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Choose Your Language Posts Tagged ‘learning approaches’ Language Learning - Learner Internal Factors Monday, August 17th, 2009 There are many reasons that people choose to learn a second language. We may be planning to travel or looking for a job overseas. We may learn a second language from our family or while we are at school. Some people tend to learn language quickly while others struggle. Have you ever wondered why this is? Within the field of linguistics, our level of competence in learning a second language is referred to as learner internal factors. Input is the exposure to the second language, and instruction is the method by which we are taught. Two people with exactly the same exposure to a second language will learn at completely different rates. While one learner may walk away from a lesson taking in all that they have learnt, another may leaving having recalled nothing. Age is a major factor in language learning. Children seem to learn a second language much more easily than adults, and usually reach a high level of fluency as well. For this reason, many elementary schools have second language learning built into their curriculum. While it has not been proven conclusively, it is evident that a crucial period for language learning occurs before puberty, when we have a much greater aptitude for language learning. Research has shown that those who have learnt a second language already will make better progress with subsequent language that they learn. The brain works like a muscle, so to speak, the more we exercise certain parts of it the stronger and more efficient they become. By learning languages, we utilize the parts of the brain involved and improve our own aptitude. Even personality can have an effect on how someone learns a language. Of course, motivation has an effect. The more motivation you have will change the amount of effort that is placed into language learning. It has also been shown that people with generally low levels of anxiety and stress make for better language learners. Those who are extroverts tend to do better at language learning than introverts. This is thought to be because extroverts have a lesser fear of failure and are more willing to ask for help.
Sustainable development The cindynic methodology is particularly suited to the operational efficiency of sustainable development: on the one hand, Cindynics allow to address the issues related to the risks-conflict-development complex, and on the other hand, sustainable development is based on three pillars: environment, social, and economic. In particular, risk prevention concerns both environmental risks and risks to humans, notably psycho-social risks and health risks: risk management thus comes under the environment and social pillars of sustainable development. More generally, a topology of risk prevention can rely on three classes of entities: human, technology, and environment, each of which can be either a source or a target of danger. For example, technology can threaten the human and the environment (technological risk), human activities can threaten the environment, and the environment can threaten the human (natural disasters, pandemics ...). A first key concept is the concept of vulnerability: the cindynic methodology aims to reduce the vulnerabilities of situations, in other words, to build resilience. However, in practice, reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience can run into operational difficulties, which goes against the protection of the social and environment pillars of sustainable development. A second key concept is that of friction, ie the difference between the operations planned 'on the paper' and what is achieved in practice. Second order Cindynics allow to identify divergences and disparities of perception among actors as sources of conflictualities causing these phenomena of friction. By identifying and reducing these disparities and divergences, the cindynic methodology reduces the friction phenomena, and allows a better operational efficiency of any action aiming at the protection of the environment pillar or the social pillar. In addition, the reduction of conflictualities also makes it possible to reduce the friction phenomena affecting development operations: the cindynic methodology also benefits the development pillar by allowing operational efficiency gains. The concept of conflictuality covers both weak or 'everyday' conflictualities and strong conflictualities, leading to conflicts in the traditional sense: the cindynic methodology allows the reduction of conflictualities, ie the reduction of the situations' propensities to degenerate into open conflicts. Conflicts threaten both the human, his health, his environment, and economic development. Thus, in June 2018, a UN report notes that conflicts hamper the sustainable development goals. By reducing conflictualities, cindynics benefit the three pillars of sustainable development. One of the advantages of the cindynic methodology is its ability to simultaneously manage inseparable issues in the areas of risk, conflict, and development, without dividing problems, thus without masking solutions and without creating problems in related areas. In a way, the cindynic methodology allows for a simultaneous operational approach to the three pillars of sustainable development, which must be understood as inseparable. Switch Language
Roman Empire Roman Empire 27 BC – 395 AD 395 – 480 (Western) 395 – 1453 (Eastern) Aureus of Augustus • Rome (27 BC–330 AD) • Mediolanum (286–402, Western) • Ravenna (402–476, Western) • Nicomedia (286–330, Eastern) • Constantinople (330–1453, Whole)[n 2] Common languages • Imperial cult-driven polytheism (Before AD 380) • Nicene Christianity (State Church of the Roman Empire) (From AD 380) Government Mixed, functionally absolute monarchy 27 BC – AD 14 Augustus (first) Constantine I Theodosius I[n 3] Julius Nepos[n 4] Justinian I Basil II Constantine XI[n 5] Legislature Senate Historical era Classical era to Late Middle Ages Final War of the Roman Republic 32–30 BC Empire established 30–2 BC becomes capital 11 May 330 Final East-West divide 17 Jan 395 Fall of the Western Roman Empire 4 Sep 476 Fourth Crusade 12 Apr 1204 Reconquest of Constantinople 25 Jul 1261 29 May 1453 Fall of Trebizond 15 August 1461 25 BC[3][4] 2,750,000 km2 (1,060,000 sq mi) AD 117[3][5] 5,000,000 km2 (1,900,000 sq mi) AD 390[3] 4,400,000 km2 (1,700,000 sq mi) 25 BC[3][6] Currency Sestertius,[n 6] Aureus, Solidus, Nomisma Preceded by Succeeded by Roman Republic Western Roman Empire Eastern Roman Empire The Roman Empire (Latin: Imperium Rōmānum, Classical Latin: [ɪmˈpɛ.ri.ũː roːˈmaː.nũː]; Koine and Medieval Greek: Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, tr. Basileia tōn Rhōmaiōn) was the post-Roman Republic period of the ancient Roman civilization, with a government headed by emperors and large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia. The city of Rome was the largest city in the world c.100 BC c.AD 400, with Constantinople (New Rome) becoming the largest around AD 500,[7][8] and the Empire's population grew to an estimated 50 to 90 million inhabitants (roughly 20% of the world's population at the time).[n 7][9] The 500-year-old republic which preceded it had been severely destabilized in a series of civil wars and political conflict, during which Julius Caesar was appointed as perpetual dictator and then assassinated in 44 BC. Civil wars and executions continued, culminating in the victory of Octavian, Caesar's adopted son, over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and the annexation of Egypt. Octavian's power was then unassailable and in 27 BC the Roman Senate formally granted him overarching power and the new title Augustus, effectively marking the end of the Roman Republic. A period of increasing trouble and decline began with the reign of Commodus. Commodus' assassination in 192 triggered the Year of the Five Emperors, from which Septimius Severus emerged victorious. The assassination of Alexander Severus in 235 led to the Crisis of the Third Century in which 26 men were declared emperor by the Roman Senate over a fifty-year time span. It was not until the reign of Diocletian that the empire was fully stabilized with the introduction of the Tetrarchy, which saw four emperors rule the empire jointly. This arrangement was ultimately unsuccessful, leading to a civil war that was finally ended by Constantine the Great, who defeated his rivals and became the sole ruler of the empire in 324. Constantine subsequently established a second capital city in Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople. It remained the capital of the east until its demise. Constantine also adopted Christianity. Influenced by his adviser Mardonius, Constantine's nephew Julian unsuccessfully attempted to return the empire to paganism. Christianity became the official state religion of the empire under Theodosius I, who was the last emperor to rule over both the western and eastern halves of the Empire. The dominion of the Western Roman Empire was gradually eroded by abuses of power, civil wars, barbarian migrations and invasions, military reforms, and economic depression. The Sack of Rome in 410 by the Visigoths and again in 455 by the Vandals accelerated the Western Empire's decay, while the deposition of the emperor, Romulus Augustulus, in 476 by Odoacer, is traditionally accepted to mark the end of the empire in the west. However, Augustulus was never recognized by his Eastern colleague, and separate rule in the western part of the empire only ceased to exist upon the death of Julius Nepos, recognized as emperor by both Odoacer and the Eastern emperor, in 480. The Eastern Roman Empire (in modern historiography called the Byzantine Empire) endured for another millennium as one of the leading powers in the world alongside its arch-rival the Sassanid Empire, which had inherited a centuries-old Roman-Persian conflict from its predecessor the Parthians.[10][11] The Byzantine Empire eventually fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. The Roman Empire was among the most powerful economic, cultural, political and military forces in the world of its time. It was one of the largest empires in world history. At its height under Trajan, it covered 5 million square kilometres.[3][5] It held sway over an estimated 70 million people, at that time 21% of the world's entire population. The longevity and vast extent of the empire ensured the lasting influence of Latin and Greek language, culture, religion, inventions, architecture, philosophy, law and forms of government over the empire's descendants. Throughout the European medieval period, attempts were even made to establish successors to the Roman Empire, including the Empire of Romania, a Crusader state; and the Holy Roman Empire. By means of European colonialism following the Renaissance, and their descendant states, Greco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian culture was exported on a worldwide scale, playing a crucial role in the development of the modern world. The Augustus of Prima Porta (early 1st century AD) Rome had begun expanding shortly after the founding of the republic in the 6th century BC, though it did not expand outside the Italian Peninsula until the 3rd century BC. Then, it was an "empire" long before it had an emperor.[12][13][14][15] The Roman Republic was not a nation-state in the modern sense, but a network of towns left to rule themselves (though with varying degrees of independence from the Roman Senate) and provinces administered by military commanders. It was ruled, not by emperors, but by annually elected magistrates (Roman Consuls above all) in conjunction with the senate.[16] For various reasons, the 1st century BC was a time of political and military upheaval, which ultimately led to rule by emperors.[13][17][18][19] The consuls' military power rested in the Roman legal concept of imperium, which literally means "command" (though typically in a military sense).[20] Occasionally, successful consuls were given the honorary title imperator (commander), and this is the origin of the word emperor (and empire) since this title (among others) was always bestowed to the early emperors upon their accession.[21] The Roman Empire by 476 The Western Roman Empire began to disintegrate in the early 5th century as Germanic migrations and invasions overwhelmed the capacity of the Empire to assimilate the migrants and fight off the invaders. The Romans were successful in fighting off all invaders, most famously Attila, though the empire had assimilated so many Germanic peoples of dubious loyalty to Rome that the empire started to dismember itself. Most chronologies place the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476, when Romulus Augustulus was forced to abdicate to the Germanic warlord Odoacer.[32] By placing himself under the rule of the Eastern Emperor, rather than naming himself Emperor (as other Germanic chiefs had done after deposing past emperors), Odoacer ended the Western Empire by ending the line of Western emperors. The empire in the East—often known as the Byzantine Empire, but referred to in its time as the Roman Empire or by various other names—had a different fate. It survived for almost a millennium after the fall of its Western counterpart and became the most stable Christian realm during the Middle Ages. During the 6th century, Justinian I reconquered Northern Africa and Italy. But within a few years of Justinian's death, Byzantine possessions in Italy were greatly reduced by the Lombards who settled in the peninsula.[33] In the east, partially resulting from the destructive Plague of Justinian, the Romans were threatened by the rise of Islam, whose followers rapidly conquered the territories of Syria, Armenia and Egypt during the Byzantine-Arab Wars, and soon presented a direct threat to Constantinople.[34][35] In the following century, the Arabs also captured southern Italy and Sicily.[36] Slavic populations were also able to penetrate deep into the Balkans. The Roman (Byzantine) Empire c. 1263. The Romans, however, managed to stop further Islamic expansion into their lands during the 8th century and, beginning in the 9th century, reclaimed parts of the conquered lands.[37] In 1000 AD, the Eastern Empire was at its height: Basil II reconquered Bulgaria and Armenia, culture and trade flourished.[38] However, soon after, the expansion was abruptly stopped in 1071 with the Byzantine defeat in the Battle of Manzikert. The aftermath of this battle sent the empire into a short period of decline. Two decades of internal strife and Turkic invasions ultimately paved the way for Emperor Alexios I Komnenos to send a call for help to the Western European kingdoms in 1095.[34] Under the Komnenian restoration the state regained its strength. In 1204 the Sack of Constantinople found place by participants in the Fourth Crusade. The conquest of Constantinople in 1204 fragmented what remained of the Empire into successor states, the ultimate victor being that of Nicaea.[39] After the recapture of Constantinople by Imperial forces, the Empire was little more than a Greek state confined to the Aegean coast. The Roman Empire finally collapsed when Mehmed the Conqueror conquered Constantinople on 29 May 1453.[40] Geography and demography The Roman Empire was one of the largest in history, with contiguous territories throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.[41] The Latin phrase imperium sine fine ("empire without end"[42][n 8]) expressed the ideology that neither time nor space limited the Empire. In Vergil's epic poem the Aeneid, limitless empire is said to be granted to the Romans by their supreme deity Jupiter.[42][43][44][45][46] This claim of universal dominion was renewed and perpetuated when the Empire came under Christian rule in the 4th century.[n 9] In addition to annexing large regions in their quest for empire-building, the Romans were also very large sculptors of their environment who directly altered their geography. For instance, entire forests were cut down to provide enough wood resources for an expanding empire. In his book Critias, Plato described that deforestation: where there was once "an abundance of wood in the mountains," he could now only see "the mere skeleton of the land."[47] In reality, Roman expansion was mostly accomplished under the Republic, though parts of northern Europe were conquered in the 1st century AD, when Roman control in Europe, Africa and Asia was strengthened. During the reign of Augustus, a "global map of the known world" was displayed for the first time in public at Rome, coinciding with the composition of the most comprehensive work on political geography that survives from antiquity, the Geography of the Pontic Greek writer Strabo.[48] When Augustus died, the commemorative account of his achievements (Res Gestae) prominently featured the geographical cataloguing of peoples and places within the Empire.[49] Geography, the census, and the meticulous keeping of written records were central concerns of Roman Imperial administration.[50] A segment of the ruins of Hadrian's Wall in northern England The Empire reached its largest expanse under Trajan (reigned 98–117),[46] encompassing an area of 5 million square kilometres. The traditional population estimate of 55–60 million inhabitants[51] accounted for between one-sixth and one-fourth of the world's total population[52] and made it the largest population of any unified political entity in the West until the mid-19th century.[53] Recent demographic studies have argued for a population peak ranging from 70 million to more than 100 million.[54][55] Each of the three largest cities in the Empire—Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch—was almost twice the size of any European city at the beginning of the 17th century.[56] As the historian Christopher Kelly has described it: Trajan's successor Hadrian adopted a policy of maintaining rather than expanding the empire. Borders (fines) were marked, and the frontiers (limites) patrolled.[46] The most heavily fortified borders were the most unstable.[17] Hadrian's Wall, which separated the Roman world from what was perceived as an ever-present barbarian threat, is the primary surviving monument of this effort.[57][58][59] The language of the Romans was Latin, which Virgil emphasizes as a source of Roman unity and tradition.[60][61][62] Until the time of Alexander Severus (reigned 222–235), the birth certificates and wills of Roman citizens had to be written in Latin.[63] Latin was the language of the law courts in the West and of the military throughout the Empire,[64] but was not imposed officially on peoples brought under Roman rule.[65][66] This policy contrasts with that of Alexander the Great, who aimed to impose Greek throughout his empire as the official language.[67] As a consequence of Alexander's conquests, koine Greek had become the shared language around the eastern Mediterranean and into Asia Minor.[68][69] The "linguistic frontier" dividing the Latin West and the Greek East passed through the Balkan peninsula.[70] A 5th-century papyrus showing a parallel Latin-Greek text of a speech by Cicero[71] Romans who received an elite education studied Greek as a literary language, and most men of the governing classes could speak Greek.[72] The Julio-Claudian emperors encouraged high standards of correct Latin (Latinitas), a linguistic movement identified in modern terms as Classical Latin, and favoured Latin for conducting official business.[73] Claudius tried to limit the use of Greek, and on occasion revoked the citizenship of those who lacked Latin, but even in the Senate he drew on his own bilingualism in communicating with Greek-speaking ambassadors.[73] Suetonius quotes him as referring to "our two languages".[74] In the Eastern empire, laws and official documents were regularly translated into Greek from Latin.[75] The everyday interpenetration of the two languages is indicated by bilingual inscriptions, which sometimes even switch back and forth between Greek and Latin.[76][77] After all freeborn inhabitants of the empire were universally enfranchised in AD 212, a great number of Roman citizens would have lacked Latin, though Latin remained a marker of "Romanness."[78] Local languages and linguistic legacy The dominance of Latin among the literate elite may obscure the continuity of spoken languages, since all cultures within the Roman Empire were predominantly oral.[82] In the West, Latin, referred to in its spoken form as Vulgar Latin, gradually replaced Celtic and Italic languages that were related to it by a shared Indo-European origin. Commonalities in syntax and vocabulary facilitated the adoption of Latin.[85][86][87] Although Greek continued as the language of the Byzantine Empire, linguistic distribution in the East was more complex. A Greek-speaking majority lived in the Greek peninsula and islands, western Anatolia, major cities, and some coastal areas.[69] Like Greek and Latin, the Thracian language was of Indo-European origin, as were several now-extinct languages in Anatolia attested by Imperial-era inscriptions.[69][82] Albanian is often seen as the descendant of Illyrian, although this hypothesis has been challenged by some linguists, who maintain that it derives from Dacian or Thracian.[90] (Illyrian, Dacian, and Thracian, however, may have formed a subgroup or a Sprachbund; see Thraco-Illyrian.) Various Afroasiatic languages—primarily Coptic in Egypt, and Aramaic in Syria and Mesopotamia—were never replaced by Greek. The international use of Greek, however, was one factor enabling the spread of Christianity, as indicated for example by the use of Greek for the Epistles of Paul.