sizes and two teachers, your child will benefit from a nurturing environment and plenty of one to one instruction.
Kindergarteners lead by example for our younger students and regularly participate in extra enrichment activities that help them better serve their church and community through "mini-missions" with select congregational groups.
We use the Saxon program assessments to ensure your child is progressing and ready for the next step into elementary school.
Schedule A Tour
To ensure everyone's safety, we are only offering scheduled tours at this time after school from Monday-Thursday. Please contact Pat Szathmary to schedule a tour of your child's future classroom today.
Our latest and best photos
We love to take pictures and show them to the world. |
Toward A Feminist Nuclear Weapons Policy
Germany’s current government included its commitment to a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) in its coalition agreement, triggering debates on what it is, why it is of value, and how it could be applied to developments such as the uprisings in Iran or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On March 1, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office published its guidelines on how to reach the objectives set out by this approach that continue to be commented on by academics, journalists, and other civil society actors.
Germany, however, did not invent Feminist Foreign Policy. Sweden was the first state to take such an approach when its then foreign minister, Margot Wallström, introduced its Feminist Foreign Policy in 2014. Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Luxemburg, Libya, Chile, and the Netherlands followed, all defining and implementing FFP in distinct ways. In general, different actors describe FFP very differently. While governments often focus on strengthening “rights, representation, and resources” to support women – and, increasingly, marginalized groups as well – many activists and academics would like to see a stronger emphasis placed on structural issues such as “intersectional, (post)colonial, and structural causes of violence.”
Connecting FFP and Nuclear Weapons
Connecting nuclear weapons policy with Feminist Foreign Policy, admittedly, does not follow without introduction, but it can enrich debates on both. Feminist perspectives on nuclear weapons can address the inclusion of women in national and international decision-making bodies, our perceptions of security, and the language used to describe it. From an intersectional angle, FFP can also help illuminate the colonial heritage and structures of nuclear weapons governance.
Not coincidentally, in May 2023, nuclear weapons again play a central role in societal discussions. At this writing, Iran threatens to cross the threshold to nuclear acquisition, the New START Treaty is the only arms control agreement left between Russia and the United States, and significant tensions exist between the nuclear-armed states of India and Pakistan. Moreover, with nuclear weapon states – most dramatically, China – expanding their arsenals and Russia making veiled nuclear threats part of its war of aggression on Ukraine, the appetite for nuclear disarmament is low.
In recent months, the first publications started bringing nuclear weapons and German Feminist Foreign Policy together. In January 2023, for example, the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP) released its policy brief “A Feminist Take on Nuclear Weapons in Germany.” Further, the guidelines published by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office make clear that the ministry considers nuclear weapons to be part of FFP. In them, the Federal Foreign Office criticizes the low representation of women in “arms-control policy processes,” supports “efforts to recognize and compensate the victims of nuclear tests,” mentions the gender-specific impacts of nuclear weapons (women and girls are at higher risk of developing cancer as a result of radiation exposure), and advocates for a world without nuclear weapons.
Germany is in an especially interesting position for advancing a “Feminist Nuclear Policy.” As a member of NATO, it is embedded in NATO’s practice of extended deterrence through US security guarantees and has nuclear weapons stationed on German soil at the Büchel Air Base. At the same time, Germany is one of the pioneers of Feminist Foreign Policy and has a long history of civil society and academic engagement with matters related to it. While it will be a challenge to navigate the tensions between the strategic interests of NATO and the criticism of nuclear deterrence that has traditionally been voiced by Feminist activists and academics, the country could play a unique role in connecting FFP and nuclear weapons policy.
Nuclear Weapons: A Feminist Issue
Although Germany only introduced its FFP recently, the connection between feminism and nuclear weapons has existed for much longer. Feminist activists and academics have offered various interrogations of global nuclear politics and criticized the gendered and exclusionary language around nuclear weapons – from bombs that were called “little boy” or “fat man” to technical jargon that overcomplicates debates. Traditionally, feminist academics have disagreed that nuclear deterrence increases security, partly because they have focused on human-centric rather than state-centric security, and partly because they have represented schools of thought that are critical of realist ideas. Where realists would, for instance, stress the benefits nuclear weapons are perceived to have in deterring adversaries, critical scholars would focus on the dangers of failing nuclear deterrence. Ultimately, those schools of thought are based on different explanations of why nuclear weapons have not been used. Realists refer back to a rationalistic understanding of deterrence; critical scholars add the notion of a nuclear taboo, refer to luck, and point to historical evidence of failing deterrence. To persuade nuclear weapon states to disarm, critical scholars frequently refer to strengthening international norms.
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has a long tradition of connecting feminism and nuclear weapons, especially in Europe. Latin American and African countries, as well as global groups of (feminist) activists, had unprecedented influence in driving the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In addition, the UN General Assembly resolution on “Women, disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control,” which states regularly discuss in the General Assembly, is led by Trinidad and Tobago. Feminist activists were also particularly involved in regions where nuclear weapons were tested with devastating effects on the local, often colonized, population – for example, the Pacific.
As studies show, nuclear testing and use has biological sex-specific impacts and “gender-specific impacts due to different cultural and social roles or stereotypes based on gender.” In the spirit of intersectionality, one should not overlook the fact that nuclear testing has largely affected marginalized communities. The United States tested in the Marshall Islands and near Native American and Mormon settlements in Nevada. The Soviet Union tested in Kazakhstan and on the Arctic Island of Novaya Zemlya, which is inhabited by the indigenous Nenets. The United Kingdom tested in Australia and on its colonies in the Pacific, France in Algeria and on the Gambier Islands, and China in Xingjiang. Barbara Rose Johnston sums up that communities that are located downwind to nuclear tests are typically “the marginal and powerless groups in society: indigenous people and other social or political minorities…What they possessed was open space that could be contaminated without political recourse.”
Possible Feminist Nuclear Policies
Three examples of possible policies illustrate the connection between nuclear weapons and Feminist Foreign Policy in a more tangible way. These examples were inspired by the commitments already outlined in the guidelines of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. To provide a balance, the first two concern short-term, relatively achievable goals, and the third relates to a long-term vision that also touches upon some basic principles of German security policy.
1. All branches of the German government must recognize that nuclear weapons and Feminist Foreign Policy are connected issues and support intersectional gender-sensitive perspectives within their respective mandates. While it is most welcome that Germany’s Federal Foreign Office considers nuclear weapons policy as part of FFP, the time for mainstreaming has come. Not only does the entire government, including Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defense and Chancellery, need to take this view, but – vice versa – it also must apply a Feminist Foreign Policy lens when considering nuclear weapons.
This also encompasses further supporting the inclusion of feminist perspectives and gender considerations on nuclear weapons in international fora such as the United Nations General Assembly, meetings of the State Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and meetings of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as well as in bilateral negotiations. Germany is already pushing for gender considerations in various policy areas, for example by supporting UN Women; the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda; or women’s representation in other fields.
Many of the current gender-sensitive perspectives “largely focus on women,” however, an intersectional FFP should progress beyond this simplification. Publications by the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, and a Special Issue of the Journal International Affairs by Catherina Eschle and Shine Choi agree with an article by Laura Rose Brown and Laura Considine in suggesting that connecting feminism and Nuclear Weapons goes beyond addressing the inclusion of women, advocating to investigate “the links between masculinity, violent conflict, weapons, and nuclear proliferation.” To achieve this, Germany could table and amend resolutions to connect FFP and nuclear weapons and support civil society participation at conferences. The aspiration of a Feminist Foreign Policy must go beyond mere representation to actually address gender-sensitive perspectives.
2. In the spirit of an intersectional Feminist Foreign Policy, Germany should address “nuclear colonialism.” Efforts to support victims of nuclear testing and use have begun. Within the framework of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a trust fund is being established that is intended to support communities affected by nuclear testing and use environmental remediation. Suitable allocations could include scholarships, training programs, funding of radiological or oncological research, or direct financial aid. Ultimately, the affected communities and their governments should be granted the agency to decide upon these matters.
The US government’s policy on providing funding for the victims of landmines without supporting the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty shows that the application of a treaty’s tools is not limited to those who have signed it. Consequently, the German government should establish contact with governments leading current initiatives, such as those on Kazakhstan and Kiribati, and advocate for states outside of the TPNW to contribute to the trust fund – especially those that bear a special responsibility for nuclear testing.
In general, based on lessons learned from feminist funding practices, Germany should continue to make such practices part of its Feminist Foreign Policy, as it already does through gender budgeting. In this spirit, the German government should not only consider financial support but also take a leadership role in the policy process – for example, by hosting a conference aimed at consolidating the needs of affected communities.
3. Given that there is genuine support for a world without nuclear weapons, Germany should not abandon the project of real nuclear disarmament. Feminist Foreign Policy could teach us that nuclear weapons ultimately do not bring security. This realization could revitalize nuclear disarmament efforts in which the German government could play a key role.
Germany could help change the discourse on nuclear weapons by increasingly stigmatizing them on the international stage due to their humanitarian impact. The German government could also contribute to global nuclear disarmament by working toward the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from German soil, ideally as part of a united effort with its allies – especially Belgium and the Netherlands – to end the practice of nuclear sharing. It has been ten years since a German Foreign Minister, in this case Guido Westerwelle, pushed for the end of nuclear sharing; the German Bundestag’s resolution calling for an end sharing for is thirteen years old. Considering the archaic technology of the gravity bombs stationed in Germany, nuclear sharing is now mainly a symbol of Germany’s support for extended nuclear deterrence; ending it could be a strong signal of support for nuclear disarmament. Germany should revitalize systematic efforts to work toward a global zero of nuclear weapons and support the norm of nuclear disarmament, particularly in cooperation with the states that already see a global zero as beneficial for their security – a majority of the world.
A German Feminist Nuclear Weapons Policy
At a time when nuclear weapons are on the political agenda again, Germany should not only make the connection of Feminist Foreign Policy and nuclear weapons explicit, but also work toward the implementation of concrete policies. The FFP approach is not merely a matter of comprehensiveness and coherence; rather, it provides a unique compass for navigating complex solutions. It pushes one to focus on marginalized groups and the power structures behind marginalization. With Germany’s unique position as a state intending to lead policy discussions in Europe – especially given its key role in extended nuclear deterrence and its long history of feminist knowledge production – its government should support tangible aspects of a Feminist Nuclear Policy such as a trust fund that could make a difference in the lives of those still affected by past nuclear tests and use.
This memo was published on May 9, 2023. It was written in the framework of our Young DGAP Fellowship Program. |
Journal of Dental Hygiene
Purpose: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder affecting an individual's ability to communicate, interact, behave, and learn. The purpose of this study was to determine knowledge, attitudes, and confidence of dental hygiene students in providing care to children with ASD as a mechanism for evaluating dental hygiene curricula for patients with special needs.
Methods: A simulated-virtual training (SVT) intervention was developed as an interactive approach for educating dental hygiene students on providing care to a child patient with ASD. The SVT intervention consisted of a scenario in which the clinician "interacted" with a child with ASD who was having difficulty in the dental environment. Pre- and post-test surveys measured students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived confidence related to providing dental hygiene services to children with ASD prior to and following the intervention. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank was used to determine statistical significance at the p=.05 level.
Results: Thirty-three second year dental hygiene students completed the pre- and post-test surveys for a response rate of 97%. Statistically significant differences were observed for self-reported confidence to provide care to patients with ASD upon graduation, assessment of the unique needs of children with ASD, and an understanding of the dental needs for children with ASD (p<0.05). Participants' confidence with performing dental hygiene services on children with ASD greatly increased, with statistically significant difference found for almost all services (i.e., oral exam, oral hygiene instruction, oral photos, radiographs, scaling, fluoride treatment; p<0.05) except selective polishing. Most (90%) agreed that there is a need for additional/elective resources to help increase comfort in providing care to children with ASD.
Conclusion: Results indicate the SVT intervention increased students' knowledge, attitudes, self-perceived confidence, and comfort. Dental and dental hygiene curricula could include technologies and intervention methods to advance access to dental care by children with ASD.
Original Publication Citation
Cenzon, K. F., Bruhn, A. M., Claiborne, D. M., & Bobzien, J. L. (2022). Use of a simulated-virtual training module to improve dental hygiene students' self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in providing care to children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 96(5), 42-51.
0000-0001-6324-9856 (Claiborne), 0000-0002-5124-1862 (Bobzien)
Cenzon, Kimberly F.; Bruhn, Ann M.; Claiborne, Denise M.; and Bobzien, Jonna L., "Use of a Simulated-Virtual Training Module to Improve Dental Hygiene Students' Self-Reported Knowledge, Attitudes, and Confidence in Providing Care to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study" (2022). Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications. 68. |
Stereotactic registration using cone-beam computed tomography.
Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
Cone-Beam computed tomography; Deep brain stimulation; Stereotactic techniques; Surgical accuracy
OBJECTIVE: Stereotactic registration for deep brain stimulation surgery is often performed after halo placement on an MRI or CT with fiducials. Cone-beam computed tomography scanners (CBCT) have been used for lead confirmation in DBS surgery. A new CBCT scanner has an enlarged field of view now allowing for visualization of fiducials, and the potential for intraoperative registration. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the accuracy and precision of stereotactic registration using images obtained in intraoperative CBCT.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The registration accuracy and precision of CBCT (O-arm O2, Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) was compared to CT registration study obtained in the same patient (n = 10). Stereotactic coordinate differences were compared. In a second analysis the end-to-end accuracy and precision between the surgical target and lead position was analyzed on postoperative MRI in cases where CBCT was used for registration (n = 31 leads).
RESULTS: The average radial distance of the stereotactic coordinate using the CBCT and CT registration studies was not clinically different (0.46 ± 0.17 mm (max 0.81)). The registration image maximum rod error was more accurate for CBCT (0.50 ± 0.12 mm (max 0.7)), than the CT registration study (1.02 ± 0.63 mm) (max 1.8) (P = 0.018). On average 26 min was saved using only the CBCT to perform registration (P < 0.001). The radial error in the end-to-end analysis was 1.07 ± 0.67 (max 2.4) measured on postoperative MRI.
CONCLUSION: Registration using a CBCT image is accurate, and using this workflow yields accurate and precise DBS lead placement.
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Carlson, Jonathan Dennis, "Stereotactic registration using cone-beam computed tomography." (2019). Articles, Abstracts, and Reports. 1657. |
A New Way Of Looking at Critical Incident Stress with Dan McGuire
In this episode of the Disaster Podcast, we bring back Dan McGuire from CISM Perspectives to talk about updates to the ways work-related stress for first responders is handled. The biggest change Dan noted was a focus on building resiliency into initial first responder education and ongoing training before the critical incident occurs.
Dan also tells us of a new way of referring to post-traumatic stress by calling it an injury rather than a disorder. Everyone on the call liked that nomenclature change. We all understand getting injured on the job. It’s part of what first responders have to deal with. Calling it an injury when post-traumatic stress after a critical incident keeps takes place is a way to remove a lot of the stigma around the PTSD label.
Also on the show are co-hosts Sam Bradley, Jamie Davis, disaster weather expert Kyle Nelson, and Dr. Joe Holley.
Join the discussion with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!
The show for first responders to major incidents worldwide.
Paragon Brings “The Experience”
Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system. |
Sorry for cutting in, I have a plan to move from CentOS 7 to Fedora 34+ Server for CentOS 8 or CentOS Stream 8 (Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux as well) could not be installed in my server using old CPU. Will this problem occur in my server after moving to Fedora ?
Which problem you mean? The minimum requirements?
What’s your CPU? As long as it’s 64-bit, it should be okay.
This is my question in CentOS.
Looking over your post on centos it seems you expect the newer server OS which is intended to support the commonly used hardware to automatically make it possible for the user to do an install without needing to be conscious of what hardware they have and without even checking if the OS being installed supports that hardware. You are installing new OS on OLD hardware.
The way to find out if fedora will work would be to boot to the live install media and test it. If it works then you are good. If not then you are stuck. You would be far ahead to try it and see instead of asking us, since most of us do not have your hardware for testing.
You are aware, I hope, that fedora has both a server version and a workstation version. I cannot itemize the differences, but mostly related to the graphical desktop. I suggest trying the workstation version, then if that works you know you have drivers available if not already in the server version.
I have successfully installed Fedora 34 Server without any additional setup (as well as Ubuntu Server). |
Responsible for supporting the production manager on the sets of TV shows and films. Print and distribute scripts, set up equipment, and run errands for staffers.
- Organize and pass out the day's production schedule to the cast and crew.
- Coordinate with other departments to ensure that all elements are ready for each scene.
- Assist the producer in whatever way possible to make sure the production run smoothly.
- Escort actors as needed, coordinate extras on the film set, and handle any crowds.
- Relay messages between the crew and cast; help set up the props, equipment, and lights. |
“Entrapment mononeuropathies represent a common reason for visiting primary care and outpatient neurology practices. Accurate diagnosis is paramount because these presentations can be very similar to radiculopathy or systemic neuropathy. Numerous experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that nerve mechanosensitivity can be heightened in the absence of nerve injury and therefore of neuropathic pain. All the nerves in their course have direct contact with fasciae and cross them. Until now, the role of the fasciae in etiology has been underestimated.” Some cherry-picked sentences from the study being discussed today.
What do we know about nerve entrapment pathologies related to fascia? For one, we know they are common. A few of the titles I came across while doing a quick Google search included…..
- Medscape’s 2017 article, Nerve Entrapment Syndromes, stated…. “Entrapment neuropathies are a group of disorders of the peripheral nerves that are characterized by pain and/or loss of function (motor and/or sensory) of the nerves as a result of chronic compression.“
- A June 2014 issue of Anatomy and Cell Biology (Fascial Entrapment of the Sural Nerve and its Clinical Relevance) “Entrapment of the nerve could be caused by compression due to fascial thickening, while the symptomatology includes sensory alterations and deficits at the nerve distribution area.” Fascia was mentioned here 15 times, with “thickening” seemingly the prime culprit (stick around for discussion and links).
- A 2012 issue of Radiology Research and Practice (Entrapment Neuropathies in the Upper and Lower Limbs: Anatomy and MRI Features) “Peripheral neuropathies are relatively common clinical disorders. Although nerves may be injured anywhere along their course, peripheral nerve compression or entrapment occurs more at specific locations, such as sites where a nerve courses through fibro-osseous or fibro-muscular tunnels or penetrates muscles.” The word fibro could have been swapped out for fascia here and been just as accurate.
- A 1998 issue of Clinical Orthopedics (Anatomic Considerations of Superior Cluneal Nerve at Posterior Iliac Crest Region) dealt with a phenomenon I wrote about HERE as fairly common cause of low back pain. “The intermediate and lateral branches of the superior cluneal nerve either pierce the thoracolumbar fascia or pass through an orifice or fissure in the thoracolumbar fascia. In two specimens, the medial branches of the superior cluneal nerve were constricted within the osteofibrous tunnel. The nerve was entrapped between the rigid fibers of the thoracolumbar fascia and the iliac crest.“
- A 1997 copy of the American Journal of Sports Medicine (Obturator Nerve Entrapment. A Cause of Groin Pain in Athletes) put it this way concerning groin pain. “Chronic groin pain in athletes is often difficult to diagnose and treat. There are many anatomic structures in the inguinal and groin region that have the potential to cause pain. [One of these is] ‘obturator neuropathy,’ a fascial entrapment of the obturator nerve where it enters the thigh The surgical findings are entrapment of the obturator nerve by a thick fascia overlying the short adductor muscle.“
- A 1988 issue of the Journal of Hand Surgery (Entrapment Neuropathy of the Palmar Cutaneous Branch of the Median Nerve by the Fascia of Flexor Digitorum Superficialis) stated, “At operation, constriction of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve by the fascia of seemingly normal flexor digitorum superficialis was observed beneath the site of maximum tenderness.“
- In 1976, the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association published a study titled Proximal Peripheral Nerve Entrapment Syndromes in the Lower Extremity that, as the title would suggest, concerned this very thing. The author defined the pathomechanics of the process as based on “altered transmission due to mechanical irritation related to anatomical neighbor impingement.“
Although that study was published when I was ten years old; a couple weeks ago a brand new study was released on this topic by renowned Italian fascia researchers, Antonio and Carla Stecco (MD’s) and physical and rehabilitation medicine specialist, CF Pirri. The Steccos have been instrumental in educating physicians and clinicians on the importance of understanding the relationship between inflammation and fibrosis (HERE), fascial “thickening” (HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE) and something they refer to as FASCIA DENSIFICATION. Their study, Fascial Entrapment Neuropathy, published in April’s issue of Clinical Anatomy covered more of the same ground, with some interesting new twists.
Basing these statements off of their findings in the scientific literature, the Steccos made a bold conclusion — particularly in light of the exploding prevalence of DIABETIC NEUROPATHY. “Entrapment neuropathies are the most prevalent type of peripheral neuropathy and can have profound physical, psychological and economic impacts on patients.” In other words, nerve entrapments are as common as they can be severe. And all too often these entrapments revolve around FASCIAL ADHESIONS. “Our research has underlined a finding common to many authors: fascial tissue is relevant to the etiology of entrapment neuropathy.”
The authors searched PubMed and came up with almost 22,000 potential studies for review, eventually settling on 72 that were published between the years of 1947 (just after WWII) and 2010, and fully met their criteria. Besides those mentioned earlier, here are some of the fascial entrapment neuropathies that were spoken of by the Stecco’s team.
- The ilioinguinal nerve (comes from the lumbar spine and innervates the scrotum in men and pubic area / labia majora in women), iliohypogastric nerve (comes from the lumbar spine and innervates the area around the hip bone), and genitofemoral nerve (comes from the lumbar spine and innervates the lower abdomen, scrotum and labia as well as the upper, inner, and front portion of the thigh). Be aware that the most common causes of these particular nerve entrapments are HERNIA SURGERIES or injury to the OBLIQUE MUSCLES.
- I’ve dealt with MERALGIA PARESTHETICA in the past (see link).
- PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME as well as other entrapments of the hip rotaor cuff (not to mention the mimic; CLUNEAL NERVE ENTRAPMENTS)
- Entrapments of the common peroneal nerve (lower leg, often around THE KNEE). While these often do not cause sensory deficits, they often lead to varying degrees of motor loss as noted by a 2013 issue of JOTSR (Peroneal Nerve Entrapment at the Fibular Head...). “The most common nerve entrapment syndrome at the lower limbs is entrapment of the common peroneal nerve (CPN) at the head of the fibula. A motor deficit is the main manifestation and the risk of permanent functional impairment is the predominant concern. Below the knee, the CPN courses around the lateral aspect of the fibular neck, where it is highly vulnerable to injury. Apart from laceration or stretching of the nerve during fractures or dislocations of the proximal fibula or ankle, idiopathic entrapment syndrome is the most common cause of loss of CPN sensory and motor function.“
- Superficial peroneal nerve entrapment (I discussed SUPERFICIAL NERVE ENTRAPMENTS IN FASCIA, including superficial peroneal nerve entrapment syndrome).
- Various entrapments of the foot that either directly or in round about ways are often related to the PLANTAR FASCIA or the POSTERIOR TIB TENDON, such as what’s seen in Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.
- Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment, which the authors stated was caused by “pathological changes in the gliding tissue [and] could contribute to the development of thoracic outlet syndrome“. SNE is a rare reason for posterior shoulder problems and is often confused with SCAPLAR DYSKINESIS (or HERE) found in other more common shoulder issues.
- Radial Nerve Entrapments occur at “several potential sites,” usually causing some sort of problem on the back-hand side of the forearm, with a number of fantastic videos on YouTube for addressing these.
- Median Nerve Entrapment: While there are many potential areas to entrap the median nerve, a 2010 issue of the American Family Physician (Peripheral Nerve Entrapment and Injury in the Upper Extremity) put it this way…. “The most common nerve entrapment injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, which has an estimated prevalence of 3 percent in the general population and 5 to 15 percent in the industrial setting.” CTS is an entrapment of the median nerve. The Steccos wrote that, “during surgery abnormal fibrous bands, adhesions, or neuromas could be found at sites of medial nerve entrapment.”
- Superficial radial nerve entrapments, also known as Wartenberg’s Syndrome or Cheiralgia Paresthetica are more common than most experts believe. Tresscot and Karl’s book, Peripheral Nerve Entrapments contains a chapter called Superficial Radial Nerve Entrapment, which states “Superficial radial neuralgia is an under-recognized cause of radial wrist and thumb pain. It is misdiagnosed as wrist tendonitis, DJD of the thumb, carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis, and cervical radiculopathy. Careful attention to the presentation and physical exam will reveal the etiology, which will lead to a variety of treatment options.” Although you can find a great deal of info about any of these topics on my site, I might add the ever-common DeQUERVAIN’S SYNDROME to that list as well.
- Ulnar nerve entrapment is, according to numerous sources, the second most common nerve entrapment neuropathy behind Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (it affects the palm-side of the forearm, particularly the area of the pinky). Because this nerve comes from the neck, entrapments are commonly confused with radiculopathy (see earlier link). The Steccos stated that, “The ulnar nerve passes through a fibrous tunnel (cubital tunnel) and related to repetitive trauma.”
Is Fascia a Leading Cause of Entrapment Neuropathies?
What are the chief causes of nerve entrapments? “Increased fascial thickness” was at the top of the list. But what causes increased fascial thickening? How about repetitive trauma found in any number of sports / hobbies and jobs (“We hypothesize that, in idiopathic nerve entrapment, repetitive micro-traumas and/or overuse can transform the extracellular matrix from sol to gel in multiple regions within the deep fasciae“).
Naturally, this leads to “increased viscosity of the ECM” — in other words, the liquid ECM becomes thicker, with less ability to lubricate tissues, which causes “loss of intra-fascicular gliding“. Another factor is “increased pressures” such as seen in compression or even compartment syndromes.
In talking about the ability of nerves to “glide” or “slide” longitudinally (this “reduces the local stretching that would otherwise occur during limb movement“), the authors mentioned GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS, HYALURONAN, and the “ADIPOSE TISSUE” that makes up a significant portion of the fascia. All of which helps explain why thickening or stiffening (frequently the result of SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION) is such a huge contributing factor for nerves that become “entrapped” in fascia (BTW, the study had a couple of excellent pictures of nerves trapped in fascia.
All of this information is wonderful, but as always, the place where the rubber meets the road is what it may take to solve the problem.
“The management of peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes depends on multiple factors including the chronicity and severity of symptoms, the underlying mechanism, and associated predisposing factors. Understanding the underlying mechanism of injury and the associated natural history is fundamental to designing an appropriate treatment strategy.”
Whether your particular problem is chronic or acute (or more likely a combination of both — HERE), everything can be boiled down to one simple question — can your specific entrapment be successfully addressed with conservative methods or is it going to require surgery? How might you find out?
- First, as is the case with most health issues, ailments or injuries, start addressing the UNDERLYING INFLAMMATION. I’m not simply talking here about using ice to diminish local swelling, but using diet and other “tools” to lessen the impact of systemic inflammation — the inflammation coursing through your body due to lifestyle choices (EPIGENETICS).
- Second, try some tissue remodeling — it’s why people come to see us from across the country and around the world (HERE).
- Third, leverage YouTube to your advantage. If you have been diagnosed, for instance, with peroneal nerve entrapment, YouTube it and learn everything you can about it, including what you could be doing to resolve it non-surgically.
Part of what I’ve done for you on my site is to create a generic protocol that addresses all these factors. It’s not a “cure-all” and it might not do anything for your particular problem, but it will provide most chronically ill or chronic pain patients with a DIY starting point (HERE). Also, if you value the free information you find on our site, be sure and get it in front of the people you love and care about most. A great way is still liking, sharing, or following on FACEBOOK. |
1.Canned food (8-15% protein), 2-15% fat,75%moisture,375-950 ME/Kcal/ lb.
1. Dry matter intake is ghigh due to low caloric content.
2. Highest palatability
3. Highest cost/ serving
4. Less convenient to serve
5. Needs refrigeration
2.Dry diet (18-27% protein, 7-15% fat less than 12% moisture, 35-50%carbohydrate and 1400-2000 ME/Kcal /lb.
1. Dry diets were introduced in 1890 where it was given as baked biscuits including grain, vegetables meat and is continued to be widely used form.
