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The Math Forum Ask Dr. Math - Questions and Answers from our Archives Pre-Algebra: Equations and Other Tips Date: 08/30/97 at 11:13:13 From: Erik Sull Subject: Math Help This year I am in Pre Algebra. I'm in 8th Grade; can you give me tips Date: 08/31/97 at 15:12:31 From: Doctor Guy Subject: Re: Math Help I'll try to give you a few tips about equations. Remember that mathematics is, for most people, a way of understanding the world better and solving real problems that come up. To me, the essence of algebra is translating what appear to be messy problems involving, perhaps, entire paragraphs of explanations and/or diagrams, into short, easily-understood symbols (equations). These equations can be manipulated, using fairly simple rules, allowing you to solve them and to come up with answers to problems that would be otherwise extremely difficult to answer. This is why, as a society, we want just about everybody to have some understanding of algebra at some level. Of course, it is also necessary that you understand the rules of arithmetic involving whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents. I'm sure that your pre-algebra class will involve that as well. I do not know how well you perform in arithmetic, but if you have problems with that, then be sure to pay attention to the explanations that your teacher and your textbook give in that area. It may help if I give an example of a relatively easy problem, to show how it can be handled via algebra. Here is the problem: Alfeda Baxter wants to rent a car in order to visit some business clients in the San Francisco Bay Area next week when she flies in for a week-long business trip. She calls up two auto-rental agencies and gets price quotes from each. Dependable Rent-a-Car will rent her a mid-sized sedan for $143.00 for the week, and 13 cents per mile driven; she has to pay for her own gasoline. Reliable Automobile Rentals will rent her the same sized car for $129.00 for the week, and charges 28 cents per mile driven. They are equally convenient companies about which she has heard equally good things. Ms. Baxter is not quite sure how many miles she is going to drive during the week, but it might be a lot. Since all of these transportation costs are going to come out of her own pocket, she wants to hold the cost as low as possible. The question is, at how many miles does the car from Reliable Auto Rentals become as expensive as the one from Dependable Rent-a-Car? Based on that, Ms. Baxter can make a decision on which company to rent from. That's a pretty long problem, but it can be translated into symbols pretty easily. The first step is to ask, "what is the question?" The question is, how many miles would she have to drive so that the RAR car would cost the same as the DRAC car. Since the question involves miles, we may as well now do one of the next important steps, choosing a variable. Let's use M for miles. Now let's look back at the information about RAR: the cost there is $129.00 plus 28 cents per mile, or $0.28 times the number of miles. We can translate that into an expression, [Cost at RAR, in dollars] = 129.00 + 0.28 * M Note that I use "" to mean multiplication. I could also have writtten 129 + .28M (notice that I dropped unnecessary zeroes and omitted the times sign; that is legal--it still means 28 cents times M). Now at DRAC, the cost is $143.00 plus 13 cents per mile, or [Cost at DRAC, in dollars]=143.00 + 0.13 M. Remember, the question was, at how many miles are these two costs equal? Well, to find that out, all we need to do is to write an equation that states that they ARE equal, and then we use some rules of algebra (which I will explain as we go along) to find out what M is, i.e. the number of miles. Here goes: [Cost at RAR, in dollars] = [Cost at DRAC, in dollars] Now we substitute equal things for equal things (important rule) and 129 + .28 * M = 143 + .13 * M The next general idea is to get M on one side of the equation and all the numbers on the other, by multiplying, dividing, subtracting, and adding the same thing to both sides. The main rule to remember is that you have to do the same thing to both sides of the equation. I think I want to get M on the left-hand side of the equation, and get everything else on the right. First I will subtract 129 from both sides. 129 - 129 + .28M = 143 - 129 + .13 M which simplifies to 0 + .28 * M = 14 + .13 * M When you add 0 to anything, it stays the same: .28 * M = 14 + .13 * M. Another important rule you need to know: Multiplication and division come before addition and subtraction when evaluating an expression. Since we do not know what M is, we cannot simply add the 14 and the .13M in the previous line to get 14.13M. I want to get all the M's on the lefthand side of the equation, so we CAN subtract .13M from both sides of the equation: .28 M - .13 * M = 14 + .13 * M - .13 * M We can now use the distributive property (have you learned it?) and (.28-.13)M = 14 + 0 or .15 M = 14 Now we want to find M, so we can divide both sides by .15 .15 * M / .15 = 14/.15 On the left, .15/.15 equals 1 and 1 times M is M; so M = 14 / .15, and I will now use a calculator to find 14/.15, or M = 93.33333333 miles. What does this mean? It means that if Ms. Baxter drives 93 and 1/3 miles that week, then the two car companies' prices are the same. If she drives less than that, then Reliable will be cheaper. If she drives more than that, then Dependable will be cheaper. So all she has to do is to estimate how many miles she thinks she will drive, and she can take her pick. Now you may not have understood each step; I went rather fast. Perhaps you see why we take several months teaching this stuff to students-- there is a lot to learn. Good luck this year, and if you have a specific question you need help with, don't hesitate to e-mail us. You may also be able to find specific answers to questions in our -Doctor Guy, The Math Forum Check out our web site! Associated Topics: Middle School Algebra Middle School Equations Search the Dr. Math Library: Find items containing (put spaces between keywords): Click only once for faster results: parts of words whole words Submit your own question to Dr. Math [Privacy Policy] [Terms of Use] Ask Dr. MathTM
Search tips Search criteria Neuropsychologia. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 March 31. Published in final edited form as: PMCID: PMC2847781 The Role of Spectral and Durational Properties on Hemispheric Asymmetries in Vowel Perception The aim of the current study is to investigate potential hemispheric asymmetries in the perception of vowels and the influence of different time scales on such asymmetries. Activation patterns for naturally produced vowels were examined at three durations encompassing a short (75 ms), medium (150 ms), and long (300 ms) integration time window in a discrimination task. A set of 5 corresponding non-speech sine wave tones were created with frequencies matching the second formant of each vowel. Consistent with earlier hypotheses, there was a right hemisphere preference in the superior temporal gyrus for the processing of spectral information for both vowel and tone stimuli. However, observed laterality differences for vowels and tones were a function of heightened right hemisphere sensitivity to long integration windows, whereas the left hemisphere showed sensitivity to both long and short integration windows. Although there were a number of similarities in the processing of vowels and tones, differences also emerged suggesting that even fairly early in the processing stream at the level of the STG, different mechanisms are recruited for processing vowels and tones. Understanding the neural basis of speech perception is essential for mapping out the neural systems underlying language processing. An important outstanding area of this research focuses on the functional role the two hemispheres play in decoding the speech signal. Recent neuroimaging experiments suggest a hierarchical organization of the phonetic processing stream with early auditory analysis of the speech signal occurring bilaterally in Heschl’s gyri and the superior temporal lobes and later stages of phonetic processing occurring in the left middle and anterior STG and STS of the left, dominant language hemisphere (Scott et al. 2000; Liebenthal et al. 2005). Speech sounds themselves, however, are not indissoluble wholes; they are comprised of a set of acoustic properties or phonetic features. For example, the perception of place of articulation in stop consonants requires the extraction of rapid spectral changes in the 10s of ms at the release of the consonant. The perception of voicing in stop consonants requires the extraction of a number of acoustic properties (Lisker, 1978), among them, voice-onset time, corresponding to the timing between the release of the stop consonant and the onset of vocal cord vibration. The perception of vowel quality requires the extraction of quasi-steady-state spectral properties associated with the resonant properties of the vocal tract. What is less clear are the neural substrates underlying the mapping of the different acoustic properties or features that give rise to these speech sounds. Several studies have explored potential differences in lateralization for spectral and temporal properties using synthetic nonspeech stimuli with spectral and temporal properties similar to speech (Hall et al. 2002; Jamison et al. 2005; Boemio et al. 2005) and have found differential effects of both parameters on hemispheric processing. Results suggest that at early stages of auditory processing, the functional role of the two hemispheres may differ (Ivry and Robertson 1998; Poeppel 2001; Zatorre et al. 2002). In particular, although both hemispheres process both spectral and temporal information, there is differential sensitivity to this information. It has been shown in fMRI studies (Zatorre and Belin 2001; Boemio et al. 2005) as well as studies of aphasia (Van Lancker and Sidtis, 1992) that the right hemisphere has a preference for encoding pitch or spectral change information and it does so most efficiently over long integration time windows, whereas the left hemisphere has a preference for encoding spectral information and particularly for integrating rapid spectral changes. Moreover, it has been shown that this preference may be modulated by task demands (Brechmann, 2005). Evidence from intracerebral evoked poentials further suggests that processing of fine-grained durational properties of both speech and non-speech stimuli is localized to the left Heschl’s Gyrus (HG) and planum temporale (Liegois-Chauvel, 1999). Other evidence suggests that this division may not be so clear-cut. For instance, in an fMRI study of non-speech stimuli, bilateral HG responded to spectral variation, whereas in the STG temporal information was left-lateralized, and spectral properties were right-lateralized (Schonwiesner, 2005). Poeppel’s Asymmetical Sampling in Time theory (AST) (2003) hypothesizes that laterality effects in processing auditory stimuli arise due to different temporal specializations of the two hemispheres. In particular, the AST proposes that the two hemispheres have different temporal integration windows with the left hemisphere preferentially extracting information from short (25–50 ms) windows and the right hemisphere preferentially extracting information from long (150–300 ms) windows. To test this hypothesis, Poeppel and colleagues (Boemio et al. 2005) designed an fMRI study in which subjects listened to narrow-band noise segments with temporal windows ranging from 25ms to 300ms. They found that relative to a constant frequency tone, the temporal noise segments produced increasing right hemisphere activation as they increased both the overall duration and the number of different pitch variations. However, their results only partially support the AST model. While an increase in right hemisphere activity was observed with increasing duration, no corresponding increase in left hemisphere activity was found for short durations. Two questions are raised by these studies. The first is whether the acoustic properties of speech are processed by a domain-general spectro-temporal mechanism (for discussion see Zatorre and Gandour, 2007). If this is the case, then a speech property that favored spectral analysis over a relatively long time domain should recruit right hemisphere mechanisms. The second is whether manipulating the time window over which spectral information is integrated would affect hemispheric preferences. The previous studies described above demonstrated right hemisphere preference using non-speech stimuli varying in their long-term spectral properties. What is less clear is whether similar right hemisphere preferences would emerge for vowels which require extraction and integration of spectral properties over a particular time window and the potential effects of the size of that window on hemispheric laterality. Given the hypothesized differences in the computational processes of the two hemispheres, there are two properties of vowels that are likely to recruit right hemisphere processing mechanisms. The perception of vowel quality requires the extraction of spectral properties over a relatively long steady-state. For example, differences in vowel quality such as [i] as in beet and [u] as in boot are determined by the first two formant frequencies. Moreover, the spectral properties of vowels tend to be fairly stable over 150 msec or more, and should therefore have a ‘long’ integration window. Thus, presumably at early stages of processing, there should be a right hemisphere preference for the processing of vowels. Nonetheless, the hypotheses that there are functional differences in the processing of speech sounds in the two hemispheres are largely based on the results of neuroimaging studies using nonspeech stimuli (Zatorre and Belin 2001; Boemio et al. 2005; Jamison et al. 2005). While it is assumed that at early stages of processing both nonspeech and speech engage similar computational mechanisms (Uppenkamp et al. 2006), the question remains as to what effect the presence of a linguistic stimulus may have on hemispheric laterality (Narain et al. 2003). Indeed, early literature exploring the hemispheric processing of auditory stimuli using the dichotic listening technique showed hemispheric differences as a function of the type of stimulus. Linguistic stimuli such as numbers, words, nonsense syllables and even consonants showed a right ear/left hemisphere advantage, whereas non-linguistic stimuli such as music and sound effects showed a left ear/right hemisphere advantage (Kimura, 1961, 1964; Spellacy and Blumstein, 1970; Studdert-Kennedy and Shankweiler, 1970). Similar dichotomies in the hemispheric processing of linguistic and nonlinguistic stimuli have also been shown in patients with left and right temporal lobectomies, with deficits in processing speech sounds with left temporal lobectomies and deficits in processing pure tones and other aspects of musical processing with right temporal lobectomies (Milner, 1962). Interestingly, results for vowel stimuli were mixed; a small right hemisphere advantage was shown in some experiments (Shankweiler and Studdert-Kennedy, 1967), a left hemisphere advantage in others (Godfrey, 1974; Weiss and House, 1973); and no ear advantage in still others (Spellacy and Blumstein, 1970). A few functional neuroimaging studies have been conducted using real and synthetic vowel stimuli, but none have analyzed directly potential hemispheric asymmetries for the processing of vowels. One study investigated vowel processing and showed bilateral activation for both vowels and nonspeech control stimuli of equal complexity with greater activation for vowels than for the nonspeech stimuli (Uppenkamp et al. 2006). Obleser et al. (2006) also showed bilateral activation for vowels in a study investigating the topographical mapping of vowel features associated with differences in formant frequencies, and hence spectral, patterns of the stimuli. Their results suggested stronger right hemisphere activation for the processing of these vowel features, although laterality differences were not tested statistically (cf. also Guenther et al., 2004). The aim of the current study is to investigate potential hemispheric asymmetries in the perception of vowel quality and the influence of different time scales on such asymmetries. To this end, activation patterns for naturally produced vowels, which have a quasi-steady-state, constant spectral formant pattern will be examined at three time scales or durations, encompassing a short (75 ms), medium (150 ms), and long (300 ms) integration time window. If, as discussed above, there is a right hemisphere domain-general mechanism for extracting relatively steady-state spectral properties of auditory stimuli, then a right hemisphere preference for the processing of vowels will emerge. However, the magnitude of the asymmetry should be influenced by vowel duration with an increased right hemisphere preference for long vowels. Models such as Poeppel’s AST also predict an increased left hemisphere preference for short vowels. Nonetheless, given the results of Boemio et al. (2003), it is not clear whether there will be increased left hemisphere activation for vowels at shorter (75ms) timescales. The locus of this asymmetry for vowels should emerge in the STG and STS, and, in particular, in the anterior STG and STS reflecting the recruitment of the auditory ‘what’ processing stream relating to the perception of ‘auditory objects’ or speech sounds (Obleser et al. 2006; Hickock and Poeppel 2000). A discrimination task with a short (50 ms) interstimulus interval (ISI) will be utilized. There are two reasons for using this paradigm. First, discrimination judgments will be based on the perception of differences in the spectral properties (i.e. the formant frequencies) of the vowel stimuli. Second, it is generally assumed that a discrimination task taps early stages of phonetic processing since it focuses attention on potential differences in the acoustic properties of the stimuli, rather than on the phonetic category membership of the stimuli (Liberman et al. 1957). A tone discrimination task will be used as a control task. A tone discrimination tasks has been used as a control condition in other studies investigating the perception of speech (Burton et al., 2000; Jancke et al., 2002; Sebastian and Yasin, 2008). Although the discrimination of tones reflects perception of differences in pitch and the discrimination of vowels reflects perception of differences in vowel quality, both share the acoustic property of periodicity with tones being fully periodic and vowels being quasi-periodic. Importantly, tone discrimination has shown right hemisphere lateralization (Binder et al., 1997). The tone stimuli will be single frequency sine wave tones which share the second formant frequency and the duration parameters (75, 150, 300 ms) of the vowel stimuli. Given the hypotheses described above that there is a right hemisphere domain-general mechanism for extracting steady-state properties of auditory stimuli, simple sine wave tones should show similar lateralization patterns to those of vowels. In general, there should be right hemisphere lateralization for the discrimination of pitch contrasts between the tone stimuli (cf. also Milner, 1962; Binder et al. 1997), and the patterns of asymmetry as a function of duration should mirror those for vowels with an increased right hemisphere preference for long duration tones. When contrasted with the tone stimuli, however, there may be less right hemisphere activation due to the linguistically relevant properties of the vowel. Fifteen healthy volunteers (11 females, 4 males), ages 18–54 (mean = 23±9 yrs), participated in the study. All subjects were native English speakers and right-handed according to the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield 1971). Participants gave written consent prior to participation in accordance with guidelines established by the Human Subjects Committee of Brown University and Memorial Hospital. Each participant received moderate monetary compensation for their time. In addition to the fMRI experiment, subjects also participated in a behavioral pretest to ensure that subjects could accurately perform the experimental task. Stimuli consisted of pairs of vowels and tones, selected from a 5 vowel or 5 tone set. The five-vowel stimulus set included [i], [e], [a], [o], and [u], and was produced by an adult male speaker native of English. The formant frequencies of the vowel stimuli are listed in Table 1. The durations of the produced vowels varied between 284–336 ms. They were then all adjusted to 300 ms by means of a frequency-independent time stretching program (Adobe Audition), and then edited to 75ms and 150ms in duration using the BLISS audio software package (Mertus 1989). Stimulus onsets and offsets were tapered with 10ms Hamming windows to prevent acoustic transients. Table 1 Formant values (in Hz) for the vowel stimuli A set of 5 corresponding sine wave tones were created using the NCH Tone Generator ( with frequencies matching the second formant of each vowel. Similar to the vowel stimuli, the tone stimuli were of three durations (75, 150, and 300 ms) and were tapered at stimulus onset and offset using a 10ms Hamming window. The resulting stimulus set consisted of 15 speech and 15 corresponding non-speech stimuli, with 5 vowels and 5 tones in each of the 3 duration conditions. Discrimination pairs matched in duration were created for the vowel and tone test stimuli. The stimuli within each discrimination pair were separated by an interstimulus interval (ISI) of 50 ms. Within each of the three (75, 150, 300 ms) duration conditions, there were 30 same trials in which each vowel or tone stimulus was paired with itself and 30 different trials. For the different trials, all possible combinations of stimuli occurred twice within each condition, with ten of the stimulus pairs occurring a second time in reverse order (i.e. [i-e] and [e-i]). In total, there were 360 discrimination pairs, two runs of 90 vowel pairs and two runs of 90 tone pairs. The experiment consisted of two runs for the vowel discrimination task and two runs for the tone discrimination task. Participants received the four runs in a fixed order (Vowel, Tone, Vowel, Tone). Each run consisted of 15 discrimination pairs in each of the stimulus conditions (15 pairs × 3 duration conditions × 2 response conditions, totaling 90 stimuli per run. (See Imaging for details of stimulus timing). Stimuli within each run occurred in a fixed, pseudo-randomized order. Stimuli were presented over MR-compatible headphones (Resonance Technology, Inc., Northridge, California) and the sound level was adjusted to ensure a comfortable listening level. Participants performed an AX discrimination task in which they were required to determine whether the two stimuli in the pair were the same or different by pressing one of two buttons on an MR-compatible button box using their right hand. The button mapping was counterbalanced across subjects. Responses were scored for both accuracy and reaction time (RT), with RT latencies measured from the onset of the second stimulus. Presentation of stimuli and collection of response data were controlled by a laptop running the BLISS software suite (Mertus 1989). Scanning was performed on a 1.5T Symphony Magnetom MR system (Siemens Medical Systems; Erlangen, Germany) at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, RI. Subjects were aligned to magnetic field center and instructed to remain motionless with eyes closed during the duration of the experiment. For each subject, an anatomical T1-weighted rapid acquisition gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequence (TR=1900ms, TE=4.15ms, TI=1100ms, 1mm3 isotropic voxel size, 256×256 matrix) reconstructed into 160 slices was acquired for co-registration with functional data. The functional scans consisted of interleaved multislice echo planar (EPI) sequences of 15 axial slices centered on the corpus callosum. Each slice was 5mm in thickness, with 3 mm2 FOV, flip angle=90°, TE=38ms, TR=2000ms. The imaging data were acquired so that the auditory stimuli were presented during silent gaps (Belin et al. 1999; Hall et al. 1999). In particular, 15 slices were acquired in a 1200 ms interval (80 ms per slice) followed by a 800 ms silent gap in which a discrimination pair was presented. This yielded an effective volume repetition time of 2000 ms (see Figure 1). Both vowel and tone runs contained 274 volumes per run. Figure 1 Schematic for scanning protocol used for stimulus presentation. Four runs of alternating vowel and tone pairs were presented in an event-related design. Stimuli were jittered to whole-multiple intervals of the 2000 ms repetition time and presented at equally probable combinations of trial onset asynchronies (TOA=2,4,6,8,10s). To reduce T1 saturation of functional images, four functional dummy volumes were collected before the presentation of the first stimulus pair in each run, and these volumes were excluded from subsequent analysis. Behavioral Data The behavioral data were scored for both performance and reaction-time (RT). Incorrect responses and responses that were greater than 2 standard deviations from a subject’s mean for that condition were excluded from the analysis. A 3-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted comparing Duration (75ms/150ms/300ms), Condition (Vowel/Tone), and Response (Same/Different). Because the focus of this study was on sensitivity to the perception of changes in vowel quality or changes in pitch in tones as a function of duration, only the Different responses were considered in the functional imaging analysis. Moreover, as discussed below, there was no difference in overall performance between vowels and tones in the Different responses, whereas a behavioral difference emerged for vowels and tones for Same responses. Thus, focusing on Different responses assured that variations in activation patterns between vowels and tones would reflect differences in perceptual processing and not in difficulty of processing. MR Data Image processing and statistical analysis of MR imaging data was performed using the AFNI software platform (Cox and Hyde 1997). Slice timing correction was applied to the EPI images to correct for interleaved slice acquisition. All functional volumes were aligned to the fourth collected volume by means of a rigid body transform to correct for head motion. Next, functional voxels were resampled into a 3mm3 (originally 3×3×5mm) isotropic voxel space, co-registered to the anatomical MPRAGE images and then transformed into Talairach and Tournoux (1998) coordinate space. Finally, a 6mm FWHM Gaussian blur was finally applied to the functional voxels for spatial smoothing, and subject masks were created which excluded voxels outside of subject brain space. Deconvolution analyses were performed on individual subject EPI data to model the hemodynamic activation as a function of the twelve experimental conditions (3 length conditions × Same/Different × Vowel/Tone). Canonical gamma functions were convolved with stimuli onset times to create ideal time-series waveforms used as covariates in the deconvolution. The six output parameters from the motion correction algorithm (x, y, and z translation, roll, pitch and yaw) were also included as covariates of no interest. The resulting correlation fit coefficients showed the condition-dependent activation in each voxel during the course of the experiment. The raw fit coefficients were finally converted to percent signal change by dividing each voxel by its estimated mean baseline across the entire experiment. Statistical maps were clipped to exclude any voxel which was not imaged in each of the 15 subjects. A mixed-effects 2-way ANOVA was computed on the results of the deconvolution analyses with stimulus condition as a fixed effect and subject as a random effect. In addition to condition means, a number of contrasts were calculated including Vowels vs. Tones across the three durations, Vowels vs. Tones at each duration condition (75, 150, 300ms), and within each of the Vowels and Tone conditions comparisons of duration (e.g. Vowel 75 vs. Vowel 300, Vowel 75 vs. Vowel 150, Vowel 150 vs. Vowel 300). The resulting group statistical map showed the activation of each condition and contrast for the entire experiment. To correct for Type-I multiple comparison errors, Monte Carlo simulations were run to determine a minimum reliable cluster size at a voxel threshold of p<0.05. Using a cluster threshold of p<0.05, the minimum cluster size was determined to be 131 contiguous voxels of 3mm3. In addition to the statistical comparisons described above, Region of Interest (ROI) analyses were performed on the Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG) where significant clusters emerged. All areas were subdivided into left and right hemisphere components to investigate laterality effects. The anatomical boundaries for these regions were determined by the AFNI Talairach Daemon (Lancaster et al. 2000) and visually verified using a standard brain atlas (Duvernoy 1999), and included both the STG as well as the dorsal bank of the superior temporal sulcus (STS). Previous studies have suggested different roles for anterior and posterior regions of the STG in auditory and speech processing shown in a number of studies (Hickok and Poeppel 2004; Scott and Wise 2004; Liebenthal et al. 2005; Obleser et al. 2006). In keeping with these findings, the STG was divided into anterior and posterior regions along the y-axis to perform ROI analyses within these regions independently. The y-axis was divided at the STG midpoint by a vertical (x–z) plane at y = −18. The resulting anterior and posterior STG regions in the left hemisphere contained 258 voxels and 555 voxels, respectively, and in the right hemisphere 233voxels (anterior) and 458 voxels (posterior) (see Figure 5, inset). The imbalance in voxel numbers between anterior and posterior regions was a result of anterior temporal lobe signal dropout in the imaging procedure, rather than a result of the choice of dividing boundary. Figure 5 Percent signal change for the right and left anterior STG (top panel) and posterior STG (bottom panel) across the vowel and tone duration conditions. Inset shows anterior (yellow) and posterior (red) STG region of interest mask. Finally, repeated measures ANOVAs were performed on condition and subject means for each ROI, with condition categories of left/right, vowel/tone, and duration (75ms 150ms 300ms). Figure 2 shows the performance and Figure 3 shows the RT results for the behavioral data. As Figure 2 shows, overall performance was above 90% for both vowels and tones. “Different” and “same” performance responses were submitted to separate 2-way ANOVAs with factors of duration and stimulus type (see Farell, 1985 for discussion about potential differences in processing mechanisms for same and different responses). For “different” responses, only a main effect of duration (F (2, 28) = 7.905, p < .002) was observed, showing an increase of performance with increasing duration. The “same” responses showed an effect of condition (F (1, 14) = 5.094, p < .041) only, with an overall better performance for vowels than for tones. Thus, subjects did better in discriminating the vowel stimuli than the tone stimuli for “same” pairs, but for “different” pairs the performance was the same for the two types of stimuli. For the reaction-time data, two 2-way ANOVAs (Duration × Stimulus Type) were separately conducted for the different and same responses. For the different discrimination pairs, there was a main effect for duration (F (2, 28) = 30.840, p < .001) with decreasing RT latencies as stimulus duration increased. There was neither a main effect for stimulus type (vowels vs. tones) nor was there a significant interaction. Analysis of the behavioral data for the same discrimination pairs revealed a main effect for duration (F (2, 28) = 23.869, p<.001 (similar to the different discrimination pairs, RT latencies decreased as stimulus duration increased), a main effect for stimulus type (F (1, 14) = 5.580, p < .033) (vowels had faster RT latencies than did tones), and no interactions. Figure 2 Mean performance for different responses (top panel) and the same responses (bottom panel) in the discrimination of vowel and tone stimuli. Figure 3 Mean reaction-time latencies for different responses (top panel) and the same responses (bottom panel) in the discrimination of vowel and tone stimuli. Activated clusters (p<0.05, corrected) for statistical contrasts of vowel and tone stimuli are shown in Table 2. Maximum intensity locations of each cluster are shown in Talairach and Tournoux coordinates; however, several clusters extended into multiple regions. Table 2 Regions Exhibiting Significant Differences between Conditions Vowels versus Tones Comparison of activation for vowels vs. tones overall yielded greater activation for vowels versus tones in the temporal lobes bilaterally. Maximum intensity foci occurred in anterior regions of the left and right Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG), with the left hemisphere showing the largest activation. In addition, as Table 1 shows, cluster size in the STG was larger on the left (425 voxels) than on the right (292 voxels). Nonetheless, the pattern of activation for vowels compared to tones differed as a function of duration (see Table 2 and Fig. 4). As Fig. 4 shows, there was extensive temporal lobe activation with greater activation for vowels compared to tones only in the left hemisphere for short durations (75 ms) and bilateral activation at the longer durations (150 ms and 300 ms). In particular, at 75 ms durations, contrasts of vowels versus tone stimuli showed one activated cluster in the L STG (see Table 2). At intermediate durations (150ms), clusters appeared in the L STG, and R Middle Temporal Gyrus (MTG) extending into the R STG, and the R IPL. At the longest duration (300ms), contrasts showed greater activation for vowels bilaterally in the STG. Although there was bilateral activation at the intermediate and long durations, it is worth noting that in the comparison of vowels and tones the cluster size was larger on the left than on the right. Figure 4 Montage of clusters showing significantly greater activation for vowels than for tones at the three duration conditions (p <.05 corrected). Axial views are show at z= 67 for the top panel and z = 73 for the bottom panel. The cluster analyses showed, as expected, extensive temporal lobe activation in the discrimination of the spectral patterns of vowels and tones. Since the goal of this paper was to examine potential hemispheric asymmetries and the effects of duration on those asymmetries, the remainder of our analyses will focus on the patterns of activation in the STG. Further cluster analyses showing the results of pair-wise comparisons within the vowel stimuli and within the tone stimuli as a function of duration are shown in the Appendix. Regions Exhibiting Significant Differences between Vowel Conditions and Tone Conditions. Region of Interest Analysis In order to examine in more detail potential laterality differences as well as the influences of duration on laterality, a series of region of interest (ROI) analyses were conducted focusing on the anterior and posterior portions of the STG bilaterally. To this end, an anatomical Region of Interest (ROI) analysis was computed on the percent signal change for four regions in the left and right anterior and posterior STG for both vowels and tones over the 3 stimulus durations for each of the 15 subjects. Factors included hemisphere (L/R), site (anterior/posterior), condition (vowel/tone), and duration (75ms/150ms/300ms). The results were submitted to a 4-way ANOVA which resulted in main effects of hemisphere (F(1, 14)=9.43, , p<0.009), condition (F(1, 14)=13.1, p<0.003), and duration (F(2, 28) =19.4, p<0.001), and a hemisphere×duration interaction (F=(2, 28), 5.93, p<0.007). In addition, two further interactions approached significance: hemisphere×site (F(1, 14)=4.00, , p<0.065) and a 4-way hemisphere×site×condition×duration (F(2, 28) = 2.82, , p<0.078) interaction). 1 As discussed earlier, results of recent neuroimaging experiments suggest different functional roles for the aSTG and pSTG (Scott and Wise 2004; Hickock and Poeppel 2004). The fact that the interaction effects approached significance by site is consistent with these findings. For these reasons, the remaining analyses considered the activation patterns for the aSTG and pSTG separately. The results of the ROI analyses are shown in Fig. 5 for the anterior Superior Temporal Gyrus (aSTG, top panel) and the posterior Superior Temporal Gyrus (pSTG, bottom panel). Several observations can be made across these two sites. First, there is greater activation in the R STG than the L STG for both vowels and tones, although the magnitude of the laterality difference appears to be greater for vowels than for tones, particularly in the aSTG. Second, there is increased activation for vowels as duration of the stimuli increases. This effect appears to be less robust for tones. To examine the effects statistically, two 3-way ANOVAs were conducted, one for the aSTG and the other for the pSTG with factors of hemisphere (left/right), condition (vowel/tone), and duration (75ms, 150ms, 300ms). For the aSTG, there were main effects of hemisphere (F(1, 14)=10.8, p<0.005) (the RH showed more activation than the LH), condition (F=(1, 14)9.71, p<0.008) (there was greater activation for vowels than tones), and duration (F(2, 28) =23.0, p<0.001) (activation increased as the stimuli were longer). There was also a hemisphere×condition interaction (F(1, 14) =5.13, p<0.04) and a hemisphere×duration (F(1, 14)=6.78, p<0.004) interaction. The hemisphere × condition interaction was due to a greater magnitude in the RH preference for vowels compared to tones. The hemisphere × duration interaction showed that the RH lateralization increased as stimulus duration increased. A three-way hemisphere × condition × duration (F(2, 28)=2.62, p<0.09) interaction approached significance. This interaction emerged because the right hemisphere was more sensitive to changes in duration for vowels than for tones in anterior sites. This effect can be seen in Fig. 6 which shows the magnitude of the laterality effect (subtracting the percent signal change in the LH from the RH) as a function of condition and duration. In anterior sites (shown in black), the right hemisphere shows a greater increase in activation with duration for vowels, whereas for tones the difference between right and left activation remains essentially constant across duration. To confirm these results statistically, two 2-way ANOVAs were performed on the vowel and tone conditions separately with factors of hemisphere and duration. Results yielded main effects of hemisphere (vowels: F(1, 14) =12.0, p<0.004; tones: F(1, 14)=8.34, p<0.002) and duration (vowels: F(2, 28) =11.4, p<0.001; tones: F(2, 28)=9.32, p<0.001) for both vowels and tones, with greater activation in right versus left hemisphere and activation increasing with duration. Of importance, only the vowel condition showed a hemisphere × duration interaction (F(2, 13)=10.8, p<0.001). This interaction was due to increased right hemisphere activation as a function of duration for vowels. No interaction emerged for the tones. Figure 6 Percent signal change differences in the right versus left hemispheric activation in the anterior and posterior STG (see text). Posterior regions show a different pattern of results. While main effects emerged for condition (F(1, 14) =11.8, p<0.004) and duration (F(2, 28)=12.8, p<0.001), showing similar patterns to those for the aSTG, there was no main effect of hemisphere nor were there any interactions. This pattern of results can also be seen in Fig 6, where the magnitude of the laterality effects in pSTG (as shown by the gray bars) is similar for vowels and tones across the three durations. The results of this study provide some further insight into the computational mechanisms underlying the processing of both speech and nonspeech. Although previous studies have examined hemispheric processing of spectral and temporal information in nonspeech stimuli, these parameters have typically covaried (cf. Zatorre and Belin 2001; Hall et al. 2002) making it difficult to determine the role of each of these parameters separately and to assess potential interactions between them. In the current study, the processing of components of vowel and tone stimuli were studied in two ways: potential differences in hemispheric processing of spectral information for vowels and pitch information for tones were assessed and compared both within and between duration conditions, and comparisons were made within vowel and tone stimulus conditions as a function of their duration. Consistent with earlier hypotheses that at early stages of processing a common mechanism is used for extracting the acoustic properties of both speech and non-speech (Poeppel, 2003; Zatorre et al., 2002b), there is a right hemisphere preference for the processing of relatively steady-state spectral properties of vowels and pitch properties of tones. Of importance, this hemispheric difference emerges for natural speech vowel stimuli as well as for nonspeech tone stimuli. Thus, even though the vowel stimuli are perceived as speech, the language dominant LH is not preferentially recruited in a discrimination task for ‘specialized’ processing to extract the steady-state spectral structure signaling differences in vowel quality. Nonetheless, the findings of this study challenge the strong form of the hypothesis that there are hemispheric differences in the integration window or time scale for processing spectral information (Hickock and Poeppel 2004). The strong form of this hypothesis posits that short duration stimuli should show left-lateralized activation. Differences in acoustic complexity notwithstanding, both vowels and tones have steady-state quais-periodic and periodic properties respectively and thus the lateralization of the signal should correlate with duration if a hypothesis that favors a purely temporal (sub-phonetic) timescale is correct. In the present study, the ROI analyses revealed that neither vowel nor tone stimuli show left-lateralized activation at shorter timescales, nor at any timescale. Moreover, comparisons across the three duration conditions for the vowel stimuli in the ROI analyses showed bilateral activation with increased activation in the left as well as the right hemisphere as the stimuli were longer. These findings emerged in both the aSTG and pSTG. Similarly, the results of the ROI analysis for the tone stimuli showed increased activation bilaterally as duration increased. Thus again, increase in activation as a function of duration was not restricted to the RH. Confirmatory evidence of the effects of duration on the activation patterns in temporal areas for both vowels and tones also emerged in the cluster analyses shown in Appendix 1. In particular, contrasts of 300 ms to 75 ms in both vowels and tones revealed clusters in temporal areas with greater activation for the longer duration stimuli. Taken together, increase in activation as a function of duration occurs bilaterally for both vowels and for tones. These findings are consistent with recent results of Boemio et al. (2005) who showed increased activation for frequency modulated noise and tone stimuli in both left and right hemispheres as the longer stimuli contained increasing pitch variation. However, similar to the vowel stimuli in the current study, slowly modulated changes in pitch variation in their stimuli preferentially increased activation in the right hemisphere, and failed to show left hemisphere activation at short stimulus timescales. In general, it seems to be the case that observed laterality differences for vowels and tones are a function of a heightened right hemisphere sensitivity to long integration windows, whereas the left hemisphere shows sensitivity to both long and short integration windows (cf. Belin et al., 1998). The results of the current study show that although there are a number of similarities in the processing of vowels and tones, differences also emerged suggesting that even fairly early in the processing stream at the level of the STG. Results of the cluster analysis revealed greater activation and larger cluster sizes for vowels than for tones overall and at all duration conditions. Moreover, comparison of vowel-tone contrasts across the duration conditions revealed lateralization at short time-scales and bilateral activation at longer timescales. In particular, the comparison of vowels vs. tones at 75 ms revealed a single left hemisphere cluster with peak intensity in the aSTG. At 150ms, contrasts between vowels and tones showed a cluster in the LSTG cluster as well as in the RMTG extending into the RSTG, and at 300ms bilateral activation bilaterally in the STG. The greater activation for vowels compared to tones overall and at each of the three duration conditions could be due to stimulus complexity. Nonetheless, Uppenkamp at al. (2006) showed greater activation for vowels than for control stimuli of equal complexity, making it unlikely that just complexity of the stimuli gave rise to greater activation in the current experiment. One possibility for the increased activation overall for vowels compared to tones is that the vowel stimuli were not only produced by a human vocal tract but listeners have more experience with them since they are part of the speech inventory. The behavioral data are consistent with this view in that overall performance was better for vowels than for tones. Importantly, however, there were no reaction-time differences between vowels and tones suggesting that the discrimination task was equally easy/difficult for the subjects across the two stimulus types. The differences in asymmetry revealed in the comparison between vowels and tones at the three duration conditions are also likely not due to stimulus complexity. Similar patterns of asymmetry should have emerged across the three duration conditions if stimulus complexity were the basis for asymmetry of processing since the difference in stimulus complexity between vowels and tones was in principle the same at each of the duration conditions. And yet, the results revealed a left hemisphere asymmetry at the 75 ms condition and bilateral activation at the longer, 150 and 300 ms, conditions. The left hemisphere activation in general may reflect the linguistic relevance and in this case, the phonetic relevance, of stimuli. Such findings would support a number of studies suggesting that hemispheric lateralization of stimuli reflects the functional role they play, with left hemisphere lateralization for linguistic stimuli and right hemisphere lateralization for non-linguistic stimuli (VanLancker and Sidtis, 1992; Kimura 1961, 1964). This left hemisphere activation is present for all stimulus durations. However, the right hemisphere is also recruited for longer (150 and 300 ms durations). That the right hemisphere is also recruited at the longer intervals is likely due to the fact that vowels of 150 and 300 ms are not the canonical form in which vowels are found in natural speech, which are typically shorter in duration and involve considerable spectral change due to coarticulatory effects with adjacent segments and vowel diphthongization (Liberman et al. 1967). Moreover, vowels presented in isolation have been shown to be perceived as less linguistic than vowels produced in context (Rakerd 1984). Thus, at the longer intervals, the vowel stimuli may be more nonspeech-like resulting in right hemisphere in addition to left hemisphere activation. Further differences in the processing of vowels and tone emerged from the ROI analyses when considering the magnitude of the laterality effect across duration conditions. In contrast to the vowel stimuli, the magnitude of the laterality effect for the tone stimuli remained constant at both temporal lobe sites. In contrast, the vowel stimuli in the aSTG showed an increase in the magnitude of the laterality effect as stimulus duration increased. That this interaction effect emerges only in the aSTG and only for vowels provides further evidence for a functional distinction between the aSTG and pSTG in auditory processing and supports the view that the aSTG is sensitive to spectral complexity and to the phonetic content of the stimuli (Binder et al. 2000; Scott et al. 2000; Davis and Johnsrude 2003; Giraud et al. 2004). The results of the current study raise questions about how the acoustic properties giving rise to the speech sounds of language are integrated online as listeners receive speech input. If it is the case that there is a right hemisphere preference for vowels and a left hemisphere preference for those consonants which require the extraction of rapid spectral changes such as stop consonants, how does this information get integrated across the hemispheres into syllable-sized units or into words that may range from 100 ms to 500 ms in duration? In other words, is it the case that asymmetries for different speech sound means that this information is separately extracted by the ‘preferred’ hemisphere and then integrated by the left hemisphere in the phonetic processing stream? Even more problematic, the sounds of language have very different time scales – from 20–40 ms for stop consonants to hundreds of ms for fricative consonants, and the duration of these sound segments may vary as a function of a number of factors including speaking rate, stress and linguistic context (cf. Scott and Wise 2004). For example, the average duration of vowels is about 300 ms in citation form, 126 ms in reading a script (Crystal and House 1990), and these durations may be considerably shorter in conversational speech. Are there hemispheric differences in the processing of these same vowel sounds based on their different time scales? We think not. We suggest that integration of auditory information occurs early in the phonetic processing stream, and we would expect most likely in the left hemisphere. As shown in the current study, the left hemisphere does process vowel stimuli across all duration conditions, and even shows left lateralization compared to tones at the short 75 ms duration condition. Ultimately the question of how the neural system integrates information across time scales is a critical question for our understanding of speech processing. This research was supported in part by the Dana Foundation, NIH Grant DC006220 to Brown University and the Ittelson Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders or the National Institutes of Health. 1In order to better localize voxels which show an interaction between effects of duration (75 msec, 150 msec, and 300 msec) and stimulus type (vowel versus tone), a 2-way ANOVA was performed on the percent signal change values for different stimulus pairs. 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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Title: Práticas de produção de texto numa turma de cinco anos da educação infantil Authors: Costa, Monica Cristina Medici da Keywords: Educação infantil;Alfabetização;Linguagem escrita;Gêneros textuais;Early childhood education;Letracy;Written language;Speech genres Issue Date: 20-Sep-2012 Publisher: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Citation: COSTA, Monica Cristina Medici da. Práticas de produção de texto numa turma de cinco anos da educação infantil. 2012. 169 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Educação) - Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, 2012. Abstract: This work includes researches in the field of language in a historical, cultural and social conditions through the research line Education and Languages, of Graduate Program in Education of the Federal University of Espirito Santo. This is a case study that aims to research and practice in the questioning of events mediated by the written language in a class of children five years old of a Town Unit of School Education System for Children in Vila Velha/ ES. Considers that the appropriation of the written language is a cultural and historical form of experience that starts from the earliest years of childhood and enhances the social experiences that are mediated by the other and by the word. Discusses observed ways of teaching in the classroom during the text production, emphasizing the production conditions, the processes that occur during productions and texts that emerged from that process. From the collected data through participant observation in the classroom, interviews with the subjects, photographs and audiovisual recordings, we selected for analyzing the productions that specifically were addressed to a recipient. For analysis of events, part of the Bakhtinian perspective of language, we seek dialogue with the observed reality from six situations: the production of word lists, entry, invitation, card, letter and message. Considers that the analyzes performed in order to help realize the implications of the concept of textual genre to the literacy process, and that writing has to be incorporated as a childs need and the school must create situations for this to occur Appears in Collections:PPGE - Dissertações de mestrado Files in This Item: File SizeFormat Monica Cristina Medici do Costa.pdf2.99 MBAdobe PDFView/Open
Out of all the dinosaur groups, the ornithopods are among the most diverse groups of dinosaurs in this alternate timeline. They first evolved in the Middle Jurassic but were a rare sight until the end of this period. However, they heavily diversified in the Early Cretaceous when other large herbivores went into decline. As the grass-like ferns spread, ornithopods found themselves almost alone in their ecosystems, being better equipped at eating grass-like ferns than the ceratopsians and therizinosaurs. The only real competition to smaller ornithopods were ornithomimids while larger ornithopods only faced competition from snowclaws in northern Eurasia. Today, the ornithopods are the most diverse group of herbivorous dinosaurs, being found on every continent except Antarctica. Iguanodonts (Iguanodontia)Edit Just like in our home timeline, the iguanodonts were very successful in this alternate timeline. However, unlike in our home timeline the iguanodonts' descendants, the hadrosaurs never evolved in this alternate timeline. Due to this, the traditional iguanodonts managed to evolve into several major groups during the Paleogene as Laurasia and Gondwana broke up. Spiked Honkers (Family: Kornarosauridae)Edit This group of Australian iguanodonts get their name because all species of this family have both the famous spiked thumb and a large organ on the snout for honking, similar to a Muttaburrasaurus. There are dozens of species of spiked honkers ranging from giants of the Outback to dwarf, bipedal rainforest forms of Queensland. Because of their size, larger species of spiked honker have no natural predators. However, smaller species and the offspring of larger species are often preyed upon by hopper raptors and large metatherian predators. Polar Iguanodonts (Family: Polikedontidae)Edit This widespread group of iguanodonts are very well adapted for living in the cold tundra of North America and Northern Eurasia. They have thick layers of fat for warmth and migrate north and south to avoid the worst snowstorms. They'll even seek shelter in ice caves with snowclaws if the weather gets too severe. During the Pleistocene, a few species even migrated to the Himalayas and Alps when the climate was much colder. One dwarf species even lives in Japan. Crested Iguanodonts (Family: Korosauridae)Edit The while crested iguanodonts do have the primitive thumb spike of other iguanodonts, they have many similarities with Home Earth hadrosaurs. Like lambeosaurine hadrosaurs, most crested iguanodonts have many different species with many different kinds of crests, ranging from crests similar to deer antlers to crests similar to a cassowary's. Unlike hadrosaurs however, crested iguanodonts still have primitive iguanodont teeth. These are also the most widespread iguanodonts, being found throughout Africa, Eurasia and the Americas. Despite their name, some primitive species of crested hadrosaurs don't have crests. Mikrosaurs (Mikrosauria)Edit Mikrosauria contains all living non-iguanodont ornithopods. Like iguanodonts, mikrosaurs are extremely diverse and widespread, having dozens of species and being found on every single continent except Antarctica. They have also evolved into many shapes and sizes from Microraptor-sized tree dwellers to kangaroo-like forms the size of a deer. Arctic Mikrosaurs (Family: Arcticodontidae)Edit This small group of mikrosaurs is very well adapted to the freezing climate of far northern North America and Eurasia. Since they are endothermic, Arctic mikrosaurs are usually active year round, even during the dark, cold winter. However, if the weather gets to harsh, they'll seek refuge in caves and hibernate until spring. They're not restricted to the polar tundra, a few species live in boreal forest, taiga and mountain ranges such as the Rockies and Alps. Most species of arctic mikrosaurs live in small clans of about 20 individuals, usually being lead by an large adult male. Arctic mikrosaurs feed on berries, leaves, flowers, moss and even fungi. They are a favorite food source for speeder claws and cruncher beasts. They are also found grazing with large herds of polar iguanodonts and snowclaws. Saltarodonts (Family: Saltarodontidae)Edit Unlike other dinosaurs, saltarodonts move by hopping like a kangaroo rather than running like their arctic mikrosaur relatives. Fossils of these mikrosaurs first appeared in the middle Miocene of southern Asia. They later spread to Africa during the late Miocene and to Australia during the Pliocene. There are over 20 species of saltarodonts found throughout Africa, southern Asia and Australia. They are mainly preyed upon by jumper claws, jackalbulls and evelikosaurs in Africa, by speeder claws and false carnosaurs in Southern Asia, and by hopper raptors and predatory mammals in Australia. Tacheiasaurs (Family: Tacheiasauridae)Edit These mikrosaurs are among the fastest ornithopods; some species can run up to 80 kph (50 mph) despite their small size. Their diet consists mainly of grass-like ferns, although some desert dwelling species eat desert shrub. Due to their high speed, tacheiasaurs are to difficult for most predators to catch. Fossils of these speedy dinosaurs can be traced back to the Oligocene of North America and they later migrated to Asia during the Miocene and South America during the Pliocene. Today, most tacheiasaurs are found the open temperate areas of Asia and the Americas. Dinosaurs of the Ice Age Sauropsida Archosauria Theropoda AbelisauroideaAvesDromaeosauridaeGigaraptornae (Dinosaurs of the Ice Age)OrnithomimosauriaTherizinosauriaTyrannosauroidea Sauropoda Titanosauria Ornithischia AnkylosauriaCeratopsiaOrnithopoda Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Lepidosauromorpha PlesiosauriaSquamata Mammalia Eutheria • MetatheriaMonotremata Ad blocker interference detected!
Tackling NCDs Seven Caribbean countries are on course to achieve the global target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for reducing the number of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Director of the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre of the University of the West Indies, Dr. Alafia Samuels, said Tuesday. She was at the time delivering an address at a sub-regional workshop at the Accra Beach Hotel, Bridgetown, Barbados. According to the Barbados Today media house, Dr. Samuels reported that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States, The Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and CARICOM Associate Members, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, were on course to reduce their total number of NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025, while the rate of mortality was on the rise in other countries. “So there are actually countries in the Caribbean where the mortality rate is increasing. In most countries it is decreasing, but there are a couple where it is increasing. And major contributors to these disparities have been trends in stroke and ischaemic heart disease and diabetes,” the media house quoted Dr. Samuels as saying.
How to Prepare For Fires in the Workplace When a fire breaks out in the workplace, you not only need to think about yourself, but the safety of everyone inside. It is important that you do everything you can to prevent them. Here are some important fire safety rules to keep in mind in the workplace. Reduce Electrical Hazards In an office environment, there are quite a few electrical hazards you need to be aware of. If you ignore them, these hazards could turn into an electrical fire. For example, if you have old or faulty wiring in your building, it needs to be rewired by an electrician. Some signs of faulty wiring include hot outlets, flickering lights, and fuses that blow frequently. You should also be careful about the wires, cords and cables you use for electrical devices. Never plug in a computer or printer that has a frayed or worn cord. Replace it before using that device. To further protect your office from electrical hazards, keep all devices and appliances turned off and unplugged each evening when you leave for the night. Store Chemicals Safely If you use any type of chemicals in the workplace, know what they are ho they should be stored. You should always be aware of the chemicals used in your office, warehouse, or other type of workplace, including your potential flammable liquids and fire hazards. Keep a material safety sheet visible so that other employees know how to store and use the different chemicals safely. Also be careful when using sparking tools around flammable liquids or chemicals. Have Designated Smoking Areas You likely already don't allow smoking indoors, but also be careful about the exterior spaces where you allow it. If you have a garage or warehouse outside of your main office building that has flammable materials or liquids, make sure you have a strict no-smoking zone in the exterior space around those flammables. Choose a safe location for smokers where they won't be within the vicinity of anything that might cause a fire in the workplace, including providing ashtrays or sand-filled cans to put out the cigarettes safely. Have Fire Safety Equipment Available Fire equipment and devices must always be available in the workplace, starting with smoke detectors and alarms. These should be placed in all areas of the building, including in hallways, offices, warehouses, storage rooms, and bathrooms. Have a schedule for when to check the smoke detectors to make sure they are working and to change the batteries. Also have a fire sprinkler system in the building just in case a fire does occur. Provide fire extinguishers in all major areas of the building, with at least one on each floor or in each major area of the office. Train employees on how to use the fire extinguishers, as well as creating an evacuation plan.
Why do people think the moon is made of cheese? Most people don’t think the moon is made of cheese, but sometimes it certainly looks like a wheel of cheese that’s blue with mold. It looks full of holes, like Swiss cheese, and it sometimes has a greenish/bluish color, like Gorgonzola cheese. The holes are actually craters caused by asteroids, which are big chunks of rock and ice that fly through space. The greenish/bluish color is caused by the Earth’s shadow across the moon’s surface. Answer provided by Yahooligans.com related questions Share This Site Word of the Day mickle: great; large; much. Born on this day September 25, 2017 1872 - William Faulkner 1929 - Ronnie Barker 1944 - Michael Douglas 1946 - Felicity Kendall 1951 - Mark Hamill 1952 - Christopher Reeve 1961 - Heather Locklear 1968 - Will Smith 1969 - Catherine Zeta Jones www.Bridal-Shower-Games.com \|Baby Shower Games \| www.TwitterBackgrounds.org
ITS transformative impact comes in many shapes and forms. In Malawi I’ve encountered programmes that help protect children vulnerable to trafficking. In Afghanistan I once came across a small boy and others like him near blind from cataracts, whose lives were made immeasurably better by minor laser operations. In South Sudan I’ve witnessed the powerful effect basic water hygiene education has had in helping eradicate the horror of Guinea-worm infestation. From Syria to Liberia, Colombia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, time and again I’ve seen the tremendous impact foreign aid and humanitarian assistance can have on the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people. Most of us who put our hands in our pockets to provide charitable donations or help pay for such government aid through our taxes never get a chance to see such things. If more of us did, it would doubtless reshape the way spending on foreign aid is viewed and perceived. The whole question of how much the UK spends on foreign aid is an emotive issue at the best of times. That much we were reminded of again this week, when Microsoft founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates weighed in on the debate. In the eyes of some, Mr Gates committed the cardinal sin of warning Prime Minister Theresa May that should the Conservatives go ahead and abandon the UK’s overseas aid spending pledge then many more lives would be lost in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world. Whatever your views on Mr Gates and what he represents, the inescapable fact is that he is absolutely right. Loading article content Yes, I know some people will find the idea of the world’s richest man telling us that we have to continue giving to those in need difficult to swallow, but it doesn’t make him wrong in his assessment. As was illustrated in an interview he gave to the Spectator magazine recently, far from being doom-laden as so many voices are within the humanitarian sector, Mr Gates is usually upbeat about what aid can do. This, he says, is because he too gets a chance to actually see the impact of aid, “uplifting countries, creating stability and preventing pandemics”. One of the biggest problems with the foreign aid debate is that most people are deprived of any real understanding of what aid is and does. This is in part too because aid provision is a complex business, with many not fully grasping the differences between emergency and development aid or that provided by the charitable sector and that of government. This lack of understanding allows critics of foreign aid spending to muddy the waters even further, focusing as they often do on the small number of instances where government money might have been used unwisely rather than focusing on the vast amount of good most of it does. Indeed some sections of my own industry seem to have a never-ending fascination with the more lurid stories of how some money has been misspent. This has been fuelled by and in turn helps fuel, some of the more noisome aspects of populist politics lately. I’m talking about those who always blame others for Britain’s problems and see those in need of our help overseas as little more than economic leeches sucking the life’s blood out of the UK economy. It’s the short-sighted thinking of the charity-begins-at-home brigade, who cannot see that problems within say, the NHS, cannot simply be solved by cutting overseas aid. Much as these finger pointers might wish it, that’s not how economies or politics work. At the moment the UK’s aid budget is one-tenth the NHS budget, and the problems of the NHS are certainly not born because of largesse in foreign aid. Right now the UK Government has a target to spend 0.7 per cent of the country’s Gross National Income on overseas development aid each year. This is the UN’s target for all developed countries and has been since 1970. While the UK government has been signed up in principle to the target since 1974, it achieved this for the first time only in 2013. Given that 0.7 per cent is still a comparatively paltry amount, it puts in some perspective Britain’s lethargy in meeting even that quota. Likewise it puts into context the misguided arguments of those who say we spend too much. If I can put this into an even simpler context, aid spending in the UK works out to be £290 per person in the UK between the ages of 16 and 64 per year. This figure is a bit less per household than what we spend on food we never eat and throw away. Admittedly it’s not always about how much we spend but how it is spent. Aid has to be cost-effective and cost-efficient. Yes, we need to admit when we get things wrong only then can we improve towards the right provision. But aid also has to be flexible, ranging from tents, blankets and medicines of emergency response to the livelihood and infrastructure support that helps keep countries politically stable. For therein lies another reason why foreign aid provision is important. Perhaps those for whom simple humanitarian need is not enough reason to respond should stop and consider how the UK itself stands to benefit from such a commitment. In so many places across the world right now political instability is born out of poverty. Extremists have always been quick to exploit fragile and impoverished states that lack basic capacity building, functioning markets and governments. Turning our backs on those in need in such countries or failing to offer alternatives often drives some into the hands of those who would do harm at home while exporting their violence in the shape of terrorism right to our doorstep. Charity might begin at home, goes the argument of some opposed to foreign aid spending. But terrorism is often spawned abroad and followed through at home. Capitalism might in great part have been responsible for keeping many developing countries in poverty, and indeed Bill Gates himself is the ultimate capitalist and proud of it. But it’s precisely because of what he is that he fully understands the need to create stable conditions for countries to become self-sufficient, peaceful, stable and healthy. Mr Gates is right in saying the UK’s influence in the world would be diminished by abandoning its overseas aid spending pledge. He’s right, too, that should that happen even more lives would be lost.
• Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month Does Coriolanus make mistakes or errors in judgement that lead to his downfall? If so, what are they and how did they lead to his downfall? Extracts from this document... Does Coriolanus make mistakes or errors in judgement that lead to his downfall? If so, what are they and how did they lead to his downfall? The play Coriolanus concerns the downfall and eventual death of a Roman general turned politician, Cauis Martius (later given the name Coriolanus after conquering the city of Corioles). Equipped with the traits of a brave soldier, a short temper and arrogance, these characteristics aid in his downfall which was also aided by several other factors. Whether it be a mistake or an error in judgement on Coriolanus's side, it is the result of either one which causes trouble for him. After announcing that he is reluctantly joining the senate, his mistakes and errors in judgement along with the rest of him would be publicly scrutinised, questioned and judged before the public. He lost the advantage of making mistakes and errors in judgement in the course of war where they would most probably end in his own death or personal injury. ...read more. Going against his wishes to satisfy her wish for him to fight for his place in the consul by humiliating himself further; apologising to the plebeians. She, (Volumnia) says to Coriolanus, 'To beg of thee is more my dishonour than thou of them?'. She gives up and plays the role of the disappointed mother and Coriolanus caves in. 'Prithee mother, pray be content? chide me no more?' Though he would certainly be aware that listening to his mother was a mistake if her were not so dependent on her approbations and love. Though not a clear cut mistake, it certainly aided in his downfall. Coriolanus certainly obtains some time away from the influences of people when he is banished. He arrives at Antium, where he is prepared to die at Aufidius hands for all the harm he has done, 'If he slay me, He does fair justice?'. Though he goes on to say, 'if he give me way, I'll do his country service.' he switches his allegiances to Aufidius. ...read more. The signing of the peace treaty with Rome pushed him into being a traitor in Aufidius eyes and those of Antium. After a heated verbal confrontation between Coriolanus, Aufidius and his conspirators, Coriolanus is killed. It is fair to say that Coriolanus's actions affect the most influential people in his life, and events. His being a good obedient son to a domineering, persuasive mother lead him to the event that highlights his flaws as his primary characteristics; the event being running for consulship. His inability and refusal to veil his hatred for the plebeians who are so easily influenced lead to his banishment. In the end, in him 'playing the man am I am' a great soldier, prompted envious and jealous feelings in his ally who later did not need much to kill him. Coriolanus's mistakes and errors in judgment were all leading to his eventual death due to him being governed by negative people, like his mother. Also negative emotions; his arrogance, and pride which refused and was unable to control due to his nature of seeking pleasure in violence, anger and was in full accordance of his warped upbringing by his war-hungry mother who has only projected maternal sense. ...read more. The above preview is unformatted text Found what you're looking for? • Start learning 29% faster today • 150,000+ documents available • Just £6.99 a month Not the one? Search for your essay title... • Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month See related essaysSee related essays Related AS and A Level Other works essays Deep down Hal knows that Falstaff is a thief, and a king cannot be friends with him. As the play draws on Hal drifts slowly away from Falstaff. In the midst of the battle Falstaff offers Hal a bottle of wine instead of a weapon, Hal angrily throws it back, The roles of blame, curses, grief and power all come up together as Queen Margaret, Elizabeth and The Duchess of York unite to grieve. For example, (4:4, lines 1-135) "Margaret: To watch the waning of mine enemies." ""Elizabeth: Ah, my poor princes! Hal had planned this so that Falstaff would have to make two very dishonourable lies to him in order to retain his pride: he would need to exaggerate the amount of attackers on him, and also how they fought. This was as he had no significant marks on him to say that he was wounded and could not retaliate. "I saw young Harry with his beaver on, His cushes on his thighs, gallantly armed Rise from the ground like feather'd Mercury" Although Hotspur is concerned about what he's heard he tries not to show it as he says that he and Prince Hal will meet and fight to the end. Saturninus claims to Titus that 'the girl should not survive her shame', and that 'her presence still renew his sorrows' implying that Lavinia's death is not for Lavinia herself but for Titus. This view of Lavinia is because of the view of women in general at time as they were It shows that women only had power with what they said. The fact that Anne is perceived in a supernatural way, could link her to religion, as she is trying to punish Richard, we could say that Anne has morals, Shakespeare could have been reflecting what Richard wasn't through the women. 1. who in your opinion is the true hero of Henry the fourth part 1 Hal claims that he is only elevating the severity of his crimes in order to make his comeback seem even more dramatic, 'By how much better than my word I am', (Act 1 Scene 2 line 198). Shakespeare's plan is to contrast the characters of Hal and Hotspur, and then to exchange their attributes. 2. Examine closely the contrasting characters of Hal and Hotspur in King Henry IV, Part ... exchange it for oxygen which is a much needed and essential ingredient to human life and with him being the 'straighest' and most full he is the main source of the world's oxygen along with his fellow friends. This shows that without him the rest of the world would not • Over 160,000 pieces of student written work • Annotated by experienced teachers • Ideas and feedback to improve your own work
Just for Kids One day, when Jesus was with his disciples some people came to ask him if he was the one everyone had been waiting for, or if someone else was coming later. Rather than saying, “yes, I am” or “no, I'm not,” Jesus said, “The blind see, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5) Why do you think he answered the way he did? Do you think he answered their question? The Jews were waiting for a messiah, someone who would come and make their country what it was always supposed to be, a wonderful place to live, where no one lacked any good thing. So instead of saying, “yes, I am the one for whom you have been waiting,” he told them all the things that were happening that they had been waiting to happen. Rather than telling them, he showed them the answer. At the beginning of October, some dentists and an eye doctor along with some helpers came to Arequipa to help the people here see better and have healthier mouths. Rather than telling the people here about Jesus, they showed who Jesus is by their actions. What are some of the ways you can tell others about Jesus by what you do? How can we show others that Jesus is still here today, and he wants to make their life better?
Edit Article wikiHow to Do the One Ocelot vs 100 Creeper Challenge on Minecraft Are you into challenges and Minecraft? How about putting them both together! Start from step one to learn how to do the "one ocelot vs 100 creeper" Minecraft challenge. 1. 1 Build a square to keep the mobs in. Next build a rectangle near it. A 5x5 with a 3x29 connected is a good choice for size. 2. 2 Spawn 100 creepers into the square. They should be crowded. • If it is hard for you to spawn that many, build a little overhang and spawn from there. 3. 3 Spawn an ocelot into the square. The creepers should give him some space! 4. 4 Break the top block of the barrier connecting the rectangle and the square. Watch what the creepers do! 5. 5 Trap as many creepers in water as possible. Do you really want creepers everywhere? • You must trap them in water, or else the following step will ruin your city. 6. 6 Explode your creepers. They explode and grief you, so who wouldn't want to get them back! Community Q&A Ask a Question 200 characters left Article Info Categories: Minecraft Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,099 times. Is this article up to date?
Society - InfoBarrel A society is generally thought of as a group of individuals (usually humans, but sometimes other animals such as bees and ants) that live and interact with each other on a regular basis. Human societies are usually formed for social, industrial, economic and other purposes. In a society, the individual members are generally free to achieve their own aims which they would not be able to attain on their own, outside of the society or social group. At the same time, societies themselves are Best Insulated Water Bottles unique and are not dependent on the individuals that comprise them for their identity; that is, the whole (the society) is greater than the sum of its parts (the individuals that make up the society). Consequently, societies tend to outlive their individual members. Individuals in a society tend to share common values and goals, which is usually what brings the individuals together in the first place. 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First, of all the, you'll likely get complaints from the neighbors, as an efficient wind turbine should be at least 30 feet above the ground. Secondly, you will need about an acre of land to guarantee an unobstructed prevailing wind. Check into using recycled or rechargeable batteries for that items that require batteries. Disposable batteries cost a lot of money to make read the article and they also contain toxic chemicals that happen to be bad for the surroundings. You will end up keeping these chemicals from our environment, by switching to recycled or rechargeable batteries. Use rechargeable batteries. When they might cost a little bit more initially, they can save you a lot of cash in the long run. Rechargeable batteries works extremely well numerous times, plus they just need to be replaced about every five years. Another advantage is that you simply aren't constantly adding corrosive batteries on the landfill. In case you are in favor of using green energy to save money or even help the environment, use an energy system that omits non-renewable fuels like coal and natural gas, as these often emit carbon dioxide. Instead, utilize a alternative energy system for example solar, wind or hydro-power. Take shorter showers to get greater advantage of green energy in your house! Heating hot water makes up about nearly 14% from the average household's energy use and that can actually tally up. Lowering about the time you would spend in the shower will be better around the environment plus your energy bills! Stay in control of your power consumption through getting a Bye Bye Standby device. This piece of equipment is essentially a motherboard into which you can plug in your devices. It will be possible to fully turn on and off any device that you are currently not using through this panel. It also will give you entry to information regarding your power consumption. Many people assume that turning certain equipment and appliances off or unplugging them shortens the life span of your said appliances and equipment. This is not true. This myth goes back to older computers, and many people carry this belief system to the current day. Turning equipment and appliances off or unplugging them decreases on energy costs immensely and is not going to hurt the machinery at all. Check your refrigerator and freezer regularly for broken seals in order to avoid wasting electricity. A seal that's broken will result in your fridge running greater than it requires to. It is a waste of money and energy. In order to see if you wish to replace the seal, slide a little notepad within the door, and make certain it doesn't slide back out easily. You need to record your power usage from month-to-month and then year-to-year in case you are seriously interested in increasingly green. Being conscious when it comes to your power expenditures will help significantly reduce them. You are going to be more aware of lights left on, or dripping taps, in case you are specifically focusing on lowering your water and electricity consumption. An excellent tip to help save energy would be to utilize daylight in your home. As opposed to switching on your lights throughout the day, open your shades, and allow the sun naturally light your site web own home. You may even be thinking about installing a skylight to completely help illuminate your home. Green energy is not important everywhere. Learn more about regulations and incentives in other towns or states if you feel such as you usually are not receiving the help you must create your alternative energy solution. Moving to some nearby town or relocating inside a different state may well be a great idea. A straightforward strategy to identify appliances that are energy-efficient is to search for an ENERGY STAR logo. The Power STAR seal indicates appliances that meet the guidelines that have been established with the Usa Energy Department and people in the EPA. ENERGY STAR merchandise is helpful for tax credits. Many individuals truly would like to change their lives to the better, nonetheless they don't know how to start. You discovered this short article along with the advantages from its contents, so that you are actually provided with the knowledge you have to implement green energy solutions at your home. Great job! It is obvious that people are leading more hectic lives than in the past nowadays. Because of this, solid time management skills have become a necessity. Evaluate the tips and guidance that follow below, and you will soon acquire the knowledge essential to effectively manage the tasks and duties that make your family members run. Calendars certainly are a very helpful time management tool. There are some that prefer physical calendars that they may make notes on. However, many people find that utilizing a digital calendar on click to read one of their electronics is much more their taste. Whichever method works for you, a calendar may help keep your tasks organized thus making you better at managing This Site your time and effort. Build period in every day for unforeseen interruptions. It's time and energy to own because you can't control what happens every minute. Things happen, whether you want them to or otherwise. So, add in buffer time to your schedule to handle these moments. Like that, after your day, you'll still feel accomplished! If you have a very large task you are facing, break it into smaller parts. Create a summary of precisely what it may need to get the project completed. After you have a list to work with, make use of the deadline and make a calendar that features what you must get done every day to make sure it is finished in time. Look into effective time management courses at local community colleges or within your workplace. Should you have a problem juggling your schedule, you might learn considerably concerning how to limit your worries at work. Finding out how to manage your time successfully from an experienced teacher will show to be helpful. At the start of daily, inspect your schedule and check out to make sure that it's completely filled up. It will be possible to reach your goals when you know what you ought to do. Explore the day's schedule to be certain you haven't been overbooked. To be able to manage your time and energy well, you should create a sense for the prioritization from the view it different tasks allotted to you. You'll be able to slot it into an appropriate space within your schedule whenever you can tell whether a new task is urgent. By offering more awareness of one of the most urgent jobs you have, you'll become more productive and more efficient. Check into time management planning courses at local community colleges or anchor within your workplace. You can learn quite a bit concerning how to limit your stress at the office when you have a hard time juggling your schedule. Learning how to manage your time successfully from an experienced teacher will prove to be helpful. Learn to differentiate between urgent and important tasks. They are certainly not the exact same thing, and also this is crucial for your time schedules. You may have tasks which can be a mix of both the, as well as normal tasks on the list. Just remember that things that are crucial will not be always urgent and viceversa. Believe it or not, among the finest steps you can take to handle your time would be to invest some time. By rushing through important tasks, you may make errors that force you to start over. Taking your time and energy the 1st time around ensures the job is carried out the correct way. To obtain the most from your time and effort-management strategy, you should be firm time limits. Don't let yourself get caught up and spend 90 minutes upon it if you plan to function with a specific project for 60 minutes. When tasks take more hours than you possess scheduled, plan a new block of your time to deal with the overflow. Then proceed to the next item on your agenda. Stay focused as well as on task to enhance your standard of living. Don't let other things distract you. People sometimes try to provide you with other projects when you you can find out more are focusing on a project. Avoid letting anyone accomplish this. Prior to starting another task, complete your current task. Put your most essential tasks at the top of your to-do list. In the event you attempt everything all at the same time, no task will likely be done well. You could possibly even end up finishing nothing. You should have better results, by doing tasks as a way of their importance. Consider Pareto's Rule when considering personal time management. Actually the lion's share of your own focused work (80%) gets done in 20% of your own time. That's normal and not the symbol of someone inefficient. A persons brain needs down time to renew and adjust itself. Ensure you give yourself breaks and periods where less is predicted. Remove mental distractions. It could be tough to remain on task and make use of your time wisely in case you are worried about other activities. Learn destressing techniques that meet your needs and get inside the right mental state. You will notice that as soon as you aren't bothered by other activities, it is possible to focus on the task accessible. Usually do not treat yourself for any job well done until the job is really done well. Don't get yourself coffee in the midst of work. Reward yourself along with it once you're with a stopping point. Only once you've gotten a good handle on the personal time management, although make it rewarding often. Help make your lunch the evening before. Undertake it the night before if you visit work every single day and think you "don't have time" to determine your lunch in the morning. That way, you may create your lunch without rushing. So easy step will stop you from spending so much money eating at restaurants, although not just that. Time management planning works well if you learn how to properly manage it. You may be struggling in this region, and now feel much better after reading the great advice through the above article. Make sure you go back within the tips, this way you usually realize how to get the most out of daily. Your business. Your life. Learn From Us Creative thinking inspires great ideas. Get thinking!
Wearable technology is redefining what it means to be disabled The meaning of “disabled” is changing as people adopt wearable devices and move into a bionic future. The visually impaired have used canes to navigate for most of recorded history, but the white version we’re familiar with was born in early 20th century Paris. Guilly d’Herbemont lived above a street frequented by blind pedestrians, regularly witnessing their peril in an era when automobiles were common but crosswalks a novelty. By 1931, she had come up with the idea of establishing a bold white cane as a protective symbol and navigational tool for the blind, and distributed more than 5,000 of them at her own expense. The idea had spread internationally within two years. Tech developer Krispian Lawrence hopes to build on d’Herbemont’s legacy. Lawrence lives in India, which he says has “the unfortunate distinction of being the blind capital of the world,” and he sees both the strengths and drawbacks of the white cane. “The cane has social significance. At the same time, it has two major defects: it can’t [guide] you from one place to another, and it can’t orient you.” Lawrence is CEO of Lechal (Hindi for “Take me there”), which he co-founded with Anirudh Sharma in 2011. The company is about to release its first products: footwear that will supplement the white cane by providing navigation and safety information through vibrations in the wearer’s feet. Since starting the company, Lawrence and his team have discovered that their product appeals to a variety of people. When the Lechal shoes and insoles become available later this year (for about $150), they will include features that will help runners monitor their pace, outdoorsmen map new trails, and tourists navigate unknown cities, all without burying their faces in a smartphone. This broader spectrum of users benefit from the haptic interface and motion commands that make Lechal intuitive for the blind. Lechal is just one example of how wearable tech is eroding the boundaries between assistive technology and the consumer technology market. As interfaces get more creative and sensors get more powerful, people with all types of bodies will be drawn to technology that enhances senses, monitors health, and eases interactions with the environment. As they become more and more a part of everyday life, these devices may shift our views on bodies and their limitations. The developers at Soundhawk have planted their flag on that blurring line. Soundhawk is an in-ear device to enhance hearing—but don’t call it a hearing aid. The company’s founders and executives include audiologists who have seen plenty of patients experience difficulty hearing in certain situations even though they display no measurable sign of hearing loss. Soundhawk is based on the same technology built into high-end hearing aids, but it’s targeted at this technically unimpaired group. “We’re taking a product away from the idea of being a hearing assistive device for people who have a problem,” says Drew Dundas, the company’s chief science officer, “to being a performance enhancement for people to improve their quality of life.” To target these users, Soundhawk is trying to distance itself from the stigma of hearing aids as signs of aging and infirmity. In part, they’re doing this by marketing the device directly to consumers, rather than through doctors. Soundhawk has also bucked the trend toward invisibility in hearing aids, instead releasing a device that resembles a hands-free headset—a design less likely to mark the user as impaired than even the most discreet in-ear hearing aid. Similarly, while Lechal offers invisible insoles, its shoe product is flashy, a bet that today’s users are unembarrassed about showing off their enhancements. The assistive benefits of wearables aren’t limited to those with mobility and perceptual deficits. Jesse Slade Shantz, chief medical officer of the “smart” apparel companyOMsignal, cites the power of biometric tracking for lung and heart disease patients, diabetics, and sleep apnea sufferers. As the sophisticated sensors once available only in clinics and labs find their way into shirts and watches, chronic disease patients will be able to optimize their behavior in real time, in ways very similar to how early-adopting fitness buffs already use wearables. As wearable technology advances and spreads, information technology is becoming even more ubiquitous, with complex implications for those who use assistive devices. According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the assistive devices market is estimated to grow to $19.68 billion by 2019. But that measure only includes devices defined as assistive in the traditional way. Lechal, Soundhawk, OMsignal, and other consumer wearables that are useful for the disabled and able-bodied alike might constitute a new category. They may also change how society as a whole understands disability. Will Seymour of the Future Foundation consulting group points out that wearable and mobile tech is already giving the disabled newfound freedom to communicate and navigate. “Allowing someone to do more with their body is certainly a redefinition of what it means to have a disability,” he says. “Performance boundaries are now seen as flexible; the body’s weaknesses as negotiable.” Source: http://fortune.com/2015/02/10/wearables-disability/ 3 thoughts on “Wearable technology is redefining what it means to be disabled Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Key To Successfully Investing Money Reading Time: 4 minutes Investors are constantly looking for an edge when investing money that will boost their performance in relation to other investors and the market as a whole. Behavioral analysis is one discipline that offers broad scope for research designed to enable improved investor performance. The reason for this is obvious: the stock market, along with other markets, reflects human economic activity. While not all human behavior is economically oriented, the drive to improve one’s financial position is a strong one – as a result, understanding its implications can only be helpful when it comes to deriving useful conclusions about how human behavior affects the stock market. This type of analysis generally focuses on arriving at general principles that enhance your understanding of market behavior. While such knowledge is not a substitute for forming an accurate impression of a company’s or sector’s business prospects, it can prove valuable when performing what is known as technical analysis – the study of past price and volume metrics in hopes of discerning valuable trends or patterns that can prove helpful in predicting future outcomes. While there are any number of human behavior patterns that can be studied for insight into market action, this article will focus on three of the most notable such patterns when investing money: • Herd behavior • Loss aversion • Myopia (short-termism) Herd Behavior & Investing Money Herd behavior is easy to see in animals such as herbivores who huddle together, sometimes in tremendous numbers, for protection and companionship. When the herd moves, the vast majority of its members have no say in which way it moves, they must simply make sure to head in that direction or risk getting trampled by their fellow herd members. What does this have to do with the stock market? Think of Internet stocks in 2000, or home mortgage stocks in 2007; in both cases the valuations of stocks in these sectors in many cases had risen to ridiculous extremes. The result of such overvaluation was significant loss of capital for recent buyers of such stocks when the market crashed. The takeaway is that humans, being mammals, are subject to the same herding impulse which is so easy to notice when observing the behavior large groups of herbivores. While it may be subtler in humans, the same type of behavior can occur in various instances such as fads, trends, and the price movements of stocks. Investors can take advantage of their knowledge of this phenomenon by staying away from excessively popular “herd” stocks which have risen far in excess of their fundamental value or, for the more adventurous, choosing to short such stocks. If you take the latter approach exercise extreme caution – shorting a popular stock can be very expensive if your timing is off. Loss Aversion Various studies have shown that, generally speaking, people are more likely to resent giving up what they already have than to forego something they don’t currently possess. What does this insight mean in regards to the markets? One area where such behavior can be observed is in the interplay between taxes and inflation in a society. When government taxes its citizens, it is clear to them that they are contributing currently owned or earned dollars. As a result, at some point governments find that raising taxes further is not feasible – politicians get voted out of office or popular unrest occurs when taxes are raised to levels that people find unbearable. On the other hand, inflation, which doesn’t directly take money out of a person’s pocket, as long as it doesn’t get out of control, is generally not seen as a government revenue-raising program. For this reason, inflation is sometimes called a hidden tax. By debasing the currency, a government can effectively increase its portion of a society’s currency without needing to raise taxes. Thus, it should come as no surprise that modern monetary systems tend to be inflationary, especially when a crisis strikes and governments use currency printing as the “easiest” method of dealing with the crisis. For investors, understanding this phenomenon is helpful when it comes to gauging the monetary policy likely to be followed by a country in times of financial trouble. Unless there is a strong disincentive to use currency debasement to stem the tide, such as after an episode of hyperinflation when fiscal rectitude is at a premium, investors can usually count on governments, usually through their central banks, pursuing easy money policies that boost inflation during times of financial or economic crisis. With this knowledge, investors can use investments such as precious metals which typically perform well during such periods to help protect their portfolios from the ravages of inflation. Myopia (Short-termism) Myopia in economic parlance doesn’t refer to a visual disorder but to the phenomenon of making decisions that may appear attractive in the short run but have bad long-term consequences. From a behavioral standpoint, the drive behind myopia of this type seems to be humankind’s evolutionary development. For the preponderance of humanity’s history, agriculture as we know it did not exist, therefore to survive people could not, for the most part, depend on easy access to stored food. Thus, the most adaptive individuals were those who could find food now, not necessarily those who could predict where food might be found a month or a year from now. Thus, the drive for immediate gratification, although less important in modern society, was a highly valued trait for much of our species’ history. When it comes to investing, the most successful investors, by and large, pursue the opposite approach. They realize how difficult it is to predict short-term moves in the market and focus on where the market is likely to be over a longer period of time. To do this, they must identify the underlying trends that drive market moves. They must also fight the natural human inclination to focus on short-term performance. If you can successfully keep your desire to make money in the short run in check in favor of taking advantage of longer-term trends, you can gain an advantage over investors who give in to these urges and only invest based on what is hot right now. By the time these investors realize what more farsighted investors have realized, investments based on such insights often have already risen substantially in price, preventing short-term oriented investors from earning the same level of profits generated by those who were willing to invest over a longer time period.
Voice of the people (letter). Science Must Rule On Nuclear Waste October 02, 1996\|By C. John Mann, Professor of geology, University of Illinois. URBANA — In the Sept. 8 news story "A mountain of questions," Peter Kendall did a fine job in detailing some of the important questions facing scientists who will determine whether Yucca Mountain in Nevada is a suitable site for a geologic repository of high-level nuclear waste. Before the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission can license a repository, scientists must demonstrate that the site will be safe and stable for 10,000 years--an interval twice that of recorded civilization and almost four times the age of ancient pyramids in Egypt. This extraordinary task is sufficiently difficult without increasing the interval to 1 million years as has been suggested by the National Research Council. Although the longer interval may be desirable if accurate predictions were possible, it may be undesirable in lending a false sense of greater security. The word "study" doesn't do justice to the "site characterization" that is required by Congress and is taking place at Yucca Mountain. Evaluation of local and regional geology, hydrology and environmental geochemistry at and near Yucca Mountain is a massive investigation of all possible variables--probably the most comprehensive and systematic assessment ever conducted on any piece of land on our planet. Safe disposal of radioactive waste is a primary concern of many types of scientists in our nuclear age. It deserves careful, methodical treatment because some radionuclides emit radiation for long periods. It is not new nor unique to the nuclear age, however; many rocks contain radioactivity naturally. Living organisms have been exposed to radioactivity ever since life first appeared on Earth. Every time you eat, you take more radiocarbon into your body. Federal policymakers who expect absolute guarantees for safety of any repository as a condition for licensing fail to recognize that all science is fraught with uncertainties. Risk assessment must be probabilistic, as all insurance companies have known for many years. The same is true for geologic predictions, even if it is only for next year's flood, volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. One hundred percent certainty is impossible in any science; nonetheless, scientists often can approach that ideal limit. Government, therefore, must face the fact that, within bounds of current scientific knowledge, political debate must yield to sound technical judgment on nuclear waste decisions, as was legislated in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Scientists globally agree that high-level nuclear waste can be retained safely in geologic repositories for millions of years. Every country with nuclear waste has come to this conclusion independently. Soon, our country must make a clear-cut decision about Yucca Mountain and permanent underground storage of nuclear waste. With spent reactor fuel being stored temporarily at more than 100 nuclear power plants around the country, the present unsettled situation simply postpones a decision to a point where events will make that decision for us, probably with undesirable consequences.
What ARE Perennials? As I explained in my Introduction to Annuals, they can be summarized as follows: seed, germinate, grow, flower, flower, flower, I am so pretty, flower, flower, oh my biological clock is ticking, make seed, die. Time elapsed, one year or less. Perennials are plants that grow for more than a year (assuming they live; it’s a life style, not a contract with God). They take their time; frequently they don’t even bloom in the first year of growth after the seed germinates. When they do get around to blooming, perennials have shorter blooming seasons than annuals, or, if they bloom for several months, usually the first few weeks are intense and the re-bloom is more sporadic, sometimes requiring some encouragement on the part of the gardener. This might be something like shearing a couple of inches off of the top of the plant to remove the old dead flowers Perennials tend to be either cool weather, late winter/spring bloomers or warm weather summer bloomers (but not both). There are even a few fall bloomers. The summer bloomers tend to have longer blooming periods than the spring bloomers. We know a few things about garden center shoppers. We know that most of you a) shop in the spring, and b) you tend to buy what is in flower when you shop. Because a lot of the fun of perennial gardening is watching things change from day to day and week to week as plants grow and come into flower, you really should visit the garden center a couple of times in the summer to see what’s currently in bloom. Really. It’s for your own good. Of perennials, it is said that the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. So, during the first year after you plant your perennial, not that much happens. The second year (after the first winter) you have more blooms on larger plants, and the third year, they really hit their stride with much larger plants and heavier bloom. Assuming everything goes right. Most perennials die completely down to the ground in the winter, overwintering with living bits below ground. Or, they overwinter with small tufts of foliage (leaves) above the soil. Technically, these are “herbaceous perennials.” While we are jargoning, we may as well toss in hardy, which means they tolerate some below freezing temperatures. So what we are talking about are hardy herbaceous perennials: you’ll do fine if you just say “perennials.” There is another outdoor herbaceous group that falls between the annuals and perennials, the biennials: plants that grow without flowering the first year, flower the second, and then die (so bi-ennial; two years). These include cabbage, parsley, and foxgloves. These are sold with the vegetables, herbs, or perennials, wherever they seem to fit the best. There aren’t that many. Why use perennials? Most people do it to save the effort of replanting annuals each year. This does save some planting time, but for a perennial garden to look good, it does require some care—cutting back old flowers and so on—so planting perennials doesn’t save much time, it just spreads it out. The real reason to choose perennials is that it allows you, should you be inclined, to “paint” with flowers. Perennials change in many dimensions over the season—height, width, color; texture of foliage (fine or broad leaves); how one color plays off the colors of surrounding plants. So, you really get to play. If you enjoy repainting your walls with new colors, then you will enjoy painting the garden with perennials. Planting tip Perennials are best planted in groups, three or five plants of a given type. If you have a big enough space, you can repeat the group in several spots to “unite” the garden. by Larry Hurley Photo by Susan Harris of the healing garden at an AIDS services center in Buffalo. Leave a Reply
Different Types Of Dental Specialists Dentistry being an extremely important discipline, requires a lot of time and effort for an individual to finally start practicing. Like every other subject area, dentistry too has many different types of sub categories that professionals can specialize in. Many of them, known as family dentists do the usual examinations, root canals, and fillings. They fit in braces, palates, and dentures. Others specialize in areas such a cosmetic dentistry, while the rest known as general dentists have the professional skills to work on individuals of all ages. Given below are different types of dentists that specialize in different aspects of dentistry. Endodontists are specialized in root canal therapy and go through rigorous training in order to perfect their skills. This subject area within core dentistry, mainly focuses on the physiology and morphology of the dental pulp of all humans. Further studying goes into the processes of prevention and treatment of any sort of injuries or diseases caused by these periarticular conditions. After going to a general dentist for the routine examinations, root canals and teeth bleaching, you will be referred to an orthodontist for certain other serious matters. These dentists specialize in developing, preventing and correcting certain abnormalities in your teeth, and have specifically trained in order to perform these kind of procedures. Orthodontists do not only attend to teeth, but rather to people’s jaws and their facial attributes. If an individual has any sort of abnormalities in their face and the inability of performing the usual functions of a jaw, orthodontist have special training in fixing such flaws. Pediatric dentist As opposed to the root canals and teeth whitening products contact gogo smile, pediatric dentists specialize in oral care of minors, children ranging from infants to teenagers. The young years are the most important, because it is the growing stage and the proper and necessary care given during this stage will prevent these young ones from growing into adults that have problematic teeth that require painful processes to overcome their plight. Unlike the usual dentists, prosthodontists have relatively more training in performing procedures in replacing and restoring teeth that damaged, by inserting bridges and crowns. This subject area in dentistry is provides training, giving ability to these specialized dentists to be able to understand the necessity and process of maintaining a healthy mouth and providing them with insights into the procedure of replacing teeth with natural looking substitutes. Moreover, these dentists have gone on to specialize in more subject areas such as jaw joint problems and also sleeping and snoring disorders. Depending on what type of problem you are facing with your teeth, you will be referred to a dentist who is specialized in that particular field by a general dentist.
Saturday, August 14, 2010 Costa Rica better start prepping for Friday the 13th……2029 that is! If scientists and astronomers have it calculated correctly, Friday the 13th, 2029 or possibly Easter Sunday, Friday the 13th in 2036, could be a very unlucky days for Costa Rica if the asteroid Apophis continues on its current projected path toward Earth. “Apophis” was the name of the ancient Egyptian god of darkness and destruction. Therefore, astronomers could not have chosen a more appropriate moniker to assign to a 25 million ton asteroid that is expected to slice across the orbit of the moon, possibly impacting Earth at more than 28,000 miles per hour on April, Friday the 13th, 2029. Scientists are 99.7% certain that Apophis, a huge pockmarked rock that carries the energy of 65,000 Hiroshima bombs, and measures more than 1000 feet accross, will pass the Earth at a distance of only 18,800 to 20,800 miles in the year 2029, not actually impacting Earth at that time. To put that distance into perspective though, that is actually shorter than a round-trip flight from Melbourne, Australia, to New York City. Either way, just after dusk on April 13th of 2029, people in Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia will be able to see what looks like a star slowly making its way westward through the sky. Apophis will be the first asteroid in human history to be clearly visible to the naked eye. The asteroid will be packing enough power to wipe out a small country or churn up a devestating 800-ft. high tsunami. Previous projections showed the asteroid’s trajectory to pass somewhere along a 30-mile-wide path stretching from Russia across the Pacific Ocean into Central America and then across the Atlantic. Although San Jose, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Venezuela would all have been potential targets for total destruction, scientists believe the most likely target would have been several thousand miles off the West Coast of the United States, where the impact would create a 5-mile wide crater in the ocean floor. The impact would trigger tsunamis that would pound the coast of California with 50-foot waves, literally wiping out everything in its path. Updated projections now have scientists believing that if Apophis passes the Earth at a distance of exactly 18,893 miles in 2029, it will pass through a "gravitational keyhole," where the Earth’s gravity could pull Apophis off track just enough to cause it to enter an orbit that is seven-sixths as long as the Earth’s orbit. If that happens, then exactly seven years later in the year 2036, as Apophis comes back around, the planet would be in an even more precarious path of this lethal asteroid. Fortunately, current tracking estimates put the odds of that happening at about 45,000 to 1, though one should keep in mind that that is considerably less than the chance of someone being in a plane crash! Former astronaut Rusty Schweickart, now 71, who served on the Apollo 9 mission in 1969, feels that even a tiny risk cannot be ignored. Through his B612 Foundation, which he co-founded in 2001, Schweickart has been urging NASA to start now making preparations to do something about the asteroid. "We need to act," he said. "If we blow this, it’ll be criminal." Despite Hollywood’s imaginative cinematic escapades, current technology does not provide any way for Apophis to be deflected to miss the Earth in either 2029 or 2036. For that reason, in 2005, Schweickart began urging NASA administrator Michael Griffin to start planning a mission to land a radio transponder on Apophis, in an effort to track the asteroid’s path to confirm that it will not hit the gravitational keyhole. If that data shows that the path will bring it into the keyhole, there would still be time to do something about it and launch a deflection mission. Using current technology, we could attempt to nudge it slightly off course by hitting it with a simple 1-ton "kinetic energy impactor" spacecraft. An alternative solution would be to use a "gravity tractor" spacecraft to hover above the asteroid and gently pull it slightly off course using its own gravity. Both of those corrective methods and their chances of success would be highly speculative. For now, NASA has decided to wait and see what’s going to happen. According to an analysis by Steven Chesley of the Near Earth Object program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, there is no cause for alarm yet. Apophis will be swinging by the Earth in 2013, when it will be in perfect position to be tracked by the 1000-ft. diameter radio telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The data obtained during that pass could rule out the asteroid hitting the keyhole in 2029. But if it isn’t able to rule out the possibility, there will still be enough time to launch a deflection mission. Schweickart estimates that such a mission could take as long as 12 years to complete. But for now, most scientists are content to wait until we get a better idea of exactly what the risks are. "There’s no rush right now," says Chesley. "But if it’s still serious by 2014, we need to start designing real missions." Will Costa Rica homes and businesses be ready for this phoenomenon? Will the World be ready for Apophis? Are you ready? Do you believe this could truly happen? I’d love to hear your feedback! Edited from an original article written by: Linda Orlando of Buzzle Staff and Agencies Originally Published: 1/8/2007 1 comment:
Historical Interpretations School Days \| World War I What will happen in the day? A new topic for 2014, commemorating the centenary of the Great War. With the new curriculum schools can now study an aspect or theme in British history which extends chronological knowledge beyond 1066. We have a massive collection of artefacts illuminating aspects of the war, and the anniversary of World War I will give schools a chance to link to what will be the largest national commemoration for some time. The topic also links to local history study, considering the role of local regiments and their place in the local community. Topics covered include: o Why the war started. o Reconstructed and real artefacts from the period. o Trench Games. o News headlines –newspapers to study. o Posters and their interpretation. o Uniforms of the period, cavalry and infantry. The Western Front and other areas of conflict. o The local regiments of Yorkshire and Humberside. Please call 01904 704357 for further information.
You are here: Specialist Areas » Human Genetics » Gene Panels » Microcephalies Microcephalies Gene Panel Dr. med. Imma Rost, Dr. rer. biol. hum. Soheyla Chahrokh-Zadeh Primary autosomal recessive microcephalies are rare, genetically heterogeneous disorders of the cerebrum, which are characterized by a primary (congenital) microcephaly. At birth the head circumference is typically two standard deviations below the mean. Generally cognitive development is affected, other neurologic symptoms or malformations are rarely found. Most notably is the reduction of grey matter as a sign of a reduced number of neurons. Additionally heterotopias, cortical dysplasias or a polymicrogyria can be found as a result of a neural migration disorder. Since clinical distinction of the different types is often difficult, genetic diagnostics using next generation sequencing (NGS) can facilitate diagnosis. All coding exons and their flanking intronic sequences from the genes in the microcephalies gene panel are analyzed either by Sanger sequencing or by next generation sequencing (NGS).
Saturday, February 7, 2009 There is no difference in skin color between whites and albinos. Both groups have the tyrosinase mutation which inhibits melanin production. The function of Thr111 (is to produce white skin, blue or green eyes, have photo phobia exhibited in both groups, and light hair-- also exhibited in both groups). There are 3 primary races. Negroes and Asians, however, have the amino acid A1a111 (alanine allele) on SLC24A5 genes. Dark skinned people carrying the recessive "Whiteness" gene would have a 25% chance of producing a White person.recessive "Whiteness" gene would have a 25% chance of producing a White person. Not all whites have melanin, and if the truth must be known, there are cases of albinism (OCA2 albinos) that do produce melanin just like whites, but in both cases, the melanin levels are insufficient for protection OCA2 generally have more pigment and better vision than those with OCA1, but cannot tan like some with OCA1b. these are all albinos. one can tan and the other (OCA2) have more pigments. People with OCA2 usually have fair skin but not as pale as OCA1, and blonde to golden or reddish-blond hair, and most commonly blue eyes. lol do these traits sound familiar? How do you think white people got blue/ green eyes? the remaining 2 races (especially asians) do not exhibit these phenotypes "Not one of these types involves a common relation to White people" blond hair, reddish-blonde hair, blue or green eyes, white skin is not common among whites? These very phenotypes are common among albinos. Blond hair, green eyes, etc, are due to mutated enzymes on the SLC24A5 gene. A typical black or Asian do not have this mutation on their SLC24A5 genes. There are only 3 races, a black man created you both 1)HEARING. People who have syndromes associated with albinism MAY HAVE hearing difficulties-- its not set in stone. (2)EYESIGHT. Whites typically (especially in the case of blue and green eyes) have poorer visual acuity than melaninated eyes. (3)TANNING. OCA1b(OR TYR) albinos do tan. (4)EUROPEAN FEATURES: the nose is longer than blacks as to heat the air before oxygen enters the lungs. (1) EYESIGHT & HEARING. [["In oculocutaneous albinism, pigment is missing from the hair, eyes, and skin. In ocular albinism, only the eyes lack pigment. People with oculocutaneous albinism can have no pigment to almost normal. Some may even tan. People with albinism are generally as healthy as the rest of their species, with growth and development occurring as normal. "]] SOURCE: (2)HPS is a VERY rare autosomal recessive disorder which results in oculocutaneous albinism (decreased pigmentation), bleeding problems due to a platelet abnormality (platelet storage pool defect), and storage of an abnormal fat-protein compound. this is not associated with all albinism Blacks, not only, have the strongest bones in the world but also the strongest muscles to support the density of bones well the evidence is in your DNA. There is no such thing as white race, you just like to call yourself white. You wanted to separated yourself from people of color, so you could say "oh look at my IQ! look how we 'whites' discovered 'India' in America-- my god, we must be the smartest race upon this planet". If you were so smart, you would have known there wasn't an India in America. You started "race". The whole myth about white skin adaptation for better utilization of vit d, I think white scientists are lying or they are hiding things. Because anyone who has biochemical knowledge will tell you something doesn't add up. 1. So what if white people have the same skin color as albinos? Who cares? You seem to be implying that both white people AND albinos are unnatural, disgusting creatures set apart from other human beings. What about albinos born to black parents? What do you think of them? Are they "mutants" the way you think white people are? People are just people. Anyone who refuses to accept that, and continues attempting to make blanket generalizations about billions of people based on their skin color, is a bigot. 2. Negroes are also ugly, stupid, and violent. 1. im not ugly nor stupid and neither violent never been in a fight and never will how about during slavery when whites beat and raped my people and also to the native Americans and other cultures even each other and ow they hung us on trees and beat us bloody. Do you think thats not violent get a freakin life
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Skip to my Symbaloo! The web allows us many opportunities to guide students in exploring a wealth of resources, but it can be overwhelming at times. How do we facilitate meaningful learning while maximizing the limited time we have with students? Let me introduce you to Symbaloo! Symbaloo (shown below) is a fantastic website that allows you to create webmixes. Each tile links to a web source that you choose. Ms. Saverino and I used the Symbaloo below to facilitate a jigsaw. Each corner of tiles featured a different type of artifact (article, commercial, political cartoon, magazine cover) on the topic of mental health. Symbaloo allows you to choose the color of each tile, so students were assigned a color (blue, orange, red, or green) and divided into groups. Students in group blue explored all of the blue tiles, thus allowing every student to discuss all four artifact types. We also linked a google doc where students reported out their findings. For the second part of the jigsaw students were placed in mixed groups (blue/green/orange/red) and discussed the similarities and difference in their artifacts. Symbaloo is a tool that offers so much potential. Tracey Kracht (@lpstechmentors) and I brainstormed this short list! Ways to use Symbaloo in the classroom: • Organize research sites and articles for students • Do a jigsaw of resources facilitated by using different colored tiles for each jigsaw group • Create a webmix containing one unit of flipped materials and resources • Create a review webmix for students • Provide students with a webmix of the tools you will consistently use in your classroom • Activities to push/differentiate for students who are consistently ahead (or remediate for those behind) Add your best ideas for using Symbaloo in the classroom. A Lesson Worth Recycling At a recent conference at the Denver Convention Center, I was quite fascinated by these trash cans: Strange...I know! The word 'LANDFILL' really caught my attention, and I was quite cognizant of my trash disposal for the three days I was at the conference. Why use the word landfill instead of trash or waste? To persuade! The word trash would have only informed us where to put our waste, but the word landfill persuaded us to think twice about our waste and whether it was really for the landfill or the recycle. I love how one word can have so much power! Mrs. Schaeffer and I explored these ideas today with students as we explored various purposes for writing and generated lots of potential writing topics. The lesson was a launch into A Raisin in the Sun, and our goal was for students to understand how writing purpose can shape a topic. We narrowed the focus to family dynamics, a central idea of the play. Check out this SlideRocket to see the structure of the lesson: Here is a snapshot of the writing topics generated by one student today: Click HERE for a Google Doc of this organizer you can use with students. It's a lesson worthy of recycling! This framework, adapted from Kelly Gallagher's Write Like This, is a great way to understand why purpose matters and could certainly be adapted for any content area. It would be powerful to establish these ideas at the beginning of a school year and build on the framework throughout the year.