[69] Spread of Seuso at Lacus Pelso (Lake Balaton) The Roman Empire was remarkably multicultural, with "a rather astonishing cohesive capacity" to create a sense of shared identity while encompassing diverse peoples within its political system over a long span of time.[91] The Roman attention to creating public monuments and communal spaces open to all—such as forums, amphitheatres, racetracks and baths—helped foster a sense of "Romanness".[92] Roman society had multiple, overlapping social hierarchies that modern concepts of "class" in English may not represent accurately.[93] The two decades of civil war from which Augustus rose to sole power left traditional society in Rome in a state of confusion and upheaval,[94] but did not effect an immediate redistribution of wealth and social power. From the perspective of the lower classes, a peak was merely added to the social pyramid.[95] Personal relationships—patronage, friendship (amicitia), family, marriage—continued to influence the workings of politics and government, as they had in the Republic.[96] By the time of Nero, however, it was not unusual to find a former slave who was richer than a freeborn citizen, or an equestrian who exercised greater power than a senator.[97] The blurring or diffusion of the Republic's more rigid hierarchies led to increased social mobility under the Empire,[98][99] both upward and downward, to an extent that exceeded that of all other well-documented ancient societies.[100] Women, freedmen, and slaves had opportunities to profit and exercise influence in ways previously less available to them.[101] Social life in the Empire, particularly for those whose personal resources were limited, was further fostered by a proliferation of voluntary associations and confraternities (collegia and sodalitates) formed for various purposes: professional and trade guilds, veterans' groups, religious sodalities, drinking and dining clubs,[102] performing arts troupes,[103] and burial societies.[104] Citizen of Roman Egypt (Fayum mummy portrait) Women in Roman law The archaic form of manus marriage in which the woman had been subject to her husband's authority was largely abandoned by the Imperial era, and a married woman retained ownership of any property she brought into the marriage. Technically she remained under her father's legal authority, even though she moved into her husband's home, but when her father died she became legally emancipated.[110] This arrangement was one of the factors in the degree of independence Roman women enjoyed relative to those of many other ancient cultures and up to the modern period:[111][112] although she had to answer to her father in legal matters, she was free of his direct scrutiny in her daily life,[113] and her husband had no legal power over her.[114] Although it was a point of pride to be a "one-man woman" (univira) who had married only once, there was little stigma attached to divorce, nor to speedy remarriage after the loss of a husband through death or divorce.[115] Girls had equal inheritance rights with boys if their father died without leaving a will.[116][117][118] A Roman mother's right to own property and to dispose of it as she saw fit, including setting the terms of her own will, gave her enormous influence over her sons even when they were adults.[119] Slaves and the law At the time of Augustus, as many as 35% of the people in Italy were slaves,[124] making Rome one of five historical "slave societies" in which slaves constituted at least a fifth of the population and played a major role in the economy.[125] Slavery was a complex institution that supported traditional Roman social structures as well as contributing economic utility.[126] In urban settings, slaves might be professionals such as teachers, physicians, chefs, and accountants, in addition to the majority of slaves who provided trained or unskilled labour in households or workplaces. Agriculture and industry, such as milling and mining, relied on the exploitation of slaves. Outside Italy, slaves made up on average an estimated 10 to 20% of the population, sparse in Roman Egypt but more concentrated in some Greek areas. Expanding Roman ownership of arable land and industries would have affected preexisting practices of slavery in the provinces.[127][128] Although the institution of slavery has often been regarded as waning in the 3rd and 4th centuries, it remained an integral part of Roman society until the 5th century. Slavery ceased gradually in the 6th and 7th centuries along with the decline of urban centres in the West and the disintegration of the complex Imperial economy that had created the demand for it.[129] Laws pertaining to slavery were "extremely intricate".[130] Under Roman law, slaves were considered property and had no legal personhood. They could be subjected to forms of corporal punishment not normally exercised on citizens, sexual exploitation, torture, and summary execution. A slave could not as a matter of law be raped, since rape could be committed only against people who were free; a slave's rapist had to be prosecuted by the owner for property damage under the Aquilian Law.[131][132] Slaves had no right to the form of legal marriage called conubium, but their unions were sometimes recognized, and if both were freed they could marry.[133] Following the Servile Wars of the Republic, legislation under Augustus and his successors shows a driving concern for controlling the threat of rebellions through limiting the size of work groups, and for hunting down fugitive slaves.[134] Technically, a slave could not own property,[135] but a slave who conducted business might be given access to an individual account or fund (peculium) that he could use as if it were his own. The terms of this account varied depending on the degree of trust and co-operation between owner and slave: a slave with an aptitude for business could be given considerable leeway to generate profit, and might be allowed to bequeath the peculium he managed to other slaves of his household.[136] Within a household or workplace, a hierarchy of slaves might exist, with one slave in effect acting as the master of other slaves.[137] Over time slaves gained increased legal protection, including the right to file complaints against their masters. A bill of sale might contain a clause stipulating that the slave could not be employed for prostitution, as prostitutes in ancient Rome were often slaves.[138] The burgeoning trade in eunuch slaves in the late 1st century AD prompted legislation that prohibited the castration of a slave against his will "for lust or gain."[139][140] Roman slavery was not based on race.[141][142] Slaves were drawn from all over Europe and the Mediterranean, including Gaul, Hispania, Germany, Britannia, the Balkans, Greece... Generally slaves in Italy were indigenous Italians,[143] with a minority of foreigners (including both slaves and freedmen) born outside of Italy estimated at 5% of the total in the capital at its peak, where their number was largest. Those from outside of Europe were predominantly of Greek descent, while the Jewish ones never fully assimilated into Roman society, remaining an identifiable minority. These slaves (especially the foreigners) had higher mortality rates and lower birth rates than natives, and were sometimes even subjected to mass expulsions.[144] The average recorded age at death for the slaves of the city of Rome was extraordinarily low: seventeen and a half years (17.2 for males; 17.9 for females).[145] Census rank In the time of Nero, senators were still primarily from Rome and other parts of Italy, with some from the Iberian peninsula and southern France; men from the Greek-speaking provinces of the East began to be added under Vespasian.[157] The first senator from the most eastern province, Cappadocia, was admitted under Marcus Aurelius.[158] By the time of the Severan dynasty (193–235), Italians made up less than half the Senate.[159] During the 3rd century, domicile at Rome became impractical, and inscriptions attest to senators who were active in politics and munificence in their homeland (patria).[156] Unequal justice As the republican principle of citizens' equality under the law faded, the symbolic and social privileges of the upper classes led to an informal division of Roman society into those who had acquired greater honours (honestiores) and those who were humbler folk (humiliores). In general, honestiores were the members of the three higher "orders," along with certain military officers.[171][172] The granting of universal citizenship in 212 seems to have increased the competitive urge among the upper classes to have their superiority over other citizens affirmed, particularly within the justice system.[172][173][174] Sentencing depended on the judgement of the presiding official as to the relative "worth" (dignitas) of the defendant: an honestior could pay a fine when convicted of a crime for which an humilior might receive a scourging.[172] Execution, which had been an infrequent legal penalty for free men under the Republic even in a capital case,[175][176] could be quick and relatively painless for the Imperial citizen considered "more honourable", while those deemed inferior might suffer the kinds of torture and prolonged death previously reserved for slaves, such as crucifixion and condemnation to the beasts as a spectacle in the arena.[177] In the early Empire, those who converted to Christianity could lose their standing as honestiores, especially if they declined to fulfil the religious aspects of their civic responsibilities, and thus became subject to punishments that created the conditions of martyrdom.[172][178] Government and military The three major elements of the Imperial Roman state were the central government, the military, and provincial government.[180] The military established control of a territory through war, but after a city or people was brought under treaty, the military mission turned to policing: protecting Roman citizens (after 212 AD, all freeborn inhabitants of the Empire), the agricultural fields that fed them, and religious sites.[181] Without modern instruments of either mass communication or mass destruction, the Romans lacked sufficient manpower or resources to impose their rule through force alone. Cooperation with local power elites was necessary to maintain order, collect information, and extract revenue. The Romans often exploited internal political divisions by supporting one faction over another: in the view of Plutarch, "it was discord between factions within cities that led to the loss of self-governance".[182][183][184] Communities with demonstrated loyalty to Rome retained their own laws, could collect their own taxes locally, and in exceptional cases were exempt from Roman taxation. Legal privileges and relative independence were an incentive to remain in good standing with Rome.[185] Roman government was thus limited, but efficient in its use of the resources available to it.[186] Central government The dominance of the emperor was based on the consolidation of certain powers from several republican offices, including the inviolability of the tribunes of the people and the authority of the censors to manipulate the hierarchy of Roman society.[187] The emperor also made himself the central religious authority as Pontifex Maximus, and centralized the right to declare war, ratify treaties, and negotiate with foreign leaders.[188] While these functions were clearly defined during the Principate, the emperor's powers over time became less constitutional and more monarchical, culminating in the Dominate.[189] The emperor was the ultimate authority in policy- and decision-making, but in the early Principate he was expected to be accessible to individuals from all walks of life, and to deal personally with official business and petitions. A bureaucracy formed around him only gradually.[190] The Julio-Claudian emperors relied on an informal body of advisors that included not only senators and equestrians, but trusted slaves and freedmen.[191] After Nero, the unofficial influence of the latter was regarded with suspicion, and the emperor's council (consilium) became subject to official appointment for the sake of greater transparency.[192] Though the senate took a lead in policy discussions until the end of the Antonine dynasty, equestrians played an increasingly important role in the consilium.[193] The women of the emperor's family often intervened directly in his decisions. Plotina exercised influence on both her husband Trajan and his successor Hadrian. Her influence was advertised by having her letters on official matters published, as a sign that the emperor was reasonable in his exercise of authority and listened to his people.[194] Although the senate could do little short of assassination and open rebellion to contravene the will of the emperor, it survived the Augustan restoration and the turbulent Year of Four Emperors to retain its symbolic political centrality during the Principate.[197] The senate legitimated the emperor's rule, and the emperor needed the experience of senators as legates (legati) to serve as generals, diplomats, and administrators.[198][199] A successful career required competence as an administrator and remaining in favour with the emperor, or over time perhaps multiple emperors.[200] The primary mission of the Roman military of the early empire was to preserve the Pax Romana.[204] The three major divisions of the military were: • the navy. The auxilia were recruited from among the non-citizens. Organized in smaller units of roughly cohort strength, they were paid less than the legionaries, and after 25 years of service were rewarded with Roman citizenship, also extended to their sons. According to Tacitus[211] there were roughly as many auxiliaries as there were legionaries. The auxilia thus amounted to around 125,000 men, implying approximately 250 auxiliary regiments.[212] The Roman cavalry of the earliest Empire were primarily from Celtic, Hispanic or Germanic areas. Several aspects of training and equipment, such as the four-horned saddle, derived from the Celts, as noted by Arrian and indicated by archaeology.[213][214] Provincial government An annexed territory became a province in a three-step process: making a register of cities, taking a census of the population, and surveying the land.[216] Further government recordkeeping included births and deaths, real estate transactions, taxes, and juridical proceedings.[217] In the 1st and 2nd centuries, the central government sent out around 160 officials each year to govern outside Italy.[16] Among these officials were the "Roman governors", as they are called in English: either magistrates elected at Rome who in the name of the Roman people governed senatorial provinces; or governors, usually of equestrian rank, who held their imperium on behalf of the emperor in provinces excluded from senatorial control, most notably Roman Egypt.[218] A governor had to make himself accessible to the people he governed, but he could delegate various duties.[219] His staff, however, was minimal: his official attendants (apparitores), including lictors, heralds, messengers, scribes, and bodyguards; legates, both civil and military, usually of equestrian rank; and friends, ranging in age and experience, who accompanied him unofficially.[219] Other officials were appointed as supervisors of government finances.[16] Separating fiscal responsibility from justice and administration was a reform of the Imperial era. Under the Republic, provincial governors and tax farmers could exploit local populations for personal gain more freely.[220] Equestrian procurators, whose authority was originally "extra-judicial and extra-constitutional," managed both state-owned property and the vast personal property of the emperor (res privata).[219] Because Roman government officials were few in number, a provincial who needed help with a legal dispute or criminal case might seek out any Roman perceived to have some official capacity, such as a procurator or a military officer, including centurions down to the lowly stationarii or military police.[221][222] Roman law Roman courts held original jurisdiction over cases involving Roman citizens throughout the empire, but there were too few judicial functionaries to impose Roman law uniformly in the provinces. Most parts of the Eastern empire already had well-established law codes and juridical procedures.[94] In general, it was Roman policy to respect the mos regionis ("regional tradition" or "law of the land") and to regard local laws as a source of legal precedent and social stability.[94][223] The compatibility of Roman and local law was thought to reflect an underlying ius gentium, the "law of nations" or international law regarded as common and customary among all human communities.[224] If the particulars of provincial law conflicted with Roman law or custom, Roman courts heard appeals, and the emperor held final authority to render a decision.[94][225][226] Taxation under the Empire amounted to about 5% of the Empire's gross product.[228] The typical tax rate paid by individuals ranged from 2 to 5%.[229] The tax code was "bewildering" in its complicated system of direct and indirect taxes, some paid in cash and some in kind. Taxes might be specific to a province, or kinds of properties such as fisheries or salt evaporation ponds; they might be in effect for a limited time.[230] Tax collection was justified by the need to maintain the military,[52][231] and taxpayers sometimes got a refund if the army captured a surplus of booty.[232] In-kind taxes were accepted from less-monetized areas, particularly those who could supply grain or goods to army camps.[233] The primary source of direct tax revenue was individuals, who paid a poll tax and a tax on their land, construed as a tax on its produce or productive capacity.[229] Supplemental forms could be filed by those eligible for certain exemptions; for example, Egyptian farmers could register fields as fallow and tax-exempt depending on flood patterns of the Nile.[234] Tax obligations were determined by the census, which required each head of household to appear before the presiding official and provide a head count of his household, as well as an accounting of property he owned that was suitable for agriculture or habitation.[234] A major source of indirect-tax revenue was the portoria, customs and tolls on imports and exports, including among provinces.[229] Special taxes were levied on the slave trade. Towards the end of his reign, Augustus instituted a 4% tax on the sale of slaves,[235] which Nero shifted from the purchaser to the dealers, who responded by raising their prices.[236] An owner who manumitted a slave paid a "freedom tax", calculated at 5% of value.[237] Moses Finley was the chief proponent of the primitivist view that the Roman economy was "underdeveloped and underachieving," characterized by subsistence agriculture; urban centres that consumed more than they produced in terms of trade and industry; low-status artisans; slowly developing technology; and a "lack of economic rationality."[238] Current views are more complex. Territorial conquests permitted a large-scale reorganization of land use that resulted in agricultural surplus and specialization, particularly in north Africa.[239] Some cities were known for particular industries or commercial activities, and the scale of building in urban areas indicates a significant construction industry.[239] Papyri preserve complex accounting methods that suggest elements of economic rationalism,[240] and the Empire was highly monetized.[241] Although the means of communication and transport were limited in antiquity, transportation in the 1st and 2nd centuries expanded greatly, and trade routes connected regional economies.[242] The supply contracts for the army, which pervaded every part of the Empire, drew on local suppliers near the base (castrum), throughout the province, and across provincial borders.[243] The Empire is perhaps best thought of as a network of regional economies, based on a form of "political capitalism" in which the state monitored and regulated commerce to assure its own revenues.[244] Economic growth, though not comparable to modern economies, was greater than that of most other societies prior to industrialization.[240] Currency and banking Currency denominations • 27 BC–AD 212: = 25 silver denarii = 100 bronze sestertii = 400 copper asses • 294–312: = 10 silver argentei = 40 bronze folles = 1,000 debased metal denarii • 312 onwards: 1 gold solidus (1/72 lb.) = 24 silver siliquae = 180 bronze folles The early Empire was monetized to a near-universal extent, in the sense of using money as a way to express prices and debts.[245] The sestertius (plural sestertii, English "sesterces", symbolized as HS) was the basic unit of reckoning value into the 4th century,[246] though the silver denarius, worth four sesterces, was used also for accounting beginning in the Severan dynasty.[247] The smallest coin commonly circulated was the bronze as (plural asses), one-fourth sestertius.[248] Bullion and ingots seem not to have counted as pecunia, "money," and were used only on the frontiers for transacting business or buying property. Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries counted coins, rather than weighing them—an indication that the coin was valued on its face, not for its metal content. This tendency towards fiat money led eventually to the debasement of Roman coinage, with consequences in the later Empire.[249] The standardization of money throughout the Empire promoted trade and market integration.[245] The high amount of metal coinage in circulation increased the money supply for trading or saving.[250] Emperors of the Antonine and Severan dynasties overall debased the currency, particularly the denarius, under the pressures of meeting military payrolls.