2. Generally are crunchy. Dogs relish feeding when moistened.
3. Reduce tartar and tooth decay.
4. Easy to store
5. Convenient economical
3.Soft moist (16-25% protein, 5-10% fat, 25-35% carbohydrates 30%moisture 1200-1350ME/Kcal/lb
1. Easy to store and serve
2. Expensive with regard to intake as it is low in caloric content
Other criteria in selecting food are cost, Nutrient density, Palatability,Digestability/ stool volume and Availability.
Feeding Adult Dogs
Normally active adult dogs with no weight problems can be fed good quality of commercial diet, which is “Commercially complete and balanced for all life stages”
Some adult dogs may not have high caloric needs and hence should be fed with low caloric diets having less fat and sodium. Feeding should be at least once in a day, to the extent of twice a day for large active breed. Fresh drinking water should be made available.
Feeding Pregnant Dogs
Usually nutritional hike is not required up to 5-6 weeks, the requirement for the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy is increased and diet with at least 1600Mcal/lb. Food with 215 proteins is recommended.
Feeding Lactating Dogs
The requirement for lactation continues to increase till the 4th week. Moistening dry food with water will encourage food intake during lactation. From 3-4 weeks puppies will start nibbling solid food. From 6-8weeks only less than 50% above maintenance requirement is needed.
Feeding on the Day of Weaning
The bitch should not receive food on the day but should have plenty of water. On the day after weaning, dam should receive ¼ th the amount, which was fed prior to being bred. The dam and puppies can be grouped together for few hours on the day so that the pups can nurse the dam dry. On third day, half the quantity of maintenance and 3/4th on the fourth day and usual maintenance diet is recommended from 5 th day onwards.
Puppy in a litter should gain approximately its birth weight in each week during lactation and nursing period. The typical introduction of a puppy to solid food (Around 3-4 weeks of age) usually amounts to the pup romping around and through the dams food bowls, licking moistened dry food from its paws. A dry puppy food should b e fed, moistened during first few weeks after weaning to encourage adequate food intake. Mixing one part of warm water to 3 parts of dry puppy food will make the food tastier and easier for puppy to eat. The feeding time should not be more than one hour.
Development of pet food
Each pet food manufacture has his own procedure for develop new product or modifying the current brand, this can be based on market research or a diet concept.
The owners preferences like cost satisfaction, reputation, storage capacity and convenience and pets preferences like ingredients, nutritional content palatability factors like colour, texture shape and other physical characters as well as mouthful level of cooking are considered in the development of a pet food.
The nutritional assessment of pet foods are done by digestibility and metabolic trails of products intended for meeting the requirement for various life stage or as per the claims used in the product
Please do not attempt to use our site to diagnose or treat your pet. Your veterinarian is the best source of health advice; however it is a good idea to be informed so you would know what questions to ask and I hope you find this web site useful. |
By Matthias Eck (UNESCO), Catherine Jere (University of East Anglia) and Justine Sass (UNESCO)
Inspite of incredible progress in enrolment around the last 20 several years, latest estimates show that 259 million small children and youth are out of faculty. Around half of these – approximately 132 million – are boys.
Though, globally, ladies stay much less likely than boys to enter faculty in the initial put, in several nations, boys are at larger risk of disengagement and dropout. Extended university closures and the for a longer period-term impression of COVID-19 on understanding decline and university dropout are possible to exacerbate existing gender disparities except actions are taken to deal with the mastering requirements of all.
As the new UNESCO World-wide report on boys’ disengagement from education and learning reveals, boys are extra probably than ladies to repeat major grades in 130 of 142 countries with facts – indicating poorer progression through school – and less most likely to proceed to upper secondary training in 73 nations, as opposed with 48 international locations where girls’ show drawback.
In which beforehand boys’ disadvantage has been of biggest problem in higher- or upper-center-money contexts, such as Latin The united states and the Caribbean, the Report’s evaluation exhibits that new patterns are rising. Various reduced- and decreased-middle-cash flow nations have viewed a reversal in gender gaps, with boys becoming remaining behind at most important and reduced secondary concentrations (see the Determine underneath). In the Gambia, for example, exactly where 88 girls for every single 100 boys were enrolled in principal training in 2000, 90 boys ended up enrolled for every single 100 ladies in 2019. In Nepal, the gender gap in upper secondary enrolment has also reversed significantly. In 2000, there were being just 62 ladies enrolling for each 100 boys by 2019 there were 89 boys enrolled for just about every 100 ladies.
While there has been some progress in narrowing gender gaps to boys’ drawback in Latin American and Caribbean nations in reduce secondary, they continue being wide at upper secondary. In other nations, boys go on to be deprived or the gender gap is widening. In 2019, just 76 boys for each 100 women had been enrolling at lower secondary level in Lesotho – a condition little improved since 2000.
In all areas apart from sub-Saharan Africa, young adult men are a lot less likely to carry on to tertiary training. This drawback is especially acute in North America and Western Europe and Latin The united states and the Caribbean locations, where by only 81 younger adult males for each 100 youthful women of all ages are enrolled in tertiary schooling.
Boys also lag behind women in understanding results, particularly in elementary abilities these types of as looking at. In 57 countries with info, main-age boys fare even worse than girls in mastering looking through skills, and adolescent boys carry on to fall behind at the secondary stage. Gaps in reading abilities get started early. In 23 of 25 countries with details for proficiency in studying at Grades 2 and 3, the proportion of girls achieving minimum amount proficiency in reading through is better than the share of boys.
But why do boys facial area these challenges in instruction?
Poverty and the require to function are between the most crucial motorists of poor participation and school dropout. As a 16-calendar year aged boy from Lesotho interviewed for this Report explained:
“Having no lunch at college discourages me to enjoy faculty as I at times go to faculty with an empty tummy. Sometimes when I can’t afford to buy myself lunch or do not have a lunchbox it indicates that I am not taking in that day.”
An additional 15-year outdated boy from Lesotho mentioned: “Parents inform me to go and lookup for lacking cattle, I at times return late and no more time have a possibility to go through.”
Gendered norms and expectations impression on boys’ commitment and want to find out. Not only may boys sense strain to work and generate funds, but, in lots of contexts, faculty things to do and particular subjects are regarded at odds with expressions of masculinity, generating instruction unpopular with boys.
Practices these types of as the streaming of courses and gender segregation contribute to boys’ very low inspiration, underachievement and disengagement from schooling. Harsh willpower, corporal punishment and other kinds of school-linked gender-dependent violence effect negatively on boys’ academic accomplishment and attainment. A secondary school-age boy from United Arab Emirates claimed:
“I continue to keep in mind the hitting. In Grade 5, I experienced a trainer who for some explanation hated me and made me loathe learning. As a end result, I became stubborn and refused to review. I nevertheless recall the trainer at the time introduced an electrical cable and had two boys keep me, and he strike my legs with the wire to the level exactly where I couldn’t stroll.”
Anxiety and activities of violence lead to amplified absenteeism and may add to dropout. Boys are a lot more likely than girls to expertise physical bullying and are normally specific due to the fact of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender id or expression. Conflict and compelled migration exacerbate challenges in accessing and completing schooling. Language obstacles, mobility and discrimination lead to academic exclusion.
The Report exhibits that there are only handful of programmes and initiatives addressing the phenomenon of boys’ disengagement from instruction. Thorough procedures to deal with the concern are even additional rare, and predominantly identified in higher-revenue nations around the world. Couple of reduced- or middle-earnings international locations have specific procedures in position to strengthen boys’ education and learning, even in countries with critical disparities at boys’ price.
Still, focused motion to increase academic alternatives for boys not only advantages boys’ discovering, work options, revenue and perfectly-staying, but it is also really effective for accomplishing broader economic, social and health outcomes, which includes gender equality. Educated males are extra possible to handle gals and gentlemen equally and aid gender equality policies. Males and boys who have a secondary instruction are much more probable to condemn gender-centered violence.
Globally, bettering educational options for women continues to be of paramount significance if gender equality in and through education and learning is to be obtained. Not only do girls in lots of countries carry on to experience difficulties in accessing excellent training, but they also have to contend with inequality, discrimination and exploitation as they changeover into the earth of work and adult lifestyle.
Even so, it is also important to make sure that a aim on obtaining gender parity and equality does not ignore boys. Accessibility to top quality training for all is not a zero-sum recreation. Supporting boys does not signify that girls reduce out, or vice-versa. On the opposite, equitable and inclusive training chances advantages both of those women and boys, and can, in the long run, help remodel society. |
Matternet drones to deliver COVID-19 tests in Berlin
The distance between the hospital and the lab is about 7 miles which the Matternet drones can complete in about 10 minutes, significantly faster than the standard one hour delivery times.
“The whole topic of ‘time to the result' is really important, especially when there is the suspicion of an infection,” said Klaus Tenning, who is leading the project for Labor Berlin. “You want to identify the person and get the result as soon as possible so that the person can self-isolate or be able to just continue with normal daily life.”
Once the new European drone rules come into effect by the end of this year, the hope is that these drone delivery flights of COVID-19 tests and other medical supplies will become routine.
By switching out batteries, the Matternet drones in theory can operate 24/7. On every flight, the unmanned aircraft can transport 40 samples.
In Germany, 175 laboratories can process 307,000 COVID-19 tests per day, says the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's disease control agency. Currently, more than one million COVID-19 tests are carried out every week. Some tests take place at designated test centers but they also happen at doctors' practices. According to Tenning, the delivery and transportation process can be sped up.
“An emergency situation like a pandemic can bring about faster change and innovation,” he said.
The Matternet drones are fully autonomous and come with a built-in parachute that would be deployed in case of an emergency. The drones can also detect and avoid other aircraft such as helicopters. The drone control center will be able to monitor all manned aviation taking place in the area.
“They start themselves and follow a pre-defined route and then they land autonomously at the destination,” said Alex Norman, Matternet's project manager, according to the Associated Press.
Norman continued to say that currently there are no plans in place to deliver vaccines by drone, but that could be a future possibility. Matternet is already working on temperature-controlled containers so that vaccines could be transported at the required low temperatures.
You can read more stories about drones being used for good right here on DroneXL.
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17.2 Types of Respite Care:
- In-home respite care is provided in the home of the licensed resource provider a minimum of six (6) hours up to 24 hours, overnight, daily or on a weekly basis.
- Out-of-home respite care may include the substitute care of children a minimum of six (6) hours up to 24 hours, daily, overnight or on a weekly basis in an approved home or facility other than the current licensed resource provider’s home. The resource worker will use the Foster Respite Care Provider Checklist, CS-RC2, to determine that the home is approved.
- Respite for an unlicensed relative or kinship provider is available through the Children’s Treatment Services, CTS, contract.
- There are occasions when a resource parent requires supervision of the foster youth placed in their home which do not meet the definition of respite. Refer to subsection 10 of this chapter.
Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 01-31-07)
CD09-07, CD14-17, CD18-16 |
Brain Fog or Mental fatigue is a type of cognitive dysfunction. It is not a disease, its just a sensation that you just can’t think clearly. You aren’t able to concentrate, you become forgetful, and/or your thinking pace is slowed down.
It can be due do hormonal changes, medications, or any medical illnesses such as anemia, depression, diabetes, hypothyroidism, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, depression etc.
When to see a Doctor – If brain fog is worse than usual, or interferes with daily life, visit your doctor about it.
Improvement Tips –
- Avoid sugar – To understand brain fog, eat 250 gms sugary cake on an empty stomach, than try to do math problems or architectural work. You will get the point clearly. This is called ‘sugar blues’.
- Walk n Exercise – Walking has ample health benefits. It is one of the easiest ways for a better body and mind. Physical movement causes the release of helpful chemical messengers called cytokines as well as chemicals that are responsible for elation called endorphins. Engage yourself in some kind of enjoyable activity (walk, exercise, run, dance).
- Good Night Sleep – Maintain a good sleeping regime. Say bye-bye to all other activities such as, Facebook, Internet, Games etc, especially two hours before sleep. Always remember Fresh mind is the best medicine to fight with brain fog.
- Try Deep breathing and Meditation – Close your eyes and take several deep breaths through your nose. Pay attention to your breath and allow the tension to run out of your muscles. Watch your thoughts, identify the problem areas.
- Fasting – Intermittent fasting can help both in reducing weight as well as brain fog. But,it should be performed under guidance.
- Diet – Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Keep yourself hydrated as dehydration can too cause brain fog. Eat foods containing omega 3 fatty acids, such as walnuts, almonds; high protein diet, fruits and green leafy vegetables. |
Trend of Gross Domestic Product and Per Capita Income of Bangladesh: Past, Present, and Future
Keywords:Gross Domestic Product, Per Capita Income, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank
Bangladesh's per capita income was half of that of India in 2007. Today, it has surpassed India. The Asian Development Bank has estimated that Bangladesh's GDP will grow at a rate of 6.6% hereafter. According to the 2022 Economic Freedom Index, Bangladesh's economy placed in the 137th position with a score of 52.7 in the World. In the Asia-Pacific region, Bangladesh ranked 29th position out of 39 countries. The resilience of COVID-19 impinged the average growth of the economy. International Monetary Fund (IMF) has envisaged that the World may experience a challenging recession-like situation in 2023. Hence, the present paper attempts to predict the economic condition of Bangladesh through its GDP and Per Capita Income. The study considers 51 years of GDP and Per Capita Income growth data. It has adapted the Trend Projection Method, a linear regression technique, and the Least Square method to analyze data to get the future trend. It has been found that GDP was grown at an average rate of 4.4% and Per capita income at an average rate of 1.8% since 1971. The study reveals that GDP and Per Capita Income may grow at 7% and above hereafter. Hence, appropriate strategies and economic policies of the Government of Bangladesh create a defendable position that safeguards the country's economic condition.
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Bhuiyan, A.B., Ali, M.J., Zulkifli, N. and Kumarasamy, M.M., (2020). Industry 4.0: Challenges, opportunities, and strategic solutions for Bangladesh. International Journal of Business and Management Future, 4 (2), 41-56.
Executive summary, Bangladesh Economic Review 2022
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How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2022 V. T. Vasagan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. |
The West Midlands is a vibrant and diverse region in the heart of England, situated between London and the Welsh border. Its largest city is Birmingham, and other major towns include Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Solihull. The region has a rich cultural and industrial heritage stretching back centuries, with some of the world’s most iconic brands hailing from its cities. Mark Mason’s West Midlands offers an unrivalled insight into this fascinating area of Britain, exploring its history and culture through books, maps, photographs and videos. Mark Mason’s West Midlands is an independent retail store based in the West Midlands region of England. It sells a variety of goods, ranging from clothing and homeware to gifts and stationery. Founded in 2017, the store has built a large following and enjoys a strong reputation for quality products and excellent customer service.
The Origins of Mark Masonry
The origins of Mark Masonry can be traced back to the early 1700s in England. The first recorded meeting of a Grand Lodge of Mark Masons took place in 1769, and the fraternity has grown steadily ever since. The Grand Lodge of Mark Masons West Midlands was established in 1845 and is one of the oldest lodges in England. It is still active today, with over 500 members spread across the region.
Structure and Organization
Mark Masons West Midlands is structured as a hierarchy of lodges, with each lodge being under the jurisdiction of its own Provincial Grand Master. The structure is designed to provide support and guidance for all members, from novices to experienced members alike. The Provincial Grand Master also oversees the organization’s charitable activities, which include donations to good causes and educational projects.
Rituals and Traditions
Mark Masonry West Midlands follows the same rituals as other Masonic organizations around the world. These include secret handshakes, signs, and passwords that are used as a way to identify fellow Masons. There are also several unique rituals that have been developed by Mark Masonry West Midlands over the years that are used to initiate new members into the fraternity. Each ritual has its own special meaning and purpose.
Membership in Mark Masonry West Midlands provides many benefits for its members beyond just fellowship. Members are able to network with other like-minded individuals who share similar values and interests, while also enjoying exclusive access to social events and activities throughout the year. Additionally, members receive discounts on many goods and services offered by local businesses in their area.
Mark Masonry West Midlands has a long history of providing fellowship and support for its members while also giving back to their local community through charitable donations and educational initiatives. It continues to be an active part of English Freemasonry today, offering its members a wealth of benefits and opportunities for growth both personally and professionally.
Benefits of Joining Mark Masons West Midlands
The Mark Masons West Midlands is an organization dedicated to promoting the values of Freemasonry in the region. Joining this organization comes with numerous benefits, including friendship, support, and camaraderie. Members of the organization are provided with a wide range of opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals from across the region. In addition, members can participate in numerous activities and events that help to strengthen their connection with each other. Furthermore, members are also encouraged to contribute to the local community by taking part in charitable activities and volunteering opportunities. As a result, being a part of this organization helps members to develop a sense of purpose and belonging while also making a positive difference in their local community.
Membership with Mark Masons West Midlands also provides access to exclusive clubs and social gatherings where members can network with others from similar backgrounds. This helps to foster relationships that could potentially lead to business or career opportunities down the line. Moreover, members are also provided with mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals who can offer advice on various aspects related to Freemasonry. Additionally, members enjoy discounts on products and services offered by the organization’s partners as well as access to exclusive resources such as books, magazines, newsletters, and research papers.
In short, becoming a member of Mark Masons West Midlands provides individuals with an invaluable opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills while furthering their understanding of Freemasonry. Moreover, membership allows them access to exclusive benefits such as special discounts and networking events that could open up new doors for them both professionally and socially.
Locations of Mark Masons West Midlands Lodges
The Mark Masons of the West Midlands are proud to be part of an international fraternity that has been in existence for centuries. As such, they have lodges located throughout the area. The main lodges in the West Midlands are in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall, and Dudley. Each lodge has its own unique atmosphere and style of practice.
The Birmingham lodge is located in the city centre and is home to many long-standing members. This lodge has a strong sense of tradition and is a popular choice for those looking to join the order.
Wolverhampton Lodge is also located in the city centre and boasts a strong culture of fellowship and camaraderie. The meetings held here are renowned for being particularly lively and enjoyable events.
The Coventry Lodge is situated just outside the city centre and has been operating since 1866. It is known for its warm atmosphere and welcoming attitude towards those who visit it.
Walsall Lodge is based in the town centre and focuses on providing members with an environment that encourages friendship and mutual respect between all members regardless of rank or seniority.
Therefore, Dudley Lodge can be found in the heart of the Black Country and offers members a chance to relax in comfortable surroundings while discussing matters related to Freemasonry. It is renowned for its convivial atmosphere and welcoming attitude towards visitors from other lodges or those looking to join up with them.
How to Become a Member of Mark Masons West Midlands
The Mark Masons West Midlands is a Freemason organization that is dedicated to the promotion of Christian values and principles. Membership in this organization is open to men aged 21 years or older who have a belief in a Supreme Being. If you would like to join the Mark Masons West Midlands, there are several steps that you will need to take.
The first step is to find a Lodge that you would like to join. Most Lodges are located in cities or towns throughout the West Midlands region, and they often host meetings and events for their members. You can search online for Lodges near you, or contact your local Freemason office for more information about joining an existing Lodge.
Once you have found a Lodge that interests you, the next step is to become an Entered Apprentice Mason. This requires attending a formal ceremony at your Lodge, during which time you will be expected to make certain pledges and take part in various rituals and activities. After completing this ceremony, you will officially become an Entered Apprentice Mason.
The third step involves attending at least two meetings of your Lodge as an Entered Apprentice Mason before being eligible for full membership. During these meetings, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the Masonic tradition and take part in various activities with other members of your Lodge. Once these two meetings have been completed, you can move on to the final stage of becoming a full member of the Mark Masons West Midlands.
The final step involves attending another formal ceremony at your Lodge, during which time you will be presented with your membership certificate and regalia (the clothing worn by members when attending Masonic events). This marks officially being accepted into the Mark Masons West Midlands as a full member. Congratulations – now that you have been accepted as a member of this esteemed organization, it’s time to start enjoying all the benefits it has to offer!
The membership of the Mark Masons West Midlands is open to all men who are Master Masons, and who have been initiated into a lodge of Mark Masons. All members must abide by the rules and regulations of the Mark Masons. All applications for membership must be approved by the Grand Lodge of Mark Masons.
The officers of the Mark Masons West Midlands are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. These officers include a Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Secretary and other appointed officers as needed. The duties of each officer shall be defined in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of the body.
The Mark Masons West Midlands shall hold an Annual General Meeting each year at a place and time determined by the Grand Lodge. At this meeting, officers shall be elected and reports shall be presented on the activities of the previous year. Special meetings may be called as needed to discuss special topics or issues relevant to the organization.
The rules and regulations of the Mark Masons West Midlands are established in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws established by the Grand Lodge. All members are expected to abide by these rules and regulations at all times when conducting Masonic business or activities related to their membership in the organization. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action as decided upon by a majority vote of members present at a meeting.
Charitable Work Undertaken by Mark Masons West Midlands
The Mark Masons of West Midlands are dedicated to helping those in need through the power of charity. They have been involved in a variety of charitable activities, from providing direct aid to individuals in need, to supporting local charities and community initiatives.
One of their main focuses is supporting local schools. They have provided grants and funds to help underprivileged children get access to education, as well as helping to improve school facilities such as libraries and playgrounds.
Mark Masons of West Midlands also run regular fundraising events. These include annual fun days, raffles and auctions, all designed to raise money for worthy causes. Their donations are often used to support hospices, hospitals, animal shelters and food banks across the region.
The Mark Masons also take part in a number of charity walks and bike rides each year, which helps raise awareness about their charitable work as well as money for the causes they support. In addition, they also host an annual charity ball which helps raise funds for local charities.
Therefore, the Mark Masons are committed to giving back to their communities through volunteer work. They regularly organise collections for homeless shelters, soup kitchens and other charitable organisations within the region.
In reflection, the Mark Masons of West Midlands have made a significant impact on their communities through their generous charitable efforts. Their dedication has helped many people in need and has ensured that those less fortunate can access vital resources that they may not otherwise be able to access.
Events Organised by Mark Masons West Midlands
The Mark Masons of West Midlands provide a unique opportunity to experience the spirit of fellowship and camaraderie through a variety of events. These events include social gatherings, charitable activities, ceremonial meetings and educational programs. All these activities are organised according to the ancient customs and traditions of Freemasonry.
The social events organised by Mark Masons West Midlands include dinners, luncheons, receptions, barbecues and other entertainment activities. These events provide an opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds and share experiences in an informal setting. The members of the Lodge also participate in a variety of sports activities such as golfing, bowling and squash as well as outdoor pursuits such as trekking or camping.
The charitable activities organised by Mark Masons West Midlands involve providing assistance to those in need in society. These activities include fundraising for local charities, helping the elderly or disabled members of society, providing financial assistance to those affected by natural disasters and raising awareness about social issues. The Lodge also organises various educational programs for its members which focus on understanding the fundamentals of Masonic teachings and principles.
The ceremonial meetings organised by Mark Masons West Midlands are based on ancient customs and traditions which have been passed down through generations. These meetings involve traditional rituals such as initiation ceremonies and conferral of degrees which are conducted with solemnity and reverence. The ceremonies also involve entertainment programmes such as musical performances which add to the festive atmosphere.
Mark Masons West Midlands provides an excellent platform for members to explore their potentials through various initiatives it conducts throughout the year. Through these events, members can gain valuable insights into Freemasonry while enjoying the unique spirit of fellowship that binds all its members together.
Mark Mason’s West Midlands is an area that has seen tremendous growth and development over the years. From its industrial heritage to its vibrant modern cities, the West Midlands has something to offer everyone. The region has a rich history, with many attractions and activities for those looking for a unique cultural experience. Its excellent transport links make it an ideal place to explore and experience the best of what Britain has to offer. The West Midlands is a great place to live or visit, with plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery. It is also home to some of the best music and arts venues in the UK, as well as numerous shopping and dining options. There really is something for everyone in Mark Mason’s West Midlands!
Mark Mason’s West Midlands is an area that has truly embraced change over the years, whilst still maintaining its rich culture and history. It provides a fantastic array of attractions, activities, shopping and dining experiences that will appeal to all tastes. With excellent transport links across the region, it’s easy to get around and discover some of the most diverse places Britain has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a day out or a longer stay in this fascinating region, Mark Mason’s West Midlands will not disappoint.
Eaton lodge 533 is part of Cheshire Freemasonry. |
Chillnobyl: Throwing a Rave Deep in Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone
The village of Hubyn was never officially evacuated—but over the last 30 years so many people have left that the effect is the same. Of a few dozen houses, most stand empty. A single multipurpose shop caters to an aging population. Plastic flowers adorn a Soviet war memorial engraved with symbols no longer tolerated in Kyiv. The road that once connected Hubyn to its local municipal town—Chernobyl—was blocked three decades ago, when the border of the Exclusion Zone was drawn along the village’s northern edge.
We drive into Hubyn in the middle of the afternoon. Two old men sit on a bench, and a handful of women wearing shawls plod along the main street, their footsteps synchronized with the rhythm of the pounding industrial techno. Outside the long-abandoned village club, young Ukrainians in dreadlocks and neon rave gear drink beers and share a joint as they wait for the party to begin.
Town sign, Chernobyl. In the Soviet era it was common for towns and villages to erect their own idiosyncratic “welcome” signs. Alongside a hammer and sickle are various symbols representing the river port, industry, and the nearby nuclear power plant.
The rave in Hubyn is the brainchild of Igor Oprya. For several weeks he and a team of volunteers have been sweeping debris into piles inside the old club building to make space for dance floors and a bar. The promotion of the event was controversial: an online video clip showed a masked man daubing paint in rainbow colors over the town sign in Pripyat’s Microdistrict 4, with a caption that read: “I Invite Everyone to Chernobyl Future Rave.”
Some stalkers were outraged at what they considered to be a desecration of the Zone. I spoke to Stepan, one of a number of stalkers who smuggled in pots of grey paint to return the sign to its original condition. “These people call themselves AVO,” he told me. Anarkho-Vandalskyy Otryad AVO’s social-media feed describes the project as “performance art theatre,” and calls for the decommunisation of Pripyat. A previous rave they held in the Zone was named “Tripyat,” and their next event, “Chillnobyl,” was only a week away. I was curious to know how AVO justified their interventions in the Zone and it seemed the best way of finding out would be to go along to the rave and ask them.
By dusk the village club is crowded and notch by notch the music gets louder. A local woman in her mid-fifties approaches the hall. I assume she’s come to complain, but instead she begins introducing herself to the partygoers. We talk. Her name is Valya and she lived in Donetsk, but came to stay with her family in Hubyn when conflict broke out in east Ukraine. She’s reluctant to talk about the war, so instead I ask her what she thinks of the rave. “Wonderful,” she says. “Hubyn is mostly abandoned. It’s a sad place. When they closed the Zone it became a dead end. It’s good to see young people here!” Before the party kicks off, a film is projected onto a wall once hung with noticeboards and decorated with portraits of Soviet leaders. Valya fetches two elderly female neighbors from the village and together we watch the documentary The Babushkas of Chernobyl (2015).
Village club, Hubyn. In September 2019, this long-abandoned building on the border of the Exclusion Zone was rejuvenated as the venue for an illegal techno rave.
By nightfall the dance floor is manic. Pumped-up ravers in neon costumes swing glow sticks and blow whistles. By 10 pm one partygoer has already passed out on a sofa, and after his friends help him outside, he promptly staggers back in and collapses again in the same place. People gather around fires on the lawn outside; stray sparks and cannabis smoke hang in the air as local babushkas drift in and out of the crowds. I buy a “Black Stalker” (whiskey and cola) at the surprisingly well-stocked bar and take it outside, where I get chatting to a techno DJ waiting for his early-morning slot.
“Techno is pure emotion,” he says, between swigs of an energy drink. “The most honest of all musical genres.” I ask him who these partygoers are—stalkers, or ravers? He gazes at the crowd for a moment. “Some stalkers, I think, but a lot of these people I know. It’s like the Kyiv rave scene, taking over the Zone. I thought it was strange at first, when they asked me to play here. But then I thought, why not? Chernobyl is ours, it’s our history. I think it’s good to bring life back here, to express new emotions in this place.”
Stalker tour operator Vladyslav Suvorow arrives around midnight. He’s fresh from an illegal hike—and apparently it was a total disaster. It had rained heavily all day, soaking their party of eight to the skin and turning the soil into slippery mud. After ten kilometers they gave up, deciding to surrender themselves to the police for an easy lift back to the checkpoint. But one of the tourists had no passport, which would have meant lengthy questioning by the border guards. So Vladyslav stayed with him, and the two of them walked for another nine hours through the rain to get safely out of the Zone. My own stalker guide, Kirill, arrives a little later, though I almost don’t recognize him. Last year he had been a teetotal, contemplative sort, who seemed more at ease in the Red Forest than around other humans. But tonight Kirill is a celebrity—everyone at the rave seems to know him, and he shouts, swaggers, dances, and drinks his way through the crowds. When I say hello, he greets me warmly—but he isn’t in any state for conversation.