Presentation is loading. Please wait. Presentation is loading. Please wait. Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution in the Steel City, Similar presentations Presentation on theme: "Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution in the Steel City,"— Presentation transcript: 1 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution in the Steel City, 1945-50. Key: In the 1940s NO-ONE escaped the pollution from the steel plants, though it was certainly experienced variably according to race, class and particular pollutant. You should know the lakeshore environment that was remade in the process of producing Gary and the social and ecological reasons it was a good place for steel production. 2 Gary’s “Natural” Ecology- 1900 Only thirty miles… [from Chicago], swamps and dunes still dominated the landscape…. [S]and mounds hugged the lakeshore, giving way to a series of shorter sand ridges further inland. Marshes, lagoons, and swamps filled the intervening depressions…. [A] diverse animal population that included wolves, ducks, and bald eagles. … [T]he Grand Calumet and the Little Calumet, meandered through the region, sustaining a varied fish population. [A] few scattered farming villages, marked the only human imprint on this section of northwest Indiana. (16) 3 Gary’s Social Ecological Location Was ideal for plant construction and the transportation of both raw materials and finished products. Abundant land allowed sufficient room for steel mills and subsidiary manufacturing plants. If the company required additional space, it could extend the shoreline by filling the lake. Steelmaking demanded vast amounts of water for cooling; Lake Michigan furnished an endless supply. Moreover, the lake provided a water route to the rich Mesabi ore fields in Minnesota, while existing railway lines connected the site with eastern coalfields and midwestern steel markets. (17) 4 Gary and its sprawl In 1906 the corporation supervised the building of a city to house its workers. But as Gary's population swelled from 10,000 in 1908 to over 110,000 by the outbreak of World War II, urban development shifted toward Gary's outskirts, filling in areas that had once been woodlands, swamps, and dunes. 5 New Industrial Landscape Altered Shoreline Built a boat harbor, cut a ship canal, filled in land extending the coastline 700 feet further into the lake. The flood prone Grand Calumet River was moved one-quarter of a mile to the south and confined it to a straight channel. The duneland terrain was leveled by removing 12 million cubic yards of sand and draining swamps on proposed factory sites. U.S. Steel had replaced thousands of acres of dunes and marshes with concrete foundations, steel buildings, heavy machinery, and fiery furnaces. 6 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution II. Gary Works coke plant Gary Sheet and Tin American Bridge Cement Plant Smaller steel products manufacturers all companies recycled… when it made economic sense… and polluted when it didn’t matter 7 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution II. What is slag? Generated at 1 million tons per year. Used to fill the lake to extend industrial production. Still, huge quantities of slag had to be disposed of elsewhere... So the company took advantage of the plentiful swampland along the lakefront by using it as a repository for much of this refuse. Slag, and other wastes were discarded in vacant pits and lagoons scattered throughout the property. (16-17) Finishing mill “scales” were mixed with lubricants to get them into natural, now waste, lagoons. Cleaning acids as they lost effective strength were washed into pits, rivers and the lake. Cement --> dust and particulates in remarkable quantities. KEY: However, [s]mokestacks and pipes carried most of the wastes beyond the company's borders into the community's air and water. (17) 8 From East to West… Coke Ovens (coal  coke) Plus Sintering Plant (iron ore + metallurgical dust) Into Blast Furnaces Then into Open Hearth Furnaces Then into Ingot Molds Then into Ingot Strippers Then into Soaking Pits Then into Primary Mills Then into Finishing Mills 9 Broken Link to The Picture Slide Show Well… the link didn’t seem to work. If you want to review the pictures of Gary during the early years, go back to the syllabus and click on the link “PicturesofGary.ppt) 10 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution IV. All steps generated chemical, particulate and heat pollution “Pollution impaired health, damaged property and forced adjustments in daily behavior… Although few escaped the deleterious effects of industry’s environ-mental tampering, individuals’ experiences with the industrial environmental varied considerably…. Yet social background did not always predict exposure levels to pollution.” (22) “In a 43-point rating system, on-the-job exposure to acids, fumes, and dirt was worth less than one point. Skill and training, on the other hand, counted for much more and largely determined an individual’s wage.” (23) 11 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution V. “Within the mills… a distinct pattern emerged… linking environmental exploitation with income, ethnicity, and race. Whites with northern European backgrounds working in management and skilled craft positions attained the greatest insulation from hazardous wastes and received the highest wages. More recent European immigrants occupied a middling position; benefiting from upward mobility, they concentrated in semi-skilled production jobs that paid moderately and involved some exposure to noxious waste emissions. Blacks and Mexicans fared the worst, earning the least and laboring under the harshest conditions….” (25) 12 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution VI. “Except for Jews and African Americans, rigid barriers did not segregate the social lives of Gary’s various ethnic groups and classes. Yet, income and cultural preferences did, in effect, separate the population into discrete cells of social activity.” (25) “Unlike water and air, land was privately owned and stationary. Once industry purchased a site, others rarely made competing claims on the property.” (36) Once residency patterns were set, exposure to pollution was set as well… 13 Pollution and Residency Airborne wastes caused long- term health problems as well. Coke ovens released carcinogenic gases, while lead, cadmium, manganese, nickel, beryllium, and chromium discharges caused ailments ranging from hypertension to lung cancer. Thus, north side residents, particularly those clustered around the downtown area, encountered the greatest health risks associated with air pollution, often facing more danger than steelworkers inside the mills, who tended to be younger and healthier. (27) 14 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution VII. While neighborhoods were segregated by ethnicity, class, and marital status, there was a fairly even distribution of kinds of neighborhoods within the city during the first 30 years of so fo the city’s history “Thus, in contrast to the situation at the workplace, where race and class largely determined exposure to pollutants, the burdens of industrial resource use generally fell evenly across Gary’s residential communities.” (37) 15 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution VIII. Gary and its neighborhoods – map on 27. Impoverished South side. Elite North Side/Horace Mann. Later, suburban Glen Park Miller The key is that Blacks maintained a multi-class, highly polluted residential pattern because of segregation -- improved economically by income/unions, but worsened environmentally by restrictive deed covenants, etc. 16 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution IX. Polluted Grand Calumet/Lake Michigan/Dunes Devastated Fisheries Dangerous drinking water, esp. from wells The key to the nature-jobs trade-off then becomes the post-WWII/Cold War “gentlemen’s agreement” between labor and capital… so long as productivity goes up wages go up and people with higher wages can escape the worst economic and ecological problems. Unions bought into this idea, but, being relatively “blind” to race, the rising tide failed to float African-American boats and this led, in part, to the civil rights movement. 17 Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution IX. “In contrast to most white citizens, Gary's African Americans encountered more limited residential options as discriminatory housing practices kept them confined to the Midtown district, located in the center of the city. (30) However, “through the 1940s, neither class, race, nor ethnicity served as a very reliable predictor of residential exposure to dirty air. (31) Residence, however, was not the only social activity that brought individuals into contact with air pollution. Most people spent a great deal of time away from their homes. Where Garyites worked, shopped, worshiped, went to school, and played also determined exposure to air-borne wastes. The primacy of downtown Gary to social life tended to offset any environmental inequalities resulting from more dispersed residential patterns. 18 Ironic Environmental Inequality The key is that: “The only significant portion of the population that rarely ventured downtown was Gary's black community. A racially segregated consumer culture confined African Americans to the Midtown neighborhood for virtually all social functions. Whereas whites lived in neighborhoods throughout the city and congregated downtown, blacks lived in Midtown, shopped in Midtown, and pursued leisure activities in Midtown. Midtown had incrementally better air than Downtown… but equally as bad water. 19 In the 1960s, civil rights (on one side of one side of this bargain) and environmentalism (on another side of one side of this bargain) make this agreement as much of a problem as a good thing. Government-industry, politics/patronage, union wage-only demands – “Given this political context, the only acceptable environmental reform measures were those that imposed no burden on private enterprise.” (39-40) 20 CONCLUSION What’s the key here? It is that while class hierarchies and racism are inherent parts of environmental issues, intimately connected with one another and yet not encompasses each other, the uneven history of environmental inequality suggests that the kinds of injustices in ecological and human health that we know today are not necessarily those of the past. If today’s injustices are recent “inventions” then it is more likely that we can do something to reverse these trends than it would be if these tendencies were true of all time (and in all places.) This means that we can’t just throw up our hands and say, “There’s nothing I/we can do, it has always been this way…” Download ppt "Ch.2 The Perils of Pollution in the Steel City," Similar presentations Ads by Google
Jyotish : By Vinay Jha Jyotish (ज्योतिष) is the traditional Indian system of astrology rooted in Vedic-Purānic tradition. It is often called Vedic Jyotiṣa by its practitioners and Hindu or Indian astrology by foreigners. Jyotiṣa is a Vedānga or an auxiliary text to the the Veda. Jyotiṣa reasons out destiny in terms of Karma phala and its predictions are reflections of karma phalas. Shortest and best definition of Jyotiṣa is ‘Karma-phala-vipāka-kāla-vidhānam’, i.e., set of rules for timing of fruition of past actions. All actions do not bear fruits instantly. Some results may be instantaneous while others may be deep and far reaching, often going beyond a single life. Jyotiṣa studies these obscure fruits of actions which we do not even remember. Destiny or prārabdha is that part of fruits of past actions which has become dominant and has pushed other fruits into background because they do not match with the dominant group of fruits which have resulted into one’s birth in this world. Jyotiṣa is a Vedānga. The first ever record for Jyotiṣa is found in the Veda. The earliest reference to Jyotiṣa as a vedānga is found in the Mundaka Upanishad and Chāndogya Upanishada also mentions it as a distinct discipline. The first Vedic Yajna in Yajurveda is Darsha-paurnamāsa Yajna, which needed correct timing of tithis (eg, New Moon or Darsha, and Full Moon or Poornamāsa). Vedas are concerned with Yajnas which can be performed only at astrologically auspicious moments. Jyotiṣa has been referred to as the Eye of Veda, i.e., Eye of real Knowledge (Veda means real Knowledge), because Jyotisha provides the tangible proofs in favour of existence of soul and rebirth by means of horoscope in this life reflecting the karmas of past life. Historical Evolution Jyotiṣa in Vedic literature Tāṇḍya Brāhmaṇa also mentions only 27. But the system of 28 Nakṣatras is also Vedic : Atharvaveda says “Abhijit me rāsatām puṇyameva” ; Taittiriya Brāhmaṇa mentions Abhijit by name and gives 28 Nakṣatras. Hence, like modern Vedis Jyotiṣa, both systems of 27 and 28 Nakṣatras prevailed from the earliest times, 27 being used for general purposes and 28 being reserved for special uses. Vedānga Jyotiṣa of Lagadha Vedānga Jyotiṣa is not one but three different texts : Yājuṣa-Jyotiṣa (44 verses, some versions have 49) Ārcha-Jyotiṣa (36 verses) Atharva-Jyotiṣa (163 verses). Verse 2 of Yājuṣa-Jyotiṣa and verse 3 of Ārcha-Jyotiṣa define the subject of these treatises : finding the appropriate time for performing Yajñas (“Yajña-kālārtha-siddhayaye”). But Ārcha-Jyotiṣa (2nd verse) mentions Mahatmā Lagadha as the original composer of Ārcha-Jyotiṣa. It means the extant version was written in the post-Vedic period by someone else, while the original texts were composed by the sage Lagadha in Vedic period. Yajñas were performed during the Vedic Age and Yajña needed correct timing, which is proven by the name of first Vedic Yajña (Darśa-paurnamāsa ; Darśa means amāvasa). Verse 18 in Yājuṣa-Jyotiṣa and verse 14 in Ārcha-Jyotiṣa (36 verses) gives a list of 27 Nakṣatras, excluding Abijit. Atharva-Jyotiṣa also gives only 27 Tāras (Nakṣatras beginning with birth-Nakṣatras as Janma-Tāra). Verse 5 in Yājuṣa-Jyotiṣa (“Mīnāt prabhṛti Raśayaḥ”) and Verse 4 of Ārcha-Jyotiṣa are the earliest direct references to Raśi in ancient literature. Atharva-Jyotiṣa is most detailed of these three texts, and gives detailed proofs pf phalita (predictive) Jyotiṣa in the Vedic period. Yajñas were performed for obtaining “phala”. But only a tip of the iceberg has survived : verse 3 of Ārcha-Jyotiṣa says the motions of heavenly bodies are “completely” described in Ārcha-Jyotiṣa, but only 36 verses are extant now. Jyotiṣa in Purānic and Epic literature ‘Sarga’ is an essential chapter in every Purāna, which describes the process and mathematics of Creation and Yuga-cycles, which are common to all ancient siddhāntas of Jyotiṣa. Some Purānas provide greater details about mathematical portions of Jyotiṣa, while important aspects and rules of Phalita Jyotiṣa and Parvādi are scattered in various Purānas. Nārada Purāna devoted greatest space to Jyotiṣa. Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana also contain many references to and uses of Jyotiṣa. For instance, Mahābhārata refers to the use of Sarvato-Bhadra Chakra which is an astrological tool fully described in ancient Yāmala Tantra literarure. Jyotiṣa in Jain literature Ancient Jyotiṣa Texts : Post-Purānic Mediaeval Jyotiṣa Texts Modern Jyotiṣa Texts Extant Basic Texts The main phalita text of Jyotiṣa is the Brihat Pārāshara Horā Shāstra (BPHS), originally called Pārāshari Horā, which belongs to the last phase of Dvāpara Age. Four chapters of Jaimini Sutra have also survived. Extant portions of Lomasha Samhitā and some other texts are also helpful in Horā, but BPHS remains the mainstay of Phalita. The most revered siddhāntic text of Jyotiṣa is Suryasiddhānta which states it was given by Lord Surya at the tail end of Krit Yuga. The earliest paurusheya (man-made) texts of Jyotiṣa , such as Panchsiddhāntika by Varāha Mihira, eulogize Suryasiddhānta as divine. There is a verse in Charana-vyuha which says that there were one lakh verses in Veda (only 20% has survived), one lakh is Mahābhārata (almost entirely survived), one lakh in Vyākarana (mostly lost) and four lakhs in Jyotiṣa. But even the magnum opum of Phalita Jyotiṣa, namely BPHS (Brihat Pārāshara Horā Shāstra) contains only four thousand (it is suspected to contain over ten thousand verses originally). Charana-vyuha is an ancient work and we have few texts of Jyotiṣa surviving from that time, and most of those surviving texts have been mutilated and distorted. Yet, enough remains to enable a person becoming a reasonably good astrologer according to modern standards, provided the conditions mentioned in BPHS for becoming a good astrologer are fulfilled : deft in Ganita and Horā as well as in Sanskrit grammar and Nyāya, intelligent, capable of deriving good inductions and deductions, knower of Desha and Kāla, and Jitendriya (brahmachāri). Few astrologers fulfill these conditions laid down by Sage Parāshara. Key Concepts and Terms Time System How to measure Time depends on the purpose for which we need to measure Time. Hence, there are various Time-Systems. Types of Time Systems is Yuga Cycles and Constituents of Time is Month : Solar and Lunar. Ahorātra means the time from one Sunrise to next Sunrise at a given place on the surface of Earth. Literally, it means Day plus Night. It is not exactly equal to 24 hours, because Sunrise varies from day to day, while the modern measure of ‘hour’ is a constant defined on the basis of Atomic definition of a ‘second’ of time. Ghati or Danda PANCHĀNGA or Five Limbs Moon is the fastest planet. Hence, elements related to motions of Moon are accorded highest priority in a religious almanac known as Panchānga (= “Five limbs”) : Tithi, Karana, Rāsi, Nakshatra and Vāra. Tithi: Tithi is Moon’s Elongation or angular distance from Sun ; 12 degrees of elongation is equated to one tithi and 360 degrees or one full circle is one Luni-Solar Month, or in short Lunar Month of Hindus (Chāndra-māsa). Counting of tithis begin from New Moon to next New Moon, but counting of Luni-Solar months start and end with Full Moon, as the term “Poorna-māsi” implies. This system existed even in earliest Vedic era, as the very name of first Vedic yajna “Darshapoornamāsi” implies : Darsha means New Moon and Poorna-māsi means Completion of Month on Full Moon. Karana: Karana is a subsidiary of Tithi, defined as exact half of a tithi. Rāsi: Rasi and Nakshatra are interrelated and depend solely on Moon’s absolute motion with respect to Fixed Sky. Vāra: Vāra is not a feature of Moon, but of Sun, and depends on topocentric Sunrise for a given place at earth’s surface. The word Panchānga means “Five limbs”, i.e., Tithi, Karana, Nakshatra, Yoga and Vāra. All these five elements depend on motions of Moon and Sun and require high degree of accuracy due to fast motion of Moon. Moreover, these elements exert greater astrological influence than other planets. That is why religious almanac has come be labeled as ‘Panchānga’. But a Panchānga should contain planetary data and table of ascendants for facilitating handy computation of horoscopes, and religious festivals and muhurtas (auspicious moments for diverse activities) are also provided in a normal Panchānga. A good Panchānga contains much extra related information as well and is published once a year. Beginning of religious year for publishing Panchāngas is not same for entire India, but beginning of white half of Chaitra is generally accepted as the start of religious (and traditional calendar) year by most Hindus. Sun’s entry into nirayana (sidereal) Mesha is the mathematical New Year of Hindus. Sub-divisions of Jyotiṣa Vedic Jyotiṣa has two branches, Ganita (Siddhānta) and Phalita (Samhitā plus Horā). Ganita means mathematics, but in practice it does not include the calculations involved in making horoscopes and predictions, it is merely a synonym for Siddhānta in the parlance of traditional JYOTISHIS. Phalita or predictive astrology has two main branches, Samhitā and Horā, which have many sub-branches as shown below. But in actual practice, Samhitā and Horā are enumerated as separate branches due to vast difference in their subject matter, and traditional taxonomy talks of three skandhas or divisions of Jyotiṣa : Siddhānta, Horā and Samhitā, and every good Jyotiṣi was expected to be adept in all three divisions of Tri-skandha Jyotiṣa-shāstra. Siddhānta, which literally means “theory” (siddha+anta”, ie “established conclusions”) is traditional astronomy for special uses of astrology, which has many varieties broadly divided into two classes apaurusheya and paurusheya on whose basis later Tantra and Karana texts were derived.Original apaurusheya Siddhāntas, 18 in number, propounded by sages or gods. Man-made or paurusheya siddhāntas, five ancient siddhāntas and another set of five later siddhāntas now used by traditional panchānga makers. Tantra (astrological) method and texts, different from philosophical Tantra. Karana method and texts, Drig – ganita or physical astronomy. Samhita , which includes : Medini Jyotiṣa (mundane astrology) or predictive astrology of territorial regions and is used for predicting important events such as earthquakes, weather events like storms or rains, war, national politics and economy, prices (argha-kānda), etc, based on analysis of astrological dynamics in the horoscope of a territorial region of all sizes including whole world, and/or general transit events (graha-chāra). 84 Chakras (astrological) which are widely used in Medini Jyotiṣa as well as in Horā, such as Panch-shalākā or Sarvatobhadra chakras which originated in archaic Yāmala Tantras. Muhurta (electional astrology) for finding auspicious timing of important events and actions like war, marriage, travel, etc. Vāstu-shāstra which is used for construction of houses, temples, forts and towns. Varāha Mihira included iconography and sculpture under Samhitā. Shakuna-shāstra (omens): Diverse topics like astrological and similar attributes of materials, trees, animals, regal attributes and items, etc. Horā : predictive astrology of individuals, whose main branch is called Jātaka. Jātaka which is used to analyze natal horoscopes (birth charts) known as janma-kundali. It includes Varshaphala. One of its branch Nasta-Jātaka studies those persons whose birth details are unknown. Prashna (horary astrology) from which horoscopes based on the moment and a query are made. Prashna is also used to make hosocopes without birthdata in Nasta-Jātaka. Sāmudrika shāstra studies palmistry, mukhākriti-vijnānam or study of facial features, anga-lakshanam or features of different parts of body, etc and correlate these things with planets of horoscopes. Svara-shāstra: Strictly speaking, Horā-shāstra is based on birth time of the native and therefore Jātaka is the only true branch of Horā, but Prashna, Sāmudrika and Svara-shāstra are helpful in Horā esp when birth time is unknown. Even when birth time in known these disciplines help in removing errors and arriving at greater and better details. Ganita or Siddhānta skandha (branch) of Jyotisha is traditionally sub-divided into three sub-branches : Siddhānta: It provides planetary calculations together all requisite formulas and their geometry from the beginning of Creation and provides details of all periods and sub-periods of entire Kalpa or Day of Lord Brahmā of 4.32 billion years, of which 1,955,885,111 years (in 2011 AD) have elapsed since the beginning of present Creation. In actual practice, no siddhānta is directly used for panchangas or horoscopes, because it is very difficult to make each and every computation from the beginning of Creation. Siddhānta is used only for creating Tantra and Karana texts for practical purposes. Tantra: When planetary positions at the onset of current Yuga are tabulated and computations for succeeding years are made on the basis of these tables, the technique is called Tantra in Jyotisha. It has nothing to do with Tantra of philosophy. The only available Tantra text is Soma-Siddhānta which gives calculations from the beginning of Kaliyuga. Extant version of Surya-Siddhānta enables one to make computations from the beginning of Creation, but also gives planetary positions at the end of recent Krit Yuga (beginning of Tretā Yuga), hence it provided Tretā Yuga’s Tantra method as well. Karana: When starting point of Kaliyuga receded, Tantra method became difficult to use and Karana texts were created which used same method from some nearby year. Most famous Suryasiddhāntic Karana text is Makaranda Sārani, made for Shaka 1400 or 1478 AD. Its siddhantic version automatically updated for all eras is available in the form of free softwares : Kundalee and JHora-7.52 beta2 (constantly being updated). Original 18 Siddhāntas Mahabharata (1.70.43) defined siddhānta as “siddha-paksha-sthāpanam”, i.e., establisheg the proven theory. It is said there were 18 ancient siddhāntas, but when ancient siddhāntas are enumerated from diverse sources excluding all texts after 400 AD, the list crosses 18 : 1. Brahma-siddhānta or Pitāmaha 2. Surya-siddhānta 3. Soma-siddhānta 4. Brihaspati-siddhānta 5. Garga-siddhānta 6. Nārada-siddhānta 7. Parāshara-siddhānta 8. Paulastya-siddhānta 9. Vasishtha-siddhānta 10. Vyāsa-siddhānta 11. Atri-siddhānta 12. Kashyapa-siddhānta 13. Mareechi-siddhānta 14. Manu-siddhānta 15. Angirasa-siddhānta 16. Lomasha-siddhānta 17. Pulisha-siddhānta 18. Bhrigu-siddhānta 19. Shaunaka-siddhānta (Soma-siddhānta ?) 20. Chyavana-siddhānta 21. Yavana-siddhānta Soma-Siddhānta is a Tantra variety of Surya-Siddhānta. Narada Purana gives details of planetary calculations which are perfectly in harmony with Surya-Siddhānta. Shaunka Horā states that Kaushika Viswāmitra learned accurate astronomy from Maya who first got Surya-Siddhānta. Shaunaka-Siddhānta is stated by some to be same as Soma-Siddhānta. Yavana-Siddhānta cannot be included among archaic Siddhāntas given by rishis or gods. Omitting Yavana-Siddhānta from the list and considering two Siddhāntas to be mere synonymns of other siddhāntas, the list can be reduced to the customary number 18. It is wrong to assume that there were 18 different Siddhāntas warring against each other. There was only one Siddhānta received by sages in different eras. As Surya-siddhānta states (chapter-1, verse-9), same Surya-siddhānta was given with “Kālabheda” in different eras. Varāha Mihira says Surya-siddhānta is the Siddhānta of Vedic god Savitā. At present, Surya-Siddhānta and Soma-Siddhānta are available in full, the latter being a Tantra version of the former, and Nārada-Siddhānta is available in some detail in Nārada Purana, which shows no difference with Surya-siddhānta. Brahma-Siddhānta is said to emanate from Lord Brahmā and is available in some detail in Brahma Vaivarta Purana, but shows no difference with Surya-Siddhānta. All other Siddhāntas have been completely lost because they were no longer needed, as is the case with Soma-siddhānta which was useful during initial centuries of Kaliyuga as its formulations prove but nobody touches it now. Hence, Surya-Siddhānta seems to be the basis of all Siddhāntas which were Tāntric manifestations of same Surya-siddhānta for different eras with respective beeja-samskāras. Archaic Five Siddhāntas in Varāha Mihira’s Panchsiddhāntikā. In his treatise Panchsiddhāntikā, Varāha Mihira mentions five Siddhāntas available in his era : Surya-Siddhānta, Paulisha-Siddhānta, Romaka-Siddhānta of yavanas, Paitamaha-Siddhānta and Vasishtha-Siddhānta, last two declared by him to be of no use in their extant forms, Surya-Siddhānta being the best. In Brihat Samhita too, Varāaha Mihira said that he used Surya-Siddhānta for computations. Extant Five Siddhāntas used by modern traditional panchānga makers. All traditional panchanga makers use either of the following five Siddhāntas directly or indirectly : Surya-Siddhānta, Brahma-Sphuta Siddhānta of Brahmagupta, two Arya Siddhāntas of two Aryabhatas and Mahā-bhāskareeya of Bhāskara-i. Of these, Surya-Siddhānta is the only apaurusheya ancient text, others being beeja corrected versions made during 600-900 AD. Comparison of other Siddhāntas with Suryasiddhānta Suryasiddhānta versus Drik-siddhānta controversy Beeja Samskāra In the chapter on Mean Motions (verse-9) in Surya-Siddhānta, it is said that this siddānta is given by Lord Surya in different eras with Kāla-bheda, ie, with differences depending on Time. These differences must be in mean motions as the chapter’s name suggests. Traditionally, such a difference is called “beeja-samskāra”. Revolutions of a planet per Mahāyuga is called Yuga-bhagana. Texts give Yuga-bhagana in integers and fractional portion of Yuga-bhagana is added as beeja-samskāra. Makaranda-Vivarana by Daivajna Diwakara (17th century) gives the quantitative values of beeja-samskāra os various planets which were used in constructing Makaranda Tables in 1478 AD according to Surya-Siddhānta (“Shri Surya-Siddhānta matena…”). Unfortunately, many moderners not acquainted with traditional methods of panchānga makers now say that Surya-Siddhānta later became outdated and therefore beeja-samskāra was later introduced. Such a view is erroneous, because Surya-Siddhānta was never in conformity with physical astronomy and the divergence increases as we go back into past. Even after introducing beeja-samskāra, siddhāntic planetary positions do not come near to physical planets for any period of history. Ancients knew this problem. Vishni-dharmottara Purāna says : यन्त्रवेधादिना ज्ञातं यद्-बीजं गणकैस्ततः । ग्रहणादि परीक्षेत न तिथ्यादि कदाचन ।। I.e, for viewing eclipses &c, compute beeja according to observations from instruments &c, but never use this method for tithyādi. Nirnaya-sindhu, a respected text of Dharma-shāstra, also says : अदृष्टफलसिध्यर्थ यथार्कगणितं कुरु । गणितं यदि दृष्टार्थ तद्-दृष्ट्युद्भवस्सदा ।। I.e, use Surya-Siddhānta for getting astrological results. Surya-Siddhānta itself advocates and gives formulae for two types of drik-karma-samskāras for viewing observable phenomena like eclipses, heliacal risings and settings, etc, but prohibits such steps for getting True Planets. It means siddhāntic True Planets are meant especially for astrology and are bound to differ from observed positions of physical planets. The latter is termed Drig-ganita, and Surya-Siddhāntic computation is called Saura. Another point is noteworthy : beeja correction is advocated only in mean planetary positions and not in manda-phala (equation of centre) or shighra-phala (conversion of heliocentric to geocentric positions) as some enthusiasts like Sāmanta Chandra Shekhara and his unnamed predecessor in beejopanayanādhyāya of Surya-Siddhānta tried in vain. Drik-karma-samskāra is different from Beeja-samskāra. Death of Siddhānta : Graha-lāghava and afterwards Graha-lāghava by Ganesha Daivajna, based on base year as 1528 AD, removed mathematical operations and functions like sine, cosine, etc and provided handy tables for panchanga making based on crude metthods. Therefore, it became extremely popular and people lost interest in studying siddhānta. But the most important contribution of Graha-lāghava has not been highlighted : it is the first Indian text which proposed Drig-ganita should be followed in astrology. Before it, some isolated attempts were made, notably in Kerala, but with almost no success. Graha-lāghava succeeded in replacing non-Drik traditional siddhāntic method from a large part of India with its crude approach which was a mix of diverse siddhāntas without taking any help from empirical observation. Therefore, it was neither siddhāntic nor scientific (‘scientific here means Drik or empirical). As a result of influence of Graha-lāghava, followers of Suryasiddhāntic Makaranda method omitted Mandaphalārdha correction since 16th century because Diwākara Daivajna advised that doing so will make planets Drik, ie, conform to empirical observations. Although this proposal was wrong, it was accepted, and thereafter siddhāntic panchāngas ceased to be made despite claims. Diwākara’s brother Kamlākara Bhatta was a great mathematician and authored opposed Diwākara’s proposal but few listened to him. Summary of Surya-Siddhānta Extant version of Surya-Siddhānta has 14 chapters, and the 15th chapter “beejopanayanādhyāya” is given within 14th chapter now because its original verses were mutilated and changed in mediaeval period by someone and are of no use now, but Makaranda Sarani and Makaranda Vivarana gives the method of getting Surya-Siddhāntic beeja values. The extant chapters are : 1. The Mean Motions of Planets 2. The True Places of Planets 3. Three Questions (Direction, Place and Time) 4. Lunar Eclipse 5. Solar Eclipse 6. Projection of Eclipses 7. Planetary Conjunction 8. Conjunctions of Asterisms and Planets 9. Heliacal Risings and Settings 10. Elevation of Moon’s Cusps (and Moon;s Risings and Settings) 11. Pāta (Certain Malignant Aspects of Sun and Moon) 12. Geography (and Cosmogony, Dimensions of the Creation) 13. Instruction of Jyotisha (The Armillary Sphere and Other Instruments) 14. Different Modes of Reckoning Time 15. Beeja Correction (damaged chapter, included within 14th now) Samhitā branch has many extant texts composed by rishis, such as : Nārada Samhitā (edited by Rāmjanma Mishra). Kashyapa Samhitā (edited by Dr Bihārilāl). Vriddha Vasishtha Samhitā (edited by Pt Chandramouli). Vasishtha Samhitā (edited, translated and published by Dr Girjā Shankar Shastri). Brihaspati Samhitā (edited, translated and published by Dr Girjā Shankar Shastri). Lomasha Samhitā (first chapter edited, translated and published by Dr Girjā Shankar Shastri), second chapter with Mr Vineet Kumar but not made public due to unknown reasons. Vriddha-Surya-Aruna-Karma-Vipākah (17 hundred verses in manuscript available). Rāvaṇa Samhitā : unpublished but surviving in secrecy, Hindi translation online but unreliable, Sanskrit version in Deoria (UP) and Hoshiarpur (Punjab) but not made public; fragments at pther places too. Garga Samhitā : unpublished but surviving. Gotama Samhitā : manuscript in Telugu script. Bhrigu Samhitā : one manuscript in Varanasi, other in Bangla made public but unpublished, rest scattered. Bhrigu Nādi : three hundred verses available in manuscript, perhaps a fragment of Bhrigu Samhitā. Bhrigu Yogāvali : in manuscript form. Many Samhitā texts, esp of Bhrigu, Garga, Lomasha and Rāvana are believed to be present in the hands of individuals who hide them. Lomasha Samhitā had 60000 verses, but only 2% has been unearthed so far. Most famous Samhitā text of later period is Brihat-Samhitā of Varāha Mihira which is almost encyclopaedic in nature. Some of these Samhitā texts contain invaluable information about Jātaka not found in any known text. Perhaps “Samhitā” included Jātaka and Siddhānta originally, and division into separate skandhas is a later phenomenon. Now, Samhitā includes only following topics : Medini Jyotiṣa Yāmala Tantras Krishi Parāshara Makaranda Prakāsha Kādambini, etc Muhurta Chintāmani is the most important extant text, based on ancient rules but incorporating mediaeval regional diversities as well. Vāstu Shāstra Later texts Shakuna Shāstra Misc (trees, minerals, animals, etc) Various Schools : ancient and modern Jātaka : Elements of Natal Horoscopy : Grahas and astrological attributes Rāshis, Nakshatras and astrological attributes Lagna, Bhāvas and significance Shodasha-varga : methods of construction and techniques of using Planetary strengths : Shadbala and vimshopaka-bala Drishti (aspects) Dashās : Moon based, and other types Pada : Ārudha and Upapada Argalā and Bādhaka Āyu or Longevity Varshaphala and Tājika Sarvatobhadra Chakra in Natal Horoscope What Elements Constitute A Horoscope : It is wrong to assume that a horoscope is a single chart. A horoscope or Janma-patri is a group of charts and tables together with their interpretation and remedies of diagnosed problems. What elements should be included or excluded from a horoscope depends upon nature of the query. Normally, planetary table, Rāsi chart, Bhāva-Chalit chart (D1 or first divisional or lagna-kundali), Navamāmsha chart or D9, Varsha-phala and Vimshottari-dashā table of D1 are considered to be essential parts of every horoscope, and extra elements are included if the query demands so. With the advent of computers, detailed horoscopes can be now produced with little effort. How to Interpret a Horoscope : In spite of help from computers, few astrologers can make predictions with confidence, because of the large number of charts and tables to be analyzed and also due to many wrong practices learnt from roadside books. Some astrological Yogas or combinations in one’s own horoscope are essential for enabling one to become a successful astrologer. Yet, there are some essentials which must be followed for interpreting a horoscope, which are described in BPHS and Laghu Parāshari. Naṣṭa-Jātaka : Casting Horoscope without Birth data
September - rain You are here: Home Photo gallery Atmospheric optics Ice crystal halos Subsun A subsun is caused by horizontally-floating ice plate crystals. The millions of crystals act as a mirror, reflecting the sunlight. The more aligned the crystals are, the more sharply defined the subsun will be. The effect is relatively rare, only because the ice cloud has to be below the observer, like an airplane flight or from another elevated position. 1 photo in gallery Click images for large photos
This ad will auto close in 10 seconds `Infants understand gravity with innate sense of physics` Washington: It`s said that every child is a born scientist. Now, a new study has found that infants as young as two months old have the basic knowledge of "intuitive physics". "We believe that infants are born with expectations about the objects around them, even though that knowledge is a skill that`s never been taught," said study author Kristy vanMarle of psychology at the University of Missouri. "As the child develops, this knowledge is refined and eventually leads to the abilities we use as adults," vanMarle was quoted as saying by LiveScience. To reach this theory, vanMarle and her colleague Susan Hespos, a psychologist at Northwestern University, reviewed infant cognition studies of the past 30 years. They found that infants already have an intuitive understanding of certain physical laws by two months of age, when they start to track moving objects with both eyes consistently and can be tested with eye-tracking technology. For instance, at this age they understand that unsupported objects will fall (gravity) and hidden objects don`t cease to exist. In one test, researchers placed an object inside of a container and moved the container; two-month-old infants knew that the hidden object moved with the container. This innate "physics" knowledge only grows as the infants experience their surroundings and interact more with the world. By five months of age, they are able to understand that solid objects have different properties than non-cohesive substances, such as water, found the researchers who detailed their study in the journal WIREs Cognitive Science. In a 2009 study, a research team (which included Hespos) habituated five-month-old infants to either a blue solid or a blue liquid in a glass cup, which appeared to be the same when at rest. Infants habituated to the liquid (but not the solid) weren`t surprised that straws could penetrate it, but were confused when straws couldn`t penetrate the blue solid. The opposite happened with infants habituated to the solid. Hespos and vanMarle also learned that babies have rudimentary math abilities: Six-month-old infants can discriminate between numbers of dots and 10-month-olds can pick out which of two cups holds more liquid. Also at 10 months of age, babies will consistently choose larger amounts of food -- such as crackers -- in cups, though only if there are no more than three items in any cup. From Zee News 0 Comment - Join the Discussions
Share this article: The herpes simplex is an uncomfortable disorder, caused by a virus, which can affect the lips, both upper and lower, to the chin area and even the nose. It is essential to treat both to prevent the uncomfortable symptoms as for returning. Let’s see, then, what the most common signs of herpes simplex are and what the most effective treatment is. herpes simplex What it is It treats of the herpes virus that has a particular characteristic, which is that once it is introduced into the body is not completely removed, but can remain dormant and appear at any time. In particular, it retreats to the nerve ganglia, may be inactive long time. Risk factors Periods of intense physical and psychological stress, the low defenses (e.g. during a cold, fever or menstruation) make us more vulnerable to herpes. Summer is also one of the stations more risk, because the sun and the heat may cause the virus wakes up and returns to the attack. In the affected area appear small blisters filled with fluid and can be accompanied by pain, burning and redness. In a second phase, blisters or vesicles rupture, giving way to the scabs to be completed fall, without leaving scars. It is essential to avoid contagion. In fact, simply enter contact with blisters that may occur. A kiss, drink from the same glass or sharing towel may increase the risk of contagion. Avoid the sun in the hottest hours and protect lips. Although herpes simplex tends to disappear in a few days, it is advisable to treat it to reduce the symptoms. You can use specific drugs. A good remedy is to apply cold, with inhibitory effect. Upon noticing the first symptoms (itching and redness of the lip) applying an ice cube.
Valerian root, many cat owners have found, makes their cats turn hyper. Cats aren’t the only creatures that have their behavior affected by valerian root. Slime molds literally go out of their way to seek it out, and that provided researchers a clue to why cats love it so much. Physarum polycephalum is a slime mold, and as such can take many different forms. It can form into a fruiting body and give off spores. It can go dormant by become a sort of crusty tissue. Most of the time, however, it is a plasmodium, and streams around old rotting logs and leaves. Recently, researchers have become interested in using these slime molds as living computers by manipulating the plasmodium using chemical signals. It’s attracted to sugars like glucose and maltose, but one research team found that it’s also attracted to herbal calming tablets like Kalms Sleep and Nytol. After testing the ingredients, they learned that it was the valerian root in the tablets that proved to be the strongest chemoattractant for the plasmodium. What was it about valerian root that made it irresistible to slime molds? It could be any number of things, but the researchers believe that it’s actinidine. Actinidine is “structurally close” to the compound nepetalactone, the component in catnip that drives cats crazy. When the group tested nepetalactone on the plasmodium, they found that it was attracted to the catnip component, if much less attracted to nepetalactone than it was to actinidine. Rats and, to some extent, insects, also react to both actinidine and nepetalactone. So this approximate chemical structure works across a wide variety of species, including humans. It doesn’t have the same effect across species—most pet owners say valerian root makes their cats hyper, humans put both valerian root and catnip in tea because they find it calming, and slime molds just want to be around it—but it does have an effect. [Source: Physarum Attraction] Image: Juanedc Second Image: Jerry Kirkhart
Grammar Monster Grammar Monster Meaning of GOK What Does GOK Mean? GOK means "God Only Knows". The phrase "God Only Knows" is a way of saying it's impossible to predict what will happen or to give an accurate answer to a question. Other abbreviations with similar meanings to GOK include: Of note, "God Only Knows" is a song written in May 1966, by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, for the legendary American band The Beach Boys. It is widely considered to be the band's best ever song. Summary of Key Points Definition for GOK GOK means "God Only Knows". This is the most common definition for GOK on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter. Here is some more information about GOK: Definition:God Only Knows 3: Guessable Typical Users: Adults and Teenagers An Image for GOK When I write GOK, I mean this: meaning of GOK GOK means I most definitely don't know. Examples of GOK in Sentences Here are examples of GOK being used in conversations: • Child: How many flies are there in the World? • Adult: GOK, lots I expect. • Fergus: Do you think Maria and Colm will get married? • Sam: GOK, they seem to split up every other month. An Academic Look at GOK The abbreviation GOK represents a proverbial phrase or interjection expressing amazement or puzzlement. A proverbial phrase or a proverbial expression is a saying that becomes widely known through word of mouth. The phrase and expression differ because while a proverb is a fixed expression, a proverbial phrase allows alterations to fit the grammar of the context. GOK is an interjection. An interjection is not grammatically related to any other part of the sentence. It is included in a sentence (usually at the start) to express a sentiment such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm. In formal writing, interjections are usually offset from the surrounding words with commas. What Did We Used To Say? Before the digital era, we might have said something like "Goodness Knows" or even just "God Only Knows" instead of using GOK. A Text with GOK Using GOK on a Cell Phone (SMS Texts, Whatsapp, and Yubl) Popular Themes on Cyber Definitions
What is Ayurveda and why one should use it? Ayurveda is about 5000 year old medical system that has been widely used in India. The name AYURVEDA is derived from the ancient Sanskrit language. The word Ayur means life and Veda means knowledge or science. So the meaning of Ayurveda is science of life. Ayurveda provides the knowledge to allow us to experience our life span to its optimum natural level. Ayurveda was practiced by rishiesî and yogiesî for thousands of years which laid the foundation of vedic civilization in India. There are four Vedas, Rig-Veda, Yajurveda, Samveda and Athrvana veda. Ayurveda was derived from the sub sections of Rig-Veda and Athrvana veda. Ayurveda is a common sense medicine which can assists the individual with simple care and daily life style. Ayurvedic medicine is preventive in nature and promotes good health. Ayurveda is only medical system that recognizes individual metabolic types .One type of food can be food for one person and same type of food can act as medicine for other person. This difference in metabolism is the reason why some people can eat anything and not gain weight while other have only to look at food and gain weight .This difference of knowledge in individualist is used to make food and herbs and design the treatment which are more effective. With help of Ayurveda we can find out what suites with a individual. Ayurveda is a lifestyle that teaches, how to maintain health and improve both energy and awareness and how to live to full human and spiritual potential. It shows not only how to eliminate disease but also how to promote longevity. Aims and objectives of Ayurveda The aim of Ayurveda is not only the healing of illness, but also the prevention of illness and preservation of Health. Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine, which means that it treats the person as a whole i.e. body mind and soul? The objective of Ayurveda is to achieve positive health for the individual, and maintenance and promotion of individual health, and also prevention and treatment of diseases. Principal of Ayurveda Ayurveda see the life is the combination of body, mind, soul or consciousness and five elements (panchmahabhutas).They are interlinked, each other and are equally important in every person. The basic Ayurvedic belief is that every thing is in the universe All living beings are composed of five elements called panchabhutas (ether air fire water and earth). In Ayurvedic philosophy, there are three types of primary force or biological humours called doshas . They are created when the pairing of two of the five elements create three types dynamic forces or interactions. The word dosha means changes refer to the way the elements are constantly in motion while retaining a dynamic balance. The word dosha means also spoil referred to the way on imbalance among the element can cause disease; there are three type of dosha – vata, pitta and kapha . vata is a combination of ether and air element .vata is the driving force for other two doshas .vata is responsible for balance, energy, breath, movement, senses, thought, and will. Vata manifests in the life in the form of air, blood, food, nerve impulses thought and waste. The characteristic of vata which affect the body are cold, light, dry, irregular, mobile and rough. Excessive of vata force causes confusion, gas, high blood pressure and nerve irritation. Insufficient of vata causes congestion, constipation, nerve loss and thoughtlessness. Pitta doshas or life force is the combination of water and fire. The dynamic movement between these two elements symbolize transformation. The transforming nature of pitta is evident in our bodies by digestive enzymes and hormones governing metabolism Pitta works in our minds by transforming chemical and electrical impulses in to thoughts. The characteristics of pitta which affect the bodies are hot light fluid subtle sharp malodorous and clear .excessive pitta causes acne anger hormonal imbalance and ulcer .insufficient of pitta causes indigestion, sluggish metabolism and loss comprehension Kapha life force is the combination of water and earth element. Kapha is the composition of the cellular structure of our organs and also the fluid which nourishes and protects them. The Kapha characteristics affect the body include oily, cold, heavy, stable, dense, and smooth excessive Kapha force creates mucous build up in the sinus nasal, nasal, lung and colon area. It affects the mind by causing rigidity, fixation and inflexibility. Insufficient Kapha can produce a dry respiration tract, burning stomach and lack of concentration. According to dosha type, seven types of constitution are formed; single dosha predominant-vata, pitta, kapha. Dual type dosha-vata-pitta, vata-kapha, pitta-kapha , vata pitta kapha -balanced constitution(samaprakriti) people are called vata type, pitta type and kapha type. Everybody has the combination of all three doshas. To get an accurate evaluation on your dosha you should consult an Ayurvedic practitioner.
A Hug a Day Keeps the Doctor Away By Traci Pedersen Prior research has found that high levels of stress can weaken the immune system, making us more susceptible to illness and infection. On the other hand, science has also shown that individuals with a strong social support system tend to enjoy a protective ‘buffer’ against greater levels of stress. In a new study, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University decided to test this information a little further. They wanted to see whether hugs could act as a type of social support and, in turn, protect people from getting sick while under stress. For the study, 404 healthy adults completed a questionnaire asking about their perceived levels of social support. They also took part in telephone interviews for 14 consecutive days, reporting on how many conflicts they had experienced that day as well as how many hugs. Finally, the participants agreed to be given nasal drops containing a common cold virus. They were then monitored in quarantine to see if they developed any signs of illness or infection. Overall, those with the strongest feelings of social support had a decreased risk for developing an infection while under stress. Hugs accounted for one-third of the protective effect of this social support. Among the participants who did become ill, those with greater perceived social support and those who’d received more hugs had less severe cold symptoms, whether or not they had experienced stress-inducing conflicts. The findings are published in the journal Psychological Science . What do you think?
Technical Overview Three Central Classes Vector arrays are ordered collections of vectors. Each vector of the array must be of the same dimension. Subsets of vectors can be copied to a new array, appended to an existing array, deleted from the array or replaced by vectors of a different array. Basic linear algebra operations can be performed on the vectors of the array: vectors can be scaled in-place, the BLAS axpy operation is supported and scalar products between vectors can be formed. Linear combinations of vectors can be formed using the lincomb method. Moreover, various norms can be computed and selected components of the vectors can be extracted for empirical interpolation. Each of these methods takes optional ind parameters to specify the subset of vectors on which to operate. If the parameter is not specified, the whole array is selected for the operation. New vector arrays can be created using the empty and zeros method. As a convenience, many of Python’s math special methods are implemented in terms of the interface methods. Note that there is not the notion of a single vector in pyMOR. The main reason for this design choice is to take advantage of vectorized implementations like NumpyVectorArray which internally store the vectors as two-dimensional NumPy arrays. As an example, the application of a linear matrix based operator to an array via the apply method boils down to a call to NumPy‘s optimized dot method. If there were only lists of vectors in pyMOR, the above matrix-matrix multiplication would have to be expressed by a loop of matrix-vector multiplications. However, when working with external solvers, vector arrays will often be just lists of vectors. For this use-case we provide ListVectorArray, a vector array based on a Python list of vectors. Associated to each vector array is a VectorSpace. A Vector space in pyMOR is simply the combination of a VectorArray subclass and an appropriate subtype. For NumpyVectorArrays, the subtype is a single integer denoting the dimension of the array. Subtypes for other array classes could, e.g., include a socket for communication with a specific PDE solver instance. Two arrays in pyMOR are compatible (e.g. can be added) if they are from the same VectorSpace, i.e. they are instances of the same class and share the same subtype. The VectorSpace is also precisely the information needed to create new arrays of null vectors using the make_array class method. In fact empty and zeros are implemented by calling make_array with the subtype of the VectorArray instance for which they have been called. Operators in pyMOR are also used to represent bilinear forms via the apply2 method. A functional in pyMOR is simply an operator with VectorSpace(NumpyVectorArray, 1) as range. Dually, a vector-like operator is an operator with a VectorSpace(NumpyVectorArray, 1) as source. Such vector-like operators are used in pyMOR to represent Parameter dependent vectors such as the initial data of an InstationaryDiscretization. For linear functionals and vector-like operators, the as_vector method can be called to obtain a vector representation of the operator as a VectorArray of length 1. Linear combinations of operators can be formed using a LincombOperator. When such a linear combination is assembled, assemble_lincomb is called to ensure that, for instance, linear combinations of operators represented by a matrix lead to a new operator holding the linear combination of the matrices. The projected method is used to perform the reduced basis projection of a given operator. While each operator in pyMOR can be projected, specializations of this method ensure that, if possible, the projected operator will no longer depend on high-dimensional data. Discretizations in pyMOR encode the mathematical structure of a given discrete problem by acting as container classes for operators. Each discretization object has operators, functionals, vector_operators and products dictionaries holding the Operators which appear in the formulation of the discrete problem. The keys in these dictionaries describe the role of the respective operator in the discrete problem. Apart from describing the discrete problem, discretizations also implement algorithms for solving the given problem, returning VectorArrays with space solution_space. The solution can be cached, s.t. subsequent solving of the problem for the same parameters reduces to looking up the solution in pyMOR’s cache. While special discretization classes may be implemented which make use of the specific types of operators they contain (e.g. using some external high-dimensional solver for the problem), it is generally favourable to implement the solution algorithms only through the interfaces provided by the operators contained in the discretization, as this allows to use the same discretization class to solve high-dimensional and reduced problems. This has been done for the simple stationary and instationary discretizations found in pymor.discretizations.basic. Discretizations can also implement estimate and visualize methods to estimate the discretization error of a computed solution and create graphic representations of VectorArrays from the solution_space. Base Classes While VectorArrays are mutable objects, both Operators and Discretizations are immutable in pyMOR: the application of an Operator to the same VectorArray will always lead to the same result, solving a Discretization for the same parameter will always produce the same solution array. This has two main benefits: 1. If multiple objects/algorithms hold references to the same Operator or Discretization, none of the objects has to worry that the referenced object changes without their knowledge. Creating Discretizations pyMOR ships a small (and still quite incomplete) framework for creating finite element or finite volume discretizations based on the NumPy/Scipy software stack. To end up with an appropriate Discretization, one starts by instantiating an analytical problem which describes the problem we want to discretize. analytical problems contain Functions which define the analytical data functions associated with the problem and a DomainDescription that provides a geometrical definition of the domain the problem is posed on and associates a BoundaryType to each part of its boundary. To obtain a Discretization from an analytical problem we use a discretizer. A discretizer will first mesh the computational domain by feeding the DomainDescription into a domaindiscretizer which will return the Grid along with a BoundaryInfo associating boundary entities with BoundaryTypes. Next, the Grid, BoundaryInfo and the various data functions of the analytical problem are used to instatiate finite element or finite volume operators. Finally these operators are used to instatiate one of the provided Discretization classes. In pyMOR, analytical problems, Functions, DomainDescriptions, BoundaryInfos and Grids are all immutable, enabling efficient disk caching for the resulting Discretizations, persistent over various runs of the applications written with pyMOR. The ParameterType of a Parametric object is determined by the class implementor during __init__ via a call to build_parameter_type, which can be used, to infer the ParameterType from the ParameterTypes of objects the given object depends upon. I.e. an Operator implementing the L2-product with some Function will inherit the ParameterType of the Function. Default values can be changed by calling set_defaults. A configuration file with all defaults defined in pyMOR can be obtained with write_defaults_to_file. This file can then be loaded, either programmatically or automatically by setting the PYMOR_DEFAULTS environment variable. def method_called_by_user(U, V, tolerance_for_algorithm=None): algorithm(U, V, tolerance=tolerance_for_algorithm) See the defaults module for more information. The Reduction Process The reduction process in pyMOR is handled by so called reductors which take arbitrary Discretizations and additional data (e.g. the reduced basis) to create reduced Discretizations along with reconstructor classes which allow to transform solution vectors of the reduced Discretization back to vectors of the solution space of the high-dimensional Discretization (e.g. by linear combination with the reduced basis). If proper offline/online decomposition is achieved by the reductor, the reduced Discretization will not store any high-dimensional data. Note that there is no inherent distinction between low- and high-dimensional Discretizations in pyMOR. The only difference lies in the different types of operators, the Discretization contains. This observation is particularly apparent in the case of the classical reduced basis method: the operators and functionals of a given discrete problem are projected onto the reduced basis space whereas the structure of the problem (i.e. the type of Discretization containing the operators) stays the same. pyMOR reflects this fact by offering with reduce_generic_rb a generic algorithm which can be used to RB-project any discretization available to pyMOR. It should be noted however that this reductor is only able to efficiently offline/online-decompose affinely Parameter-dependent linear problems. Non-linear problems or such with no affine Parameter dependence require additional techniques such as empirical interpolation. If you want to further dive into the inner workings of pyMOR, we highly recommend to study the source code of reduce_generic_rb and to step through calls of this method with a Python debugger, such as ipdb.
15 Nov 2014 Independent clauses linked by a conjunctive adverb Two independent clauses joined by a transitional word or phrase require a semicolon between them and a comma after a linking word. Let's look at some examples: It is true that among the Arunta, where visible traces of classification still exist, as we shall see, different words designate the totem and the other beings placed with it; however, the name given to these latter bears witness to the close relations which unite them to the totemic animal. They themselves have an interest in its being celebrated; therefore, in certain tribes, it is they who invite the qualified clan to proceed with the ceremonies. (Emile Durkheim. The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life) Here is the list of the most common conjunctive adverbs: accordingly, furthermore, moreover, similarly, also, hence, namely, still, anyway, however, nevertheless, then, besides, incidentally, next, thereafter, certainly, indeed, nonetheless, therefore, consequently, instead, now, thus, finally, likewise, otherwise, undoubtedly, further, meanwhile. In linguistics, conjunctive adverbs are also called conjuncts or disjuncts, depending on the role in a sentence they play. Previous to the Revolution Ras Tafari expected daily that he would be imprisoned which, in his opinion, would have been the equivalent of a death sentence; and accordingly he confided his will and all his available money to me in order that I should arrange for its transmission to the Bank of England in trust for his children. The life of my choice. Thesiger, Wilfred. A conjunctive adverb, as it is shown in the example sentence above, can be modified by coordinating conjunctions or other words, mostly adverbs. I think that the most important is to try to use them in your own sentences, and then incorporate them into your writings. Here, are my own sentences. I was late for work; hence, I had to stay late at the office to finish off the project. She was running; and yet, she was speaking on her mobile. She was running in panic; certainly, there was someone pursuing her. He studied hard; thus, he got all A stars in his exams. He was very lazy; consequently, he was not promoted. I like cats; nonetheless, there are no cats at my home; instead, we have three dogs. I was late for work because of the signal failure on the Tube; consequently, my wife complained when I came back home late. Firstly, I was late for work; next, I was late for the meeting; finally, I was late for the family's dinner, and, as a result, my wife gave me three silent days. I was late for work; furthermore, my co-worker was late too; likewise, half of other Londoners were also delayed. She was running in the park; meanwhile, the villain in the black shades was observing her every stop. She was running in the park every day during the last month; undoubtedly, she was preparing to win the London Marathon. In English, there are many adverbs and phrases which may connect two or more independent sentences, and usually they are classified into groups of: • addition (next, in addition to, again, also) • comparison (similarly, likewise, also) • concession (of course, naturally, granted) • emphasis (certainly, indeed, in fact) • contrast (and yet, but at the same time, although, nevertheless) • example or illustration (for example, for instance, after all) • summary (to sum up, on the whole, therefore) • time sequence (firstly, next, finally, thereafter)
Healthcare Coding Healthcare coding also known as medical coding is encription of medical records data using universally recognized coding languages such as ICD, CPT, HCPCS. The purpose of healthcare coding in US is primarily for reimbursement of healthcare insurance claims. In healthcare coding, the medical records are scanned by a coding specialist and all the diagnosis, procedures, medical history, adverse effects are assigned ICD, CPT, or HCPCS codes thus each code represents a particular disease, procedure, or surgical intervention. Insurance companies pay claims according to the codes that are associated with a claim. Healthcare coding industry can be said as recession proof industry because even during recession there was good demand for healthcare coding specialists. The future prospects of healthcare coding is also bright as the healthcare overhaul in the United States guarantees continue increased demand for healthcare coding professionals. Healthcare coding industry can be said to be last to be effected by outsourcing as hospitals are still reluctant to outsoource coding work. This is because a single wrong code can result in a significant loss of revenue for the hospitals. So the hospitals want the coders to work in hospital itself, so as and when if they get any dought regarding coding, they could clarify it with the physicians right away. No comments: Related Posts with Thumbnails
14 August 2017 home \| subject timeline Pathos in Charlottesville In the early 1960s in Los Angeles in a largely Jewish neighborhood a handful of young men in tan Nazi uniforms were demonstrating their favor for white supremacy. A loud and angry crowd was around them, and an enraged woman spit on one of the pathetic-looking Nazis. I didn't fault her. She was rocking with rage, and how damaging is a little spittle. The Nazis held their ground, benefitting from the police presence, looking less than triumphant. The Nazi movement in Los Angeles wasn't going anywhere. This was when Norman Rockwell was head of the American Nazi Party. Rockwell had been generating media attention. He had been talking up the anti-communism of the Cold War era, but Marxism-Leninism would not be diminishing to any degree because of his added hostility. In 1967, when Rockwell was assassinated by a disgruntled fellow Nazi named John Patler, a boy named David Duke, age 17, called Rockwell (according to Wikipedia) "the greatest American who ever lived." Duke has learned a few things since then, but the media today has the "former KKK leader" tweeting twice to President Trump: I'm white and as German in heritage as the president, but I haven't felt any of the anti-white hatred of which Duke speaks — except a couple of times in the early sixties when some blacks were feeling free to express their rage against whites in general. Race relations have improved since then, and Rockwell's Nazi movement went nowhere. David Duke is not about to take off politically. The Ku Klux Klan has between 3,000 and 6,000 members, we are told, down from 1925 when my father at age eighteen in Los Angeles was a follower. The white nationalists at yesterday's rally in Charlottesville looked to me like people searching for a respect they never experienced when students. They didn't like the smarter members of their class in grammar or high school. They were not admired as students. They haven't made it in professional athletics, nor are they successful at business — while being told that worthy people succeed. They may find some pleasure in rooting for a team that they hope will win, but even if their team wins its fleeting comfort. What they were looking for yesterday was a little status because they are white. straight and Christian — socially correct among that group of people they were hoping would agree with them and that they were calling to unite. Their demonstration in Charlottesville was a response to a statue of Robert E. Lee about to be torn down. They see this as another attack against their white heritage. The divide among United States citizens that existed during the Civil War is still with us, but it has been fading and it will continue to fade. Yesterday a Nazi at the Charlottesville rally murdered a good person and injured many others. Aside from this tragedy they made a lot of noise. We know they exist. Racial biases, anti-Semitism and political naivete are still with us. What's new for me is the word tyrannophobia. It's my view that we should not panic and that we should view with patience and give quiet explanation to these injured strutters who feel that their status and culture is under attack. Change can be hard for some, and they have enemy enough in themselves. Nothing productive comes from our going to their rallies, shouting insults, getting into fist fights and getting them more riled. Instead, let them and their noise fade away. President Trump did well by calling "the KKK, Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups repugnant to what we hold dear as Americans." Their attempt to gain from any association with Trump is diminished.