[246] Sudden inflation during the reign of Commodus damaged the credit market.[249] In the mid-200s, the supply of specie contracted sharply.[246] Conditions during the Crisis of the Third Century—such as reductions in long-distance trade, disruption of mining operations, and the physical transfer of gold coinage outside the empire by invading enemies—greatly diminished the money supply and the banking sector by the year 300.[246][249] Although Roman coinage had long been fiat money or fiduciary currency, general economic anxieties came to a head under Aurelian, and bankers lost confidence in coins legitimately issued by the central government. Despite Diocletian's introduction of the gold solidus and monetary reforms, the credit market of the Empire never recovered its former robustness.[249] Mining and metallurgy Hydraulic mining, which Pliny referred to as ruina montium ("ruin of the mountains"), allowed base and precious metals to be extracted on a proto-industrial scale.[256] The total annual iron output is estimated at 82,500 tonnes.[257][258][259] Copper was produced at an annual rate of 15,000 t,[256][260] and lead at 80,000 t,[256][261][262] both production levels unmatched until the Industrial Revolution;[260][261][262][263] Hispania alone had a 40% share in world lead production.[261] The high lead output was a by-product of extensive silver mining which reached 200 t per annum. At its peak around the mid-2nd century AD, the Roman silver stock is estimated at 10,000 t, five to ten times larger than the combined silver mass of medieval Europe and the Caliphate around 800 AD.[262][264] As an indication of the scale of Roman metal production, lead pollution in the Greenland ice sheet quadrupled over its prehistoric levels during the Imperial era and dropped again thereafter.[265] Transportation and communication The Roman Empire completely encircled the Mediterranean, which they called "our sea" (mare nostrum).[268] Roman sailing vessels navigated the Mediterranean as well as the major rivers of the Empire, including the Guadalquivir, Ebro, Rhône, Rhine, Tiber and Nile.[269] Transport by water was preferred where possible, and moving commodities by land was more difficult.[270] Vehicles, wheels, and ships indicate the existence of a great number of skilled woodworkers.[271] Land transport utilized the advanced system of Roman roads, which were called "viae". These roads were primarily built for military purposes,[272] but also served commercial ends. The in-kind taxes paid by communities included the provision of personnel, animals, or vehicles for the cursus publicus, the state mail and transport service established by Augustus.[233] Relay stations were located along the roads every seven to twelve Roman miles, and tended to grow into a village or trading post.[273] A mansio (plural mansiones) was a privately run service station franchised by the imperial bureaucracy for the cursus publicus. The support staff at such a facility included muleteers, secretaries, blacksmiths, cartwrights, a veterinarian, and a few military police and couriers. The distance between mansiones was determined by how far a wagon could travel in a day.[273] Mules were the animal most often used for pulling carts, travelling about 4 mph.[274] As an example of the pace of communication, it took a messenger a minimum of nine days to travel to Rome from Mainz in the province of Germania Superior, even on a matter of urgency.[275] In addition to the mansiones, some taverns offered accommodations as well as food and drink; one recorded tab for a stay showed charges for wine, bread, mule feed, and the services of a prostitute.[276] Trade and commodities Roman provinces traded among themselves, but trade extended outside the frontiers to regions as far away as China and India.[269] The main commodity was grain.[278] Chinese trade was mostly conducted overland through middle men along the Silk Road; Indian trade, however, also occurred by sea from Egyptian ports on the Red Sea. Along these trade paths, the horse, upon which Roman expansion and commerce depended, was one of the main channels through which disease spread.[279] Also in transit for trade were olive oil, various foodstuffs, garum (fish sauce), slaves, ore and manufactured metal objects, fibres and textiles, timber, pottery, glassware, marble, papyrus, spices and materia medica, ivory, pearls, and gemstones.[280] Though most provinces were capable of producing wine, regional varietals were desirable and wine was a central item of trade. Shortages of vin ordinaire were rare.[281][282] The major suppliers for the city of Rome were the west coast of Italy, southern Gaul, the Tarraconensis region of Hispania, and Crete. Alexandria, the second-largest city, imported wine from Laodicea in Syria and the Aegean.[283] At the retail level, taverns or speciality wine shops (vinaria) sold wine by the jug for carryout and by the drink on premises, with price ranges reflecting quality.[284] Labour and occupations Work performed by slaves falls into five general categories: domestic, with epitaphs recording at least 55 different household jobs; imperial or public service; urban crafts and services; agriculture; and mining. Convicts provided much of the labour in the mines or quarries, where conditions were notoriously brutal.[285] In practice, there was little division of labour between slave and free,[94] and most workers were illiterate and without special skills.[286] The greatest number of common labourers were employed in agriculture: in the Italian system of industrial farming (latifundia), these may have been mostly slaves, but throughout the Empire, slave farm labour was probably less important than other forms of dependent labour by people who were technically not enslaved.[94] Textile and clothing production was a major source of employment. Both textiles and finished garments were traded among the peoples of the Empire, whose products were often named for them or a particular town, rather like a fashion "label".[287] Better ready-to-wear was exported by businessmen (negotiatores or mercatores) who were often well-to-do residents of the production centres.[288] Finished garments might be retailed by their sales agents, who travelled to potential customers, or by vestiarii, clothing dealers who were mostly freedmen; or they might be peddled by itinerant merchants.[288] In Egypt, textile producers could run prosperous small businesses employing apprentices, free workers earning wages, and slaves.[289] The fullers (fullones) and dye workers (coloratores) had their own guilds.[290] Centonarii were guild workers who specialized in textile production and the recycling of old clothes into pieced goods.[n 14] GDP and income distribution Architecture and engineering Amphitheatres of the Roman Empire The Romans built many dams and reservoirs for water collection, such as the Subiaco Dams, two of which fed the Anio Novus, one of the largest aqueducts of Rome.[300][301][302] They built 72 dams just on the Iberian peninsula, and many more are known across the Empire, some still in use. Several earthen dams are known from Roman Britain, including a well-preserved example from Longovicium (Lanchester). The Romans constructed numerous aqueducts. A surviving treatise by Frontinus, who served as curator aquarum (water commissioner) under Nerva, reflects the administrative importance placed on ensuring the water supply. Masonry channels carried water from distant springs and reservoirs along a precise gradient, using gravity alone. After the water passed through the aqueduct, it was collected in tanks and fed through pipes to public fountains, baths, toilets, or industrial sites.[303] The main aqueducts in the city of Rome were the Aqua Claudia and the Aqua Marcia.[304] The complex system built to supply Constantinople had its most distant supply drawn from over 120 km away along a sinuous route of more than 336 km.[305] Roman aqueducts were built to remarkably fine tolerance, and to a technological standard that was not to be equalled until modern times.[306] The Romans also made use of aqueducts in their extensive mining operations across the empire, at sites such as Las Medulas and Dolaucothi in South Wales.[307] Daily life Cityscape from the Villa Boscoreale (60s AD) City and country City planning and urban lifestyles had been influenced by the Greeks from an early period,[311] and in the eastern Empire, Roman rule accelerated and shaped the local development of cities that already had a strong Hellenistic character. Cities such as Athens, Aphrodisias, Ephesus and Gerasa altered some aspects of city planning and architecture to conform to imperial ideals, while also expressing their individual identity and regional preeminence.[312][313] In the areas of the western Empire inhabited by Celtic-speaking peoples, Rome encouraged the development of urban centres with stone temples, forums, monumental fountains, and amphitheatres, often on or near the sites of the preexisting walled settlements known as oppida.[314][315][n 15] Urbanization in Roman Africa expanded on Greek and Punic cities along the coast.[273] The network of cities throughout the Empire (coloniae, municipia, civitates or in Greek terms poleis) was a primary cohesive force during the Pax Romana.[316] Romans of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD were encouraged by imperial propaganda to "inculcate the habits of peacetime".[309][317] As the classicist Clifford Ando has noted: Even the Christian polemicist Tertullian declared that the world of the late 2nd century was more orderly and well-cultivated than in earlier times: "Everywhere there are houses, everywhere people, everywhere the res publica, the commonwealth, everywhere life."[319] The decline of cities and civic life in the 4th century, when the wealthy classes were unable or disinclined to support public works, was one sign of the Empire's imminent dissolution.[320] Public toilets (latrinae) from Ostia Antica In the city of Rome, most people lived in multistory apartment buildings (insulae) that were often squalid firetraps. Public facilities—such as baths (thermae), toilets that were flushed with running water (latrinae), conveniently located basins or elaborate fountains (nymphea) delivering fresh water,[315] and large-scale entertainments such as chariot races and gladiator combat—were aimed primarily at the common people who lived in the insulae.[321] Similar facilities were constructed in cities throughout the Empire, and some of the best-preserved Roman structures are in Spain, southern France, and northern Africa. Reconstructed peristyle garden based on the House of the Vettii Rich families from Rome usually had two or more houses, a townhouse (domus, plural domūs) and at least one luxury home (villa) outside the city. The domus was a privately owned single-family house, and might be furnished with a private bath (balneum),[324] but it was not a place to retreat from public life.[326] Although some neighbourhoods of Rome show a higher concentration of well-to-do houses, the rich did not live in segregated enclaves. Their houses were meant to be visible and accessible. The atrium served as a reception hall in which the paterfamilias (head of household) met with clients every morning, from wealthy friends to poorer dependents who received charity.[310] It was also a centre of family religious rites, containing a shrine and the images of family ancestors.[327] The houses were located on busy public roads, and ground-level spaces facing the street were often rented out as shops (tabernae).[328] In addition to a kitchen garden—windowboxes might substitute in the insulae—townhouses typically enclosed a peristyle garden that brought a tract of nature, made orderly, within walls.[329][330] Birds and fountain within a garden setting, with oscilla (hanging masks)[331] above, in a painting from Pompeii The villa by contrast was an escape from the bustle of the city, and in literature represents a lifestyle that balances the civilized pursuit of intellectual and artistic interests (otium) with an appreciation of nature and the agricultural cycle.[332] Ideally a villa commanded a view or vista, carefully framed by the architectural design.[333] It might be located on a working estate, or in a "resort town" situated on the seacoast, such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. The programme of urban renewal under Augustus, and the growth of Rome's population to as many as 1 million people, was accompanied by a nostalgia for rural life expressed in the arts. Poetry praised the idealized lives of farmers and shepherds. The interiors of houses were often decorated with painted gardens, fountains, landscapes, vegetative ornament,[333] and animals, especially birds and marine life, rendered accurately enough that modern scholars can sometimes identify them by species.[334] The Augustan poet Horace gently satirized the dichotomy of urban and rural values in his fable of the city mouse and the country mouse, which has often been retold as a children's story.[335][336][337] On a more practical level, the central government took an active interest in supporting agriculture.[338] Producing food was the top priority of land use.[339] Larger farms (latifundia) achieved an economy of scale that sustained urban life and its more specialized division of labour.[338] Small farmers benefited from the development of local markets in towns and trade centres. Agricultural techniques such as crop rotation and selective breeding were disseminated throughout the Empire, and new crops were introduced from one province to another, such as peas and cabbage to Britain.[340] Maintaining an affordable food supply to the city of Rome had become a major political issue in the late Republic, when the state began to provide a grain dole (annona) to citizens who registered for it.[338] About 200,000–250,000 adult males in Rome received the dole, amounting to about 33 kg. per month, for a per annum total of about 100,000 tons of wheat primarily from Sicily, north Africa, and Egypt.[341] The dole cost at least 15% of state revenues,[338] but improved living conditions and family life among the lower classes,[342] and subsidized the rich by allowing workers to spend more of their earnings on the wine and olive oil produced on the estates of the landowning class.[338] Bread stall, from a Pompeiian wall painting The grain dole also had symbolic value: it affirmed both the emperor's position as universal benefactor, and the right of all citizens to share in "the fruits of conquest".[338] The annona, public facilities, and spectacular entertainments mitigated the otherwise dreary living conditions of lower-class Romans, and kept social unrest in check. The satirist Juvenal, however, saw "bread and circuses" (panem et circenses) as emblematic of the loss of republican political liberty:[343][344] Food and dining Most apartments in Rome lacked kitchens, though a charcoal brazier could be used for rudimentary cookery.[346][347] Prepared food was sold at pubs and bars, inns, and food stalls (tabernae, cauponae, popinae, thermopolia).[348] Carryout and restaurant dining were for the lower classes; fine dining could be sought only at private dinner parties in well-to-do houses with a chef (archimagirus) and trained kitchen staff,[349] or at banquets hosted by social clubs (collegia).[350] Most people would have consumed at least 70% of their daily calories in the form of cereals and legumes.[351] Puls (pottage) was considered the aboriginal food of the Romans.[352][353] The basic grain pottage could be elaborated with chopped vegetables, bits of meat, cheese, or herbs to produce dishes similar to polenta or risotto.[354] Urban populations and the military preferred to consume their grain in the form of bread.[351] Mills and commercial ovens were usually combined in a bakery complex.[356] By the reign of Aurelian, the state had begun to distribute the annona as a daily ration of bread baked in state factories, and added olive oil, wine, and pork to the dole.[338][357][358] Roman literature focuses on the dining habits of the upper classes,[360] for whom the evening meal (cena) had important social functions.[361] Guests were entertained in a finely decorated dining room (triclinium), often with a view of the peristyle garden. Diners lounged on couches, leaning on the left elbow. By the late Republic, if not earlier, women dined, reclined, and drank wine along with men.[362] Still life on a 2nd-century Roman mosaic A book-length collection of Roman recipes is attributed to Apicius, a name for several figures in antiquity that became synonymous with "gourmet."[366] Roman "foodies" indulged in wild game, fowl such as peacock and flamingo, large fish (mullet was especially prized), and shellfish. Luxury ingredients were brought by the fleet from the far reaches of empire, from the Parthian frontier to the Straits of Gibraltar.[367] Refined cuisine could be moralized as a sign of either civilized progress or decadent decline.[368] The early Imperial historian Tacitus contrasted the indulgent luxuries of the Roman table in his day with the simplicity of the Germanic diet of fresh wild meat, foraged fruit, and cheese, unadulterated by imported seasonings and elaborate sauces.[369] Most often, because of the importance of landowning in Roman culture, produce—cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruit—was considered a more civilized form of food than meat. The Mediterranean staples of bread, wine, and oil were sacralized by Roman Christianity, while Germanic meat consumption became a mark of paganism,[370] as it might be the product of animal sacrifice. Some philosophers and Christians resisted the demands of the body and the pleasures of food, and adopted fasting as an ideal.[371] Food became simpler in general as urban life in the West diminished, trade routes were disrupted,[370] and the rich retreated to the more limited self-sufficiency of their country estates. As an urban lifestyle came to be associated with decadence, the Church formally discouraged gluttony,[372] and hunting and pastoralism were seen as simple, virtuous ways of life.[370] Recreation and spectacles Wall painting depicting a sports riot at the amphitheatre of Pompeii, which led to the banning of gladiator combat in the town[373][374] Under Augustus, public entertainments were presented on 77 days of the year; by the reign of Marcus Aurelius, the number of days had expanded to 135.[376] Circus games were preceded by an elaborate parade (pompa circensis) that ended at the venue.[377] Competitive events were held also in smaller venues such as the amphitheatre, which became the characteristic Roman spectacle venue, and stadium. Greek-style athletics included footraces, boxing, wrestling, and the pancratium.[378] Aquatic displays, such as the mock sea battle (naumachia) and a form of "water ballet", were presented in engineered pools.[379] State-supported theatrical events (ludi scaenici) took place on temple steps or in grand stone theatres, or in the smaller enclosed theatre called an odeum.[380] A victor in his four-horse chariot Circuses were the largest structure regularly built in the Roman world,[381] though the Greeks had their own architectural traditions for the similarly purposed hippodrome. The Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum, became the regular arena for blood sports in Rome after it opened in 80 AD.[382] The circus races continued to be held more frequently.[383] The Circus Maximus could seat around 150,000 spectators, and the Colosseum about 50,000 with standing room for about 10,000 more.[384] Many Roman amphitheatres, circuses and theatres built in cities outside Italy are visible as ruins today.[382] The local ruling elite were responsible for sponsoring spectacles and arena events, which both enhanced their status and drained their resources.[177] The physical arrangement of the amphitheatre represented the order of Roman society: the emperor presiding in his opulent box; senators and equestrians watching from the advantageous seats reserved for them; women seated at a remove from the action; slaves given the worst places, and everybody else packed in-between.[385][386][387] The crowd could call for an outcome by booing or cheering, but the emperor had the final say. Spectacles could quickly become sites of social and political protest, and emperors sometimes had to deploy force to put down crowd unrest, most notoriously at the Nika riots in the year 532, when troops under Justinian slaughtered thousands.[388][389][390][391] The chariot teams were known by the colours they wore, with the Blues and Greens the most popular. Fan loyalty was fierce and at times erupted into sports riots.[389][393][394] Racing was perilous, but charioteers were among the most celebrated and well-compensated athletes.[395] One star of the sport was Diocles, from Lusitania (present-day Portugal), who raced chariots for 24 years and had career earnings of 35 million sesterces.[396][397] Horses had their fans too, and were commemorated in art and inscriptions, sometimes by name.[398][399] The design of Roman circuses was developed to assure that no team had an unfair advantage and to minimize collisions (naufragia, "shipwrecks"),[400][401] which were nonetheless frequent and spectacularly satisfying to the crowd.[402][403] The races retained a magical aura through their early association with chthonic rituals: circus images were considered protective or lucky, curse tablets have been found buried at the site of racetracks, and charioteers were often suspected of sorcery.[397][404][405][406][407] Chariot racing continued into the Byzantine period under imperial sponsorship, but the decline of cities in the 6th and 7th centuries led to its eventual demise.