The only sober person in the hall seems to be the rave’s organizer, Igor. He’s constantly on the move. Now he’s rushing from an electrical failure in the second sound system, to tend to a passed-out drunk in the garden. It isn’t until some time in the early hours that I manage to pin him down for a chat.
Perimeter fence, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Behind the village of Hubyn, rusted barbed wire hangs across a footpath leading into the Zone. From this location, a trespasser would have to walk for a full day before encountering significant levels of radiation.
“A lot of people here have never been to Chernobyl before. We are trying to draw attention with our performances in the Zone—even if it’s negative attention.” Igor, whose interest in the Zone was partly inspired by the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, says he has made more than thirty illegal visits since 2012. He worked briefly as a waiter at one of the hotels in Chornobyl, and it was while talking to tourists there that he became concerned about the nature of the industry. “I am not against tourism—I’m pro-tourism. But official tourism in the Zone today is vicious and corrupt. All the tour companies pay into a criminal kickback scheme, when really the money should be going to the national budget.”
Igor says his group, AVO, provides a protest movement. “It’s a virtual counter-subculture,’ he says. ‘It started in 2010 as a joke. Our mission today is to transform Pripyat—not destroy it as some are saying, but to use performance to bring attention to it. Okay, so we painted a sign… so what?” No one got hurt, and already it has been painted back to its original color. There’s a Soviet crest on top of a building… by law it must now be removed. So how about instead we paint it pretty pink? Ukraine’s decommunization law is absurd, and this is how we answer it—with absurdity, with post-irony.’
Crane claw, Yaniv (Pripyat outskirts). This piece of equipment was used to clean debris from Reactor Block 4 during the 1986 clean-up. Today it gives a potentially dangerous dosimeter reading of up to 600 μSv/h. In late 2019, it became the target of purported ‘performance art’ and was painted bright pink. This began an ongoing battle between graffiti artists and the purist stalkers who would attempt to restore its original colors.
A few weeks later, AVO’s next stunt is to paint Chernobyl’s famous abandoned crane claw bright pink. A highly irradiated object, it isn’t as easy to restore as previous targets were. Online, Igor writes: “On the outskirts of the city of Tripyat there is a crane claw that was used to scoop up the Chernobyl reactor debris… Now tourists will be less likely to endanger their health, because they will no longer photograph themselves in front of this beauty.”
I sleep in a friend’s car, waking at dawn to the ceaseless drumbeats. A handful of zombies are still dancing in the hall. Some huddle in corners or sleep in tents pitched in storerooms, while others sit outside, smoking cigarettes and staring blank-faced into the embers of last night’s fires. Behind the village club, the old road, its tarmac edges overgrown with grass, leads north towards the forest. I follow it past the graveyard with its war memorial, until it stops abruptly where the earth has been bulldozed into a ridge marking the outer border of the Exclusion Zone.
Mural on a residential building, Heroes of Stalingrad Street, Pripyat. This Socialist-realist mural depicts virtuous citizens (a farmer, a construction worker, a police officer, and a Young Pioneer) under a radiant Soviet crest. The “Bridge of Death,” on the road between Pripyat and the power plant. It is claimed that on the night of the disaster a number of Pripyat residents stood here to get a better view of the burning plant. The bridge derived its nickname from the widespread—but incorrect—belief that all the spectators died soon afterwards from radiation exposure.
A few rusted strands of wire swing lazily between the trees. Distant electronic beats pound through the forest, shaking dewdrops from the pines. High above, a woodpecker responds with its own staccato counter-rhythm as I step into the Zone. Inhaling deeply, I feel a tremendous sense of freedom—a vast and complex terrain stretches before me, where nature thrives untamed, and those who remain submit themselves to its mercy. Strange utopian art from the old regime lies waiting to be discovered beneath the trees and steel giants—towering technological wonders of the Cold War era—rise up like rusted guardians over this timeless no-man’s land. As I walk into the sentient forests of Chernobyl, I hear the words of Tarkovsky’s Stalker:
“Everything is already taken from me, there, on the other side of the barbed wire. All I have is here. Can you understand?! Here! In the Zone! My happiness, my freedom, my dignity—everything’s here!”
From Chernobyl: A Stalkers’ Guide by Darmon Richter. Used with the permission of FUEL Publishing. Copyright © 2020 by Darmon Richter.
#DarmonRichter #ColdWar #History #Photography #Chernobyl |
When Jon Blanchard was in college, he dreamed up an idea while passing the time playing video games. He wondered if there was a way he could teach students concepts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, through basketball. He turned that vision into an organization called STEMletics and now, he teaches Flint students science and math while they play their favorite games.
“We love having STEMletics at our YouthQuest sites,” says Dr. Kimberly Leverette, executive director of Education & Talent, a division of Flint & Genesee Group. “Kids are engaged in the programming that their organization provides and are learning STEM concepts simultaneously.”
Blanchard likes working with YouthQuest because of the breadth of students he and his team are able to work with.
“It gives me the opportunity to extend my program to new students,” says Blanchard. “I get to bring my love of STEM to these students and help them reach their goals and expand their knowledge.”
Recently, Blanchard has added Esports to his array of offerings. Through this program, he teaches students about coding and circuitry and exposes them to the competitive world of gaming, which has increased in popularity in recent years.
“Through Esports, I show students the various career pathways they can take around video games,” says Blanchard. “Students can pursue streaming and competitive gaming, or they can do video game testing.”
What is important about the partnership between STEMletics and YouthQuest?
I think it’s good that the students have a variety of programming and different activities with the various vendors, like myself, that they bring in. They can add more specialized lessons like STEM along with the program they already provide.
What does your organization provide for people in Flint?
We opened a facility last year and provide programs there such as boot camps and weekend camps. We also have students come and participate in events such as Esports tournaments.
Why is YouthQuest important to the area?
It gives small businesses the opportunity to reach a larger number of students and gives students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities outside of sports. It also provides mentorship for students in the area and additional support for parents who might need it.
YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. |
December 21, 2021
What’s in a meeting?
To: either/view subscribers
Good morning. Conspiracy theorists are in for a rude awakening. Some have been buying “anti-5G” jewellery to protect them from the network. However, the Dutch authority for nuclear safety and radiation protection (ANVS) issued a warning on ten such products saying they give off harmful ionising radiation. They warned people not to use these products as they could cause harm with long-term wear. Also, it should be noted, there is no evidence that 5G networks are harmful to health.
📰 FEATURE STORY
The PMO Meeting Election Commission Officials – Improper Or Much Ado About Nothing?
The constitution is a sacred document. It is definitely one that gets interpreted in many ways by various people and groups. As BR Ambedkar once said, “Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated”. Among the tenets of the Indian constitution, the one about checks and balances is vital.
In a democracy, checks and balances are the guardrails against tyranny. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) meeting with officials from the Election Commission certainly raises eyebrows. However, is the hue and cry over the invite and meeting overblown?
If you’ve wondered who is in charge of elections in the world’s largest democracy, it is the Election Commission of India (ECI). By definition, it is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Law and Justice. The ECI was established by the Indian constitution to ensure free and fair elections.
Article 324 of the constitution gives the EC powers to direct and control elections to the parliament, state legislatures, and offices of the President and Vice President of India. The ECI was established in 1950 and is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The current CEC is Sushil Chandra. At the state level, the EC is assisted by Deputy Election Commissioners, generally IAS officers.
Coming to the autonomous part, there has been some controversy about this in the recent past. In March, the Citizens’ Commission on Elections (CCE), chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, submitted the second part of its report into India’s election systems. It was an indictment on the ECI’s autonomy. It pointed out various red flags – exclusion of marginalised communities from voter lists and the secrecy concerning electoral bonds and money in elections.
The Supreme Court also took notice. In 2019, the Commission handed out clean chits to politicians who made provocative political statements. The court questioned whether the ECI had the public’s trust. Pressure from politicians on the EC isn’t new. Under James Michael Lyngdoh’s tenure as Election Commissioner, he was under pressure to hold elections in the aftermath of the 2002 riots in Gujarat after Modi dissolved the assembly. However, as historian and author Narayani Basu pointed out, Lyngdoh didn’t succumb.
Invite and meeting not improper
As the opposition cried foul once the letter inviting Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra for a meeting with the PMO went out, the Union Law Ministry offered a straightforward clarification. They said the PMO’s legislative department had asked the secretary or an official representative to take part in discussions on electoral reforms.
The ministry also said that the PMO’s legislative department holds meetings with EC officials on poll reforms. It also stated that the cabinet secretary and the PMO held similar meetings earlier. The meeting in question was held to finalise some proposals and to iron out some aspects of the final draft of the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The reaction to this meeting is overblown. Electoral reforms are important for any democracy and should happen from time to time. For this to happen, there has to be a meeting of the stakeholders – the Election Commission and the government in charge. As long as it does not include discussions on the conduct of elections, it is fine, and there is nothing suspicious. As PK Basu, former secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, wrote, officials meeting others from equally-placed branches of the executive will not compromise their independence.
Former CEC N. Gopalaswami did admit the letter itself was problematic. However, he said the EC and CEC didn’t surrender their independence as they only attended an informal session and not the meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Autonomy once again in doubt
It is clear CEC Sushil Chandra was not pleased with the invite. The Ministry itself said as much while offering their clarification. As former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi wrote, the PMO summoning the EC and CEC violates the constitutional spirit. Even if the issue at hand is urgent, the invite would’ve been a violation of the constitution.
According to some former CEC’s, governments have invited Election Commissioners for meetings. However, they never attended them. The optics alone are bad. Both the government and the Election Commission and its officials come off looking bad. A better option for the government would have been to seek written clarifications on the issue of the electoral reforms. It is important to keep in mind, the ECI conducts and supervises the electoral system. There has to be a high degree of trust in the process and results.
The entire episode gives more credence to the government not caring about the separation of constitutional powers. It shows that the Executive is willing to exert its power on administrative bodies that are supposed to be autonomous. For the EC, this isn’t the first time they have been involved in such transgressions. In 2017, a BJP-appointed Chief announced election dates for all state elections at the same time.
The most important point here is that in a democracy, institutions can function based on public trust. Over the past few years, that trust has eroded in general. The faith in the EC has taken a beating over recent decisions that have favoured the party in power. Several people have pointed out the partisan attitude of the EC. The invite and the meeting itself were unprecedented. Also, the timing is suspect given upcoming crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
🕵️ BEYOND ECHO CHAMBERS
For the Right:
Personal Data Protection Bill: Overbroad Exemptions on Data Processing Dilute Govt’s Own Cause
For the Left:
Dichotomy Of Democracy: When Dynasts Call Themselves Democrats And Still No One Calls Them Out
🏴 STATE OF THE STATES
Advanced Biological Defence Lab (Madhya Pradesh) – In Gwalior, an Advanced Biological Defence Research Centre (ABDRC) will be set up to focus on dangerous viruses, their effects on humans and develop treatments. The new facility will use AI and cyber techniques to develop ways to repel viruses. It will also be Bio-Safety Level (BSL) 4, which only a few countries have.
Strike by power sector workers (Jammu & Kashmir) – More than 20,000 employees of the Union Territory’s power transmission and distribution corporations went on strike. They cited the administration’s decision to privatise assets and a delay in their salaries. As a result, the state government sought the Army’s assistance in restoring essential services. In some districts, local hospitals were affected. The strike comes in the wake of the administration announcing the merger of Power Transmission Corporation Limited (PTCL) and the Power Distribution Corporation Limited (PTDL) with the Power Grid Corporation of India.
Treatment for road accident victims (Tamil Nadu) – Chief Minister MK Stalin launched an initiative to save the lives of those involved in road accidents. Over 600 hospitals in the state have been networked to provide medical help during the golden hour. The scheme offers 81 recognised live-saving procedures to a maximum cover of up to ₹1 lakh to the victim. The beneficiaries can continue treatment at the same hospital, while those who don’t have insurance or aren’t covered will get free treatment at a government hospital.
New steel plant (Odisha) – Locals of the Kendrapada district are happy as Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik approved a steel plant by Arcelor Mittal. The hope is that the livelihoods of the people will be changed for the better and will create a new path of development for the state. Mittal is expected to invest over ₹1 lakh crores in the steel plant. It will be completed in seven years and is projected to generate 16,000 jobs.
Three new districts (Nagaland) – The state government has created three new districts, bringing the total under the administrative units to 15. The cabinet decided on forming Tseminyu, Niuland, and Chumukedima districts. The Tseminyu sub-division in Kohima district was upgraded to a district. Niuland and Chumukedima were carved out of Dimapur district. There were demands from at least 11 tribes for new districts. However, the government could consider only three. The inauguration of the new districts will happen soon.
🔢 KEY NUMBER
£50 million – The amount donated to the University of Oxford by billionaire Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India (SII). It is the “largest-ever gift for vaccines research” the university has received. |
How Does Sugar Affect Your Teeth?
Many people struggle with sugar addiction – and the ingredient is in nearly every processed food. Here in Elegant Dentistry, we help our patients to steer off sugar by explaining how it can damage the teeth. This article provides you some tips on how sugar directly affects your oral health.
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay or dental caries occurs when the acid in your mouth attacks the enamel resulting in holes or cavity formation. Your teeth get more sugars and starches from food like bread, cereals, milk, soda, fruits, cakes, or candies., especially whenever you forget to brush after eating such food. The bacteria in your mouth will digest these foods, turning them into acids. Plaque formation develops from bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva clinging to the teeth.
Sugar and tooth decay
Sugars in food and drinks play a primary role in the development of dental caries. If your regular diet consists of eating loads of starches and sweets, there is only so much the remineralization process can do to stop the effect sugar has on your teeth. So how can you address it? Our Edina dentists strongly advise patients to do their part by limiting sugar consumption. It allows the mouth to take its natural job of damage repair and maintaining good oral hygiene.
Should I Avoid All Sugary Foods & Drinks?
As much as you can, do avoid refined or processed sugars like soda drinks, candies, potato chips, pre-packaged snacks, and ice cream. Moderately consume acidic foods and drink like dried fruit, honey, and citrus juices because they can also become harmful to your teeth. Choose food high in fiber and protein.
Perfect examples are nuts, cheese, leafy greens to promote strong teeth, fresh fruit, carrots, and celery. Don't forget to hydrate or drink plenty of water during and after eating. Water promotes saliva production and helps wash away the bacteria and residual food particles within your mouth.
No matter what form it comes in, sugar can cause cavities. Learning why sugar is bad for your teeth makes sense in understanding its role in dental cavity formation.
Sugar and Teeth Facts
- According to a 2017 WHO article, dental caries is an expensive disease to treat, consuming 5 –10% of healthcare budgets in industrialized countries, and is among the main reasons for hospitalization of children in some high-income countries.
- 13.2% of children aged 5-19 years with untreated dental caries (2015-2018).
- 25.9% of adults aged 20-44 with untreated dental caries: 25.9% (2015-2018)
- Limiting free sugars intake to less than 10% of total energy intake – and ideally even further, to less than 5% – minimizes the risk of dental caries throughout the life course.
- According to FDI World Dental Federation, untreated tooth decay in permanent teeth is the most common health condition globally. Approximately 2.3 billion people suffer from tooth decay (dental caries) of permanent teeth.
Who is at risk of tooth decay?
Everyone is at risk of tooth decay, but children and adolescents are the most risk group. Tooth loss in young people is mainly because of tooth decay. Those who regularly eat sugar-rich food are more prone to dental caries. Smokers and alcohol drinkers are also at risk. It can also be associated with social factors, wherein higher incidence happens more in lower-income households.
How to prevent tooth decay
Here are other ways to keep the dental carries away:
- Floss daily and brushing teeth thoroughly twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride.
- Avoid if not reducing the amount of sugar-containing sticky food. Make sure to rinse the mouth with water and brush your teeth soon after consumption.
- Limit your snacking on carbohydrate-rich food like candy, pretzels, and chips. They can increase the production of acid in the mouth. Eat nutritious and balanced meals instead.
- Reduce the consumption of sugars rich beverages. Only eat sugary foods at mealtimes.
- Ask your dentist about dental sealants. A sealant can help protect your teeth from decay. It appears to be a plastic kind of protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. Elegant Dentistry offers dental sealants depending on your treatment plan.
- Drink fluoridated water. At least a pint of fluoridated water each day is needed to protect children from tooth decay.
- Book a regular dental visit with Elegant Dentistry for professional cleanings and oral exams.
With the teeth cleaning and checkup services we offer, we can aid in treating and averting oral health issues like oral cancer, dental decay, gum disease, and a host of others.
Visit us to experience a family-centered service from the team of Elegant Dentistry. Let us know how we can assist you with your precise needs. Our professional Edina dentists and staff are happy to provide you with the best services you can't find anywhere.
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For some useful statistics on oral health, dental disease and the dental profession you may click here. |
Endless opportunities for the electronic system design ecosystem, including embedded
August 10, 2017
We?re on the cusp of the explosion of the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and so much more.
Opportunities for the electronic system design ecosystem are endless, as the recent Design Automation Conference proved so well. Attendees and exhibitors heard from all corners of the industry that we’re on the cusp of the explosion of the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and so much more.
Every single one of these mega-technology trends is powered by complex chips, while the design automation segment of the semiconductor market provides the means to correctly design and verify them.
Joe Costello, CEO of Enlighted, captivated DAC attendees as the conference got under way with his vision of the future. He believes the Internet of Things is a bigger opportunity than anything the design automation industry has tackled yet. Simon Segars of ARM and Lucio Lanza of Lanza techVentures agreed as they followed the same IoT theme, offering a look at how the digital world will be connected with the physical world. Each of them challenged the system design ecosystem to reinvent itself to support the IoT infrastructure.
Jim Hogan of Vista Ventures took attendees on a fanciful exploration of artificial intelligence and convolution neural networks with James Gambale of Lomasoft, Chris Rowen from Cognite Ventures and OneSpin’s Raik Brinkmann. They discussed data gathering and processing and where this is headed.
Vendors were in on the act as well promoting new tools, technologies, methodologies, and various forms of IP. Many pre-conference announcements promoted safety-critical software to meet the stringent ISO 26262 standard, design tools based on machine-learning techniques that got smarter the more they were used, and the promise of next-generation software to reduce power consumption
Laurie Balch, chief analyst at Gary Smith EDA, furthered the concept of vertical solutions, something she and other analysts are seeing as a trend throughout the industry. It’s not a new idea, but one that obviously is taking hold. Companies are launching products tailored to specific markets, such as networking and storage, a market heavily reliant upon the system design ecosystem.
Another fascinating development is cloud-based computing. The semiconductor industry, the foundation of technological advances, never embraced the cloud until now. That’s changing for a number of practical reasons, including availability of extra hardware resources to manage new SoC design and verification for faster results and reduced capital expenditure.
Of course, it didn’t take a conference like DAC to point out all the other great new opportunities, such as analog/digital mixed-signal and multicore design, 3D ICs that are the new reality and embedded software. More and more, software and hardware are implemented into one giant complex system as the majority of new designs will be multiple devices, not huge single SoCs, though they aren’t going away either. Each and every individual engineering these devices needs sophisticated design and verification tools.
The Design Automation Conference provided the system design ecosystem with numerous and varied examples of how to expand outside of a small niche into supplying the tools, technologies and methodologies to fuel the technology future. It’s now up to us to take up the challenge. |
Understanding the structure – function relationship of cells and cell organelles in their natural context requires multidimensional imaging. Recent technical advances especially in multimodal 3D-5D imaging techniques have enabled a new insight into the morphology of tissues, cells and organelles. As the performance and access to such techniques are improving, the amounts of collected data are growing exponentially posing a question about effective processing, visualization, and analysis of these large datasets. Quite often the detailed analysis of multidimensional data is impossible without segmentation of objects of interest out of the volume (creating of a model). Usually the segmentation is the most time consuming and challenging part of the image analysis routine. For example, it may take up to a month to properly segment a single electron tomogram. The slowness of the process is caused by two main factors: limited number of good software tools (even commercial ones) and segmentation algorithms that can be applied to facilitate the modeling. As a result, the real potential of the collected data is not completely realized.
Here, we present a free user-friendly software package (Microscopy Image Browser, MIB) for effective segmentation and image processing of multidimensional datasets that improves and facilitates the full utilization of acquired data and enables quantitative analysis of morphological features. MIB is written in Matlab language which is familiar to many researchers and available for main common operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux); alternatively MIB is also distributed as a standalone package for both Windows and Mac OS. The access to the code and the open-source environment enables fine tuning and possibility of adding new plug-ins to customize MIB for specific needs of any research project.
Even though the focus of the program is 3D segmentation of electron microscopy datasets, MIB is rather universal and can be used to perform segmentation, analysis and visualization of 2D-4D datasets obtained by light microscopy.
We already utilized MIB in more than 10 scientific research projects, where it allowed us to facilitating the segmentation part of the image processing workflow significantly. Here we demonstrate its successful application by presenting results of segmentation and quantification of cells and different cellular organelles imaged using various electron and light microscopy techniques.
To cite this abstract:Ilya Belevich, Merja Joensuu, Darshan Kumar, Helena Vihinen, Eija Jokitalo; Microscopy Image Browser: an open-source platform for segmentation and analysis of multidimensional datasets. The 16th European Microscopy Congress, Lyon, France. https://emc-proceedings.com/abstract/microscopy-image-browser-an-open-source-platform-for-segmentation-and-analysis-of-multidimensional-datasets/. Accessed: December 2, 2023
EMC Abstracts - https://emc-proceedings.com/abstract/microscopy-image-browser-an-open-source-platform-for-segmentation-and-analysis-of-multidimensional-datasets/ |
Lamin B1 (Lmnb1) is a major component of the nuclear lamina and together with other lamins (lamin A/C) plays a key role in the structure and function of the nucleus. Mutations in lamins and lamin-associated proteins have been indeed shown to cause various human diseases. There are indications that mammalian lamins A and B and drosophila Lamin Dm0 are involved in nuclear envelope formation and nuclear morphology (Prüfert et al. J Cell Sci 117, 6105). To explore the specific role of Lamin B1 in defining nuclear morphology we applied electron microscopy, electron tomography and correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) on different cell types in which murine lamin B1 (Lmnb1) was silenced or human lamin B1 (LMNB1) was over-expressed.
To investigate how Lmnb1 deficiency affects nuclei of post-mitotic neurons, we analyzed the nuclear morphology of primary mouse cortical neurons derived from Lmnb1-null (Lmnb1Δ/Δ) embryos (Giacomini et al. Mol Biol Cell 27, 35). Nuclei of cultured Lmnb1Δ/Δ neurons were smaller and rounder than those of Lmnb1+/+ embryos (the area of Lmnb1Δ/Δ nuclei was 43% less than that of Lmnb1+/+). Moreover the Lmnb1Δ/Δ nuclei presented a rounder shape than those of Lmnb1+/+, as confirmed by increased circularity values (mean circularity was 0.62±0.16 n=28 and 0.9±0.87 n=39 for respectively Lmnb1+/+ and Lmnb1Δ/Δ nuclei). Taken together, these results indicate that optimal Lmnb1 levels are essential to maintain neuronal nuclear size and shape. Lmnb1 deficiency also affected the distribution and composition of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in mouse cortical neurons. Indeed in Lmnb1Δ/Δ neurons, the NPCs were distributed irregularly, with some regions of the nuclear envelope hosting groups of NPCs located close to each other and other areas devoid of NPCs (Fig.1A-C). Electron tomography performed on serial semi-thin sections showed that in Lmnb1Δ/Δ neurons the NPCs are distributed in parallel, closely packed rows (Fig.1D).
The effect of the LMNB1 over-expression on nuclear morphology was assessed in transfected HEK 293 and HeLa cells. HEK 293 cells transfected with a bicistronic plasmid containing LMNB1 and EGFP downstream of an IRES sequence were sorted by EGFP expression using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and high pressure frozen and freeze substituted to maintain structural integrity as much as possible. To increase contrast at the nuclear membranes we set up a freeze substitution recipe with a pre-incubation step at -90°C in 2% hydrated acetone containing small percent of tannic acid and glutaraldehyde. The cell nuclei of HEK 293 over-expressing LMNB1 were lobulated, with highly folded nuclear membranes often associated with multi-membrane stacks and intra-nuclear membranes (Fig.2A). As in primary cortical neurons lacking Lmnb1, we observed clusters of NPCs at the nuclear membrane (Fig.2B). Immunolabeling performed on cryo-sections revealed the presence of LMNB1 on the membrane stacks associated with the nuclear envelope (Fig.2C). This result supports the idea that these membrane stacks are effectively multi-membrane-layered nuclear membranes. To better understand the fine localization of Lmnb1 we performed correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) experiments on HEK 293 and HeLa cells overexpressing LMNB1 in fusion with EGFP and tdTomato downstream of an IRES sequence. The cells, grown on sapphire disks carbon coated with a finder grid pattern, were live imaged at the confocal laser scanning microscope and then high pressure frozen and freeze substituted (Fig.3). As for HEK 293, the cell nuclei of HeLa cells over-expressing LMNB1 were lobulated with highly folded nuclear membranes. The HeLa nuclei differed from HEK 293 nuclei for the absence of membrane stacks associated to the nuclear membranes and for the presence of peculiar morphologies (Fig.3A). Indeed our CLEM approach revealed the presence of highly folded intra-nuclear membranes delimiting large cytoplasmic regions (Fig.3B,D). This approach also revealed the presence of nuclei that branched apically in thin and long nuclear rods delimited by conventional nuclear membranes (Fig.3B,C). Altogether, our results indicate that proper levels of Lamin B1 are required to maintain structural integrity and morphology of the nuclear envelope.
We thank Roberta Ruffilli and all the EM Lab members for their support. Special thanks to Prof. Liberato Manna for supporting this research.
To cite this abstract:Roberto Marotta, Tiziano Catelani, Mattia Pesce, Caterina Giacomini, Sameehan Mahajani, Gasparini Laura; Role of Lamin B1 in structuring the cell nucleus in eukaryotic cells. The 16th European Microscopy Congress, Lyon, France. https://emc-proceedings.com/abstract/role-of-lamin-b1-in-structuring-the-cell-nucleus-in-eukaryotic-cells/. Accessed: December 2, 2023
EMC Abstracts - https://emc-proceedings.com/abstract/role-of-lamin-b1-in-structuring-the-cell-nucleus-in-eukaryotic-cells/ |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2015)
|Born||23 July 1806|
|Died||17 June 1842 (aged 35)|
|Place of burial|
Dispatched on a mission to persuade the Emir of Bukhara to free Russian slaves and sign a treaty of friendship with Britain, he was first arrested by the Emir Nasrullah Khan in 1838. In November 1841 Captain Arthur Conolly arrived in Bukhara with part of his remit to attempt to secure Stoddart's release. He was unsuccessful. Both men were executed on charges of spying for the British Empire on 24 June 1842.
In 1845, the Rev Joseph Wolff, who had undertaken an expedition to discover the two officers' fate and who barely escaped with his life, published an extensive account of his travels in Central Asia which made Conolly and Stoddart household names in Britain for years to come.
- Harries, R.; Cattermole, P.; Mackintosh, P. (1991). A History of Norwich School: King Edward VI's Grammar School at Norwich. Norwich: Friends of Norwich School. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-9518561-1-6.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Stoddart", p. 255).
- Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Kodansha International, 1992, ISBN 4-7700-1703-0, p. 565
The timeline of the Great Game is available online.
- Tom Bissell, Chasing the Sea, Vintage, 2004, ISBN 978-0375727542, pp 247–253
- Stephen M. Bland Does it yurt? Travels in Central Asia or How I Came to Love the Stans, Hertfordshire Press, 2016, ISBN 978-1910886298
- Leonard Arthur Bethell, Tales from the Outposts – Vol 1, Frontiers of Empire. Edinburgh: Blackwood. 1st edition 1932, pp 267–268.
- Joseph Wolff, Narrative of a mission to Bokhara, in the years 1843–1845, to ascertain the fate of Colonel Stoddart and Captain Conolly. London: J. W. Parker, 1845. First and second (revised) edition both came out in 1845.