Thursday, January 19, 2017 Inside the inner ear BPPV stands for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and that's what I had recently. It can be quite quite scary if you don't know what it is. We had just changed rooms to sleep and all four of us (husband and the two boys) started sleeping together in the same room. I woke up one morning and on trying to get up had the sudden sensation that the inside of my head was spinning (or otherwise know as vertigo). There was a period of fairly intense dizziness too. Other symptoms can include a loss of balance or unsteadiness, nausea and even vomiting which I did not have. BPPV is usually triggered by specific changes in the position of the head. And it can occur when you move your head up or down, rolling over in bed, or when you turn over or get in and out of bed in a certain way. How is this so you must be wondering? Well, inside our ears is a tiny organ called the vestibular labyrinth. It has three semi circular canals that contains fluid and fine hair like structures that gives you information about that position of your head. Otolith organs inside your ear monitor up, down, left, right etc movements of your head. They also contain calcium carbonate crystals (or otoconia) that make you sensitive to gravity. These otoconia can become dislodged and when they happen to move into one of the semi circular canals when you are lying down. When too much otoconia accumulates in one of the canals, it causes the semi circular canal to become sensitive to changes to the position of our head, sending false signals to the brain. And this is what makes you dizzy or your head to feel like it is spinning. When the dislodged otoconia moves into a semi circular canal, the eyes can move in a specific to and fro manner called nystagmus. I didn't have any nystagmus on testing but if you do that can be scary. Other than being scary if you don't know what's happening, BPPV can increase the chance of you falling. Medication will not help BPPV although in some cases it does resolve on its own after a while. BPPV can sometimes be misdiagnosed by general practitioners who are not familiar with the testing or treatment of BPPV. The impact can be mildly annoying to highly debilitating and can affect function, safety and risk of falling. How did I get better? Well, fortunately Gino knew how to treat BPPV using the Epley Manoeuvre. He treated me once and I was much better after that. Fife TD et al (2008). Practice Parameter : Therapies For Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (An Evidence-based Review) : Report On The Quality Standards Subcommittee Of The American Academy Of Neurology. Neurology. 70: 2067-2074. No comments:
Presentation is loading. Please wait. Presentation is loading. Please wait. The Harm That Good Men Do Similar presentations Presentation on theme: "The Harm That Good Men Do"— Presentation transcript: 1 The Harm That Good Men Do Unit Eight The Harm That Good Men Do Bertrand Russell 2 Introduction to Bertrand Russell Introduction to Text Text Structure 3 About the author: Bertrand Russell, 3rd Earl Russell ( ), British philosopher, mathematician, and social reformer. Nobel Prize for Literature (1950). Russell is an iconoclastic modern philosopher (打破传统信仰的哲学家) who writes this witty essay against conventional beliefs, arguing in it that good and evil can be defined only through the exercise of reason. 4 About the author: Over the course of his long career, Russell made significant contributions, not just to logic and philosophy, but to a broad range of other subjects (including education, politics, history, religion and science), and many of his writings on a wide variety of topics have influenced generations of general readers. 5 Introduction to Text In “The Harm That Good Men Do”, Russell, the inimitable British Voltaire (无与伦比的英国哲学家）evaluated the difficulty and dilemma of answering children, or their more adult versions, just what is a “good man?” Russell deflates（挫傲气）, debunks（驳斥） and denigrates（贬低）the conventionally defined “good man,” as generally a moralistic fop（花花公子）, a mere defender of the superficial status quo. Russell attacks these “good men” who represent the unjust power of the dominant classes. 6 Introduction to the Text However, on closing his critical litany against the conventional “good man,” Russell offers the hope of science and reason; they eventually will enable men to realize that institutions based on hatred and injustice will not produce happy societies, and that “good man” need a morality based on “love of life … pleasure in growth, and not upon repression or exploitation”. Though difficult and painful to follow, Russell’s criticism and positive suggestions are a positive beacon of lucidity（洞彻事理） and light for all who would like to be called “good man,” or “woman”. 7 Part 1: Para. 1 Part 2: Paras. 2-4 Part 3: Paras. 5-7 Part 4: Para. 8 The End 8 Part I (Para. 1) Comprehension Lang. Points Paraphrases 9 Paragraph 1 Main idea of the paragraph: A brief introduction to the generally accepted concept of “ good men.” 10 Why does the author use quotation marks for the words “good” and “morals”? He indicates that the real meaning of good and morals may be debatable even though there is a general public acceptance of what they mean. 11 “Good works” that a “ good man” does besides his professional duties: 1.encouraging patriotism and military training 2.promoting industry, sobriety and virtue 3.preserving a misguided respect for learning to allow professors who have subversive ideas to be employed 12 Paragraph 1 Synonyms or Definitions 1. protect 2. diligent 3. beyond criticism 4. punish 5. healthy 6. being self- controlled 7. disgust 8. destroying A. wholesome B. horror C. safeguard D. assiduous E. subversive F. irreproachable G. castigate H. sobriety 13 Key to the Exercises wholesome – health horror – disgust safeguard – protect assiduous – diligent subversive – destroying irreproachable – beyond criticism castigate – punish sobriety – being self-controlled/ being serious 14 a wholesome horror of wrongdoing a healthy/reasonable disgust of the bad behavior wholesome a. : healthy; good for you physically, morally or emotionally e.g.A healthy diet includes lots of wholesome natural food with plenty of protein and vitamins. 15 Question sth./whether-clause: to express one’s doubt about its value or whether it is true E.g.1) Experts have questioned the usefulness of vitamin pills. 2) Two months ago, results from a European study questioned whether early treatment with the drug really improved survival. Question sb.: ask someone about sth., especially, officially E.g. 1)When questioned about the issue, the Foreign Minister declined to comment. 2) Several men were questioned by police yesterday about the burglary. 16 In the broad/broadest sense (of sth): If you define a term in the broad/broadest sense, it means getting causes, reasons, understandings, etc. at the root. The opposite of the broad sense is the narrow sense Irreproachable : [not gradable] without fault and therefore impossible to criticize e.g.1) If you say that someone’s character or behaviors is irreproachable, you mean that they behave so well that they cannot be criticized. 2) The way she tackled the problem was irreproachable. 17 …it is our painful duty to castigate Sin. … it is painful for us to punish someone whose behavior has broken God’s laws or has gone against principles of morality. 18 He has a still greater horror … by middle-aged successful citizens He has a still greater horror … by middle-aged successful citizens. (line 5) He has a still stronger dislike of wrong thinking, and consider it the business of the authorities to protect the young from being exposed to those who feel doubt about the wisdom of the view which have already been accepted by middle-aged successful citizens. 19 … he may promote industry, sobriety, and virtue among wage-earners and their children by seeing to it that failures in these respects receive due punishment; … (line 11) … he may encourage workers and their children to be diligent, serious, and moral by making sure that those who are not so will be punished; … See to (it that): make sure; care for; attend to E.g. 1) We must see to it that party policies are implemented. 2) Please see to it that no one comes in without identification. 20 …he may be a trustee of a university and prevent an ill-judged respect for learning from allowing the employment of professors with subversive idea. (line13) …he may be a person who is responsible for managing a university and he may be aware that an unwise respect for learning should be stopped in order not to allow the employment of professors with the ideas which tend to destroy, overthrow religion, a government etc. by weakening people’s trust, confidence, belief. 21 Above all, of course, his “morals,” in the narrow sense, must be irreproachable. (line15) Most importantly, it should be certain that his so called standard of behavior and principles of right and wrong, superficially, must be free from blame or fault. Above all: most importantly e.g. 1) Above all don’t forget to write. 2) max is fair, hardworking, and above all, honest. In the narrow sense: superficially e.g. In a narrow sense, computer can organize, allocate and project. And they can do it a lot better, a lot cheaper and a lot faster than we can. 22 Part II (Para. 2-4) Main Idea: Three uses of good men among politicians: 1. affording a smoke-screen (para. 2) 2. keeping undesirables out of politics (para. 3) 3. getting good men themselves murdered (para. 4) What is the implied meaning of the three uses ? These three uses of good men actually are the harm good men do. 23 Para. 2 Comprehension Lang. Points Paraphrases Para. 3 Comprehension Para 4. Comprehension 24 Para. 2 What are the two reasons, mentioned in this part, for good men used as smoke screen? 1. Part of his goodness: a good men is quite credulous, trusting and will never suspect his friends of shady actions 2. Part of his utility: a good men will never be suspected by the public of using his goodness to screen villains 25 Background Knowledge An American President: probably referring to Warren Gamaliel Harding. Harding ( ), 29th president of the United States. He was elected president in 1920 by an overwhelming vote in a postwar reaction against President Wilson’s international policies. The first American president to take office after World War I, Harding was also the first president to be born after the Civil war. Under Harding’s tenure the White House took on the lax atmosphere of his frequent poker evenings. Among his subordinates corruption grew blatant(明显的). With the collapse of the war boom, with wage cuts, unemployment, growing farm distress, and urban resentment(愤慨) of prohibition, Harding by midterm found that much of his popularity had slipped away. 26 Background Knowledge Harding’s reputation did not long survive his death, as scandal after scandal came to light. Harding’s announced ambition was to be his country’s “best-loved” president. Upright, limited, and overtrusting, he had the misfortune to be thrust into a position beyond his capacities. Russell is the author of The Shadow of Blooming Grove: Warren G. Harding in His Times 27 Para. 2: Language Points the deserving rich (para. 2): people who are rich, but have “good” qualities (here sarcastic: the rich aren’t deserving of money taken from the general public.) It implies that the rich have gotten the money secretly and underhandedness. e.g deserving poor ; to give money to a deserving cause be deserving of: be worthy of e.g. Such people will never be deserving of trust. These are the problem deserving of public attention. c.f. deserve doing e.g. Xiao li deserves praising. 28 Para. 2 Paraphrases Among politicians good man … on their activities unsuspected. (line 1) Some of the politicians make use of good men and the main one of their uses is to provide smoke-screen behind which the politicians can carry on their activities without any risk of being suspected. A good man will never be suspected … of his utility.(line 4) The public will never feel that a good man is guilty of using his strict and lofty morality to prevent evil acts from being seen: this is one of the good man’s use. 29 Para. 2 Paraphrases It is clear that this combination of qualities … of the deserving rich. (line 6) It is clear that the combination of good man’s goodness and utility makes a good man extremely useful wherever public refuses to accept and objects to the transference of public money into the hands of the rich people. narrow-minded a.: not ready to listen to or tolerate the views of others e.g. 1) If you describe someone as narrow-minded, you are criticizing them because they are unwilling to consider new ideas or other people’s opinion. 2) narrow-minded views/opinions; narrow-minded person 30 Para. 2 Paraphrases I am told – though far be it from me … this purpose. (line 9) I am told – though I would never approve the statement -- that not long ago in American history there was an President who was “a good man” and used as a smoke-screen. far be it from me to do sth: I certainly would not want to do sth. e.g.1) Far be it from me to advice you what to do. 2) Far be it from me to hurt his feelings. far be it from me to disagree/criticize: neither hope nor dare e.g. Far be it from me to criticize her. I just think she’s behaved extremely bad. 31 Para. 3 Comprehension Who are the “undesirables”? (para.3) people who may or may not have committed breaches(违规) of the moral law but who are not wanted for one reason or another, often chiefly political.(被排斥的异己) 32 Para Comprehension Three ways to keep such people (undesirables) out of politics after his private activities has been kept track of and something has been discovered: 1. to publicize the facts and cause the person to disappear 2. to compel the person to retire into private life by treats of exposure 3. to use blackmail 33 Para. 3 Language Points venture into: risk going into venture into/through/out of: risk going somewhere when it could be risky e.g. Today is the first time I’ve ventured out of doors since my illness. venture to do sth: risk doing sth e.g. 1) I venture to say that men will live in the moon. 2) Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 Venture …. On e.g. Jeff ventured his whole fortune on one throw of the dice. 34 Para. 3 keep track (of): keep in touch with ; follow the course or development (of) e.g.1. I read the newspapers to keep track of current events. 2. I always make sure I keep track of all the money I spend. c.f.lose track (of): fail to follow the course or development (of) 35 Para. 3 derive v. : get, obtain sth derive…from…: get…from… e.g. She derives great joy (pleasure satisfaction) from playing the violin. The institute derives all its money from foreign investments. 36 Para. 3 Paraphrases Another of the uses of good men … by means of scandals. (line 1) Another of the uses of good men is that any undesirable people/things can avoid becoming involved in politics by means of the general feeling of indignation of the good men. keep out of: prevent sth; (cause sb to) avoid sth; not enter (a place); remain outside e.g.1) I prefer to keep out of arguments about money. 2) I kept out of their quarrel. 3) Keep that dog out of my study. 37 Para. 3 Paraphrases Ninety-nine men out of a hundred … does not become public. (line 2) Ninety-nine men out of a hundred break the moral law, but mainly this fact does not become known to the public. commit a breach/breaches: break or neglect e.g.commit a breach of international practice 违反国际惯例 38 Para. 3 Paraphrases And when in the ninety-ninth case … of being suspected (line 4) And when in the ninety-ninth case it (breaking the moral law) becomes public concerning anyone in the hundred, the one man in the hundred who is really innocent expresses his real indignation, but the other ninety-eight are reduced to doing the same (not genuinely) because they don’t want to be suspected. follow suit: (fig.) do what someone else has done e.g. One of the major banks has lowered its interest rates and the other banks are expected to follow suit. 39 Para. 3 Understanding and Language Points When, therefore, any man of obnoxious opinions … will ruin his political career. (line 7) Therefore (according to what discussed above), when any man who has very different and disagreeable opinions risks going into political affairs and political life, people who want to keep the long-established laws or customs think it is necessary for them to watch the activities of the “difficult” politician (because his opinions are in conflict with the majority of other people’s) until they discover something which, if made known to the public, will destroy his political career. 40 Para. 3 They then have three courses open to them. (Line 12) There are three available options/activities for them to choose. (be) open to (sb.): available e.g. The competition is open to anyone over the age of sixteen. 41 Para. 3 All three, therefore, are to be commended, and all three are only rendered possible through the existence of good men. (Line 15) Therefore, all three courses (mentioned above) seem to be spoken favorably, and the three outlined courses are made possible because of the existence of good men. (It is a cynical statement(嘲讽的说法) because at least one of the courses is illegal, other two perhaps unethical) render v.: cause… to become e.g. 1. I rejected his advice in term which rendered it impossible for him to address me again.我用使得他再也不可能与我对话的措辞来拒绝他的劝说。 2.新的技术使我的老计算器过时了。 New technology has rendered my old computer obsolete. 42 Para. 4 Comprehension Tune of paragraph 4: the third use of “good man” , which is written in Sarcastic tune. 43 Archduke Franz Ferdinand : heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (奥匈帝国) assassinated on June 28, 1914 when returning from an official visit to City Hall 44 Para. 4 safe for (sth): (para. 4) not causing or likely to cause harm or danger to (sth) (be) safe from: (be) not harmed by (be) safe with: not (tell) anyone who is not supposed to know e.g.1. Are these toys safe for small children? 2. Is this safe for bathing? 3. The house is not safe from theft. 4. The secret will be quite safe with her. 45 Para.4 Paraphrase If he had not died as he did, we might not have had the war, and then the world would not have been made safe for democracy, nor would militarism have been overthrown, nor should we be now enjoying military despotisms in Spain, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria. (line 3) If the Archduke had not gotten himself murdered, we might not have had war (we had war); and then democracy would have been endangered in the world; militarism (believing in or depending on military strength and methods) would not have been overthrown; and we should not be now enjoying military tyranny in Spain, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria. (The tone of this sentence, or rather, of the whole paragraph, is sarcastic.) 46 Part III (Para. 5-7) Main Idea Factors attributing to the harm that good men do 47 Para. 5 Comprehension Lang. Points Paraphrases Para. 6 Comprehension Lang. Points Para. 7 Comprehension Paraphrases 48 Para. 5: Language Points Sir J.G. Frazer: Sir James George ( ), Scottish anthropologist. In The Golden Bough ( ) he proposed an evolutionary theory of the development of human thought, from the magical and religious to the scientific. 49 Para. 5 Comprehension According to the author the standards of so-called “goodness” are not those carefully planned to make the world a happier place. Two main causes giving rise to these standards: 1. Tradition 2. The unjust power of dominant classes 50 Questions: Where did, historically, primitive morality originate from? The notion of taboo. What did they continue to do to people for generations? They continued to have authority over people’s feelings when nobody know the original reason. What are morals nowadays? Large parts of them are still of this sort. 51 Language Points … on the supposed ground that they produced disaster by magical means.(para.5) …on the assumption that completely harmless acts caused tragedy through magic. on the ground(s): because Peter always declines his friends’ invitations on the ground that his wife would blame him for coming back late. 52 Language Points In this way there came to be prohibitions. Therefore the prohibitions were formed and became necessary at last. Come +to V : reach a point at which one realizes, understands, believes something e.g.She had come to see the problem in a new light. I have come to believe that the Government’s economic policy is misguided. 53 Language Points speak of… as... : mention…as… e.g. 1)He is spoken of as a good teacher. 2)The wealth and honor of a man are usually spoken of as his ‘credit’. 54 Paraphrase To speak seriously: the standard of “goodness” which are generally recognized by public opinion are not those which are calculated to make the world a happier place.(line 1,para. 5) To speak seriously: the standards of so called the goodness which are generally accepted by public opinion are not the standards which are designed to make the world a happier place.(The sentence indicates that the standards of genuine goodness should be those which are planned to make the world a happier place.) be calculated to do sth.: be planned or arranged in order to produce a particular effect e.g. This advertisement is calculated to attract the attention of house wives. 55 Paraphrase Primitive morality seems to have developed out of the notion of taboo; that is to say, it was originally purely superstitious, and forbade certain perfectly harmless acts on the supposed ground that they produced disaster by magical means. (line 5) The earliest morality seems to have originated from the idea of taboo; that is to say, the earliest morality was originally only superstitious, and prohibited certain completely harmless actions because they were supposed to cause tragedy through magic means. On the ground(s) that/of: because (of) Peter always declines his friends’ invitations on the ground that his wife would blame him for coming back late. 56 Paragraph 6 Paragraph 6 is mainly about: our current ethic is a curious mixture of superstition and rationalism Why do we say our current ethic is a mixture of superstition and rationalism? Because in social practice we now still believe that the virtue consists in not doing instead of doing. 57 Language Points set apart: make noticeable or different; separated from e.g. 1) The separation of words into sense groupings is one of the things that sets this dictionary apart. 2) What set her apart from the other candidates for the job was that she had a lot of original ideas. 58 Language Points abstain form: hold oneself back; refrain e.g.1) His doctor told him to abstain from beer and wine. 2) At the last election he abstained from voting. inculcate…in…: fix ideas, beliefs, etc., in one’s mind by repetition灌输 e.g.1) We need to inculcate in young people the duty of loyalty. 2) Our football couch has worked hard to inculcate a team spirit in the players. 59 Language Points profit by/from sth.: to achieve an advantage from it; learn from it e.g.1) He’s getting married again, after two divorces, so he obviously hasn’t profited by his experience. 2) I certainly profited from the two years I spent in that company. 60 Language Points know of: have information about or experience of sb./sth. e.g. 1) Do you know of any way to stop a person snoring? 2) I don’t know him personally, though I know of him. 61 Paragraph 7 Benthan advocated and expected: “The greatest happiness of the greatest number” as the basis of morals. The author’s attitude towards Benthan’s ideas: Support them. (much more arduous life; make himself the champion of the oppressed; incur the enmity of the great etc.) 62 Comprehension official morality: morality that is held to be the norm by society but which society may or may not actually live by. Author’s opinion about ‘official morality’: It has always been oppressive and negative. It seems unlikely that any large-scale improvements will come. 63 Main idea of paragraph 7 Traditional morality (seems) not perfect, but large-scale improvement (seems) unlikely. 64 Para7 language Points alienate (from): cause someone to stop supporting and agreeing; cause someone to feel very distant from or not welcome e.g.The prime Minister’s policy alienated many of his followers. Ten years in prison has alienated him from his family. 65 Para 7 Paraphase …but only if it is conducted with a view to nothing more than momentary pleasure. …but it will be the case only if it is done with the idea of gaining temporary pleasure. 66 Conclusion drawn from the last paragraph: Part IV (Para. 8) Conclusion drawn from the last paragraph: With the progress of reason and science, men gradually come to realize that the world whose institutions are based upon hatred and injustice is not the one most likely to produce happiness. The harm that good men do results from such a world. 67 The End 68 Translation 1.So-called ideally good men, in fact, are not always of benefit to society and the standards of goodness have long been argued. 2.The morals of good men must be irreproachable and they mustn’t be so indifferent to the things causing harm to society. 69 3.They try to be assiduous and earnest and see to it that they finish their work smoothly; they never give any thought to personal fame and position. 4.Scandals can defame a genuinely good man, while flattery can make an evil man a good man. 5.He cannot tell good men from evil ones, so bad men often use the goodness of good men to screen their villains. 70 6.They often elbowed out the undesirable, which made it impossible for them to continue their work. 7.Although he was forced,he was not afraid of that and continued his own experiment, which was calculated to be successful. 8.The poor man was sentenced to be imprisoned for life on the ground that he had stolen bread from a store. 71 9.They have kept track of his activities, but haven’t found any suspected behavior. 10.Many people were against him for his violation of some conventional concepts. But still some others followed suit. Download ppt "The Harm That Good Men Do" Similar presentations Ads by Google
Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation Full Title: “Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law.” Reparation should consist of: 1. acknowledgment and apology; 2. guarantees against repetition; 3. measures of restitution; 4. measures of rehabilitation; and 5. monetary compensation. Download: UN-PDF The Silent Majority of Experts Yes, there are many people who blog and otherwise publicly discuss development methodologies and what they’re working on, but there are even more people who don’t. Blogging takes time, for example, and not everyone enjoys it. Other people are working on commercial products and can’t divulge the inner workings of their code. That we’re unable to learn from the silent majority of experts casts an unusual light upon online discussions. Just because looking down your nose at C++ or Perl is the popular opinion doesn’t mean that those languages aren’t being used by very smart folks to build amazing, finely crafted software. An appealing theory that gets frantically upvoted may have well-understood but non-obvious drawbacks. All we’re seeing is an intersection of the people working on interesting things and who like to write about it–and that’s not the whole story. The Realities Of Your Industry 101 Link to article: Don’t call yourself a programmer: “Programmer’ sounds like ‘anomalously high-cost peon who types some mumbo-jumbo into some other mumbo-jumbo.’ If you call yourself a programmer, someone is already working on a way to get you fired.
Nutrition and Diet for Scoliosis 150px-Blausen_0785_Scoliosis_01A chiropractor will advise a scoliosis patient to follow a specific type of diet. Scoliosis is a medical condition in which the spine bends to one side. The lower part of the spine is the most common area in which the condition occurs. The condition is more prevalent in girls rather than boys and usually happens during puberty when the child experiences a growth spurt. Back specialists recommend an adequate amount of nutrition for children who suffer from the condition. The diet is meant to increase bone mass. Since the condition is hereditary a proper diet might not prevent the onset of scoliosis. However foods that support bone mass are likely to prevent osteoporosis. In fact, according to the University of Washington Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine osteoporosis can actually worsen scoliosis since it can worsen the curve of the spine when the child reaches adulthood. If your child suffers from scoliosis it is best that you enrich his/her diet with foods that contain vitamin D and Calcium. Not only do they increase bone mass, they also prevent osteoporosis. Children who suffer from scoliosis are recommended to consume between 1200 to 1500mg of calcium on a daily basis. Just make sure that any low fat sources of calcium do not contain high levels of saturated fats. For example, such a diet should contain food items such as skim cheese or yogurt. Vitamin D Vitamin D helps a person’s body absorb calcium. This is also why your mom nagged you about consuming milk on a daily basis. It is packed with the nutrient. Other sources of Vitamin D include saltwater fish, eggs, cod liver oil and cereal. The nutrient phosphorous is also responsible for bone growth. The human body also uses phosphorus to maintain a healthy level of vitamin D and encourage proper absorption of calcium. Vitamin E Vitamin D and calcium aren’t the only nutrients that can prevent a case of scoliosis from getting worse. After all, a child who suffers from the condition will also need a healthy dose of Vitamin E everyday to build strong muscles to support a compromised spine. Remember a child who suffers from scoliosis needs a diet that prevents his/her condition from getting worse especially after puberty. Image used under Creative Commons Licensing: Blausen 0785 Scoliosis 01.png Why Spinal Surgery is a Bad Idea Illu_vertebral_columnBecause it takes the smallest mistake to permanently paralyze a healthy individual, a fact that any chiropractor will attest to. There is always a risk of injury involved in spinal surgery. Almost 80% of the people in the country will complain about lower back pain at some point in their lives. More work days are missed because of spinal pain than any other sort of ailment. This also places it as one of the most common causes of disabilities right after cardiovascular disease. However, most people would rather seek the services of certified chiropractors than their doctors. Doctors usually prescribe numbing medication or painful surgical procedures like spinal surgery for patients who complain of repetitive chronic pain. But that is hardly a permanent solution and also involves a great deal of risks. What can go Wrong: Transitional Syndrome Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the spine has to do with its behavior. Your spine behaves like a chain of repeated segments. Each of the individual segments works as a whole to share the workload that is involved in moving the body by sharing the load along the spinal column. In other words the stress that is imposed on the spine during the movement is shared amongst the segments. However such a process can only happen seamlessly when the spine is healthy. When one or more of the segments doesn’t work as they should their neighboring segments have to pick up the slack and work harder. The segment that is closest to the dysfunctional one gets most of the stress. This means that the area near where the spinal surgery was performed takes on more stress. This is what is known as transitional syndrome since it occurs due to the transition of a healthy area of the spine to the fused area. General practitioners and even orthopedic surgeons can never claim to know what causes pain in the back. To them, complex procedures like spinal surgery appear as handy default treatments. This is not to mention the disastrous residual pain that is caused by inappropriate surgery. Such a complication is more of a possibility after common spinal surgeries, such as laminectomies, in which a disc is removed to give the nerve near the central spinal cord more space to move, or fusion, in which a vertebra is surgically joined to another to restrict excess movement. Image used under Creative Commons Licensing: Illu vertebral column.jpg Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy: The Benefits Chiropractic Care Safe during Pregnancy Benefits of Chiropractic Care • Reducing back, neck and joint pain • Relieving pressure from the spine and maintaining better posture • Restoring joints to ensure optimum range of motion • Reducing symptoms of nausea • Reducing time of labor and delivery • Stimulates optimal functioning of reproductive organs • Preventing potential cases of cesarean • Maintaining a healthy pregnancy Neck Disc Injuries – Cervical Disc Prolapse and Chiropractic Treatment 1024px-FEMA_-_32323_-_FEMA_photographer_Mark_Wolfe_working_at_a_computer_in_Findlay,_OH_JFONeck disc injuries are contracted by individuals mostly because of the different body postures, during work. The long hours spent in front of the computer start to take their toll, and individuals experience tingling pain and sometimes a numb feeling in their arms and fingers, which are signs of a neck disc injury. Chiropractic is very effective in the treatment of individuals suffering from different neck disc injuries, like cervical disc prolapse. What Is Cervical Disc Prolapse? Cervical Disc Prolapse is a medical term for a slipped disc in the neck of a patient. A slipped disc condition is more common in the back than in the neck, and individuals in the 30 to 50 age bracket are more prone to this medical condition. The 7 vertebra, the bones which constitute the spinal cord, have discs in between each bone. The 7 vertebra are termed from C1 to C7, and a slipped disc in the neck is more common between the C5 to C6 and the C6 to C7 vertebra. In cervical disc prolapse, the discs have a tough outer covering which tends to degenerate because of the constant exertion and movement experienced by an individual, especially when engaged in different work related activities like operating a machine or a computer for a long number of hours. In extreme cases, where there is acute degeneration of the outer fibrous layer of the disc, the soft nerves become exposed, and bulge out of the disc. This results in extreme pain for the individual as the disc exerts pressure on the nerves, causing inflammation. In some cases, the disc might slip towards the back and the side, which causes extensive pain in the shoulder and arm of the individual. A slipped disc in the neck, or cervical disc prolapse, might also exhibit symptoms like a numb feeling or pins and needles in the whole arm, and pain in case of any neck or shoulder movement. Chiropractic Treatment for Disc Injuries Chiropractic is a non-invasive form of treatment, which focuses on the treatment and prevention of different musculoskeletal disorders, muscle strains and disc injuries. Chiropractors provide different treatment methods which include massages, joint adjustment procedures for pain and strains in the back and neck areas of the body. Spinal manipulation is a forte of chiropractic, in which it focuses on relieving the pain of the patient and improving muscular disorders, to facilitate movement. It is gaining popularity as a highly effective treatment method for neck and spinal pains and strains. Image used under Creative Commons Licensing: 32323 – FEMA photographer Mark Wolfe working at a computer in Findlay, OH JFO.jpg Chiropractor Lansing shares shoulder exercises for beginners. Begin on floor on hands and knees. Repeat for prescribed repetitions and sets. Get Balanced Solutions The brain and spinal nerves communicate position sense and balanced equilibrium. Nerve interference cause unequal weight distribution, disharmony and stress to the body, muscles and joints. There two things that happen when you have a bone out of place in the spine. First, when the bone is out of place and twists the spine, it pinches the nerve. That doesn’t cause pain. It causes weakness. You have an energy, brain waves, that flow from above down, inside out, that comes from your brain through the spinal cord. If you’re choking off that nerve flow, whatever that nerve is going to will be weakened. The other thing that happens is that when the bone is out of place, it’s like having the front end of your car misaligned; the tires or axle wears out. High Technology and The Modern Day Chiropractic Office In my 12 years as a chiropractor, and owner of Innate Chiropractic Center in Lansing, Michigan , I have seen many challenges dealt to the field of chiropractic. I am constantly improving myself to meet and exceed these challenges. First, it really means crystal clarity of my objective. What is the clear goal that I have for every patient who comes through my doors? I have set up practice procedures that are consistent with these clear goals and objectives. They are robust especially when it comes to patient education. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Because I have confidence, certainty and credibility, I am an Insight owner. The Insight is Space Certified by the Space Foundation – a non-profit organization co-founded by NASA. It received this certification because it has been used in NASA’s space program. It is also used in the locker rooms of world champion sports teams. I am accurately measuring the effects of lifestyle stress on the nervous system and overall health and can also measure a patient’s response to care and document and demonstrate it. The need for a high degree of confidence, certainty and credibility is very well handled by the Insight technology. Causes of Back Pain Risk Factors Causes Of Back Pain Structural Problems Bulging And Ruptured Disks Curvature Of The Spine Spinal Cancer Infection of the nerves (shingles) and spine may also cause pains. Cauda Equine Syndrome Image used under Creative Commons Licensing: There’s pain in my head by Stefan Neuweger Lansing / Holt Doctor Dennis Weinstein at Innate Chiropractic Finds Solutions We don’t have any problems. We have the solution. What does that mean to you? At Innate Chiropractic Center in Lansing Michigan, Dr. Dennis Weinstein and his staff will help you come up with a strategy to handle life’s stessors. Subluxation, or nerve interference can be best described like having static on your cell phone, the signal can’t get through. Nerve flow can’t get through. But, what causes subluxation? Good Question. Stress from life. It can be physical stress from your posture, accidents, injuries, trauma, etc. From Biochemical stress from the foods you eat or the chemicals in the air. Mental or emotional stress from work, home, family, bills, mortgage payment, school, kids. So, it would only make sense, if we were to try and handle the stress from life or minimize it the best we can, your body would be able to function better and perform properly. 5 Common Symptoms of Poor Posture and How to Treat Them with Exercise Good posture is very important when it comes to a healthy way of living. Chiropractors help you maintaining one. A lot of people don’t comprehend the importance of a good posture. Some experience varying degrees of pain all over the body that gradually turns into major complications. What people fail to realize is that the root of many of the simplest and even the complex of all health issues are usually linked to the body posture, in one way or another. If someone is experiencing anything from the following symptoms, it would be a wise idea to get their posture evaluated to see if that is causing any of the complications. Fortunately, a few relatively simple exercises can help in restoring the body posture and eliminate any problems associated with it. 1. HEAD Following symptoms may be felt in the head due to incorrect postures: • The person may have frequent headaches, including the ‘throbbing’ feeling • It feels that the head may split open • It feels as if something is pounding inside the head • The individual may suffer from dizziness and a loss of sense of balance • The sounds around them may seem way too loud to them along with a ringing sound in the ears 2. EYES The eyes may be subjected to the following: • The eye-sockets are painful and cause the eyes to feel sore • Rolling the eyes causes pain • Eyes lose their natural wetness • The vision starts to get blurry 3. NECK The neck is a quite sensitive area due to the passing spinal cord and is almost always affected by a bad posture. • Shooting neck pain • Muscle spasms occur regularly • The neck feels stiff 4. JAW The jaw bone is also affected by bad posture in the following way: • The individual may start experiencing TMJ pain • It gets painful to chew, and a popping sound is heard • The cheek muscles start to hurt • Shoulders are also significantly affected: • The person may feel pain in the socket • It may become difficult to raise arm or when trying to scratch the back Fortunately, before any complicated problems start happening, a chiropractor can prescribe exercises that are aimed at strengthening muscles and bones and help in restoring a proper body posture. Many of the exercises are easy to do at home and are designed to relax stiff muscles, keep the spinal column in a correct shape and thereby improve the overall lifestyle. Exercise is also a great way to avoid heart diseases, high blood pressures, diabetes and scores of other diseases that result from
Buses, Basic Computer Science The data bus transfers data between memory, CPU and I/O units, under the control of signals sent through the control bus. For example, if data is to be transferred (sent) from the CPU to a memory location, the control unit within the CPU places an output instruction on the CPU, and write instruction on the memory unit. When the data arrives at the memory, it must be written into the memory at a given address. The address is already present, having been sent by the CPU along the address bus. Hence, data is stored at the memory address given. Note that if the transfer had been from the CPU to an I/O device, the address of the I/O device would have been given. The address bus is one-way only. The control bus usually has one set of wires for input sensing lines, and one set for output controls. Data buses are usually bi-directional; that is, data is either transferred, or fetched along the same set of wires. The control unit usually decides in which direction data will travel. If there are several peripherals, and these all wish to use the CPU at the same time, some method of priority must be established. There are various ways of achieving this. One method uses the control unit to select the lucky peripheral, whilst another method lets the peripherals themselves automatically decide which peripheral takes control. Posted Date: 9/13/2012 6:51:04 AM \| Location : United States Related Discussions:- Buses, Assignment Help, Ask Question on Buses, Get Answer, Expert's Help, Buses Discussions Write discussion on Buses Your posts are moderated Related Questions Basic computer structure: A computer is an electronic device, which can accept and process data by carrying out a set of stored instructions in sequence. This sequence of math Simple Tasks to Accomplish Once you've worried for why you're performing AI, what has inspired you and how you're going to approach the job, then you can initialize to think for Another way of classifying a computer system is based upon its size and capabilities: Microcomputers: Microcomputers are systems based on the use of microprocessors. A Micr what duality principle and huntington postulates
You're here : Home Glaucoma Glaucoma What causes glaucoma? article thumbnailLaser treatment for glaucoma (PI / SLT) + more info article thumbnailPrimary angle closure glaucoma + more info Other Articles What causes glaucoma? PDF Print E-mail Written by Administrator Sunday, 31 January 2010 03:28 Although many cases of glaucoma are caused by high eye pressure, there are an increasing number of patients that develop damage to the optic nerve even with low eye pressures. Certainly, glaucoma is caused by high eye pressure, and also by other factors such as poor perfusion (i.e. blood supply) to the nerve. In other cases, glaucoma is caused by having a crowded drainage angle (narrow angle glaucoma). There are many types of glaucoma; in most cases the exact cause of raised pressure is not identified infact. Sometimes glaucoma can be caused by injury to the eye, or by other eye conditions, or by the use of medications (e.g. steroids in just about any form). Generally, whatever the cause, glaucoma is treated similarly. Some types of glaucoma respond less well to medication, or less well to laser or surgery. what causes glaucoma Visual field of a patient with glaucoma.
Ozone electrodes Ozone electrodes - corona discharge electrodes producing ozone, used in ozone generators of Ozonizer. Electrodes sold in sets for each model ozonators. What is ozone, how it works? • ozone consists of three oxygen atoms • binding of the third atom of oxygen is extremely unstable • in a short time from creation ozone breaks down • ozone has a very strong antibacterial and virocidal activity properties • during decay destroys allergens, bacteria, viruses and fungi Ozone Generator • household fungi and their spores, • various species of molds, • bacteria, viruses, dust mites and other allergens, • other microorganisms.
The Raven More Options: Make a Folding Card Storyboard Description Is about how he lost his love Lenore and how he is loosing his sanity . Storyboard Text • Title: This story is going to be about lost love and the raven may symbolize something in the story. Maybe the raven is watching the man. • The Raven • The man is moping and remembering his lost love Lenore however he is loosing his sanity. And hears rapping (a noise) and it shifts by using some things in the poem as symbols. like on how he tries to read books to get over Lenore. • A man is sitting in his room, half reading, half falling asleep, and trying to forget his lost love, Lenore. Suddenly, he hears someone (or something) knocking at the door. He is sad because he is remembering all the memories yet his attitude changes throughout the entire poem. From sad , to being frustrated, and frightened. • Raven settles in on a statue above the door, and for some reason, his first instinct is to talk to it. He asks for its name. Amazingly, the Raven answers back, with a single word: "Nevermore." Now this is where the tone starts to shift and between the man and the raven its going to change. • Surprised, he asks more questions. The bird's vocabulary turns out to be limited, all it says is "Nevermore." The narrator catches on to this rather slowly and asks more and more questions, which get more painful and personal. The Raven, doesn't change his story, and the speaker starts to lose his sanity. • The title in the poem or what the poem is about lost love and how the man lost his love to Lenore she died. Also the theme is how he doesn't move on or cant forget, its really dark emotion after losing someone you love. Just Created with Storyboard That Explore Our Articles and Examples Try Our Other Websites! Quick Rubric – Easily Make and Share Great Looking Rubrics!
Tiny Miracle : Raspberry Pi First time I saw this incredibly small computer , I was surprised.I thought how one credit card size electronic board can be connected to your TV , USB keyboard and mouse and then covert your home TV into your full fledge computer.Preciously I had came across small micro controller, integrated circuits (ICs), but they had limited usage. School students may not get access to such instruments as these instruments may not be directly used by layman. Raspberry pi puts itself in different category as it can be used out of box immediately. It works on Unix platform , precisely Rasbian (Raspberry + Dabian). So it can be used in areas where normal computers are not affordable but you still want to give access to computing. This tiny giant not only useful for kids but can also challenge ,more precisely attract ,engineers (makers) to learn about itself. As it works on Unix , it requires us to do some command prompt stuff ,though it has attractive user interface(desktop). But the kids can get comfortable to work on command prompt, which is more important than working with mouse( I believe). It also help kids to learn few visualizing and musical softwares like Scratch, Sonic Pi. It also helps kids to understand and get access to work with GPIOs (General Process Inputs/Outputs). It allows them to program these GPIOs so they can see computers interaction with physical world like LEDs, motors etc. This interaction can help kids to learn the computing concepts more quickly. It also can connect to USB microphone to detect your voice and write some voice controlled programs. More powerful thing it can do ,is to capture images using USB camera or Raspberry pi camera module. Then you can write program to do some image processing.People had also connected the raspberry Pi to internet to showcase IoT (Internet of things) concept. Raspberry pi allows kids to learn from simple program and holds capacity to allow them to learn machine level programming risking less money ( of their fathers) So if you want to buy computer/laptop for your kid then you can think of this tiny miracle but before that you can start exploring what this raspberry pi do 🙂 P.S. if you are in pune you can get in touch with Heramb MakerLab to learn about Raspberry Pi Ref : One thought on “Tiny Miracle : Raspberry Pi Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Explore BrainMass Effective Reference Checking Describe the do's and don'ts of effective reference checking. What are some ways to overcome the lack of information provided from references? Solution Preview Please find my response to your assignment below. I have also attached a table of Interview Do's and Don'ts for your additional reference. What is a reference check? A reference check is a valuable tool for gathering information on the applicants of a job and it is a very essential process so that hiring authorities will be able to confirm the information and details on the application materials, check for any prior discipline problems, learn new information about the candidate and ask questions that may predict a candidate's performance. To be able to conduct an effective interview and reference check, one must be able to practice it as the more it is being done, the better one will become an effective interviewer and reference checker. Reference checking also takes pre-planning, careful thought and skillful execution. Here are some tips (Do's) that can assist you in performing reference check ... Solution Summary 469 words; 4 references; things to do and not to do in reference checking (pasted here and also attached in .doc)
Educational Technology Infographics How Live Video for Education is Changing the Classroom Infographic How Live Video for Education is Changing the Classroom Infographic Live video for education is in greater demand now than ever before. New technologies are changing the way students engage with their coursework. Live video in the classroom opens up new possibilities and makes education more accessible. Many students are “digital natives,” and expect learning institutions to meet them online. Livestreaming educational content has benefits for instructors as well. Live video is more engaging and dynamic than plain text. Additionally, online courses are on the rise: the classroom of the future will use live video to reach students at every level. 1. 5.8M students enrolled in at least one online course in 2014 – up 3.9 percent from 2013. 2. 55% of college presidents predict students will take at least some online classes by 2022. 3. 77% of colleges offer online courses. 4. 86% of colleges and universities have a presence on YouTube. 5. College students (aged 18-34) own an average of 6.8 digital devices each. 6. 78% of college students prefer smartphones to other digital devices. 7. 27% of audiences are would watch a live educational talk or lectures. 8. Teachers finding value in video content has increased each year since 2007. 9. 68% of educators believe that video content stimulates discussions. 66% believe video increases student motivation. 55% believe it helps teachers be more creative. 62% believe video helps teachers be more effective. 61% believe video is preferred by students.
Can we increase the GFR level if it is less than 15? That depends on the cause. It may be possible to improve kidney function, if the cause is acute kidney injury (AKI). If the cause is chronic kidney disease (CKD), then improvement is less likely. The kidney has the capacity to recover some kidney function in cases of AKI, whereas it does not when there is CKD present. This entry was posted in Acute Kidney Injury, Ask the Doctor, Chronic Kidney Disease, GFR, Kidney-Related Health Questions, Laboratory Testing. Bookmark the permalink.
What You Eat Can Save Your Mind Brain Foods Brain Foods Posted by Safe In4 Hub What You Eat Can Save Your Mind What You Eat Can Save Your Mind Fathead is now a good thing to be. The more that researchers look, the more they find that a diet rich in fatty fish reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia commonly associated with aging. The same kind of diet has similar benefits against the risk of cardiovascular disease. What saves the blood supply to your heart also seems to save the all-important blood supply to your brain. The newest evidence comes from a study of over 1,600 people aged 45 to 70 who took a battery of sensitive tests of memory and mental performance and kept tabs on their food consumptions. The risk of cognitive decline was greatest among those who had the lowest dietary intake of unsaturated fatty acids coming from marine sources. The two primary fatty acids found in fish and seaweed are ECA (eicospentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosapentaenoic acid), collectively known as omega-3 fats. Cognitive tests were normal in 1,450 people and impaired in 163. The more fish people ate, the greater their overall cognitive function and speed of responses. Compared with those with normal cognitive function, those who shoed impairment were slightly older (59.4 years of age versus 56.2), more likely to be male, to have a history of cardiovascular disease, and to be less well educated. The same study also showed that when people consumed a large amount of cholesterol in their diet, the more they were likely to have impaired memory and flexibility. Eating saturated fat also increased the risk of impaired memory, slower speed and less flexibility of mental function. It's not clear exactly how omega-3 fats preserve cognitive functions. Fats are key component of nerve cell membranes and the insulating sheath around the nerve-cell fibers that transmit signals in the brain. It could be omega-3 fats save the brain by preserving blood flow through its tiny blood vessels. Those fats seem to reduce inflammation in blood vessels of the brain. Inflammation has come under increasing scrutiny for its role in leading to atherosclerosis, or the clogging of arteries. It's also possible that the omega-3s preserve mental function by direct effects n nerve cells. They help maintain the fluidity of nerve cell membranes, important gatekeepers in all brain actions. In addition, by insulating nerve fibers, omega-3s could preserve the channels of transmission of nerve signals from cell to cell. It's likely that omega-3s contribute to mental function through effects on all those processes. Copyright (C) 2017 by safein4.com Donah Shine Head Master Address: 5636 Lemon Ave. Dallas TX 75209 Phone: +1 214 5203694 E-Mail: admin@safein4.com
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Page semi-protected From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Peoples Republic of China) Jump to: navigation, search People's Republic of China • 中华人民共和国 • Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Capital Beijing[a] Largest city Shanghai[1] Official languages Standard Chinese[2][b] Official script Simplified Chinese[c] Recognised regional Ethnic groups Religion See Religion in China Demonym Chinese Government Unitary one-party socialist republic[5] Xi Jinping[e] • Premier Li Keqiang Zhang Dejiang Yu Zhengsheng • First Secretary of the Party Secretariat Liu Yunshan Wang Qishan • First Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli Legislature National People's Congress c. 2070 BCE 221 BCE 1 January 1912 1 October 1949 • Total • Water (%) • 2016 estimate 1,403,500,365 Increase[10] (1st) • 2010 census 1,339,724,852[11] (1st) • Density GDP (PPP) 2017 estimate • Total $23.2 trillion[13] (1st) • Per capita $16,676[13] (83rd) GDP (nominal) 2017 estimate • Total $11.8 trillion[13] (2nd) • Per capita $8,481[13] (72nd) Gini (2015) 46.2[14] HDI (2015) Increase 0.738[15] high · 90th Time zone China Standard Time (UTC+8) Date format • yyyy-mm-dd • or yyyymd • (CE; CE-1949) Drives on the right[i] Calling code +86 ISO 3166 code CN Internet TLD China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a unitary sovereign state in East Asia and the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.404 billion.[10] Covering approximately 9.6 million square kilometres (3.7 million square miles), it is the world's second-largest state by land area[16] and third- or fourth-largest by total area.[j] Governed by the Communist Party of China, it exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing) and the Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong and Macau, also claiming sovereignty over Taiwan. China is a great power and a major regional power within Asia, and has been characterized as a potential superpower.[17][18] China emerged as one of the world's earliest civilizations in the fertile basin of the Yellow River in the North China Plain, for millennia, China's political system was based on hereditary monarchies, or dynasties, beginning with the semi-legendary Xia dynasty. Since then, China has expanded, fractured, and re-unified numerous times; in 1912, the Republic of China (ROC) replaced the last dynasty and ruled the Chinese mainland until 1949, when it was defeated by the communist People's Liberation Army in the Chinese Civil War. The Communist Party established the People's Republic of China in Beijing on 1 October 1949, while the ROC government retreated to Taiwan with its present de facto capital in Taipei. Both the ROC and PRC continue to claim to be the legitimate government of all China, though the latter has more recognition in the world and controls more territory. Since the introduction of economic reforms in 1978, China's economy has been one of the world's fastest-growing, as of 2016, it is the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP and largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). China is also the world's largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods.[19] China is a recognized nuclear weapons state and has the world's largest standing army and second-largest defense budget,[20][21] the PRC is a member of the United Nations, as it replaced the ROC as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in 1971. China is also a member of numerous formal and informal multilateral organizations, including the WTO, APEC, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the BCIM and the G20. China (Chinese characters).svg People's Republic of China.svg Chinese name Simplified Chinese 中国 Traditional Chinese 中國 Literal meaning "Middle Kingdom"[22] or "Central State"[23] People's Republic of China Simplified Chinese 中华人民共和国 Traditional Chinese 中華人民共和國 Tibetan name Tibetan ཀྲུང་ཧྭ་མི་དམངས་སྤྱི Zhuang name Zhuang Cunghvaz Yinzminz Gunghozgoz Mongolian name Mongolian Bügüde nayiramdaqu dumdadu arad ulus, ᠪᠦᠭᠦᠳᠡ ᠨᠠᠶᠢᠷᠠᠮᠳᠠᠬᠤ ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ ᠠᠷᠠᠳ ᠤᠯᠤᠰ Uyghur name جۇڭخۇا خەلق جۇمھۇرىيىت Manchu name Manchu script ᡩᡡᠯᡳᠮᠪᠠᡳ Romanization Dulimbai Gurun The English word "China" is first attested in Richard Eden's 1555 translation[k] of a 1516 journal by Portuguese explorer Duarte Barbosa.[l][28] The Portuguese word was derived from Persian Chīnī (چین) and some traced it further to Sanskrit Cīna (चीन).[29] The earliest known example of Cīna being used to refer to China dates from AD 150,[30] although Indian writers may not have been aware of China's existence prior to the first century BC,[31] the word Cīna appears in Mahābhārata, as well as in the Laws of Manu.[32] In 1655, Martino Martini suggested that the word China is derived from the name of the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC),[33] a proposal supported by many later scholars,[34][35][36] although there are also a number of alternative suggestions.[32][37] The official name of the modern state is the "People's Republic of China" (Chinese: 中华人民共和国; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó). The shorter form is "China" Zhōngguó (中国), from zhōng ("central" or "middle") and guó ("state, nation-state"),[23][m] a term which developed under the Zhou Dynasty in reference to its royal demesne.[n] It was then applied to the area around Luoyi (present-day Luoyang) during the Eastern Zhou and then to China's Central Plain before being used as an occasional synonym for the state under the Qing.[39] It was often used as a cultural concept to distinguish the Huaxia tribes from perceived "barbarians"[39] and was the source of the English name "Middle Kingdom".[41][42] A more literary or inclusive name, alluding to the "land of Chinese civilization", is Zhōnghuá (中华).[43] It developed during the Wei and Jin dynasties as a contraction of "the central state of the Huaxia".[39] Before the PRC's establishment, the proposed name of the country was the People's Democratic Republic of China (simplified Chinese: 中华人民共和国; traditional Chinese: 中華人民共和國; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Mínzhǔ Gònghéguó) during the first CPPCC held on 15 June 1949.[44][45] During the 1950s and 1960s, after the defeat of the Kuomintang in the Chinese Civil War, it was also referred to as "Communist China" or "Red China", to be differentiated from "Nationalist China" or "Free China".[46] History of China History of China Neolithic c. 8500 – c. 2070 BCE Xia dynasty c. 2070 – c. 1600 BCE Shang dynasty c. 1600 – c. 1046 BCE Zhou dynasty c. 1046 – 256 BCE Western Zhou Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Warring States Qin dynasty 221–206 BCE Han dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE Western Han Xin dynasty Eastern Han Three Kingdoms 220–280 Wei, Shu and Wu Jin dynasty 265–420 Western Jin Eastern Jin Sixteen Kingdoms Northern and Southern dynasties Sui dynasty 581–618 Tang dynasty 618–907 (Second Zhou dynasty 690–705) Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Liao dynasty Song dynasty Northern Song Western Xia Southern Song Jin Yuan dynasty 1271–1368 Ming dynasty 1368–1644 Qing dynasty 1644–1912 Republic of China 1912–1949 People's Republic of China 1949–present Archaeological evidence suggests that early hominids inhabited China between 2.24 million and 250,000 years ago.[47] The hominid fossils of Peking Man, a Homo erectus who used fire,[48] were discovered in a cave at Zhoukoudian near Beijing; they have been dated to between 680,000 and 780,000 years ago.[49] The fossilized teeth of Homo sapiens (dated to 125,000–80,000 years ago) have been discovered in Fuyan Cave in Dao County, Hunan.[50] Chinese proto-writing existed in Jiahu around 7000 BCE,[51] Damaidi around 6000 BCE,[52] Dadiwan from 5800–5400 BCE, and Banpo dating from the 5th millennium BCE. Some scholars have suggested that the Jiahu symbols (7th millennium BCE) constituted the earliest Chinese writing system.[51] Early dynastic rule According to Chinese tradition, the first dynasty was the Xia, which emerged around 2100 BCE.[53] The dynasty was considered mythical by historians until scientific excavations found early Bronze Age sites at Erlitou, Henan in 1959.[54] It remains unclear whether these sites are the remains of the Xia dynasty or of another culture from the same period,[55] the succeeding Shang dynasty is the earliest to be confirmed by contemporary records.[56] The Shang ruled the plain of the Yellow River in eastern China from the 17th to the 11th century BCE.[57] Their oracle bone script (from c. 1500 BCE)[58][59] represents the oldest form of Chinese writing yet found,[60] and is a direct ancestor of modern Chinese characters.[61] Imperial China Following a widespread civil war during which the imperial library at Xianyang was burned,[o] the Han dynasty emerged to rule China between 206 BCE and CE 220, creating a cultural identity among its populace still remembered in the ethnonym of the Han Chinese.[63][64] The Han expanded the empire's territory considerably, with military campaigns reaching Central Asia, Mongolia, South Korea, and Yunnan, and the recovery of Guangdong and northern Vietnam from Nanyue. Han involvement in Central Asia and Sogdia helped establish the land route of the Silk Road, replacing the earlier path over the Himalayas to India. Han China gradually became the largest economy of the ancient world,[66] despite the Han's initial decentralization and the official abandonment of the Qin philosophy of Legalism in favor of Confucianism, Qin's legalist institutions and policies continued to be employed by the Han government and its successors.[67] After the end of the Han dynasty, a period of strife known as Three Kingdoms followed,[68] whose central figures were later immortalized in one of the Four Classics of Chinese literature. At its end, Wei was swiftly overthrown by the Jin dynasty, the Jin fell to civil war upon the ascension of a developmentally-disabled emperor; the Five Barbarians then invaded and ruled northern China as the Sixteen Kingdoms. The Xianbei unified them as the Northern Wei, whose Emperor Xiaowen reversed his predecessors' apartheid policies and enforced a drastic sinification on his subjects, largely integrating them into Chinese culture. In the south, the general Liu Yu secured the abdication of the Jin in favor of the Liu Song, the various successors of these states became known as the Northern and Southern dynasties, with the two areas finally reunited by the Sui in 581. The Sui restored the Han to power through China, reformed its agriculture and economy, constructed the Grand Canal, and patronized Buddhism. However, they fell quickly when their conscription for public works and a failed war with Korea provoked widespread unrest.[69][70] Under the succeeding Tang and Song dynasties, Chinese economy, technology, and culture entered a golden age,[71] the Tang Empire returned control of the Western Regions and the Silk Road,[72] and made the capital Chang'an a cosmopolitan urban center. However, it was devastated and weakened by the An Shi Rebellion in the 8th century;[73] in 907, the Tang disintegrated completely when the local military governors became ungovernable. The Song Dynasty ended the separatist situation in 960, leading to a balance of power between the Song and Khitan Liao, the Song was the first government in world history to issue paper money and the first Chinese polity to establish a permanent standing navy which was supported by the developed shipbuilding industry along with the sea trade.[74] Between the 10th and 11th centuries, the population of China doubled in size to around 100 million people, mostly because of the expansion of rice cultivation in central and southern China, and the production of abundant food surpluses, the Song dynasty also saw a revival of Confucianism, in response to the growth of Buddhism during the Tang,[75] and a flourishing of philosophy and the arts, as landscape art and porcelain were brought to new levels of maturity and complexity.[76][77] However, the military weakness of the Song army was observed by the Jurchen Jin dynasty; in 1127, Emperor Huizong of Song and the capital Bianjing were captured during the Jin–Song Wars. The remnants of the Song retreated to southern China.[78] The 13th century brought the Mongol conquest of China; in 1271, the Mongol leader Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty; the Yuan conquered the last remnant of the Song dynasty in 1279. Before the Mongol invasion, the population of Song China was 120 million citizens; this was reduced to 60 million by the time of the census in 1300.[79] A peasant named Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew the Yuan in 1368 and founded the Ming dynasty as the Hongwu Emperor. Under the Ming Dynasty, China enjoyed another golden age, developing one of the strongest navies in the world and a rich and prosperous economy amid a flourishing of art and culture, it was during this period that Zheng He led treasure voyages throughout the world, reaching as far as Africa.[80] In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, China's capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing, with the budding of capitalism, philosophers such as Wang Yangming further critiqued and expanded Neo-Confucianism with concepts of individualism and equality of four occupations.[81] The scholar-official stratum became a supporting force of industry and commerce in the tax boycott movements, which, together with the famines and defense against Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98) and Manchu invasions led to an exhausted treasury.[82] In 1644, Beijing was captured by a coalition of peasant rebel forces led by Li Zicheng, the Chongzhen Emperor committed suicide when the city fell. The Manchu Qing dynasty, then allied with Ming dynasty general Wu Sangui, overthrew Li's short-lived Shun dynasty and subsequently seized control of Beijing, which became the new capital of the Qing dynasty. End of dynastic rule Republic of China (1912–1949) On 1 January 1912, the Republic of China was established, and Sun Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (the KMT or Nationalist Party) was proclaimed provisional president.[90] However, the presidency was later given to Yuan Shikai, a former Qing general who in 1915 proclaimed himself Emperor of China; in the face of popular condemnation and opposition from his own Beiyang Army, he was forced to abdicate and re-establish the republic.[91] After Yuan Shikai's death in 1916, China was politically fragmented, its Beijing-based government was internationally recognized but virtually powerless; regional warlords controlled most of its territory.[92][93] In the late 1920s, the Kuomintang, under Chiang Kai-shek, the then Principal of the Republic of China Military Academy, was able to reunify the country under its own control with a series of deft military and political manoeuvrings, known collectively as the Northern Expedition.[94][95] The Kuomintang moved the nation's capital to Nanjing and implemented "political tutelage", an intermediate stage of political development outlined in Sun Yat-sen's San-min program for transforming China into a modern democratic state,[96][97] the political division in China made it difficult for Chiang to battle the Communist, People's Liberation Army (PLA) against whom the Kuomintang had been warring since 1927 in the Chinese Civil War. This war continued successfully for the Kuomintang, especially after the PLA retreated in the Long March, until Japanese aggression and the 1936 Xi'an Incident forced Chiang to confront Imperial Japan.[98] The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), a theater of World War II, forced an uneasy alliance between the Kuomintang and the PLA. Japanese forces committed numerous war atrocities against the civilian population; in all, as many as 20 million Chinese civilians died.[99] An estimated 200,000 Chinese were massacred in the city of Nanjing alone during the Japanese occupation,[100] during the war, China, along with the UK, the US and the Soviet Union, were referred to as "trusteeship of the powerful"[101] and were recognized as the Allied "Big Four" in the Declaration by United Nations.[102][103] Along with the other three great powers, China was one of the four major Allies of World War II, and was later considered one of the primary victors in the war,[104][105] after the surrender of Japan in 1945, Taiwan, including the Pescadores, was returned to Chinese control. China emerged victorious but war-ravaged and financially drained, the continued distrust between the Kuomintang and the Communists led to the resumption of civil war. Constitutional rule was established in 1947, but because of the ongoing unrest, many provisions of the ROC constitution were never implemented in mainland China.[106] People's Republic of China (1949–present) Mao Zedong proclaiming the establishment of the PRC in 1949 The regime consolidated its popularity among the peasants through land reform, which saw between 1 and 2 million landlords executed.[111] Under its leadership, China developed an independent industrial system and its own nuclear weapons,[112] the Chinese population almost doubled from around 550 million to over 900 million.[113] However, the Great Leap Forward, a large-scale economic and social reform project, resulted in an estimated 45 million deaths between 1958 and 1961, mostly from starvation.[114] In 1966, Mao and his allies launched the Cultural Revolution, sparking a decade of political recrimination and social upheaval which lasted until Mao's death in 1976; in October 1971, the PRC replaced the Republic of China in the United Nations, and took its seat as a permanent member of the Security Council.[115] After Mao's death, the Gang of Four was quickly arrested and held responsible for the excesses of the Cultural Revolution. Deng Xiaoping took power in 1978, and instituted significant economic reforms. The Communist Party loosened governmental control over citizens' personal lives, and the communes were gradually disbanded in favor of private land leases, this marked China's transition from a planned economy to a mixed economy with an increasingly open-market environment.[116] China adopted its current constitution on 4 December 1982; in 1989, the violent suppression of student protests in Tiananmen Square brought condemnation and sanctions against the Chinese government from various countries.[117] Jiang Zemin, Li Peng and Zhu Rongji led the nation in the 1990s. Under their administration, China's economic performance pulled an estimated 150 million peasants out of poverty and sustained an average annual gross domestic product growth rate of 11.2%.[118][119] The country formally joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, and maintained its high rate of economic growth under Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao's leadership in the 2000s. However, rapid growth also severely impacted the country's resources and environment,[120][121] and caused major social displacement.[122][123] Living standards continued to improve rapidly despite the late-2000s recession, but centralized political control remained tight.[124] Preparations for a decadal Communist Party leadership change in 2012 were marked by factional disputes and political scandals.[125] During China's 18th National Communist Party Congress in November 2012, Hu Jintao was replaced as General Secretary of the Communist Party by Xi Jinping.[126][127] Under Xi, the Chinese government began large-scale efforts to reform its economy,[128][129] which has suffered from structural instabilities and slowing growth.[130][131][132][133] The Xi–Li Administration also announced major reforms to the one-child policy and prison system.[134] A composite satellite image showing the topography of China The Li River in Guangxi Political geography The People's Republic of China is the second-largest country in the world by land area[135] after Russia, and is either the third- or fourth-largest by total area, after Russia, Canada and, depending on the definition of total area, the United States.[p] China's total area is generally stated as being approximately 9,600,000 km2 (3,700,000 sq mi).[136] Specific area figures range from 9,572,900 km2 (3,696,100 sq mi) according to the Encyclopædia Britannica,[137] 9,596,961 km2 (3,705,407 sq mi) according to the UN Demographic Yearbook,[7] to 9,596,961 km2 (3,705,407 sq mi) according to the CIA World Factbook.[9] Landscape and climate The territory of China lies between latitudes 18° and 54° N, and longitudes 73° and 135° E. China's landscapes vary significantly across its vast width; in the east, along the shores of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, there are extensive and densely populated alluvial plains, while on the edges of the Inner Mongolian plateau in the north, broad grasslands predominate. Southern China is dominated by hills and low mountain ranges, while the central-east hosts the deltas of China's two major rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. Other major rivers include the Xi, Mekong, Brahmaputra and Amur. To the west sit major mountain ranges, most notably the Himalayas. High plateaus feature among the more arid landscapes of the north, such as the Taklamakan and the Gobi Desert, the world's highest point, Mount Everest (8,848m), lies on the Sino-Nepalese border.[139] The country's lowest point, and the world's third-lowest, is the dried lake bed of Ayding Lake (−154m) in the Turpan Depression.[140] China's climate is mainly dominated by dry seasons and wet monsoons, which lead to pronounced temperature differences between winter and summer; in the winter, northern winds coming from high-latitude areas are cold and dry; in summer, southern winds from coastal areas at lower latitudes are warm and moist.