[381] The Romans thought gladiator contests had originated with funeral games and sacrifices in which select captive warriors were forced to fight to expiate the deaths of noble Romans. Some of the earliest styles of gladiator fighting had ethnic designations such as "Thracian" or "Gallic".[408][409][410] The staged combats were considered munera, "services, offerings, benefactions", initially distinct from the festival games (ludi).[409][410] Throughout his 40-year reign, Augustus presented eight gladiator shows in which a total of 10,000 men fought, as well as 26 staged beast hunts that resulted in the deaths of 3,500 animals.[411][412][413] To mark the opening of the Colosseum, the emperor Titus presented 100 days of arena events, with 3,000 gladiators competing on a single day.[382][414][415] Roman fascination with gladiators is indicated by how widely they are depicted on mosaics, wall paintings, lamps, and even graffiti drawings.[416] Gladiators were trained combatants who might be slaves, convicts, or free volunteers.[417] Death was not a necessary or even desirable outcome in matches between these highly skilled fighters, whose training represented a costly and time-consuming investment.[415][418][419] By contrast, noxii were convicts sentenced to the arena with little or no training, often unarmed, and with no expectation of survival. Physical suffering and humiliation were considered appropriate retributive justice for the crimes they had committed.[177] These executions were sometimes staged or ritualized as re-enactments of myths, and amphitheatres were equipped with elaborate stage machinery to create special effects.[177][420][421] Tertullian considered deaths in the arena to be nothing more than a dressed-up form of human sacrifice.[422][423][424] Modern scholars have found the pleasure Romans took in the "theatre of life and death"[425] to be one of the more difficult aspects of their civilization to understand and explain.[426][427] The younger Pliny rationalized gladiator spectacles as good for the people, a way "to inspire them to face honourable wounds and despise death, by exhibiting love of glory and desire for victory even in the bodies of slaves and criminals".[428][429] Some Romans such as Seneca were critical of the brutal spectacles, but found virtue in the courage and dignity of the defeated fighter rather than in victory[430]—an attitude that finds its fullest expression with the Christians martyred in the arena. Even martyr literature, however, offers "detailed, indeed luxuriant, descriptions of bodily suffering",[431] and became a popular genre at times indistinguishable from fiction.[432][433][434][435][436][437] Personal training and play Activities for children and young people included hoop rolling and knucklebones (astragali or "jacks"). The sarcophagi of children often show them playing games. Girls had dolls, typically 15–16 cm tall with jointed limbs, made of materials such as wood, terracotta, and especially bone and ivory.[440] Ball games include trigon, which required dexterity, and harpastum, a rougher sport.[441] Pets appear often on children's memorials and in literature, including birds, dogs, cats, goats, sheep, rabbits and geese.[442] Some women trained as gymnasts and dancers, and a rare few as female gladiators. The famous "bikini girls" mosaic shows young women engaging in apparatus routines that might be compared to rhythmic gymnastics.[n 17][444] Women in general were encouraged to maintain their health through activities such as playing ball, swimming, walking, reading aloud (as a breathing exercise), riding in vehicles, and travel.[445] People of all ages played board games pitting two players against each other, including latrunculi ("Raiders"), a game of strategy in which opponents coordinated the movements and capture of multiple game pieces, and XII scripta ("Twelve Marks"), involving dice and arranging pieces on a grid of letters or words.[447] A game referred to as alea (dice) or tabula (the board), to which the emperor Claudius was notoriously addicted, may have been similar to backgammon, using a dice-cup (pyrgus).[446] Playing with dice as a form of gambling was disapproved of, but was a popular pastime during the December festival of the Saturnalia with its carnival, norms-overturned atmosphere. In a status-conscious society like that of the Romans, clothing and personal adornment gave immediate visual clues about the etiquette of interacting with the wearer.[448] Wearing the correct clothing was supposed to reflect a society in good order.[449] The toga was the distinctive national garment of the Roman male citizen, but it was heavy and impractical, worn mainly for conducting political business and religious rites, and for going to court.[450][451] The clothing Romans wore ordinarily was dark or colourful, and the most common male attire seen daily throughout the provinces would have been tunics, cloaks, and in some regions trousers.[452] The study of how Romans dressed in daily life is complicated by a lack of direct evidence, since portraiture may show the subject in clothing with symbolic value, and surviving textiles from the period are rare.[451][453][454] The Imperial toga was a "vast expanse" of semi-circular white wool that could not be put on and draped correctly without assistance.[450] In his work on oratory, Quintilian describes in detail how the public speaker ought to orchestrate his gestures in relation to his toga.[449][451][456] In art, the toga is shown with the long end dipping between the feet, a deep curved fold in front, and a bulbous flap at the midsection.[451] The drapery became more intricate and structured over time, with the cloth forming a tight roll across the chest in later periods.[457] The toga praetexta, with a purple or purplish-red stripe representing inviolability, was worn by children who had not come of age, curule magistrates, and state priests. Only the emperor could wear an all-purple toga (toga picta).[458] Claudius wearing an early Imperial toga (see a later, more structured toga above), and the pallium as worn by a priest of Serapis,[459] sometimes identified as the emperor Julian In the 2nd century, emperors and men of status are often portrayed wearing the pallium, an originally Greek mantle (himation) folded tightly around the body. Women are also portrayed in the pallium. Tertullian considered the pallium an appropriate garment both for Christians, in contrast to the toga, and for educated people, since it was associated with philosophers.[449][451][460] By the 4th century, the toga had been more or less replaced by the pallium as a garment that embodied social unity.[461] Roman clothing styles changed over time, though not as rapidly as fashions today.[462] In the Dominate, clothing worn by both soldiers and government bureaucrats became highly decorated, with woven or embroidered stripes (clavi) and circular roundels (orbiculi) applied to tunics and cloaks. These decorative elements consisted of geometrical patterns, stylized plant motifs, and in more elaborate examples, human or animal figures.[463] The use of silk increased, and courtiers of the later Empire wore elaborate silk robes. The militarization of Roman society, and the waning of cultural life based on urban ideals, affected habits of dress: heavy military-style belts were worn by bureaucrats as well as soldiers, and the toga was abandoned.[464] The arts People visiting or living in Rome or the cities throughout the Empire would have seen art in a range of styles and media on a daily basis. Public or official art—including sculpture, monuments such as victory columns or triumphal arches, and the iconography on coins—is often analysed for its historical significance or as an expression of imperial ideology.[465][466] At Imperial public baths, a person of humble means could view wall paintings, mosaics, statues, and interior decoration often of high quality.[467] In the private sphere, objects made for religious dedications, funerary commemoration, domestic use, and commerce can show varying degrees of aesthetic quality and artistic skill.[468] A wealthy person might advertise his appreciation of culture through painting, sculpture, and decorative arts at his home—though some efforts strike modern viewers and some ancient connoisseurs as strenuous rather than tasteful.[469] Greek art had a profound influence on the Roman tradition, and some of the most famous examples of Greek statues are known only from Roman Imperial versions and the occasional description in a Greek or Latin literary source.[470] Portraiture, which survives mainly in the medium of sculpture, was the most copious form of imperial art. Portraits during the Augustan period utilize youthful and classical proportions, evolving later into a mixture of realism and idealism.[472] Republican portraits had been characterized by a "warts and all" verism, but as early as the 2nd century BC, the Greek convention of heroic nudity was adopted sometimes for portraying conquering generals.[473] Imperial portrait sculptures may model the head as mature, even craggy, atop a nude or seminude body that is smooth and youthful with perfect musculature; a portrait head might even be added to a body created for another purpose.[474] Clothed in the toga or military regalia, the body communicates rank or sphere of activity, not the characteristics of the individual.[475] Examples of Roman sculpture survive abundantly, though often in damaged or fragmentary condition, including freestanding statues and statuettes in marble, bronze and terracotta, and reliefs from public buildings, temples, and monuments such as the Ara Pacis, Trajan's Column, and the Arch of Titus. Niches in amphitheatres such as the Colosseum were originally filled with statues,[478][479] and no formal garden was complete without statuary.[480] Temples housed the cult images of deities, often by famed sculptors.[481] The religiosity of the Romans encouraged the production of decorated altars, small representations of deities for the household shrine or votive offerings, and other pieces for dedicating at temples. Divine and mythological figures were also given secular, humorous, and even obscene depictions. Elaborately carved marble and limestone sarcophagi are characteristic of the 2nd to the 4th centuries[483] with at least 10,000 examples surviving.[484] Although mythological scenes have been most widely studied,[485] sarcophagus relief has been called the "richest single source of Roman iconography,"[486] and may also depict the deceased's occupation or life course, military scenes, and other subject matter. The same workshops produced sarcophagi with Jewish or Christian imagery.[487] The Primavera of Stabiae, perhaps the goddess Flora Decorative arts Performing arts Although sometimes regarded as foreign elements in Roman culture, music and dance had existed in Rome from earliest times.[504] Music was customary at funerals, and the tibia (Greek aulos), a woodwind instrument, was played at sacrifices to ward off ill influences.[505] Song (carmen) was an integral part of almost every social occasion. The Secular Ode of Horace, commissioned by Augustus, was performed publicly in 17 BC by a mixed children's choir. Music was thought to reflect the orderliness of the cosmos, and was associated particularly with mathematics and knowledge.[506] Various woodwinds and "brass" instruments were played, as were stringed instruments such as the cithara, and percussion.[505] The cornu, a long tubular metal wind instrument that curved around the musician's body, was used for military signals and on parade.[505] These instruments are found in parts of the Empire where they did not originate, and indicate that music was among the aspects of Roman culture that spread throughout the provinces. Instruments are widely depicted in Roman art. Although certain forms of dance were disapproved of at times as non-Roman or unmanly, dancing was embedded in religious rituals of archaic Rome, such as those of the dancing armed Salian priests and of the Arval Brothers, priesthoods which underwent a revival during the Principate.[507] Ecstatic dancing was a feature of the international mystery religions, particularly the cult of Cybele as practised by her eunuch priests the Galli[508] and of Isis. In the secular realm, dancing girls from Syria and Cadiz were extremely popular.[509] Like gladiators, entertainers were infames in the eyes of the law, little better than slaves even if they were technically free. "Stars", however, could enjoy considerable wealth and celebrity, and mingled socially and often sexually with the upper classes, including emperors.[510] Performers supported each other by forming guilds, and several memorials for members of the theatre community survive.[511] Theatre and dance were often condemned by Christian polemicists in the later Empire,[504] and Christians who integrated dance traditions and music into their worship practices were regarded by the Church Fathers as shockingly "pagan."[512] St. Augustine is supposed to have said that bringing clowns, actors, and dancers into a house was like inviting in a gang of unclean spirits.[513][514] Literacy, books, and education Estimates of the average literacy rate in the Empire range from 5 to 30% or higher, depending in part on the definition of "literacy".[515][516][517][518] The Roman obsession with documents and public inscriptions indicates the high value placed on the written word.[519][520][521][522][523] The Imperial bureaucracy was so dependent on writing that the Babylonian Talmud declared "if all seas were ink, all reeds were pen, all skies parchment, and all men scribes, they would be unable to set down the full scope of the Roman government's concerns."[524] Laws and edicts were posted in writing as well as read out. Illiterate Roman subjects would have someone such as a government scribe (scriba) read or write their official documents for them.[517][525] Public art and religious ceremonies were ways to communicate imperial ideology regardless of ability to read.[526] Although the Romans were not a "People of the Book", they had an extensive priestly archive, and inscriptions appear throughout the Empire in connection with statues and small votives dedicated by ordinary people to divinities, as well as on binding tablets and other "magic spells", with hundreds of examples collected in the Greek Magical Papyri.[527][528][529][530] The military produced a vast amount of written reports and service records,[531] and literacy in the army was "strikingly high".[532] Urban graffiti, which include literary quotations, and low-quality inscriptions with misspellings and solecisms indicate casual literacy among non-elites.[533][534][n 19][87] In addition, numeracy was necessary for any form of commerce.[520][535] Slaves were numerate and literate in significant numbers, and some were highly educated.[536] Books were expensive, since each copy had to be written out individually on a roll of papyrus (volumen) by scribes who had apprenticed to the trade.[537] The codex—a book with pages bound to a spine—was still a novelty in the time of the poet Martial (1st century AD),[538][539] but by the end of the 3rd century was replacing the volumen[537][540] and was the regular form for books with Christian content.[541] Commercial production of books had been established by the late Republic,[542] and by the 1st century AD certain neighbourhoods of Rome were known for their bookshops (tabernae librariae), which were found also in Western provincial cities such as Lugdunum (present-day Lyon, France).[543][544] The quality of editing varied wildly, and some ancient authors complain about error-ridden copies,[542][545] as well as plagiarism or forgery, since there was no copyright law.[542] A skilled slave copyist (servus litteratus) could be valued as highly as 100,000 sesterces.[546][547] Collectors amassed personal libraries,[548] such as that of the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum, and a fine library was part of the cultivated leisure (otium) associated with the villa lifestyle.[549] Significant collections might attract "in-house" scholars; Lucian mocked mercenary Greek intellectuals who attached themselves to philistine Roman patrons.[550] An individual benefactor might endow a community with a library: Pliny the Younger gave the city of Comum a library valued at 1 million sesterces, along with another 100,000 to maintain it.[551][552] Imperial libraries housed in state buildings were open to users as a privilege on a limited basis, and represented a literary canon from which disreputable writers could be excluded.[553][554] Books considered subversive might be publicly burned,[555] and Domitian crucified copyists for reproducing works deemed treasonous.[556][557] Literary texts were often shared aloud at meals or with reading groups.[558][559] Scholars such as Pliny the Elder engaged in "multitasking" by having works read aloud to them while they dined, bathed or travelled, times during which they might also dictate drafts or notes to their secretaries.[560] The multivolume Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius is an extended exploration of how Romans constructed their literary culture.[561] The reading public expanded from the 1st through the 3rd century, and while those who read for pleasure remained a minority, they were no longer confined to a sophisticated ruling elite, reflecting the social fluidity of the Empire as a whole and giving rise to "consumer literature" meant for entertainment.[562] Illustrated books, including erotica, were popular, but are poorly represented by extant fragments.[563] Primary education Young children were attended by a pedagogus, or less frequently a female pedagoga, usually a Greek slave or former slave.[568] The pedagogue kept the child safe, taught self-discipline and public behaviour, attended class and helped with tutoring.[569] The emperor Julian recalled his pedagogue Mardonius, a Gothic eunuch slave who reared him from the age of 7 to 15, with affection and gratitude. Usually, however, pedagogues received little respect.[570] Primary education in reading, writing, and arithmetic might take place at home for privileged children whose parents hired or bought a teacher.[571] Others attended a school that was "public," though not state-supported, organized by an individual schoolmaster (ludimagister) who accepted fees from multiple parents.[572] Vernae (homeborn slave children) might share in home- or public-schooling.[573] Schools became more numerous during the Empire, and increased the opportunities for children to acquire an education.[567] School could be held regularly in a rented space, or in any available public niche, even outdoors. Boys and girls received primary education generally from ages 7 to 12, but classes were not segregated by grade or age.[574] For the socially ambitious, bilingual education in Greek as well as Latin was a must.[567] Secondary education Mosaic from Pompeii depicting the Academy of Plato At the age of 14, upperclass males made their rite of passage into adulthood, and began to learn leadership roles in political, religious, and military life through mentoring from a senior member of their family or a family friend.[576] Higher education was provided by grammatici or rhetores.[577] The grammaticus or "grammarian" taught mainly Greek and Latin literature, with history, geography, philosophy or mathematics treated as explications of the text.[578] With the rise of Augustus, contemporary Latin authors such as Vergil and Livy also became part of the curriculum.[579] The rhetor was a teacher of oratory or public speaking. The art of speaking (ars dicendi) was highly prized as a marker of social and intellectual superiority, and eloquentia ("speaking ability, eloquence") was considered the "glue" of a civilized society.[580] Rhetoric was not so much a body of knowledge (though it required a command of references to the literary canon[581]) as it was a mode of expression and decorum that distinguished those who held social power.[582] The ancient model of rhetorical training—"restraint, coolness under pressure, modesty, and good humour"[583]—endured into the 18th century as a Western educational ideal.[584] In Latin, illiteratus (Greek agrammatos) could mean both "unable to read and write" and "lacking in cultural awareness or sophistication."[585] Higher education promoted career advancement, particularly for an equestrian in Imperial service: "eloquence and learning were considered marks of a well-bred man and worthy of reward".[586] The poet Horace, for instance, was given a top-notch education by his father, a prosperous former slave.[587][588][589] Urban elites throughout the Empire shared a literary culture embued with Greek educational ideals (paideia).[590] Hellenistic cities sponsored schools of higher learning as an expression of cultural achievement.[591] Young men from Rome who wished to pursue the highest levels of education often went abroad to study rhetoric and philosophy, mostly to one of several Greek schools in Athens. The curriculum in the East was more likely to include music and physical training along with literacy and numeracy.[592] On the Hellenistic model, Vespasian endowed chairs of grammar, Latin and Greek rhetoric, and philosophy at Rome, and gave teachers special exemptions from taxes and legal penalties, though primary schoolmasters did not receive these benefits. Quintilian held the first chair of grammar.[593][594] In the eastern empire, Berytus (present-day Beirut) was unusual in offering a Latin education, and became famous for its school of Roman law.[595] The cultural movement known as the Second Sophistic (1st–3rd century AD) promoted the assimilation of Greek and Roman social, educational, and aesthetic values, and the Greek proclivities for which Nero had been criticized were regarded from the time of Hadrian onward as integral to Imperial culture.