- New York: Harper & Bros., 1845
- Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood & Sons, 1848
- New York: Arno Press, 1970 ISBN 0-405-03072-X
- Elibron Classics, 2001, ISBN 1-4021-6116-6)
- A mission to Bokhara. Edited and abridged with an introduction by Guy Wint. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1969. ISBN 0-7100-6456-X |
Sintra, Portugal, is an enthralling city within the foothills of the Sintra Mountains. This historic city has lengthy been a favourite vacation spot for vacationers. Pena Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage website attracts 1000’s of tourists yearly. On this article, we’ll present a complete information to Pena Palace Sintra and the points of interest to go to.
Historical past of Pena Palace Sintra
Pena Palace Sintra has a wealthy historical past that dates again to the nineteenth century. It was constructed as a summer season residence for King Ferdinand II of Portugal, who was identified for his love of the humanities and structure. The palace was constructed on the location of an previous monastery that had been destroyed within the earthquake of 1755. The development of the Pena Palace started in 1838 and was accomplished in 1854. Since then, it has turn into some of the iconic landmarks in Portugal.
The structure of Pena Palace Sintra
The structure of Pena Palace Sintra is a mix of various types. The palace options Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance parts giving the palace a particular look. The palace is painted in shiny colours, with shades of yellow, pink, and blue, and is adorned with intricate tilework, ornate carvings, and stained glass home windows.
Points of interest to Go to close to Pena Palace Sintra
There are a lot of points of interest close to Pena Palace, making it a really perfect vacation spot for a day journey. A few of the common points of interest embrace:
Citadel of the Moors: This historic citadel was constructed within the eighth century and was as soon as a strategic stronghold. Immediately, guests can discover the citadel and revel in beautiful views of the encircling panorama.
Quinta da Regaleira: This stunning property options beautiful gardens, underground tunnels, and an ornate palace. It’s an incredible place to discover and take within the space’s pure magnificence.
Sintra Nationwide Palace: This palace is within the middle of Sintra and is thought for its distinctive structure and delightful tile work.
Monserrate Palace: This palace is positioned within the hills above Sintra and options beautiful gardens and unique crops worldwide.
Attending to Pena Palace Sintra
Pena Palace Sintra is positioned about half-hour exterior Lisbon and simply accessible by automobile or public transportation. The simplest approach to get to the palace is by taking the practice from Lisbon to Sintra. From there, you’ll be able to take a neighborhood bus or taxi to the palace.
Suggestions for Visiting Pena Palace Sintra
- For those who’re planning a go to to Pena Palace Sintra, listed below are some suggestions that can assist you benefit from a visit.
- You need to arrive early to keep away from crowds. Pena Palace Sintra is a well-liked attraction, and it might get crowded, particularly throughout peak vacationer season.
- Put on comfy footwear. The palace is positioned on a hill with many steps and steep inclines.
- Carry sunscreen and a hat. The palace is in an open space, and the solar might be sturdy, particularly throughout summer season.
- Contemplate buying a skip-the-line ticket to keep away from ready in lengthy traces.
- Take a guided tour to study extra concerning the historical past and structure of the palace.
Finest Time to Go to Pena Palace Sintra
The perfect time to go to Pena Palace Sintra is throughout the shoulder season, which is from April to Could and September to October. Throughout this time, the climate is delicate, and there are fewer crowds. For those who want to go to throughout peak vacationer season (June to August), be ready for lengthy traces and crowded areas.
How A lot Does It Price to Go to Pena Palace Sintra?
The price of visiting Pena Palace Sintra varies relying on the kind of ticket you buy. A typical ticket prices €14 for adults and €12.50 for seniors and kids. Guided excursions are additionally accessible, which value round €35 per particular person.
Pena Palace Sintra is likely one of the most beautiful palaces in Portugal and a must-visit vacation spot for anybody touring to Sintra. With its wealthy historical past, distinctive structure, and breathtaking surroundings, the palace is a real marvel. Whereas visiting the palace, discover close by points of interest, such because the Citadel of the Moors and Quinta da Regaleira. With some planning and preparation, you’ll be able to benefit from your journey to this unbelievable vacation spot. |
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:19-20)
Paul and Barnabas went from city to city in the Roman province of Asia Minor, in what is today modern-day Turkey. They preached the good news of Jesus Christ, and when people responded they started congregations. Along the way, they face a lot of opposition. In fact, there was an angry group of Jewish people from Antioch and Iconium who started following Paul hoping to stop him and his companions.
When they came to the city of Lystra, some of these persecuting Jews from Antioch and Iconium traveled more than one hundred miles just to make Paul miserable. They were dedicated adversaries of Paul.
When these opponents came to Lystra, they persuaded the multitudes that Paul was a bad man deserving of severe punishment. They pushed the people of Lystra against Paul and Barnabas and provoked the stoning of Paul. This was obviously an attempt to execute Paul and Barnabas – with the rocks being thrown by the same people In Lystra who wanted to worship them shortly before.
This is a dramatic demonstration of how fickle a crowd can be. Their desire to honor Paul and Barnabas as gods did not last long. This also shows us that it is dangerous for any spiritual leader to cultivate or allow a kind of hero-worship. The same people who give this honor will feel terribly betrayed when the leader is shown to be human.
Prompted by the mob from Antioch and Iconium, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city. Yet,when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up. Paul was miraculously preserved here. But notice what Paul did when he was revived: he rose up and went into the city. Paul did not flee from the city that stoned him. Instead, he immediately went back into it.
This was the courage of a man who would not quit. Paul was determined to keep going as long as God gave him strength. He had the attitude that some later Christians displayed to their persecutors: “You can kill us, but you can’t hurt us.”
The story of Paul begins in Acts when he took part in the stoning of the first Christian martyr – Stephen (Acts 7:58-8:1). As the stone flew at him in Lystra, Paul must have remembered this. He knew that Stephen went to heaven, but when Paul didn’t, then he knew he had more work to do. He would not quit until God stopped him.
You probably won’t face the same persecution that Paul did, but you can have the same commitment to Jesus – and by God’s grace, the same “can’t quit” spirit. Ask God for this today. |
Heat pumps are misunderstood by many homeowners – many still believe that they do not adequately heat homes or know very little about them.
Heat pumps are more energy efficient, because they move warm air from one space to another instead of generating cold or hot air. They can save homeowners hundreds of dollars annually in HVAC and maintenance costs, while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. However, many homeowners are uncertain how heat pumps work and what benefits they can see from them.
Additionally, certain heat pumps – specifically ENERGY STAR-certified ones – can earn homeowners federal tax credits. Several states, local municipalities and utilities have additional initiatives to tempt homeowners to invest in a heat pump, but many homeowners aren’t aware of these benefits.
We turned to Don Johnson of Freedom Heating and Cooling in Birmingham, Alabama, to get a frontline view on how customers view heat pumps, from someone who is out in the field every day. Don is the president at Freedom, which has been serving northern Alabama since 2003, when Don’s father, John Johnson, first began operations. Don and Freedom joined the HomeServe team in 2020.
Don participated in a quick question-and-answer session to give a snapshot of how customers view heat pumps right now.
Q: If a customer is interested in energy efficiency or saving money, have they expressed interest in heat pumps?
A: Not usually.
Q: If you’ve suggested an upgrade/installation, have you encountered any misperceptions/confusion from customers? What were they?
A: Most misunderstandings are that a heat pump will not heat the house as well as a furnace. Older heat pumps were often thought to not be working because the air out of the vent was not as hot as a furnace. However, 95-degree air will warm a home, but will also “feel” cool as it blows over you.
Q: What are the most common concerns from customers about the installation of a heat pump?
A: Is it “right” for my home.
Q: Are customers generally well-informed?
Q: Do customers understand what a heat pump is? If they don’t know, do you explain it to them or sell them something else?
A: We have to educate the benefits of lower gas bills with heat pumps, especially with dual fuel systems, which combine both gas heating and a heat pump.
Q: What are the top reasons customers list to have a heat pump installed?
A: Comfort, and humidity control is better with a heat pump than a furnace.
Q: What are the biggest obstacles to customers having heat pumps installed?
A: Electrical panel size and wiring are the biggest concerns. Proper size ductwork is more critical for a heat pump than a furnace or air conditioner.
Q: When you recommend heat pumps to customers, what benefits do you highlight?
A: Energy savings, comfort and better humidity through the winter.
Q: Are you seeing an increase in interest?
A: Heat pumps are more acceptable today than in the past.
Q: Any questions coming up frequently?
A: Will it heat my home as well as a furnace.
Q: How often do customers come to you with questions about heat pumps?
A: No; not often. We tend to bring up the subject.
Q: What makes the ideal customer or job?
A: Younger families with comfort concerns. Older individuals grew up with the blast of “hot” air and want that.
Educating homeowners about the benefits of a heat pump is an uphill battle, but partnering with HomeServe can help you take it on – we have a nationwide network of pre-vetted contractors who know HVAC and can help customers work out whether a heat pump is the smart move for their home.
HomeServe partners with utilities throughout North America to help educate their customers, shield them from the unexpected expense of emergency home repairs and make finding a reputable contractor easier. We have an optional warranty plan for all of your customers’ most vital whole-home systems, including HVAC, interior electric, interior plumbing and electrical and gas connections.
For more information on how we can help bring your customers peace of mind, contact us. |
Charter Communications Partners with NYU Ability Project to Make Home Entertainment More Accessible
Charter Communications, the telecommunications company and cable provider, recently partnered with the New York University Ability Project to research and discover assistive technology solutions to transform home entertainment to be more accessible and enjoyable for all individuals. Focusing on integrating accessibility into Spectrum’s entertainment interfaces, the student researchers — led by Ability Project faculty R. Luke DuBois, associate professor and co-director of Integrated Digital Media, and Claire Kearney-Volpe, project manager and doctoral research fellow — presented their findings and solutions to Charter executives on July 27.
Having previously supported student-led prototyping projects through NYC Media Lab, of which Charter and NYU are members, the company collaborated with students and faculty from The Ability Project over the 10-week, multidisciplinary project. The students focused their detailed research into the user experience of cable watching and how individuals interacted with Spectrum’s entertainment products through the iPad, Roku, the set-top box, and the remote. (The Ability Project is an interdisciplinary research space that aims to bring together assistive technology and adaptive design into research across NYU to empower and enhance the lives of all New Yorkers.)
Throughout the project, the emphasis was on human-centered design and accessibility within a customer’s entire experience with Spectrum. Students from across NYU schools, including NYU Tandon’s Integrated Digital Media program, the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), and Occupational Therapy at NYU Steinhardt, brought users to the forefront of their research by working with individuals from ADAPT Community Network, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, the NYPL Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, and the Helen Keller Services for the Blind. With many individuals using screen readers or requiring descriptive services and captioning in multiple languages, the team worked to discover ways to transform watching TV and movies or navigating the company’s website into a universally accessible experience. The students also tapped into their innovative design thinking through prototyping exercises, exploring potential interface design that tested the applicability of virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and machine learning technology.
At the recent presentation, the students shared their proposed product development, and a white paper detailing potential advancements to the company’s audio offerings and new technology, with James Stark, Senior Director of Design TV Apps at Charter, Mark Lasser, Senior Director of Accessibility, and Ian Ruppert, Senior Manager of Industrial Design.
“Charter is always working to improve the quality and inclusiveness of our Spectrum products. To that end, it’s very important that our outreach is not only representative of our diverse customer base, but also includes innovative thought leaders, designers, technologists, and researchers like we found with NYU’s Ability Project,” Stark said. “Over the 10-week course, faculty and students not only helped us to understand ways to continue improving the accessibility of our products across multiple platforms, but also created many great solutions that will help us get there in the future.”
Graduate School of Arts and Science
Master of Arts in English Literature, Class of 2018 |
Obama vows to destroy ISIS to overcome terrorism threattext_fields
Washington: In a rare address from his Oval office, President Barack Obama pledged to overcome the threat of terrorism by destroying ISIS with a relentless, strong and smart campaign that is consistent with American values.
"The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it," Obama said Sunday night in a prime-time address four days after a Pakistani origin couple shot dead 14 people and wounded 21 others in San Bernardino, California to leave Americans unnerved.
"We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us," he said, using an alternate acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as he urged Congress to take action on several fronts.
At the same time, he asked Americans not to turn against Muslim friends and neighbours and turn the conflict with ISIS into a war against Islam.
It was only the third time that Obama was addressing the nation from his office in the White House to reflecting the gravity of the situation.
He last spoke from the Oval office in August 2010 to discuss the end of US combat operations in Iraq and a few months earlier on June 15 to talk about the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The San Bernardino attacks were perpetrated by Syed Farook, 28, who was born in Chicago to Pakistani parents and raised in Southern California and Tashfeen Malik, his Pakistani wife who had pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS online.
Taking note of the fact that Malik had came to the US in 2014 on a fiancee visa, Obama said he had "ordered the Departments of State and Homeland Security to review the visa programme under which the female terrorist in San Bernardino originally came to this country."
Urging "high-tech and law enforcement leaders to make it harder for terrorists to use technology to escape from justice," he said: "We constantly examine our strategy to determine when additional steps are needed to get the job done."
He said that so far, there was no indication that the attack was directed by a terrorist organization overseas or that they were part of a larger conspiracy at home.
"But it is clear that the two of them had gone down the dark path of radicalisation, embracing a perverted interpretation of Islam that calls for war against America and the West," he said. "This was an act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people."
Obama said the terror threat has evolved since the days of the 9/11 attacks, but did not announce major changes to his plans to fight ISIS.
He outlined a four-pronged strategy: hunt down terrorist leaders in every country where they are; provide training and equipment to Iraqi and Syrian forces fighting ISIS on the ground; stop ISIS operations, financing and recruiting; and establish a ceasefire and political resolution to the Syrian civil war.
"Our success won't depend on tough talk or abandoning our values or giving into fear. That's what groups like ISIL are hoping for. Instead we will prevail by being strong and smart, resilient and relentless, and by drawing on every aspect of American power," he said.
Finally, focusing on what the country would not do, Obama reiterated a pledge to avoid a "long and costly ground war" in Iraq or Syria and implored Americans not to turn on all Muslims.
He called it the "responsibility of all Americans of every faith to reject discrimination," religious tests for entrance to the country or proposals to treat Muslim Americans differently. |
46,754 new Covid-19 cases in US; Fresh cases below 50k for 7th consecutive daytext_fields
Washington: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 46,754 new Covid-19 cases, marking the seventh consecutive day the daily count fell below 50,000 since August 16.
It is the first time that daily cases have dropped under 50,000 for a whole week since summer outbreaks in July, reports Xinhua news agency.
"I think we're seeing progress over the last four weeks, I hope that progress will continue, but I think none of us should turn away from the recognition that it's key each of us recognize we want to make sure Covid-19 stops with us," Xinhua news agency quoted CDC Director Robert Redfield as saying.
"This week, for the first time in more than two months, all our major COVID-19 metrics improved at the same time," said a new report of The Covid-19 Tracking Project on Saturday.
Tests rose as cases fell - a strong indication that the virus transmission across the country may be decreasing, according to the report.
Hospitalizations fell for the third week straight, but deaths remained above 1,000 a day on average.
Nationally, the number of infected peoplein the hospital is down more than 27 per cent from the peak on July 23, said the report.
Amid positive trend at the national level, experts remain concerned that many Midwestern states, including Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota, are witnessing a rise in cases.
There are more than 10 states reporting growing cases, based on a seven-day moving average to smooth out daily reporting, according to a CNBC analysis.
The decline of new cases came as universities and schools across the US grapple with returning students to the classroom safely.
So far, at least three dozen states have reported coronavirus cases on college campuses, according to an ABC News report.
As of Sunday morning, the total number of cases in the US stood at 5,666,121, while the fatalities rose to 176,345, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
The two tallies currently account for the world's highest, making the US the worst-affected country globally. |
Publication: Women Cooperatives and Socio-Economic Development of their Households in Rwanda A Case Study of Craft Making Cooperative of Gashora (COVAGA)
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether women cooperatives can contribute to the positive change ofsocio-economic development conditions of their members, with specific reference to craft making cooperative of Gashora (COVAGA) 2009-2011. The objectives of this study focused on the motivation of women to join the cooperative, the extent to which their membership in cooperative has improved their households, the challenges that women cooperatives are facing, and the proposed solutions to them. Being aware of the importance of working in cooperatives, the findings of this study will be valuable to many individuals such as future researchers with the same topic, managers of craft making cooperative of Gashora, policy makers who work with cooperatives, potential investments, and women members of craft making cooperative of Gashora. The research was designed in a way that data were gathered in the form of quantitative and qualitative; the target population was 112 including 100 women members of craft making cooperative and 12 employees from the sector of Gashora in Bugesera district of the Eastern province, Rwanda. The sample size of the study was 34 obtained by the use of the ratio of 30%; all the target population had equal chance of being selected thus the simple random sampling technique was used. Data collection was facilitated by the use of semi-structured questionnaire and interview guide. Data analysis was conducted by the use of SPSS 16.0 to get percentages and frequencies; for qualitative data, the analysis was done based on the content analysis. The findings of this study have shown that women have joined craft making cooperative for different reasons such as job creation for those who were unemployed, earning money through different activities, respect of government policy related to the promotion of cooperatives, and cooperating with others as unity is strength. All the respondents of this research study witnessed how craft making cooperative of Gashora has been fruitful, and has created income generating activities to them which have facilitated the improvement of their living conditions such as paying school fees for their children, health insurance of their families, and other socio-economic development of their households. Looking at the role played by craft making cooperative in improving the livelihoods of its members, the cooperative members should diversify their income generating activities, work with more professionalism in order to produce enough products with good quality, and create new ways to market their products. Local government authorities of Gashora Sector should make advocacy on behalf of craft making cooperative members to NGOs and investors who wants to support craft making products, and encourage members who are still illiterate to go to literacy centers opened in the region. Central government should continue to sensitize and mobilize women at all levels on the importance of the cooperative movement so that they could adhere massively to women cooperatives. Further researchers should focus their research on the management practices of women cooperatives in Rwanda, and should include questions relating to the specific financial statement tools used by the accountants. They should also assess the cooperative’s awareness related to their own internal regulations. |
STS047-151-024 Lake Bostel (Bosten), China September 1992 Irrigated agricultural fields northwest of Lake Bostel (Bosten) and a small portion of the snowcapped Tien Shan north of the lake are visible in this photograph. Lake Bostel is fed by the Kaidu River, which originates in the high Tien Shan and enters the lake from the northwest through the maze of irrigated fields. The lake is drained by the Konqi River, which empties into the Tarim River after flowing southwest and then south. A variety of crops, including wheat and millet, is grown in this area. The small cities of Yanqi and Korla (barely visible in the photograph) are the major urban centers in the region through which passes the northern route of the famous Silk Road. |
Hematology and Clinical Microscopy Resource Committee, College of American Pathologists
Hematology Benchtop Reference Guide is an illustrated guide to common and rare cells. For students and medical technologists, it’s an affordable, convenient way to identify cells quickly and confidently. Full-color images are included. Its rugged construction is well suited for heavy use at the workbench.
- Detailed descriptions for each cell morphology
- Six tabbed sections for easy reference
- Sturdy, laminated guide with a unique 5" x 6½" size for benchtop use
- Spiral bound; 60 pages; 50+ images; 2012
Contents (PDF, 85 K)
Sample pages (PDF, 887 K) |
There are many criteria to take into account when choosing your training: professional integration, the adequacy of the training with your project, the program, the recognition of the training and the school, but also its duration and its cost.
1. Before looking for training, your professional project must be well defined
Whether it is to maintain one’s employability, move to another position or retrain, training is a way of obtaining the knowledge necessary for a job. Your project must be built according to your aspirations and of course according to the needs of the job market and the change of profession you want to undertake. So, to find the right training you must above all be able to answer the following questions:
What knowledge do you need to get?
What level of education is required?
Are training courses or schools particularly sought after?
2. Research existing training and organizations
To qualify for a CPF PTP, your training must be eligible for the CPF (Personal Training Account) and be certified (registered in the RNCP or in the specific directory). You can check it on the “ My activity account ” site or even on the “ Professional certification ” site. Let’s be clear: there is no place where you will find all the training that exists. Different research is needed to find existing formations and organizations. A few tips, depending on your needs:
training in Île-de-France: www.defi-metiers.fr
On this site you will also find the evaluations of Transitions Pro Île-de-France on listed training courses . They are classified according to 3 levels:
… for a training action recommended as a priority by Transitions Pro Île-de-France;
… for a training action recommended by Transitions Pro Île-de-France;
… for a training action without recommendation by Transitions Pro Île-de-France.
Training without qualification most often corresponds to actions not yet evaluated by Transitions Pro Île-de-France.
training throughout France: www.intercariforef.org/formations (Info offer)
short training courses to obtain highly targeted skills: www.iciformation.fr or www.kelformation.com
training eligible for the Personal Training Account: www.moncompteformation.gouv.fr
In order to find out about the existing diplomas for an activity or a field, you can directly consult the “ Professional Certification ” site, which references the certifications listed in the RNCP or in the specific Directory.
3. Ensure that the training offer gives guarantees in terms of quality
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For this, do not hesitate to consult our reference catalog which lists the training organizations “referenceable in Datadock” financed by Transitions Pro Île-de-France since January 1 , 2017. Download the document ↓
If the organization is not referenced, inquire with Transitions Pro Île-de-France to find out if it can be referenced in Datadock.
Indeed, Transitions Pro Île-de-France’s mission is to finance training organizations that meet quality criteria imposed by decree: clear training objectives, training adapted to the level of each, the competence of the trainers, the equipment made available for training, the success rate in assessments, etc.
Please note that if your training organization is not “referenceable in Datadock” , your CPF Professional Transition Project funding application cannot be accepted .
4. Meet with training organizations
hat french diploma fungicif ile-de-france
After selecting training and training organizations on the internet, meet the training organizations that appeal to you the most. This meeting with training organizations is an essential step in choosing the organization that best suitsyou.Indeed, discussing with a training manager will allow you to find out more about:
Support and follow-up during training
The organization of the courses
The team of trainers
Pass the tests and possible interviews
Carry out a preliminary positioning action in an individual interview.
Visit the premises and look at the equipment
To help you in this process, we provide you with a tool sheet with the key questions to choose your training and your training organization. Download document ↓
5. Collect external opinions
The training organizations will exchange with you on the course and the outlets of the training. To get an outside opinion, do not hesitate to discuss with former trainees or even people who are currently training in the establishment. Also remember to talk to professionals to find out about the courses and schools you are looking for.
6. Make a measured and thoughtful choice
Choosing the right training and the right training organization requires getting information from training organizations and professionals. Compare the data collected to help you make a choice. This choice takes into consideration several elements: the labor market, your project, training, the training organization, its “Datadock” referencing, and its eligibility for the CPF.
The checklist of questions to ask yourself before signing
I took the time to reflect and I regret nothing
I have put together my project well, I have no doubts about my orientation
The training chosen will help me to have the skills sought by recruiters
The duration and pace of my training correspond to my personal and professional constraints
The organization assessed my level before accepting me and we carried out a preliminary positioning action.
I checked the possible outlets and I was even followed for a while after the training.
My organization is referenceable on Datadock, recognized by employers and my training is certifying and eligible for the CPF
I met several organizations… And not just near my home
I visited the premises and saw the equipment
If the training is canceled, I have a plan B and even a plan C
I have made an estimate and I know the overall cost of the training. |
Black Dice, a time period that has captivated the curiosity of several, retains an air of mystique and intrigue. Shrouded in secrecy, this enigmatic notion has piqued the fascination of scientists, conspiracy theorists, and avid puzzle enthusiasts alike. Although its origin and correct character remain elusive, the mere point out of Black Cube evokes a sense of allure that begs even more exploration. In the realm of literature and artwork, the Black Cube has served as a symbol of the unknown and the transcendental, beckoning us to unravel its strategies. Be a part of us on this journey as we delve into the depths of the enigma that is the Black Dice, searching for to uncover the truths concealed in its inky shadows.
Origins and Purpose of Black Cube
Black Dice is a secretive and enigmatic organization that has garnered much focus and curiosity in current many years. Its origins can be traced back again to its founding in 2010 by a group of former Israeli intelligence operatives. The group operates on a international scale, offering its providers to consumers from numerous backgrounds and industries.
The principal operate of Black Cube is to offer strategic intelligence and investigative companies. They excel in conducting complicated and covert functions, utilizing a blend of slicing-edge technology, human intelligence, and refined investigation. As a consequence, they have obtained a status for their potential to uncover concealed information and resolve intricate puzzles.
One particular crucial facet of Black Cube’s operations is their emphasis on corporate intelligence. They operate carefully with companies to gather essential info about rivals, possible investments, and market place developments. By using a broad assortment of methods such as open up-supply intelligence, analysis of public documents, and discreet human intelligence accumulating, Black Dice helps its customers in producing informed organization decisions.
Yet another noteworthy perform of Black Dice is its involvement in substantial-profile authorized circumstances. The organization has been acknowledged to operate with law firms and folks going through intricate and difficult legal situations. Black Cube’s expertise in conducting international investigations and supplying extensive intelligence studies proves a must have in this kind of situations.
To sum up, Black Cube is an group shrouded in thriller, with origins rooted in the experience of former Israeli intelligence operatives. Their principal function lies in delivering strategic intelligence and investigative solutions, specializing in corporate intelligence and high-profile legal instances. By way of their meticulous approach and skillful execution, Black Cube has proven alone as a well known player in the entire world of intelligence gathering and difficulty-solving.
two. Notable Situations Involving Black Cube
In current many years, Black Cube, a private intelligence agency, has been involved in numerous high-profile cases that have captured the focus of the general public and media alike.
One particular noteworthy situation involving Black Cube was its alleged involvement in a corporate espionage scandal. It was documented that the company experienced been employed by a rival company to gather intelligence on their competitor’s trade strategies. The circumstance attracted considerable media focus, shedding mild on the often secretive world of corporate espionage and the lengths some organizations are prepared to go to gain a competitive edge.
One more extremely publicized scenario linked to Black Cube was its alleged part in a political scandal. The company was documented to have been hired to dig up dirt on political figures and public figures, possibly to be used for blackmail or other nefarious needs. This situation elevated issues about the ethical boundaries of intelligence collecting and the prospective misuse of personal companies in the planet of politics.
Additionally, Black Cube has confronted lawful action in link with its pursuits. In a single situation, the company was sued by a well known person who claimed that they experienced been a concentrate on of intrusive surveillance and harassment orchestrated by Black Dice. This circumstance prompted conversations about the legality and accountability of personal intelligence organizations and their strategies of procedure.
Black Cube’s involvement in these noteworthy circumstances showcases the agency’s reach and affect in the world of intelligence gathering. These instances have not only introduced the company below scrutiny but have also ignited debates about the affect and ethics of private intelligence agencies in a variety of realms of culture.
three. Controversies Bordering Black Dice
Black Dice, a mysterious entity entangled in a web of controversies and intrigue. Its mere point out sparks curiosity and speculation. Permit us delve into the enigmatic world of Black Cube and discover the controversies that encompass it. Black Cube
Firstly, critics stage to the secretive nature of Black Cube’s operations. With limited info offered, concerns crop up with regards to the organization’s agenda and affiliations. The clandestine technique adopted by Black Cube raises worries about transparency and raises eyebrows inside of the investigative group.
Next, the use of controversial techniques by Black Dice has been matter to intense scrutiny. Reviews have surfaced alleging that the firm employs unconventional techniques to receive details. These allegations have brought the ethical boundaries of their procedures into issue, further adding to the controversy that shrouds Black Cube.
And finally, the involvement of Black Dice in high-profile cases has usually sparked public outrage and heated debates. Accusations of meddling in political affairs and the manipulation of activities have manufactured headlines close to the world. These kinds of controversies have fueled the intrigue encompassing Black Cube and produced limitless speculation about their motives and tasks.
As the enigma unravels, the controversies encompassing Black Dice proceed to captivate minds. With much more queries than solutions, the mysteries that surround this organization continue to be a subject matter of intensive interest and curiosity for several. |
The Varsity Show’s most enduring trademark was the “men only” rule, made famous by the “Pony Ballet” of college men (often football players) dressed as dancing girls.
photo: Pony ballet from 1929 Varsity Show, Oh Hector!
photo: Pony Ballet from 1931 Varsity Show Great Shakes
In fact, all the women’s parts (including the leading lady) were taken on by men – who often made quite striking “ladies.”
photo: John Bateman, captain of the football team, getting the finishing touches on his hair for 1939 Varsity Show, Fair Enough.