[141] The climate in China differs from region to region because of the country's highly complex topography. A major environmental issue in China is the continued expansion of its deserts, particularly the Gobi Desert,[142][143] although barrier tree lines planted since the 1970s have reduced the frequency of sandstorms, prolonged drought and poor agricultural practices have resulted in dust storms plaguing northern China each spring, which then spread to other parts of east Asia, including Korea and Japan. China's environmental watchdog, SEPA, stated in 2007 that China is losing 4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi) per year to desertification.[144] Water quality, erosion, and pollution control have become important issues in China's relations with other countries. Melting glaciers in the Himalayas could potentially lead to water shortages for hundreds of millions of people.[145] Five Flower Sea at Jiuzhaigou Valley, Sichuan Danxia landform, steep red sandstone cliff in Chishui, Guizhou Winter scenery of China Snowland in Hailin, Heilongjiang China is one of 17 megadiverse countries,[146] lying in two of the world's major ecozones: the Palearctic and the Indomalaya. By one measure, China has over 34,687 species of animals and vascular plants, making it the third-most biodiverse country in the world, after Brazil and Colombia,[147] the country signed the Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biological Diversity on 11 June 1992, and became a party to the convention on 5 January 1993.[148] It later produced a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, with one revision that was received by the convention on 21 September 2010.[149] China is home to at least 551 species of mammals (the third-highest such number in the world),[150] 1,221 species of birds (eighth),[151] 424 species of reptiles (seventh)[152] and 333 species of amphibians (seventh).[153] China is the most biodiverse country in each category outside the tropics. Wildlife in China share habitat with and bear acute pressure from the world's largest population of homo sapiens, at least 840 animal species are threatened, vulnerable or in danger of local extinction in China, due mainly to human activity such as habitat destruction, pollution and poaching for food, fur and ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine.[154] Endangered wildlife is protected by law, and as of 2005, the country has over 2,349 nature reserves, covering a total area of 149.95 million hectares, 15 percent of China's total land area.[155] China has over 32,000 species of vascular plants,[156] and is home to a variety of forest types. Cold coniferous forests predominate in the north of the country, supporting animal species such as moose and Asian black bear, along with over 120 bird species.[157] The understorey of moist conifer forests may contain thickets of bamboo; in higher montane stands of juniper and yew, the bamboo is replaced by rhododendrons. Subtropical forests, which are predominate in central and southern China, support as many as 146,000 species of flora.[157] Tropical and seasonal rainforests, though confined to Yunnan and Hainan Island, contain a quarter of all the animal and plant species found in China.[157] China has over 10,000 recorded species of fungi,[158] and of them, nearly 6,000 are higher fungi.[159] Environmental issues In recent decades, China has suffered from severe environmental deterioration and pollution.[160][161] While regulations such as the 1979 Environmental Protection Law are fairly stringent, they are poorly enforced, as they are frequently disregarded by local communities and government officials in favor of rapid economic development.[162] Urban air pollution is a severe health issue in the country; the World Bank estimated in 2013 that 16 of the world's 20 most-polluted cities are located in China.[163] China is the world's largest carbon dioxide emitter,[164] the country also has significant water pollution problems: 40% of China's rivers had been polluted by industrial and agricultural waste by late 2011.[165] In 2014, the internal freshwater resources per capita of China reduced to 2,062m3, and it was below 500m3 in the North China Plain, while 5,920m3 in the world.[166][167][168] However, China is the world's leading investor in renewable energy commercialization, with $52 billion invested in 2011 alone;[169][170][171] it is a major manufacturer of renewable energy technologies and invests heavily in local-scale renewable energy projects.[172][173] By 2009, over 17% of China's energy was derived from renewable sources – most notably hydroelectric power plants, of which China has a total installed capacity of 197 GW;[174] in 2011, the Chinese government announced plans to invest four trillion yuan (US$619 billion) in water infrastructure and desalination projects over a ten-year period, and to complete construction of a flood prevention and anti-drought system by 2020.[167][175] In 2013, China began a five-year, US$277 billion effort to reduce air pollution, particularly in the north of the country.[176] Tiananmen with a portrait of Mao Zedong Xi Jinping General Secretary and President Li Keqiang China's constitution states that The People's Republic of China "is a socialist state under the people's democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants," and that the state organs "apply the principle of democratic centralism."[177] The PRC is one of the world's few remaining socialist states openly endorsing communism (see Ideology of the Communist Party of China). The Chinese government has been variously described as communist and socialist, but also as authoritarian and corporatist,[178] with heavy restrictions in many areas, most notably against free access to the Internet, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, the right to have children, free formation of social organizations and freedom of religion.[179] Its current political, ideological and economic system has been termed by its leaders as the "people's democratic dictatorship", "socialism with Chinese characteristics" (which is Marxism adapted to Chinese circumstances) and the "socialist market economy" respectively.[180] Communist Party China's constitution declares that the country is ruled "under the leadership" of the Communist Party of China (CPC).[181] As China is a de facto one-party state, the General Secretary (party leader) holds ultimate power and authority over state and government serving as the paramount leader.[182] The electoral system is pyramidal. Local People's Congresses are directly elected, and higher levels of People's Congresses up to the National People's Congress (NPC) are indirectly elected by the People's Congress of the level immediately below.[183] The political system is decentralized, and provincial and sub-provincial leaders have a significant amount of autonomy.[184] The other eight political parties, referred to as democratic parties, have representatives in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), known as the United Front.[185] China supports the Leninist principle of "democratic centralism",[186] but critics describe the elected National People's Congress as a "rubber stamp" body.[187] There have been some moves toward political liberalization, in that open contested elections are now held at the village and town levels.[190][191] However, the Party retains effective control over government appointments: in the absence of meaningful opposition, the CPC wins by default most of the time. Political concerns in China include the growing gap between rich and poor and government corruption.[192][193] Nonetheless, the level of public support for the government and its management of the nation is high, with 80–95% of Chinese citizens expressing satisfaction with the central government, according to a 2011 survey.[194] Administrative divisions China considers Taiwan to be its 23rd province, although Taiwan is governed by the Republic of China, which disputes the PRC's claim.[195] None of the divisions are recognized by the ROC government, which claims the entirety of the PRC's territory. About this image Foreign relations Diplomatic Relations of China The PRC has diplomatic relations with 175 countries and maintains embassies in 162, its legitimacy is disputed by the Republic of China and a few other countries; it is thus the largest and most populous state with limited recognition. In 1971, the PRC replaced the Republic of China as the sole representative of China in the United Nations and as one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.[196] China was also a former member and leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, and still considers itself an advocate for developing countries.[197] Along with Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, China is a member of the BRICS group of emerging major economies and hosted the group's third official summit at Sanya, Hainan in April 2011.[198] Under its interpretation of the One-China policy, Beijing has made it a precondition to establishing diplomatic relations that the other country acknowledges its claim to Taiwan and severs official ties with the government of the Republic of China. Chinese officials have protested on numerous occasions when foreign countries have made diplomatic overtures to Taiwan,[199] especially in the matter of armament sales.[200] Much of current Chinese foreign policy is reportedly based on Premier Zhou Enlai's Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and is also driven by the concept of "harmony without uniformity", which encourages diplomatic relations between states despite ideological differences.[201] This policy may have led China to support states that are regarded as dangerous or repressive by Western nations, such as Zimbabwe, North Korea and Iran.[202] China has a close economic and military relationship with Russia,[203] and the two states often vote in unison in the UN Security Council.[204][205][206] China's paramount leader Xi Jinping with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden, 14 February 2012 Trade relations In recent decades, China has played an increasing role in calling for free trade areas and security pacts amongst its Asia-Pacific neighbours. China became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 11 December 2001; in 2004, it proposed an entirely new East Asia Summit (EAS) framework as a forum for regional security issues.[207] The EAS, which includes ASEAN Plus Three, India, Australia and New Zealand, held its inaugural summit in 2005. China is also a founding member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), along with Russia and the Central Asian republics. In 2000, the United States Congress approved "permanent normal trade relations" (PNTR) with China, allowing Chinese exports in at the same low tariffs as goods from most other countries.[208] China has a significant trade surplus with the United States, its most important export market;[209] in the early 2010s, US politicians argued that the Chinese yuan was significantly undervalued, giving China an unfair trade advantage.[210][211][212] In recent decades, China has followed a policy of engaging with African nations for trade and bilateral co-operation;[213][214][215] in 2012, Sino-African trade totalled over US$160 billion.[216] China has furthermore strengthened its ties with major South American economies, becoming the largest trading partner of Brazil and building strategic links with Argentina.[217][218] Territorial disputes In addition to Taiwan, China is also involved in other international territorial disputes, since the 1990s, China has been involved in negotiations to resolve its disputed land borders, including a disputed border with India and an undefined border with Bhutan. China is additionally involved in multilateral disputes over the ownership of several small islands in the East and South China Seas, such as the Senkaku Islands and the Scarborough Shoal,[220][221] on 21 May 2014 Xi Jinping, speaking at a conference in Shanghai, pledged to settle China's territorial disputes peacefully. "China stays committed to seeking peaceful settlement of disputes with other countries over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests", he said.[222] Emerging superpower status China is regularly hailed as a potential new superpower, with certain commentators citing its rapid economic progress, growing military might, very large population, and increasing international influence as signs that it will play a prominent global role in the 21st century.[18][223] Others, however, warn that economic bubbles and demographic imbalances could slow or even halt China's growth as the century progresses,[224][225] some authors also question the definition of "superpower", arguing that China's large economy alone would not qualify it as a superpower, and noting that it lacks the military power and cultural influence of the United States.[226] Sociopolitical issues, human rights and reform The Chinese democracy movement, social activists, and some members of the Communist Party of China have all identified the need for social and political reform. While economic and social controls have been significantly relaxed in China since the 1970s, political freedom is still tightly restricted, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China states that the "fundamental rights" of citizens include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to a fair trial, freedom of religion, universal suffrage, and property rights. However, in practice, these provisions do not afford significant protection against criminal prosecution by the state,[227][228] although some criticisms of government policies and the ruling Communist Party are tolerated, censorship of political speech and information, most notably on the Internet,[229][230] are routinely used to prevent collective action.[231] In 2005, Reporters Without Borders ranked China 159th out of 167 states in its Annual World Press Freedom Index, indicating a very low level of press freedom;[232] in 2014, China ranked 175th out of 180 countries.[233] Rural migrants to China's cities often find themselves treated as second-class citizens by the hukou household registration system, which controls access to state benefits.[234][235] Property rights are often poorly protected,[234] and taxation disproportionately affects poorer citizens.[235] However, a number of rural taxes have been reduced or abolished since the early 2000s, and additional social services provided to rural dwellers.[236][237] Candlelight vigil on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests A number of foreign governments, foreign press agencies and NGOs also routinely criticize China's human rights record, alleging widespread civil rights violations such as detention without trial, forced abortions,[238] forced confessions, torture, restrictions of fundamental rights,[179][239] and excessive use of the death penalty.[240][241] The government has suppressed popular protests and demonstrations that it considers a potential threat to "social stability", as was the case with the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Falun Gong was first taught publicly in 1992. In 1999, when there were 70 million practitioners,[242] the persecution of Falun Gong began, resulting in mass arrests, extralegal detention, and reports of torture and deaths in custody,[243][244] the Chinese state is regularly accused of large-scale repression and human rights abuses in Tibet and Xinjiang, including violent police crackdowns and religious suppression.[245][246] The Chinese government has responded to foreign criticism by arguing that the right to subsistence and economic development is a prerequisite to other types of human rights, and that the notion of human rights should take into account a country's present level of economic development,[247] it emphasizes the rise in the Chinese standard of living, literacy rate and average life expectancy since the 1970s, as well as improvements in workplace safety and efforts to combat natural disasters such as the perennial Yangtze River floods.[247][248][249] Furthermore, some Chinese politicians have spoken out in support of democratization, although others remain more conservative.[250] Some major reform efforts have been conducted; for an instance in November 2013, the government announced plans to relax the one-child policy and abolish the much-criticized re-education through labour program,[134] though human rights groups note that reforms to the latter have been largely cosmetic.[243] During the 2000s and early 2010s, the Chinese government was increasingly tolerant of NGOs that offer practical, efficient solutions to social problems, but such "third sector" activity remained heavily regulated.[251][252] A PLA air force Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter aircraft With 2.3 million active troops, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the largest standing military force in the world, commanded by the Central Military Commission (CMC).[253] The PLA consists of the Ground Force (PLAGF), the Navy (PLAN), the Air Force (PLAAF), and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF). According to the Chinese government, China's military budget for 2014 totalled US$132 billion, constituting the world's second-largest military budget, although the military expenditures-GDP ratio is below world average.[21] However, many authorities – including SIPRI and the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense – argue that China does not report its real level of military spending, which is allegedly much higher than the official budget.[21][254] As a recognized nuclear weapons state, China is considered both a major regional military power and a potential military superpower.[255] According to a 2013 report by the US Department of Defense, China fields between 50 and 75 nuclear ICBMs, along with a number of SRBMs.[20] However, compared with the other four UN Security Council Permanent Members, China has relatively limited power projection capabilities.[256] To offset this, it has developed numerous power projection assets since the early 2000s – its first aircraft carrier entered service in 2012,[257][258][259] and it maintains a substantial fleet of submarines, including several nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile submarines.[260] China has furthermore established a network of foreign military relationships along critical sea lanes.[261] China has made significant progress in modernising its air force in recent decades, purchasing Russian fighter jets such as the Sukhoi Su-30, and also manufacturing its own modern fighters, most notably the Chengdu J-10, J-20 and the Shenyang J-11, J-15, J-16, and J-31.[257][262] China is furthermore engaged in developing an indigenous stealth aircraft and numerous combat drones.[263][264][265] Air and Sea denial weaponry advances have increased the regional threat from the perspective of Japan as well as Washington.[266][267] China has also updated its ground forces, replacing its ageing Soviet-derived tank inventory with numerous variants of the modern Type 99 tank, and upgrading its battlefield C3I and C4I systems to enhance its network-centric warfare capabilities.[268] In addition, China has developed or acquired numerous advanced missile systems,[269][270] including anti-satellite missiles,[271] cruise missiles[272] and submarine-launched nuclear ICBMs.[273] According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's data, China became the world's third largest exporter of major arms in 2010–14, an increase of 143 per cent from the period 2005–09.[274] Economic history and growth From its founding in 1949 until late 1978, the People's Republic of China was a Soviet-style centrally planned economy. Following Mao's death in 1976 and the consequent end of the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping and the new Chinese leadership began to reform the economy and move towards a more market-oriented mixed economy under one-party rule. Agricultural collectivization was dismantled and farmlands privatized, while foreign trade became a major new focus, leading to the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Inefficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs) were restructured and unprofitable ones were closed outright, resulting in massive job losses. Modern-day China is mainly characterized as having a market economy based on private property ownership,[280] and is one of the leading examples of state capitalism,[281][282] the state still dominates in strategic "pillar" sectors such as energy production and heavy industries, but private enterprise has expanded enormously, with around 30 million private businesses recorded in 2008.[283][284][285][286] Headquarter of Alibaba Group in Hangzhou Since economic liberalization began in 1978, China has been among the world's fastest-growing economies,[287] relying largely on investment- and export-led growth.[288] According to the IMF, China's annual average GDP growth between 2001 and 2010 was 10.5%. Between 2007 and 2011, China's economic growth rate was equivalent to all of the G7 countries' growth combined.[289] According to the Global Growth Generators index announced by Citigroup in February 2011, China has a very high 3G growth rating,[290] its high productivity, low labor costs and relatively good infrastructure have made it a global leader in manufacturing. However, the Chinese economy is highly energy-intensive and inefficient;[291] China became the world's largest energy consumer in 2010,[292] relies on coal to supply over 70% of its energy needs, and surpassed the US to become the world's largest oil importer in September 2013;[293][294] in the early 2010s, China's economic growth rate began to slow amid domestic credit troubles, weakening international demand for Chinese exports and fragility in the global economy.[295][296][297] In the online realm, China's e-commerce industry has grown more slowly than the EU and the US, with a significant period of development occurring from around 2009 onwards. According to Credit Suisse, the total value of online transactions in China grew from an insignificant size in 2008 to around RMB 4 trillion (US$660 billion) in 2012, the Chinese online payment market is dominated by major firms such as Alipay, Tenpay and China UnionPay.[298] China in the global economy China is a member of the WTO and is the world's largest trading power, with a total international trade value of US$3.87 trillion in 2012.[19] Its foreign exchange reserves reached US$2.85 trillion by the end of 2010, an increase of 18.7% over the previous year, making its reserves by far the world's largest.[299][300] In 2012, China was the world's largest recipient of inward foreign direct investment (FDI), attracting $253 billion;[301] in 2014, China's foreign exchange remittances were $US64 billion making it the second largest recipient of remittances in the world.[302] China also invests abroad, with a total outward FDI of $62.4 billion in 2012,[301] and a number of major takeovers of foreign firms by Chinese companies.[303] In 2009, China owned an estimated $1.6 trillion of US securities,[304] and was also the largest foreign holder of US public debt, owning over $1.16 trillion in US Treasury bonds.[305][306] China's undervalued exchange rate has caused friction with other major economies,[211][307][308] and it has also been widely criticized for manufacturing large quantities of counterfeit goods.[309][310] According to consulting firm McKinsey, total outstanding debt in China increased from $7.4 trillion in 2007 to $28.2 trillion in 2014, which reflects 228% of China's GDP.[311] In 2017 the Institute of International Finance reported that China's debt had reached 304% of its GDP.[312] Graph comparing the 2014 nominal GDPs of major economies in US$ billions (IMF)[313] China ranked 29th in the Global Competitiveness Index in 2009,[314] although it is only ranked 136th among the 179 countries measured in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom;[315] in 2014, Fortune's Global 500 list of the world's largest corporations included 95 Chinese companies, with combined revenues of US$5.8 trillion.[316] The same year, Forbes reported that five of the world's ten largest public companies were Chinese, including the world's largest bank by total assets, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.[317] Class and income equality China's middle-class population (if defined as those with annual income of between US$10,000 and US$60,000) had reached more than 300 million by 2012.[318] According to the Hurun Report, the number of US dollar billionaires in China increased from 130 in 2009 to 251 in 2012, giving China the world's second-highest number of billionaires.[319][320] China's domestic retail market was worth over 20 trillion yuan (US$3.2 trillion) in 2012[321] and is growing at over 12% annually as of 2013,[322] while the country's luxury goods market has expanded immensely, with 27.5% of the global share.[323] However, in recent years, China's rapid economic growth has contributed to severe consumer inflation,[324][325] leading to increased government regulation.[326] China has a high level of economic inequality,[327] which has increased in the past few decades;[328] in 2012, China's official Gini coefficient was 0.474.[329] A study conducted by Southwestern University of Finance and Economics showed that China’s Gini coefficient actually had reached 0.61 in 2012, and top 1% Chinese held more than 25% of China’s wealth.[330] Internationalization of the renminbi Following the 2008 global financial crisis, China realized the dependency on the US Dollar and the weakness of the international monetary system,[331] the RMB Internationalization accelerated in 2009 when China established dim sum bond market and expanded the Cross-Border Trade RMB Settlement Pilot Project, which helps establish pools of offshore RMB liquidity.[332][333] In November 2010, Russia began using the Chinese renminbi in its bilateral trade with China,[334] this was soon followed by Japan,[335] Australia,[336] Singapore,[337] the United Kingdom,[338] and Canada.[339] As a result of the rapid internationalization of the renminbi, it became the eighth-most-traded currency in the world in 2013.[340] Science and technology China was once a world leader in science and technology until the Ming Dynasty. Ancient Chinese discoveries and inventions, such as papermaking, printing, the compass, and gunpowder (the Four Great Inventions), became widespread in Asia and later to the Europe. Chinese mathematicians were the first to use negative numbers.[341][342] By the 17th century, the Western world had surpassed China in scientific and technological development,[343] the causes of this Great Divergence continue to be debated.[344] After repeated military defeats by Western nations in the 19th century, Chinese reformers began promoting modern science and technology as part of the Self-Strengthening Movement, after the Communists came to power in 1949, efforts were made to organize science and technology based on the model of the Soviet Union, in which scientific research was part of central planning.[345] After Mao's death in 1976, science and technology was established as one of the Four Modernizations,[346] and the Soviet-inspired academic system was gradually reformed.[347] Modern era Since the end of the Cultural Revolution, China has made significant investments in scientific research,[348] with $163 billion spent on scientific research and development in 2012.[349] Science and technology are seen as vital for achieving China's economic and political goals, and are held as a source of national pride to a degree sometimes described as "techno-nationalism".[350] Nonetheless, China's investment in basic and applied scientific research remains behind that of leading technological powers such as the United States and Japan.[348][349] Chinese-born scientists have won the Nobel Prize in Physics four times, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Physiology or Medicine once respectively, though most of these scientists conducted their Nobel-winning research in western nations.[r] China is developing its education system with an emphasis on science, mathematics and engineering; in 2009, China graduated over 10,000 Ph.D. engineers, and as many as 500,000 BSc graduates, more than any other country.[356] China is also the world's second-largest publisher of scientific papers, producing 121,500 in 2010 alone, including 5,200 in leading international scientific journals.[357] Chinese technology companies such as Huawei and Lenovo have become world leaders in telecommunications and personal computing,[358][359][360] and Chinese supercomputers are consistently ranked among the world's most powerful.[361][362] China is also expanding its use of industrial robots; from 2008 to 2011, the installation of multi-role robots in Chinese factories rose by 136 percent.[363] The Chinese space program is one of the world's most active, and is a major source of national pride;[364][365] in 1970, China launched its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong I, becoming the fifth country to do so independently.[366] In 2003, China became the third country to independently send humans into space, with Yang Liwei's spaceflight aboard Shenzhou 5; as of 2015, ten Chinese nationals have journeyed into space, including two women. In 2011, China's first space station module, Tiangong-1, was launched, marking the first step in a project to assemble a large manned station by the early 2020s;[367] in 2013, China successfully landed the Chang'e 3 lander and Yutu rover onto the lunar surface; China plans to collect lunar soil samples by 2017.[368] Beidou satellites are mainly launched using Long March 3 rocket family. China currently has the largest number of active cellphones of any country in the world, with over 1 billion users by February 2012.[369] It also has the world's largest number of internet and broadband users,[370] with over 688 million internet users as of 2016, equivalent to around half of its population.[371] The national average broadband connection speed is 9.46 Mbit/s, ranking China 91st in the world in terms of internet speed.[371] As of July 2013, China accounts for 24% of the world's internet-connected devices,[372] since 2011 China is the nation with the most installed telecommunication bandwidth in the world. By 2014, China hosts more than twice as much national bandwidth potential than the U.S., the historical leader in terms of installed telecommunication bandwidth (China: 29% versus US:13% of the global total).[373] China Telecom and China Unicom, the world's two largest broadband providers, accounted for 20% of global broadband subscribers. China Telecom alone serves more than 50 million broadband subscribers, while China Unicom serves more than 40 million.[374] Several Chinese telecommunications companies, most notably Huawei and ZTE, have been accused of spying for the Chinese military.[375] China is developing its own satellite navigation system, dubbed Beidou, which began offering commercial navigation services across Asia in 2012,[376] and is planned to offer global coverage by 2020.[377] Since the late 1990s, China's national road network has been significantly expanded through the creation of a network of national highways and expressways; in 2011 China's highways had reached a total length of 85,000 km (53,000 mi), making it the longest highway system in the world.[378] In 1991, there were only six bridges across the main stretch of the Yangtze River, which bisects the country into northern and southern halves. By October 2014, there were 81 such bridges and tunnels. China has the world's largest market for automobiles, having surpassed the United States in both auto sales and production. Auto sales in 2009 exceeded 13.6 million[379] and may reach 40 million by 2020.[380] A side-effect of the rapid growth of China's road network has been a significant rise in traffic accidents,[381] with poorly enforced traffic laws cited as a possible cause—in 2011 alone, around 62,000 Chinese died in road accidents;[382] in urban areas, bicycles remain a common mode of transport, despite the increasing prevalence of automobiles – as of 2012, there are approximately 470 million bicycles in China.[383] China's railways, which are state-owned, are among the busiest in the world, handling a quarter of the world's rail traffic volume on only 6 percent of the world's tracks in 2006.[384][385] As of 2013, the country had 103,144 km (64,091 mi) of railways, the third longest network in the world.[386] All provinces and regions are connected to the rail network except Macau, the railways strain to meet enormous demand particularly during the Chinese New Year holiday, when the world's largest annual human migration takes place.[385] In 2013, Chinese railways delivered 2.106 billion passenger trips, generating 1,059.56 billion passenger-kilometers and carried 3.967 billion tons of freight, generating 2,917.4 billion cargo tons-kilometers.[386] China's high-speed rail (HSR) system started construction in the early 2000s. Today it has over 19,000 kilometers (11,806 miles) of dedicated lines alone, a length that exceeds rest of the world's high-speed rail tracks combined,[387] making it the longest HSR network in the world.[388] With an annual ridership of over 1.1 billion passengers in 2015 it is the world's busiest.[389] The network includes the Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen High-Speed Railway, the single longest HSR line in the world, and the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, which has three of longest railroad bridges in the world.[390] The HSR track network is set to reach approximately 16,000 km (9,900 mi) by 2020.[391] The Shanghai Maglev Train, which reaches 431 km/h (268 mph), is the fastest commercial train service in the world.[392] Since 2000, the growth of rapid transit systems in Chinese cities has accelerated, as of January 2016, 26 Chinese cities have urban mass transit systems in operation and 39 more have metro systems approved[393] with a dozen more to join them by 2020.[394] The Shanghai Metro, Beijing Subway, Guangzhou Metro, Hong Kong MTR and Shenzhen Metro are among the longest and busiest in the world. The China Standardized EMU, an indigenous Chinese bullet train There were 182 commercial airports in China in 2012, with 82 new airports planned to open by 2015, more than two-thirds of the airports under construction worldwide in 2013 were in China,[395] and Boeing expects that China's fleet of active commercial aircraft in China will grow from 1,910 in 2011 to 5,980 in 2031.[395] With rapid expansion in civil aviation, the largest airports in China have also joined the ranks of the busiest in the world; in 2013, Beijing's Capital Airport ranked second in the world by passenger traffic (it was 26th in 2002). Since 2010, the Hong Kong International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport have ranked first and third in air cargo tonnage. Some 80% of China's airspace remains restricted for military use, and Chinese airlines made up eight of the 10 worst-performing Asian airlines in terms of delays.[396] China has over 2,000 river and seaports, about 130 of which are open to foreign shipping; in 2012, the Ports of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian ranked in the top in the world in container traffic and cargo tonnage.[397] Water supply and sanitation Water supply and sanitation infrastructure in China is facing challenges such as rapid urbanization, as well as water scarcity, contamination, and pollution.[398] According to data presented by the Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation of WHO and UNICEF in 2015, about 36% of the rural population in China still did not have access to improved sanitation.[399] In June 2010, there were 1,519 sewage treatment plants in China and 18 plants were added each week,[400] the ongoing South–North Water Transfer Project intends to abate water shortage in the north.[401] The national census of 2010 recorded the population of the People's Republic of China as approximately 1,370,536,875. About 16.60% of the population were 14 years old or younger, 70.14% were between 15 and 59 years old, and 13.26% were over 60 years old.[402] The population growth rate for 2013 is estimated to be 0.46%.[403] Although a middle-income country by Western standards, China's rapid growth has pulled hundreds of millions of its people out of poverty since 1978. Today, about 10% of the Chinese population lives below the poverty line of US$1 per day, down from 64% in 1978; in 2014, the urban unemployment rate of China was about 4.1%.[404][405] With a population of around 1.4 billion and dwindling natural resources, the government of China is very concerned about its population growth rate and has attempted since 1979, with mixed results,[406] to implement a strict family planning policy, known as the "one-child policy." Before 2013, this policy sought to restrict families to one child each, with exceptions for ethnic minorities and a degree of flexibility in rural areas. A major loosening of the policy was enacted in December 2013, allowing families to have two children if one parent is an only child;[407] in 2016, the one-child policy was replaced in favor of a two-child policy.[408] Data from the 2010 census implies that the total fertility rate may be around 1.4.[409] Population of China from 1949 to 2008[needs update] The policy, along with traditional preference for boys, may be contributing to an imbalance in the sex ratio at birth.[410][411] According to the 2010 census, the sex ratio at birth was 118.06 boys for every 100 girls,[412] which is beyond the normal range of around 105 boys for every 100 girls.[413] The 2010 census found that males accounted for 51.27 percent of the total population.[412] However, China's sex ratio is more balanced than it was in 1953, when males accounted for 51.82 percent of the total population.[412] Ethnic groups China officially recognizes 56 distinct ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Han Chinese, who constitute about 91.51% of the total population.[11] The Han Chinese – the world's largest single ethnic group[414] – outnumber other ethnic groups in every provincial-level division except Tibet and Xinjiang.[415] Ethnic minorities account for about 8.49% of the population of China, according to the 2010 census.[11] Compared with the 2000 population census, the Han population increased by 66,537,177 persons, or 5.74%, while the population of the 55 national minorities combined increased by 7,362,627 persons, or 6.92%.[11] The 2010 census recorded a total of 593,832 foreign citizens living in China, the largest such groups were from South Korea (120,750), the United States (71,493) and Japan (66,159).[416] 1990 map of Chinese ethnolinguistic groups Chinese characters have been used as the written script for the Sinitic languages for thousands of years. They allow speakers of mutually unintelligible Chinese varieties to communicate with each other through writing; in 1956, the government introduced simplified characters, which have supplanted the older traditional characters in mainland China. Chinese characters are romanized using the Pinyin system. Tibetan uses an alphabet based on an Indic script. Uyghur is most commonly written in Persian alphabet based Uyghur Arabic alphabet, the Mongolian script used in China and the Manchu script are both derived from the Old Uyghur alphabet. Zhuang uses both an official Latin alphabet script and a traditional Chinese character script. Map of the ten largest cities in China (2010) China has urbanized significantly in recent decades, the percent of the country's population living in urban areas increased from 20% in 1980 to over 50% in 2014.[421][422][423] It is estimated that China's urban population will reach one billion by 2030, potentially equivalent to one-eighth of the world population,[421][422] as of 2012, there are more than 262 million migrant workers in China, mostly rural migrants seeking work in cities.[424] China has over 160 cities with a population of over one million,[425] including the seven megacities (cities with a population of over 10 million) of Chongqing, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Shenzhen, and Wuhan.[426][427][428] By 2025, it is estimated that the country will be home to 221 cities with over a million inhabitants,[421] the figures in the table below are from the 2010 census,[4] and are only estimates of the urban populations within administrative city limits; a different ranking exists when considering the total municipal populations (which includes suburban and rural populations). The large "floating populations" of migrant workers make conducting censuses in urban areas difficult;[429] the figures below include only long-term residents. Scholars outside of China also credit Mao for boosting literacy (only 20% of the population could read in 1949, compared to 65.5% thirty years later)[431][432] Since 1986, compulsory education in China comprises primary and junior secondary school, which together last for nine years;[433] in 2010, about 82.5 percent of students continued their education at a three-year senior secondary school.[434] The Gaokao, China's national university entrance exam, is a prerequisite for entrance into most higher education institutions; in 2010, 27 percent of secondary school graduates are enrolled in higher education.[435] Vocational education is available to students at the secondary and tertiary level.[436] In February 2006, the government pledged to provide completely free nine-year education, including textbooks and fees.[437] Annual education investment went from less than US$50 billion in 2003 to more than US$250 billion in 2011.[438] However, there remains an inequality in education spending; in 2010, the annual education expenditure per secondary school student in Beijing totalled ¥20,023, while in Guizhou, one of the poorest provinces in China, only totalled ¥3,204.[439] Free compulsory education in China consists of primary school and junior secondary school between the ages of 6 and 15; in 2011, around 81.4% of Chinese have received secondary education.[440] By 2007, there were 396,567 primary schools, 94,116 secondary schools, and 2,236 higher education institutions in China.[441] As of 2010, 94% of the population over age 15 are literate,[442] compared to only 20% in 1950;[443] in 2009, Chinese students from Shanghai achieved the world's best results in mathematics, science and literacy, as tested by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a worldwide evaluation of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance.[444] Despite the high results, Chinese education has also faced both native and international criticism for its emphasis on rote memorization and its gap in quality from rural to urban areas. The National Health and Family Planning Commission, together with its counterparts in the local commissions, oversees the health needs of the Chinese population.[445] An emphasis on public health and preventive medicine has characterized Chinese health policy since the early 1950s, at that time, the Communist Party started the Patriotic Health Campaign, which was aimed at improving sanitation and hygiene, as well as treating and preventing several diseases. Diseases such as cholera, typhoid and scarlet fever, which were previously rife in China, were nearly eradicated by the campaign. After Deng Xiaoping began instituting economic reforms in 1978, the health of the Chinese public improved rapidly because of better nutrition, although many of the free public health services provided in the countryside disappeared along with the People's Communes. Healthcare in China became mostly privatized, and experienced a significant rise in quality; in 2009, the government began a 3-year large-scale healthcare provision initiative worth US$124 billion.[446] By 2011, the campaign resulted in 95% of China's population having basic health insurance coverage;[447] in 2011, China was estimated to be the world's third-largest supplier of pharmaceuticals, but its population has suffered from the development and distribution of counterfeit medications.[448] As of 2012, the average life expectancy at birth in China is 75 years,[449] and the infant mortality rate is 12 per thousand.[450] Both have improved significantly since the 1950s.[s] Rates of stunting, a condition caused by malnutrition, have declined from 33.1% in 1990 to 9.9% in 2010.[453] Despite significant improvements in health and the construction of advanced medical facilities, China has several emerging public health problems, such as respiratory illnesses caused by widespread air pollution,[454] hundreds of millions of cigarette smokers,[455] and an increase in obesity among urban youths.[456][457] China's large population and densely populated cities have led to serious disease outbreaks in recent years, such as the 2003 outbreak of SARS, although this has since been largely contained;[458] in 2010, air pollution caused 1.2 million premature deaths in China.[459] Freedom of religion is guaranteed by China's constitution, although religious organizations that lack official approval can be subject to state persecution.[239][460] The government of the People's Republic of China is officially atheist. Religious affairs and issues in the country are overseen by the State Administration for Religious Affairs.[461] Over the millennia, Chinese civilization has been influenced by various religious movements, the "three teachings", including Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism (Chinese Buddhism), historically have a significant role in shaping Chinese culture,[462][463] Chinese folk religion, which contains elements of the three teachings,[464] consists in allegiance to the shen (神), a character that signifies the "energies of generation", who can be deities of the natural environment or ancestral principles of human groups, concepts of civility, culture heroes, many of whom feature in Chinese mythology and history.[465] Among the most popular folk cults are those of Mazu (goddess of the seas),[466][467] Huangdi (one of the two divine patriarchs of the Chinese race),[466][468] Guandi (god of war and business), Caishen (god of prosperity and richness), Pangu and many others. China is home to many of the world's tallest religious statues, including the tallest of all, the Spring Temple Buddha in Henan. Clear data on religious affiliation in China is difficult to gather due to varying definitions on "religion" and the unorganized nature of Chinese religious traditions. Scholars note that in China there is no clear boundary between three teachings religions, Buddhism, Taoism and local folk religious practice.[462] A 2015 poll conducted by Gallup International found that 61% of Chinese people self-identified as "convinced atheist".[469] According to a 2014 study, approximately 74% are either non-religious or practise Chinese folk belief, 16% are Buddhists, 2% are Christians, and 1% are Muslims;[470][471] in addition to Han people's local religious practices, there are also various ethnic minority groups in China who maintain their traditional autochthone religions. Various sects of indigenous origin comprise 2—3% of the population, while Confucianism as a religious self-designation is popular among intellectuals. Significant faiths specifically connected to certain ethnic groups include Tibetan Buddhism and the Islamic religion of the Hui people, also of Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and other peoples in the Northwest China. Since ancient times, Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by Confucianism and conservative philosophies, for much of the country's dynastic era, opportunities for social advancement could be provided by high performance in the prestigious imperial examinations, which have their origins in the Han Dynasty.[474] The literary emphasis of the exams affected the general perception of cultural refinement in China, such as the belief that calligraphy, poetry and painting were higher forms of art than dancing or drama. Chinese culture has long emphasized a sense of deep history and a largely inward-looking national perspective.[18] Examinations and a culture of merit remain greatly valued in China today.[475] Today, the Chinese government has accepted numerous elements of traditional Chinese culture as being integral to Chinese society, with the rise of Chinese nationalism and the end of the Cultural Revolution, various forms of traditional Chinese art, literature, music, film, fashion and architecture have seen a vigorous revival,[478][479] and folk and variety art in particular have sparked interest nationally and even worldwide.[480] China is now the third-most-visited country in the world,[481] with 55.7 million inbound international visitors in 2010.[482] It also experiences an enormous volume of domestic tourism; an estimated 740 million Chinese holidaymakers travelled within the country in October 2012 alone.[483] Chinese literature is based on the literature of the Zhou dynasty.[484] Concepts covered within the Chinese classic texts present a wide range of thoughts and subjects including calendar, military, astrology, herbology, geography and many others.[485] Some of the most important early texts include the I Ching and the Shujing within the Four Books and Five Classics which served as the Confucian authoritative books for the state-sponsored curriculum in dynastic era.[486] Inherited from the Classic of Poetry, classical Chinese poetry developed to its floruit during the Tang dynasty. Li Bai and Du Fu opened the forking ways for the poetic circles through romanticism and realism respectively.[487] Chinese historiography began with the Shiji, the overall scope of the historiographical tradition in China is termed the Twenty-Four Histories, which set a vast stage for Chinese fictions along with Chinese mythology and folklore.[488] Pushed by a burgeoning citizen class in the Ming dynasty, Chinese classical fiction rose to a boom of the historical, town and gods and demons fictions as represented by the Four Great Classical Novels which include Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West and Dream of the Red Chamber.[489] Along with the wuxia fictions of Jin Yong and Liang Yusheng,[490] it remains an enduring source of popular culture in the East Asian cultural sphere.[491] In the wake of the New Culture Movement after the end of the Qing dynasty, Chinese literature embarked on a new era with written vernacular Chinese for ordinary citizens. Hu Shih and Lu Xun were pioneers in modern literature.[492] Various literary genres, such as misty poetry, scar literature, young adult fiction and the xungen literature, which is influenced by magic realism,[493] emerged following the Cultural Revolution. Mo Yan, a xungen literature author, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012.[494] Chinese cuisine is highly diverse, drawing on several millennia of culinary history and geographical variety, in which the most influential are known as the "Eight Major Cuisines", including Sichuan, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Shandong, Fujian, Hunan, Anhui, and Zhejiang cuisines.[496] All of them are featured by the precise skills of shaping, heating, colorway and flavoring.[497] Chinese cuisine is also known for its width of cooking methods and ingredients,[498] as well as food therapy that is emphasized by traditional Chinese medicine.[499] Generally, China's staple food is rice in the south, wheat based breads and noodles in the north, the diet of the common people in pre-modern times was largely grain and simple vegetables, with meat reserved for special occasions. And the bean products, such as tofu and soy milk, remain as a popular source of protein.[500] Pork is now the most popular meat in China, accounting for about three-fourths of the country's total meat consumption.[501] While there is also a Buddhist cuisine and an Islamic cuisine.[502] Southern cuisine, due to the area's proximity to the ocean and milder climate, has a wide variety of seafood and vegetables; it differs in many respects from the wheat-based diets across dry northern China. Numerous offshoots of Chinese food, such as Hong Kong cuisine and American Chinese food, have emerged in the nations that play host to the Chinese diaspora. Dragon boat racing, a popular traditional Chinese sport China has become a prime sports destination worldwide, the country gained the hosting rights for several major global sports tournaments including the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2015 World Championships in Athletics and the upcoming 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and 2022 Winter Olympics. China has one of the oldest sporting cultures in the world. There is evidence that archery (shèjiàn) was practiced during the Western Zhou Dynasty. Swordplay (jiànshù) and cuju, a sport loosely related to association football[503] date back to China's early dynasties as well.[504] Physical fitness is widely emphasized in Chinese culture, with morning exercises such as qigong and t'ai chi ch'uan widely practiced,[505] and commercial gyms and fitness clubs gaining popularity in the country.[506] Basketball is currently the most popular spectator sport in China,[507] the Chinese Basketball Association and the American National Basketball Association have a huge following among the people, with native or ethnic Chinese players such as Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian held in high esteem.[508] China's professional football league, now known as Chinese Super League, was established in 1994, it is the largest football market in Asia.[509] Other popular sports in the country include martial arts, table tennis, badminton, swimming and snooker. Board games such as go (known as wéiqí in Chinese), xiangqi, mahjong, and more recently chess, are also played at a professional level.[510] In addition, China is home to a huge number of cyclists, with an estimated 470 million bicycles as of 2012.[383] Many more traditional sports, such as dragon boat racing, Mongolian-style wrestling and horse racing are also popular.[511] China has participated in the Olympic Games since 1932, although it has only participated as the PRC since 1952. China hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where its athletes received 51 gold medals – the highest number of gold medals of any participating nation that year.[512] China also won the most medals of any nation at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, with 231 overall, including 95 gold medals;[513][514] in 2011, Shenzhen in Guangdong, China hosted the 2011 Summer Universiade. China hosted the 2013 East Asian Games in Tianjin and the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing. See also 3. ^ In the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, Traditional Chinese characters are used 4. ^ Ethnic minorities that are recognized officially. 9. ^ Except Hong Kong and Macau. 13. ^ Although this is the present meaning of guó, in Old Chinese (when its pronunciation was something like /*qʷˤək/)[38] it meant the walled city of the Chinese and the areas they could control from them.[39] 18. ^ Tsung-Dao Lee,[351] Chen Ning Yang,[351] Daniel C. Tsui,[352] Charles K. Kao,[353] Yuan T. Lee,[354] Tu Youyou[355] 19. ^ The national life expectancy at birth rose from about 31 years in 1949 to 75 years in 2008,[451] and infant mortality decreased from 300 per thousand in the 1950s to around 33 per thousand in 2001.[452] 22. ^ The Cambridge History of China series, used consistently throughout. 30. ^ Found in Book 2 of Kautilya's Arthashastra. Book 2 was dated to AD 150 by Thomas R. Trautmann in Kautilya and the Arthasāstra (1971). See Denis Crispin Twitchett, Michael Loewe, John King Fairbank, The Ch'in and Han Empires 221 B.C.-A.D. 220, note 2, pp. 20–21. 34. ^ Bodde, Derk. Denis Twitchett and Michael Loewe, eds. The Cambridge History of China: Volume 1, The Ch'in and Han Empires, 221 BC - AD 220. p. 20. ISBN 9780521243278. 37. ^ Yule, Henry. Cathay and the Way Thither. pp. 3–7. ISBN 8120619668. 38. ^ Baxter-Sagart. 40. ^ 《尚書》, 梓材. (in Chinese) 45. ^ "Dong Biwu Report: Central People Committee of the People's Republic of China (Chinese)". Retrieved 2017-09-15. 112. ^ "A Country Study: China". Retrieved 24 July 2015. 121. ^ China worried over pace of growth. BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2006. 137. ^ "United States". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 25 March 2008. 148. ^ "List of Parties". Retrieved 9 December 2012. 155. ^ "Nature Reserves". Retrieved 2 December 2013. 177. ^ Chapter 1, Articles !, 3 Constitution of the People's Republic of China 183. ^ Article 97 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China 184. ^ "". Retrieved 27 April 2010. 185. ^ [htbtp:// "Democratic Parties"]. People's Daily. Retrieved 8 December 2013. 186. ^ Constitution of the People's Republic of China. (1982) 188. ^ "Xi Jinping's here to stay: China leader tipped to outstay term". The Straits Times. 9 August 2016. "A lot of analysts now see it as a given" that Xi will seek to stay party general secretary, the country's most powerful post, said Christopher K. Johnson, a former CIA analyst and now China specialist at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. 268. ^ Ground Forces. Retrieved 31 May 2015. 278. ^ "Angus Maddison. Chinese Economic Performance in the Long Run. Development Centre Studies. Accessed 2007. p.29" (PDF). Retrieved 2017-09-15. 285. ^ "". BusinessWeek. 22 August 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 302. ^ Sakib Sherani. "Pakistan’s remittances". Retrieved 17 December 2015. 305. ^ "Washington learns to treat China with care". 29 July 2009. 312. ^ "China's Debt Surpasses 300%". Retrieved 15 July 2017. 316. ^ "Global 500". Fortune. 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015. 318. ^ "China's growing middle class". CNN. 26 April 2012. 330. ^ The Controversial Chinese Economist Uncovering Tough Truths, Bloomberg Businessweek, 24 March 2017 333. ^ "RMB Settlement", Kasikorn Research Center, Bangkok, 8 February 2011 352. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Physics 1998". Retrieved 6 December 2013. 353. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Physics 2009". Retrieved 6 December 2013. 384. ^ "Chinese Railways Carry Record Passengers, Freight" Xinhua 21 June 2007 392. ^ "Top ten fastest trains in the world" 29 August 2013 403. ^ "POPULATION GROWTH RATE". CIA. Retrieved 29 September 2013. 419. ^ "Languages". 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2015. 423. ^ "National Data". Retrieved 20 January 2016. 431. ^ Cite error: The named reference China_2010.2C_pp._327 was invoked but never defined (see the help page). 433. ^ "9-year Compulsory Education". Retrieved 11 December 2013. 436. ^ "Vocational Education in China". Retrieved 11 December 2013. 441. ^ "FACTBOX: Education in China". Xinhua. 7 August 2008. 460. ^ Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Chapter 2, Article 36. 470. ^ Chinese Family Panel Studies 2014 survey. For the see release #1 (archived) and release #2, the tables also contain the results of CFPS 2012 and Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) results for 2006, 2008 and 2010. 503. ^ Historical Dictionary of Soccer. Scarecrow Press. 2011. p. 2. 513. ^ "Medal Count". Retrieved 9 September 2012. Further reading External links General information
New or disruptive Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Technologies This side presents a list of new NGS technologies. Some of these technologies are based on new enzymes used for sequencing, on microdroplet sequencing, or on electron microscopy (ZS Genetics). Some technologies are based on nanopores and aim to improve existing nanopore sequencing technologies (Genia Technology). The different intentions for developing these new technologies are improving sequencing accuracy, simplification of sequencing and analysis workflows, enabling longer sequencing reads, real time sequencing without prior amplification, or reducing sequencing costs. Most of these technologies are still in the development, validation or commercialization status and currently not available for end users. Genia Technology Introduction to Genia Technology NanoTag sequencing Genia Technology intends to reduce sequencing costs, improve accuracy, increase sequencing speed and simplify workflow by enabling sequencing without complex sample preparation and without the utilization of optical detection. Improving nanopore technology Genia Technologies Nanopore The technology is based on protein nanopores that are incorporated into a lipid bilayer membrane. The general principle is based on nanopore sequencing as used in Oxford Nanopore Technologies. The main difference is that this technology does not measure the changes in conductivity caused by the different nucleotides passing through the pore. Instead each nucleotide (G, A, T, and C) contains a characteristic tag. The figure shows these characteristic tags (conveniently the tags are labelled with G, A, T, and C). These tags are cleaved by a DNA replication enzyme and captured by the nanopore. If these tags are guided into the nanopore they will cause characteristic changes in the membrane current flow. This is measured before the tag is cleaved of from the nucleotide. These tags are engineered to enable maximal distinction in current flow changes. This will improve the sequencing accuracy compared to other nanopore based technologies that measure current changes induced by the different natural occurring nucleotides passing the nanopore. A major benefit of this sequencing technology is the implementation of standardized semiconductor technology that will markedly reduce sequencing costs. Genia Technologies was acquired by Roche in June 2014. Introduction to GenapSys sequencing technology The aim of the GenapSys technology is to provide a fast and easy to use way to generate low cost and accurate sequence information. The Gene Electronic Nano-Integrated Ultra-Sensitive (GENIUS) fully integrated platform enables a simplified workflow based on the first purely electronic sequencing chip. Genius is a portable, easy to use intuitive sequencing system. What is GenapSys sequencing technology? In general the technology is based on semiconductor chips similar as used in the Ion Torrent technology. The Genius device measures electronic signals during copying of the DNA molecule. Detailed information about the technology are not public available. GenapSys announced to offer different chips for different sequencing project sizes enabling 1, 10 or 100 giga base data output. The technology is currently in a testing program called "Join The Club" were users can apply for member chip and become a Genius test user. Introduction to GnuBIO (Biorad) sequencing platform GnuBIO offers a fully integrated next generation sequencing system. The platform is designed to reduce hands on time by simplification and integration of workflow steps and data analysis into the system. By applying microfluidic technology the biochemical reaction for sequencing takes place in nano size droplet microfluidics. The system is especially developed for targeted sequencing and hotspot analysis such as of rare variants. It is planned to use the system in the future also for applications such as whole genome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, or epigenetic studies. Introduction to Lasergen Lightning Terminators™ sequencing technology The NGS system is based on cyclic reversible termination (CRT) that enable higher accuracy, longer reads, reduces costs and sequencing time. How does Lightning Terminators™ technology based sequencing works? This technology is based on photo cleavable terminator chemistry and reduces the need of enzymes or chemicals for terminator cleavage. The incorporation of lightning terminators is as accurate as the incorporation of natural nucleotides. The major difference of Lightning Terminators compared to other terminators is the unblocked ribose 3’-OH, this enables an easy incorporation of nucleotides in the growing DNA with commercial available enzymes for sequencing. In general the technology uses fluorescence light signal generated during the nucleotide incorporation into a growing DNA strand similar as Illumina, Roche 454, or others. No detailed information are public available about throughput, sequencing time, read length and if the system is chip or flow cell based. Microdroplet sequencing Introduction to Microdroplet sequencing from base4 Microdroplet sequencing is a new technology that enables high throughput long read sequencing at low costs without modification of the sample molecules. The sequencing takes place in real time and data will be available with short time delay. The technology is based on microdroplets. The DNA molecule is guided through a microfluidic channel. In the next step individual nucleotides are released by pyrophosphorolysis. Each individual nucleotide is captured by a oil microdroplet. The microdroplets stream through a microfluidic channel one by one and the nucleotides will be processed by specific reaction cascades resulting in characteristic signals for each nucleotide. The sequence of the fluorescence light signals will be translated into the DNA sequence information. Introduction to Nabsys sequencing technology The Nabsys sequencing system aims to provide simultaneously sequence information and information about the location in the genome respectively in the DNA molecule. How does Nabsys sequencing works? The technology uses electronic detection based on semiconductor measurements. Long DNA molecules will be sequence specific tagged with molecules that enable characteristic measurements in the nano detector (see also Genia Technology and Stratos Genomics). These tagged DNA molecules pass through the nano detector controlled by electrophoretic and hydrodynamic forces. The velocity can reach over 1 million bases per second. Detailed information about the nano detector and the process of DNA tagging are currently not published by Nabsys. Nabsys technology can be applied especially for analysis of structural variants, de novo sequencing of genomes, validation of contigs, or for sample heterogeneity characterization. In March 2016, Nabsys underwent a restructuring of its company. Currently (April 2016), there are no information about development and validation status of the technology or about product launch dates available. Stratos Genomics Technology Introduction to Stratos Genomics Sequencing Technology Stratos Genomics sequencing technology is based on combining nanopore sequencing technology with expandable nucleotide (X-NTP™) tagged DNA. The aim of Stratos Genomics is to set new standards for ultra-low cost single molecule sequencing. How does Stratos Genomics sequencing works? StratosGenomicsSeq The technology combines nanopore sequencing with Stratos sequencing by Expansion™” (SBX) method. The development of a specific polymerase enzyme enables the translation of the nucleotide sequence information into a highly measurable molecule called Xpandomer. An Xpandomer is a sequence of high signal reporter molecules called expandable nucleotide (X-NTP™). Each nucleotide of the DNA template is replaces by one specific X-NTP™. During sequencing, the Xpandomer passes through a nanopore and a highly specific read out will be measured for each X-NTP™ sequentially passing through the nanopore. For general explanation of nanopore sequencing technology we refer to the Oxford Nanopore Technologies website. In 2014 Roche invested in Stratos Genomics leading to a research collaboration. SIMDEQ™ (SIngle-molecule Magnetic DEtection and Quantification) Introduction to SIMDEQ™ sequencing technology SIMDEQ™ (SIngle-molecule Magnetic DEtection and Quantification) technology is provides by PicoSeq. The aim of PicoSeq´s sequencing technology is to provide sequence and epigenetic information with one system at low costs and with high accuracy. The new technology does not require sample amplification and is not based on fluorescence detection. How does SIMDEQ™ technology works? The technology is based on artificial generated DNA or RNA hairpin libraries. One DNA/ RNA strand end of the hairpin is tagged with a biotin the other end is tagged with a digoxigenin. The DNA hairpin is fixed on a coverslip via the digoxigenin the other end is attached to a magnetic bead via a biotin-streptavidin bond. The DNA hairpin is unzipped by a magnetic forces applied from above the coverslip. These forces are periodically modified to open and close the hairpins in a solution containing different oligonucleotides that are complementary to sections in the hairpins. The different oligonucleotides can hybridize to the open hairpin. This will lead to a difference in hairpin’s end-to-end distance (extension) by blocking of the original hairpin structure during unzipping of the hairpin. The distance can be measured for each hairpin during each unzip/ zip step. With this method the binding position of the oligonucleotide can be recorded. By repeating the steps in different solutions containing different oligonucleotides the sequence of the hairpin DNA/ RNA fragment can be determined. For more detailed information we refer to the publication Single-molecule mechanical identification and sequencing. High Throughput can be realized by processing millions of hairpin/ bead complexes in parallel. The technology can be performed on 25kb long fragments. This technology is especially useful for investigation of complex DNA regions with repeats, insertions or deletions as well as for detection of genetic fingerprints and for DNA identification. The platform is already validated and is currently in the optimization and commercialization phase. Q-SEQ™ Whole Genome Sequencing Alongside QuantuMDx's novel sequencing by synthesis (SBS) DNA sequencing chemistry deployed on its nanowire FET biosensors, QMDx is also developing a novel DNA sequencing technology named Q-SEQ™. This device will perform single molecule, direct read (i.e. no need for reagents or expensive fluorescent detectors), long DNA sequencing reads and is presently at the prototyping stage. Q-SEQ™ is also being developed to undertake rapid sample to result low cost sequencing of whole genomes, integrating front end technologies developed by QuantuMDx's for its Q-POC™ device. Source: quantumdx ZS Genetics Introduction to ZS Genetics sequencing technology The technology of ZS Genetics is based on electron microscopy. The aim of ZS Genetics is to offer highest accuracy for long read single molecule DNA sequencing. How does ZS Genetics sequencing technology works? The system is based on the ability to recognize individual heavy atoms that mark the location and identity of specific DNA base pairs. This is enabled by atomic resolution imaging using electron microscopy. The DNA template of interest is denatured in single strand DNA and afterwards the second strand will be generated by labelling each nucleotide of the template DNA strand with a specific heavy atom. The technology will focus on long DNA read sequencing without amplification steps. The company aspires to enable read length between 20 -50 k base pairs (publishing data 2012). It has to be stated that the set up, maintenance and working on electron microscopes is still complex and the technology is relative expensive.
Crowdsourcing in Journalism "Crowdsourcing", which is a portmanteau of the words "crowd" and "outsourcing", refers to obtaining ideas, content, or funds (the latter of which is known as "crowdfunding") by requesting contributions from large group of people, often from an online community. Crowdsourcing has a lot of practical applications, including astronomy, project funding, agriculture, gene research, and especially journalism. In journalism, particularly investigative journalism, crowdsourcing can be used to gather information from a large group of participants to be used in articles. The people who make up that crowd can be eyewitnesses to a groundbreaking event, or simply those that are knowledgeable on a certain topic. In the journalism world, crowdsourcing is gaining popularity, especially following the Denver Post being awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 for its coverage of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado theater shooting. Its coverage of the story was heavily founded on the crowdsourcing journalism platform, Storify, which allows journalists to make use of information posted on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr to use for the article they choose to write. Another way crowdsourcing is applied to the field of journalism is image sourcing, in which any normal civilian with a mobile device capable of taking photos or video on their person can provide user-taken photos or videos taken in real time to aid reporters covering a breaking news story. The Scoopshot app is a leader in this area, allowing photographers with a smartphone or tablet to sell their photos to top news organizations. Journalists can also turn to crowdfunding platforms such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter to solicit donations from the public in order to fund a specific, intensive investigation. Crowdsourcing in journalism is not without its challenges. Journalists who solicit information from other people must fact check the information and use it in a non-biased way. This is especially difficult in times of a crisis, as was the case in the 2013 Boston Bombings when a photo taken on an iPhone by a witness provided a clear image of one of the suspects, but also led to two innocent men being falsely accused. The pressure of finding a mass killer being time sensitive can severely impact the accuracy of crowdsourced information since investigators are less likely to fact check and more likely to try to race against the clock. In addition, while crowdsourcing is an effective tool in investigations, it should not be the only tool. One of the reasons behind this is that some contributions from the public are often of insufficient quality, and sifting through low quality submissions can be time consuming. Also, lack of financial incentives or participants can cause the project to fail, the former being an ethical concern as crowdworkers often receive insufficient pay due to them being treated as independent contractors. Further reading: "Crowdsourcing in Journalism" (Harvard Business School) "Crowdsourcing Done Right" (Columbia Journalism Review) "Crowdsourcing in Investigative Journalism" (Reuters Institute)
What is Black Country Museum? The Black Country Museum takes you back to the height of the Industrial Revolution. The Black Country is the industrial region in the Midlands of England. It has earned its name because of the smoke from the thousands of ironworking foundries and forges. The open-air museum is made to look like a Black Country village, costumed demonstrators and craftsmen bring the building to life with their knowledge, skills and humour. You'll feel like you've gone back in time. Throughout the year there are some fascinating events that are great fun. The museum is uniquely placed to tell the story of the creation of the world's first industrial landscape. There are over fifty authentic shops, houses and workshops made to look like the buildings did back in the day. If you want to enjoy everything this unique museum has to offer you'll need about half a day, but if you want to see the demonstrations and events like metal working or glass cutting, it's better to go for a full day. Revel in the history of the Black Country go back in time. Enjoy a fun and educative day out at this amazing museum. Tipton Road DY14SQ '* Temporary city in United Kingdom
Test your basic knowledge \| Subjects : it-skills, soft-skills • Answer 28 questions in 15 minutes. • Match each statement with the correct term. 1. Don't _____ to contact me for more details. 2. This is difficult to display through email 3. Concerning your _____ about our products... 4. I _____ for not replying sooner to your letter. 5. _____answer to your question... 6. Deliberate - repeated harm caused through electronic media taht is considered a computer crime 7. Used when we are sending something to someone directly 8. _____ our phone conversation today - ... 9. I am _____ to accept your job application. 10. In _____ to your letter... 11. An abusive message that is directed toward someone 12. Who you are aiming to read a message 13. I am _____ to enquire about... 14. Blind carbon copy - used to hide addresses from other recipients of the message - useful for broadcast emails - useful for protecting privacy because all email addresses are hidden 15. _____ sincerely. 16. Let me _____ if you need any more information. 17. I am _____ to inform you about the delay. 18. This refers to the placement and choice of words - how you use them - and the sentence structure that is used in an email 19. Carbon copy - used to provide information to others but no action is required 20. _____ to see you soon. 21. _____ Mr Smith 22. _____ sincerely 23. Best _____ 24. I _____ a copy of your contract in this letter. 25. _____ letter is to inform you ... 26. I am _____ two files to this email. 27. Thank you _____ your letter. 28. I look _____ to seeing you next week.