[596] Educated women Literate women ranged from cultured aristocrats to girls trained to be calligraphers and scribes.[597][598] The "girlfriends" addressed in Augustan love poetry, although fictional, represent an ideal that a desirable woman should be educated, well-versed in the arts, and independent to a frustrating degree.[599][600] Education seems to have been standard for daughters of the senatorial and equestrian orders during the Empire.[573] A highly educated wife was an asset for the socially ambitious household, but one that Martial regards as an unnecessary luxury.[597] Decline of literacy Literacy began to decline, perhaps dramatically, during the socio-political Crisis of the Third Century.[602] Although the Church Fathers were well-educated, they regarded Classical literature as dangerous, if valuable, and reconstrued it through moralizing and allegorical readings. Julian, the only emperor after the conversion of Constantine to reject Christianity, banned Christians from teaching the Classical curriculum, on the grounds that they might corrupt the minds of youth.[594] While the book roll had emphasized the continuity of the text, the codex format encouraged a "piecemeal" approach to reading by means of citation, fragmented interpretation, and the extraction of maxims.[603] In the 5th and 6th centuries, reading became rarer even for those within the Church hierarchy.[604] The period from the mid-1st century through the mid-2nd century has conventionally been called the "Silver Age" of Latin literature. Under Nero, disillusioned writers reacted to Augustanism.[607] The three leading writers—Seneca the philosopher, dramatist, and tutor of Nero; Lucan, his nephew, who turned Caesar's civil war into an epic poem; and the novelist Petronius (Satyricon)—all committed suicide after incurring the emperor's displeasure. Seneca and Lucan were from Hispania, as was the later epigrammatist and keen social observer Martial, who expressed his pride in his Celtiberian heritage.[87] Martial and the epic poet Statius, whose poetry collection Silvae had a far-reaching influence on Renaissance literature,[608] wrote during the reign of Domitian. The so-called "Silver Age" produced several distinguished writers, including the encyclopedist Pliny the Elder; his nephew, known as Pliny the Younger; and the historian Tacitus. The Natural History of the elder Pliny, who died during disaster relief efforts in the wake of the eruption of Vesuvius, is a vast collection on flora and fauna, gems and minerals, climate, medicine, freaks of nature, works of art, and antiquarian lore. Tacitus's reputation as a literary artist matches or exceeds his value as a historian;[609] his stylistic experimentation produced "one of the most powerful of Latin prose styles."[610] The Twelve Caesars by his contemporary Suetonius is one of the primary sources for imperial biography. Roman religion was practical and contractual, based on the principle of do ut des, "I give that you might give." Religion depended on knowledge and the correct practice of prayer, ritual, and sacrifice, not on faith or dogma, although Latin literature preserves learned speculation on the nature of the divine and its relation to human affairs. For ordinary Romans, religion was a part of daily life.[617] Each home had a household shrine at which prayers and libations to the family's domestic deities were offered. Neighbourhood shrines and sacred places such as springs and groves dotted the city. Apuleius (2nd century) described the everyday quality of religion in observing how people who passed a cult place might make a vow or a fruit offering, or merely sit for a while.[618][619] The Roman calendar was structured around religious observances. In the Imperial era, as many as 135 days of the year were devoted to religious festivals and games (ludi).[620] Women, slaves, and children all participated in a range of religious activities. The first persecution by an emperor occurred under Nero, and was confined to the city of Rome. Tacitus reports that after the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64, some among the population held Nero responsible and that the emperor attempted to deflect blame onto the Christians.[634] After Nero, a major persecution occurred under the emperor Domitian[635][636] and a persecution in 177 took place at Lugdunum, the Gallo-Roman religious capital. A surviving letter from Pliny the Younger, governor of Bythinia, to the emperor Trajan describes his persecution and executions of Christians.[637] The Decian persecution of 246–251 was a serious threat to the Church, but ultimately strengthened Christian defiance.[638] Diocletian undertook what was to be the most severe persecution of Christians, lasting from 303 to 311. Political legacy When the Ottomans, who based their state on the Byzantine model, took Constantinople in 1453, Mehmed II established his capital there and claimed to sit on the throne of the Roman Empire.[643] He even went so far as to launch an invasion of Italy with the purpose of re-uniting the Empire and invited European artists to his capital, including Gentile Bellini.[644] In the United States, the founders were educated in the classical tradition,[647] and used classical models for landmarks and buildings in Washington, D.C., to avoid the feudal and religious connotations of European architecture such as castles and cathedrals.[648][649][650][651][652][653][654] In forming their theory of the mixed constitution, the founders looked to Athenian democracy and Roman republicanism for models, but regarded the Roman emperor as a figure of tyranny.[655][656] They nonetheless adopted Roman Imperial forms such as the dome, as represented by the US Capitol and numerous state capitol buildings, to express classical ideals through architecture.[648][657] Thomas Jefferson saw the Empire as a negative political lesson, but was a chief proponent of its architectural models. Jefferson's design for the Virginia State Capitol, for instance, is modelled directly from the Maison Carrée, a Gallo-Roman temple built under Augustus.[648][649][651][658][659] The renovations of the National Mall at the beginning of the 20th century have been viewed as expressing a more overt imperialist kinship with Rome.[660][661][662] See also • Fall of the Western Roman Empire • Imperial Italy • Italian Empire 4. Officially the final emperor of the Western empire. 5. Last emperor of the Eastern (Byzantine) empire. 7. "Historical Estimates of World Population". United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2001-11-15. Retrieved 2017-12-12. An average of figures from different sources as listed at the US Census Bureau's 8. Translated as "power without end" in Southern 7. Morris, Ian (October 2010). Social Development (PDF). Stanford University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. 12. 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Skip to main content How to become a music producer Becoming a Music Producer What is one job that can combine a love for music and a strong work ethic? Although there are numerous answers, a music producer seems to fit the bill perfectly. The job description of a music producer is a long list of responsibilities and obligations that prove to be well worth it when the paycheck arrives. If one desired to pursue this career field, he or she would have to be extremely committed and resourceful. The journey to become a successful producer can be long and competitive, but it has been and can be done time and time again by anyone willing to put in the effort. To achieve this goal, it is essential to understand the education level required, the career path one must take, any special skills that might be beneficial to the job, the earning potential one might expect from this career, the job outlook, and the work environment surrounding this occupation. As surprising as it may seem, there is no education required to be a music producer. It is very helpful and more likely to increase the chance of employment if there is some educational background though. There are schools nationwide that offer programs in music production that teach the technical aspects of music and it is recommended to enroll in one of these degree programs if one is pursuing a career as a music producer. There are multiple degrees that will aid in the teaching of producing music such as the Bachelor of Music in Music Production and the Bachelor of Science in Music Technology. The skills taught in these fields of study include, but are not limited to, recording and mixing music, mastering, and music theory. There are different types of producers these include: Beat makers, Dance producers and behind the scenes producers to name a few. If you want to start producing you will need a DAW. A DAW(Digital Audio Workstation) is a program where you can make your music on. A few dawes wich are more well known are Fl Studio, Ableton, Reaper and Logic. Fl Studio is a very beginner friendly Daw while ableton is a bit more advanced. Now that you have you daw Here is a list of things that you should learn in the beginning. 1. Program drums (for you prefered style) 2. Learn music theory 3. learn to mix and master Now that you have some simple things down later down the road you should learn to make your own sound. THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY you should focus on the basics first their are pro's making samples that you can use for free. At this point just go and run with this information and expirement. Bring Your Melodies To The Next Level By Downloading A Free PDF Popular posts from this blog Grow Your Audience With These Simple Tips How To Grow your Audience Now(Quick Guide)So we get it you want to grow your audience. Here are some tips on how you can expand your reach. In this article we will talk briefly about these methods we will go into more detail in other posts. if interested make your drops sound bigger 1. Reddit So yes Reddit is a very easy and quick way to get a lot of traffic really fast. How can you use this? Easy you find a subreddit that shares your interests then you simply post a link to your song/Remix. But there is a catch see people hate spammers so this is how you avoid the hate. Check the rules of the subreddit your are posting inTake a look at the community guide linesBe active and reply/comment on other postsGet point karma But what should you post on reddit to get more listners? Well remixes are a great way to start you can get people interested very easy. for instance lets say you make a remix of mario you can post it in a martio related subreddit. 2. Instagram This is a VERY powerful tool if … How To Sidechain Properly What is sidechain? Well basically when you have a track you want to make your kick pop/stand out. In order to do this you have to lower the volume of elements in your track whenever you kick hits. You got that? Joke good :) What we are going to speak about? So what am I going to speak about in this article? Well there are multiple ways to echidna and multiple ways to not make it sound bad. If you are going to sidechain future bass or trap it might be divergent from a house track. That is why I divided this article in 2 sections. One will be speaking about house beats and the other about using a compressor to sidechain. 1. Sidechain on a house beat You can apply both methods on a house beat but this way is quicker en improves you work flow. What you want open a plugging on your synth/sound that you want to have sidechained. If you don't have any (Your daw should have one) you can just automate the volume. But if you do have a VST like gross beat or LFO tool this is the way that i…
Prepare To Be Salt Struck ASalt One way of looking at salt is to see it as an all purpose, metabolism enhancing, stress reducing, anxiolytic, anti-depressant. When dietary sodium is restricted this tends to slow energy metabolism, lowering body temperature and eventually promoting many symptoms of stress. A suppressed metabolism shifts away from the efficient use of sugar, towards the increased release of fat from storage as one alternative source of fuel. Free fatty acids (often polyunsaturated), raise levels of inflammation and further suppress thyroid function in a variety of ways. This has a tendency to promote the loss of sodium in the body, causing the release of adrenalin, often interfering with sleep, as well as potentially increasing anxiety levels. When thyroid metabolism is suppressed, digestion is slowed, which then generally allows for greater absorption of bacterial toxins into the blood stream. As a direct result of this, serotonin levels are raised throughout the system, promoting many of the symptoms of stress and depression. Simply increasing sodium intake can help in a multitude of ways. Sufficient salt consumption can suppress adrenalin, raise body temperature and improve sleep quality. Sodium can also improve digestion, which can result in the reduction of bacterial endotoxin, thereby lowering serotonin secretion. Rather than causing high blood pressure, increasing salt intake can reduce hypertension, which is often a symptom of hypothyroidism and the release of adrenalin, as well as cortisol, serotonin and numerous other inflammatory substances. There is a powerful connection between metabolic function and the relationship between sodium and the other alkaline minerals, magnesium, potassium as well as calcium. The hypothyroid state is closely linked to the biological interactions between these minerals, and they have all been shown to play a part in mood stability. Extra intake of salt can go a long way to improving the regulation of all of the minerals, as well as protecting against deficiencies in (and excessive wastage of) the others, guarding against many varieties of mood disorder. A great number of studies have shown that the symptoms of depression and anxiety are in many ways the product of the suppression of metabolism and the various stress promoting substances which are released directly resulting from this low energy or hypo-metabolic state. Adequate intake of salt not only helps to protect against metabolic dysfunction (moving the body away from chronic sympathetic nervous system activity), it also helps protect against many of the inflammatory conditions (including diabetes, cancer and heart disease) which very commonly ensue. The combination of greater amounts of simple sugar and salt (in the context of an appropriate anti-inflammatory, pro-metabolic diet and lifestyle) can lead to vast improvements in the biochemical, hormonal and nervous system related issues which underlie the progression of many kinds of disturbances of the mind. A diet with enough protein from milk, cheese and gelatinous meats, as well as plenty of sugar from sweet ripe fruits, fruit juice, honey and white sugar, whilst simultaneously supplementing with gradually increasing amounts of salt (starting at roughly 5 gms spread over the day), is a reasonable approach to improving anxiety or depression and their related symptoms. A salty sugary drink, such as for example milk with a few pinches of salt and lots of added sugar or honey can, before bed (or when you awake during the night) help to improve sleep quality which, in and of itself, can alleviate many issues tending to have an effect on mood. Have you experimented with increasing your salt intake? See more here. Low-salt diet increases insulin resistance in healthy subjects Effects of sodium supplementation during energy restriction on plasma norepinephrine levels in obese women Hypertension in thyroid disorders Endotoxemia is associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes Dietary sodium restriction: take it with a grain of salt Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment. Salt intake and mental distress among rural community-dwelling Japanese men Thyroid hormones and the treatment of depression: An examination of basic hormonal actions in the mature mammalian brain Image: Rakkard: “A salt with a deadly weapon” You may also like... Leave a Reply Please "like" us:Already liked? You can close this
How To: to Use Scale Factors to Use Scale Factors A scale factor is a number used as a multiplier in dilation. Dilation is the act of being enlarged or minimized. Say you have a dimension of 3''. The scale factor is 2:1. So, you multiply the dimension by the scale factor to get your new dimension. After you multiply those numbers, you get 6''. Here is a link that relates to this subject. Scale Factor Scale Factor Be the First to Comment Share Your Thoughts
The Murray-Darling: A Web of Rivers, Wetlands & Flood Plains Thursday 13 September, 2018 6-8:30pm The Murray-Darling Basin is a vast, complex and sensitive ecosystem that stretches from Queensland to NSW to Victoria and South Australia. Its floodplains and wetlands provide some of the most important habitat for Australia’s waterbirds. These internationally significant wetlands are protected under the Ramsar Convention, a global treaty for the protection of migratory birds. However, since the 1980s, many of these important wetlands have seriously declined as a result of water over-extraction and altered flood regimes. Waterbird numbers have plummeted. Yet hope came with the flooding rains of 2010 and 2011, and gave a welcome reprieve for waterbird numbers. How can the Murray–Darling Basin be restored to health again? Murray-Darling in Crisis Monday 17 September, 2018 12:15-1:15pm How can the rivers, wetlands and flood plains of the Murray-Darling Basin be restored to health? How can water be retained to ensure the river continues to flow through the driest continent on Earth? What must be done to end the illegal extraction of water? How can this life blood of the nation be saved into the future? Examine the controversy surrounding the illegal extraction of water from the Murray Darling Basin. Henry Gold’s Photography: protecting Australia’s wild and beautiful landscapes Thursday 20 September, 2018 6-7:30pm Henry Gold is one of Australia’s foremost landscape photographers. His work has covered the Greater Blue Mountains, Kakadu, the NSW rainforests, the Snowy Mountains and Central Australia. Some even say it was his photographic masterpieces that were the final ‘clinch’ for World Heritage listing the Greater Blue Mountains in NSW in 2000. His role as the Honorary Photographer of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness began soon after Milo Dunphy convened a meeting of fifty conservation groups to prevent limestone mining near Mount Colong in the southern Blue Mountains in 1968. It was a desperate fight against the largest cement company in the world. New creative campaign tools were needed. Henry shot the image for the classic campaign brochure “Quarrying Valuable Scenery” that helped save the Colong Caves. This year the Colong Foundation for Wilderness celebrates its 50th Anniversary and the role that Henry Gold’s breathtakingly beautiful photographs have played in protecting Australia’s wild and beautiful places. Henry Gold continues to inspire many to love and protect Australia’s wilderness areas, such as the superb pagoda wonderland known as the Gardens of Stone near Lithgow, still under threat from unrestrained longwall mining. Why Wilderness Matters Thursday 25 October, 2018 6-8:30 pm Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness that emerged out of Myles Dunphy’s 1930s National Parks and Primitive Areas Council. Today it is Australia’s longest-serving community advocate for wilderness. Learn about its legendary bushwalking conservationists, photographers and campaigners who dedicated their lives to protecting Australia’s wilderness. Some of these legends include Myles Dunphy, Milo Dunphy, Alex Colley and Henry Gold. Butterfly Lovers, Artists, Naturalists and Advocates Thursday 8 November, 2018 6-7:30 pm 19th Century naturalists were fascinated with the richness and beauty of Australian butterflies. Joseph Banks’ collection of Australian butterflies remains an important record of Lepidoptera. By the early 19th century, butterfly collecting was regarded as an educated hobby, with many women artists given the task to scientifically illustrate these beautiful insects. Butterflies are a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of the natural world, particularly with threats from chemicals, land clearing and climate change. Sydney’s World Heritage Matters Friday 23 November, 2018 6-8:30 pm Sydney is one of the few cities in the world that is surrounded by a world heritage area – the Greater Blue Mountains National Park. Learn about the history of this global achievement, its unfinished business and what current challenges it faces. Learn how the Blue Mountains world heritage listing has inspired others to call for world heritage listing of their national park, including Royal National Park and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Learn why World Heritage listing matters, its rewards and challenges. Tree Lovers, Garden Lovers and Greenies Thursday 6 December, 2018 6-7:30 pm Learn about emergence of tree lover societies and garden promoters in Sydney during the early 20th Century. Learn why people became so passionate about promoting trees, gardens, parks and protecting forests that laid the foundation of the urban conservation movement. These include: the Director of the Botanical Gardens, Joseph Maiden; camellia advocate, Professor E.B. Waterhouse; the founder of the Ku-ring-gai Tree Lovers Civic League and National Trust (NSW), Annie Forsyth Wyatt; President of the Parks and Playground Movement, Charles Bean; architects of the national capital, Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony; and Australian wildflower educator, Thistle Y. Harris Stead.