Despite the popularity of the "men only" rule there were two early attempts to bring real women into the show. Barnard and Teachers College women appeared for the first time in the 1936 show, Off Your Marx
and again in 1937’s Some of the People
. Unfortunately, for the women, these co—ed forays were met with much protest (both for and against) and were not attempted again until the 1950s.
In the 1950s women were finally allowed a space on the Varsity Show stage and since then female students have played an active role in performing, producing, authoring and composing subsequent Varsity Shows. |
This work focuses on a Mach 0.6 turbulent, compressible jet flow fleld with simultane-flously sampled near and far-fleld pressure, as well as 10 kHz time-resolved PIV. Experiments have been conducted in the fully anechoic chamber and jet facility at Syracuse University. The PIV measurements were taken in the streamwise plane of the jet along the center plane at various downstream locations. In addition, measurements were taken off of the center plane to obtain a three-dimensional view of the jet flow. Active flow control (both open and closed-loop) was performed in order to see the effects on the potential core length and overall sound pressure levels. Various reduced-order models have been used to analyze previous experimental data sets at Syracuse University. This paper will focus on the analysis of the flow physics, using the time-resolved velocity field coupled with the simultaneously sampled pressure. Novel modeling approaches such as observable inferred decomposition and cluster-based reduced-order modeling have been implemented in an effort to link the near-field velocity with the far-field acoustics. |
The digital age has replaced the traditional greeting of a smile and a handshake with a quick click or swipe learning everything about the person before saying ‘Hello’. According to the research, roughly 60% of participants had positive dating platform experiences. Not only are financial services going digital, but one of the fastest-growing mobile verticals is dating. Despite the fact that it has been available for decades, the shift has resulted in an increase in the number of dating app users and the amount of time people spend on dating apps since the pandemic. While these platforms have made it easier to meet new people, online dating is a minefield, with no real incentive for users to be truthful in their profiles, resulting in a lot of bad first dates and, of course, serious dangers such as catfishing. Fraudsters are increasingly targeting dating apps and websites to catfish victims as well as steal money or blackmail them.
Romance Scams have been on the Rise.
Meeting someone online allows for a wide range of interactions, which encourages people to use the app more frequently to meet potential matches, resulting in greater benefits for businesses. It does, however, have its own set of drawbacks, as transitioning the relationship from virtual to physical is risky. People are easily swayed into lying about their age or impersonating someone else, soliciting personal information to commit fraud and account takeover, and 73% use photos of someone else rather than real photos of themselves, according to research. Users want to not only find the one but also to feel safe while using the app and know who they are speaking with. In fact, 1 in 10 online dating profiles are fake with ‘romance scams,’ so in a nutshell, 60% of all online profiles are fake.
The Dramatic side of Online Dating.
For the owner of a dating app, you must be aware of the requirements for safeguarding your users against bogus accounts. Your business, as well as your users, will suffer as a result. Not only has digital technology made dating easier, but people are falling in love with the person they think they are communicating with behind the screen. They start to believe they’ve found the person behind the dating app with whom they’ve been chatting for hours on end, but the unfortunate reality is that they’re being catfished. People reported losing nearly $117 million to social media scams in the first six months of 2020, a record high. Despite this, most social sites and dating apps do not have a process in place to verify user identity when creating an account or logging in to an existing account, so having an identity verification process in place to confirm all users are who they claim to be was required.
Three important accomplishments KYC assists you in…
1-Increase Safety by verifying users: When a user creates a profile, digital ID verification can verify the authenticity of a person’s age, gender, and nationality through liveness detection, as well as block users under the age of 18. As a result, users feel more comfortable speaking with someone once their identity has been verified. 2-Better User Experience:Enabling users to be confident that they are talking to a proven, real person reduces the chance of someone wasting their time on the platform, leading to increased engagement and brand trust. 3-Defend Brand Reputation: You have the responsibilty as the owner of an online dating site to protect your users from any online harm, whether physical, emotional or financial.
Avoid romance scams by connecting with verified users.
FACEKI provides online verification services to a wide range of industries in order to reduce the possibility of users being scammed or catfished by a user assuming a false identity, FACEKI has the potential to significantly improve online dating safety. To build a strong membership base, dating sites and apps must cultivate trust with users and make them feel comfortable putting their hearts and personal information on the line. With identity verification solutions, we help you protect your users from online criminals, increase security, and give users confidence that they are speaking with a verified, genuine person, resulting in increased engagement and brand trust. Additionally implementing Artificial Intelligence helps your business save money and cut costs. We recommend that you use identity verification solutions that allow users to use the Identity Verification solution to verify each profile, ensuring a seamless experience for your users, increasing acceptance rates, and preventing scammers from breaking their hearts. |
The following is a list of highest waterfalls in India. It is based on the data from World Waterfall Database
1. Hoggenakal Falls
Hoggenakal falls is a famous fall in south India on the river Kaveri and people consider its beauty to Niagara Falls. To experience this beautiful waterfall you have to reach to Dharmapuri districtof Tamil Nadu which is a southern Indian state.
It is main tourist attraction where you will get to enjoy medicinal baths and hide boat rides.Kaveri is famous river and it has many spiritual beliefs that people follow.
2. Dudhsagar Falls
Dudhsagar Falls (Dudhsagar Falls) – perhaps the only thing worth seeing in the state of Goa (India). It is located on the border with the neighboring state of Karnataka in the Bhagwan Mahavir National Reserve, in the mountains of the Western Ghats. Going to the Dudhsagar Falls, you will fully enjoy the real India, not spoiled by modern civilization, with its groves of coconut palms, picturesque villages, rice fields, plantations of fruits and spices and Indians working on them. Book Deccan Odyssey train to experience goa in a luxurious way.
3. Athirappilly Falls
Athirappilly Falls is located in the Atirappilly Panchayat in Thrissur Kerala, on the southwestern coast of India.
Located on the western Chalakudi River near the Vazhachal forest section and the Sholayur districts, this 24-meter (80-foot) waterfall and the neighboring Vazhachal Waterfall are a popular tourist attraction.
4. Jog Falls
Jog Falls is the highest vertical waterfall in India. It is located in the state of Karnataka on the Sharavati River, the waters of which, rolling over a stone threshold, rush down, forming four waterfalls. So it would be more correct to say not Jog Falls, but Jog Falls.
This is not one waterfall, but seven jets falling from a single source, creating an impressive sight. The height of the waterfall is 315 meters. It is best to visit it during sunrise. Near this place you can rent inexpensive housing. The attraction is a kilometer from the village of Mosmai in the East Hasi Hill area of Meghalaya State.
6. Waterfall “Seven Sisters”
The Indian Seven Sisters waterfall flows from a river that is divided into seven streams. It is located in the state of Meghalaya. Surrounded by green hills, the river is divided into seven separate streams (hence the name), which fall from a height of 1033 feet down a vertical limestone rock.
Kurtalam is a small town located on the Western Ghats in the Tirunelveli area of Tamil Nadu. This city is known among tourists for its beautiful waterfalls of the same name. There are nine beautiful waterfalls in Kurtalam: Main Waterfall (Peraruvi), Small Waterfall (Chitraruvi), Honey Waterfall (Tenaruvi), Shenbagadevi, Five Waterfalls (Aindaruvi), Orchard Waterfall, New Waterfall (Putu Aruvi), Old Waterfall and Tiger Waterfall. Of these, only three can be reached by car. To view the rest of the wonders of nature will have to hike.
Dhuandhar is a picturesque waterfall on the holy Jabalpur River in the Madhya Pradesh region. These waterfalls are also called the ‘Smoke Cascade’ because the falling water creates real fog. Visiting this natural attraction will give you a lot of fun. Despite the relatively small height (30 meters), the Dhuandhar’s waterfall breaks all records. Thanks to such power, a pool with a depth of more than 100 meters was formed at the foot of the waterfall.
9. Elephant waterfall
Elephant Falls – one of the main attractions of India. It received this name in honor of a nearby rock in the shape of an elephant. Locals have traditionally called it the “Three Steps Waterfall”. As the name suggests, water falls along three stone steps, unspeakably delighting visitors with its beauty. The elephant waterfall is divided into three small but noteworthy parts. You can visit it both in the monsoon season, when the flow is in full force, and in the post-monsoon period. Apart from water fall you can also explore some fort, palaces, lakes of Rajasthan, India. Why wait for plan a tour in Palace on Wheels Rajasthan and experience 8 days tour.
10. Kempton falls
Kempti Falls is a picturesque waterfall with a height of just over 10 meters, located at Massuri station in the Dehradun Uttarahand area. This hill station is located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. Kempti Waterfall is known for its beauty and panoramic views of the surrounding nature. In fact, Kempti is the most beautiful of a series of five waterfalls separated by cliffs. |
Honey is already harvested in our forested areas. Focus here needs to be on the sustainability of the harvest. This can be ensured by making the villagers the owners of their land through the community land trust scheme and the harvesting being controlled by the Board of Trustees. This will ensure that those who keep the bees (and the trees on which they rely) also are the ones who benefit from them. Honey is a very welcome addition to the diet as it is a sweetener which we can produce locally.
We should buy a FLOW Hive or two and also plan our food forests to make them ideal for bees, including flowering plants all year long and windbreaks to minimize bee flight energy.
Some notable contact people:
Michael Steinbrück, Mike Demtschuk or Udo Schluckwerder (produces Honey on his farm)
Unfortunately we do not have that many natural sufficient populations of wild flowers or any large seed sources for the few we do have in Namibia. But there are ways to provide habitats and forage grounds for bees and pollinators like bubble bees, wasps and solitary bees in your gardens. Many herbs make excellent sources high quality nectar and pollen. Herbs such as Marjoram/Oregano, Rosemary, Borage, camomile, chives, mint, basils, lavender, sage, comfrey, hyssop fennel and dill all are super pollinator attractors. |
Environmental justice and the ecofeminist perspective: bridging the gap between law and justice
thesisposted on 2022-03-29, 01:23 authored by Irene Lieselotte Wex
This thesis addresses the conflicting relationship between law and justice from an ecological feminist - or an ecofeminist perspective - and bridges the gap through the incorporation of Derrida's methodological approach of deconstruction. Derrida's approach is not only compatible with the ecofeminist perspective, but also enhances the analytical approach that is characteristically employed by ecofeminists. Derrida's deconstructive methodology further creates the necessary space to bring about change for the victims of oppression that have so far been excluded from the dominant discourse through the incorporation of 'différance'. -- To contextualise the approach taken in this thesis, an overview of the historical rise of environmentalism as a social and political movement and of environmental ethics as a philosophical discipline, are explored. In addition, the views of prominent environmental philosophers and legal theorists of both feminist and non-feminist persuasions are examined to capture an overall account of the shortcomings in current legal theory and practice and to provide a path for the law to tread. -- The four case studies that form the focus of this thesis are: the Australian Federal Government's recently introduced clean energy package, the New South Wales Anvil Hill case, the treatment and slaughtering of intensively farmed animals, and the culling practices of unwanted and feral animals. These case studies have been specifically selected because they epitomise the conflicting relationship between law and justice, and expose that both decision-making and law-making processes take place in an anthropocentric and gender-biased society that fails to incorporate other perspectives. -- The first two case studies address two highly topical and current issues in Australian environmental law and politics: the ongoing community opposition to the coal seam gas (CSG) industry and the ongoing debates concerning the effectiveness of an emissions trading scheme as the best solution to reduce Australia's carbon footprint. The next two case studies address the position of animals that are least afforded protection under the law, namely intensively farmed animals and unwanted or feral animals. These case studies serve to expose that animals are only viewed in terms of their usefulness to humans, and that even recognition of their sentience in law has little effect on their well-being while they are alive or on their suffering in the slaughtering process, either as captive animals or as animals in the wild.
Table of Contents1. Introduction -- 2. The theoretical framework -- 3. Jacques Derrida and the ecofeminist vision of law and justice -- 4. Climate law in Australia -- 5. Animal law in Australia -- 6. Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Appendix I: Irene Wex, 'Ecofeminism and environmental justice': paper presented at the 9th Global Conference for Environmental Justice and Global Citizenship in Oxford (July 2010) and published under Irene Hoetzer in Engaging with Environmental Justice: Governance, Education and Citizenship (Interdisciplinary Press 2011).
Notes"2012 Bibliography: pages 196-236 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Law"
Awarding InstitutionMacquarie University
Degree TypeThesis PhD
DegreePhD, Macquarie University, Macquarie Law School, Centre for Environmental Law
Department, Centre or SchoolCentre for Environmental Law
Year of Award2013
Principal SupervisorErika Techera
Additional Supervisor 1Natalie Klein
RightsCopyright disclaimer: http://www.copyright.mq.edu.au Copyright Irene Lieselotte Wex 2013.
Extentxii, 236 pages
Former Identifiersmq:27801 http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/264212 2066284
Animal rightsFeminist ethicsAnimal welfare -- Law and legislation -- Australiaanimal law ethicsEnvironmental lawGreenhouse gas mitigationNatural gasNatural gas -- Environmental aspects -- Australiaenvironmental law ethicsEnvironmental justice -- Australia -- Case studiesAnimal rights -- Philosophy -- AustraliaEcofeminism -- AustraliaWomen and the environment -- AustraliaWomen and the environmentEnvironmental justiceEnvironmental justice -- Philosophy -- AustraliaAnimal welfareEcofeminismGreenhouse gas mitigation -- AustraliaEnvironmental law -- Australia -- Case studiesecofeminism |
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC_CLASSIFICATION_OF_SPONGE.pdf (1.7 MB)
Photogrammetric classification of sponge morphometric diversity
conference contributionposted on 2023-05-26, 09:21 authored by Lawler, MM, Jonathan OsbornJonathan Osborn
Sponge communities form an important component of marine ecosystems. However, very little is known on the distribution of sponge species, and variations in sponge communities within south eastern Australia. This problem is compounded by inherent difficulties in sponge taxonomy. Previous studies have shown that sponge morphological diversity is a good proxy for sponge species diversity. This study investigated the capacity of close range photogrammetry to provide measurements of sponge morphology for classification of sponge functional groupings. A stereo camera system was designed and constructed. Calibration and accuracy assessment on the system showed it to provide measures within the predicted accuracy range. The system was subsequently deployed at two sites, one a soft sediment sponge community, and the other a rocky reef sponge community. 100 sponges were measured at each site, with 21 morphometric measurements made for each sponge. Of nine pre existing functional groupings (Bell and Barnes 2001), seven were observed across the two study sites. Discriminant analysis showed varying degrees of separation between these functional groupings based on the morphometric measurements. Between the two sites there was a difference in the makeup of the sponge community based on these functional groups. No differences were observed in the gross morphometric measurements for the common functional groups between the two sites.
Event title14th Australian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
Date of Event (Start Date)2008-09-29
Date of Event (End Date)2008-10-03 |
Gingivitis is a prevalent oral health problem that affects millions of individuals throughout the world. It is characterized by gum inflammation and is frequently accompanied by an unpleasant symptom: poor breath. The connection between bad breath and gingival inflammation has intrigued researchers for years. In this comprehensive study, we delve into the various factors contributing to these oral health concerns, aiming to unmask the villains responsible for bad breath and gingival inflammation. By understanding the sources, we can take proactive measures to prevent and manage these conditions, ensuring optimal oral health and fresh breath.
- The Culprit: Plaque and Tartar Build-Up
Plaque and tartar accumulation on the teeth and along the gum line is one of the leading causes of gingivitis and bad breath. Plaque is a sticky film composed of bacteria that forms on the teeth throughout the day. If not removed regularly through proper oral hygiene practices, plaque hardens into tartar, which cannot be eliminated by brushing alone. The bacteria present in plaque and tartar produce toxins that irritate the gums, leading to inflammation and the characteristic foul odor associated with bad breath.
- Poor Oral Hygiene Habits
Neglecting regular oral care can significantly contribute to gingivitis and bad breath. Insufficient brushing and flossing allow plaque to accumulate, promoting bacterial growth and gum inflammation. Additionally, inadequate cleaning of the tongue, which can harbor bacteria, can exacerbate the issue. Establishing a thorough oral hygiene routine, including brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and tongue cleaning, is crucial in preventing these conditions.
- Tobacco Use and Smoking
The use of tobacco products, including smoking, harms oral health in several ways. The chemicals included in tobacco products damage gum health in addition to staining teeth. Smoking decreases the blood supply to the gums, denying them vital nutrients and oxygen and increasing their susceptibility to infection and inflammation. In addition, using tobacco products causes a lingering unpleasant breath odor in the mouth. The risk of gingival inflammation and halitosis can be considerably decreased by quitting smoking and abstaining from tobacco usage.
- Poor Diet and Nutritional Deficiencies
Diet is important for general health, including dental health. A diet deficient in important nutrients, especially vitamin C and antioxidants, may compromise gum health and weaken the immune system. Dietary deficits that weaken the body’s capacity to fight bacterial infections can contribute to gingivitis. Furthermore, eating meals with strong odors like onions and garlic might lead to transient foul breath. A nutritious diet full of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins is essential for keeping healthy gums and fighting bad breath.
- Systemic Health Conditions
Gingivitis and foul breath can both be exacerbated by certain systemic health issues. Diabetes, for example, inhibits the body’s capacity to manage blood sugar levels, rendering diabetics more vulnerable to gum infections. Furthermore, dry mouth, which is a typical side effect of many drugs, can contribute to foul breath by decreasing saliva production, which normally helps wash away germs and food particles. Managing underlying health disorders and discussing potential oral health concerns with healthcare providers are critical in preventing and managing these difficulties.
In conclusion, gingivitis and bad breath are complex illnesses that are caused by a variety of variables. Plaque and tartar accumulation, poor oral hygiene practices, cigarette use, an insufficient diet, and systemic health disorders all contribute to the development of these oral health issues. By understanding and unmasking these villains, individuals can take proactive steps to prevent and manage gingivitis and bad breath causes. Maintaining a thorough oral hygiene routine, avoiding tobacco use, adopting a balanced diet, and addressing underlying health conditions are key to promoting gum health and fresh breath. By doing so, we can combat the bad breath causes and prevent the progression of gingival inflammation, ultimately improving overall oral health and well-being. |
Kerala, a state located in the south-western region of India, is known for its serene beauty and diverse landscapes. Kerala, also known as “God’s Own Country”, is a popular tourist destination in India for a variety of reasons. Wondering why you should visit Kerala? Well, below are the reasons that makes Kerala a must-visit destination for any traveller looking for a unique and memorable experience in India.
- Scenic beauty: Kerala is known for its natural beauty, including its beaches, backwaters, waterfalls, hill stations, and wildlife. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities such as houseboat rides, trekking, hiking, and wildlife spotting.
- Culture and heritage: Kerala is a melting pot of various cultures and has a rich history. Visitors can explore the state’s temples, churches, and palaces that showcase the state’s architectural and cultural heritage.
- Ayurveda and wellness: Kerala is famous for its traditional Ayurvedic healing practices and wellness treatments. Visitors can indulge in various Ayurvedic treatments and massages to relax and rejuvenate.
- Cuisine: Kerala is known for its delicious and unique cuisine, which is a blend of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Visitors can indulge in the state’s famous seafood, meat dishes and traditional vegetarian dishes like Appam and Stew.
- Festivals: Kerala is home to several colourful festivals throughout the year, such as Onam, Christmas, Eid, and many more. Visitors can experience the state’s vibrant culture and traditions through these festivals.
- People: Kerala is known for its hospitality, and friendly and welcoming people.
The Best Tourist Attractions in Kerala that You Must Visit
From the rolling hills of the Western Ghats to the pristine beaches of the Arabian Sea, Kerala is a traveler’s paradise. Here are the top 10 tourist attractions in Kerala that you must visit:
Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, is a small coastal town in the state of Kerala, India. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly for its scenic backwaters, which are an integral part of the region’s culture and economy. The backwaters of Alleppey are a network of canals, lagoons and lakes that run parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. A houseboat ride along these backwaters offers a serene and picturesque view of rural life in Kerala. A visit to the Alleppey backwaters is a must for anyone looking for an unforgettable experience in India. Some reasons to choose Alleppey are
- Scenic Beauty: The Alleppey backwaters are known for their pristine beauty, with their shimmering waterways and lush greenery. They are a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, and provide a breathtaking backdrop for any activity.
- Culture and History: The backwaters have been an important part of the local culture for centuries, serving as a major transportation route and source of livelihood for many residents.
Thekkady, a scenic hill station located in the district of Idukki in Kerala, is a must-visit tourist destination for those who love nature and adventure. Thekkady is known for its picturesque landscapes, lush green forests, and vibrant wildlife. Here are some of the reasons why you should visit Thekkady in Kerala.
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the main attraction in Thekkady. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife species, including tigers, elephants, bisons, deer, and many more. Visitors can take a boat ride through the sanctuary to see the animals in their natural habitat.
Munnar, a picturesque hill station located in the Indian state of Kerala, is a popular tourist destination for those who love to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in nature. There are many reasons why you should visit Munnar in Kerala, including the following:
- Scenic beauty: Munnar is surrounded by lush green hills, valleys and tea plantations. The breathtaking views of the Western Ghats, with its rolling hills and misty clouds, make Munnar a perfect place for nature lovers.
- Tea plantations: Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, and visitors can enjoy a stroll through the tea gardens and learn about the tea-making process.
- Beaches: Kerala is home to some of the most stunning beaches in India. The most popular beaches are Kovalam, Varkala, and Cherai. Visitors can enjoy a swim in the Arabian Sea, go for a walk along the shore, or simply relax and soak up the sun.
5. Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi, located in the state of Kerala, is a must-visit destination for those seeking to experience the rich cultural heritage of India. This historic town, surrounded by the Arabian Sea, is renowned for its colonial architecture, traditional fisherman villages, and unique street art. Here are some of the reasons why you should visit Fort Kochi in Kerala.
- Colonial Architecture: Fort Kochi is home to some of the most well-preserved colonial architecture in India. The Portuguese and Dutch colonials left behind an array of grand and elegant buildings, including the famous St. Francis Church and the Dutch Palace, that are a testament to their cultural and architectural influence.
- Traditional Fisherman Villages: Fort Kochi is also known for its traditional fisherman villages, where visitors can witness the daily lives of the local fishermen and the way they go about their fishing business. These villages offer a glimpse into the traditional lifestyle and culture of Kerala.
Wayanad, located in the Northern part of Kerala, is a breathtakingly beautiful and serene place that is ideal for tourists who are looking to escape the chaos of the city and immerse themselves in nature. The place boasts of rolling hills, lush green forests, scenic waterfalls, and a rich cultural heritage that makes it an amazing destination to visit. It is also home to a number of tribal communities and offers a glimpse into their traditional way of life. Here are some reasons why you should visit Wayanad:
- Scenic Beauty: Wayanad is surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful hills and forests, which makes it an ideal destination for nature lovers. The place is also home to several scenic waterfalls such as Soochipara Falls, Meenmutty Falls, and Kanthanpara Falls, which are a must-visit for tourists
- Adventure Activities: Wayanad offers several adventure activities such as trekking, kayaking, and zipline, which are perfect for adrenaline junkies. The place is also home to several wildlife sanctuaries such as the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is an ideal destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
Kollam, located on the south-west coast of Kerala, is a picturesque town that has a rich history and cultural heritage. It is known for its tranquil backwaters, beautiful beaches, and lush green forests. Kollam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kerala and attracts tourists from all over the world. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why one should visit Kollam in Kerala.
- Backwaters: Kollam is well known for its backwaters, which are a network of lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. The Ashtamudi Lake is the most popular backwater destination in Kollam, and it is also the second largest lake in Kerala. Visitors can take a leisurely boat ride through the backwaters and enjoy the scenic beauty of the region.
- Beaches: Kollam has a number of beautiful beaches that are perfect for a relaxing day out. The most popular beaches in Kollam are the Thirumullavaram Beach, Paravur Beach, and Alumkadavu Beach.
8. Bekal Fort
Bekal Fort is a historic fort that is located in the northern part of Kerala. It was built by the Hindu kings of the area and is now a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can explore the fort, take in the stunning views of the Arabian Sea, and go on a beach walk.
9. Athirappilly Falls
Athirappilly Falls is a stunning waterfall that is located in the central part of Kerala. Visitors can take a scenic drive through the hills, go on a nature walk, and enjoy a picnic by the falls.
Cochin is a city that is located in the south-western part of Kerala. It is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. Visitors can explore the many historic churches and temples, go on a leisurely boat ride through the backwaters, and enjoy the local cuisine.
Varkala is a coastal town known for its beautiful beaches and cliff-top views. It also has a 2000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple,
Kovalam is a renowned beach destination located in the southern state of Kerala. It comprises three crescent-shaped beaches, Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach, and Samudra Beach.
13. Kochi-Muziris Biennale
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is a contemporary art festival held in Kochi every two years. It is one of the most important art events in South Asia and features works by artists from around the world.
These are the best places to visit in Kerala. Karela is a beautiful and quiet place located in the southern India. The Kerala is a perfect place for those looking for a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. |
“PART 1” Online Discussion (NEED ABOUT 250 words)
“E-Commerce and Global Corporate Citizen” Please respond to the following:
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- Describe one (1) of the primary barriers to entry that limit access to the global eCommerce marketplace. Next, determine whether this barrier is primarily a company or country issue, then provide a solution that will address this barrier.
- Speculate on why you believe it is important for a global business to be a good corporate citizen. Next, discuss the value corporate social responsibility (CSR) provides to the marketing team. Provide support for your responses. |
App and web design are of paramount importance in today’s digital landscape. They serve as the user’s gateway to a digital experience of what your business has to offer them. And as such they help shape the way your business is perceived.
Effective design enhances user engagement, navigation, and overall satisfaction. A well-designed app or website conveys credibility and professionalism, fostering trust among users. It also plays a pivotal role in user retention and conversion rates, influencing business success.
Furthermore, a user-friendly design ensures accessibility for diverse audiences, accommodating different devices and needs.
That’s why we’re going to bring to you today, 7 app & web design examples and ideas from Penji.
So if you’re looking to design your app or website, sit back as we unravel amazing examples and ideas for you to use.
This web design by Penji has been done in the style of a flat design.
Flat Design is a minimalist approach to app and website design characterized by simplicity, clarity, and a focus on essential elements. It emphasizes clean lines, vibrant colors, and a lack of complex textures or gradients. Elements appear two-dimensional, with no simulated depth or shadows.
This design philosophy utilized by Penji here, prioritizes user-friendly interfaces, quick loading times, and ease of navigation.
Flat Design often relies on intuitive icons and straightforward typography to communicate information effectively. Its aesthetic appeals to modern sensibilities and has become popular due to its ability to create visually pleasing, uncluttered, and user-centric digital experiences.
As you can see from the above example, the colors, the shapes, and the fonts are all 2 dimensional and flat. This allows for an unhindered experience while navigating the website.
So if you’re looking for web design examples in this arena, then this particular type is the way to go.
If you’re looking for sleek minimalist app and web design examples then this idea from Penji can be beneficial for you. Let us first break down what minimalist design in app and web designs are.
Minimalistic design in app and website design revolves around the principle of simplicity and elegance. It’s characterized by a clean, uncluttered interface, typically employing a limited color palette, ample white space, and straightforward typography. This approach reduces distractions and places essential content at the forefront, enhancing user focus and usability.
While minimalism stretches out to all different design categories as an important design principle it’s highly useful in app and web designs. The above example from Penji is a perfect example that showcases minimalism, particularly in app design. Because the use of a limited color palette along with proper use of white space helps prioritize and make navigation intuitive and efficient. It aims to convey information and functionality with utmost clarity and without unnecessary embellishments.
Pro Tip: One way to keep the overall layout minimal is to use the lightest color in your brand’s color palette as the background and use darker shades for buttons and icons.
Moving on to the next idea from Penji, we can see that it has to do with the use of gradients. Gradients in app and website design employ color transitions to create visually dynamic interfaces. It involves a gradual shift from one color to another, adding depth and dimension to elements like backgrounds, buttons, icons, and text.