Find the word definition Ramism was a collection of theories on rhetoric, logic and pedagogy based on the teachings of Petrus Ramus, a French academic, philosopher and Huguenot convert who was murdered in 1572 during the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in August. According to Jonathan Israel, Ramism
Showing posts from December, 2016 Reflecting on Barter Day Today's classwork is to reflect a little bit on the concepts around Barter Day, and to think about the earliest communities who started trading about 10,000 years ago. You can read more specifically about those first farm towns in previous Blog posts. In understanding the marketplace and trade, it is important to know some basic economic terms: Surplus: (noun) an extra supply of something. This could mean extra anything, but in this context we're usually talking about crops, or natural resources like wood or a certain kind of stone. Having a surplus is important to trade because people would never trade materials they needed to survive. It was only when farming produced more food than the village needed that they then traded the extra to other villages for things the people did not have. Scarcity: (noun) not enough of something. Early farm towns often had scarcities of natural resources depending on where the town was located, such as a scarcity of wood in Egypt, or a scarcity… Rock Out with the Mesopotamians Check out this fun song from They Might Be Giants... National Geography Bee 2017 Living in an Early Farm Town Next week's work involves illustrating a scene from the Neolithic Era. You will have a better understanding of this time period by reading a passage from A Message of Ancient Days (p. 118-133) and answering four questions about life in one of the earliest Neolithic (Stone Age farming) communities. In this case, the town is called Çatal Huyuk and it is located in the present day country of Turkey. More directions will be posted on MyHomework tomorrow. After looking at the readings on the early Neolithic period (Message of Ancient Days pgs. 127-133), the text asks you to answer the following questions: 1. What was life like in a Neolithic farming town? You would live in a mud-brick house and take care of fields of crops outside of the village. Besides growing food, your family would continue to hunt wild animals and gather plants and berries. There would be different jobs for the different people in the town. The town would have a surplus of grain to trade with other people nearb… Barter Day 2016! Stable Food Supply... Or Soylent Green?? When we look at a certain civilization, any civilization, the first and most important aspect is its stable food supply. Without a regular and dependable supply of food, a civilization will begin to break down into chaos. History includes several examples of times and places in which hunger and a desire for food has caused political or social troubles: Russia in 1910 and 1917, the U.S. and Germany in the 1930s, the Soviet Union in the 1980s and 90s, and certain African countries in the 1970s up until the present day (sadly). About three years ago, the price of wheat worldwide spiked and products such as bread and pasta almost doubled in price. The video below shows a survey of how different countries' news stations covered the crisis. Notice that in the U.S. the story focused on how much more pastries would cost, while in Egypt and Pakistan people were rioting and in a state of panic over the higher price and lower supply of bread: In movies, there is one great example of what mi… Domesticating Animals: Some fun Video Clips In class, we talked about some of the differences between wild and domesticated animals. Sheep, for example, looked more like mountain goats and lived in the wild. Over time, humans bred them to be dumber, bigger, woolier, and more tame. In the first video, a farmer in Wales (in Great Britain) demonstrates two domesticated animals working to create quite a light show--the trained shepherd dog that arranges the sheep according to the farmer's whistle commands, and the sheep that are herded around the hill side. In another funny video, an Australian man sets the world record for speed sheep-shearing! Ancient Near East Map In class we started mapping the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, where the ancient civilizations we study were located. Our focus of study for the Mesopotamia unit is really the entire Fertile Crescent: An area that stretches from the Nile Valley of Egypt in the west, northward to Palestine, westward across the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and southward to the Persian Gulf. Surrounded by inhospitable deserts, the Fertile Crescent is an area that has good soil for farming, rivers for water, and is in a strategic location for trade. Here is a copy of the Ancient Near East map that we are completing in class. Click on it for a larger version. On the Ancient Map, locate: Mediterranean Sea Black Sea Caspian Sea Red Sea Dead Sea Persian Gulf Euphrates River Tigris River Nile River Jordan River The Fertile Crescent Zagros Mountains Taurus Mountains Caucasus Mountains Syrian Desert Arabian Desert Mesopotamia itself comes from the Greek meaning "t… The Agricultural Revolution Without a stable food supply, human civilization would not exist. About 7,000-10,000 years ago something special happened: hunter-gatherers learned that they could save and plant seeds instead of continuing to wander around looking for food. This began the agricultural revolution, and the Neolithic Age of human history. Rather than moving from place to place, groups of people settled in small villages permanently. Check out this BrainPop video and try the quiz at the end: The Agricultural Revolution In class, we've been looking at a few key questions about these first human settlements: 1. How did humans go from hunting and gathering to farming? -What changes happened in the way humans lived? -What are some advantages and disadvantages of farming? 2. What (where) are some of the earliest known settlements? 3. What was life like in an early Neolithic town? (daily life, homes, jobs, food, etc.) 4. What tools or technology did humans develop at this time? 5. What is a surplus… Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day "Yesterday, December 7, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." This was the first line of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to Congress after the United States was attacked by imperial Japan, and almost 3,000 Americans died. The attack at Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II on the side of the Allies. Four years later, the German and Japanese were defeated, the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and several million people perished in Europe and Asia. It is so important for us today to keep in mind the significance of Pearl Harbor: That every day there are men and women in the armed forces who are willing to fight and die for our freedom.That governments based on fascism, repression, militarism, and racism are dangerous to people who love liberty.That it is important to stand up to what is wrong, and fight fo… "Learning to Farm" Chart In class, we will examine the development of agriculture and compare hunter-gatherers to early Neolithic farmers. As humans domesticated plants and animals, the plants and animals themselves change over time. Wild sheep and mountain goats get fatter, slower, dumber, and lose their balance. Plants get bigger and more nutritious as farmers choose which seeds to keep and which to throw away. On a new note page titled "Learning to Farm" copy the following charts to help compare the Paleolithic hunter-gatherers to the Neolithic farmers. Learning to Farm From Paleolithic to Neolithic… 7,000 - 10,000 years ago How did hunter-gatherers deal with plants? Harvested wild grainGathered berries, nuts and rootsTRIED to save food for times when there was none How did hunter-gatherers deal with animals? Followed herdsHunted wild animalsProtected herds by driving off predators Neolithic Farmers How did Neolithic farmers deal with plants? Domesticated plantsSelected and sowed (pla… Ancient Near East Unit Vocabulary In your notebook or on Quizlet, be sure to copy the words and the definitions for our Mesopotamia/Ancient Near East Unit. You only need to copy the definition, not the example sentence. 1. Agriculture: Agriculture means the growing of crops and the raising of animals for food (also called farming). The discovery of agriculture was a huge development for humans. Instead of hunting and gathering and having no permanent homes, agriculture allowed people to build cities and to produce more food than they needed to survive. 2. Domesticate: To domesticate means to make plants and animals more useful to humans. At the same time humans started to farm, they also domesticated animals, including chicken and pigs for food, cows for pulling plows, bees for making honey, and sheep for wool. 3. Surplus: A surplus is an extra of something, especially crops. Because early farm towns produced a surplus of food, people were able to have different jobs like priests, builders, government officials, artisans, …
Jules Hardouin-Mansart - biography Who is Jules Hardouin-Mansart? Born in 1646-04-16 Paris - died in 1708-05-11 Marly-le-roi Jules Hardouin-Mansart was a French architect whose work is generally considered to most important one in French Baroque architecture during the reign of Louis XIV. Hardouin-Mansart was one of the most important European architects of the seventeenth century. He designed the Saint-Germain-en-Laye palace or the extension in Versailles palace, among others. Cities with architect's projects Artchitects with related style
Reviewing and renewing Biblical faith through story and study Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Jimmy and the Black Dot Jimmy was excited! He had been waiting for this day for a long time. Today was they day of the eclipse. They had studied eclipses at school. Jimmy had learned it was called a solar eclipse when the moon gets between the sun and the earth. Today was going to be a very special solar eclipse because it was going to be a total eclipse—the sun would be completely blocked for a short time. At school, they had learned how to look at the eclipse. You should never look directly at the sun. It can hurt your eyes! The way to look at an eclipse is to poke a hole in a piece of paper and hold it above another piece of paper—white paper. The sun will shine through the piece with the hole and onto the paper on the ground and the shadow will have a dot of light where you poked the hole. Jimmy had already poked holes in about 10 different kinds of paper. He wanted to find the best one. But, when he took them outside and tested them, he found they all worked perfectly. His teacher assured the class that when the eclipse was happening the dot in the shadow would copy what was happening in the sky. As the moon blocked the sun, the dot would have a bit missing. When the eclipse was full the dot would be gone. You would also be able to tell the eclipse was full because it would be nearly dark in the middle of the day. Jimmy had been talking about the eclipse for weeks. His dad had surprised him last night by saying, "Jimmy, how would you like to stay home from school tomorrow and I will watch the eclipse with you?" Jimmy had jumped up and down with excitement. Just Dad and Jimmy, watching the eclipse. Now the time was here. The eclipse would be starting soon and Jimmy had been testing his pieces of paper all morning. His dad opened the front door and asked, "How's it going? Started yet?" Jimmy said it should start soon. His dad came out and picked up one of Jimmy's papers. He tested it out. "Hey, this works really good!" Jimmy and his dad didn't have to wait long. Soon they noticed a piece of the dot missing. Then the missing bit got bigger. "It's working!" Jimmy laughed. "It's really working!" As they waited and watched, the eclipse slowly progressed. Soon, half the dot was missing. Then the phone rang in the house. Jimmy's dad said, "I have to get that, Jimmy. I'll only be a few minutes." Jimmy didn't mind, he was having too much fun watching the eclipse. When the eclipse was full Jimmy was amazed. The dot was gone and it was almost dark. Jimmy could just make out the shapes of things around him. It was like dusk—After the sun has gone down but before it gets completely dark. In the semi-darkness, Jimmy had an idea. He had seen pictures of eclipses. In the pictures of full eclipses there was a ring of glowing light around a black dot. Jimmy wondered if that was what the sun looked like right now. He knew he wasn't supposed to look at the sun. But he thought, one quick look wont do any harm. And Jimmy looked at the sun. There it was—a glowing ring in the sky. Jimmy was amazed. He should have looked away, but he didn't. After a few moments, on one side of the ring, a shiny diamond started to appear. Then it got bigger. And bigger! Jimmy was so transfixed, he forgot he was staring at the sun. He watched as the ring disappeared completely and a shiny round diamond took it's place. It wasn't until the eclipse was finished that Jimmy had a sudden panic. I'm staring at the sun! He jerked his eyes away from the sun and looked at the ground. Have you ever stared at a bright light and then looked at something else? If you have, then you know what happened to Jimmy's vision. He had a dot in the middle of everything he saw. It was a black spot—opposite to the big bright sun—a residual image. Everywhere Jimmy looked, the big black dot was there, in his way. Jimmy blinked his eyes over and over. He could not get rid of the dot. He started to get scared. If Dad sees me like this, he will know something is wrong, thought Jimmy. Dad will be able to tell I am not looking at him properly. Jimmy kept blinking his eyes rapidly, hoping it would make the dot go away. But it didn't! He decided to go for a walk around the block. Maybe if I walk, Jimmy thought, and look at lots of different stuff and blink a lot, the spot will go away. He walked and blinked—blinked and walked. Around the first corner. Then the second. And the third. He was almost home and the black dot was still as strong as ever. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Jimmy saw Andrew. Andrew was a homeless man who often slept on the park bench around the corner from Jimmy's house. Jimmy had brought Andrew food a few times. And on hot days, if Jimmy saw Andrew, he would bring him a bottle of water. Andrew was laying on the bench. He's probably asleep, thought Jimmy as he walked and blinked. Then Jimmy had the strangest idea. I wonderif I put the black dot on Andrew . . . It would be like Andrew just disappeared. Like he didn't even exist. Jimmy liked the idea of making someone disappear! He stopped in front of the bench and looked straight at the sleeping Andrew. In the black dot, the bench disappeared. Andrew was gone. Then something really weird happened. It was like a movie screen coming to life inside the black dot. The dot flickered, went bright white then black again except that Andrew was in the middle of the dot. The dot was as dark as ever, but Andrew was lit up like the sun was shining fully on him. Andrew sat up in the black spot. He looked at Jimmy. And then he spoke. "I could really use a hug, Jimmy." Then the dot flickered, Andrew disappeared and it was just a big black spot again. That was weird, Jimmy thought. Well, I guess I can give Andrew a hug. Jimmy leaned over Andrew on the bench—he was asleep again—and wrapped his arms around the man's shoulders. Andrew woke with a fright. "I'll move! Don't hurt me!" Andrew shouted, "Don't take me to jail. I'll move officer!" Jimmy stumbled backward as Andrew lurched into a sitting position. "Oh, it's you, Jimmy! Why were you grabbing me?" Jimmy said, "I thought you wanted a hug." Andrew looked at Jimmy with a quiet stare. Then he said, "I suppose I did, Jimmy. I don't get many hugs. And I do like them!" "I gotta go now," Jimmy said. "Yup, ok." Andrew replied. "Come back any time you need another hug!" "Thanks Andrew," Jimmy said. "I will." When Jimmy go home he went into his room and closed the door. He hoped everyone would leave him alone until the dot went away. His dad yelled from the kitchen asking if Jimmy was hungry for lunch. He was, and his Dad let him eat in his room. He heard his sister and mother come home from school. They were talking about the eclipse and the great day at school. He heard his mum cooking in the kitchen. Then he heard his mum yell out, "Time for tea! Everybody to the table." The spot was still as big and black as ever. Jimmy had been practicing walking around without bumping stuff. He was pretty good at using his peripheral vision—the edges of his view—where he could still see. He opened his door, walked down the hall, pulled out his chair and sat at the table. During tea, Jimmy did his best not to look at anyone. It was hard to eat tea without being able to see it! He had to look at his plate out of the corner of his eye without looking strange. It was hard work and took a lot of concentration. He had almost emptied his plate when his mum said, "Jimmy, would you like more mashed potatoes?" "Yes please," he answered. Then as he saw her, out of the corner of his eye, scoop up some potato and reach toward his plate he looked up and said, "Thanks, Mum." He didn't mean to do it! He just looked look up without thinking! He was a good kid and always said please and thank you. But looking up was a big mistake. His mum was in the middle of the black spot. She had the spoon in her hand and the potatoes were in the air—frozen in mid flight! It was as if the dot stopped reality and only allowed whatever it wanted. Jimmy's eyes were focused on his mothers face as she looked deeply into his eyes and said, "I love you so much, Jimmy. You will make mistakes in your life, but no mistake will ever be so great that I will stop loving you. I will always love you, no matter what! I need you to know that." Then WHAM! The potatoes hit the plate. Jimmy looked back down and everything was normal again. Well, normal except for the big dot. What just happened, Jimmy wondered. Mum was so serious. I know she loves me but that was just weird. It was like I was hearing her deepest thoughts. Jimmy was confused and a little bit scared. Jimmy cleaned off his plate, enjoyed his desert and then asked to be excused. He went to his room and went to bed early. I hope the spot is gone when I wake up in the morning! And with that thought in his mind, Jimmy fell asleep. The next morning, when Jimmy woke up, before he opened his eyes, he said aloud, "Please be gone!" He hoped more than anything that his eyes would be back to normal. Surely a good night's sleep would fix the problem, he thought. No black dot, no black dot, he thought over and over. Then he opened his eyes. The dot was still there, and as big and black as ever. Jimmy was upset, but got busy getting ready for school. He made it through breakfast without looking at anyone. He brushed his teeth, packed his bag and headed to the bus stop. When the bus arrived, Jimmy let everyone else get on first. As he entered the bus, he knew he needed to find a seat. He stared walking to the back of the bus—hoping there would be an empty seat next to the aisle. And there was! He looked at the empty seat and then glanced up to see if anyone was in the seat next to it—by the window. His eyes met Sally's eyes. He didn't mean to do it! It happened so quickly! Sally was in the black dot. Everything around her disappeared and Sally said, "Please sit next to me, Jimmy. And would you please talk to me?" Jimmy plopped into the empty seat, breaking the black dots connection with Sally. They sat there in silence as the bus started rolling down the street. Then Jimmy remembered what Sally had asked. She never talked to anyone on the bus. People avoided Sally. Jimmy didn't know why, but he usually did to—just because everyone else did. But, today, she had asked him to talk to her. "What are you doing?" Jimmy asked. "Going to school. What are you doing?" Sally responded. "Yeah, going to school," Jimmy said. "What do you have for lunch today?" "A sandwich," she replied. "What about you?" "Yeah, a sandwich," Jimmy said. "Actually two sandwiches. I always tell mum I only need one. But she makes me two because she says one day I will start growing and will want the second one." That seemed to be enough talking for both of them. They sat in silence until the bus pulled into the school yard. As Jimmy started to stand, Sally grabbed his arm. "Jimmy," she said, "thank you for sitting next to me. And thank you for talking to me!" Jimmy paused, thought about it, and then said, "I thought you wanted me to sit and talk with you." "Oh, I always want someone to sit next to me," Sally said. "And I always hope someone will talk to me." Sally's head fell forward and she stared into her lap. "But nobody ever does." They were alone on the bus now. "Well, your welcome," Jimmy said and stood up. Sally placed her hand on his arm again. "Jimmy," she said, "would you sit next to me on the way home today?" "Sure." Jimmy made his way off the bus. As he was walking down the path to the classrooms, Jimmy noticed someone on the swings. You weren't allowed on the swings before school—because there wasn't any supervision. But Frank was different. He came really early to school. And sometimes he stayed until late after school. He rarely did his homework and often didn't have a lunch. Things weren't too good at home for Frank. So, the teachers gave him a bit of leeway—turning a blind eye to his use of playground equipment. Frank was swinging really high. Some kids could go so high that Jimmy wondered if they would go right over the top of the swing-set. Frank was going super-crazy high. Jimmy was so caught up wondering about how high Frank was swinging that he stopped walking and stared at Frank. He didn't mean to do it! He forgot! He looked right at swing-set. Frank, in mid-backswing—at the highest point—froze in the black dot. He was hovering impossibly above the ground. In his frozen state, Frank turn his head and looked right at Jimmy. "I'm really hungry Jimmy. I haven't had any breakfast." Frank said, and then started to swing again. Jimmy reached into his back and opened his lunch. He took out the extra sandwich and walked over to Frank, making sure not to look directly at him. "Hey Frank, I have an extra sandwich," Jimmy said. "Do you want it?" Frank dug his heals into the dirt and brought the swing to a screeching halt. He looked long and hard at Jimmy. "Why?" Frank asked, "Why are you giving me your sandwich?" "I thought you were hungry," Jimmy replied. "And my mum always gives me two." "I am hungry," Frank said looking at his feet as they dangled from the swing. "But how did you know that?" "It's hard to explain," Jimmy answered, "You just look like you haven't had breakfast." "That's true," Frank said in surprise. "I haven't eaten since yesterday." Jimmy reached his arm out, extending the sandwich toward Frank. Frank took the sandwich, thanked Jimmy and started to eat it ferociously. Jimmy saw one of the teachers headed up the path, directly toward the playground. Even out of the corner of his eye Jimmy could tell it was Mr Rankie. Jimmy rushed for the path, he didn't want to get in trouble. Mr Rankie was the cranky teacher. He was always grumpy and telling kids off for doing things. Nobody knew why he was never happy. He was so mean that he was alone. Nobody lived with him. No wife. No kids. He was too grumpy for family, that's what the other kids said. Jimmy was on the path now. He tried to walk normally—like he had been on the path all along, like he wasn't just on the playground. He didn't want to get in trouble. He walked toward Mr Rankie. And Mr Rankie walked toward him. Oh, no! Jimmy thought, I'm going to get in so much trouble. When he was about to pass Mr Rankie, he was so nervous he forgot about the black spot. He knew if he said something nice it would help. Jimmy looked up at Mr Rankie and smiled. He didn't mean to do it! It was an accident! And now Mr Rankie was in the middle of the big black spot. Jimmy stood frozen like a statue. Mr Rankie looked down at him. "I'm not really a mean teacher," Mr Rankie said, looking deeply into Jimmy's eyes. "I just need someone to love me." Jimmy stood there—it seemed like forever—studying Mr Rankie's face. He doesn't know he just said that to me, Jimmy thought. Everyone seems surprised when I know what I have learned about them from the black spot. Maybe I should just go around Mr Rankie and go to class. But Jimmy had a weird feeling about what he had just heard Mr Rankie say. He may not know he needs someone to love him, but he does need it. Jimmy sat his backpack on the ground. Then he stood as tall as he could, wrapped his arms around Mr Rankie and gave him the biggest hug a little boy can give. While still hugging Mr Rankie, Jimmy looked up at his face and said, "I love you, Mr Rankie!" A big tear ran down Mr Rankie's cheek. He rested one of his hands on Jimmy's shoulder and tussled Jimmy's hair with the other one. "I love you too, Jimmy," Mr Rankie said. "Thank you for that hug." "Your welcome, Mr Rankie," Jimmy said with a smile. Then he picked up his bag and ran to class. As the day went on, the spot slowly faded from Jimmy's vision. By the time he got on the bus that afternoon, and sat next to Sally, the spot was completely gone. After talking to Sally for awhile, Jimmy stared out the bus window and thought about the black spot and all that he had learned from it. Then Jimmy made a decision, "I don't ever want to stop seeing people the way I saw them after looking at the sun."
Aulopidae - flagfins Flagfins are elongate, cylindrical fishes that closely resemble the lizardfishes. Most are deep sea fishes and can be found up to depths of 1000 m (3300 ft). Their mouths are large with many pointed, depressible teeth. They are bottom dwellers and usually bury themselves in sand and rubble to ambush their prey. Their sexes are separate, and they exhibit sexual dimorphism (differentiation) in body shape, fin colors and the shape of their dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. Because they live at such great depths, little is known about their biology and behavior.
Skriðuklaustur monastery: Medical Centre of Medieval East Iceland? Skriðuklaustur monastery was the youngest of nine cloisters operated in Iceland during the Catholic period of the Middle Ages. Medieval Lisbon: Jerónimos Monastery Medieval Lisbon: Carmo Convent Priests found spiritual satisfaction by serving nuns, Stanford medieval historian says A study of medieval texts and imagery by Stanford history Professor Fiona Griffiths counters commonly held beliefs about misogynistic practices in medieval Europe. Griffiths’ research reveals how some male clergy acknowledged and celebrated the perceived religious superiority of nuns. ‘God Damn’: The Law and Economics of Monastic Malediction The Origins of Cistercian Sign Language Rebirth and Responsibility: Cistercian Stories from the Late Twelfth Century ‘His face sadder, his look harsher, his speech more bitter, his movements slower…’ He was going from bad to worse. ‘To Love and Be Loved:’ The Medieval Monastic Community as Family, 400-1300 This thesis expands how the medieval monastic family can be understood to parallel the traditional nuclear family founded upon the heterosexual union of husband and wife for the purpose of procreation. Papers on Medieval Prosopography: Session #47 at KZOO 2015 Three fantastic papers on Prosopography from #KZOO2015. Teenage Rebellion in the Middle Ages: How Salimbene de Adam became a Franciscan It is a popular story – the teenage son defying his parents and doing something very rebellious. It could be using drugs, getting a tattoo, or falling into with the wrong type of people. Back in the thirteenth-century, the rebellious son might become a Franciscan! Sacerdos et Predicator: Franciscan ‘Experience’ and the Cronica of Salimbene de Adam The Chronicle of the thirteenth-century Franciscan friar Salimbene de Adam is filled with an abundance of self-referential passages. Environmental Crusading: The Teutonic Knight’s Impact After the Baltic Crusades Magic in the Cloister Templar attitudes towards women The rule of the order of the Temple took a traditional monastic attitude towards women, being strongly anti-feminine in tone, and seeing women as contaminating the brothers. The Nun’s Crown The nun’s crown, a white linen circlet with overlapping bands forming a cross worn over her veil, formed part of the dress of monastic women in northern Germany. Strange Bedfellows : The Rise of the Military Religious Orders in the Twelfth Century Although they were devout members of a pacifist religion, they were also its dominant military force. By the most basic tenants of Christianity, the Military Orders should never have existed. Corbie in the Carolingian Renaissance Women’s monasticism in late medieval Bologna, 1200-1500 This dissertation explores the fluid relationship between monastic women and religious orders. I examine the roles of popes and their representatives, governing bodies of religious orders, and the nunneries themselves in outlining the contours of those relationships. Quality of Life in Medieval Monasteries and Nunneries The purpose of this thesis was to explore the possible differences of quality of life in medieval monastic institutions based on the sex of their inhabitants, their location, and/or their ideology. medievalverse magazine
Lundstedt - meaning , origin - Sweden, popularity \| What does Lundstedt last name mean Lundstedt meaning \| Last name Lundstedt origin Following is the meaning of Lundstedt surname. Family name Lundstedt is generally added after the name or middle name so also called last name. Family Name / Last Name: Lundstedt No. of characters: 9 Origin: Sweden Meaning: Currently, no meaning found for Lundstedt Lundstedt is used as a family name or surname in Sweden languages. Lundstedt has 9 characters long in length. Lundstedt is common in Sweden country(ies). Lundstedt is ranked 156253 in our list. There are about 296 people in US who wears Lundstedt as surname and ranked 63141 in US Census Bureau. In 2000 census, the last name was found in around 1.1 per 1 million , used in more than 1 hispanic race. Count Region Rank Lundstedt is not so popular last name but still a prevalent surname concentrated mainly in Sweden which may be its originating country too. Around 2385 people have been found who wears Lundstedt as their family name. Lundstedt is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below: Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 1 - 10: 9 Canada 212,166 9 Australia 135,535 1 Panama 9,591 1 France 277,603 1 Germany 172,258 1 Italy 153,416 1 Luxembourg 12,745 1 Uruguay 19,533 1 Mexico 56,169 1 Scotland 38,841 1 Bolivia 7,314 Countries with very low frequency i.e., 10 - 50: 26 Norway 23,443 25 Denmark 20,233 23 United Arab Emirates 37,982 16 England 155,219 15 Spain 84,957 Countries with low frequency i.e., 50 - 100: 60 Finland 11,009 Countries with hundreds of people: 380 United States 65,753 143 Brazil 64,630 Full Last Name Distribution ⇳ . Celebrities having Lundstedt surname Andreas Lundstedt Musician Andreas Lundstedt Musician Andreas Lundstedt Musician Related Family Names: How to choose a name for your baby Surname is added at the end of the first name also known as given name. Most of the time, a family name is used as a surname. You might not know the meaning og Lundstedt surname. Nameslist.org has collected informaton regarding the meaning and origin of Lundstedt and displayed for better understanding of surnames. Discover how Lundstedt is originated? Share your opinion on Lundstedt Enter Code:
[#028] ¡Epa, qué colorcito! ¿Querés una birrita? ¿No tendrás un tomatito para la ensalada? ¿Por qué no nos sentamos allá, al solcito? ¡Qué carita que tenés! These are all things that you can hear from rioplatófonos. Actually, from Spanish speakers in general. But since this is a common phenomenon in the River Plate area, it is important to talk about it and explain a few things. ¿Solcito? Little sun? ¿Birrita? Little beer? What’s all this about? Friday… I deserve a cold one! If you’ve already had a Spanish lesson or two, you will have probably noticed that word endings change all the time and these changes are quite common. Look at the verb “to speak” in the present tense: hablo, hablás, habla, hablamos, etc. You already know that these endings (or suffixes) convey different meanings. In this case, they point to the subject of the sentence, and that’s why you don’t need to use personal pronouns like “yo” or “ella” all the time… Yes, exactly, I’m talking about verb conjugation. And yes, we all hate it. Moving on! There is a special kind of suffix in Spanish that is often used to imply a different meaning, which has to do with size. When we add “-ito/a” (or “-cito/a“) to some words, we add the meaning of “small”. So for example, “casita” means “casa pequeña” (little house), and “lapicito” means “lápiz pequeño” (small pencil). This word transformation is not so common in English, but you can think of the suffix “-let” in words like “droplet” (little drop of rain) or “booklet” (a small book), which works in a similar way. Now, these special endings (or diminutive suffixes) don’t always convey the idea of a small size, as in the examples that you read at the beginning of this post, but can also express affection. This is what linguists call “morfología apreciativa“, which has to do with the use of morphological resources like suffixes to express affection or emotions. Compare saying “little dog” and “doggy”. Or “little cat” and “kitty”. Which one would you say sounds cuter? Now, it is well known that Spanish cannot live without its crazy and super rich morphology, so that means that we can add these suffixes to lots and lots of nouns, and adjectives too. So if you ask for a “tomatito” to add to your salad, then yes, that can be a small tomato or it can be just a cute way of referring to it. It wouldn’t be weird for a cook on TV to say something like “y ahora cortamos unas cebollitas y después las agregamos al tuquito” (so now we chop some onions and then we add them to the tomato sauce), which will make the cook sound more loving or less cold and captivate their audience. (By the way, good luck translating this affective component in such cases. Cute onions? Haha, what’s that?) If a friend invites you to go for a “birrita“, don’t assume you will be drinking only a little bit. That won’t necessarily be the case. Actually, this word has already appeared in a video in a previous entry. We didn’t get to say much back then, but there you have an example of this diminutive suffix. And in case we haven’t mentioned this before, the word “birra” is slang for “cerveza“, so you will only hear it in informal contexts. Next example. Think of a cold winter sunny day. Wouldn’t if feel great to go sit over there under the warm sun? ¿Por qué no nos sentamos allá, al solcito? Of course, the sun can never be small. But the use of “solcito” conveys this nice feeling of the sun gently warming our skin. Sometimes things get a bit more complicated, though, as in the expression “¡qué carita que tenés!” (literally, “what a face you have!”). If someone says this phrase to a friend, they will be probably trying to point out a special facial expression. Maybe their friend is tired and sleepy, maybe they look angry or they are in a bad mood, or maybe they are smiling while daydreaming. Qué cara, carita, carucha, caripela All of them are valid. Oh, the wonders of morphological derivation! And finally, we can look at the title of this entry. Suppose we bump into Ross Geller, right after he’s been to the tanning salon. We can then tell him: “¡Epa, qué colorcito, eh!” (Wow, nice tan you got there!) Epa” is an interjection that usually shows some kind of surprise, at least in the River Plate area. It can be used differently in other places, though. Anyway, in this case, we can say that the word “colorcito” does not refer to size at all and is in fact being used in an ironic way. In other words, this affective meaning embedded in the suffix “-ito” does not represent our real opinion of Ross’ tan, and we probably don’t actually like his skin colour now. Ok, to end this entry, here’s a piece of advice: be careful when you try to use these complex morphological resources. Mastering them is an art. If you want to use them correctly, start by copying what native speakers say, in the same contexts and with the same intonation. But if you want to experiment, run the risk of sounding weird and have a laugh, then go ahead and have fun with any palabritas that may come to your mind! 😉 [#020] This is Buenos Aires (I) Today we’ll keep on learning about the typical culture of rioplatenses, or people from the River Plate area. Well, to be more accurate, we’ll be talking specifically about porteños, i.e. people who live in Buenos Aires. I’ll share a video that is actually a funny sketch made by a group of young rioplatófonos. The main character here represents a porteño who wants to meet people from other countries and decides to invite foreigners to Buenos Aires, offering them a place to stay and also showing them around the city. Two guys from Great Britain arrive and… Let’s see what happens. Did you like the video? Did you understand the parts in Spanish? We’ll be working later with some typical expressions of the River Plate area that appear in this video, but for this entry we’ll concentrate on some general cultural aspects first. The first thing that we should point out is, naturally, the mate. You are already familiar with this typical drink, as we have already talked about it on our previous entry. So I’m sure you knew what Claudio was talking about (and holding in his hand) at the very beginning of the video. In the second scene, we see Claudio receiving Peter and Willy. Did you notice that he gives them both a kiss on the cheek and also hugs them? Of course you did! Well, he’s overreacting a bit here in a humorous purpose, but that’s just how we roll, haha! In general, rioplatenses (and people from Latin America for that matter) are very warm and affectionate. We show our feelings quite openly. And yes, when rioplatenses greet someone in an everyday situation, we usually kiss that person on the cheek. And it doesn’t matter if the greeting is between a man and a woman, two women or two men. As long as it’s not a formal situation (which usually requires a handshake), we can greet others like this. Even if it’s someone you’ve never met before, like one of your friend’s friends. This may be shocking to some people, but hey, in some other parts of the world, like Québec or France, you normally greet people with two kisses, or sometimes even more! We just give one kiss, so it’s no big deal, right? 😀 Welcome England_ As a result of our open, effusive and friendly nature, we don’t just speak through our mouths, but also through our bodies. You may have already noticed this in Claudio, as he’s moving his hands around virtually all the time as he speaks. We’ve probably inherited this from the big waves of Italian immigrants who came to Buenos Aires during the last century. If you ask rioplatenses about their grandparents, you’ll find out that they were probably from Italy or Spain. But let’s focus on two specific instances of body language right now. At 1:38, Claudio says “Ustedes tienen lindas mujeres también: Lady Di, las Spice Girls… Jamón del medio“, and then he kisses his fingertips. This expression “jamón del medio” means literally the middle part of the ham, which is regarded as the best/most delicious part. When this expression is applied to people, and women in particular, it means that they are very attractive. And yes, this hand gesture conveys the same idea. At 4:18, Claudio says “Ok, this is Argentinian… very… food, the posta“, as he tries to explain (to the best of his linguistic skills) that they are about to eat a very traditional Argentinian meal (and the best one, according to him). He doesn’t seem to find a good translation for the word “posta“, though, so he says it in Spanish. In this case, “la posta” means “the absolute best, without question”. What’s more, “posta” can sometimes be translated as “truly” or “really”. For example, when you want to verify if something actually happened or if something is true, you can ask “¿Posta?“, which is equivalent to “¿De verdad?” or “¿En serio?“. And another common expression related to this is “decir la posta“, which means simply “to tell the truth”… Once again, this idea of “the best” or “the truth” can be accompanied by Claudio’s gesture: you make your thumb and index fingertips touch and form a ring, and you move your hand up and down. Let’s now look at some other cultural points that we can gather from the video. After seeing Claudio, can you think of a common stereotype for porteños? People from Buenos Aires (and all Argentines by extension) are often said to be very arrogant and conceited. This is of course not true for everybody and I’m sure you can find arrogant people everywhere in the world, but I guess that we can see this attitude when Claudio tries to explain to his guests what the subway/underground is, as if they didn’t know already, or when he tells them that “we have the best pretty girls of the world in Argentina”. Another interesting character in this video is Matilda, Claudio’s mum. She’s characterized as adhering to certain beliefs and values that, in my opinion, are shared by a big group of people of her generation. For example, she tells her daughter that she should have settled down and married a guy described as morally sound, strong and hard-working, regardless of the fact that her daughter thought he was boring and therefore probably wasn’t in love with him. She tells Claudio that he has no love for his country, because he let two Englishmen stay at her place, making a clear reference to the resentment some rioplatenses have towards Great Britain regarding the Malvinas (Falklands) conflict. And she points out the fact that Willy and Peter are gay in a negative manner. Claudio tells her that she should have a more open mind and not be so prejudiced. (Nevertheless, I’d say that in general younger generations don’t share these ideas anymore.) En mi casa_ Moving on… Did you notice all the references to food on this video? Well, we have already talked about the “la posta” scene. There, these guys are eating choripán (“chorizo” is a kind of sausage, usually made from pork, and “pan” means bread, so “choripán” would be a kind of sausage sandwich), which is part of any genuine asado. In a nutshell, asado consists of different cuts of meat grilled on a parrilla and it serves as an excuse for family or friends to gather, especially during the weekend. Birra” is a common word that rioplatófonos use to refer to beer in informal contexts, although we can also use the more general word “cerveza“. In this video, Claudio says “birrita” after sharing some choripán with Willy and Peter, and we can see him drink it from a bottle of Quilmes, a very popular beer brand here. And lastly, at 4.00, we can see them buying some garrapiñada, or caramel-coated peanuts. And the last two points worth-mentioning: tango and baches. Tango is one of the reasons this area is best known for, and in Buenos Aires you can see people dancing tango in San Telmo, a traditional neighbourhood, among other places. At 4:04, you can see someone learning to dance tango in the street. Then, we have the word “bache“, which means “pothole”. You can see one in this video at 3:55. Believe it or not, these “baches” are also part of our culture and you can easily spot one if you walk a lot around Buenos Aires. But don’t worry, when election days are coming closer, our political leaders in power make sure they disappear. Well, on our next entry we will have a closer look at the Spanish dialogues in this video, as there are some interesting words and expressions that need to be explained. But this is all for now… And probably the longest entry so far!
(+91) 9567650439 Arecanut or betal nut is the seed of the areca palm and its scientific name is Areca Catechu. Arecanut tree is tall and reaches up to 30 meters high. It is one of the important commercial fruits in Southeast Asia. White and red variety supari are the products from Arecanut. While the white variety is made from fully ripe nuts, red variety is made out of green Arecanut. Arecanut is believed to have originated in Malaysia or Philippines, although the exact place is unknown. To get the maximum yield of Arecanut, well drained and deep clay soil is needed. The lifespan of Arecanut tree is about 60 years, which with proper care can extend up to 100 years. A young plant starts to produce when it attains the age of 4 to 8 years. The time for the fruit to ripen is about 8 months. The harvesting is done yearly. The Arecanut crop in India is planted during the June-December season. India which is the largest Arecanut producing country. India contributes about 51 percent of global Arecanut production. The other Arecanut producing countries include Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Majority of Arecanut produced in India is consumed in the country itself, giving not much room for exports. The major Arecanut producing states in India are Karnataka (40%), Kerala(25%), Assam(20%) and the remaining in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa. Major Arecanut producing countries are India, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Sri Lanka. Major Arecanut importing countries are Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Major Arecanut exporting countries are Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India. Following are the major trading hubs of Arecanut in India: Maharashtra (Mumbai, Nagpur) Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Rajkot) Madhya Pradesh (Indore) Karnataka (Chikkamagallur, Chitradurga, Coorg, Devangere, Udupi, Shimoga, Tumkur, Uttar Kannada) Kerala (Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasargod, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Trivandrum, Trissur) West Bengal (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Calcutta) & Delhi @ 2016 All Rights Reserved
Learn More The candidate division Korarchaeota comprises a group of uncultivated microorganisms that, by their small subunit rRNA phylogeny, may have diverged early from the major archaeal phyla Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. Here, we report the initial characterization of a member of the Korarchaeota with the proposed name, "Candidatus Korarchaeum cryptofilum,"(More) Methanogenesis, the biological production of methane, plays a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle and contributes significantly to global warming. The majority of methane in nature is derived from acetate. Here we report the complete genome sequence of an acetate-utilizing methanogen, Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A. Methanosarcineae are the most(More) Methanogenesis, the anaerobic production of methane from CO2 or simple carbon compounds, requires seven organic coenzymes. This review describes pathways for the biosynthesis of methanofuran, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethanopterin, coenzyme F420, coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid) and coenzyme B (7-mercaptoheptanoyl-L-threonine phosphate). Spectroscopic(More) A single cultured marine organism, Nanoarchaeum equitans, represents the Nanoarchaeota branch of symbiotic Archaea, with a highly reduced genome and unusual features such as multiple split genes. The first terrestrial hyperthermophilic member of the Nanoarchaeota was collected from Obsidian Pool, a thermal feature in Yellowstone National Park, separated by(More) Cysteinyl-tRNA (Cys-tRNA) is essential for protein synthesis. In most organisms the enzyme responsible for the formation of Cys-tRNA is cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CysRS). The only known exceptions are the euryarchaea Methanococcus jannaschii and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, which do not encode a CysRS. Deviating from the accepted concept of one(More) The genome sequence of the genetically tractable, mesophilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanococcus maripaludis contains 1,722 protein-coding genes in a single circular chromosome of 1,661,137 bp. Of the protein-coding genes (open reading frames [ORFs]), 44% were assigned a function, 48% were conserved but had unknown or uncertain functions, and 7.5%(More)
Skip to main content Northwestern study minimizes racism one nap at a time I think of myself as a feminist. I actually have a podcast that celebrates women in science. Well, Ken Paller, for one. “We might use those stereotypes as a shortcut sometimes,” Paller said. “If you meet a new person, you don't know them yet, you might look at their external appearance and make judgment about what they might be and what their personality might be like. That can be a mistake. It can be a difficult shortcut, but yet it's a common shortcut that people make.” The official term for those shortcuts is implicit social bias, and Paller said we all have at least a little bit of it. Paller told me about a test you can take online to measure your own bias. So I took it. When I think about it, that makes sense. I’ve always considered the humanities to be more feminine, and the sciences to be more masculine. I know that’s irrational, but it’s more common than we might think. “Ok, here we go,” she said with a deep breath. “Your results: Your data suggest a moderate automatic preference for European Americans compared to African Americans,” Bozeman read with narrowed eyes. She shook her head. “I’m not terribly surprised.” Bozeman said she wasn’t surprised because she sees negative media coverage of black people everywhere. And that sometimes makes her feel negative toward black people. Feeling that way completely goes against her own values. “Virtually everyone has an implicit social bias for race and gender,” Paller said. “We pick it up from the media, from our inculturation over many years. So these are longstanding habits. And we wouldn’t expect to change them overnight.” Treating bias during sleep The thing is, Paller’s team did change them overnight. Or at least, during an afternoon nap. Paller knew that all sorts of experts have been using the Implicit Association Test, the same one Bozeman and I took, to reduce bias. What he wanted to find out was if he could help make somebody less biased on a long term basis by using sleep, and some very specific sounds. Here’s how he did it: First, he’d measure people’s bias by having them take the implicit association test. It’s almost like a matching game. Paller and his team were testing for two stereotypes: gender bias, and racial bias. Every time subjects played the game for gender, and connected science words with women, they’d hear a unique sound. When they connected positive words with the faces of African Americans, they’d hear another tone. Then, while the subjects are curled up in a tiny room to take a 90-minute nap, Paller and his team reinforced the learning that just happened by playing one of those two sounds over and over again. A subject would hear the sound in his or her sleep more than 100 times. The theory is, if people heard the same sound while they slept, they’d better remember the training they just learned. And it works. Paller, whose expertise is memory storage during sleep, says when we’re lying in bed, we might seem to be at rest, but our brains are still hard at work, filing away memories and ditching information we don’t need. “A lot of complicated brain processing is happening during sleep. It’s not like your laptop, when you shut it off to sleep and nothing happens,” Paller said. “Instead, the brain is continually processing information and we’re trying to understand what’s happening when that memory processing is happening.” Fighting bias in everyday life “I think I also think about it for my children,” Bozeman said. “I recognize that...they have a lot more positive images that I have…. I mean, my children were born in 2006 and 2008. So to them, the president’s always been black.” The Northwestern study, called Unlearning implicit social biases during sleep, was published in the journal Science earlier this year. It was coauthored by Xiaoqing Hu, James Antony, Jessica Creery, Iliana Vargas, and Galen Bodenhausen. Greta Johnsen is a reporter and host for WBEZ. Follow her @gretamjohnsen. Get the WBEZ App
Time taken to stop A disc of radius R is rotating on a rough surface about its natural axis with an angular frequency w. Assuming the coefficient of friction of the floor to be u, how to find the time taken by it to come to rest? If we can find the torque due to friction our work is done. The area density of disc !!=M/(piR^2)!! To find the torque due to friction. Consider a ring of width !!dx!! and radius !!x!!. The tangential force acting on the rim will be mass of ring multiplied by coefficient of friction and gravity so we get !!2pix xx dx xx M/(piR^2)xx mu xx g!! So the torque on the ring due to the friction is !!x xx 2 (xM)/R^2 muxxgdx!! So the total torque !!=int_0^R (2muMg)/R^2 x^2 dx!! !!=(2muMg)/R^2 R^3/3!! !!=2/3 muMgR!! Now the time taken would be: !!=(omega(MR^2)/2)/(2/3 muMgR)!! !!=3/4 (omegaR)/(mug)!! Get it on Google Play
Make your own free website on History of Jihad. Holy war vs. Holy Struggle. What the Quran says. What the Hadith says. Case Study : Jihad during the Medieval Islam Era. Holy War vs. Holy Struggle Jihad is frequently confused with the current Western concept of secular war. It is an erroneous identification, for under Islamic doctrine secular war (Harb) is morally unacceptable.14 Early Muslim thinkers equated such war with forms of social sickness. The Muslim scholar Ibn-Khaldun (A.D. 1332-1406) observed that wars had existed from the beginning of human society and were rooted in humanity's vengeful nature. Hence, Muslim scholars regarded secular wars as an evil which violated the divine laws and should be condemned. Islam permits only Jihad and not Harb (secular war). The Islamic concept of the unity of God was taught by the Prophet against the backdrop of the polytheistic, pagan society of Mecca. This helps explain the word Jihad. Jihad means struggle or exertion of one's power in Allah's path15 against that which is evil; its goal is to destroy evil, to spread belief in Allah and to make His words supreme in this world. During his years in Mecca the Prophet's political power was not strong, yet he was exhorted to propagate the message of Islam against the prevalent idolatry and paganism. In this period obviously Jihad meant only the propagation of Islam. Another term which is misunderstood and misrepresented is jihad. This does not mean "Holy War". "Holy War" does not exist as a term in Arabic, and its translation into Arabic sounds quite alien. The term which is specifically used in the Qur'an for fighting is qital. Jihad can be by argumentation (25:52 ), financial help or actual fighting. Jihad is always described in the Qur'an as fi sabil illah.
Water Bottle Refilling Stations All of our secondary schools and some elementary schools have fundraised and installed state-of-the-art combination drinking fountain/water bottle filling stations in an effort to significantly reduce the number of disposable plastic bottle waste in the environment. The system dispenses drinking water at a rate three times faster than a conventional water fountain. Some units also include a high efficiency refrigeration system to chill the water while minimizing electricity, as well as an innovative "Green Ticker" which counts the quantity of bottles saved from landfills. It is estimated that 1,000 - 2,000 disposable water bottles each month will not enter the waste stream as a result of this initiative, which continues to grow and is partly funded by the District Sustainable Schools Initiatives Program. In 2016/2017, as part of our Water Quality Program, the Delta School District committed to install one combination drinking fountain/water bottle filling station at every school.
Festivals IloveIndia This article provides the ways of saying mother in different languages. Check out how to say mom in different languages. Mother in Different Languages The first word that a child learns to speak is mother. The word signifies care, love, concern and sacrifice. It doesn't matter what the language is, the love and affection represented by this single word remains the same every where and in every language. When you are in pain, the first word that comes out of your mouth is "momma", which simply means that the first person you remember in pain is that of your mom. It also serves to reflect that the word is so soothing that merely by saying it; you experience an alleviation of your pain. This ordinary word has the power to make you feel secure in the hardest of times. Are you wondering how people around the world say the word 'mother'? If yes, the go through the following lines and learn how to speak mother in different languages. Language Mother Afrikaans Moeder, Ma Albanian Nënë, Mëmë Arabic Ahm Belarusian Matka Bolognese Mèder Bosnian/ Bulgarian Majka Brazilian/Portuguese Mãe Chechen Nana Croatian Mati, Majka Czech Abatyse Danish Mor Dutch Moeder, Moer English Mother, Mama, Mom Finnish Äiti French Mère, Maman German Mutter Greek Màna Hawaiian Makuahine Hindi Ma, Maji Hungarian Anya, Fu Icelandic Móðir Indonesian Induk, Ibu, Biang, Nyokap Irish Máthair Italian Madre, Mamma Japanese Okaasan, Haha Judeo/Spanish Madre Latin Mater Macedonian Majka Marathi Aayi Mongolian eh Norwegian Mamma or Mor Persian Madr, Maman Polish Matka, Mama Portuguese Mãe Punjabi Mai, Mataji, Pabbo Romanian Mama, Maica Russian Mat' Serbian Majka Slovak Mama, Matka Spanish Madre, Mamá, Mami Swedish Mamma, Mor, Morsa Swiss/German Mueter Turkish Anne, Ana, Valide Ukrainian Mati Urdu Ammee Welsh Mam Yiddish Muter Zeneize Moæ
Brook's Bloggers / Elyssa H's Blog / American Football Facts Hey! here are some facts about american football 1. American Football grew out of English sports such as rugby and soccer and became popular on American college campuses in the late 1800s. 2. In 1876, a coach named Walter Camp, who is considered the “Father of American Football,” helped produce the first rules of American football. Among important changes were the introduction of line scrimmages and down-and-distance rules. 3. The American Professional Football Association was formed in 1920; two years later it changed its name to the National Football League (NFL), which would ultimately become the major league of American football. 4. The most watched television event in the United States is the Super Bowl. 5. It takes about 600 cows to make one full season’s worth of NFL footballs. 6. The Wilson Sporting Goods Company in Ada, Ohio, has been the official football supplier for the NFL since 1941. They make more than 2 million footballs of all sorts every year. 8. Only two players have caught, rushed, and thrown a touchdown against the same team in the same game: Walter Payton in 1979 and David Patton in 2001. 9. While football originally was popular in Midwestern industrial towns, its growth in popularity around the U.S. is typically traced to the 1958 NFL Championship game, which has been called the “Greatest Game Ever Played.” 10. Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett is the only player to rush for a 99-yard touchdown, in 1983. 11. Just two years after finishing their careers, approximately 78% of NFL players go bankrupt. 12. Injured football players in televised NFL games get six more seconds of camera time than celebrating players. 13. In 1892, former Yale star William “Pudge” Heffelfinger became the first recognized pro player when he accepted $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association. 14. Though football games usually last around 3 hours, the ball is typically in play for only 11 minutes. Around 56% of the game on TV is devoted to replays. 15. In an NFL game, as many as 75 minutes, or about 60% of total TV air time (excluding commercials), is spent on shots of players standing on the line of scrimmage, huddling, or just walking around between snaps. here is a video about football/soccer facts! Write A Comment
Sight Reading Like music theory, sight reading music is an essential skill that all musicians should have. Written music helps us visualize a composition and provides a way to communicate ideas to different people. Also, there is are endless resources available to musicians who can read music. Sight reading will elevate you skills as a musician, so take the time to learn it. It really is a simple language to learn and should not be overlooked! In this series of lessons, we will discover the building blocks used in music notation. Like all things new, this may appear difficult at first but before you know it you will have all the knowledge you need to pick up a piece of music and play it.