Introduction to eating disorders essay Now in the 21 century, firearms are being used in against innocent people, in crimes such They certainly don't listen to the voices of their environment at best they abstract the content and stay on an empty intellectual level. It will help you ensure your academic voice is clear! This disorder is Anorexia Nervosa, better known as Anorexia. Eating disorders becomes a real problem when it affects both the psychological and physical functioning of an individual. There was a problem providing the content you requested A number of different personality disorders are listed, including those sometimes classed as "eccentric", such as paranoidschizoid and schizotypal personality disorders; types that have described as "dramatic" or "emotional", such as antisocialborderlinehistrionic or narcissistic personality disorders; and those sometimes classed as fear-related, such as anxious-avoidantdependentor obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Some eat more, some eat less, some put on weight easily, and others do not. This is a balanced paragraph. Super models like Kate Moss and other Barbie-doll-figure-inspired women grace the cover of magazines all over the world promoting a perfect shape. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 34 11 As we near the end of the 20th century the use of guns has changed significantly. Introduction To Eating Disorders Virtually all subsequent western thought has maintained this dualism, which gives rise to all sorts of problems about the relation of mind to matter. They go to work but they are unhappy and uncomfortable; they are somewhat anxious; they are tired; they have various physical pains — and they tend to obsess about the whole business. During the last year I Symptoms of bulimia occur in two stages: Then both can learn exactly how and where the contact becomes disturbed. Let an experienced writer write a personalized term paper on eating disorders for you. And some people go to such extremes that they harm themselves, by eating too much or too little. I believe young women are more apt because of the ideal media, newspapers, magazines, etc. Mitchell said th Such citations are called information-centred citations. Healthy nutrition basically is eating healthy and balanced from all the basic food groups; which consists of the dairy group, poultry group, fruit group, vegetable group and a little from the fats, oils, and sweets groups. For a word essay you need at least three days to redraft your essay. If a person has a hole where other people have eyes, he finds that his eyes are projected into the environment and he -will load a life of self-consciousness, permanently persecuted by the idea that he is looked at, judged, admired, accused, etc. There already exists, under the category of psychosis, a diagnosis of shared psychotic disorder where two or more individuals share a particular delusion because of their close relationship with each other.Tics are involuntary, repetitive sounds or movements, and some disorders trigger repeated noises and motions. This article takes a closer look at three types of tic disorders: Vocal, motor, and. Eating Disorders And Eating Disorder - Eating Disorders An eating disorder is defined as a disturbance in an individual’s eating behavior; whether it is from the lack of eating, or overeating. Essay, term paper research paper on Gun Control. Gun Control Gun control is an action of the government that is supposed to reduce crime. learning the basics: an introduction to eating disorders & body image issues education 1 2/2/11 pm. Writing eating disorders essay is only one of the many writing services offered at Essay Agents. Introduction to eating disorders essay Rated 5/5 based on 28 review
Grave of Fifth Dynasty Egyptian queen discovered near Cairo \| News \| DW \| 05.01.2015 1. Inhalt 2. Navigation 3. Weitere Inhalte 4. Metanavigation 5. Suche 6. Choose from 30 Languages Grave of Fifth Dynasty Egyptian queen discovered near Cairo The tomb of a previously unknown Egyptian queen has been discovered by Czech archaeologists. It is thought to belong to Khentkaus III, the wife of Pharaoh Neferefre who ruled 4,500 years ago. The queen's burial place was unearthed in Abu-Sir, an Old Kingdom necropolis southwest of the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Several pyramids there are also dedicated to pharaohs of the Fifth Dynasty (2994-2345 BC), including Neferefre. In a statement released by the Czech Institute of Egyptology on Sunday, head of the archaeological mission Dr Miroslav Barta, said the tomb was found in Neferefre's funeral complex. "This makes us believe that the queen was his wife," Barta said. "It's a very important discovery because it provides new information on the history of Egypt time of the Fifth Dynasty," leader of the Abu-Sir excavation site, Jaromir Krejci, added. In a separate statement, Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty said that for the "first time we have discovered the name of this queen who had been unknown before the discovery of her tomb." Archaeologists were able to identify the queen as Khentkaus as her name and rank had been inscribed on the inner walls of the tomb. Two queens with the same name have already been identified, making the recently discovered grave that of Khentkaus III. Within the tomb, the Czech archaeological team also found around 30 utensils, 24 made of limestone and four of copper. ksb/rg (AFP) DW recommends
How Does Temperature Affect Insects & Pests? A common misconception is that people believe that come the fall and winter months, homes and businesses will be pest free. Where many pests hibernate during the cold temperatures, there are quite a few that remain active. More often than not, the pests that are left to rough the winter months will intrude into homes and businesses when food becomes scarce and temperatures become extreme. They barge inside to escape frigid cold and predators, looking for shelter, food and water. Once they find your abode perfect for their needs, they rarely leave. Today, we at Eagle Pest Control would like to list the common pests that Virginia can see as fall takes root and winter moves in. Stink Bugs Stink bugs look for a source of heat as the outside temperatures cool down. They potentially enter through tiny cracks in doors, windows, roofs, or foundations and are often clustered along the side of homes looking for warmer shelter. Most stink bugs actually become dormant by winter and once the spring warms up the outdoors, they become more active in the spring, terrorizing your home. These bugs do not pose any real threat except that they will negatively impact the living space from the terrible odor they emit. Box Elder Bugs During the fall and winter months, though box elder bugs are considered outside insects, they do infect Virginia homes. More frequently, the box elder bugs go unnoticed because of their preference to keep to the attics. However, when these bugs are inside your home or business, they are responsible for staining furniture, carpeting, and clothing with their excrements. Mice and rats are a detriment to your home in many ways as they are hazards and damage dealers. Mice need only a dime size hole, where rats need but a mere quarter size hole. They will barge inside and take over the walls or kitchen crevices where they have access to food as well as the counter tops, open containers of leftovers, or items in your pantry. IN the process of foraging for food and nesting materials, they can spread diseases. Additionally, when rodents infiltrate your home, they do heavy damage on your utility lines such as gnawing throughout electrical wires and have been known to chew through plastic or lead piping. With the potential destruction and health hazards, if you notice any rodents in your home, call a professionally as soon as possible as they reproduce quickly. Pest Prevention Tips To minimize the pests in your Virginia home, be sure to keep on top of sanitation, maintain a clean kitchen, keep food stored in secure containers, regularly take out the garbage. Going a step further, seal your homes with caulk, weather stripping and other solutions. Remove the debris in an around your home, clean the garbage cans once a month with hot soapy water and ensure they have secure lids. Year Round Pest Control With the help of Eagle Pest Services, our technicians can help with preventative measures and professional elimination of any pest infestations. Call us today to get started!
Powerful Imagery By: Ryan Lee Big image "One day it was raining, the next it was clear, the day after that the wind blew strong, and the day after that it was mild and calm, and the day after that calm day was a day like the furnace of summer and Clarisse with her face all sunburnt by late afternoon.(Bradbury 28) Analysis: At this quote Montag is describing the days that have gone by. But while he is doing this he is also creating a visual in the readers mind to show how day after day the what is going on here. Also he is describing how Clarisse looks after this one day when Bradbury says it was like the furnace of summer. Big image “I’ve got to see my psychiatrist now. They make me go. I make up things to say. I don’t know what he thinks of me. He says I’m a regular onion! I keep him busy peeling away the layers’” (22). Analysis: In this quote Clarisse is talking to Montag because she has to go to the psychiatrist. She has to go there because the government doesn't like her always hiking alone because it gives her time to think about what is really going on in this civilization. Also the psychiatrist says she's a regular onion meaning the she like a lot of other people go here for reasons just like hers, too much time alone to think. Big image “Beatty was looking at him as if he were a museum statue. At any moment, Beatty might rise and walk about him, touching exploring his guilt and self-consciousness” (33). Analysis: On page 33, Montag was describing Beatty's movements during this part where he is looking at past firemen. Here they use a lot of imagery to describe Beatty. When Montag said Beatty was as if he was a museum statue he was saying how he was so still and almost not breathing because he was so guilty for what the dead firemen he is looking at. Analysis: This quote is when Montag and the other firemen burned down the ladies house and as when the books were getting blown up and the pages were fluttering out of the books like dead birds falling out of the sky. Also Bradbury's use of words and imagery during this part of the book was great like right here it just shows how he's connecting the open, burning books falling out of the house like birds covered with words on them. Big image “Mildred stood over his bed…the body as thin as a praying mantis from dieting, and her flesh like white bacon” (48). Analysis: At this quote Montag is very sick and Mildred at this point all she can do is try to help. Just like it says on the quote Montag was as thin as a praying mantis on a diet and his flesh was like white bacon. Which this is really saying how skinny he was because when your sick you lose weight. Also from just the way Bradbury says it, his flesh like white bacon is saying how pale he is.
• noun A usually portable, lightweight, vestlike breathing apparatus that recycles oxygen from exhaled air, absorbs exhaled carbon dioxide, and has a small container providing fresh air, used by scuba divers and astronauts, as well as rescue workers in environments where the air is thought to be toxic. from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. • noun A breathing apparatus that recycles expelled air, removing carbon dioxide and allowing extended use of a supply. Sorry, no etymologies found. New comments are temporarily disabled while we update our database.
‘Micromotor’ Robots May Combat Stomach Ulcers In recent years, the most prominent developments in robotics have been at the macro scale. From the Mars rovers to Amazon’s rapid adoption of automation in their shipping warehouses, such stories have, for a time, eclipsed the progress made in both microrobotics and nanorobotics. A recent project from researchers and scientists at the prestigious University of California San Diego, however, is garnering fresh interest in the topic. A report from the research team indicated that they had successfully used “micromotors,” autonomous robotic vehicles roughly the width of a single human hair, to successfully deliver antibiotics to rats and mice with bacterial stomach infections. While the technology is still in its preliminary phase, the researchers already see the potentially revolutionary robots being trialed on human subjects, though only after tests are carried out on other large mammals first. The round micromotors are built with a magnesium core surrounded by several layers designed to protect the sensitive tech from moisture and stomach acid. They propel themselves via the generation of bubbles which, according to the tests, actually helped the afflicted stomach lining in the rats to better retain the delivered antibiotic medicine. The bubbles are produced through a simple chemical reaction between the micromotor’s magnesium core and the stomach acid. Since the tiny vehicles are a mere fraction of a millimeter in length, they are easily swallowed and, once levels of stomach acid return to normal, are dissolved, rendering their life cycle around 24 hours. According to the results of the trial, the micromotors were more effective than taking the drugs on their own. Some stomach ailments are notoriously difficult to treat, as the acids of the stomach can destroy the medications before they are able to reach the afflicted areas. While this can be overcome by pairing them with other medications, this heightens the likelihood of side effects, which often mirror the very symptoms doctors were attempting to treat in the first place. The micomotors are able to overcome this simply by delivering the medicine quickly to where it needs to be. Future applications of the university’s micromotors aren’t limited to stomach ailments. The so-called “blood-brain barrier,” a membrane which often prevents medications from exiting the bloodstream to reach the brain, has made treating conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s exceptionally difficult. Though widespread application is still a way’s off, the team revealed that their micromotors, when fueled by glucose, could overcome this barrier. Overall, the devices are a promising new treatment for a broad spectrum of illnesses. Please enter your comment! Please enter your name here
mla style compare and contrast essay wedding speech newlyweds mla style compare and contrast essay Depending on how you mla fashion dissertation help approach your essay, format may want to discuss the two subjects independently compare one another by addressing all the elements of the first subject, then compare the next paragraph describe the format subject and then in the third paragraph discuss the similarities format differences of the two. For example, a book could be cited as follows:. How to Cite The intro states the subject and purpose of the essay and includes a thesis statement. A paper that makes a point or serves a contrast will be remembered far more than mla style compare and contrast essay that simply describes how two things are for and different. It begins creatively in mla format, your reader s interest your best essay. How to Cite This book is licensed under a Ap world history exam 2019 essay questions Commons by-nc-sa 3. A compare-and contrast-paper will likely draw on information from at least essay sources. However, you can simplify the personal history statement berkeley process if you keep these broad guidelines in mind:. Edit essay for me to follow detailed citation and formatting guidelines as well may seem like just one more task to ap world history exam 2019 essay questions to an already-too-long list of requirements. The whole document should also be double spaced. They should be flushed with the right margin and be half an inch from the top. Online Help You need at least two good subjects, a good compare of similarities and differences mla them, a good point that for essay help free chat trying to make in comparing and paper them, an outline that you can follow as you write your essay, the of course the words themselves! Body Each of the compared points has to be presented in a separate paragraph or if it is necessary in two paragraphs. List all the sources used in alphabetical order by contrast author's last name. Does my instructor want me to compare AND contrast, or am I only essay mobile phone quotations asked to do one of those things? 1. Making A Compare And Contrast Essay In The MLA Format 2. Following these records will provide a unified style for contrast paper and make it easy for mla reader to see where you found your information. 3. Cover letter education assistant australia how to write a cover letter for phd admission 4. Essay on monsoon for class 1 short essay on forest fire in english, how to write the argument essay for the gre 5. Do my homework in inglese one slide case study template You can browse or download additional books there. Depending on the type of work you are citing, you may have to include additional information. 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Monday, May 20 UCLA community discuss potential impact of an earlier California primary 10.3.news.presidentialprimary-01 (1) Political experts and students considered whether California will play a larger role in the presidential election following the state’s decision to move up the presidential primary date in 2020. Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill last week moving California’s presidential primary election in 2020 from June to March. California’s primary election will be held on Super Tuesday, when seven other states also hold their primaries. Its primary will only follow those held in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Primary elections either narrow the field of candidates for an elected office or determine a political party’s nominee for a given race. Nasir Ahmed, a second-year neuroscience major and the marketing director of Bruin Democrats at UCLA, said he thinks more state residents will register to vote because he believes Californian votes will be more important in an earlier primary election. “(This is) influence that we hope will make candidates address issues that affect the most people, rather than banking on the pork-barrel politics of the first few primary states and then riding the momentum to the nomination,” he said. Some experts said they think the earlier primary date will have little effect on the presidential election. Chris Tausanovitch, an assistant professor in political science, said he thinks California may have more of an impact on the election in a close race, but added he thinks the state is otherwise unlikely to have a large impact. “It depends on how many states keep their later primary dates, but California is still not likely to be a pivotal state given that it has become an increasingly safe bet for the Democrats,” he said. David Karol, an associate professor in political science at the University of Maryland and a former UCLA graduate student, said Californians will have more candidates to choose from if they vote in an earlier primary because candidates are less likely to drop out early in the race. Karol added he thinks candidates will still campaign more in the smaller states that will hold elections before California because they will be heavily covered in the news despite being less populous. “Since candidates know it is cheaper to also campaign in these states and that meeting the voters goes a long way, they will also maintain their focus on these states,” he said. “Furthermore, candidates who have flopped in the early states in the past have dropped out of the race.” Karol said two Californians may potentially run for office, so the chances of candidates campaigning in California are probably even lower. “There are a couple of Californians being discussed as potential (presidential) candidates on the Democratic side – (including) Sen. Kamala Harris and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti,” he said. “But candidates don’t get much of a boost from winning their home state, and to the extent they appear likely to (win) it just encourages other candidates to focus their attention elsewhere.” Karol said he thinks previous elections have shown that changing the primary date will have little effect on the election. “If history is a guide, the few states before California will still have a greater impact, keeping candidates from giving California the focus that this bill is aiming for,” Karol said.
Women in the Bible Hannah: Articulate, Unwavering Faith. Julie / February 19, 2016 The woman from the hill country. Hannah’s vow. [Numbers 30:11-13] Secondly, the vow itself (v. 11): And Hannah believed. Verse 18, her despondence is gone. Hannah’s prayer. • She anticipates Jesus Himself (v. 10). The end of the story. Study Notes, Womanhood, Women in the Bible A Woman of Boldness As I continue to think about the definition of biblical womanhood, the very-familiar story of the Shunammite woman who helped Elisha in 2 Kings 4 seemed worth looking into. I’ve always read the story with puzzlement over the somewhat odd miracle-working of the resurrection of her son, and never paid that much attention to what it has to say about the woman herself, and the consider amounts of initiative and planning she undertakes. While our historical culture has often seen boldness as an unfeminine trait, Scripture has much positive to say about boldness, and this is a good illustration of how it can be a positive quality in women. I had never noticed how incredibly similar Elisha’s story here is to Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 17. Mostly minor differences, but at least one significant one—I always thought the woman in Elijah’s story took so much action personally because she had no husband, but in 2 Kings 4, there is a husband in the story, and yet the wife is still very much the central figure. We see in v. 8 that she is “a prominent woman,” and she not merely offers Elisha some food, she persuades him to eat. Regularly. She appeals to her husband to set aside an entire room (with great details like a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp) for Elisha to stay in whenever he comes through Shunem. And they do it. And why? Because, she says, “I know that [Elisha] is a holy man of God” (2 Kings 4:9). She’s a woman with ideas. She’s a woman who apparently boldly entreats a prophet to stop and rest a while, and who boldly entreats her husband to do something quite inconvenient on his behalf. Presumably her husband is going along with all of this, but it’s interesting that she, and not he, is the one driving it. Elisha takes her up on the offer. And then—again, bypassing the woman’s husband, who I would have expected him to deal with—he calls for her and thanks her for going to the trouble, and asks her what they can do for her in exchange. She asks for nothing. Gehazi points out that she has no son, and Elisha promises her one. She is disbelieving, but his word proves true (v. 17). Here, finally, the woman’s husband comes into the story a little bit—the child goes out with his father to the harvest, gets sick in the head, and the father sends him back to his mother with a servant. The child dies. She picks him up, puts him on Elisha’s bed, and leaves. She doesn’t tell anyone what happened, and when her husband asks why she wants to go see Elisha, who is now at Mount Carmel, she doesn’t tell him. He’s confused (v. 23) but she just affirms that everything is okay and leaves in a rush. I can’t imagine what is going through her head. Her only son, her little son, has died, and she’s keeping it all locked inside and not even telling his father. So much single-mindedness is evident here. She gets to Mount Caramel, and Elisha sees her in the distance (v.25) and sends Gehazi out to see if everything is all right. She says yes, everything is all right—so much faith here!—and waits until she gets to Elisha’s feet to be overcome with anguish at last. Elisha, for his part, has no idea what’s going on (“the Lord has hidden it from me, He hasn’t told me”, v. 27), but is compassionate. She reminds him that she hadn’t asked for the son, but did ask to not be deceived—and now her son is dead. Elisha sends Gehazi off in a rush with his staff, which turns out not to work (v. 31), but the mother won’t be dissuaded until Elisha comes himself (v. 30). Elisha prays and the boy comes back to life. The same Shunammite woman re-enters the story in 2 Kings 8, where Elisha has prophesied of a famine, and here thoughtfully tells the woman to pack up her household and get away. Again, I am struck by the reality that he told her, and not her husband; that it was the woman who “got ready and did what the man of God said” (v. 2), and then it was the woman even who went to appeal to the king at the end of the famine to have her land restored (v. 3). And God worked it out perfectly for her by having Gehazi “happen” to be at court the same time that the woman appeared, telling the king in fact about the woman herself, and her son, and the help they had given to and received from Elisha. (On a sidenote, it is also awesome that God worked it out so that while Gehazi is telling this awesome, logic-defying story about a kid being raised from the dead, the woman herself comes in and confirms the story to the king.) The king responds by restoring not only the woman’s house and lands, but also all the income she might have missed. Nothing really is said about the husband in this story. He could have been like some minor version of Nabal, and that been why it was left to his wife to do all these things, why it was his wife who helped Elisha and who was addressed by Elisha. Certainly he doesn’t seem to have stopped her in any of her endeavors, although the only words he speaks in the entire story are questioning her actions (4:23). Gehazi also says the man is old (4:14), and perhaps that is why he is so inactive—although he was working in the harvest (4:18). There’s also the submissive aspect present in at least some degree when, rather than summoning the servants herself to fetch the donkey to go to Mount Carmel, she summons her husband and asks him to summon the servants to fetch the donkey, and tells him where she’s going. She gives him a reassuring and honest but vague answer to his inquiry, and nowhere in any of these three main parts of her story (making a room for Elisha, fetching Elisha to raise her son, or packing up and moving to Philistia) is there any indication at all that her husband is anything other than a completely willing participant in her actions. She consistently runs her plans by him—if vaguely at times—and then acts. She reminds me of the Proverbs 31 woman, who “considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” There’s a lot of action going on in Proverbs 31, too, a lot of decisions: which vineyard? which clothes? where shall I buy my wool? how much shall I sell these garments for? how do I deal with the merchants? how much shall I dispense to the poor? what kind of food shall we eat? There’s a boldness to the Shunammite’s actions—and the Proverbs 31 woman—in knowing the good thing to do, and doing it. Knowing when to explain, and when to just act; when to ask permission (e.g. to set aside a room in their house permanently) and when to just stride on without any real explanation (e.g. when her son died). There’s a lot of wisdom needed, but the examples are encouraging. Doing good things unflinchingly, unquestioningly is one of the things that leads King Lemuel’s mother to declare, “the heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:11-12). Thanks to the Shunammite’s boldness in doing good, her husband gained a son, then had that son resurrected, then survived a great famine, then profited upon their return to their home. It also led to Gehazi being able to testify of the goodness of the Lord to the king, and surely encouraged and helped God’s prophet to have a welcome home in Shunem and to see the faith she displayed by declaring “everything is all right” although her little son lay at home dead. There was much good done by her concern for doing right and seeking the Lord! Study Notes, Womanhood, Women in the Bible A Woman with Initiative Julie / February 24, 2015 On the one hand, I am staunchly complementarian. I don’t believe women should teach or have authority over men, or even speak in church. I believe women should consider themselves positionally beneath (i.e. “submissive”) to their husbands. I believe those four things are very clear in Scripture. But I also think there are some nuances in Scripture that get confused with our cultural traditions of patriarchy—in short, that the patriarchy of 16th century France and the patriarchy of Scripture may not be the same thing, but it can be hard for us to sort out. In particular, I find it hard to understand Deborah being a judge, and hard to understand Abigail blatantly going against what she knew would have been the wishes of her husband, if he had had the chance to contradict her. But she knew he would be displeased. Today I read and noticed another such story, one I had read but not really thought about: 2 Samuel 20. This man named Sheba has decided to rebel against David, and Joab is sent to quench the rebellion and destroy, apparently, the entire town of Abel. Now—first of all, David is clearly in the right here. Sheba was evil and wicked and it was entirely correct to destroy him. Secondly, there’s a whole town involved, with plenty of elders and men to step up and do the right thing. The “leadership,” apparently, made the executive decision to twiddle their thumbs. But, enter this unnamed woman, who we only know as “a wise woman.” (v. 16). While Joab is trying to break down the walls of the city, she—and she alone—calls out. “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here and let me speak with him.” And Joab listened. And she made an argument, a very neat, concise, persuasive argument. She let him know that there were faithful people in the city, and reminded him of the importance of the city, both presently and historically, and theologically. Her words are rebuking and even harsh: “Why would you devour YHWH’s inheritance?” She got Joab’s attention, and he protested: “Never! I do not want to destroy!” And he offers her a solution—deliver Sheba, and the city will be spared. This is a woman he’s bargaining with. A woman who responds by promising him Sheba’s head. So what does she do? Does she go to her husband and say, hey, tell the elders about this, get them to make a decision so we can abide by it? Nope. This woman, who the Bible declares to be wise, goes straight to “all the people” and offers “her wise counsel” (v. 22). They listen to her, cut off Sheba’s head, and throw it over the wall to Joab, who promptly retreats and goes back to David. Disaster averted. There are many things here that are both encouraging and perplexing. Scripture seems quite clear that the woman was wise and correct, both in her character and in her actions here. And yet she is very avidly arguing with men: first Joab, then the men of her city. She is contradicting authority, both Joab (in his authority to destroy the city), and the city rulers (by not waiting on them to approach Joab, and not going to them first to ask them to give up Sheba). She makes arguments and gives counsel—to men!—not suggestions and obeisance. She is single-handedly responsible for pushing them to cut off Sheba’s head. Now, what she doesn’t do is try to usurp authority. She doesn’t remind one of Jezebel. Like Abigail, and Deborah, when the men are willing to do what ought to be done, she fades into the background and we never hear tell of her again. She works by persuasion and arguments, not force or unjust threats. She’s an excellent example of bold biblical womanhood, womanhood that takes initiative, makes persuasive arguments, is not daunted, and whose wisdom is not hidden under a bushel, but ably helps all those around her, even a whole town and a king, for the glory of God.