Gradients offer versatility, allowing for subtle monochromatic options for sophistication or bold, multicolored choices for striking effects. This design approach captures users’ attention, enhancing visual appeal. It is also a top UI trend for the year 2023 according to UXStudio.
We can derive from the above idea from Penji too that using gradients helps draw attention to different parts of the interface in a methodical way (as it is with most app and web design examples using gradients). Let’s take a look at why.
We tend to perceive the lighter shade in a gradient first because our visual system is sensitive to differences in luminance, making the contrast more noticeable. And our brains naturally prioritize lighter areas as they are often associated with stability and weight perception. In other words, our eye is naturally used to the real-world gradient from nature where it’s mostly top light and bottom dark according to this study on gradients.
And here in this app design example, the lighter shade is appropriately used at the top to guide the eye from top to bottom aiding visual hierarchy.
If you’re looking for app and web design examples that focus heavily on sections of information then this idea is a great option for you.
The above is a card-based web app designed by Penji. Card-based design is a popular approach in app and website design that organizes content into individual cards or modules. Each card represents a distinct piece of information or functionality, making it visually appealing and easily digestible. This design technique improves user engagement and navigation by presenting information in a structured and intuitive manner. Cards can include images, text, and interactive elements, providing a consistent and organized layout.
As you can see from the above example, everything from the top menu to the image to the list of services, everything is displayed within cards. It helps isolate information and focus only on what you need to read.
Moreover, they adapt well to various screen sizes, making them ideal for responsive design.
So conclusively, card-based design enhances user experience by simplifying content consumption, promoting user interaction, and facilitating quick access to relevant information.
Dark mode-only design is a design choice that offers users a visually striking alternative to traditional light-themed interfaces. It features dark backgrounds with light text and elements, reducing eye strain and enhancing readability, especially in low-light environments. That’s probably why a lot of the app and web design examples in dark mode we come across draw us in, more than lighter ones.
And when given the choice, more than 80% of individuals switch to dark mode according to MarketSplash.
The above design by Penji captures well the essence of this UI design practice. The dark background makes the brown cigars on display pop and helps bring together the rest of the brand colors. And better yet, it suits the overall aesthetic that they’re going for. And not only is this design trend aesthetically appealing but it is also energy-efficient for devices with OLED screens.
Dark mode designs in general create a modern, sleek appearance. It caters to both style-conscious users and those looking for enhanced usability during nighttime browsing. So it’s best to let users browse in dark mode for a better user experience. But do be cautious about your brand colors and your products, as some brands will not benefit from dark mode. It has to ultimately suit your brand.
To encourage you to use this in your app and web designs, it will be helpful to know that dark mode-only is another top UI design trend for 2023.
This strikingly attractive web design idea by Penji is an example of an illustration-centric design. Illustration-centric design places custom illustrations or graphics at the forefront of the user interface in apps and websites. It leverages visual storytelling to engage and communicate with users effectively.
Bespoke illustrations of this nature help convey complex concepts and brand personality, and aid in user guidance. This design approach also allows for creative expression and can set a unique tone for the platform.
It’s especially suitable for businesses looking to infuse personality into their digital presence and explain intricate ideas or processes in a user-friendly manner. Illustration-centric design adds a distinctive and inviting visual layer to the user interface. That’s exactly the scenario here in this web design.
The illustration is for a web page raising awareness for protecting a river and the unique illustration helps people respond even more. Even though this is an illustrated webpage, you can see that the colors and the drawings are done in a style that doesn’t complicate the view. The soft palette paired with the illustrated figures and the attractive typography all contribute to a well-thought-out design. It’s important to note that your illustrations and the fonts that you employ both need to go well together.
Pro Tip: Illustration-centric web designs can be highly beneficial for industries targeting children, teenagers, and comic enthusiasts.
Glassmorphism is a modern design trend that creates a visually appealing interface by simulating frosted glass-like elements. In glassmorphism design, components have a translucent or blurred appearance, resembling the look of frosted glass.
This design approach adds depth, realism, and a futuristic feel to apps and websites. Elements like buttons, cards, and input fields often have a soft, blurred background with semi-transparent surfaces, making the content behind them partially visible.
Glassmorphism combines aesthetics with functionality, creating a visually engaging UI that maintains readability and user interaction. It’s a striking and contemporary design choice, popular for its sleek and immersive user experience.
This is exactly the design principle used in the above web design. The use of glass boxes and other elements on top of the background elements makes the design look futuristic and sleek. And since this is a page with astrology-related content, it helps set the tone of the website.
If you previously didn’t know how to search app and web design examples with this effect, now you know the term to look for – glassmorphism.
In an era where digital presence is integral to businesses and communication, app and web design are critical elements that directly impact user experiences and organizational outcomes. That’s why we know that these app and web design examples are going to come in handy for you to come up with ideas for your own websites. So look into each of them with intent and see what best fits your business model and brand tone. |
Pest control North Palm Beach is needed by South Florida residents for lawn treatment, termite and whitefly control, and interior pest control. Florida Environmental Pest Management is the place to call for effective treatments that are eco-friendly, child-friendly, and pet-friendly. Our technicians are highly trained and our work is guaranteed. The following is more about our comprehensive services for pest control.
When Florida Environmental Pest Management handles your pest control, you don’t need to deal with harsh, odorous chemicals in your home each month. The products we use are effective and yet gentle on your home environment. Our eco-friendly baiting system begins with an inspection of your house, so that we are aware of all current pest-related issues. In kitchens and wet areas, baits are applied. As designed, our environmentally friendly baiting system eliminates any insect colonies that are currently invading your home. With our ongoing treatment, we take a preventative approach. We apply a liquid barrier that stops insects from ever getting back into your home, rather than waiting until they find a way back inside. This approach to pest control is important, since many insects carry various diseases.
At Florida Environmental Pest Management, we do an inspection of your entire lawn and then prepare a personalized lawn care treatment program that will enhance your landscaping with maximum effect. Our granular fertilization treatments are crucial to the beauty of your palms, shrubs, lawns, and trees. The nutrition we provide on your lawn also accomplishes pest control, preventing disease and insect infestation. Deep root palm and tree beautification is one of our essential lawn treatments that can restore neglected trees as well as keep healthy trees in top shape. Fire ant control is another essential aspect of pest control that we offer at Florida Environmental Pest Management.
In South Florida, dealing with a whitefly infestation is common among homeowners. When you schedule pest control North Palm Beach with Florida Environmental Pest Management, you can count on complete elimination of the pesky insects on your property. There are several types of whiteflies, and all of them suck the nutrients out of plants. With some plants, a whitefly infestation will result in yellowing. With others, leaves will wilt and drop off. Whiteflies leave a waxy substance on plants, and they are bad news all around. One strategy for eliminating whiteflies involves generic pest control, but we don’t use that option, since beneficial insects are typically eliminated at the same time. Our methods are effective, reliable, and eco-friendly.
In Florida alone, termites are responsible for over $500 million in damage annually. Because a home is typically the largest investment a homeowner makes, protecting homes from termites is a must. Damage could be made by termites for years, without anything being detected. Contact reliable pest control North Palm Beach at Florida Environmental Pest Management, to be sure your home is safe from termites. If there is an infestation of termites, we will get rid of them, guaranteed.
If you have a pest control problem give us a call or fill out this form |
Submitted by Paula Lillard Preschlack
How Our Children Develop Moral Values
I have been asked, how do we help our children develop moral values in a Montessori setting?
I will start with an anecdote: Last week, I got goose bumps and my eyes welled up with tears as I witnessed the entire student body at Forest Bluff enter the school hallway, arrange themselves in complete silence to sit facing the front, and join their voices to sing traditional Christmas carols. Our Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, and Christian children enjoy sharing the pleasure of this school tradition, respecting one another’s religions and seeing what they all have in common when seeking peace through communication and mutual respect.
The most astonishing part of this annual school tradition is the self-control that each child demonstrates by choice, from the smallest 18 month old to the tallest 14 year old. What I realized this year is that these children—all of these Montessori children—truly know what it means to be individuals forming a community. They understand that it takes the participation of each and every one of them to create the total silence and to sing in unison, then to rise carefully and return to their classrooms. It gives one great hope for the future and shows that we are helping these children are develop moral values to work with others.
Children Need to Develop Moral Values
Maria Montessori was no stranger to violence and persecution; she lived through both World Wars, saw Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler come to power, and witnessed terrible acts of genocide. She was exiled from her own country, and her schools were shut down because they promoted freedom of thought. Montessori did act, however: she designed an educational approach that she called an “education for peace,” designed in every aspect to help children learn to empathize, work with each other, and build their own morals from within.
She saw that our children do not learn morals from being lectured to, subjected to rewards and punishments, or told to compete against their fellows. She pointed out, “We take for granted that children can be enlightened by the word and that, if they so desire, can live our advice. Instead, my method of education approaches this differently…. They are beings having within them forces which must develop of themselves, over which I have no power, and whose development I can only assist.” She believed that we must work with what she identified as an inner sensitivity that young children have to what feels good or what feels bad. It is the development of this “gut feeling” that makes a child pursue one action over another and to restrain him or herself from doing an undesirable action and that we must nurture. This natural inner urge will help our children develop moral values.
Montessori’s Unique Approach to Helping Children Develop Moral Values
You may have heard us explain that Montessori is most effective because it matches the educational approach with each stage of children’s development. Children develop through distinct, recognizable stages, or “planes of development,” no matter where they are born, how intelligent they are, or what their experiences are. When we can deliver information in ways that appeal to the characteristics of the stage or plane a child is in, we can make a real impact.
Between ages zero to six, young children absorb information about the world through their senses. This is also how very young children develop moral values; they will pick up what they see modeled and from the environment they are exposed to. At school, we help young children develop moral values through Grace and Courtesy lessons, the ultimate one being the “silence game.” The feeling of good and bad, right and wrong, is swelling inside them but has not been given a name, is not understood with the intellect or reason; it is innate, absorbed without judgment. As parents, this is the time to save your words and moral lessons and demonstrate with your own actions and expose them to the best. This is the best way to help young children develop moral values—they will internalize what they witness. This then becomes their “gut feeling.”
Between ages six and twelve, children go through a long trial-and-error stage, where they test the morals they have been forming in themselves during their early years. Elementary children collect information through experimenting, developing their ability to verbally reason through right and wrong, and making choices. They seem to need to make a lot of mistakes! They will steal, lie, cheat, be mean to friends, use swear words, say inappropriate or offensive things—sometimes even the sweetest of children do these things. It can be awful for us parents to watch this experimenting.
However, the consequences for their undesirable actions are built in, because, in a Montessori classroom, misbehaving children experience their classmates’ negative reactions, feel shame and embarrassment and an unpleasant “gut feeling.” These inner feelings guide them to change their behavior. By design, the children need partners to do certain work and community exercises, so they have to figure out how to work with one other. The environment is one of community, so everyone figures out how to work out their issues and synergize. Through this very natural approach Montessori elementary children develop moral values.
Because six to twelve year olds are more nimble than adults are, children can change rapidly at these ages: a child tries something different and gets good feedback and good feelings only moments of behaving negatively. Again the next day, he may find himself—or herself—doing something mean or disreputable, like stealing rubber bands, breaking paper clips, starting a rumor about a friend and snickering, and those unpleasant feelings swell inside, providing nature’s guide.
Of course, a teacher may interfere as needed, perhaps by moving a disruptive child so that others can continue in their work or taking away a child’s freedoms for a short period of time, but truly, the “punishment” is the natural consequence from the community and that inner feeling that guides. Some children need to experiment more than others, but observing the behavior and popularity of others, feeling the desire to belong, to feel closeness with others, does much of the correcting.
As parents and teachers, we can work with the Elementary children’s new ability to reason and imagine how others may feel or what the outcome of different behaviors might be. These children love to talk about moral issues and explore them through fantastical worlds and historical stories, fables and myths. Reading classic literature and having discussions about what the children notice in the characters is one way we can nurture their moral development in this stage. Reading about and exploring desirable and undesirable behaviors, as in Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Black Beauty, or Harriet the Spy, provides wonderful opportunities to talk about what you and your children notice. But even if they are very quiet about their thoughts, you are providing your Elementary children with great material to ponder by reading these classics with them.
By ages 12 to 14, the experimenting phase ends and a sensitive individual who needs to be in a small, trusted, close community emerges. Our Secondary Level students develop moral values as they work together, almost like their own tribe, to serve others outside our community. They travel into the wilderness with only one another to depend on, survive the elements, build structures for other communities, and leave a lasting mark when they leave. They experience, again and again, the results of their positive work, and they develop a pride and confidence in one another and themselves. They graduate from Forest Bluff School at age 14 with a wealth of knowledge about themselves and about getting along with a variety of other people. Even though we are a small school, our students are very different from one another in numerous ways and because Montessori celebrates individuality in all subjects, the children realize how different they each are and what it entails to create a healthy community.
With adolescents, we again return to modeling adult behavior—talk less, act more—as we did with the youngest children. Now our children will see past the surface as they are learning about all the gray areas in life. They will see our adult flaws as well as our strengths. Adolescents are in the stage of developing the ability to see the world more clearly and understand its increasing complexity. This is when discussing politics and moral dilemmas helps adolescents voice their own opinions and find their own voices as they enter the adult world. They will change their minds many times and must not be forced, ridiculed, or shamed, but be permitted to try out their verbal rhetoric and investigate the wide range of ideas human history presents to us.
Supporting Children as They Develop Moral Values at Home
In all of their developmental stages, we cannot force our children to develop moral values by using a stagnant model of rewards and punishments. Montessori cautioned us to have no illusions of power over another human being. She pointed out that nature provides a force we can work with: humans have within them an inner force for good, a desire to be with others and feel good. Thus, our goal as adults must be to nurture and foster this tendency towards goodness and this inner guide. We can:
- expose our very young children to desirable environments
- model our morals in their presence
- share our stories and talk about our beliefs and experiences as our children age
- explore the intellectual ideas of humanity with our adolescents
- and allow natural consequences to cultivate an inner guide
“Have faith in the Child,” Montessori told us. It takes many years to develop morality, and we have to support our children with a kind of faith. When we doubt, we need only think of those children in our school’s hallway under the cathedral-like ceiling, showing their desire to create something great. They can do it. |
Introducing Cacay Oil, The Latest “Superfood” For Your Skin
Cacay oil is a new “anti-aging” oil that is made from the fatty seeds of the cacay plant– a South American native that grows at the base of Colombia’s Eastern Andes Mountain range.
In addition to packing a powerful quotient of vitamin E and Linoleic Acid, Cacay oil contains three times more retinol (a derivative of vitamin A, which helps combat wrinkles and other signs of aging)– than many other popular face oils on the market today– including Argan oil and rose oil.
“Cacay oil is a rainforest-sourced beauty product that doesn’t harm the environment– it actually helps preserve it.”
Because of its high vitamin E content, Cacay oil can also be used to help fade stretch marks and scars, plus its manufacture is very sustainable: after oil is extracted, the meat of the nut can be ground up for use in cooking while the inner peel can be used as cattle feed or compost. Cacay trees also grow very quickly, so nutrient turnover in the soil is high, and fallen shells can be burned for fuel (because of the oleic nature of the nuts, the shells burn very hot).
We tried Cacay oil for face and find it very nourishing and silken– it’s less “heavy” than argan oil but just as restorative, and it feels gentle enough to use under the eyes and on the neck. Even Bloomberg reports that oil from this rare nut is now “all the rage”, and that has to do in part with the fact that the mounting popularity of Cacay oil results in a financial motivation for growers in the lower Amazon to avoid deforestation.
Selling Cacay nuts for their rejuvenating oil is more financially advantageous than harvesting Cacay trees for their wood. The result is a rainforest-sourced beauty product that doesn’t harm the environment– it actually helps preserve it. Beauty for your skin and bounty for the ecosystem– what could be better than that? |
The subject of Open Source vs. Proprietary software is a huge one, which we will not seek to fully address here. Chris Holmes wrote a paper (link to paper) on the potential of Open Source for implementing Spatial Data Infrastructures (link to glossary), which does a more an in depth treatment of the subject.For now we will focus on the more practical benefits of open source.
While the jury may still be out on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) debate, one thing is quite clear, the initial cost of free and open source software (FOSS) is much less. GeoServer is free to download, to try out, and even to install in a production environment. The current argument spread by proprietary vendors is that their products are cheaper over the long run, as the initial purchase price is a small portion of the total cost, based on higher prices for support due to growing demand on FOSS. But such arguments fail to take into account that FOSS support will experience economies of scale, greater supply and decreased prices, as new firms spring up to meet increased demand.
### Try before you buy
When purchasing proprietary software oftentimes the decision to buy the software must be based on a list of features, marketing materials, or unrealistic demos. With FOSS one can download exactly the same package that will be installed, and fully tested before committing to it, an option seldom available with proprietary software.
### Commercial Quality support in an open marketplace (no vendor lock-in)
With proprietary software the vendor has an exclusive monopoly on high level support of their product. You could hire anyone to do basic level installation and user level support, but for things like fixing bugs, diagnosing deep problems, additional features, and integration with other systems (especially when not based on open standards) the vendor is the only one with access to the source code, and thus the only one who can perform the changes. With GeoServer there are currently three companies that offer commercial level support and consulting on GeoServer, and the market is open for even more, since anyone can access the source code. This means the right company and terms can be found to meet a variety of needs, in an open marketplace for services. And the overall price for support is often cheaper, as there is no rent extracted just to use the software in the first place. Indeed the support for GeoServer is of higher quality than certain proprietary vendors which will often let a bug sit for years before fixing it, due to the disconnect between the support employees and the actual developers who wrote the code.
### Informal support structures
A hallmark of good FOSS projects is an incredible community of informal, freely available support centered around email lists, wikis, irc chat channels, open documentation and bug trackers. These may take a bit more digging, a bit more patience, and a bit more respect than demanding (and paying for) commercial level support. But they offer a level of support that is simply not available with proprietary software, an opportunity to interact directly with the people who create the software, and those who have experience with installing and maintaining the software, users who have likely encountered similar problems.
Open Source opens the door to tailor the software to an organizations particular needs, in a way that is simply not possible with proprietary software. This customization can be performed in house, or flexibly contracted out to the experts who originally wrote the code. This can be additional features, but it can also be a simplification of features. An excellent example of the benefits of this is with UDIG, a desktop GIS, where complex features can be taken out to improve the user interface and ease the hurdles to learning to use the software.
Many languages are not translated by mainstream GIS software providers, as the market does not make it possible for them to spend the time to do so. With the open access to the source code that FOSS allows, users need not rely on the vendor doing the translations, they can perform it themselves. FOSS often goes to great lengths to design the programs so that translation is easy, as is the case with both UDIG and GeoServer.
### Ever increasing Returns on Investment (ROI)
Many times a software package won't meet the needs of an organization, in which case they have to pay for improvements. Proprietary vendors will often advertise features that they have not yet implemented, and go to work on them once they land a big contract. The client will get the improvements, but when more improvements are made to the software they paid for, the company will turn around and charge them more money for the upgrade. With FOSS any improvements made to the project go to all, and often times an improvement needed by one client will make it so the next client can focus on the next feature. But this new feature will then be available at no additional cost to the first. This creates a snowball effect, where any funded improvement to the project lowers the costs that the next funder may need to spend on the improvements they need. A key capability funded in an open source environment can lead to an ever increasing return on that investment as future improvements are built on top of it, while in a proprietary company those improvements remain the property of the company, which they sell for even more money.
### Warm Fuzzies
The community around FOSS projects, and the sense of building something good for the world, is what keeps many people coming back. There is no requirement to join the community, one can easily approach FOSS software from strict business requirements, and it will easily compete on those levels. But many people start out as mere users, and become valuable contributors, first figuring things out, then helping out others on the email lists, then writing documentation, helping to spot bugs on new releases, spreading the word about the software, and if they are programmers even becoming core members of the development team. There is a shared passion around the project that is rarely seen in proprietary products, that for many is the most rewarding aspect of FOSS. |
Bengaluru-based Spacetech startup Pixxel launches ‘Shakuntala’ satellite with SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket
- The Indian Spacetech startup Pixxel [Headquarter- Bengaluru] launched its first commercial satellite called `Shakuntala’ in April 2022.
- The full-fledged commercial satellite was launched onboard Falcon-9 rocket of Elon Musk-run SpaceX from Cape Canaveral in the US.
- The launch took place under SpaceX`s Transporter-4 mission.
- The ‘Shakuntala’ satellite is a low-orbit imaging satellite, installed with one of the highest-resolution hyperspectral commercial cameras ever flown to space.
- This will help to track the invisible changes of Earth like deforestation, natural gas leakages, pollution, declining crop health, melting ice caps, and other data critical for climate change assessments.
Points to remember:
- Shakuntala satellite has been launched by which Indian startup?
- Name of the satellite launched by Pixxel?
- Shakuntala satellite was launched on which rocket?
- Shakuntala satellite was launched under which mission of SpaceX?
Source: Economic Times |
Blackjack history is an intriguing subject. Here at Top 10 Slot Games, we can give you the Las Vegas tips and tricks that will help you look like a big shot in both the casinos and the bars. Blackjack is one of those forms of gambling that has really stood the test of time. Slot machines are relatively new because of their use of technology. As such they have gained popularity massively in the last few decades. Some believe that they have not earned their place in the ‘gambling hall of fame’. Blackjack has been around for centuries and like gambling in general. It has always had an interesting history both culturally and legally.
Gambling through time
Think back to those history lessons. We bet you didn’t hear about the Romans love of gambling. You were taught about the wars and the building of the Coliseum. Well, in fact, the Romans loved gambling. Where did our love of placing bets on our favourite football teams come from? Gladiators. Only our version of sports is less bloody nowadays. However, there are arguments made by many historians that Romans invented an early version of blackjack, using wooden blocks.
The game of Ventiuna originated in Spain long after the Roman Empire crumbled. This is a more plausible explanation of modern blackjack and how it came to be so loved by many. Its mention is from a Spanish novel from the 17th century. It depicts two characters playing a counting game where they aim to get to 21. There have even been earlier mentions of a counting game that involved gambling in Spain. However, it was called Trente-un. This was played in the 15th century and whilst it has a different name. It displays all of the fundamentals of the game we know and love today.
Vingt-et-Un was a French game played similarly to the one originating in Spain and was popular in casinos all over the country. The game very closely follows the rule of modern-day blackjack but there were wagers after each singular card was dealt and only the dealer was allowed to double. It was eventually spread all over the world after being banned in France, gaining massive popularity in America. It was there that the name was changed to blackjack and became what it is today.
The Basics of Blackjack
The basic rules of blackjack that all beginners or experienced casino-goers need to know are; that in a game of blackjack, the player is making decisions in order to beat the dealer and therefore the house. The values of the cards are quite simple in that all numbered cards are normal value. However, the picture cards are counted as values of 10 and an ace can be interpreted as a 1 or an 11.
The game of blackjack needs some sort of strategy to win, just like roulette strategies. you need to understand that strategies are important in order to win.
In a game of blackjack, the standard 52 card pack is dealt from a shoe. This is a box that aids the dealer in dealing the cards one at a time, face down without them actually having to hold a large number of cards. Nowadays, a 6 deck game is considered one of the most common forms of blackjack in order to make the game harder for card counters and to restore the house edge. The shoe is a very useful tool in this respect, as you can also put in a different type of card to signify to the dealer that the cards need to be reshuffled.
Many people assume that the objective of the game is to win as much money as possible, but they would be wrong. The actual objective of the game is to beat the dealer, who really represents the house. You do this by beating the dealer to 21 without going bust. If you simply aim to reach 21 without considering what the dealer’s cards are, then you will lose. It is also important to remember that you are not playing against the other players at the table. So be courteous but do not get tricked into believing that “you’re all in this together”.
The Table Layout
If you are new to a casino, it is easy to be dazzled by the bright lights and the noise of people on the slot machines around you. Therefore, it is important to know your way around a casino before you enter. That is so that you do not end up at the wrong table and end up playing a completely different game to what you initially intended. Blackjack tables are generally semicircular in shape and can accommodate up to 12 people betting at a time. But on average, they hold up to 7 people at any one time. It is also important that you identify what the minimum and maximum wagers that you can place at the tables are. This is so that you can identify what table is perfect for you and your bankroll.
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TRADEMARKS ON THE SNOW:
A Primer on the Selection and Clearance of Trademarks
© Copyright 2013, William E. Maguire. All Rights Reserved.
Snow skis, snowboards, snow shoes, snowmobiles, snow sleds, toboggans………… sounds like a fun filled winter day in the mountains! To the savvy business entrepreneur, however, these winter sports accessories/necessities are the breeding ground for commercial exploitation. Not far behind in this consumer petrie dish of snow and capitalism is the need to select a trademark by which the item exploited will be known, e.g., K2® skis, BURTON® snowboards, OAKLEY® goggles and sunglasses, GRENADE® jackets and gloves, VESTAL® wristwatches, and COPPERTONE® sunscreen and tanning lotions. This article will highlight some famous trademarks on the snow and will briefly address the legal and business issues with respect to the selection, clearance and registration of such trademarks.
SELECTION AND CLEARANCE
The selection of a trademark is the first step that a merchant undertakes to create an identity for his/her snowboard, helmet, gloves, etc. The clearance of a trademark is the process of determining whether or not the trademark is available and is not being used by someone else as a trademark. This clearance process cannot be overemphasized in its importance. Ignoring this vital step can lead to a multitude of problems and expense. In the clearance of a trademark, a two-step process is suggested. The first step is to conduct an on-line computer trademark search of the mark. This on-line search is further clarified by identifying the goods sought to be used or sold as trademarks are categorized by classification. In the United States, the federal government has adopted the International Classification system. Toys, sporting goods, snow skis, snowboards, snow sleds and toboggans are in Class #28. Ski jackets and pants, snowboard jackets, sweaters, pants, gloves, socks and wool caps are in Class #25. Backpacks, daypacks and gear bags are in Class #18. Posters, magazines, books, trading cards, and other printed matter and publications are in Class #16. DVD's, compact discs, videotapes, audiotapes, video game software (including downloadable software over a global computer network), ski and snowboard helmets are in Class #9. Therefore, if you are planning to sell snowboards, apparel and gear bags, then you will want to conduct an on-line search of Classes # 28, 25 and 18. The on-line search is often called a "knock-out" search. This is because the on-line search is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to determine if the mark is already being used. These on-line searches are available on the internet, e.g., at www.uspto.gov, or can be performed by commercial search firms and law firms.
If your mark appears free of conflicts after conducting an on-line search, the next level of search is the full search, which is obtained from commercial search firms like THOMSON REUTERS and CORSEARCH. The full search will search the federal database of trademarks at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), State trademark registrations, common law sources such as phone directories and Dun & Bradstreet listings, plus internet domain name registrations. If your mark still appears clear of conflicts after a full search, then you can be fairly certain that you can adopt and start using your mark. CAVEAT: These searches are not guarantees of the absence of conflicting marks, but they do allow a merchant to make a more informed decision in the clearance of a trademark.
To obtain maximum protection, it is best to register your trademark or service mark. In the U.S., your greatest rights can be obtained with a federal trademark registration. If you are only conducting business within one state, e.g., California, it is possible to register your mark with the California Secretary of State. However, if it is your intent to do business across state lines or in foreign commerce (or if you are already doing business across state lines or in foreign commerce), then the prudent thing to do is to file for a federal trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office located in Alexandria, Virginia.
An application for registration of a trademark must be filed in the name of the owner of the mark. The on-line application is both recommended and preferred by the USPTO at www.uspto.gov. In fact, a written application filed via U.S. First Class Mail or the like, e.g., the old fashioned way, is more costly than filing on-line. If filed based on "intent to use", the applicant must submit: (a) an application; (b) a drawing of the mark; (c) the required filing fee; and (d) sign the application. If filed based on "prior use", the applicant must also submit a proper specimen of use. The applicant will also incur attorneys fees, typically a fixed fee, should an attorney be hired to file the application(s). Trademarks registered with the Federal Government, as stated previously, are categorized by a classification system which correspond to the type of goods sought to be registered. After the mark is registered in the U.S., it is important to give notice of this fact by placing the registered trademark symbol, "®", adjacent to the mark. Prior to registration, it is also advisable to use the symbols, "TM" (for trademarks) and "SM" (for service marks).
The chief advantages of a federal registration include:
"Constructive Notice" nationwide of the registrant's claim to ownership of the mark. This basically eliminates the good faith defense of an infringer who claims to have lacked actual knowledge of the registered mark.