15 Ways to a Healthier New Year. At this time of year we think about our future and what we would like to achieve in the New Year. Many of us will have achieving good health and, perhaps, weight loss on our minds. So it’s time to act on your thoughts and make some beneficial changes, simple things like:- 1. Stop drinking sodas – drink purified water instead (add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice) or drink green tea with lemon juice. 2. Drink plenty of water each day – are you hungry or just dehydrated? 3. Reduce your consumption of bottled fruit juices – make your own. 4. Reduce your sugar intake (when you stop drinking sodas you’ll get this benefit). Use only natural sugar substitutes. 5. Reduce the quantity of processed foods you consume. There are hidden sugars and fats, plus lots of chemical additives you’ll want to avoid. Read labels – if you need a science degree to understand the ingredients you probably shouldn’t eat it. 6. Reduce your salt intake, use only natural quality salt which is chemical free and contains minerals. 7. Add flavor with herbs, spices or lemon juice instead of adding salt. 8. Reduce you fat intake. Consume only healthy fats. Learn more about dietary fats 9. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Reduce the quantity of meat you consume. Look at the portions on your plate – make sure vegetables make up 75%. 10. Make your plate like a rainbow of colors – eat a variety of colorful vegetables. 11. Use a smaller plate and drink more water. 12. Learn about Anti Cancer truths 13. Read about how you can rejuvenate your body at a cellular level. 14. Learn how an acidic body is bad for you and how to achieve an alkaline body. 15. Improve your Nutrition Intelligence Lose Weight With Water The human body is mostly water trapped inside the fragile walls of cells. We drink water to maintain the optimum level of hydration in our bodies, to flush the toxins out and cleanse the body, to cool off, to keep our joints lubricated and to assist in the food digestion process. Although they don’t realize it, most people are suffering from chronic dehydration. The minimum daily recommended water intake is 2 liters, because this is how much water the body uses throughout the day through perspiration, respiration, urination and other bodily functions. Without replenishing lost water, the body goes into dehydration mode and all functions start to suffer. Water is essential to life and proper bodily function. Your the metabolism is dependent on water to work properly. Without enough water, the process of breaking food down and converting it to energy slows down dramatically, which means that too few calories are burnt and little weight is lost. Not drinking enough water can be compared to “running on fumes” and if you’re dieting and you seem to have hit the plateau, then you are probably not drinking enough water. When the metabolism slows down, weight loss slows down even more dramatically, especially since exercising becomes less effective as the body’s energy levels diminish. Water also plays an important part in the process of digestion and elimination of toxins. Not drinking enough water is a one-way ticket to constipation and a host of other problems of the intestines. Poor digestion means that you will not get enough energy from the food you’re eating. This will prompt the body to ask for more food and this is how the weight loss process stops and the weight gain process begins. A dehydrated body sends out fake hunger pangs, thus tempting you to forget about the diet and eat more food than you should. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Not to mention that water is also a good filler. If you want to eat less food, drink a tall glass of water half an hour before every meal. The water will fill a large part of your stomach and the body will be content to feel that the stomach is not empty. This is not idle speculation, but a sound advice whose effectiveness can be confirmed by many dietitians and weight loss experts. Nobody can overeat with half of the stomach filled with water, your brain will signal to you: “Seems like we’re almost full. We don’t need that much food, so cut it short this evening”. Keep in mind that in order to reap the benefits of drinking enough water, you will want to spread the intake throughout the day. Don’t drink 2 liters of water all at once because the body will simply flush the excess and a lot of it will simply be wasted. Also, you don’t need to restrict yourself to water. Fruit juices, tea and coffee count as liquids that can be used by the body for hydration, although fruit juice has lots of sugar and calories so it’s probably best not to overdo it. Alcohol is out of the question, because alcohol has the opposite effect on the body. Don’t be afraid that drinking a lot of water will make you retain fluid. It’s dehydration, not abundance, which forces the body to hang on to what it has. If you find water a bit boring, add a squeeze of lemon juice to each glass – it helps cleanse your system. Of course it’s preferable to drink filtered, purified water using a system like the Hexagon water filter. Is Dehydration Halting Your Weight Loss? Trying to lose weight? You’ve stuck to your diet and stalled on a weight loss plateau? The first thing to check is your water intake. Research suggests that most people unknowingly suffer from mild, chronic dehydration, and you could be one of them! So why should you care? Because water is an essential ingredient for your weight loss. In fact, water is needed for a wide range of the body’s biochemical processes, but lets just look at what water does for dieters: Water is essential for your body to metabolize stored fat into energy. Your body’s metabolism can be slowed by even relatively mild levels of dehydration. The slower your metabolism, the slower your weight loss (and the greater your fatigue), until eventually your weight loss just crawls to a halt, and you hit the dreaded diet plateau. Water is a natural appetite suppressant. In the hypothalamus, a region in your brain that controls appetites and cravings, the control centers for hunger and thirst are located next to each other, and there tends to be some overlap. This has both advantages and disadvantages for the dieter: on the down side, it means that chronic mild dehydration can confuse these control mechanisms, leading to feelings of hunger, rather than thirst. But on a positive note, it means you can use water to reduce your appetite. For example, in one University of Washington study, drinking a glass of water reduced nighttime hunger cravings for most of the dieters studied. Water is an essential component of the processes that enable muscle to contract. This means that water helps to maintain muscle tone. Better muscle tone means a better looking body, and isn’t that what dieting and weight loss is about? Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of, as a byproduct of all that metabolized fat. So adequate water is essential to your health while dieting. Water can even help with constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from within, particularly from the colon. This leads to constipation. But normal bowel function usually returns with adequate water intake. • Headaches & feeling light headed, as dehydration interferes with normal body processes, including waste disposal. • Fatigue, as the body’s metabolism is slowed – mild dehydration is probably the most common cause of daytime fatigue. • Hunger & cravings due to weakening of the thirst mechanism • Fluid retention as your body tries to hold on to the water it already has • Constipation, as the body works to conserve its internal water sources Not a pretty picture, is it? But once you get your water in balance, you reach the “breakthrough point”, a concept pioneered by Dr. Peter Lindner, a California obesity expert. Once you’ve reached the breakthrough point, fluid retention eases, the liver and endocrine system start to function more effectively, you will start to regain your natural thirst and your hunger cravings will be significantly reduced. And so the end result of reaching and sustaining the breakthrough point in your water balance is that your body is able to metabolize fat more effectively. So how much water should you drink daily, for a healthy and ‘adequate’ intake? First, a couple of basic principles: The easiest way to tell if you are drinking enough water is to monitor the color of your urine: It should be clear or a very pale yellow in color. (but note that some supplements and medications may also affect your urine color). 1. Get in to the habit of drinking regular and adequate amounts of water. Never wait to drink until you’re thirsty, because if you’re feeling thirsty, then dehydration has already started to occur! Remember, you need additional water in hot weather, when you lose more water through sweat. But how do you manage to drink so much water? A typical recommendation from the weight loss experts is 3 glasses of water with every meal. That’s 3 glasses with breakfast, 3 with lunch, and 3 with dinner. Plus, of course, additional regular water between meals when you’re exercising or when its hot. It’s quite daunting to drink 3 glasses at a sitting, so spread them out, drink 1 glass 10-20 minutes before a meal, 1 glass during your meal (I recommend adding a squeeze of lemon juice), 1 glass after your meal. Plus it helps to replenish your hydration levels if your drink water after each visit to the restroom. Plus after brushing your teeth. These “events” are just reminder triggers. So if you’re dieting, stalled on a weight loss plateau, or suffering some of the classic symptoms of dehydration, do, first of all, ensure that you have an adequate water intake. It could be the ‘missing ingredient’ in your diet regime. CLICK HERE to find out about Hexagon Water
Sunday, December 28, 2014 When the Seminoles Whipped Zackary Taylor’s Army on Christmas Day Seminole warriors lie in ambush for an Army column under Major Francis Dade in 1835. The Battle of Lake Okeechobee was just one episode in an epic struggle that encompassed three official wars, countless scrapes and breaches of tenuous truces over more than 50 years. Together they are generally referred to as the Seminole Wars and reduced to a mere sentence or two in most high school and many college survey course American History text books. Yet more United States Government treasure was eventually expended on the various campaigns and removal schemes than in the War of 1812 and all of the other Indian campaigns between the American Revolution and the Civil War. And more U.S. soldiers—Regulars, Volunteers, and militia died in battle or of disease than in all of the legendary post-Civil War Western Indian wars combined. At the height of the conflict—the Second Seminole War (1835-1842)10,000 regular army troops were engaged—the vast majority of the Army’s total manpower—plus thousands of volunteers, militia, and auxiliaries and scouts—fought no more than 3,000 warriors. Yet at the end of all of the waste in blood and treasure although most of the Seminole were relocated to reservations west of the Mississippi, a stubborn remnant held out in the depths of the Everglades, defiant and undefeated. They remain on their lands to this day. Florida had famously been claimed for Spain by the Conquistador Ponce de León in 1513 and after some unsuccessful attempts and St. Augustine—the second oldest continuous settlement in what is now the United States—was founded in 1565. In the subsequent two centuries of Spanish occupation, most of the native peoples of the peninsula were killed in warfare, died of imported European diseases especially small pox, or were enslaved. Many of the enslaved were sold or shipped to plantations on the profitable spice and sugar islands of the Caribbean where the native Carib people had already been nearly wiped out. Spain was never able to control much of the Florida country except for areas around St. Augustine and costal enclaves of fisher folk, wreck scavengers, and buccaneers. But they had nearly depopulated the whole province. Into this void came two groups. First were Black, freemen from the Spanish holdings, but mostly escaped slaves from both Spanish settlements and, increasingly, runaways from Georgia and the Carolinas. Whole villages sprang up inland along rivers away safe from Spain’s thinly spread troops. The second were native peoples from the north, primarily break-away Creeks and other Hitchiti and Muscogee speakers who settled near what is now Tallahassee in the panhandle and around the Alachua Prairie. The Creeks were at the time the dominant tribe in the Deep South and aggressively expanding their hunting grounds. But they were also divided between Northern and Southern branches often at odds and in by local clans often in virtual civil war. Weaker groups fled the dominant Creeks as did members of other tribes including Alabamas, Choctaws, Yamasees, and Yuchis. Elements of these tribes mixed and mingled often forming villages in which the people retained their original tribal identity but took on new group loyalties. They were also for the most part welcomed by the Black villagers already there. Escaped slaves of African origins introduced the new arrivals to new agricultural practices more adapted to their swampy new homes, including the cultivation of rice. Some of the arriving natives already included Blacks in their numbers, either escaped slaves adopted into the tribe—just as there were also White people, mostly traders, who had been adopted—or in some cases owned as slaves. Over time more and more of the black settlers intermarried with the natives and assimilated into their culture. Their presence also attracted a steady stream of new runaways. By the early 18th Century the Spanish had taken to calling these people Cimarrones, meaning wild ones or runaways which eventually morphed into Seminole. Still later Yankees began to apply the term to virtually all of the Florida peoples regardless of their own tribal identities. During the chaos of the American Revolution, fighting in the South sent a new wave of Black runaways into Florida. The British then controlled Florida as a result of the treaties ending the Seven Years War (French and Indian Wars in North America). Through a network of traders operating and limited military operatives took advantage of the situation to encourage more runaways and raiding against isolated colonial settlements. This, of course, was bitterly resented by Southern planters who began agitating the new government to try to annex East and West Florida, which had been returned to Spain’s weak control by the Treaty of Paris. With a steady stream of slaves continuing to escape across the border, the new Government began contesting the boundary of West Florida. By 1810 James Madison dispatched troops to occupy and annex some of the area, and there was nothing a pathetically weakened Spain could do about it. After Andrew Jackson and his Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in early 1814, many Creeks crossed into Florida and linked up with the Seminoles and with the Black villages. The British armed them and encouraged forays. Jackson drove the British and as many 700 warriors out of Pensacola, and back to the Apalachicola River. After rushing to the defense of New Orleans and his decisive victory there, Jackson marched overland to secure Mobile and from there was poised to take further action against Florida. The British retained some presence in Florida even after returning nominal control to the Spanish and in particular armed a garrison of mostly freed slaves at the so-called Negro Fort on the Apalachicola. Their presence frightened southern planters who feared it would encourage mass slave escapes or perhaps even a slave insurrection. When some American sailors were killed by armed blacks troops under Jackson’s overall command attacked the Negro Fort, along with a large number of his former Creek foes, recruited on the promise that they could take possession of the contents of the armory of the fort. In an exchange of artillery fire, the magazine of the Fort exploded killing almost all 300 defenders. Survivors escaped to join the Seminole, who in turn were harassed by their old Creek enemies, now well stocked with arms salvaged from the fort. The following year, 1816, Jackson invaded Florida on his own initiative convinced that his prestige would insulate him from blame. He marched with 800 troops and quickly took the Spanish fort at St. Marks, where he captured a Scottish born trader and hung two Red Stick Creek (Seminole allies) chief captured under ruse. Soon after he also captured a British agent. He put both men on trial for trading and arming the Indians and had them executed, causing an international incident. After briefly returning to Tennessee, Jackson returned with an expanded army and took Pensacola again from a 150 Spanish garrison and about 700 Indians, both Seminole and Red Stick Creek. His actions flagrantly violated international law but were said to “secure the frontier.” Jackson was bitter when faced with censure for insubordination, but that is another tale. More importantly Spain realized that it could not hold Florida if the United States chose to act against it. They were forced to cede their province to the U.S. The Americans took possession in 1821, with Jackson being appointed Territorial Governor, a vindication of sorts. He did not remain in active command long, leading to a string of weak governors to try solve the ongoing problem of the Seminole and their Black allies. The military adventures leading to the annexation of Florida became known, retroactively as the First Seminole War although most of the fighting occurred between U.S. troops and the Red Sticks, Spanish, and allies among the Black villages who were becoming called Black Seminoles. With annexation came new waves of White settler from adjacent states, especially to the panhandle and the grass lands of the northern part of the Territory, the heart of the Seminole homeland along the Apalachicola and in the grass prairies of the north. There the people had established substantial permanent villages with sturdy log dwellings, and extensive fields of corn or rice in swampier areas. On the grassland substantial herds of cattle and hogs were raised. There was general prosperity that attracted both more run-away slaves and White land lust. In 1823 the government negotiated the Treaty of Moultrie Creek during meetings near St. Augustine attended by over 400 Seminole and allied tribe who elected Neamathla, a prominent Mikasuki chief, to be their chief representative. The treaty ceded all of the lands of the panhandle and the northern half of the peninsula to the United States, except for six villages along the Apalochicola belonging to particularly influential chief. In exchange the Seminole and their allies were given a large reservation of about 4 million acres that ran down the middle of the peninsula from just north of present-day Ocala to a line even with the southern end of Tampa Bay. The boundaries were set well inland from both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to prevent trading for arms and to keep slaves escaping by boat from reaching them. The Seminole would be able to keep Blacks who were their “lawful property” but were officially obliged to turnover escaped slaves. In practice that meant that the territorial governor would consider Blacks who were culturally integrated into the Seminole as legal property, even though United States law did not recognize the freedom that had been granted to runaways by the former Spanish authorities. Large sums of money, several hundred thousand dollars, were set aside to compensate the Seminole for their property losses in the north, expenses in relocation, and as rations for the first year until new crops could be harvested. Chief got substantial gifts—bribes—for signing. Although there was some resistance, most of the Seminole saw this as the best that they could do. By 1827 almost all were relocated. But the difficulty in clearing the heavily forested, swampy land, delayed planting new crops, then a prolonged drought damaged crops that were planted. The reservation was also soon over hunted leading to starvation in some villages. Despite a general peace, more and more bands of hunters left the reservation in search of food, sometimes clashing with the new white settlers in their old territory. In 1830 Jackson was elected President and announced his intended program of removing all Eastern tribes west of the Mississippi—including his old enemies among the Seminole and their allies. In 1832 the Reservation chiefs were called to Payne’s Landing to hear a proposal to relocate them beyond the Mississippi on a reservation already established for the Creeks, since the Seminole were officially considered by the Government as a division of that nation. The Seminole, however, now considered themselves their own nation, a nation historically at odds with most of the Creeks. Seven chief, however, did consent to travel west to inspect the proposed lands and to confer with the Creeks. They were also heavily gifted. They at first acknowledged that the new land was “acceptable” and agreed to sign a treaty. On returning home to the outrage of their people most of the chiefs repudiated their agreement. None the less the Treaty of Payne’s Landing was ratified by the Senate in 1832 and the government began to relocate those who could be persuaded to leave. That included most of those still along the Apalochicola who suffered intense pressure from White settlers. But most on the Reservation refused to go, even after Jackson sent a message to a council saying that the Army would move to impose the relocation if they did not go. Eight of the chiefs agreed to move west, but asked to delay the move until the end of the year. Five other important leaders refused. Isolated clashes between settler and natives erupted. Tensions mounted. One of the five resisting Chiefs, Charley Emathla, wanting no part of a war, led his people to Fort Brooke, where they were to board ships to go west. Other Seminoles considered this a betrayal and the rising young leader Osceola met Charley Emathla on the trail and killed him. War broke out in 1835 as the Territorial government mobilized the militia to move against the Seminole. Raiding parties, including some led by Osceola began raiding and burning sugar plantations along the Atlantic coast with most of the slaves joining them. One militia supply column with hundreds of pounds of powder and shot was captured in another raid, which killed six guards. On December 23, 1835 the two companies of U.S. regulars, totaling 110 men, left Fort Brooke under the command of Maj. Francis L. Dade to reinforce the more isolated Fort King. The column was shadowed by the Seminole who ambushed it on December killing all but three members of the command in what became known as the Dade Massacre, one of the worst Army defeats in the young nation’s history. The same day Osceola killed 7 troops outside Fort King. An idealized depiction of the Battle of Lake OkeechobeeNo troops--and no horses--got this near to the Seminole defenses. Fighting and raiding spread across the peninsula with small units of regulars and militia often coming under attack and raids on plantations spreading south. Some officers, at least, saw justice in the Seminole resistance. Major Ethan Allen Hitchcock, an officer from New England whose troops found the slaughtered remains of Dade’s command the next February wrote home: Back in Washington Jackson had no such qualms. And neither did most of the officers in the service who hailed from the South. The Army scrambled to recover and respond. Virginian War of 1812 hero Winfield Scott, acknowledged to be the Army’s most capable soldier, was brought in as the overall commander. Meanwhile General Edmund Gaines gathered a force of 1,100 Regulars from scattered western post and volunteers in New Orleans and sailed for Fort Brook. In marching and counter marching between Forts Brook and King, Gaines’ column, nearly out of food was trapped along a river at the site where Osceola had defeated a militia force some weeks earlier. Gaines erected a makeshift fort and sent word to Fort King to send re-enforcements. Scott would not at first risk exposing more troops. Gaines held out against a deadly siege by hundreds of warriors while his men were reduced to eating their mules and dogs. The local commander at King finally decided to ignore Scott’s order and send relief. But instead of trapping the attacking native forces, they just melted away. It was another humiliating setback for the Army. Scott had resisted dispatching aid because he wanted to consolidate his forces and conduct a coordinated offense against the tribes. Three columns, totaling 5,000 men, were to converge on the Cove of the Withlacoochee, trapping the Seminoles with a force large enough to defeat them. Scott would accompany one column, under the command of General Duncan Clinch, moving south from Fort Drane. A second column, under Brig. Gen. Abraham Eustis, would travel southwest from Volusia, a town on the St. Johns River. The third wing, under the command of Col. William Lindsay, would move north from Fort Brooke. The plan was for the three columns to arrive at the Cove simultaneously so as to prevent the Seminoles from escaping. Eustis and Lindsay were supposed to be in place on March 25, so that Clinch's column could drive the Seminoles into them. Eustis tarried to attack and burn a target of opportunity—a Black Seminole village—and was delayed. But so were the other two columns. By the time the columns converged on the final day of the month, the Seminole had slipped away, abandoning the Cove. There was only minor skirmishing with the native rear guard. Out of provisions the now united army had to retreat to Fort Brooke with nothing to show for their efforts. Through the spring and summer of 1836 the Seminoles attacked and besieged a number of forts and outposts. When they attacked and burned the sugar mill on General Clinch’s personal plantation, he resigned the Army and abandoned his Florida holdings for Alabama. Meanwhile illness—yellow fever, malaria, and dysentery swept through the army further weakening it. Post, including Fort Drane and Fort Defiance had to be abandoned. Congress swallowed hard and appropriated another $1.5 million and authorized volunteer enlistments for a year rather than the customary three months just to finish the year. Newly appointed Governor Richard Keith Call hoped to launch a dry season summer campaign using militia and Florida Volunteer troops instead of the exhausted regulars. But gathering men and supplies delayed him until September and the beginning of the rainy season. After re-occupying Fort Drane, he attempted another attack on the Seminole strong point, the Cove but his troops were trapped across a flooded river with no tools to build rafts or canoes and his men were peppered by rifle fire from across the river every time they were seen on the banks. He had to return to base, his men half-starved when their supply steamboat sank in the river. \ He tried again in November, made it across the Withlacoochee, but found the Cove abandoned. Call split his forces and marched up the river on both banks in search of his elusive enemy. He routed on encampment on November 17 and fought a running engagement the next day. He pursued the fleeing Seminoles into the Wahoo Swamp on November 21 where the Indians set up a fierce resistance to screen their families. They were forced across a river which, once again, Call could not cross. His men were exhausted and the terms of the Volunteers would expire in December. Call was relieved of command and his men ordered back to Fort Brooke where the Volunteers disbanded. Meanwhile Scott was relieved and replaced by his greatest rival in the service, Major General Thomas Jesup who had just routed rebellious Creek removal holdout in Georgia. Jesup determined that using large units and trying to force a classic set piece battle with the Seminole, he would wear them down by actions against their villages and a war of attrition. Jesup assembled a force of nearly 10,000, half of them Regulars, the rest including not just the usual militia and Volunteers, but a brigade of Marines and sailors from both the Navy and the costal Revenue Service. The latter would man ships and boats sent up the rivers to harass villages along their banks and disrupt communications between villages and bands. The Seminole had started the war with just over 1,000 warriors who could not be replaced. The war to this point had already reduced the number to something under 800. In January 1837 there were a number of limited but successful actions employing this strategy including the Battle of Hatchee-Lustee, where the Marine brigade captured between thirty and forty Seminoles and blacks, mainly women and children, along with 100 pack ponies and 1,400 head of cattle. Some Seminole leaders began to seek peace. In March Micanopy and a few other chiefs signed a capitulation agreeing to be transported with their cattle and bona fide property—supposed slaves. As these bands gathered in camps to await transport, they were descended upon by slave catcher who laid claim to most Blacks. Since the Seminole could seldom, if ever, produce documentation of ownership, many were stolen from their people. Two of the most important and successful war leaders, however, had not come in to surrender—Osceola and Aripeka, medicine man and war chief of the Miccosukee better known as Sam Jones. On June 1 these leaders and 200 Warrior surprised the lightly held garrison at Fort Brook and liberated 700 members of the bands surrendered by their chiefs. This was a severe blow to Jessup’s plans especially since, believing that the war had essentially been won, he allowed the militia to go home, let Volunteer enlistments expire without recruiting new ones, and allowed the Army to reassign some of his regulars back to their usual posts. He spent the summer slowly rebuilding his forces. Despite a steep drop in revenues caused by the Panic of 1837, Congress reluctantly appropriated another $1.6 million for another year of campaigning. In the fall he resumed sending his small unit raiding parties out and his river patrols had always continued. Many Seminole were exhausted having been driven from their villages and unable to plant crops and the warriors too busy to hunt. Small family groups of Seminoles and even Blacks began surrendering to the forces who encountered them. The Army captured the important Mikasuki chief known as King Philip and his band and a band of Yuchis, including their leader, Uchee Billy. Attrition was once again doing its slow work. Jessup had King Philip send a message to his son, the important war leader Coacoochee (Wild Cat) inviting him to a parlay. When he arrived under a flag of truce he and his companions were arrested. In October Osceola and Coa Hadjo, another chief, requested a parley with Jesup. A meeting was arranged south of St. Augustine where the Army also arrested them under the White flag. All of these important prisoners were sent to Fort Marion—the historic Spanish Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. All jammed together in a dungeon like cell. Twenty of his cell mates including Coacoochee and the Black war Chief John Horse escaped by squeezing their half-starved frames through a narrow window. Osceola was too ill to join them. He died in the same cell not long after. Jessup had the respected Cherokee leader John Ross come down from Georgia to parlay with some of the holdouts. When Micanopy and others came in to meet the Cherokee delegation, they, too were arrested. Ross protested but Jessup told him that any Indian who came in would be detained and deported. After these incidents the remaining resistors learned never to trust Jessup. By late fall Jessup had built up a new large Army including Volunteer units from as far away as Pennsylvania and Missouri. He divided his command into strong columns set to push south down the peninsula. General Joseph Marion Hernández led a column down the east coast, General Eustis took his column up the St. Johns River Colonel Zachary Taylor led a column from Fort Brooke into the middle of the state, and then southward between the Kissimmee River and the Peace River. Other commands cleared out the areas between the St. Johns and the Oklawaha River, between the Oklawaha and the Withlacoochee River, and along the Caloosahatchee River. A joint Army-Navy unit patrolled the lower east coast of Florida. Other troops patrolled the northern part of the territory to protect against Seminole raids. Taylor’s campaign started well. In the first two days after setting out on December 19 with 1000 man force more than 90 Seminole surrendered to him. He stopped for a day to throw up a hasty palisade, Fort Basinger, where he left his sick and enough men to guard the Seminoles that had surrendered. He then took off in pursuit of what he understood was the main body of the hostiles. He caught up to them on a fateful Christmas Day. About 450 Seminoles and Blacks under the leadership of Billy Bowlegs, Abiaca, and Alligator set up well concealed defensive positions between Lake Okeechobee and a large hammock with half a mile of swamp in front of it. Seven foot high saw grass provided cover and water and mire three feet deep in places meant that horses would be useless. The Seminole carefully prepared their position, cutting the top off of some of the saw grass for a clear field of fire and notching surrounding trees to steady their rifles. Despite this, Taylor decided to attack head on to the hammock ignoring advice to try and flank and surround the warriors. He let his trusted Lenape (Delaware) auxiliaries, about 80 strong, lead the way. Withering file sent then running back to and beyond the lines. Next in order of battle were 180 Missouri Volunteers who became bogged down in the swamp and easy targets. Almost all of their officers and non-coms were picked off. Colonel Richard Gentry, himself mortally wounded was unable to stop a panicked rout, especially after some of the Seminole counter charged them. That left if to the Regulars, troops from the 1st, 4th, and 6th Infantry Regiments. They pressed forward trying to maintain formation but were soon struggling in the saw grass. The 6th was especially mauled Lieutenant Colonel Alexander R. Thompson, commanding and all but one officer were killed as were most of the non-coms. When the unit fell back and tried to reform they found only three men unwounded. Other companies pressed the attack with nearly the same results. Sharp fighting continued for hours until dark when both side disengaged. The Seminole melted away in the night. In a hard day’s fight they had lost 11 dead and a score wounded. Taylor’s command lost 26 dead—almost exclusively officers and non-coms and 122 injured. His auxiliaries and militia were demoralized to uselessness and the heavy loss to the Army’s leadership crippled it. Taylor limped back to Fort Brooke, managing to take back with him no more prisoners, but about 150 horses and 600 head of cattle that he had cut off from the Seminole forces. The later was a blow to the Indians. In his official report Taylor claimed victory on the narrow traditional terms of seizing control of the battle field at the end of the conflict. But it was a strategic loss. Worse, a humiliating mauling. The administration, however, was desperate to report some success in Florida and proclaimed Taylor a hero, promoting him to Brigadier General. The soldier earned the nick name he would wear through the Mexican War and into the White House—Old Rough and Ready. Many historians who have even bothered to take note of the Second Seminole War have unquestioningly swallowed the claims. Specialists in military history, even professional Army apologists, know better. Jessup pressed on with his overall offensive, with Taylor’s troops rejoining the push. In southwest Florida a joint Army-Navy force under Navy Lt. Levin Powell was surrounded and nearly trapped by a large Seminole force and barely made it back to their boats with 4 dead and 20 wounded. Emboldened Seminoles began attacking and besieging forts and block houses. At the end of January Jessup caught up with a large concentration east of Lake Okeechobee. Once again the Seminole positioned themselves behind a hammock with their back to a river, the Loxahatchee. Once again they leveled deadly, effective fire on charging troops. But this time Jessup had artillery and rockets. Still, the Seminole were able to get across the river and disappear. That was the last of major battles, although skirmishes and ambushes set up by both sides persisted. Many of the Seminole were on the run deeper and deeper into inhospitable swamps. In February 1838 the chiefs Tuskegee and Halleck Hadjo proposed surrendering if they could remain on a smaller reservation south of Lake Okeechobee. Jessup by now figured this was a good deal thinking that years of campaigning would be needed to clear all of the Seminole by force. He agreed to the terms and forwarded his recommendation to Washington. The chiefs brought in many of their nearly starved people to a camp near army headquarters which provided food and rations. It looked like the war would be over. But Washington rejected the proposed treaty. Jessup summoned the troops to deliver the news, but they had already heard it and refused to come in voluntarily. Jessup dispatched troops to the camp where he took more than 500 into custody with little resistance. In August Jessup returned to his regular duty as Quartermaster General of the Army and new Brigadier Taylor was placed in command in Florida with a force reduced to about 2,800 men. A few thousand Seminole and a few hundred warriors remained on the loose. Taylor concentrated on defending the north from raids and building a string of small, closely spaced Forts across the old Reservation connected by wagon roads. Larger units continue to hunt bands, but in 1838 only 200 were brought in and transported. Fighting did subside to minimal levels, but the expense of Taylor’s strategy was enormous. Public opinion in the north was actually swinging toward the Seminole, and many people thought those who had fought so hard to remain had earned the right to do so, especially since they now inhabited country thought to be uninhabitable for white men. The new President, Martin Van Buren, was committed to continuing Jackson’s Indian removal policy, but was not motivated by the visceral hatred of his old boss. Commanding General of the Army Alexander Macomb was sent to try and negotiate a final treaty. Finally, Sam Jones, the most important remaining war chief sent his chosen successor, Chitto Tustenuggee, to meet with Macomb. On May 19, 1839, Macomb announced reaching agreement with the Seminole. They would stop fighting in exchange for a reservation in southern Florida. Except for some sporadic raiding by independent bands, the peace seemed to hold through the summer. Then on July 23 a new trading post on the north shore of the Caloosahatchee River was attacked. Most of the 23 members of the garrison and all of the civilians were killed. Colonel William S. Harney and a handful of soldiers made it to the boats to escape. In retrospect most scholars believe that this attack was not by the Seminole or their Black allies by from remnants of the so-called Spanish Indians of south Florida who were resentful of the Seminoles entering what they considered their territory. They hoped to sabotage the peace and the settlement. If so, they succeeded. The war was back on. On the other hand after an incident near Fort Lauderdale, Sam Jones and Chitto Tustenuggee were accused of the Harney Massacre. The Army tried unsuccessfully to track the elusive enemy with Bloodhounds with little success since the dogs can’t track in water. Meanwhile well to the north despite the blockhouse and road system heavy patrolling, small raids still harassed settlers and small, isolated troop deployments well into 1840. In May Taylor was replaced by Brig. Gen. Walker Keith Armistead, Jessup’s former second in command. He called for another tactical change. He sent out units of 100, large enough to discourage small scale ambush but small enough to move rapidly and what amounted to seek and destroy missions aimed at villages and encampments and particularly planted fields of crops and herds of cattle. Also, for the first time he allowed the Regular Army to campaign during the summer which Army doctrine had avoided as the “sick season.” Previously all summer operations were conducted by Volunteers and militia. The tactic were working but at a cost of ramping back up Army deployment which now included the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and Infantry Regiments, nine companies of the Third Artillery, and ten companies of the 2nd Dragoons—once again more than half of the Regular Army. Meanwhile far to the south Navy Lt. John T. McLaughlin was given command of a joint Army-Navy amphibious force known as the Mosquito Fleet to interdict arms trade to the Seminoles from Cuba. McLaughlin established his base at Tea Table Key in the upper Florida Keys. He also sent out patrols in canoes far up rivers not previously penetrated and attempted to cross the Everglades by boat in 1840. His first attempt failed due to illness, but in January 1841 succeeded, demonstrating that the Government could project force even into the most remote refuges of the Seminole. Despite the presence of the Mosquito force a party of Spanish Indians attacked Indian Key, a community of wreckers and sometime pirates, killing 40 of the 50 inhabitants. A depleted garrison at Tea Table Key, including the surgeon and hospital orderlies attempted to relieve the neighboring island with cannon hastily mounted on oar driven flat boats. But the recoil from the cannon swamped the boats and the raider burned and looted the island. Armitage had been given $55,000 by Congress to bribe remaining leaders to relocate. In November he parlayed at Fort King with Thlocklo Tustenuggee, a Tallahassee known as Tiger Tail, and Mikasuki Halleck Tustenuggee. But instead of offering them the generous bribes Congress had authorized, subordinates soon realized that he had pocketed the money and was demanding that the leaders relocate their bands under the old terms of the Payne’s Landing Treaty. And while negotiations were going on, he dispatched troops to threaten Halleck’s village. Disgusted, the two leaders slipped away from the Army camp one night. Tallahassee chief Echo Emathla did surrender his band, but Tiger Tail and most of the tribe refused. In December of 1840 Harney got revenge of sorts for the attack that nearly wiped out his command. On a tip he entered the Everglades with a party on boats borrowed from the Marines. He penetrated deep into the swamp before encountering a couple of Indian canoes. He set of in pursuit killing two. His guide, a Black turncoat, led him near the encampment of Chakaika and the Spanish Indians. He attacked at dawn with his men disguised as natives. Chakaika was away from camp but was located and shot without offering resistance. Harney hung three captives and Chakaika’s body beside them. He had killed four others in the fire fights and driven a dozen or so survivors into the swamp. In February Coosa Tustenuggee finally accepted $5,000 for bringing in his sixty people with sub chiefs and warriors getting proportionally smaller settlements, reluctantly played by Armitage under threat of exposure for embezzlement. In March the wily Coacoochee agreed to bring in his people in three months. He accepted his bribe and took an authorization to provide provisions for the band with him. Coacoochee then visited several forts, presented his requisition, and made off with supplies at each. At one he even procured a fine new horse and five and one-half gallons of whiskey. By spring of 1841 Armitage had sent 450 Seminoles, including 120 warriors west. Another 236 were at Fort Brooke awaiting transportation. Others were expected to arrive shortly. Then in May Halleck Tustenuggee sent word he would bring his band in. Armitage figured that there were only 300 Seminole warriors left in Florida. Congress demanded a rapid wind down of the war and cut back on expenses, which under Armitage had run to more than $93,000 a month. Colonel William Jenkins Worth was placed in command of a much reduced force. He cut 1000 civilian employees, mostly teamsters and carpenters, and consolidated posts. He sent out another sweeping small unit summer campaign which finally drove the last Seminoles out of the north including their stronghold at the Cove of the Withlacoochee, cite of earlier Army humiliations. In May 1841 Coacoochee was up to his old tricks at Fort Pierce where Major Thomas Childs agreed to give him one month to bring his people in. After weeks of coming and going at the fort—mostly leaving with supplies, Child concluded that Coacoochee did not intent to bring his people in. He arrested the chief and 40 others and immediately packed him on a ship bound for New Orleans. Worth, who needed Coacoochee to lure the other chiefs in was furious and dispatched a fast boat to intercept the ship and bring back the chief. Under heavy guard and with no prospect of escape he finally agreed to accept $8,000 and send messages urging the others to come in. 211 surrendered directly as a result of Coacoochee’s plea. Hospetarke was drawn into a meeting at Camp Ogden near the mouth of the Peace River in August and he and 127 of his band were captured. In the north most of the Seminole were cleared out, but reduced numbers helped those remaining to stay safely in hiding. In the far south action in Big Cypress Swamp in which a number of villages were burned helped convince others to surrender. The Seminole were now dispersed in small bands across the territory and elusive. Moreover those still on the loose included Sam Jones, and Billy Bowlegs perhaps the most dangerous leaders of them all. In August 1842 First Lieutenant George A. McCall found a band in the Pelchikaha Swamp, about thirty miles south of Fort King. After a brief fight some were captured. Halleck Tustenuggee came to the fort to parlay and was captured. More of his followers were taken when they came to visit him, then McCall found and took his camp including women and children. Despite the outstanding bands, in 1842 Congress felt confident to offer under the aptly named Armed Occupation Act free land for White settlement to any who would improve it and “were ready to defend it without recourse to the army.” If this risky offer did not exactly start a land rush, enough land hungry Americans were willing to take a chance. Previously unpopulated former native lands began falling to the ax and plow. In August that year General William Bailey and planter Jack Bellamy led a posse of 52 men in pursuit of Tiger Tail’s warriors who had been harassing the new settlers. After three days they found their camp and attacked killing all 24 men they found. It turned out to be the last action of the long war. A teenager, William Wesley Hankins who executed the last warrior was credited with firing the last shot of the war. Worth met with many of the remaining chiefs in August. Some accepted their “gifts” and agreed to be relocated. Other’s indicated that they would cease hostilities if allowed to live on a reservation in southwest Florida. Worth considered this good enough to declare hostilities at an end. After returning from a 90 day leave and hearing disturbing reports about raids on northern Florida farms for livestock and provisions, Worth reluctantly ordered the detention of the recalcitrant chiefs. Tiger Tail was brought in on a litter desperately ill. He died on board ship in New Orleans. In an official report Worth estimated that there were only 300 Indians left in Florida including 42 Seminole, 33 Mikasuki, 10 Creek and 10 Tallahassee warriors all living peacefully on the reservation. This was undoubtedly and underestimation and disregarded small bands still holding out in remote placed in the north. It also does not seem to account for Sam Jones’s band. Still it was a fraction of their pre-war population. Less than 3,000 had been relocated to Indian Territory on a reservation tensely shared with the Creeks. Those people did not fare well and by 1870 their numbers had dropped to 2,543. The total number lost to combat, starvation, and disease is unknown. The government spent an aggregate of $30 to $40 million dollars on the war depending on how it was accounted for. The Regular Army lost 1,466 men, more than 10% of all of the men who served in the conflict, most of them to disease. The Navy and Marines lost about 60. Some reports indicate that 55 Florida Volunteer officers and men were killed in battle, but no figures are available for the militia or from Volunteers from other states—or for those who died of disease, surely many times the battle deaths. About 80 White civilians are thought to have been killed. The Second Seminole War was a bad business all around. Yet, astonishingly the conflict with the Seminoles would flare again. Although most Seminole tried hard to stay away from contact with Whites, over the years incidents flared up, including the killings of natives who strayed into White areas. By the early 1850’s small scale raiding, mostly for livestock, was picking up in the north. That brought retribution from informal posses. Political agitation for a definitive removal was also on the rise as were tensions. Billy Bowlegs was one of the fiersest Seminole leaders and one of the last to surrender. From Harper's Magazine in 1855. In December 1855 hard core rejectionists led by Sam Jones and Billy Bowlegs decided to strike. On December 7 they ambushed a wagon patrol on the reservation killing and scalping four men and wounding several including First Lieutenant George Hartsuff. They killed the mules, burned the wagons, and looted the wagons. The Third Seminole War was on. This was not nearly as long or bloody an affair. There were too few Seminole left for that. There were numerous skirmishes over the next two years, but the bands remained elusive. Harney returned to command and initiated a strategy of trying to confine the Seminole to the Everglades and Big Cyprus Swamps hoping that winter floods would make it impossible to survive there. But they did. A sweep of Big Cyprus burned some villages and destroyed some island crop fields. On March 15, Bowleg and Assinwar finally accepted a payment offer and agreed to go west. On May 4, a total of 163 Seminoles were shipped to New Orleans. Four days later Colonel Loomis declared the war to be over. However Sam Jones and his band continued living in southeast Florida, inland from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Chipco’s band was living north of Lake Okeechobee, although the Army and militia could never find them. Individual families and clans were scattered across the wetlands of southern Florida. These never-surrendered Indians were allowed to remain. And their decedents do to this day, considering themselves unconquered and beholden to neither the State of Florida nor the government of the United States. It gladdens the heart a little to know that they are there. No comments: Post a Comment
7.5 Stability Chapter 7.5 Stability Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design Second Edition Book Pages 534 Views 5,865 Downloads : 6 times PDF Size : 6.8 MiB Summary of Contents Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design Second Edition Book • 214 LNA DesignIf Rout is large enough that iout is always much less than IB, the linearity will be good, as the operating point will not change significantly over a cycle of the sig-nal. It is important to keep the peak output current less than the bias current. This means that: ,peakout\|\|oBvIR< (7.106)If this is the case, then there will be no clipping of the waveform.The linearity can be improved by increasing IB, or Rout. This will continue to improve performance as long as the power supply voltage is large enough to al-low this swing. Thus, for large Rout, the power supply limits the voltage swing and therefore the linearity. In this case, the current is not a limiting factor.7.5 StabilityA number of different but equivalent measures of stability can be derived from S-parameters [5]. For RFIC design, the stability factor K and the auxiliary stability factor B1 are typically determined directly using a simulator rather than calculating them from the S-parameters. Unconditional stability is guaranteed by the following two conditions: >>110KB (7.107)For the sake of completeness, these are based on S-parameters as follows [5]: --+ D=222112212 211 \|\|\|\|\| \|2 \|\|SSKS S (7.108)and = +-- D222111221 \|\|\|\|\| \|BSS (7.109)where 11 2212 21S SS SD =- (7.110)Instability at any frequency, not just at the operating frequency, can result in unwanted oscillations that render the circuit inoperable and hence must be avoided. Thus, frequencies are swept and K and B1 are determined over the full frequency range for which the transistor has gain. For any frequency for which K is less than 1 or B1 is less than 0, the circuit is not unconditionally stable, meaning that a load or source impedance exists for which the circuit will be unstable. Having identified problem frequencies, a typical further step might be to plot source and load stability circles at the problem frequency to determine the impedance for which the instability occurs. If such problem impedances are safely away from the actual impedance, it may not be necessary to modify the circuit. However, in some cases the source or
Friday, October 4, 2013 Comparison: The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire and the United States. Mr. Stefan Molyneux provides another video contribution. This time, this video discusses the "The Fall of Rome and Modern Parallels". He provides a summary of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and how the parallels are very similar to the United States. He also makes reference to inflation. The article, "Inflation and the Fall of the Roman Empire" discusses the how the Romans employed similar tactics of inflationary measures. No comments:
Duty cycle of clock Duty cycle: Duty cycle of a clock is defined as the fraction of a period of clock during which the clock is in active state. Duty cycle of a clock is normally expressed as a percentage. For instance, figure below shows a clock having an active state of '1' stays low for 2 ns during its period of 10 ns. It is, therefore, said to have a duty cycle of 20%. How duty cycle impacts timing: Duty cycle of clock plays a big role in timing closure of designs. We need to consider following factors related to duty cycle variation while timing: • Half cycle timing paths: If there are both positive and negative edge-triggered flip-flops in the design, duty cycle of the clock matters a lot. For instance, if we have a clock of 100 MHz with 20% duty cycle; For a timing path from positive edge-triggered flip-flop to negative edge-triggered flip-flop, we get only 2 ns for setup timing for positive-to-negative path and 8 ns for negative-to-positive path as compared to 10 ns for a full cycle path. However, if the same clock had duty cycle of 50%, we would have got 5 ns for the same half cycle timng path. • Minimum pulse width requirements: At high frequencies, duty cycle matters a lot. For instance, every sequential element has requirement of minimum pulse width that should reach it (read this). If the duty cycle of the clock is not close to 50%, we are limited in providing high frequency even if we are capable of meeting timing at even higher frequencies. Let us take an example. If the minimum pulse width requirement of a flip-flop is 500 ps, then with 50% duty cycle clock, we can use a clock of 1 GHz (1 ns clock period). But if we use a clock of duty cycle of 20%, we cannot use a clock greater than 400 MHz. With the above things in mind, it makes sense to use a clock with duty cycle as close to 50%. However, in many scenarios, it may not be feasible to do so. So, one needs to decide the priorities; i.e., architecture complexities vs timing complexities. Generating a divided clock of 50% duty cycle is not always possible and there are a few complexities involved in architecture. For instance, clock waveform synchronization between the clocks if there are multiple dividers. Also, for odd division factors like divide_by_3 etc., we need more complex divider circuitry than what may be required for divide_by_2 or divide_by_4 etc. Which type of jitter matters for timing slack calculation? In the post Clock jitter, we learnt about the basics of clock jitter. We also learned about different types of clock jitter. Now, the question arises as to what type of clock jitter is useful for calculation of timing slack, both setup and hold slacks. We will gradually try to build understanding for the same. If we look into the equation of setup slack for a positive edge-triggered flip-flop to another positive edge-triggered flip-flop, we see that setup slack depends upon "clock period". Now, if look closely, we will find that the clock period that we are talking about is actually distance between two clock edges. The larger the distance between the clock edges, greater will be the clock period. Hence, more positive will be setup slack. Now, period jitter represents the absolute deviation of clock period from its ideal clock period. So, the jitter we should be looking for is maximum value of "peak-to-peak period jitter". Peak-to-peak period jitter can either increase or decrease clock period. But, we need to take the effect of jitter to decrease clock period. This is because we have to take the worst case of clock period to have most pessimistic setup slack value. And the worst clock period will occur when peak-to-peak jitter is maximum. So, we can say that for setup slack calculation, Clock period (actual) = Clock period (ideal) - peak-to-peak jitter (maximum) What will happen to clock jitter if I divide down the clock? As we have discussed above, due to clock jitter, for setup calculation, we will assume that peak-to-peak period jitter has caused edge 2 to come closer to edge 1, thereby reducing actual clock period by that margin. Similarly, edge 3 can come closer to edge 2. So, ideally, if we look at DIV_2 clock, the possible jitter here should be 2 times the jitter of SOURCE_CLOCK. Similarly, a DIV_4 clock is expected to have 4 times the jitter and a DIV_8 clock is expected to have 8 times the jitter. And so on.. Now comes the tricky part. As per the definition of long term jitter, nth edge of clock cannot have a jitter more than long term jitter. So, if I say that a PLL has a long term jitter spec of 6 times that of maximum peak-to-peak period jitter, then a DIV_8 clock will have peak-to-peak jitter equal to 6 times the peak-to-peak period jitter of SOURCE_CLOCK. Even a DIV_16 clock will have same maximum jitter. What will happen to clock jitter for a multicycle path? Similar to the case of divided down version of clock, a multicycle path also involves other than consecutive edges. So, similar concepts will apply here. So, a multicycle path for setup of 2 will have a jitter of 2 times the peak-to-peak jitter of SOURCE_CLOCK, etc.
Home » City Council » History » Firebrigade Corporation of Lisboa History History of the Firebrigade Corporation of Lisboa Fire has always been a tragedy for cities. Lisboa is no exception, as it is a city with very peculiar features, which add greater difficulty to the titanic and unequal fight against this element. Some of the specific and modelling factors of the city over several centuries must actually be referred to, as in Lisboa the progress of the fire fighting service was done as they would be gradually overcome. Among others, some of them are the following: the density of the construction, with the use of very flammable materials; the lack of water and its insufficient distribution circuit over the city (throw wells, fountains and water points); the tough topography; the meagreness of the municipal budget; the precarious network of communications and thus the difficulties in accurately locating the place of the accident; the deficient means for fighting the fire and for organizing the fire fighting activities, etc. So it is not surprising that there are such old news that are known, on the way of preventing and fighting fires in the city of Lisboa, revealing the early weight awarded to the issue. Precisely, the royal charter of King D. João I dated from August 25th 1395, establishes the first measures that were proposed for an organizational structure (and corresponding to the main motivation) which still remains in our days, materialized in the present Fire brigade Corporation of Lisboa [Regimento de Sapadores Bombeiros (RSB)] and in the mission it fulfils. Thus the RSB is the oldest fire-fighters corporation in Portugal, and pursues since such medieval times the same public service of caring for the safety of people and assets, and stands out as the heir of a tradition consolidated over its centuries of evolution, side by side with the pulsing of the city of Lisboa itself in its different rhythms of population and urban growth. Thus, the «Fire fighting Services» (since 1395), the «Pump Company» (since 1834), the «Municipal Fire-fighters Corporation of Lisboa» (since 1852), «the Municipal Body of Public Rescue» (since 1925), «the Battalion of Fire-fighters» (since 1930) and «the Fire Brigade Corporation of Lisboa (Regimento de Sapadores Bombeiros)» (since 1988), all of these are designations of the same and single structure, corresponding to different periods of institutional renewal and modernization, formalized by specific legal measures, especially with a disciplinary character (almost always embodied by regulations). In the core of the historical development and of the institutional consolidation of the RSB is the personality presently personified by the Lisboa Fire-fighter (as a career and not just a professional category). In reality, it is people who actually make up the institutions and, in this particular case, it has received as protagonists, thousands of citizens, embodying the mission of saving others with their work. Among those, we should also mention those that did not receive the designation of fireman (the term was only actually established after 1734…) but that actually performed such functions (from carpenters and caulkers of Ribeira das Naus, to paid officers, and watermen, while also including drivers, workers from the City manpower companies, pump owners, etc., etc.). There are two other features that have moulded the identity of the RSB all along its past, conditioning their existence: the fact that it is a corporation of professional firemen (in 1646 the first thirty men were hired for such purpose) and the circumstance of having been before a municipal organization, that has always been integrated and almost in an uninterrupted way, in the hierarchy of the service of the City Council of Lisboa. Very well regarded and very dear to the population of Lisboa, to whom it would resort whenever in a situation of despair, the firemen of the municipality of Lisboa, with the inception of associativism and of voluntary service among firemen (which started in 1868), also started to accumulate the responsibility of belonging to a model institution, dedicated to rendering support and being useful. Presently, the RSB is an institution that identifies itself with its history, of which it keeps a lively memory, projected into the future, and which can be detected in its own culture as an organization, in its identity.
How to wire theese motors? Hello guys lately ive been saving motors and parts from broken vhs dvds printers n stuff. i know how to use permanent magnet motors but sometimes they come with some different kind of motors that have 3 4 5 or even 6 pins coming out such as hdd motors ,vhs heads, dvd spinner motors, and motors from printers.... my knowledge in electronics is kind of mid-low im guessing well the thing is that id really like to learn how to use wire them up so i can give em some use Thanks for ur explanations btw excuse my bad english its just not my first language frollard6 years ago Good question! Depending on the motor it can be vastly different. Lots of motors in electronics which require precise, predictable motion are either stepper motors, or multi-phase brushless motors. The way to drive a boring old 'dc' brushed motor is just that -- the power comes in and the complex task of reversing the polarity as the rotor revolves is handled by the brushes and commutator. In a brushless motor, you brushes, so all the switching has to be done by the driver circuitry -- no DC here :) Further different - a brushless motor is 'like' a stepper in that it requires specific pulsed (or alernating) current applied to the coils, which are directly wired to the output pins. Problem is: It's a complex process since each motor is different. Steppers TEND to have 4-8 wires, where brushless motors TEND to have 3 (plus wires to sense rotor location sometimes) (not written in stone, ymmv). Brushless Motors - precise speed, not precise distance: how it works: diy circuit: One thing this is missing is the Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) needs to sense the position of the rotor either through hard fixed sensors, or by listening to the third 'disconnected' wire during the pulse on the other 2 to determine the timing to flip to the next set of wires. Stepper Motors: Precise location and speed, generally less overall speed compared to a brushed motor. All about it ---drivers and circuits.
cost basis Definitions (3) 1. Purchase price, including commissions and other expenses, used to determine capital gains and capital losses for tax purposes. 2. The cost of an asset used to determine tax liabilities. This number is the purchase price, including capital gains and losses, accrued interest, and other fees. also called tax basis. 3. The difference between the cash price and the futures price of a given commodity. Use cost basis in a sentence To determine capital gains as well as capital losses we had to check out our cost basis, which was extremely important for us. In most cases, when retailers increase their prices to the consumer it is due to the cost basis rising in production, or at the wholesale level. When investing in MLPs investors must account for the portion of distributions received that are considered a return of capital and reduce their cost basis accordingly. Show more usage examples... Mentioned in these terms basis average cost basis method
Money does not equal Math How many of you would say you hate math? Therefore, you are not proficient at math? There is a technical word for this. It’s called innumeracy. The word really doesn’t matter, it’s our perception about math that is important. The perception I want to talk about is that even if we say we hate math, or I’m not good at math and trust me I’m right in there with you, we can be outstanding with our money. While money uses numbers to represent itself, it is not about math. You can be a financial wiz using 4th grade level math skills. Seriously, I am talking addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. AND we have calculators and spreadsheets to actually do the math! If it’s not about the math – what is it about? The Story. Money is about the story of our business or personal life. If you knew that your 4th grade self could be a whiz about your money story would you feel inspired and more powerful? It’s true – the other very cool thing about your 4th grade self is you had a rich imagination to go along with your killer math skills! When you combine your brilliant and anything is possible imagination with your stellar math skills you can create your very best money story.
RISC OS cogwheel — The RISC OS Packaging Project — Source Code Mailing Lists A distribution is a collection of package files, usually with some defining characteristic which makes it useful to treat them as a set. Typically the distribution will be accessed through a single package index file. The Packaging Project currently publishes two distributions, called ‘Unstable’ and ‘Experimental’. When there is a sufficient number of packages to justify it there will be a third, called ‘Stable’. The reason for providing multiple distributions is to allow subscribers to balance risk against timely access to software according to their own particular circumstances. There is an unavoidable risk associated with being one of the first to use a new version of a package, but the extent to which this risk is justified depends on the likely consequences of a bug versus the benefit of new features. The Packaging Project is not well placed to make this judgement so it aims instead to provide the means to make an informed choice. Subscribing to a Distribution RiscPkg is capable of subscribing to any required number of distributions simultaneously, limited only by the resources which are consumed as a result. This is done by listing them in the Sources file in the RiscPkg choices directory. Each distribution is represented by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and the command used to declare it is pkg: pkg <distribution-URL> For example, to access the Unstable distribution (which is located at http://www.riscpkg.org/Unstable) the necessary declaration would be: pkg http://www.riscpkg.org/pkg/Unstable Allowed URL schemes include http, ftp, gopher and file. The latter can be used if you want or need to use RiscPkg offline, for example from a CDROM: pkg file:/cdfs::0/$/RiscPkg/pkg/Unstable If several distributions are specified then they are merged. If two versions of the same package are available then the more recent one is chosen. If two copies of the same version are available from different sources then the first listed source will be used. Comments can be placed in the Sources file by beginning the line with a hash character. One use for a comment is to temporarily disable a source without permanently deleting it from the file. The Unstable Distribution Packages in the Unstable distribution should have received some testing by the package maintainer but will not necessarily have been checked by anyone else. Subscribers to this distribution should therefore be willing to accept that that packages will sometimes break as the result of an upgrade, and that in a sense they are effectively volunteering to act as beta testers. The Experimental Distribution Sometimes there is a need to make a package available for download through RiscPkg when it is not in a fit state for general release. The Experimental distribution is provided for this purpose, and there are only two conditions a package must satisfy for inclusion: it must be non-malicious and lawful. It would generally be most unwise to download a package from this distribution without first checking why it was placed there and what the consequences of installing it are likely to be. In particular, the Experimental distribution should certainly not be used to perform general upgrades.
Shingles Nill-26 Shingles Nill-26 Product Code: ZOHP-19 Availability: In Stock What is Shingles ? A viral infection that can occur anywhere on body and often causes painful rash is known as shingles. A virus that causes chicken pox is the same virus that causes shingles. They are often known as herpes zoster. In shingles, stripe of blisters occur around left or right torso. Consequences of shingles Affects beauty. Cause embarrassment. Shingles can affect the mood of patient because they are itchy. Symptoms of shingles Red patches. Breakable blisters. Fluid filled blisters. Rashes occur mostly on face and ears. Muscle weakness. Common in older adults. Numbing and burning pain. Sensitivity to light is common symptom. Usually affects buttocks, arms, face and legs. Duration of pain depends on the condition of shingles. Causes of shingles Weak immune system. Caused by varicella-zoster virus. Actually when patient have chicken pox, virus does not emit, instead it stays in patient’s body and can be reactive anytime and causes shingles. Not catchable but still some rare chances are present of spreading shingles to people who have not got chickenpox vaccine. People of age 60 or above affect more. People who ever had or having radiation treatment or chemotherapy are at high risk of shingles. Some medications can be a reason. Shingles nill-26 are herbal supplements that can give relief to patients from shingles. Why shingles nill-26? Shingles nill-26 prevents from side effects. No chemicals. Pure and natural. How to take the supplements? Daily two tablets can be taken. When will they give relief? Patients can get relief within one week. Zohp © 2006-2016 All Rights Reserved.
Why It’s OK to Act on Your Cravings (and Still Be Healthy) Share it: Recent research contradicts the practice of deprivation to achieve weight loss and health goals There are six basic types of unprocessed whole foods: • vegetables • fruit • nuts, seeds and plant oils • unprocessed meat and fish • whole grains • dairy Question: Which of these food types should you exclude from your diet if your goal is to maximize your health and fitness? Answer: None! The surest way to achieve your health and fitness goals is to eat everything. This doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your health and fitness goals if you are unable to eat a certain food type due to an allergy or intolerance, or if you choose to avoid a food type for moral or religious reasons. But in the absence of such factors, eating everything is the most reliable way to get where you want to go with your body. Eating Everything Is Good for the Body Each food type contributes to health and fitness in a different way. Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are healthy, but did you know that, according to a 2012 study out of UCLA, people who eat the most whole grains have the lowest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes? Or that researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have reported that yogurt prevents long-term weight gain more effectively than any other specific food? Or that multiple studies have found that regular fish eaters have healthier brains? Each type of unprocessed whole food makes a unique contribution to health and fitness on its own but, when eaten in combination, the six types are even more powerful. Proof of this comes from a 2014 study involving 424,000 older men and women. The study reported that those who ate all of the unprocessed whole food types most frequently were more than 20 percent less likely to die of heart disease, cancer, and other causes over a 15-year period compared to others. A diverse and inclusive diet is especially important for runners and other athletes. In my experience as a sports nutritionist, athletes who try to eliminate grains from their diets often develop symptoms of overtraining syndrome due to inadequate carbohydrate intake. And every client who has ever come to me with iron deficiency anemia was a vegetarian. So if you do avoid grains or animal foods or any other food type for any reason, you need to be diligent about obtaining the nutrients those foods supply from alternative sources. Eating Everything Is Good for the Mind In addition to these purely physical reasons to eat everything, there are also psychological reasons. Popular diets that forbid their followers to consume one or more types of unprocessed whole foods foster an unhealthy fear- and guilt-based relationship with food that makes eating less fun, creates unnecessary stress around eating, and often leads to disordered eating. Because of the psychological consequences that are associated with forbidding foods, I encourage athletes and others to include not only the six types of unprocessed whole foods in their diets, but also the four basic processed food types—refined grains, sweets, processed meats and fried foods—though in smaller amounts. Trying to completely avoid such foods usually backfires. A 2015 study by researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand found that people who associated chocolate cake with “guilt” actually had less healthy eating habits and were more likely to binge on junk food in times of stress than people who associated chocolate cake with “celebration.” 3 Tips to Make Eating Everything Work for You Now, “eating everything” doesn’t mean “eating everything in sight” or “eating equal amounts of everything.” In order to practice omnivorous eating effectively, you need to adhere to these additional guidelines: 1. Eat fruits and vegetables more often than you eat any other food types 2. Eat refined grains, sweets, processed meats and fried foods less often than you eat any other food types 3. Eat mindfully by having meals and snacks only when you are physically hungry, choosing sensible portion sizes, and putting the fork down when you are comfortably satisfied, not stuffed Despite what you may hear from some popular diet gurus, eating everything is the natural way for humans to eat. Properly balancing the full spectrum of food types in your diet will deliver the results you seek for your body without sacrificing your mind. • Stephen Bad Biz decision to coerce with premium membership. Stick with retail ads for revenue. You will lose interest. I will migrate to a free app. • Gedrick Lee The MFP app is still free, dipshit. • My Name Is Oliver Queen So…. this article just tells you what has been known for years!!!! Waste of time…… Hope nobody paid the person to write this regurgitated stuff??? • Dom Suda Food is life
Island Nations Oceania was a project for establishing an artificially created series of islands in the Carribbean, that would effectively and legally be a new nation. Although the original project folded, such a project could serve as an example of communal and earth positive technology, society, and business practices. It could become a self-sustaining sovereignty for research, development, production and relaxation. It could serve as a location for offshore banking, data storage, resource gathering, and oceanic research. The idea was for the initial $15 million cost to be derived from sales of the virtual planet earth. The world of the Virtual Planet Earth is a near-future earth where such an artificial nation has been created. A world where technology and humanity have become balanced with the natural world. In the virtual planet earth, neopangaia is the name of the internet connected global village, but it is also the name of this new man-made nation. A nation built by and for all the people’s of the Earth to explore and evolve free from localized control. Neo is the ancient Greek word for “new”, while “PanGaia” is a reference to the ancient world which consisted of all the continents of the Earth connected in One super landmass. This website represents the idea, the technology, the methods, and the businesses that will help to inspire, define and create such a world. [iframe 100% 750] [iframe 100% 750] Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
A new breed of transmitting devices could soon revolutionize the world of amateur radio. At the moment it is only possible for ham radio stations to use the short wave bands with a special licence. For this they have to go through the burden of taking exams, be controlled by the FCC and the ARRL and a lot more negative stuff which compromises fun… The invention of the non-transmitter could open these capabilities to everyone, without hassle. A non-transmitter is a device which is capable of generating electromagnetic waves without being a transmitter. A new class of devices called PLC (Power Line Communication) and SMPSU (switching Mode Power Supply Unit) devices are capable of doing this. They are not transmitters, and so they don’t fall under the jurisdiction of the FCC. The trick is that they are not transmitters until they are connected to an antenna. So to use them properly as a transmitting device you connect them to a non-antenna. The biggest contender for the non-antenna predicate is already built into your house, it is called mains wiring. The difference between an antenna and a non-antenna is quite obvious. For the average ham, a piece of wire of, say 10 meters length is an antenna which will enable him/her to contact New Zealand with a transmitting power of 5 Watts. Your mains wiring is different. It contains at least 100 meters of wire, so it is a non-antenna. This opens a host of new possibilities. As this is a non-ham affair, you could use the non-ham part of the spectrum to fulfill a lot of communication needs. Think about using spread spectrum between 21.35 MHz and 28 MHz, using your non-transmitter to disseminate videos, starting a spy communication network, etc. etc. The only thing you have to do is make sure you are using a non-transmitter, and connect it to a non-antenna. I have already started to upgrade my neighbours’ switching power supply, which has a free running oscillator, to use a PLL. I will modulate it using GMSK and Reed-Solomon coding on top of a Spread SpectrumDirect Sequence coder using a nice pseudo random algorithm to fit my special PLC SDR receiver… connect it to my non-antenna and see if I can work some DX firsts on the new PLC bands… Yeeeehaaaah…..