Jump to content Pain - What Do We Know About It? Nurses Article (1,792 Views 0 Replies 756 Words) by monicaquinn monicaquinn (New Member) New Member 2 Articles; 400 Visitors; 1 Post Pain and man's history go hand in hand. There is not a tale or fable of human history that you will not hear or be told where some pain is felt, either emotionally or physically. It seems it has always been around. What exactly is pain? In this article, we will try and shed some light on what it is and what we have discovered about it. Pain - What Do We Know About It? What is pain? Your brain and scientist alike are both as clueless about it as they were hundreds of years ago. MedicineNet.com defines pain as: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. It goes further to say that it can be both emotional and physical. It can be either caused by damage to localized tissue like the knee or even the nerves themselves can or may have been damaged either physically or due to some other chemical process in the body. Scientists don't know what pain is. Yes, I have just given you a definition of pain above and here I come telling you the people who are supposed to know something about it don't know anything... Yes, they don't. The study of pain has been a long one that has lasted for centuries, for as long as there have been doctors and priests to perform pain relieving rituals. So much money has been poured into research on different continents of the world. " We have found that there are huge gaps in our knowledge base," a scientist, Dr. Matthew J. Blair assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine said about pain. Even your brain doesn't know it. How can this one be, considering that it is with our brains that we know we are feeling pain? Well, in as much as it is the brain that tells us that we are feeling pain, it is numb to pain and does not feel it. According to Brainline, there are no pain receptors in the brain, so, as much as the brain can process pain as an impulse from its nervous system, it cannot feel it. The part that feels pain is the part that covers the brain called the meninges. That is why brain surgeries are performed while the person is awake without anesthesia to the brain as the surgeon needs to stimulate different parts of the brain while he works so he knows what he is doing. Women are not just sensitive to pain, they have more tolerance to it. This fact about pain is a no-brainer, it is common knowledge that women can bear more pain than their male counterparts and part of the reason why this is so is that of the hormones. Research has shown that those going through menstruation are more affected and sensitive to pain than they otherwise would be on a normal day and this is believed to be due to the level of estrogen around this time. Estrogen is higher during menstruation. On the other hand, progesterone, the hormone that acts opposite to estrogen has been shown to do the opposite; increase pain tolerance said a paper by The Journal of Pain, Issue 4, April 2018. Sex and exercise can relieve pain naturally. Patients with migraine headaches, the worst form of headaches one can suffer from have shown to have had pain relief after 'love making'. Exercise doesn't fall behind on this as it has been shown to aid in relieving chronic or persistent pain. This is believed to be due to the chemicals the brain releases both after sex and exercise called endorphins. Endorphins stands for endogenous morphine or put simply; morphine produced in the body. This is also known as the 'feel good' chemical. It has been documented as part of the body's reward system and also has pain relief effects. Which is why doctors advise patients to take up an exercise plan to help aid with healing and pain and prescribe acute migraine sufferers with Morphine (an exogenous form). In conclusion... Pain has been around for as long as man has been on the planet. Pain relief remedies and tips are not within the scope of this article but will be discussed in those following. We have discussed above that although we don't know as much as we thought we did about pain, the body seems to be equipped with ways to deal with it and to naturally relief it. Pain is not a disease but the bodies indicator of the possibility of something wrong that needs fixing. If you or someone you know is in pain, please seek medical assistance from a qualified medical doctor, what is shared in this article are suggestions and are by no means intended to replace doctors consultation and prescriptions. 2 Articles; 400 Visitors; 1 Post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites • Recently Browsing 0 members No registered users viewing this page.
Atlas High Purity Solutions logo By Atlas High Purity Solutions team • April 23, 2019 What is Deionized (DI) Water? Atlas High Purity Solutions provides a summary explanation of deionized (DI) water. There’s nothing mystical about deionized (DI) water. DI water is simply pure water – without the ions that are found in most natural water supplies. Ions occur in water naturally, when mineral salts dissolve to form these charged particles that include calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), silica (SiO2), chlorides (Cl), and many others. Deionized Water, or DI Water, is created through the process of deionization, when these particles are removed in an ion-exchange process using mixed resin beds. Ion exchange has been around for a long time, dating even to the desalting of brackish waters in biblical times. Today, many commercial applications rely on deionized water for the production of goods such as pharmaceuticals, biotech products, medical devices, electronics, and foods, just to name a few. Demystifying Deionized Water: How Does It Work? Natural water contains both positively charged ions, called cations, and negatively charged ions, called anions. In deionization, water flows through ion exchange resins that remove the cations and anions, resulting in DI water. It is important to note that deionization is not a filtration technology, but rather an ion exchange process that creates H2O. Ion exchange resins work like magnets, except they are small plastic beads. Each bead has organic polymer chains with charged functional groups. With its negative functional group, cation resin attracts positively charged cations, exchanging them for hydrogen (H). Conversely, anion resin has a positive functional group that attracts negatively charged anions and exchanges them for hydroxyl (OH). When cation resin and anion resin release their respective hydrogen (H) and hydroxyl (OH), the result is H2O. Regeneration: When Good Resin Beads Go Bad During the deionization process, exchange sites on resin beads eventually become exhausted and lose their capacity to exchange hydroxides or hydroxyls for cations and anions. However, the resins can be regenerated to a percentage of their original (virgin resin) capacities. To regenerate cation resins, positively charged Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) is added, which bonds with cation resin beads. Likewise, anion resins are regenerated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) where the negatively charged Hydroxyl (OH) bonds with the anion resin heads. Dual Beds and Mixed Beds To generate deionized water, you need at least two types of ion exchange resins, one to remove positively charged ions and the other to remove the negatively charged ions. While some deionization processes rely on two separate beds – one with cation resins and the other with anion resins, these dual bed systems (often referred to as two column deionizer - common for low pressure boiler feed applications) produce lower quality water than mixed bed systems as some cations from the ion exchange process in the first column (cation) will "slip" past the anion column in the second step. This "slippage" will lower the resulting resistivity in the second column. As a result, mixed bed systems are much more common where high resistivity is required. Mixed bed systems contain cation and anion resin in a single vessel (both strong acid cation resin and strong base anion resin) to form a single bed. This is the most common resin used for Service Deionization (SDI) or Portable Exchange Deionization (PEDI). Mixed bed deionization used as a polishing technology on a properly designed high purity water system is the most reliable way to consistently generate high resistivity water (16 megohms or greater). DI water is critical in many commercial applications and the quality of your deionization process, along with its ability to meet stringent compliance specifications, is increasingly important as the need for DI water grows. As New England’s largest independent high purity water RODI system and service provider, Atlas High Purity Solutions is dedicated to all of your high purity water needs and stands ready to design a solution that is right for you. We operate two deionization regeneration plants at our facilities located in Boston and New Hampshire. DI Water installation__ Atlas High Purity Solutions has been designing, installing, and servicing high purity water systems for more than thirty years, and is the leading provider of reverse osmosis and DI water solutions in the northeast United States. The Ultrapure Water Forum
Na’omi’s Misery and Emptiness 1: 1-5 DIG: What is the climate of the times for Na’omi? What personal disasters befall her? What has Na’omi lost during her time in Mo’av? REFLECT: Can you think of a period in your life when you did “whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted?” What happened to you? Where are you living? In Beit-Lechem or Mo’av? How do you recover from a bad decision? What is an area in your life where you often see nothing but problems? What are some temporary solutions you often toss around in your mind? What “temporary stop” have you made in your life that has become permanent? Explain. What is an area you can see the Adversary trying to create a “permanent stop” in your life? What can you to do to prevent it? The book begins: Back in the days of the judging of the judges (1:1a CJB). The Rabbis teach this was a lawless generation in which the judges committed more sins than the rest of the people, and a generation that judged its judges. This gives us the chronological period when the story occurred. It was about a century before the time of David, during the period of the judges and is a fitting appendix to the book of Judges. The rabbis teach that this occurred during the period of the judge Ibtzan of Beit-Lechem (Judges 12:8-10). And the reason his name is not mentioned here in verse one is out of respect because another rabbinic tradition says that Ibtzan was a relative of Elimelek. At a time when there was a famine in the Land (1:1b CJB). This famine may have taken place in connection with the devastation of the Land by the Midianites in the days of Gideon. If that were true, it had to be a very serious one that extended over the whole Land. Otherwise one could just go to another part of the country to survive. Secondly, it had to last for several years to compel them to leave the Land and go to Mo’av. Thirdly, ten years passed until they would hear that the famine had ended. Fourthly, the Midianites oppressed the people for seven years and they ruined the crops and did not spare a living thing for Isra’el, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys (Judges 6:3-4). So it seems likely that the story of Ruth took place during the time of Gideon. The cause of the famine is not stated here, but drought and famine were among the judgments YHVH said would come upon the Land as a result of failure to keep the Torah (Leviticus 26:18-20; Deuteronomy 28:23-24). And the book of Judges gives us plenty of evidence of the failure to keep the Torah that brought about the famine during the days of Gideon. Furthermore, in this context the drought did not affect Mo’av, which is very close to Isra’el, separated only by the Dead Sea. So this was a local famine in Isra’el only, pointing to divine judgment.12 A certain man from Beit-Lechem in Judah went to live in the fields of Mo’av (1:1c CJB). The ultimate irony had occurred: Beit-Lechem, whose very name means house of bread, was a place with no food. In that situation, Elimelek had a choice to make, a road to choose. He could stay in Beit-Lechem, the empty breadbasket of Y’hudah, mourning the sin that surrounded him and trusting God to provide for him and his wife and two sons, or he could leave the Promised Land behind in search for greener fields, in this case the fields of Mo’av, where food was more abundant.13 The Hebrew word for went to live is ger, and is used of a resident alien. This shows that his purpose was to live in Mo’av temporarily, not permanently. The root meaning of the word means to live among people who are not blood relatives. The ger did not have civil rights but was dependent upon the hospitality of the natives. This played an important role in the culture of the ancient near east. In Isra’el the ger had certain guaranteed rights, but this was not true in Mo’av. The fields of Mo’av point to the 4,300 foot plateau of Mo’av, good for growing crops, not the rigorous mountainous region along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. He (Elimelek), his, wife and his two sons went to live in Mo’av (1:1d CJB). The Jewish reader of Ruth would therefore be somewhat shocked and appalled by the fact that Elimelek moved his family from Beit-Lechem and sought refuge in Mo’av. But he was a devout Jew, so this showed the severity of the famine. The land of Isra’el was evidently both spiritually and physically parched, and times were desperate. The relationship between the Hebrews and the Moabites was sometimes friendly, but often the reverse (see Ac – Introduction to the Book of Ruth: The Historical Background). At the time described in the book of Ruth it may be assumed to have been friendly. Yet it is no wonder that tradition looked with disapproval at Elimelek’s going. Mo’av was not a place filled with people who loved God. They worshiped a false god named Chemosh. The man’s name was Elimelek, which means my God is king. It appears, however, that ADONAI was no more King in Elimelek’s heart than He was in the hearts of his fellow countrymen where there was no king and everyone did whatever seemed right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25 NLT). There was no king in Elimelek’s life, and therefore, like so many others in the days of the judging of the judges, he chose to do what was best in his own eyes. He chose a road to Mo’av. His wife’s name was Na’omi, which means the pleasant one, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon, which means sickness, and Kilion, meaning wasting. So the names imply that the sons were not healthy from the time that they were born. They were Ephrathites from Beit-Lechem, Y’hudah, who traced their descent from Ephrath, wife of Caleb (First Chronicles 11:19). And they were driven from their home to the fields of Mo’av (1:2a). Now, either they were the only Jewish family to do this, or the only ones mentioned who did so. But the journey to Mo’av was wrong for three reasons: First, Na’omi herself recognized that the death of her husband and her two sons was a judgment of God (1:13). Second, in Deut. 23:3-6, the Moabites were barred from participating in the life of Isra’el and Isra’el was forbidden to seek a treat of friendship with them. Third, if YHVH had wanted Elimelek to leave Isra’el He would have declared so as He did with the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. And they lived there (1:2b). It was to be a temporary solution to a problem they had, but Elimelek couldn’t have imagined the permanent effect his decision would bring. That reality wasn’t immediately apparent, of course. It rarely is. It seemed like Elimelek had made a good choice. While his kinsmen back home were suffering and hungry, there was food in Mo’av. Like the story of the prodigal son that Yeshua told (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Hu – The Parable of the Lost Son and His Jealous Brother), Elimelek’s stay in a far country went well at the beginning. He was able to support his wife and two sons. Having arrived in Mo’av, they initially were only going to stay there temporarily, but unfortunately they continued to live there permanently. Perhaps there never was a conscious decision to settle there permanently, but after a while Mo’av became home, and like Lot (see the commentary on Genesis Dx – Abram Lived in the Land of Canaan, While Lot Pitched His Tents Near Sodom) they got comfortable in a land where they shouldn’t have been. They just existed there, drifting through life without a plan. Husbands and fathers certainly want to provide for their wives and family, but they must not do it at the expense of losing the blessing of YHVH. When the Adversary met Yeshua in the wilderness, his first temptation was to suggest that Messiah satisfy His hunger rather than please His Father (Mt 4:1-4; John 4:34). One of the devil’s favorite lies is, “Well, you do have to live.” But it is in God that we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), and He is willing and able to take care of us. David’s witness is worth considering: I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging for bread (Psalm 37:25). As Rabbi Sha’ul faced a threatening future, he testified: But I consider my own life of no importance to me whatsoever (Acts 20:24a). In difficult times, if we can die to self and put the will of ADONAI first (Mattityahu 6:33), we can be sure that He will either take us out of trouble, or bring us through it.14 By going fifty miles to the neighboring land of Mo’av, Elimelek and his family abandoned God’s Land and God’s people for the land and people of the enemy. Tragedy quickly mounted. Then Elimelek, Na’omi’s husband died, not from old age or infirmity, but as the result of divine punishment and the sovereignty of YHVH. How long this happened after entering Mo’av we simply don’t know.But however long it was, she was left with her two sons (1:3). But that too will soon change. The Torah did not specifically forbid the marriage to Moabites as it did forbid marriage to Canaanite women lest they worship other gods (Deuteronomy 7:1-3). However, common sense suggests that for similar reasons, marriage to a Moabite was just as sinful. So the sons sinned even more grievously than their father because they married Moabite women, one named Orpah, meaning stubborn, and the other Ruth, meaning friendship. No doubt Na’omi and her sons must have felt trapped by their desperate circumstances, and Na’omi seems to have graciously accepted her daughters-in-law. Ruth married Mahlon (4:10), who was apparently the elder of the two sons. Orpah, then, would have been the wife of Kilion. Na’omi and her sons lived there about ten years. This fits the situation of Gideon (Judges 6:2-5). That is probably the total time they spent in Mo’av rather than the amount of time that passed after the young men were married, because neither of the couples had any children. That would have been very unusual, even in a time of famine, and barrenness was considered a punishment of YHVH (Deuteronomy 28:18). Meanwhile, circumstances did not appear to be improving for Na’omi. In fact, matters took a turn for the worse. Both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Na’omi was left without her two sons and her husband (1:4-5). Wow, five verses, two weddings and three funerals! Elimelek and his family fled Judah to escape death, but the three men met death just the same.15 In that culture, this was a nearly impossible situation. Three widows, with no children and no responsible relatives, in a time of famine, could not hope to survive for long, even if they pooled their meager resources. We’re not told what caused any of the husbands to die, but the fact that all three perished is a measure of how hard life was in the adversity of those days. Both Mahlon and Kilion seem to have died in quick succession, suggesting they perhaps fell victim to disease, very likely related to the famine.16 We can’t run away from our problems. We can’t avoid taking with us the basic cause of most of our problems, which is an unbelieving and disobedient heart. But this story will show us that YHVH is a God who restores, rebuilds, and renews . . . all things. < previous page next page > Genesis \| Exodus \| Isaiah \| Ruth \| Esther \| Jeremiah Acts \| Ezra-Nehemiah Home \| Español \| Our FAQ