Registration is also evidence of (a) the validity of the registration; (b) the registrant's ownership of the mark; and (c) the registrant's exclusive right to use the mark in commerce in connection with the goods or services.
Registration also entitles the registrant to (a) file a lawsuit for infringement of the mark in Federal Court; (b) prevent importation of goods bearing an infringing mark; and (c) use the registration as a basis for registering the same mark in certain foreign countries.
Trademark registrations are valid for 10 years subject to certain use and filing requirements, and are renewable every 10 years, also subject to continued use and renewal filing requirements.
FOREIGN TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
If your product is distributed internationally, then you must, by and large, register your mark(s) in each country where you plan to do business or are doing business. Is this expensive? Yes! On the other hand, the alternative is the potential loss of the ability to sell your product in those countries where a third party has filed a prior application for your mark(s). Therefore, foreign trademark protection is typically obtained on a country-by-country basis. Unlike the U.S., however, trademark rights in many foreign countries are obtained by registration rather than use. This further necessitates the importance of filing for marks in foreign countries as soon as possible.
One notable alternative to the typical practice of registering trademarks on a country-by-country basis is the European Community Trade Mark Application which has been available since January 1, 1996 for the filing of applications. By obtaining a Community wide trademark registration, an owner of a U.S. registered trademark, for example, can potentially save both time and money otherwise invested in registering a mark in each separate European country and can thus hopefully attain maximum protection for its trademarks in overseas markets at a minimum of cost.
Whether you are selling products or services, it is very important to be aware of your trademark and/or service mark and their value. In a competitive business environment, the potential for economic loss is tremendous if trademark rights are not acquired, evaluated, protected and maximized. While this article does not portend to cover all the intricacies of trademark law, hopefully it has helped to shed some light on this area of the law which is of paramount importance to the business owner.
For more information about trademarks, please visit our website at:
William E. Maguire
LAW OFFICES OF WILLIAM E. MAGUIRE
Santa Monica, California
(All photos by & Copyright William E. Maguire 2012/2013.) |
18 Mar 2022
Insect and tick bite preventionA reminder for international travellers about insect bite precautions
As international travel continues to open up, travellers are reminded about the risk of insect and tick-borne illnesses worldwide and the importance of good insect and tick bite prevention.
Some mosquito and tick spread infections, for example; Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and yellow fever can be prevented by the appropriate vaccines. However, most tick and insect spread infections are not vaccine preventable.
Worldwide chikungunya and dengue cases have increased significantly in recent decades [1, 2]. It is estimated that over three quarters of the world’s population now live in countries reporting widespread chikungunya infection and approximately half the world's population are now at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100 to 400 million infections every year .
Chikungunya and dengue are not common in mainland Europe, but local outbreaks have been reported during the summer and autumn months in recent years [4, 5]. Each year travel-associated cases of chikungunya, dengue, Zika and malaria are reported in the United Kingdom (UK).
Most cases of chikungunya and dengue reported in the UK are in travellers who visited the Caribbean, the Indian sub-continent, South American and South East Asia . The majority of dengue cases reported are associated with travel to Southern and South-Eastern Asia. Cases are also reported in travellers who visited Africa, the Caribbean and Central and South America .
Following a widespread outbreak of Zika in the Americas and the Caribbean in 2015, there have been small numbers of cases reported in the UK in returning travellers .
Most cases of malaria in the UK report travel to Africa, with the majority travelling to West Africa. Every year malaria deaths are reported in UK in travellers who visited risk countries. In 2019, fifteen fatal malaria cases were reported in the UK. Fourteen of these deaths were travellers who visited Africa; the remaining death was in a traveller who visited Southern Asia .
Advice for travellers
See our Country Information pages “vaccine recommendations” and “other risks” sections to check if there is a risk of insect and or tick spread infections at your destination. All travellers visiting affected areas are at risk.
Risk can be reduced by following insect bite precautions. Chikungunya, dengue and Zika are spread by day-biting mosquitoes, so particular care with bite avoidance is advised during the day, especially around dawn and dusk [1, 2]. However, some insects are active at night and other illnesses, such as Japanese encephalitis and malaria, are spread by night biting mosquitoes. Following careful bite avoidance advice is recommended at all times; day and night [10, 11]. Insect and tick bite avoidance remains important, even if an illness is vaccine preventable.
If you are visiting malaria risk areas, you must follow all the important steps for malaria prevention and take any recommended antimalarials, including completing the course of malaria prevention tablets on your return home.
If you develop symptoms such as fever, severe headache or a rash after visiting countries with known or suspected risk of insect spread illness you must seek urgent medical attention, informing the health professional of any recent travel abroad.
Advice for health professionals
Health professionals should consider the possibility of insect borne illness in returning UK travellers presenting with a fever or flu-like illness who recently visited risk regions. All individuals being assessed for possible COVID-19 must be asked if they have travelled abroad to assess the risk of other infections such as malaria, chikungunya and dengue.
Health professionals who suspect chikungunya, dengue or other insect/tick borne illness in a returned traveller should send appropriate samples for testing (with full travel and clinical history) to the UK Health Security Agency (previously Public Health England), Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory.
- World Health Organization. Chikungunya. 15 September 2020. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- World Health Organization. Dengue and severe dengue. 10 January 2022. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- Puntasecca C, King C, LaBeaud A. Measuring the global burden of chikungunya and Zika viruses: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Mar 4;15(3):e0009055. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus disease in Europe, 2007–2020. 17 August 2020. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chikungunya and dengue - Multi-country (World) - Monitoring global outbreaks. Last updated 7 January 2022. CDT report. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England). Chikungunya. 25 April 2014. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England). Dengue fever: annual report. Last updated 26 November 2015. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England). Zika virus: epidemiology and cases diagnosed in the UK. Last updated 27 February 2019. [Accessed 27 January 2022]
- UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England). Malaria imported into the United Kingdom: 2019. June 2021. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England). Mosquito bite avoidance for travellers. Last updated 8 August 2017. [Accessed 17 March 2022]
- TravelHealthPro. Insect and tick bite avoidance. Last updated 6 May 2021. [Accessed 17 March 2022] |
What if you want to leave everything for a while, leave everyone and go to the end of the world?
You need to pick up a backpack, buy a ticket for the bus number 403 and leave. True, you will have to fly to Lisbon first. Then take a train to Sintra or Cascais, and after that, take a bus. Travellizy has already prepared a detailed route.
Where to find the end of the world
Steep, sometimes sheer cliffs. Granite boulders interspersed with limestone. Almost flat surface tops. Creeping stalks of crystal grass. Far below, about fifty meters away - the ocean. And the nearest coast is thousands of kilometers away.
We are on Cape Roca (Cabo da Roca), the most westerly point of continental Europe.
The cape is located on the territory of Sintra-Cascais National Park, just forty kilometers from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The ancient Romans discovered this cape and called it Promontorium Magnum - Big Cape. At the time of the Great Geographical Discoveries, it was renamed Lisbon. Now, it is known as Cape Roca. For centuries, this place was considered to be the "end of the world."
"Aqui ... onde a terra se acaba e o mar começa ..." - "Here ... where the land ends and the sea begins...”- this stanza from the Portuguese poet Luis de Camoes’s “Lusiada” is engraved on a stone stele with a cross mounted on top of the cape. Below are the geographical coordinates of the most western point of the mainland.
In the 17th century, a fortress was built on Cabo da Roca in order to protect the coast and the approaches to Lisbon. The fortress is gone. But there is a lighthouse, one of the oldest in Portugal. It started working in 1772. Its height is 22 m. The light signal is visible for 26 nautical miles (48 km). Nowadays, you can't get to the lighthouse. According to the official information of the maritime agency Autoridade Maritima Nacional, the lighthouse is closed to the public for an indefinite period due to re-qualification. However, the lighthouse with auxiliary buildings looks also spectacular outside.
There are several memorable signs on the cape. These are stone slabs in honor of the first winners of the Grand Prix "The Edge of Europe", a 17 km annual mileage from the city of Sintra to Cape Roca. There is a stone pedestal of the founder of the international organization Rotary International, lawyer Paul Harris.
It was established by representatives of the local Rotary Club in honor of the 75th anniversary of the organization. A plaque dedicated to the accession of Cabo da Roca to the list of monuments under the symbolic title "The Blooming World of Sri Chinmoy". This list includes more than a thousand famous places on Earth.
There is a post office on the cape - you can send yourself or your beloved ones greetings in an envelope. And after returning from a trip, you will get a letter from the edge of the Earth!
There is a tourist office. Those interested can buy a personalized handwritten certificate for 11 euros or Braille for 4.50 with a stamp confirming that you visited the edge of the Earth: “I certify that ... was (a) at Cape Roca in Sintra, in Portugal, in the most western point of the European continent, at the very end of the world, "where the Earth ends and the ocean begins", where the Spirit of Faith, Love and thirst for adventure prompted the Portuguese caravels to go on a journey in search of a new world.
There is a cafe, toilet and free parking.
When to go and how long to walk around the cape, you can decide for yourself. If you do it early in the morning and later in the evening, there will be fewer people. At sunset, photos are spectacular: the sun sets into the ocean, the rays make their way through the clouds, the sea changes shades.
You can do everything for half an hour - realize that you have been at the most extreme point of the continent, acquire a certificate confirming this, take a photo for memory, and go back. And you can slowly watch how the clouds creep, the wind increases, the waves rise. Find a stone away from people and, looking at the endless ocean, dive back into the old ages, when this place was really considered to be the edge of the Earth.
Notes on the stones
Get ready for a strong wind on the cape.
Don't climb over the fences on the edge of the cliff, as they were set for a reason. Because various cases happened...
Don't go down the stones to the ocean, if you are not confident in your strength and shoes.
Keep the kids with you.
Don't be late for the last bus: it leaves from the cape at about seven in the evening. If you are late, call a taxi.
How to get to the end of the world from Lisbon
You can combine a visit to the Cape with the city of Sintra or with the resort of Cascais.
Of course, you can visit Sintra, Cascais and Kaba da Roca in one day. But is it worth galloping around Europe? Decide for yourself and count your strength.
So, this is the first option:
In Lisbon, you need to find the Rossio station or Orient station, whichever is closer to you. Electric trains to Sintra depart approximately every half hour from five in the morning until midnight. A one-way ticket costs € 2.25 (1.15 - for children). The schedule is here. Travel time is 40 minutes.
Sintra is a city located among the hills, 23 km from the capital of Portugal. It may seem that castles and palaces are hiding here behind almost every century-old pine. And the city hall building is nothing like a palace.
From the end of the train line to the historic center of the city, it is about 15-20 minutes walk. The National Palace of Sintra is located there. It can be recognized by two white cone-shaped tubes. When you get inside, you will see that the chimneys come out of huge kitchens. The Portuguese monarchs loved living in this palace. Built in the Middle Ages, it has survived to this day almost unchanged.
Palácio Nacional da Pena. It is impressive at first sight. On a high hill, there is a castle with bright walls: pink and ochre. And around it, there are terraces and parks, resembling a fairy-tale forest. You need to go up the hill to reach the castle. But you can get there on the bus number 434 as well.
400 meters from the Pena Palace, there is the Castle of the Moors. Built in the X century, surrounded by impregnable walls, it is like a guard among the rocks.
But these are not all the palaces of Sintra! Palace of Montserrat, the Palace of Quinta da Regaleira, Villa Sassetti - one day is not enough to see them all.
In order to see more, it is better to leave early. Palaces open at 9.30.
When you are full of royal life, it's time to go to the end of the Earth! Every half hour from 9 am to 7 pm, bus number 403 leaves from the stop next to the railway station. Check the schedule here. The distance from Sintra to Cabo da Roca is 18 km. You need to go about half an hour. The ticket must be composted on the bus. The letter "a" in the schedule means that the bus doesn't go over the Cape.
The second option - via Cascais:
The direct train to Cascais runs from the Cais do Sodré station in Lisbon. Trains depart every 12-40 minutes around the clock. Travel time is 40 minutes. You can buy a ticket both in a regular ticket office and in an automatic one. The schedule is here. From the same station, you can go to the beaches, which are located a few kilometers from Lisbon.
Cascais was once a fishing village. Then it was chosen by the local rich and courtiers. Nowadays, it is a small resort town with a beach, bay, marina, museums, monuments, a fort, a park, a lighthouse, a promenade and a cycle path along the ocean, hotels, cafes, restaurants.
House of Saint Mary (Casa de Santa Maria). It was built in the last century. In the once private residence, which was visited by royal persons, there is an interesting museum now. It contains a large collection of azulezhu (ceramic tile) and painting.
From the windows of the house of St. Mary, the lighthouse of the same name is to be seen. Except December-January, you can go inside, as there is also a museum associated with the history of lighthouses.
Nearby, there are quiet gardens with a duck pond, walking peacocks and a mansion, where a museum of antique furniture and works of art has been created.
About two kilometers from Cascais, there is the Boca do Inferno, a cave ruined by Atlantic waves among weathered rocks.
You can get to Cabo da Roca from Cascais by the same bus number 403. The Cascais Terminal bus station is located near the railway station, on the ground floor of the Cascais Villa shopping center. The schedule is here. In summer, buses run from 8.40 to 20.40. The way to the Cape takes 20 minutes.
Regarding the fare from point A to point B, it all depends on your route from Lisbon to Cabo da Roca. There are one-time tickets as well as combined or one-day tourist tickets. Examine all the rates here.
This is the scheme of the bus number 403, which travels to the end of the world.
P.S. Return from the westernmost point of Eurasia can be noted with a glass of port to the sounds of fado. |
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Buffalo is a city in Johnson County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 4,585 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. In recent years, the town has boomed economically due to methane production from the coal bed methane extraction method used in the Powder River Basin and surrounding areas. Even though energy is a vital part of its economy, agriculture and tourism are two other major components. Buffalo is located at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains, so recreation is a short distance away. Many generational ranchers still run cattle and sheep over the highly productive terrain.Demographics2010 censusAs of the census of 2010, there were 4,585 people, 2,080 households, and 1,198 families residing in the city. The population density was 1028.0PD/sqmi. There were 2,300 housing units at an average density of 515.7/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 0.3% African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.Discover how to plan a United States trip in just a few steps with Inspirock's itinerary builder.
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by Steven Veerapen
Few people’s love lives have been as closely scrutinised, commented upon, and fictionalised as Queen Elizabeth I. Entire volumes have been written about her suitors. The hapless band of luminaries who, at one point or another, sought her hand includes her great favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; her greatest enemy, Philip II of Spain; the ill-starred Eric XIV of Sweden; and her ‘frog’, the Duke of Anjou. Yet there is one who has received little attention.
England’s old enemy, Scotland, was not slow to suggest candidates for the role of Elizabeth’s consort. Early in her reign, when Scotland was being torn apart by Anglophilic religious reformers and Francophilic Catholics, the Earl of Arran was proposed as a suitable match. This scion of the Hamilton family – whose side-switching patriarch was argued as heir presumptive to the Scottish throne – represented the hope of the reformers, whose goal was to ensure Scotland’s future as a Protestant state allied staunchly with England. In a few short years, the reformers would win, pushing through the Scottish Reformation when the beleaguered Regent Mary of Guise died. However, Arran would not profit by marriage. Elizabeth refused his suit, preferring instead to influence Scottish affairs by mischief, money, and diplomacy. His insanity, which eventually broke all restraint, hardly helped. Under Mary of Guise’s daughter, Mary Stuart, it resulted in his imprisonment.
Whilst Mary Queen of Scots’s colourful marital history brought about her downfall and captivity in a succession of English country houses and castles, Elizabeth’s single status ensured that she remained first prize on the international marriage market for decades. Yet the English Queen had never been inclined to marriage. Elizabeth had voiced her intentions with regard to the institution as early as 1559. Speaking to the House of Commons, she declared and, in the end, this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin.
The House of Commons did not listen. Neither did the Queen’s ministers. Neither did the princes of Europe. It was, after all, the first duty of a monarch to secure the succession. Realising that speculation about – and demands for – her marriage would continue regardless, Elizabeth decided to play the marriage game for all it was worth, coyly acknowledging that though a single life was her preference, she might well be induced to take a husband. The consequence was a parade of suitors, each with his eye not on the ageing Queen but on England’s crown.
Generally, historians have recognized that the increasingly farcical charade ended in the early 1580s, when the Queen passed childbearing age and the Duke of Anjou sailed out of her life. At his going, she famously penned a poem: ‘On Monsieur’s Departure’. This melancholic verse provided a meditation on her queenship: a position to which she had devoted herself at the expense of personal happiness. In most biographies of the Queen, the Anjou courtship is held up as the last of her marriage games (which, in a sense, it was, as far as realistic prospects go).
Yet Monsieur was not, in fact, the last candidate thrust forward.
Throughout her reign, Elizabeth had grappled with the problem of Scotland. Unlike her father, she had no delusions of owning or having any right to govern the country as its suzerain (the myth of English suzerainty being one Henry VIII peddled, whenever the mood struck him, in the teeth of Scotland’s hundreds of years of hard-won autonomy). Much to her credit, the Queen was continually averse to claiming authority over nations and territories which did not pertain to the English crown (though, on the debit side, she was quixotically fervent in her desire to press English dominion over lands she believed did, such as Ireland and Calais).
All Elizabeth wanted was a friendly, Protestant Scotland – independent, to be sure, but unlikely to act too independently. Luckily, in Anglo-Scottish negotiations, she held the trump card. Her unmarried status left the question of the English succession open, and dynastic history meant that the Scottish Stuarts (or Stewarts) had a strong claim to be her successors. This was a claim which kept Mary Queen of Scots – most of the time – in amity with England (Mary’s Catholicism notwithstanding). So too did it ensure that Mary’s son, James, who was thrust on to the throne by the coterie of Protestants who had rebelled against his mother, was in the invidious position of seeking a foreign power’s approval to gain a second throne. Elizabeth had no need to conquer Scotland when she could interfere in its running with alacrity, using the carrot of the English succession and the stick of hard lectures delivered from the position of an older, more experienced sovereign.
James is one of the most interesting monarchs to ever have occupied a British throne. A highly-educated know-it-all, he cared nothing at all for what people thought of him; he lived a life of open bisexuality, loved indiscriminately, bore vengeful grudges, and spent wildly (his favourite adornments being fabulous jewels). As is well known, he married, in 1589: his choice was the tall and attractive Anna, second daughter of Frederick II of Denmark and his redoubtable wife Sophie. However, before he made his choice and sailed to Norway to claim his young bride, the question of whom he would marry had been as much debated in the courts of Europe as Elizabeth’s choice of husband.
And, rather surprisingly, one of his potential brides was his English cousin.
James’s youth had not been easy. In the early 1580s, he had been seduced – we would now say ‘groomed’ or ‘abused’ – by his older cousin, the French-born Esmé Stuart, whom he ennobled as the 1st Duke of Lennox. Lennox, who was in his late thirties, had evidently read something of the thirteen-year-old’s sexual tastes on his first coming to Scotland. To the fury of the Scottish Kirk, the Catholic Lennox soon took over the boy-King’s life, reorganizing the royal household along French lines, with himself at its head. Despite giving a show of conversion to Protestantism, which remained Scotland’s official religion, few trusted the Duke. In 1582, James was thus kidnapped in what became known as the ‘Raid of Ruthven’ (so called for one of its ringleaders, the Earl of Ruthven). Lennox was expelled, but James remained in captivity for a year. During this time, the faction of Raiders began, desperately, to formulate some means of securing their own futures. Chief amongst them was a bizarre proposal. In May 1583, they sent delegates to Elizabeth (who had favoured the Ruthven Raid as a means of ridding Scotland of unsuitable French influence). Their suggestion was simple: would she, at forty-nine, be willing to marry her sixteen (going on seventeen) year-old Scottish cousin, thereby taking him off their hands and out of Scotland? Elizabeth, presumably after she had stopped laughing, politely refused, on the grounds that she was accustomed to the single life (she having only just seen off Anjou).
The matter might have rested there. It is, after all, unlikely that the Raiders (or Lords Enterprisers, as they called themselves) consulted James on this match. It would therefore be nothing more than a curious historical footnote: not Anjou but King James VI was Elizabeth’s last suitor.
But it did not end there.
The mid-1580s, at least in Britain, is known chiefly for two things: the religious tensions which led to Mary Queen of Scots’s execution at Fotheringhay, and the Spanish Armada. It was the former which led to a grim resurrection of the James-Elizabeth marriage question.
By 1586, James had decisively abandoned the mother whom he had never really known. Whilst earlier in the decade – under Lennox’s influence – he had toyed with the idea of her return to Scotland (under conditions), by the middle of the decade he had been bribed by Elizabeth’s agents to leave his mother imprisoned. Rather than having to house a difficult Catholic mother, he instead achieved a new Anglo-Scottish Treaty and an English pension (or ‘annuity’ as he preferred to term it). This left Elizabeth’s spymasters Walsingham and Burghley free to finally achieve their goal of ridding England of Mary by means of the executioner’s block. Conveniently, channels of communication were opened to the hapless Scottish Queen, and persuasive double agents were induced to work up plots in which she could be implicated. The trap was sprung and Mary, by this time a dropsical and sad figure, cut off from most of the world, was caught.
This was deeply troubling to James. As much as he did not wish his mother sharing his throne, he certainly did not want her executed like a criminal by a country with whom he had just signed an alliance; he quaked at the thought of what his subjects might do if he allowed Mary to be killed by a nation which still appeared, in many eyes, to be ‘the auld enemy’. Nor did Elizabeth want Mary’s blood on her hands – she would have much preferred the Scottish Queen to have been quietly murdered by a convenient scapegoat. Even accused, Mary Queen of Scots was a source of problems to those in power north and south of the border.
Obviously, on hearing that his mother was to be tried, James was required to send some form of representation south. His choice was Archibald Douglas, the man who (though James probably did not know it) had suffocated his father, Darnley, before going on to become a spy for Walsingham. Hidden among Douglas’s instructions was a request to make a proposal of marriage between James and Elizabeth: a revival of the Lords Enterprisers’ offer back in 1583.
Such a marriage – between a twenty-year-old King hoping for heirs and his post-menopausal fifty-two-year-old cousin – would have been as fruitless in 1586 as is had been three years prior. Almost certainly, the proposal was simply a tasteless attempt on the part of a desperate James to create a last-minute diplomatic distraction and thereby halt proceedings against his mother (who would, if such a match had come to pass, have become Elizabeth’s mother-in-law, despite being younger and a prisoner awaiting condemnation). Naturally, the offer – if it was ever officially made by Douglas – was again turned down. Proceedings continued apace and, despite further diplomatic attempts to prevent the execution (James’s preferred solution was for Mary to be kept in stricter confinement, with sureties placed for her future good behaviour), the Scottish Queen went to the block in February 1587. Elizabeth immediately denied all knowledge of what she called a ‘miserable accident’. James, in genuine panic, cut off relations with England upon hearing the news, refusing even to let Elizabeth’s ambassador enter his country.
Yet the allure of the much-promised recognition of the Stuart succession rights proved to be too tempting. Relations were restored, with the King choosing to accept Elizabeth’s flimsy assurances that Mary’s execution had been against her will. James, for his part, would never receive anything official from Elizabeth regarding his succession and, in the end, he never needed it; all he needed was the administrative genius of the English Queen’s last secretary, Robert Cecil, son of the Burghley who had engineered Mary’s fate. Nor, of course, did James need to wed his cousin.
Nevertheless, the offer was made not once but twice. Elizabeth’s history of suitors ended not with a French Duke, but with a Scottish King. |
This is an excerpt from Running Mechanics and Gait Analysis by Reed Ferber & Shari Macdonald.
The training variables most often identified as risk factors for overuse running injuries include running distance, training intensity, rapid increases in weekly running distance or intensity, and stretching habits (James, Bates et al. 1978; Jacobs and Berson 1986; Marti et al. 1988; Messier and Pittala 1988; Paty 1994; James 1998; Plastarasv et al. 2005). Examining how these variables affect the stress-frequency relationship reveals how some of these training variables may lead to overuse injuries (figure 1.1). Increasing running distance increases the number of repetitions of the applied stress since the number of steps taken increases. Provided that running speed remained unchanged, the magnitude of the forces and moments produced at various musculoskeletal structures during each step remain unchanged also (neglecting fatigue effects). Thus, running a greater distance places the involved musculoskeletal structures further to the right on the graph by increasing the number of stress applications. Since this portion of the curve has a slight negative slope, locations further to the right on the curve require slightly lower stresses for a structure to enter the injury zone of the curve. Thus, the possibility that one or more structures will enter the injury zone of the graph increases with increasing running distance.
In running, training intensity relates to running speed. Faster running speeds generally produce greater forces and torsional stress to the involved musculoskeletal structures (Hamill et al. 1982; Nigg 1986; Derrick et al. 2000; Mercer et al. 2002). When training intensity increases, the stress level applied to all of these structures occurs higher on the stress-frequency graph (figure 1.1). Locations higher on this graph require fewer repetitions for a structure to enter the injury zone. In this way, when training intensity increases without a decrease in running distance or frequency, the likelihood of injury also increases.
The stress-frequency relationship can also explain how rapid changes in distance or intensity increase the risk of injury. When a musculoskeletal structure is subjected to a stress-frequency combination that is close to the stress-frequency curve yet below or to the left of the curve, positive remodeling of the structure may occur, shifting the curve upward and to the right as long as detraining does not occur. When these increases in running distance and intensity are gradual, it is possible to shift the stress-frequency curve to outpace the shifting of the structure's location on the graph. However, rapid increases in running distance or intensity may cause the structure to cross the curve from the non-injury region to the injury region even when some positive remodeling and shifting of the curve has occurred.
Performing stretching exercises before running is a training-related variable that has been examined as a possible risk factor for running injuries. Unfortunately, there have been conflicting conclusions drawn regarding the association of this factor with overuse running injuries. A number of researchers have reported that people who stretch regularly before running experience a higher rate of injury than those who do not stretch regularly (Jacobs and Berson 1986; Hart et al. 1989; Rochcongar et al. 1995). On the other hand, others have not found an association between stretching before running and injuries (Blair et al.1987; Macera et al. 1989; Hreljac et al. 2000). No empirical studies have reported that regular stretching before running reduces the number of running injuries, even though this practice has been advocated as a means of preventing running injuries (van Mechelen et al. 1993). However, data related to the stretching and warm-up habits of runners generally rely on surveys or self-reporting, so these results must be considered cautiously. Indeed, it is very possible that stretching before running is important for some runners, while it may not be necessary for others. A systematic review and meta-analysis by Yeung and Yeung (2001) reported that research investigating protocols of stretching before exercise and stretching outside the training sessions did not produce a clinically useful or statistically significant reduction in the risk of soft tissue running-related injuries. Without conclusive evidence, other factors, such as training errors, should be considered first as potential contributors to injury.
Several clinical studies have estimated that over 60% of overuse running injuries are a result of variables related to training (Clement et al. 1981; Lysholm and Wiklander 1987; Kibler 1990; Macintyre et al. 1991). From a practical standpoint, it could be stated that all overuse running injuries are attributable to training variables. To sustain an overuse injury, a runner must have subjected some musculoskeletal structure to a stress-frequency combination that crossed over to the injury zone of the current stress-frequency curve for the injured structure. This can only be accomplished when an individual exceeds the current limit of running distance or intensity in such a way that the negative remodeling of the injured structure predominates over the repair process. The exact location of this limit would vary from structure to structure and from individual to individual, but there is no doubt that runners can prevent these injuries by training differently based on individual limitations or in some cases by not training at all.
One of the most appealing aspects of assigning the causes of all overuse running injuries to training variables is that all of these injuries could then be considered preventable, since runners have control over training variables. However, rarely do runners know that they are about to commit a training error that will place them outside of their injury threshold. Therefore, to prevent overuse running injuries and assess and understand the etiology of a current injury, knowledge of the current limits of all of the involved musculoskeletal structures is required. These limits primarily are determined by anatomical and biomechanical variables in addition to the current state of training, strength and flexibility of specific tissues and muscles, and the integrity and injury status of various structures. Of course, it is not possible to know these limits exactly, but it is possible to minimize the risk of injury by thoroughly understanding the key clinical and biomechanical risk factors.