Eating an Elephant Taking on a big project one small bite at a time He conquers who endures. Persius A trip of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Chinese proverb I may not be there yet, but I’, closer than I was yesterday. Author Unknown The idea of eating a huge elephant one bite at a time is powerful. By embracing this concept we can take on seemingly impossible projects and succeed. This is done through small, continuous, persistent steps. How many times have we avoided taking on a difficult project because it seemed too big and enormous? There are huge implications to understanding and applying this approach; taking on large and substantial undertakings; trains us and increases will power, self-discipline, focus, and a long list of other positive benefits. How about taking on the writing of a book? It is a tremendous undertaking. By writing a single page per day, by the end of three hundred and sixty five days, we will have written more than enough pages to equal the size of the average book. We can build a small mountain by stacking up boulders one per day over the course of our life. Some never go to college because of the enormity of the undertaking. By using the concept of “one bite at a time” it can be broken down to bite size tasks (credit hours). It is a matter of accumulating enough of them over time to acquire the necessary credits to be reward with a degree. Many have not started that business, built that home, or started that special project because they believe it is too big for them. The truth is we are capable of taking on big projects by using the mindset of one bite at a time. Suppose we decide to become the “best we” possible? The task is so big we do not believe it possible. When we break it down to bite size bits it becomes doable. We can do tough tasks through small ongoing and continuous steps. We all have a certain number of days and years remaining in our lives. Chances are it is a significant number. If starting today, we committed to a sustained effort to grow a little every day, how much can we grow in the number of days, months and years we have left? The days, weeks, months and years will occur and pass by regardless. We can all eat a little bit of elephant every day. It will be very good for us. If we will only look ahead and visualize what we can become, we will see the possibilities of “one bite at a time”. Challenge: Have you ever eaten an elephant? If so, you acquired a great sense of accomplishment. Have you completed projects that required a long, continuous, seemingly never ending effort? If your answer is yes, then you are an experienced “elephant eater”. Once you have acquired a taste for eating elephants, it is an ability that never goes away. You can use it for great tasks. You have an elephant waiting for you to eat one bite at a time. Wisdom: With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. Thomas F Buxton Spiritual: (NIV) But he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13 You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours. Psalm 128:2 Patience, perseverance and faith are traits one expects to see in those who have the strength of will and character to take on tough tasks and projects. It is these challenges that cause us to grow so much. God expects us to be agents of change, doers, and achievers and to help make the world a better place. He does not expect us to do all these things alone and by our own strength. He is always willing, ready, and able to help us to do our best. Prayer: Help me to be able to take on the big projects in my life. I know you are here to help me. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Tag Archives: basic human rights #12: La Coca (of Coca Cola) 21 May What is the one beverage Mexicans prefer over tequila and agua de sabor? La Coca! It may as well be considered the 5th food group here in Mexico. In some, if not most, of my Mexican friends’ homes, if the garrafón of purified water and the Coca run out at the same time, the garrafón can wait. The Coca, however, is replaced immediately at the nearest tiendita (little store located in one’s garage or entry hall). Most family comidas (the most important meal of the Mexican day) are not complete without a bottle or five of Coca on the table. Coca is fed to the elderly, to babies in bottles, and to everyone else in between as a staple in the beverage diet. When a señora or a niño asks you for money or a stranger does you a good deed, like helping you change your tire in the street, the standard request is “Dame para una Coca, nomás.” Enough to buy a Coke is all I ask. “According to Coke’s 2005 annual report, Mexicans lead the world by drinking some 533 8-ounce servings of Coke beverages per capita annually.” (Read more at Suite101: Coca-Cola Global Sales: India Most Promising International Market \| Suite101.com http://daniel-workman.suite101.com/coca-cola-global-sales-a8625#ixzz1pb4itYy0) Water: A Basic Human Right? Well, isn’t the Coca-Cola empire delighted, then, that Mexicans are drinking less water and more Coke? No! Either one is just fine with Coca-Cola! That’s because Coca-Cola owns Agua Ciel, the nationwide door-to-door provider of purified drinking water and mineral water. So is the love of juice a problem for Coca-Cola? Of course not! Coke also owns Jugos Del Valle, Nestea, and Powerade! As one student in class said, “I wondered why the government of Mexico has not filtered its public water supply, seeing that it is relatively simple and affordable. Then I heard the cry in the street advertising door-to-door service for Agua Santorini, and it hit me. I wonder what Coca-Cola and Pepsi pay the Mexican government to maintain the pollution in all public water sources?” Bingo. “Es importante tener en cuenta que pese a que en México existen unas tres mil marcas, son 4 grandes corporaciones, extranjeras todas ellas, las que hoy controlan la extracción, el envasado, la distribución y la venta de agua en México. Específicamente estamos hablando de Danone (con sus marcas Bonanfont, Pureza Aga y Evian); Nestlé (con las marcas Santa María, Nestlé Pure Life y Pureza Vital); Pepsi-Cola (con el agua Electropura) y Coca-Cola (con la marca Ciél). México es el país que más refrescos consume por habitante en el mundo. Ingerir alimentos y bebidas con altos contenidos de azúcar (incluyendo los refrescos) es una de las principales cau- sas que provocan problemas a la salud: como la diabetes. Una persona que padece esta enfermedad siente una sed permanente , por lo que debe mitigarla bebiendo agua. Como el agua de la llave esta contaminada, debe comprar agua envasada y así se cierra el círculo de las compañías fabricantes de los refrescos (como Coca-Cola y Pepsi-Cola) que producen la diabetes en determinadas personas, también venden el agua que alivia la sed de esos mismos enfermos. ¡Todo un verdadero negocio!” From Euromonitor International: Bottled Water in Mexico (http://www.euromonitor.com/bottled-water-in-mexico/report): • Danone was the number one player in bottled water in 2010, claiming 26% of total volume sales. The company led still bottled water, the dominant category, with its Bonafont brand. It also ranked second in flavoured bottled water, where it offers the LevitÃ© brand. Coca-Cola was the second leading company overall, accounting for 24% of total bottled water volume sales. Coca-Cola offers the Ciel (still bottled water) and Ciel Naturae (flavoured bottled water) brands. Pepsi Bottling Group was the third leading player, claiming 13% of total volume sales thanks to its Electropura still bottled water brand. Other prominent players included Envasadora de Aguas en MÃ©xico S de RL de CV, NestlÃ©, Pepsi-Cola, Grupo PeÃ±afiel and FEMSA.” From Wikipedia: Bottled Water: “The United Church of Christ, United Church of Canada, National Council of Churches, National Coalition of American Nuns, and Presbyterians for Restoring Creation are among some of the religious organizations that have raised questions about whether or not the “privatization” of water is ethical. They regard the industrial purchase and repackaging at a much higher resale price of a basic resource as an unethical trend.[27] Problems with BPA found in the plastic that houses purified water (Wikipedia): “The Beverage Marketing Corporation defines the bottled water market segment as “retail PET, retail bulk, home and office delivery, vending, domestic sparkling and imports”, but excluding “flavored and enhanced water.”[28] The Plastics Symbol no. 7 is a recent concern worldwide on discovery that large numbers of no.7 plastics are made with Polycarbonate plastic which, experimentally were found to leach bisphenol A. This chemical is a known hormonal disruptor causing miscarriages and birth defects, according to a study conducted by Case Western Reserve scientists. “Synthetic xenoestrogens,” one of which is Bisphenol A or BPA “are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and are particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.” Responsible baby bottle industries are producing BPA-free bottles that are clearly marked. Reverse osmosis water purification systems can remove up to 90% or more of certain inorganic chemicals. These inorganic chemicals include: fluoride, sulfate, nitrate, iron, copper, lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, silver and zinc. Reverse osmosis can even remove some microbiological contaminants, including Giardia cysts. However unless equipped with an activated charcoal post-filter, reverse osmosis by itself does not remove dissolved gases and organic chemicals such as radon and trihalomethanes,<http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az9419.pdf>. The U.S. is the largest consumer market for bottled water in the world, followed by Mexico, China, and Brazil.[41] In 2008, U.S. bottled water sales topped 8.6 billion US gallons (33,000,000 m3) for 28.9% of the U.S. liquid beverage market, exceeding sales of all other beverages except carbonated soft drinks, they are followed by fruit juices, and sports drinks.[28] Americans drink 21 US gallons (79 L) of bottled water per capita per year.[42] Global bottled water market Per capita consumption by leading countries, 2002-2007 2007 Litres Per Capita Rank Countries 2002 2007 1 United Arab Emirates 133.2 259.7 2 Mexico 142.7 204.8 3 Italy 167.3 201.7 HEALTH HAZZARDS OF COCA-COLA CONSUMPTION (http://bolsonweb.com.ar/diariobolson/detalle.php?id_noticia=26208): “La sucia verdad detrás de Coca Cola: Es peor que el tabaco Como antecedente: En el libro “The Coke Machine – The Dirty Truth Behind the World’s Favorite Soft Drink“, el autor Michael Blanding examina la historia oscura de The Coca-Cola Company. El libro comienza con una descripción gráfica del asesinato del sindicalista Isidro Gil, hecho ocurrido cuando Coca-Cola fue acusada de complicidad con paramilitares para llevar a cabo asesinatos de sindicalistas en América del Sur. El prontuario de esta corporación es largo teniendo en cuenta que fue querellada en La India y México, ya que sus plantas embotelladoras drenaron contaminantes en las fuentes de agua locales. Diagnostico medico: Coca Cola, Pepsi y todas las gaseosas son peores que el tabaco acorde a los daños que causan al organismo.” Marcas/Brands of Coca-Cola en México: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light, Coca-Cola Vanilla, Beat, Delaware Punch, Fanta, Fanta Multi-Sabores, Fresca, Fresca Toronja Rosa, Lift, Lift Manzana Verde, Quatro, Senzao, Sprite, Ciel, Ciel Mineralizada, Keloco, Kin Light, Mickey Aventuras, Nestea, Jugos del Valle, y Powerade
History of Asbestos Share This: Ancient Asbestos History Fireproof, strong, and flexible, asbestos was used for centuries in applications ranging from building insulation to toasters. When the fibers are inhaled or swallowed, however, they take a terrible toll in human lives. This is the deadly history of asbestos. The story of asbestos begins in ancient Greece, where its amazing properties were considered almost magical. Cloth that didn’t burn, lamp wicks that were never entirely consumed—it’s easy to understand why the Greeks regarded asbestos with awe. According to the history of asbestos, in this era it was used to make burial cloths for deceased rulers – so that when a king was cremated, his ashes would not mingle with ashes from the wood on the pyre. Another fascinating use of asbestos was shared by the Greeks and Romans, who wove asbestos fibers into napkins. After use, the napkins were thrown into a fire to burn off food or stains without destroying the cloth. In time, however, these ancient civilizations began to associate adverse health effects with asbestos as history showed that slaves who extracted the fibers and wove the asbestos cloths often developed lung diseases. Asbestos use declined. Still, according to those who study asbestos history, prominent figures from Charlemagne to Marco Polo used items made from asbestos. Modern-Day Asbestos History In 20th century asbestos history, the risks of asbestos were becoming well known, as inhabitants of asbestos mining towns developed lung problems at an alarming rate. By 1924, a British doctor discovered a link between asbestos fibers trapped in the lungs and serious health problems. In asbestos history from the 1930s, medical science began to explore the connection between asbestos and the deadly cancer we now know as mesothelioma. Nonetheless, asbestos remained in widespread use throughout the 20th century. Rising anger at the asbestos industry for concealing the risks of asbestos led to a popular outcry, which eventually led to regulatory action. Unfortunately, asbestos history will show regulatory efforts to be too little, too late for countless workers and consumers already exposed to asbestos. Do You Have a History of Asbestos Exposure? If you have been harmed by asbestos exposure, you have a right to file a claim against the asbestos company responsible for your injuries. To learn how an asbestos settlement can bring you justice and peace of mind, call Sokolove Law at 1-888-360-4215 today.
Safety eyewear, serves as protective equipment for the eyes. They shield the eyes from different kinds of hazards, such as flying debris, particles, sparks, and extreme light. Its essential to have protective gear if one is exposed to potential hazards in a work environment. Believe it or not, thousands of workplace accidents happen each day and more often than not, these accidents can be easily avoided with the right safety equipment. Protective eyewear is commonly used among workers in the industrial and construction fields, since they are more vulnerable to hazards like sparks, flying particles, and even harmful chemicals. These glasses are designed and tested in accordance to the highest industry standards to ensure its reliability and protection against workplace dangers. The Occupational Safety and Health Organization require that protective eyewear should be worn by workers when handling hazardous chemicals and workers in the industrial field. These glasses are designed to protect your eyes from hazards from the front and sides. Safety glasses back then were very thick, awkward to wear, and not very useful. Today, protective eyewear is more fashionable and versatile. One of the differences between prescription safety eyewear from regular glasses is that they are meant not only to improve your vision, but to protect your eyes as well. Unlike regular glasses, protective eyewear not only covers the front of your eyes, but the sides and top as well. This is meant to protect your eyes from flying particles and to prevent harmful particles from entering your eyes and harming them. Protective eyewear like Titmus prescription safety glasses is designed to withstand high levels of impact. If ever a random flying object hits your glasses hard at a high velocity, these glasses wont shatter or break. Protective eyewear uses lens made out of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a lot lighter, stronger and more durable compared to other kinds of lenses. These glasses can also have your prescription built into them. For people with vision problems, the only option back then was to wear large protective goggles over their prescription glasses. Now, with Titmus prescription safety glasses, being protected doesnt have to compromise your vision. If you want to protect your eyes from various potential hazards, then investing in a pair of safety eyewear is a must. It goes without question that your eyes are an important part of your body, so ensuring their safety is essential. For more details, please visit us at Facebook Comments G+ Comments Disqus Comments
Test your basic knowledge \| ALTA Certification Academic Language Therapy Subject : certifications • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes. • Match each statement with the correct term. 1. A type of derived score such that the distribution of these scores for a specified population has convenient known values for the mean and standard deviation. 2. Set of principles that dictate the sequence and function of words in a sentence in order to convey meaning - must include grammar - sentence types - and mechanics of language 3. A single functioning or signaling unit of our word patterns. The separate sound units of spoken words. 4. Present the parts of the language and then teaches how the parts work together to make a whole. Part of a MSLE Program 5. The teacher musts be adept at individualized teaching based on continual assessment of the student's needs. Content should be mastered to a level of automaticity. 6. Pre-reading - Oral Language Development 7. Tests used to identify the nature and source of an individual's educational - psychological - or medical difficulties or disabilities in order to facilitate correction or remediation. 8. Two adjacent letters repressing a single consonant sound 9. The knowledge of the various sounds in the English language and their correspondence to the letter or letters that represent those sounds. 10. Behaving without thinking about possible consequences. May act or speak without first thinking about how their behavior might make other people react of feel 11. A quick probe that is done frequently in order to make instructional changes in a timely fashion. 12. Multisensory Structured Language Education 13. The flat diacritical mark above a vowel in a send picture or phonic/dictionary notation that indicates a long sound. 14. Expects child to learn reading as "naturally" as speech - Uses child's oral language as content for reading - Uses child's oral language as basis for spelling instruction - Children learn to "read" by reading and re-reading "big books" together with 15. Normalized standard scores with a range of 1 to 9. They are status score within a particulur norm group. 16. The percentile score on - for example - a test is the score that represents the percent of other scores to or lower than is. If a student performs in the 85% of his or her class - it means the 85% of the other scores of students who also took the tes 17. Provide different ways for kids to take in information or communicate their knowledge back to you. The changes do not alter or lower the standards or expectations of a subject or a test. 18. Comprehensive end-of-year exams - reflecting the specific subject matter outlines in the curriculum. 19. A score to which raw scores are converted by numerical transformation ( conversion of raw scores to percentile ranks or standard scores) 20. The number of words which a reader can translate meaningfully in a given period of time 21. Initial Reading - Letters represent sounds - sound-spelling relationships 22. 1930 - Psychologist and teacher in New York; along with Samuel T. Orton at Columbia University - developed a non-traditional approach to teaching written language skills. Trained one teacher at a time. began working with Sally Childs and trained 50 t 23. Developmental Auditory Impercepion - Dysphasia - Specific Developmental Dyslexia - Developmental Dysgraphia - Developmental Spelling Disability 24. A districts dyslexia program is considered part of the basic - required curriculum. Therefore - state compensatory education funds can only be used to provide programs - projects - activities - and materials that supplement that district's regular dy 25. Inferential learning of a concept cannot be take for granted! Never assume! 26. Is a type of test - assessment - or evaluation which yields an estimate of the position of the tested individual in a predefined population - with respect to the trait being measured. This estimate is derived from the analysis of test scores and poss 27. A class of open speech sounds produced by the easy passage of air through a relatively open vocal tract. A - E - I - O - U 28. Words that are able to be broken apart by the position of the vowels and consonants in order to pronounce. 29. Multiple Viewpoints - Analyze text critically - understand multiple point of view 30. Explicitly teaches strategies and techniques for studying texts and acquiring meaning 31. A test in which the results can be used to determine a student's progress toward mastery of a content area. performance is compared to an expected level of mastery in a content area rather that to other student's scores. Such tests usually include qu 32. Taught visual to auditory - Taught auditory to visual - Students should also master blending of sounds into words and as well segmenting whole words into individual sounds. 33. Are standardized and measure your progress and achievements as a student. 34. 1877 - first to use the term "word-blindness" 35. Any learning activity that includes 2 or more sensory modalities simultaneously to take in or express information. 36. Alphabetic principle" and its relationship to phonemic awareness and phonological awareness in reading 37. The term is also used for the language now called Old English - spoken and written by the ________ and their descendants in much of what is now England and some of southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century. 38. A graphic compilation of the performance of an individual on a series of assessments. 39. State Board of Eduation 40. Was a major change in the pronunciation of the English language that took place in England between 1350 and 1500.[1] This was first studied by Otto Jespersen (1860-1943) - a Danish linguist and Anglicist - who coined the term. Because English spellin 41. Present the whole and teaches how this can be broken down into component parts. 42. Scientific terminology and often appear in science texts - Greek roots are often combining forms and compound to form words. 43. Open syllable 44. State Law. Requires testing - Requires that students enrolled in public schools be tested for dyslexia. - Requires treatment (teaching) 45. Ability to understand and express spoken language 46. To adjacent letters representing a single vowel sound 47. One of a class of speech sounds in which sound moving through the vocal tract is constricted or obstructed by the lips - tongue or teeth during articulation. 48. 1896 - wrote first article in medical literature on "word blindness" in children 49. A letter or a group of letters attached to the beginning or ending of a base word or root that creates a derivative with a meaning or grammatical form that is different that the base word or root. 50. MSLE instruction requires that organization on material follow the logical order of the language. Sequence must begin with the easiest and progress to more difficult material. Each step must be based on prior knowledge.
Hesperian Health Guides Hesperian Health Guides Solar Power HealthWiki > A Community Guide to Environmental Health > Chapter 23: Clean Energy > Solar Power Solar panels on the roof of a house collect energy from the sun. When you feel the sun heating your body or the air in your house, this is solar energy. There are many ways to make efficient use of the sun’s energy to heat water, to make water safe, and to cook food or heat a house. The sun’s energy can also be used to make electricity. Solar energy requires the use of solar panels or solar cells to capture the sunlight and change it into electricity. Because the sun is not always shining, the electricity made must be stored in batteries before being used to run lights, motors, and other machines. A solar energy system can be costly to install because it requires solar panels, batteries, and other parts. But sunlight is free (and endlessly renewable). Once a solar system is in place, it costs little to run and maintain. The biggest costs of maintaining a solar system are replacing the batteries every 3 to 5 years and replacing solar panels if they break. The parts of a solar electric system solar panels charge controller fluorescent lights earthing rod (To learn more about solar energy and to contact organizations that install solar electric systems, see Other Environmental Health Resources.) Solar hot water In areas with a lot of sunlight, one of the most direct uses for solar energy is to heat water for drinking or bathing. Solar hot water does not require solar panels or costly equipment. All that is needed is a water storage tank, and pipe painted black to absorb the sun’s rays. In mild climates, solar collectors are needed to heat water. They are more costly than simple solar water heaters, but less costly than the solar panels needed for electricity, and less costly than heating water with nonrenewable resources. A simple water heater Glass or clear plastic cover helps store heat in the water Outlet pipe Black absorbs heat, so a large barrel painted dull black inside and out will capture heat from the sun. Inlet pipe Solar water heater placed in the sun on a roof or at ground level Water storage tank Pipe to house or outside shower Metal or plastic pipe painted black Pipe where water enters Reflective surface (sheet metal, tin foil, etc.) Microcredit helps fund solar power Men and women work together to build a solar power system. Most homes in rural Sri Lanka are not connected to the national electric power system. But as in many tropical countries, the island of Sri Lanka has a lot of sunshine. In 1991, an organization called SELF (Solar Electric Light Fund) came to Sri Lanka to help people use their sunshine to make electricity. Because they could not give away solar power systems for free, SELF came up with a way to help people pay for their own systems. Together with a Sri Lankan non-profit organization, they formed a “solar cooperative.” The cooperative set up a microcredit fund. Cooperative members paid a small down payment to have a solar system set up, and made small payments to the fund every month for up to 8 years. As the fund grew, more families were able to use it to pay for their own solar systems. After 5 years, the first 48 families had repaid enough into the microcredit fund to allow 25 more families to buy solar systems. Building on this success, SELF began working with Sarvodaya, the largest NGO in Sri Lanka, with over 3 million members. SELF and Sarvodaya developed a “Solar Seed” program, which introduced solar electricity to over 100 villages. The program installed demonstration solar systems in community centers, schools, and Buddhist temples. SELF then organized a microcredit fund to help Sarvodaya members buy home solar systems. The program started with 300 households. A few years later, it was so successful that Sarvodaya began planning for a “million-home” solar program. Thousands of homes in rural Sri Lanka now have solar electricity. Using the microcredit system, thousands more will soon have solar electricity. If they continue working this way, Sri Lanka may one day be the world’s first nation to run entirely on sunlight. In other languages
Fortress Village - The Ethnic Minorities of Southwest China Man and Man: Social Identification and Categorization When sharing, distributing, and competing for resources, people tend to form groups in which members identify with each other and believe that they share the same blood, in order to create and protect an exclusive ecosystem that only members can share. There are many types of such in-groups, ranging from families, clans, and villages, to entire ethnic groups. Within larger ethnic groups, smaller groups are formed according to gender, class, geographical location, and secondary blood relationships. Not only are there divisions between groups, there are also divides among the various sub-groups within groups. In China’s southwest regions, due to the versatility and diversity of both the natural and human environments, there are also extreme examples of social identification and categorization. For example, in the first half of the twentieth century, residents of a village with less than twenty households by the upper stream of the Min River considered themselves one ethnic group. In the eyes of these people, all the villagers residing in the upper-stream region were manzi, and those living by the lower stream were Han. Clothing, the Body, and Identification In such an identification and categorization system, groups often express their “in-group identity” and differentiate between in-group and out-group through imagining the body. Physical characteristics, such as skin, hair, and eye color, are often used to categorize ethnic groups. In the case of groups with no noticeable physical differences, the so-called “physical characteristics” also include deliberate changes done to the body, such as tattoos, teeth removal, nose piercing, and stretching of the earlobes, etc. In human society, a more common way of expressing the identification and categorization of groups is through clothing and decoration, treating them as extensions of the body. There are very little or no apparent physical differences between the various groups of people who reside in China’s southwest region. Therefore, they often view clothing and accessories as markers for group identification and categorization. The Han noticed this and followed suit, categorizing the southwest aboriginal tribes based on the clothing and ornaments that they wear. In a document owned by the Institute of History and Philology, the Book of Qian Miao Illustrations, there are records of the Dog Ears Long clan, Stirrup Long clan, Big Head Long clan, jiantou Gelao, and Pot Ring Gelao, etc., all named after the signature hairstyles of each tribe. In the past, the Han people living in Guizhou differentiated ethnic groups by their traditional clothes, calling them Red Velvet Miao, Flower Miao, and Blue Miao, etc. Ethnicity Groups and Clothing The Ming dynasty document Da Ming Yi Tong Zhi (Comprehensive gazetteer of the Ming empire) claims that there are 13 types of Miao, while the Qing dynasty’s Qian Shu (Book of Qian) claims that there are 29, and the Guizhou Tong Zhi (Comprehensive Gazetteer of Guizhou) records as many as 80. These categorizations are more or less based on clothing. In the twentieth century, scholars conducted further research on the traditional garments and ornaments of the Miao, and concluded that there are at least 100 different types of Miao. This shows that the more we know about traditional Miao clothing, the more obvious its group segregation becomes. People often express their identification with their in-group and separation from their out-group through the clothes and accessories that they wear. However, this “in-group” might not necessarily be an “ethnic group” or a narrowly defined “group,” but a system of recognition that is built up from the inside to the outside by the local people, layer by layer. Therefore, in these regions, “clothing” is not the “ethnic tradition” that stresses the similarities within a certain group, but the “local tradition” that sets aside a local group from its neighbors. Gender and Clothing In China’s southwest regions, usually only the women of the ethnic villages dress in traditional costumes, and the men dress in clothes no different than those worn by the Han. This has been a common practice since the Qing dynasty in many areas. This is because men are usually the ones in contact with the outside world, and by dressing like the Han, they can avoid overemphasizing their tribal identity and arousing resentment from other tribes, and also avoid being seen as backward “barbarians” by the Han. Despite all this, it is still very important to the village residents to be able to discriminate between other tribes in the same region. The result of these two conflicting issues is that the men will often require the women to don the “local dress.” The women themselves are also very attentive to these details, constantly making sure that their clothing and decorations are different from what women from other villages wear. Clothing and the Process of Socialization The process of socialization is defined as the process during which a person gradually takes on different positions and roles in the society that he or she belongs to. Clothing also plays a role in this process. For example, in this picture there are three girls from the Qiang tribe, standing in a row. The youngest girl, about six or seven years old, is wearing ordinary store-bought clothes. The girl who looks about ten years old is wearing a mix-and-match of ethnic costumes, which is still different from what women from local or nearby villages are expected to wear. The oldest girl, aged thirteen or fourteen, is dressed like a typical local unmarried girl. From this picture, we can see how the society gradually regulates one’s behavior as she grows up, shaping one’s social identity and drawing the line between one’s in-group and out-group. In this society, the elderly have their dress code, and the middle-aged have theirs. Criticism resulting from inappropriate dress is a type of social restriction what reminds one of the role that he or she is supposed to play in that society. Social Hierarchy and Clothing Throughout history, many ethnic groups in China's southwest region have lived in hierarchical societies. Moreover, the chieftain system implemented since the Yuan dynasty increased upper-level officials' exploitation of commoners. The Qing government to a certain extent eliminated the chieftain system and assigned officials from the central government to rule the various areas, one of the reasons being, as stated: “The Miao are suffering under the rule of their own chieftains, and they seem to be treated more like slaves than subjects.” In part, the class, or at least wealth, distinctions in such hierarchic societies can be sharply observed through dress codes. The rich tend to wear the most luxurious of items, while the poor are far more constricted in their choices. In the first half of the twentieth century, the remaining chieftains in southwestern China often wore Han clothing to show their high status; these were, for example, the long robes worn by traditional scholar-officials or the zhongshan outfit worn by Chinese local representatives. Han-clad chieftains would also claim that their ancestors came from places like Nanjing, Hunan, or Guangzhou, in order to appear different from their fellow tribesmen. The Process of Sinicizing In The Survey Report on Culture Practices in Sichuan and Xikang, Li Guang-Ming mentions a conversation between the members of a chieftain’s household: Throughout the conversation, they kept making references to “those aboriginals” and “we the Suo family,” clearly implying that the “Suo family” was not the same as the aboriginals. He lay by the opium burner, telling us about “the old ways of them aboriginals.” In Ming and Qing dynasty documents containing references to “raw barbarians” and “cultured barbarians,” we can see a Sinicizing process that was drawing the line between the Han and non-Han people. Here, the “cultured barbarians” refer to those who would imitate the Han in many aspects of their daily lives and discriminate against the “raw barbarians.” The ruling families among the “cultured barbarians” consider themselves to be the descendants of the “Heavenly Han,” and look down on their own subjects. Discrimination against fellow tribe members and kowtowing to the Han are important mechanisms of Sinicization. This example rebuts the incorrect saying that Sinicization is a result of “the barbarians becoming accustomed to living the lifestyle of the Han, and eventually becoming Han themselves.” Ethnic group identification, especially the kind seen in modern times, often clouds many problems within the society. While people identify with members of their in-group, they at the same time overlook the structurally imbalanced relationship between people within the in-group, such as those belonging to different generations, social classes, or of different genders and varied “degrees of civilization.” Copyright © Institute of History & Philology, Academia Sinica . All Rights Reserved
Christopher Clark: Iron Kingdom, The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947 Rumours emanating from the publishing world suggest that, with the possible exception of books about queens, the "history boom" of recent years has already gone into steep decline. Let us hope that the sands into which it has run are not those forming the soil of Brandenburg around Berlin. For it is on this unpromising terrain that Christopher Clark's excellent tome begins. Landlocked and without defensible frontiers, medieval Brandenburg hardly seemed predestined to become "the heartland of a powerful European state". In 1417 the territory, which constituted one of seven electorates of the Holy Roman Empire, was bought by Frederick Hohenzollern, who established himself as Frederick I. Though far from powerful in that early period, the Hohenzollerns held Brandenburg together, avoiding break-up and partition at moments of succession, maintaining their neutrality in surrounding disputes, and introducing Protestant reformation at a tactfully gradual pace. Things were interrupted by the thirty years war (1618-48), when the German lands became the site of devastating conflict between the Habsburg emperor and Protestant forces that included Denmark, Sweden, Spain and France. The extortion, slaughter and torment introduced by the warring armies as they swept back and forth would be remembered for centuries. Historians have blamed it on the weakness of Elector George William, but Clark insists that he was faced with a "structural" challenge that would weigh on many future Berlin governments, which also found themselves "stranded between the fronts" of Europe's conflicting powers. It was a different Frederick, this one known as the "Great Elector", who restored Brandenburg after the war. He secured his domain by raising a carefully trained army that answered to his newly established state rather than to the provincial aristocracy. He also entered a carefully chosen series of alliances, which shifted to reflect the balance of power between Poland, Sweden, France and Austria. By the end of the 17th century, Brandenburg-Prussia was "the largest German principality after Austria". A couple of years later, and in a ceremony of enormous opulence, the Great Elector's successor, also named Frederick, was crowned "King in Prussia". From here, Clark shows the Prussian state being strengthened and expanded through a series of annexations and wars. His interest in military technique is well exercised as he pursues his story through the 18th century, when yet another Frederick took over Silesia and Saxony, fought with the Swedes and grabbed large chunks of Poland. Then, in 1806, comes the "Napoleonic shock": a shattering defeat by the French at the battles of Jena and Auerstedt, which triggered extensive social and political reform. Clark attends to the revolutionary demands of 1848, here judged to have "constitutionalised Prussian politics without demilitarising the Prussian monarchy". He also gives due prominence to Bismarck, who became minister-president in 1862 and carried out further expansions, including the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine - a cause of lasting and fateful antagonism with France. Clark skirmishes with received understanding as he goes. Twentieth-century historians were inclined to condemn Prussia as an authoritarian regime that had forged its own "special path" through history - one that side-stepped democracy and eventually delivered Germany into the hands of Kaiser Wilhelm II and then Hitler. If our mental picture of Prussia remains one of braided militarism, ruthlessly efficient bureaucracy and robot-like obedience to the state, this is because we still know Prussia in those terms. A "detestable" regime, so French voices cried after the first world war; "the source of the recurring pestilence," as Churchill declared a few years before defeated Prussia was finally wiped from the map in 1947. Clark shows Prussia's course to be less an embodiment of evil, or an expression of "Teutonic" racial character, than the outcome of a defining historical experience. In his revised picture, the square-headed and patriarchal land-owning "Junkers" of well-known stereotype are moved aside to reveal the powerful and decisive women who actually shared power with them. The militarists, with their bristling moustaches and monocles, are forced to make space for the ranks of the anti-war movement, at times larger and more active than anywhere else in Europe. Karl Marx's claim that the forces of reaction were restored after the revolutions of 1848 is both granted and corrected with the insistence that there was never a question of rolling back the clock. Bismarck certainly took firm control over the democratic impulse, but he didn't wholly annul it, and his regime entailed social reform as well as "Iron and Blood". There is much here for those concerned with the nation state and its development as a cultural and political construct. Clark gives us the high-born Fredericks and their courtiers but, aware of the call for "history from below", he seeks out the experience of peasants and industrial workers too. Attentive to questions of economics, military and industrial strategy and politics, he also engages the cultural dimensions of Prussian life and reviews their influence on the course of history. He considers the "invention of tradition" in Prussia, and the importance of memorials and ceremonies of remembrance in shaping patriotic identity. He covers the development of the press and other institutions of the public sphere that developed alongside Kant's ideas of enlightenment. He finds his material in novels, buildings and statues as well as state archives. Like most historians reaching out to the "general reader", he struggles to organise his material into a more or less coherent story, and yet he also knows that narrative has often been used to make the past reflect present wishes and prejudices. Read more >>> Popular posts from this blog Péter Nádas - Interview Anne Brontë: the sister who got there first Shipwrecked: looking for God in The Ancient Mariner
The Basics of Residential Plumbing The basic low that one must understand in residential plumbing is that water flows easily due to gravity, water is also under high pressure due to the pumping system and water is always seeking to find its own level in the vessels it’s flowing in. The residential plumbing system in every home is normally composed of two distinct separate subsystems. One subsystem brings clean and fresh water to the house mainly in the kitchen, sinks, bathrooms, toilets, water tabs, to the farm and any other installed place in the house. The other subsystem takes waste water away from the house. The water that flows in to the house is always at high pressure in order to bypass corners and allow it to flow upstairs. This incoming flow always passes through a meter which registers the amount of water that is being used at home; these readings are used when one is paying for the water bills. In residential plumbing main water shutoff or valve is located close to the meter and in case of any plumbing emergency, for example if there is leakage or a pipe bursts one should quickly rush and shut off the main valve to save the house from flooding and wasting water. But incase the emergency is confined only to a specific area such as the toilet or sink one may not wish to close down the entire system that is why it is very important to fix individual stop valve in addition to the main valve. Water from the main supply is clean and ready for use in cold water needs but the hot water supply has to pass through the home water heater where it is heated and maintained to the required set temperature from the water heater the hot water is carried via the hot water line to all the fixtures and outlets that require hot water. The residential plumbing of drainage system from the house do not require pressure as the supply systems do thus the drainage pipe are installed at an inclined angle to allow the waste water flow freely due to the natural effect of gravity. The sewer line also allows the waste water to flow in to the treatment facility or a septic tank It’s important to note that the residential plumbing system is not as simple as it sounds there are more detailed features involved such as the traps, vents, and clean outs. The vents stick up the rooftops to allow air in to the drain pipes if this was not the case water would not flow out easily and the water in the trap would force one to manually siphon it away. Try the service of Residential Plumbing Perth now.
Iowa is one of the few states that runs a caucus rather than a primary for Presidential Elections. What is a caucus? That is a great question! Here is your resource to understanding the caucus and how to participate during Presidential Election cycles. A caucus is a local meeting that is financed and managed by the two major political parties (Democrat and Republican). At the caucus, registered party members (you cannot be registered undecided, you must register within a specific party) come together to discuss and express support for their candidate. Each party runs the caucus a little differently. In the most recent caucus, Republicans case a secret ballot for their preferred candidate while Democrats physically grouped themselves around the room based on the candidate they support. It is important to note that participants are not picking the candidate themselves but rather choosing delegates who will represent their vote at the next convention level. Read chapter three of Why Iowa? How Caucuses and Sequential Elections Improve the Presidential Nominating Process by David P. Redlawsk, Caroline J. Tolber, and Todd Donovan. This chapter provides more information on the rules of a caucus in Iowa, the history of the Iowa caucus, and the purpose of the caucus. The Council on Foreign Relations provided the information on this page regarding a caucus. Visit the Council on Foreign Relations website to learn more. The Washington Post also provides some useful information on a caucus, based on the 2016 Presidential Election.
What does Pilgrimage mean? Definitions for Pilgrimageˈpɪl grə mɪdʒ Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word Pilgrimage. Princeton's WordNet 1. pilgrimage, pilgrim's journey(noun) a journey to a sacred place 1. pilgrimage(Noun) A journey made to a sacred place, or a religious journey. In the Muslim faith, the pilgrimage to Mecca is known as the Hajj. 2. pilgrimage(Noun) A visit to any site revered or associated with a meaningful event. Each year we made a pilgrimage to New York City to visit the pub where we all first met. Webster Dictionary 1. Pilgrimage(noun) the journey of a pilgrim; a long journey; especially, a journey to a shrine or other sacred place. Fig., the journey of human life 2. Pilgrimage(noun) a tedious and wearisome time 1. Pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith, although sometimes it can be a metaphorical journey into someone's own beliefs. Many religions attach spiritual importance to particular places: the place of birth or death of founders or saints, or to the place of their "calling" or spiritual awakening, or of their connection with the divine, to locations where miracles were performed or witnessed, or locations where a deity is said to live or be "housed," or any site that is seen to have special spiritual powers. Such sites may be commemorated with shrines or temples that devotees are encouraged to visit for their own spiritual benefit: to be healed or have questions answered or to achieve some other spiritual benefit. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim. As a common human experience, pilgrimage has been proposed as a Jungian archetype by Wallace Clift and Jean Dalby Clift. The Holy Land acts as a focal point for the pilgrimages of the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. According to a Stockholm University study in 2011, these pilgrims visit the Holy Land to touch and see physical manifestations of their faith, confirm their beliefs in the holy context with collective excitation, and connect personally to the Holy Land. 1. Chaldean Numerology The numerical value of Pilgrimage in Chaldean Numerology is: 4 2. Pythagorean Numerology The numerical value of Pilgrimage in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7 Sample Sentences & Example Usage 1. A. C. Benson: 2. Anita Brookner: 3. Mehmet Murat ildan: I recognize only the Holy Pilgrimage of Science to the Land of Truths! All other pilgrimages are nothing but touristic trips! 4. Frederick Buechner: 5. Donna Farrell: We'll have young people coming who are willing to sleep on floors, families coming who are thrilled they will have some place to stay they can afford, they will be viewing this as a pilgrimage. Images & Illustrations of Pilgrimage Translations for Pilgrimage From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary Get even more translations for Pilgrimage » Find a translation for the Pilgrimage definition in other languages: Select another language: Discuss these Pilgrimage definitions with the community: Word of the Day Please enter your email address: Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography: "Pilgrimage." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2017. Web. 25 Sep. 2017. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/Pilgrimage>. Are we missing a good definition for Pilgrimage? Don't keep it to yourself... Nearby & related entries: Alternative searches for Pilgrimage: Thanks for your vote! We truly appreciate your support.
Ingrown toenails (also known as onychocryptosis) are one of the most common foot complaints. Ingrown Toenails, occurs when the nail plate aggravates the surrounding nail fold or skin. They can cause intense pain, redness, swelling and can lead to infection. The great toe is the most common site for ingrown toenails, however they can occur on any of the toes. Some of the more common causes for ingrown toenails to develop are: trauma or injury to the nail; the structural shape of the nail; poor cutting technique; digital deformities and ill-fitting footwear. 1BoneSpursIn some cases, a Bone Spur (syn. Subungual Exostosis) can grow underneath the toe nail and mimic an ingrown toenail. Painful Bone Spur can occur from trauma to the toe, such as stubbing a toe. They can also occur from minor repetitive trauma, such as impaction of the toe against footwear, such as steel cap or narrow toed shoes. A Bone Spur under the toenail generally causes pain at the tip of the toe or toenail (as opposed to the nail fold). Contact of the shoe on the tip of the toe will often cause pain. As opposed to ingrown toenails, pain from a bone Spur can occur without redness, swelling or infection. Sometimes, bone spurs can lead to nail changes, such as a thickened or foreshortened nail plate. Painful Bone Spurs will often need removal to provide relief of symptoms. Direct trauma to the toe or nail plate can lead to a variety of painful nail and toe conditions. The most common conditions include a blood blister or bleeding under the nail (syn. Subungual Haematoma). Bleeding under the nail is often very painful and requires immediate attention and drainage to relieve symptoms. Trauma to the nail or toe can also cause nail bed and bone abnormalities, such as growth of new bone or skin, leading to derangement of the nail or end of the toe. In cases where painful extra bone or skin growth occur, surgical management may be necessary to remove the excess skin or bone to provide relief of pain or deformity. Clinical photo of bruised nail (Subungual Haematoma). Clinical photo of abnormal skin growth arising from the nail root following trauma to the toe. Clinical photo of abnormal skin growth under the toenail (arrow) secondary to malunited bone fracture fragment. X-ray of malunited bone fragment (arrow). Note the prominent bone growth. Sometimes painful Corns can grow along the side of a nail. This most commonly occurs in crooked toes, such as hammertoes. Pressure from shoes against the tip or side of the toe can result in the growth of corns. Corns are a focal collection of densely compact skin cells. They can form alongside the side of a toenail or on the tip of the toe and mimic a painful ingrown toenail. Removal of a small portion of the toenail can resolve painful corns that occur at the side of the toenail. Corrective toe surgery may be required in instances where toe deformity contributes to corn formation at the side or the tip of a toe or toe nail. There are a variety of bone and soft tissue growths that can present as an ingrown toenail. The following is a list (not exhaustive) of more common growths of the toe that can mimic an ingrown toenail. Hypergranulation Tissue Hypergranulation Tissue (syn. Pyogenic Granuloma) is an overgrowth of skin-like tissue at the side of the nail due to irritation or trauma to the toe or nail plate. Hypergranulation tissue can occur in cases of longstanding ingrown toenails. This extra tissue is highly vascular and bleeds easily, often staining socks and bed sheets. It can grow rapidly and cover a large portion of the nail plate. The colour of the excessive skin growth can range from red to purple in acute or sub-acute cases or to skin colour in more long standing cases. The treatment of Hypergranulation tissue involves sharp removal of the tissue. Clinical photo of Hypergranulation tissue present at the sides of the left big toenail secondary to chronic ingrown toenail. An Osteochondroma is one of the most common benign bone tumours of the foot. It can be caused by trauma, but can also be congenital, i.e. associated with being present from birth. They are most commonly observed in people under 20 years of age. Osteochondromas are similar to simple Bone Spurs or Subungual Exostoses under the hallux nail plate. It involves a bone growth with a cartilage cap that can grow under the nail and distort the nail plate, often resembling an ingrown toenail. The treatment of Osteochondroma’s involves removal of the bone growth. Clinical photo of a nail and toe distortion, secondary to large Osteochondroma of the toe bone (arrow).
Both Grammar & TechSpeak should be taught in our schools Check out Sarah Boesveld’s article in yesterday’s National Post titled “Grammar 4Eva.” It is very well written and balanced and a great way to get the debate going on TechSpeak versus formal written English. Should it be either/or? In my opinion, no. In fact, as a literacy specialist, I would suggest that TechSpeak is simply a new form of the English language and a very creative one at that. I use it myself when texting my grandchildren. Yet, the very idea that I would use that form of English to write a formal letter or email to someone I don’t know or even this blog post, is ridiculous. Yet, in Boesveld’s column, a linguistics professor shares how an inquiring student did just that. So, why are some so quick to suggest we take away aspects of literacy that we need as a society? We frequently hear it said that the train has already left the station. What train? The TechSpeak train may have left the station, but taking that metaphor to its logical conclusion, other trains are still available. Reality check: Writing formally in any situation requires a working knowledge of English grammar and spelling just as you can’t read for comprehension until you can decode what you are reading. Now, in terms of the debate about formal grammar versus incidental teaching, I come down with the latter. Former grammar would be useful but at the very least, young people need to know the basic parts of a sentence if they are to know when they have written an incomplete sentence (such as when they have to write something formal for school or work). The argument that computer software can tell us what to do is similar to the notion that we don’t need to teach our kids how to add, subtract or divide any more because calculators can do it all for us. Well, when I was teaching back in the 1970s and 80s, we taught kids how to calculate before they used the calculator. Case in point. I was making a purchase the other day and there was a 33% off sale. The cash register was down for a couple of minutes so the sales clerk was going to have to do the calculations herself. She was apologetic, not because she couldn’t do the calculations on the spot, but because she hadn’t brought her calculator. Luckily for her, the power came back on again. From the late 1980s and into the 90s and 2000s, I operated a private reading clinic for children, youth and adults who had reading and writing problems. So I know of what I speak. Reading, spelling, grammar and written language are in the same learning family. You can’t do one without the other. You need reading decoding skills to be able to identify and understand words before you can learn to spell the words. You also need reading decoding skills to be able to comprehend sentences and eventually, paragraphs. In fact, for comprehension, the fluency skills must be completely automatic, otherwise, you are spending all your time trying to decode. It’s why reading fluency skills are referred to as “learning to read” skills while reading comprehension skills are called “reading to learn” skills. And, you need both to be able to write. In fact, I would go so far as to say you can’t successfully deconstruct written language into TechSpeak until you actually know what you are deconstructing. So, if I use “adjctv” in a text message, I obviously have to first know “adjective.” And, I haven’t even begun to deconstruct how the mind moves from knowing how to decode words into the physical process of writing — what we used to call penmanship. But, that is a column for another day given cursive writing is now up for debate as well. I wrote about that topic here. What I found in my private practice was that printing slows the writing process down because the mind thinks faster than the hand can function — and why shorthand was invented in the first place. Then, there is the issue of self-check programs, spell checkers and grammar checks, be they on our cell phones, tablets or computers. Some seem to suggest that’s all anyone needs. But like the calculator and the sales clerk’s example I give above, children and youth really ought to know how to do something before they rely on a tech invention that may not always be at their fingertips, literally. In my opinion, then, the crux of the matter is that teachers need to continue to teach students how to write, even if grammar is only taught on an incidental need-to-know basis because it is very hard to deconstruct a language into TechSpeak when you don’t know what the correct grammar or spelling are in the first place. Endnote: Some technical articles I have written on this or related topics are here, here, here, and here.
The connection between Native American musicians and hip hop go back to the genre’s beginnings. Mellie Mel, the lead songwriter for the pioneering group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, is of Cherokee descent and other prominent artists, including ODB and King Just, have also claimed Native American ancestry. But a new generation of artists are fully claiming their roots and fusing hip hop with Native American culture to create a new and vibrant form of music. Musical Links Native American hip hop combines modern rap and soul beats with drum sounds traditionally found in Native American music. The sounds of “pow wows” often involve driving drum sounds and are meant to accompany dancing. This is not far removed from the goals of hip hop artists—to get people at a club on their feet and onto the dance floor. So-called “powwow step” often involves big, tribal drums sounds merged with electronic instruments, rappers and Native American singers. Forms of Political Expression Hip hop is often considered to be an “urban” style of music, but it truly is a genre that gives a way for artists to express themselves about a variety of issues in their community. Native American hip hop artists often mix political messages about the state of Native American affairs into their lyrical content. For example, Los Angeles-based Red Cloud often focuses on issues that are on the minds of young Native Americans such as poverty, crime and addiction. Connections to Hip Hop’s Origins Early hip hop pioneers such as Public Enemy, KRS-One and N.W.A. used the genre as a platform to discuss the marginalization of the black community in the 1980s and the 1990s. Native American hip hop artists take the same approach to expressing the plights of their community. These artist convey a message that the Native American community, as a whole, needs its voice to be heard. Breakout Artists Lightning Cloud is just one Native American act making waves. The politically-charged rhymes of Cree Nation rapper SupaMan have earned him a large following and recognition by MTV’s Iggy blog as their Artist of the Month. The Canadian group A Tribe Called Red, consisting of First Nations musicians, often play for thousands of fans in their native country. Native American hip hop is a thriving musical genre—the music world will hopefully continue to see groundbreaking development in its blend of traditional music with contemporary beats and ideas. New artists continue to push the genre into new and exciting directions and will hopefully do so for years to come. Informational Credit to Three P Beats Leave a Reply
Quick Select Recap: 6 Different Methods, Median of Medians Algorithm I discuss 6 methods (sort, heap, hash, .etc) to return kth item in an unordered array, median of medians algorithm even gives O(N) bound for the worst case. The quick selection problem is discussed as an application of the quick sort in the Algorithm Part 1 course from Coursera, which gives me a good chance to recap the problem. I actually have discussed this problem one year ago in my posts: post1 and post2, in Chinese though. I would like to refresh all the stuff in English and give even more compact code. 6 Different methods To tackle this problem, as far as I know there are 6 different methods: 1. Sort the array and direct return a[k], this method put all the elements in its own right position and takes O(NlgN) time, since we only need to put the k-th item in its correct position, it turns out to be unnecessary to sort them all. 2. Binray search [Min, Max] recursively where Min and Max are the minimum and maximum value in aray a[nLi, nHi]; 3. Make a maximum heap of size K, scan the whole array to compare every item with the top one in the heap, if the item >= top, it is ignored, if the item < top, the top one is popped out and the new item is pushed into the heap, it takes (Nlog K) time 4. Use Hash table to calculate the counts of each item in the array, and liear scan the hash table to get the k-th item, it takes O(N + M) time where M is the maximum number in the input 5. Use the Partition function in the quick sort and we only deal with one side. It takes O(N) average when random shuffle is adopted and O(N^2) time in the worst case 6. Median of Medians algorithm which takes O(N) time in the worst case, however the constant is too large and make it not practical in real applications I will discuss method 5 and 6 in detail. Quick Selection First, let’s take a look at the implementation of method 5, I wrote it in C++ based on the Java version in that course: int partition(int a[], int nLo, int nHi) { int nPivot = a[nLo]; int i = nLo, j = nHi + 1; while (true) { while (i < nHi && a[++i] < nPivot); while (j > nLo && a[--j] > nPivot); if (i >= j) break; // std::swap(a[i], a[j]); std::swap(a[nLo], a[j]); return j; int selectKthElement(int k, int naryNumbers[], int nLen) { if (k >= nLen) throw invalid_arugement_exception; std::random_shuffle(naryNumbers, naryNumbers + nLen); int nLo = 0, nHi = nLen - 1; int j = 0; while (nHi > nLo) { j = partition(naryNumbers, nLo, nHi); if (j < k) nLo = j + 1; else if (j > k) nHi = j - 1; else return naryNumbers[k]; // return naryNumbers[k]; The partition function is just the normal 2-way partition I have discussed in the previous posts, and the while loop in the selectKthElement() function is the key. We know after partition the j-th element is in its right position, and all the items before j are smaller than or queal to a[j], for those after j, they are largeer or equal, so it becomes obvious, if j < k, we need to find j in the smaller part and if j > k the k-th element has to be in later part, if j == k, then we already put k-th element in its right position, we are done, Remarks: While (nHi > nLo) is important and cannot be replaced with say while (nHi >= nLo). Note we return a[k] after while, we could safely do this because 1. after while (nHi > nLo) it has to be nHi == nLo 2. k must be in its right position in the final statement “return naryNumbers[k]“, otherwise, it would be in left or right part and returned in the while loop 3. the above code is more compact than the one in my old post1 in Chinese, in that old one, I have to calculate the relative k in the recursive call (i.e., we find a different value k-th element in the subproblems, while here it is always consistent to identify the original k-th element) and that would be error-prone, this should a noteworthy point to learn. Median of Medians Algorithm The median of medians algorithm tries to use the median of medians of groups (each groups is of size 5) as the pivot so that the depth of the recursive tree won’t be too big (will be logN), here is the approach. 1. divide the whole array into groups, each group is of size 5 except the last one. O(N) time 2. pick the median of each group and make a new array consisting of all these medians O(N) with large constant think about why? 3. recursively call the current algorithm to identify the median of these medians in the new array, i.e., find the (M/2)th element where M is the number of groups 4. pick the median from step 3 and put it in the left most position so we can directly call the partition function, this could be done by swapping in O(N) time, think about how? 5. Do regular quick select as method 5 We can derive recursive formula to get the time complexity, the formal proof is quite complicated and is beyond my discussion here but roughly, step 3 and 4 try to guarantee that there are 0.3N items before the pivot and 0.3N items after that pivot and thus guarantee the final time complexity is linear although the constant becomes quite large and make this approach not practical. The C++ code could be found in my old post2 here and you can read that for further reference. 6 methods (sort, heap, hash, .etc) to return kth item in an unordered array are discussed, median of medians algorithm even gives O(N) bound for the worst case. So these are all what I want to summarize here in this post and I treat it as a recap for myself because I have already discussed it in Chinese one year ago. Please feel free to leave any comments or corrections. thanks a lot! Written on October 22, 2014
Spending time outdoors in nature should be fun and relaxing all year round. So when the cold wind and snow arrive, it's important to dress well for the weather. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3: a base layer, a layer of warm play clothes and an outermost waterproof layer. And it's necessary for everyone -- the children and their adult caregivers. There is so much joy waiting for us in the cold, wintery forest. Let's get dressed for it! Base Layer 1 - Base Layer - Long Johns - Undershirt - Socks A base layer of soft wool, silk or thermal material works best. The children experience so much of the world through touch and will be most comfortable when this layer that is closest to their skin is thin and non-scratchy. 2 - Play Clothes - Wool Sweater - Fleece Pants - Wool Socks - Scarf The clothes that go over the base layer should also be comfortable and allow for flexibility. And they should be able to get dirty, serving as the outermost layer when the air temperature, or your child's body temperature, heats up. Second Layer 3 - Outer Layer - Waterproof winter coat - Snow pants - Waterproof gloves - Balaclava - Waterproof winter boots Outer Layer Hats and gloves are perhaps the most important cold weather coverings to remember for forest school. However, they are also the trickiest since toddlers often refuse to keep them on. For hats, the solution may be a balaclava, which covers their ears and necks and cannot be so easily removed. Meanwhile, finding the right hand coverings may be an exercise in trial and error. Large waterproof sleeve mittens often work well. If they don't, a few pairs of simple child-size cotton gloves, while not waterproof, will help a child who insists on more dexterity stay warm for a few hours in the cold.

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