This book provides clinicians with a thorough and scientifically grounded basis so that they can make evidence-based decisions about these clinical and biomechanical factors. With this in mind, we discuss the most common running injuries and their multifactorial nature based on the current research. |
Summer 2022 will officially start in a couple of days when May turns into June and, for example, school summer holidays start. One of the highlights of Finland’s summer is Juhannus at the end of June, which is also known to us as the Midsummer Festival.
Spend a traditional Finnish Midsummer at VALO Hotel. VALO’s Midsummer accommodation package includes several nights in the Smart Room category at a great package price: € 250 / 2 people / 3 nights or € 180 / 2 people / two nights.
Juhannus is a midsummer celebration celebrated in the vicinity of the summer solstice on Friday and Saturday, between June 19th and 25th. This summer, Midsummer will be celebrated between June 24 and June 25, 2022.
Midsummer was originally an ancient celebration that has its roots in hundreds of years past. Midsummer is associated with churchhood by the celebration of midsummer in memory of the birthday of John the Baptist, who was reportedly born six months before Jesus.
Midsummer is sometimes used, especially in southwestern Finland, to make the slightly lesser-known term “measure”. The term in question is derived from the Swedish word “midsommar”, which means midsummer.
Midsummer is almost as important as the holiday of midwinter Christmas. Finnish midsummer celebrations essentially include cottages, sauna, raising the Finnish flag, various midsummer activities, and burning the midsummer bonfires.
In addition, many midsummer festivals are held throughout Finland during midsummer. In the summer of 2022, Finland will return to the old norm at a rapid pace, and traditional midsummer festivals such as Himoksen Juhannus and Rauma Sea Juhannus will return to the program.
Helsinki has become known as a beautiful summer city, which also attracts people to celebrate midsummer in the city. Many interesting events are held in Helsinki this midsummer as well, which means that spending the middle of summer is nice in the more urban environment as well.
Burning bonfires has traditionally been part of the Finnish Midsummer tradition. In addition to cottage beaches, bonfires are also commonly burned in many cities, and this also applies to Helsinki.
In Helsinki, Midsummer bonfires have usually been burned in at least the following places:
With regard to Midsummer bonfires, it is worth noting that they cannot be burned if the current forest fire warnings prohibit it. Over the years, several midsummer celebrations have been held in Helsinki, when no bonfires have been burned at all.
So far, at least the Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfires 2022 event has been announced. The event which includes entertaining music and dance performances, which makes it a perfect event for people of all ages. The event returns to the Helsinki Midsummer schedule after a two-year break.
The youngest members of the family can spend time with, for example, the dog performance Karelia, a magic trail, and a children’s midsummer pole. Adults can also take part in the fun, for example in midsummer dances or spend time in a traditional cart sauna.
Location of the event: Seurasaaren ulkomuseo
Time of the event: 24.6.2022 klo 17-01
Stadin Juhannus will be held on the island of Lonna as a two-day event on the 24th and 25th of June. Ten minutes away from the Market Square, the island will be able to enjoy a maritime midsummer atmosphere and a diverse group of top Finnish performers, as well as the hottest rising names.
The last time the event was held in 2019 was sold out in advance and there were about 3,500 visitors at the time enjoying the sunny weather.
Location of the event: Lonnan saari
Time of the event: The event is open on Friday, June 24 2022, from 15:00 to 23:30 and on Saturday, June 25 2022, from 14:00 to 23:30. The concerts on the terrace stage will end at 10 pm. Indoors, the program will continue until 11:30 pm. The call schedule for the event will be announced later.
The SunLines Midsummer cruise, launched from the Market Square, takes participants to the stunning seascapes of the Helsinki archipelago and unique Midsummer celebrations that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
At the four-hour Midsummer party, the DJ plays the most popular hits from the 1970s to the present day.
Location of the event: Helsingin saaristo, lähtö Kauppatorin Linnanlaiturilta
Time of the event: 24.6.2022 klo 18-22
The Allas Sea Pool will host a two-day Midsummer event, with the main performers on Friday, June 24. STIG and Ida Paul and Kalle Lindroth, known as the most popular musical duo in Finland on Midsummer’s Day, June 25, 2022.
Allas Sea Pool’s Midsummer is part of the summer 2022 ALLAS LIVE, which consists of a series of more than fifty summer gigs that will take place in the seascapes of Katajanokka in the courtyard of the Allas Sea Pool.
Location of the event: Katajanokanlaituri 2a, 00160 Helsinki
Time of the event: 24.6.2022 ja 25.6.2022, the doors open on both days at 6 p.m.
If you like Finnish rock music, it is worth visiting Korjaamo on the eve of Midsummer, where for the second year in a row, you can find a Midsummer event starring Tuomari Nurmio, Spuget, and Blosarit.
Tuomari Nurmio, aka Dumari, has been one of the messengers of Finnish rock music since the late 1970s, and the pace of this gentleman has not slowed down to this day. During his more than 40-year career as an artist, Tuomari Nurmio has released a total of 20 studio albums, which have also garnered many Finnish recognitions, the most significant of which is the only Eino Leino Literary Prize awarded to a rock musician.
In addition to Tuomari Nurmio, Spuget is formed by Make Hillilä on drums, Mitja Tuurala on double bass and Miikka Paatelainen on guitar. Blosarit, on the other hand, consists of Janne Toivonen, who plays the tuba and trombone, and Antti Hynninen, a saxophonist.
Time of the event: Friday, June 24, 2022 from 8 p.m.
Location: Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, Töölönkatu 51 B, 00250 Helsinki
We Love Helsinki Midsummer Dances connect the clubs of Kuudes Linja and Kaiku and the outdoor terrace of Kuistinen in Kallio. It is a three-day event that kicks off on Thursday with a kickstart to Midsummer and then continues with the actual Midsummer balls, which take place both on Friday and Saturday.
As usual, there is a mixed search throughout Midsummer, and in keeping with the spirit of the midsummer celebration, both sparkling drinks and cold beer and other refreshments suitable for the theme are also available.
From the dance people, the organizers want a festive dress for the old-fashioned model, and in honor of Midsummer, special attention should be paid to the flowers that crown the outfit.
Time of the event:
Thursday 23.6. at 21-03 Midsummer Dance Early Departure – Kuudes Linja
Friday 24.6. 18-22 Midsummer Eve Stage Dances – Kaiku
Friday 24.6. 22-04: 30 Midsummer Eve Dances – Kuudes Linja & Kaiku
Saturday 25.6. 18-22 Midsummer Eve Swing Dances – Kaiku
LA 25.6. at 22-04: 30 Dances at the end of Midsummer’s Day – Kuudes Linja & Kaiku
Location: Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13 B, 00530 Helsinki and Kaiku, Kaikukatu 4, 00530 Helsinki
A large number of other events, not directly related to Midsummer, are also held in Helsinki over the midsummer weekend. You can find out more about these events, for example, in the events calendar of the City of Helsinki.
New Midsummer events will also be updated in this text as they are published.
The VALO Hotel & Work is located along excellent transport connections in Helsinki’s Ruskeasuo, which makes our hotel an excellent base for the Midsummer weekend. From here, you can easily visit Helsinki’s Midsummer events with your own car, public transport, or even city bikes.
VALO’s popular wellness area also invigorates our guests in the Midsummer atmosphere with whirlpools, cold water and swimming pools, as well as traditional Finnish log saunas. During the weekend, you can also enjoy refreshing drinks and live music on our magnificent rooftop terrace.
Spend a traditional Finnish Midsummer at VALO Hotel. VALO’s Midsummer accommodation package includes several nights in the Smart Room category at a great package price: € 250 / 2 people / 3 nights or € 180 / 2 people / double.
Sources: My Helsinki, City of Helsinki and Stadin Juhannus
SUMMER 2022 HOTEL DEALS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
VALO Hotel's summer accommodation packages for families with children are here! In the summer of 2022, you will find three accommodation packages with us: VALO x Linnanmäki, VALO x Serena and Super Summer package. Book with the campaign code PROHUVI and choose a suitable option for an affordable package price. |
Dell Technologies is the first IT company to embrace innovation that helps businesses run powerful artificial intelligence workloads in VMware environments.
The Dell EMC Ready Solutions for AI: GPU-as-a-Service deliver two different designs to create virtual GPU pools to make better use of these valuable resources.
With the ability to virtualize HPC and AI operations with VMware, IT teams can quickly provision hardware as needed, speed up initial deployment and configuration, and save time with simpler centralized management and security.
Dell Technologies is the first IT company to embrace innovation that helps businesses run powerful artificial intelligence (AI) workloads in VMware environments. Designed to make AI easier to deploy and consume, new Dell EMC Ready Solutions based on VMware Cloud Foundation help companies gain AI insights with the combination of Dell EMC systems and new features of VMware vSphere 7, including Bitfusion.
Organisations are increasingly looking to adopt Artificial Intelligence to meet their needs of data driven workloads at the edge or in the cloud. However, due to infrastructure inconsistency and skill gap, they are lagging behind in adoption. The new ready solutions – enabled by VMware Cloud Foundation on our Dell EMC PowerEdge and PowerSwitch platforms will speed up the deployment of AI projects for our customers. We, at Dell Technologies understand the nucleus of our customer’s business and provide them with the best-in class solutions to simplify their IT setup and help them fast track deployment of AI to thrive in this data era,
Mr. Manish Gupta, Senior Director and GM, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies.
Two new Dell EMC Ready Solutions — backed by global services help companies get systems into production quickly and economically. With close IT integration, Dell Technologies is innovating to help customers speed AI adoption, so they can meet business pressures to digitally transform faster.
Read More: Verizon Adds Cisco's ENCS to Its VPS Portfolio, Optimizes Network Function Virtualization
Dell EMC Ready Solutions for AI: GPU-as-a-Service frees up accelerator access
Co-processors like graphics processing units (GPUs) are typically trapped in individual workstations or servers and often underutilized, sometimes at less than 15% of capacity. The Dell EMC Ready Solutions for AI: GPU-as-a-Service deliver two different designs to create virtual GPU pools to make better use of these valuable resources.
The newest design includes the latest VMware vSphere 7 with Bitfusion, which VMware announced today and makes it possible to virtualize GPUs on premises. Factory-installed by Dell’s flexible supply chain, VMware vSphere 7 in combination with Bitfusion lets developers and data scientists pool their powerful IT resources and share them across data centers. This helps increase utilization rates by providing self-service access to the right resource for the right workload at the right time.
Dell EMC Ready Solutions for AI: GPUaaS also uses the latest VMware Cloud Foundation with VMware vSphere 7 support for Kubernetes and containerized applications to run AI workloads anywhere. Containers make it easier to bring cloud-native applications into production with the ability to move workloads as needed to make the most of hybrid clouds.
Dell EMC Ready Solutions for Virtualized HPC speed time from testing to operations
Most HPC workloads run on dedicated systems that require specialized skills to deploy and manage. These Dell EMC Ready Solutions for Virtualized HPC (vHPC) architectures can include VMware Cloud Foundation with VMware vSphere 7 featuring Bitfusion, making it simpler and more economical to use VMware environments for demanding HPC and AI applications in computational chemistry, bioinformatics and computer-aided engineering.
For very large HPC implementations, the Dell EMC Ready Solutions for vHPC provide an option to include VMware vSphere Scale-Out Edition for additional cost savings.
With the ability to virtualize HPC and AI operations with VMware, IT teams can quickly provision hardware as needed, speed up initial deployment and configuration, and save time with simpler centralized management and security. According to Forrester Consulting, Dell EMC Ready Solutions for vHPC can deliver up to 18 times faster AI model development — reducing the time from months to days. It also delivers up to 20% faster hardware configuration and integration than self-installation and an estimated return on investment up to 111%.1
Dell EMC OpenManage software advances systems management
The Dell EMC OpenManage systems management software, included with PowerEdge servers in these new Ready Solutions, helps AI and advanced computing administrators improve system uptime, keep data insights flowing and prepare for AI-enabled operations. New OpenManage advancements include:
• OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter, supporting vSphere Lifecycle Manager, automates software, driver and firmware updates holistically to save time and simplify operations.
• The enhanced OpenManage Mobile app gives administrators the ability to view power and thermal policies, perform emergency power reduction and monitor internal storage from anywhere in the world.
Read More: Cameyo, ASG Africa Announce Partnership to Deliver Virtual Application to Azure Customers Throughout MENA
About Dell Technologies
Dell Technologies helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live, and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era. |
What does the uramaki sushi have in it?
Uramaki Sushi: This inside-out sushi is made with vinegared rice. The rice is rolled around a seaweed or nori sheet. It is then laced with flying fish roe or toasted sesame seeds to give the sushi mild crunchiness.
What is uramaki made of?
Maki is sushi rolled with the seaweeds outside, Uramaki in Japanese means inside out, meaning the seaweed is inside the roll. Nigiri are made only with rice and fish and Sashimi is only the fish.
What is in a uramaki roll?
Instead of getting your typical roll surrounded by seaweed on the outside, what you will see is the rice on the outside and the nori inside. To make the rice bind, the sushi artist may add sesame seeds, roe (fish eggs) tempura (crispy flakes) and other creative options.
What is Hosomaki made of?
What Is Hosomaki? Hosomaki translates to “thin roll” in Japanese. It’s a type of makizushi (sushi roll) that is made using a half-sheet of nori (dried seaweed) and rolled on a half-size bamboo mat, so it’s more slender than a typical maki and easy to eat with chopsticks.
Why is my sushi falling apart?
The nori is in bad shape. The packaging was left open for too long and it soaked up moisture. This is easy to fix by toasting the nori on open fire or in an oven until the seaweed is dry and crisp. The most common reason for rolls breaking apart is using too little nori for too much sushi rice and fillings.
What are the different sushi types?
Six main types of sushi
What is the difference between maki and Hosomaki?
Hosomaki – Thin Rolled sushi with the Nori (seaweed) on the outside. Maki –Sushi Rolls (There are many types of Maki, Futomaki, Hosomaki, Temaki, Uramaki, etc.)
Is Hosomaki vegetarian?
There is a wide choice of sushi for vegetarians and I won them over early on with my Red Pepper and Takuan Hosomaki. I served them as canapés but Hosomaki are also ideal for a lunchtime snack as they are the smallest sushi rolls. Hosomaki usually have the nori seaweed sheets on the outside.
What’s in an Alaska roll sushi?
The Alaska Sushi Roll is a great international (non Japanese) sushi dish. Fresh salmon and avocado is rolled inside-out style. Then the sushi roll is rolled in panko, the super crispy Japanese breadcrumb. The big difference about the Alaska roll and most sushi is (sharp intake of breath) it’s deep fried! |
Room: ePoster Forums
Purpose: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plays an increasingly important role in clinical applications, and dose verification is particularly crucial for each patient. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the results of dose verification in 924 actual IMRT plans, including the relationship between gamma pass rates and the location of lesions, and the total number of Monitor Units (MU) and the maximum area of the collected dose.
Methods: All the 924 IMRT plans implemented in a Varian Trilogy accelerator between January 1, 2014 and March 31, 2016 at Shandong Cancer Hospital were acquired. The Varian Eclipse planning system was used for all treatment planning and verification. The, actual implemented plans were transplanted into a water phantom. Subsequently, the derived fluence was compared with the actual measured fluence by gamma analysis with the gamma criteria (3%/3mm).
Results: Nine hundred and twenty-four IMRT plans were categorized into six groups, including the brain, head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and breast. The gamma pass rate average was above 98% for 902 IMRT plans while 22 plans did not pass the first time. A correlation was observed between the treatment site and gamma pass rate (P=0.017). Meanwhile, a negative correlation was observed between gamma pass rate and total number of MU (P <0.001), largest area of the acquisition dose (P <0.001), respectively. Varian Trilogy accelerator IMRT QA data has a stable pass rate with a 100-CL (confidence limit) value of 95.19.
Conclusion: There was a correlation between the pass rate and the treatment site, the total number of MUs, and the maximum area of collected dose. When using Mapcheck for patient plan dose verification, the gamma pass rate is very high, and only a few of them need to be analyzed.
Not Applicable / None Entered. |
Who knew that keeping a digital tree from dying could be so motivating?
That’s what the Forest app available for Chrome (free), Android, and iOS can do for you. I personally started using this extension for Chrome over a year ago and it’s helped me stay focused on the most important tasks. By growing a digital tree you earn a sense of accomplishment, rather than simply blocking entertainment websites like most other productivity apps.
Forest provides an interesting solution to save you from Internet addiction. You can plant a seed in Forest. In the next 30 minutes, this seed will gradually grow into a tree. However, if you cannot resist the temptation and start to browse the websites on your Blacklist, your tree will wither away. With this interesting mechanism, the sense of achievement and responsibility will drive our users to stay away from the distractions with no pain.
• A self-motivated and interesting method to help you beat Internet addiction
• Cultivate your personal pattern of time management: make good use of 30-minutes to fully concentrate on your work and finish it effectively
• Share your trees with friends
The Forest mobile app does cost a small amount but has more features tailored towards cell phone specific usage. Once you purchase the app you can sync it with your browser extension to unlock additional trees and combine your productivity points. One cool feature is the ability to create a grouped room – this works great for family/friend get-togethers by encouraging everyone to stay off their phone or else you will kill the tree!
As you grow more and more trees you accumulate “sunshine elixir” points. You can use these points to unlock more trees OR you can use them to plant a REAL tree. Pretty neat eh?
Another cool productivity app recently released by the same company is called SleepTown. I just started using it and so far seems great, especially for someone who has trouble with insomnia. It works similar to the Forest app but builds small towns when you sleep and wake up on time. This app is mobile-only.
There are quite a few other paid apps out there that work to accomplish similar goals. I highlighted these two because of their free and low costs compared to the others. They are simple and effective. Give one a try and let us know in the comments below what you think!
Here’s a link to more productivity apps that you can check out: More Productivity Apps.
Bonus – Milanote
Typical task boards are rigid and inflexible. Milanote lets you create your own workflow, add images to explain features, and share progress with your team. It’s the ultimate birds-eye view to keep your vision on track.
Check out how people are using Milanote here. |
How did your journey into Physics begin?
I read a book called 'Astronomy for under 10s' when I was about 8 and immediately decided that astrophysics sounded like the coolest job in the world.
What is your favourite thing about your research area?
Every single problem or question brings something new! This means that a big part of my job is always learning.
Why do you think it is important to highlight women in science? What does it mean to you?
Because women are incredible scientists and we should celebrate that. To me, highlighting women in science means inspiring young people who will be future astronomers and laying the foundations for other under-represented groups. |
Parachute Adams by Jason Akl
The Parachute Adams is a legendary fish catcher that no serious fly angler should ever be without. There are a great many attributes to the Parachute Adams but most of its legendary status is due to its unique ability to imitate the numerous members of the mayfly and caddis families. If no hatches are present on the water the Parachute Adams can be equally successful as a searching pattern.
The Parachute Adams can be productive wherever you decide to drift it. Slow or slack water presentation is one of the Adams’ specialties. The unique parachute post design allows the fly to ride lower in the surface film creating a realistic silhouette to on-looking trout. In these slow water conditions trout have an extended time to examine flies drifted overhead so using flies that more closely resemble the natural insects, like the Parachute Adams, gives you the best chance to consistently catch fish. For the faster runs or riffles the horizontal hackle will allow the fly to not only ride lower but have better floatability keeping it high and dry longer than most other standard dries.
To fish the Parachute Adams, simply employ the same tactics you would for any other standard dry fly. Find a turbulent run or sunken structure and cast across and upstream of this target. Gently allow the fly to drop to the waters surface and proceed to drift downstream. On the drift downstream towards your target or for the duration of the run mend the fly line so that the fly achieves a drag free drift for as long as possible. A good idea is to swing the fly back towards a position behind at the end of the drift just to give any slow trailing fish a last chance to bite.
Fly anglers the world over have tested this fly and time and time again come to one conclusion, the Parachute Adams simply catches fish.
Materials Used in the Parachute Adams
Hook: Daiichi Dry Fly Hook Size 14
Thread: Black Uni-Thread Size 8/0
Body: Grey Dry Fly Dubbing
Hackle: Grizzly Hackle
Post: White Calf Tail
Tail: Mix of Furnace and Grizzly Hackle Fibers
1. Start this fly by placing your hook into the vice and securing it place tightly. Attach the thread you will be using behind the hook eye and clip off the excess tag end.
2. Select and place a small bunch of calf tail fibers into your hair stacker. With a few light taps align the tips if the calf tail fibers and remove them from the stacker. Just in front of the ¼ on the hook shank tie in the calf tail extending over the hook eye. Make sure that the fibers of hair do not rotate around the hook shank, but rather sit as one group on the top side of the hook shank. The length for the post should be approximately the same as the hook gap so make sure to take a few measurements before you tie it in.
3. Clip several long hackle fibers from a grizzly hackle and align the tips with your hair stacker. Tie in these hackle fibers as the tail for the fly making sure to keep all the fibers again on top of the hook shank. Repeat this process with the furnace hackle fibers so that you end up with a tail that is furnace hackle fibers over grizzly hackle fibers.
4. Once the tail is secured in place pinch dub the thread with the muskrat dubbing. Wrap a nice even tapered body up the hook shank until you reach the back of the post. With your left hand (or right hand if you are a left handed tier) grab and pull the white calf tail post backwards. While the post is lifted into position make several thread wraps in front of the post and around the base of the post to hold it into an upright position. Strip the end of a grizzly hackle and wrap it down with thread to the base of the post.
5. Wrap the grizzly hackle onto the base of the post creating a horizontal hackle and tie off the remaining tag end of grizzly hackle at the front base of the post. Continue dubbing the body till you reach the back of the hook eye and then whip finish and cement the thread. |
Indiana Becomes First State to Pass Post-Roe Abortion Ban
Indiana approved a law severely restricting abortion access Friday, becoming the first state to enact stricter anti-abortion policies following the repeal of Roe v. Wade in June.
The legislation is a near-total ban on abortion, offering only limited exceptions for certain cases of rape incest before 10-weeks post-fertilization, as well as in instances of serious fetal abnormalities or when the life of the mother is at stake. Republican lawmakers had previously attempted to remove the rape and incest exception as early as Thursday, the Indianapolis Star reported. Those efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.
In addition to the restrictions, the new ban limits the location where an abortion can be performed to hospitals and hospital-affiliated outpatient facilities — effectively shuttering all abortion clinics in Indiana. Doctors who provide the procedure to patients outside these rigid confines will lose their medical licenses.
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The law, which comes just days after Kansas voters rejected a similar measure, and follows two weeks of testimony from Indiana state lawmakers, will go into effect on September 15.
“I am personally most proud of each Hoosier who came forward to courageously share their views in a debate that is unlikely to cease any time soon,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the statement announcing that he had signed the measure. “For my part as your governor, I will continue to keep an open ear.”
Current Indiana law allows abortions up to 22 weeks of pregnancy and only states doctors “may” lose their medical licenses if they perform an illegal abortion.
“A killing machine does not require a permit in this state, but mothers who are carrying our children need a permit to exercise their rights,” Democratic State Sen. Fady Qaddoura said during Friday’s proceedings. Sen. Shelli Yoder, another Democrat, invoked the reputation of former President Donald Trump to highlight the inequities faced by American women. “In 2016 we learned that you can grab a woman’s privates and she gets silenced, and he gets elected president,” she said.
Several Republican lawmakers joined their Democrat colleagues in voting against the bill. According to the Associated Press, State Sen. Mike Bohacek cited the legislation’s lack of clear protections for women with disabilities as the primary reasoning behind his opposition. The Republican, who initially supported the bill but changed his position in recent days, has a 21-year-old daughter with Down syndrome. “If she lost her favorite stuffed animal, she’d be inconsolable, Bohacek said. “Imagine making her carry a child to term.” AP reported the senator then became visibly upset, throwing his notes down and exiting the senate chamber.
“The U.S. Supreme Court made the decision to move the abortion rights to the state level, which has peeled an onion on the details of abortion, showing layers and layers of such a difficult topic that I, myself, wasn’t prepared for,” said Republican State Rep. Ann Vermilion, before invoking the anti-abortion movement’s religious zealotry. “I think that the Lord’s promise is for grace and kindness. He would not be jumping to condemn these women.”
Source: Read Full Article |
Working without a purpose is like sitting on a rocking chair. It keeps you busy but it doesn’t get you anywhere. If this describes your current working status then you might be bored or even exhausted!
The truth is, a lot of employees today are working without a clear purpose resulting in not being involved and eventually losing their passion at work.
The 2017 Gallup Institute’s “State of the Global Workplace” report revealed that only 13% of employees are involved in their work, 76% do not feel involved and 12% are actively disengaged in Switzerland.
“These times call for a new consciousness and a new collective leadership capacity to meet these challenges in a more conscious, intentional, and strategic way.”
This inspired our provider to think of a way to reinvent a new style of approach at work. One that requires more adaptive, inclusive, connected, and purpose-driven ways.
Both Severin and Oliver, the team members of Euforia who call themselves a Business Enabler and a Bridge Builder have spent some time telling us more about their work, the why, how, and what of their impactful offering.
“We are facing an environment that is highly unpredictable and characterized by globalization with the phenomenon of digitization, uberisation and the arrival of generation X, Y, and Z in the labor market. At the same time, the success of today’s companies depends on their ability to evoke a shared purpose for its employees and stakeholders.”
Discover Your Inner Potential
Euforia is a social innovation enterprise that trusts in the natural potential of individuals to work well together and be innovative. They encourage participants to go out of their comfort zone in order to get a better result.
Coming from the belief that the world needs more people who come together to imagine, design, and implement bold solutions for today’s most pressing challenges, the team works with a concept of radical collaboration.
They trust in the natural potential of individuals to work well together and to be innovative. This means that they focus on the essentials of collaboration and work with individuals, teams, and organizations to help them unleash their inherent potential. Consequently, they want to foster trust and collaborative skills as a success factor for innovation and sustainability.
And they have a workshop fully dedicated to the topic of Radical Collaboration.
Creating an inclusive learning environment
The team further explains how they create an inclusive learning environment. It’s in the set of behaviours, models, and techniques that make it happen:
- Inclusive and collaborative space holding – They create an empowering, non-hierarchy learning environment.
- Transformational learning – They take their participants out of their comfort zones to get to significant personal development.
- Inner and outer work (tool and mindset) – The ASK Model (Attitude, Skill, and Knowledge) is the three basic components of their teaching.
Purpose and values-led work
The team is both purpose and values-led. And they describe experiences they offer by their five core values, which are at the core of their daily work and have accompanied them throughout the past years.:
- Dedication and impact: They are unsatisfied with the current world and dedicated to taking action.
- Authenticity: Euphoria stands for idealism, creativity, passion, naivety, flexibility, subversiveness, diversity, spiciness and integrity.
- Joie de vivre and Whole-being: Fun, meaning, and friendship fuel them. However, they do not hesitate to stand up for personal needs.
- Radical Collaboration: They allow everyone to reach her/his full potential.
- Oops culture: Be ambitious, be courageous, dare to doubt yourself, and enjoy the right to fail.
Into the learning and stretch zone
The deep interest in the inherent potential of individuals and teams is what drives the team. This involves leaving the comfort zone and going into the learning or stretch zone. One way this might create challenges is when individuals and teams learn about their preferences and their defense mechanisms. Turning the camera around at oneself and looking at your own blindspots is not so easy.
However, in the long run, this helps to better collaborate, be more open for solutions that don’t meet our usual choices. It is all about impact and effectiveness. “Getting things done” is one leitmotif when we work together.
“What we are not focussing on is sole efficiency. How to do things better without knowing if we do the right things seems meaningless to us. We do not consult on how to have a faster process but we create spaces where our clients can reflect on what the outcome of the process should be in the end.”
Lasting memories and impact
We have asked Severin and Oliver to share their best memories of the work they have done. Here is what they said:
“Definitely one of my most memorable moment was when a group of top managers from an international bank was dancing and singing together 30 minutes into the workshop.
Another lasting memory is when I met a member of a team from an NGO at a conference, whom I had done a workshop with one year previously,… He told me that our intervention is the best thing that could have happened to team and had opened so many possibilities for them to improve and deepen their collaboration. They were having a safe space to talk about what was really important for them.”
“You are about to enter a euforic experience”, that is the company’s promise. They want to inspire action by balancing cognitive stimulation, inspiring messages, emotional connection, and hands-on expertise. All in service of creating an empowering and inclusive working environment.
As you sign up, please be prepared to experience a new work perspective. Keep in mind that this can be life-changing! |
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