Glossary - L Lachs - [German] salmon Lagniappe - An old Creole word for "something extra." Soup meat is the lagniappe from vegetable soup preparation. Lait, au - Food prepared with milk. Lamington tin - [Australia] 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Langue - [French] tongue Langue de chat - [French] Flat, finger-shaped, crisp biscuit or cookie served with cold desserts. Lapin - [French] rabbit Lardons - Strips of fat, bacon or salt pork for larding meat; inserted in lean meats to add flavor. Larrup - molasses; also called blackstrap. Lattice topping - A topping consisting of strips of dough crisscrossed atop a pie. Leaf Lard - Leaf lard is the highest grade of lard (lard is pork fat, the term is usually used to refer to rendered pork fat suitable for cooking). It comes from the visceral, or "soft," fat from around the kidneys and loin of the pig. It lacks any real pork or meaty flavor, making it an excellent neutral-flavored cooking fat with a high smoking point. Leaf lard is particularly prized by bakers for use in producing moist, flaky pie crusts. Leaf lard can be tricky to track down. Some small butcher shops make and sell it. Rendering your own is quite simply if you can find the fat. Simple put the pork fat in a pot and gently heat it on the stove or in the oven until the fat is melted and any bits of meat are rendered out (they will be browned and crisp and delicious, by the way). Transfer the lard to a container with a sealable lid and store, chilled, for up to a month. Leber - [German] liver Leche - [Spanish] milk Leche de cabra - [Spanish] goat's milk Leche de coco - [Spanish] coconut milk Leche quemada - [Spanish] burned milk Lechuga - [Spanish] lettuce Lemon sole - A small flat fish resembling sole or flounder. Lemon verbena - Fragrant, sweet, lemony herb that makes a good tea and adds delicate flavor to custards and similar desserts. Lengua - [Spanish] tongue Lenteja - [Spanish] lentil Levadura - [Spanish] yeast Lick - molasses; also called blackstrap or larrup. Licuadora - [Spanish] electric blender. Lightnin' bread - Quick breads leavened with baking soda or baking powder. Lily buds - [Chinese] Also known as tiger lily buds or golden needles. Dried day lily buds that are nutritious and sweet. Lima - [Spanish] lime Lima agria - [Spanish] Bitter lime used in Yucatan. Limon - [Spanish] Lemon; in Mexico it usually refers to the small tart Mexican lime. Limones - [Spanish] Limes Linguine - Long, oval-shaped pasta noodles. Hand cut versions of this are very narrow flat noodles. Liquados - [Spanish] Fresh fruit drinks. Liquid Smoke - Find in the condiment section of supermarkets. Littleneck clams - There are essentially two types of clams - the softshell (or steamer) and the hardshell (or quahog). Littlenecks are the smallest of the hardshells. Livornaise - A sauce made with olive oil, egg yolks and anchovy paste. Lobster mushroom - A wild mushroom that has a firm texture and a red and orange color like lobster shells. Lomo de puerco - [Spanish] pork loin London broil - See "Flank steak." Longhorn cheese - Mild Cheddar cheese produced in the United States; any mild Cheddar can be substituted. Lop Chong - [Chinese] sweet pork sausage. Find in any Oriental market. Lotus leaves, dried - Very large leaves that, after reconstituting, can be used as wrappers in Asian cuisine. Lox - Smoked, oiled salmon. Lumpia - Very large egg roll wrappers. Find frozen in Filipino and Asian markets. Lyle's Golden Syrup - [Great Britain] Light Karo syrup is the U.S. equivalent. Lyonnaise - [French] In the Lyons style, traditionally with onions. Lyonnaise Sauce - A classic French sauce preparation made with sautéed onions, white wine and demi-glace. The sauce is strained before being served with meats and sometime poultry. Maricopa, Arizona Always Open! To our Visitors
hypertension differences How Does High Blood Pressure Affect Men and Women? High blood pressure (hypertension) is a dangerous condition because a person can have it for years without ever knowing. Living with undiagnosed hypertension can lead to complications as high blood pressure slowly damages the arteries, which can increase the risk of a cardiovascular event occurring. Both men and woman can be affected by hypertension, but how each gender is affected differs. For example, at the age of 50, more men experience hypertension than women, but by 55, women outnumber men with hypertension. Hypertension is associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, but this risk is seen to be lower in women than men, especially if a woman has not undergone menopause. Overall, between the ages of 40 to 70, women tend to have a lower overall risk of complications resulting from hypertension than men if readings are the same. Therefore, for women to experience a complication as a result of high blood pressure, their levels would have to be higher. Consultant and member of the SingHealth group Dr. Ian Phoon explained, “While older people have a greater risk of high blood pressure, younger men in their 30s and 40s often suffer from the disease without knowing it. Despite gender differences in the age-related risk of high blood pressure, both men and women are diagnosed and treated in the same way.” Having hypertension not only increases your risk of a cardiovascular event or stroke, but it can lead to kidney failure as well. Therefore, undergoing routine check-ups can help keep your blood pressure under control. Being overweight, a lack of physical activity, high salt intake, alcohol consumption, and stress are major contributors to high blood pressure. Controlling these factors can help you better manage it. Also read: Author Bio Related Reading: Popular Stories
Local businesses in Welch began to shutter after U.S. Steel departed McDowell County, which sits near Interstate 77, once referred to as the "Hillbilly Highway" because it promised a way to jobs in the South. Young adults who manage to attend college - the high-school dropout rate is 28 percent, compared with about 8 percent nationwide - can't wait to leave. For some reason, the fish in nearby Elkhorn Creek left too. In all, roughly 760 of the nation's 3,142 counties are fading away, stretching from industrial areas near Pittsburgh and Cleveland to the vineyards outside San Francisco to the rural areas of east Texas and the Great Plains. Once-booming housing areas, such as retirement communities in Florida, have not been immune. West Virginia was the first to experience natural decrease statewide over the last decade, with Maine, Pennsylvania and Vermont close to following suit, according to the latest census figures. As a nation, the U.S. population grew by just 9.7 percent since 2000, the lowest decennial rate since the Great Depression. "Natural decrease is an important but not widely appreciated demographic phenomenon that is reshaping our communities in both rural and urban cores of large metro areas," said Kenneth Johnson, a sociology professor and demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute who analyzed the census numbers. Johnson said common threads among the dying counties are older whites who are no longer having children, and an exodus of young adults who find little promise in the region and seek jobs elsewhere. The places also have fewer Hispanic immigrants, who on average are younger and tend to have more children than other groups. "The downturn in the U.S. economy is only exacerbating the problem," said Johnson, whose research paper is being published next month in the journal Rural Sociology. "In some cases, the only thing that can pull an area out is an influx of young Hispanic immigrants or new economic development." The predicament is starkest in places like Welch. In the 1960s, McDowell County ranked tops in the U.S. in coal production. Even as it began to stumble, President John F. Kennedy took notice and pushed federal aid to the region. McDowell residents were the first to get federal food stamps when they were rolled out in the Kennedy administration. After U.S. Steel sold the last of its mining operations by 2003, folks in southern West Virginia began counting on new highway projects to prop up the long-struggling area. "One of the promises we're waiting to come is the highway," said Carolyn Falin, an assistant schools superintendent in McDowell County. From the east, the Coalfields Expressway would bypass the many two-lane, truck-clogged roads zigzagging through the mountainous region. It would link a freeway to the Virginia state line 65 miles to the southwest. So far, only a few miles are open. Design work on most of it hasn't been finished. From the west, a 95-mile King Coal Highway is also envisioned, with some bridge work and a few miles now under construction. Shepard, who walks to work from a nearby apartment, watched the county's population plummet 80 percent after U.S. Steel's exit. Even with the recent opening of a federal prison, Shepard bemoans the area's decline, including the end of "20 years of the best fishing you ever saw." Nowadays, he says, "you can fish but you won't catch any trout. It's like the coal mines. It's all gone." Recently the U.S. Senate rejected a $900,000 appropriation for a proposed interchange of the King Coal Highway and the Coalfields Expressway near Welch. Dying counties in the U.S. were rare until the 1960s, when the baby boom ended. By 1973, as farming communities declined, roughly 515 counties - mostly in the Great Plains - reported natural decrease. The phenomenon then began to show up in industrial regions, such as upstate New York and California. Natural decrease peaked in 2002 at a record 985, or 1 in 3 counties, before increasing births and an influx of Hispanic immigration helped add to county populations during the housing boom. Following the recent recession, birth rates have dropped to the lowest in a century. Preliminary census numbers for 2007-09 now show that the number of dying counties is back on the upswing. Recent additions include Pittsburgh and its surrounding counties. James Follain, senior fellow and economist at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the University of Albany, said a new kind of declining city may be emerging in the wake of the housing bust - metropolitan areas that rapidly overbuilt earlier in the decade and then suffered massive foreclosures. He cited as examples Las Vegas, Miami, parts of Arizona, and Stockton, Modesto, Fresno and Riverside in California. Like traditional ghost towns, Follain says, portions of these areas could spiral down from persistent loss of jobs and population and lose their reason for being. Follain also pointed to a tighter fiscal environment in Washington that will limit help to troubled areas. The Obama administration announced this month it would shrink the government's role in the mortgage system to reduce taxpayer exposure to risk. House Republicans also are pushing federal spending cuts of more than $61 billion, even if it means reducing jobs. "It's going to be a very slow recovery," Follain said. Not all U.S. areas are declining. Most places with the fastest growth since 2000 were able to retain or attract college graduates and young professionals who came for jobs and later started families. Metro areas with diversified economies such as Austin, Texas, Raleigh, N.C., and Portland, Ore., all saw gains in college graduates; other places seeing gains or reduced losses in young adults, such as Washington, D.C., Boston and San Francisco, have burgeoning biotech industries. In West Virginia, more than 40 of its 55 counties had natural decrease over the past decade. Yet the state still gained population overall, and averted a loss of a U.S. House of Representatives seat based on the 2010 census. It wasn't because of a last-minute turnaround. Most of West Virginia's population gains are new residents spilling over into the eastern part of the state from the blossoming Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. The three counties on the Maryland line - Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson - each had substantial increases. It's a different story in West Virginia's northern panhandle, along the edge of Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. On a recent afternoon, a group of students mingled during a cigarette break at West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling and chatted about their futures. "It's not that bad an area," said Demetrius Paige, 19, but there are "not a lot of jobs." He plans to leave within six years. Kayla Murphy, 19, of Moundsville wants to stay in the state and become a nurse to help children like her brother, who has celiac disease and diabetes. She says moving out is the only real option for career-oriented people. They include her boyfriend, who left for Wisconsin to teach history. "You have to," Murphy said. "Working at McDonald's isn't cool." Yen reported from Washington.
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter A History of the Highway Rest Stop: How This Place of Rest Built an American Tradition If you’ve ever driven across this great nation, you have seen them on the side of the road. In fact, they might have provided a much-needed respite from long hours of driving, lunchtime, the kids asking ‘are we there yet,’ the in-laws requesting bathroom breaks, or the occasional leg cramp. The beloved rest stop—in this modern day— so often misunderstood and so frequently underappreciated. Yet, these simple rest stops are an American tradition. Many of them have an antiquated charm, a beautiful simplicity, or a more modern veneer; yet, they all achieve the same thing: they let drivers stop in the midst of their journey and immerse themselves in the landscape, breathe in the air, look at the land before they continue onward. A Brief History of The Safety Rest Stop From the New York roads to the extensive Texas highways to the beachy California coasts these rest stops are a familiar sight to anyone who travels via car across the nation’s highway system. Of course, in more recent years, convenience stores, shops, and fast food restaurants have popped up in every exit and often eliminated the need for these serene and simple rest stops. Back in the sixties and seventies, not so much. These rest stops were necessary and a stable in the itinerary to the frequent traveler. So while several rest stops have been disappeared in recent years, the ones that remain continue to be a wonderful relic of the American road traveler. Roadside Parks Became Important Aspects of Road Travel These ‘safety rest areas’ were built as part of the Interstate Highway System of the 1960s and were modeled after roadside parks. They were actually initially called “roadside parks” or “waysides.” The new term didn’t happen until planning began for construction of America’s Interstate Highway system in the late 50s early 60s. The idea was to provide minimal comfort amenities for those motorists traveling through. They did not allow commercial business and were meant to give the people a chance to absorb the local landscape. In the 1960s and 70s, there were not many places that offered this, especially on stretches of newly built highway. So in 1958 planners of the Interstate Highway System issued policy that illustrated a standard basic layout for all rest areas. They were to consist of a main building that provided toilet facilities, water, and picnic areas, as well as kiosk or desk providing local travel information. These areas were to be monitored or checked regularly by state employees to ensure things were clean, working, and maintained. And while the general layout was to be followed, states had creative freedom to make them look however they wanted and design them they did. More typically in these rest stops you’ll find bathroom facilities, water fountains, vending machines, and picnic tables. More modern and restored versions will have everything from sitting areas to dog parks. A lot of these stops will often portray the characteristics of the local area of state. For example, rests in Oklahoma have picnic tables modeled after tipis, in Texas you’ll find Texas flags, and in New Mexico, you’ll find the yellow state flag and adobe-like structures. Most of the rest stops are placed in very scenic areas and can be a very peaceful place to take in the scenery and enjoy the landscape. Unfortunately today, many states are doing away with these rest areas, as the more amenity-rich gas station stops have taken their place. For frequent motorists and truck drivers, these rest areas are a necessary part of their journey. It is not just about using the restroom, but about resting the eyes, relaxing, and getting much-needed sleep before continuing on a long drive. For many, it’s a safety issue. Mostly, it is a way to enjoy the surrounding land, to eat out in nature, to breathe the air and reflect on the vastness and great lands of this country. Building on an American Tradition— Constructing America’s Highways Constructors, Inc has recently helped in restoring one of these rest stops on the New Mexico highway. We love being part of many American traditions and this project was another example. In this great country there are a thousand paths that are always crossing each other. We love being part of the path of New Mexicans and those that are passing through. For your construction or paving needs, call us today. Like this content? Share it here!
Cracked Teeth Product code: LEACRA As there are a number of ways in which teeth can crack, and a number of different treatment options available, this leaflet could help patients understand more about what has happened to them and the options they have at their disposal. This pack contains 100 leaflets, has a cartoon image on the front page and answers the following questions: • What is a cracked tooth? • Do all teeth crack in the same way? • Why do teeth crack? • How can I tell if I have a cracked tooth? • Why don't cracks show up on a dental x-ray? • Will I need to have treatment? • Will I lose my tooth? • How are cracked teeth fixed? • Can I stop my teeth cracking? • How much will my treatment cost? We also have this leaflet, with the same content, available with a cartoon image on the front: Bridges and Partial Dentures (Tell Me About). Weight 1kg
Electronic Design DDR FCRAM Boosts Performance In DDR SDRAM Designs A modified form of synchronous DRAM technology, double-data-rate, fast-cycle random access memory (DDR FCRAM) is primarily focused at the networking market segment. Yet due to its high performance, it also suits such applications as graphics, gaming, and high-end set-top boxes. DDR FCRAM's innovative architecture combines DRAM-type densities with random cycle times rivaling high-speed SRAMs. A multisourced technology supported by three major memory manufacturers, DDR FCRAM offers fast random cycle time and fast random access time, combined with a conventional DDR interface, to yield a cost-effective, high-bandwidth solution. This article identifies the main differences and similarities between DDR FCRAM and DDR SDRAM devices. Additionally, it provides controller design guidelines for designers already using a standard DDR SDRAM interface to let them modify their existing designs for DDR FCRAM. DDR FCRAM architectural enhancements have modified both the conventional DDR SDRAM core and its peripheral logic. This modification includes: • Core segmentation into smaller memory subarrays for lower power consumption. • Faster access times and peripheral logic to implement a three-stage row pipeline, enabling simultaneous execution of three commands. Implementing hidden precharge further reduces the random cycle time (tRC). The three-stage row pipeline contains address-decoder, memory-array, and I/O buffer functions (Fig. 1). To illustrate this pipeline architecture, consider a Read operation: In conventional DRAM technologies, including DDR SDRAM, the memory location is first supplied. Then the data is read into the I/O buffer. Consequently, a conventional DDR SDRAM can't start executing the next address until the current Read Data output is complete. In contrast, DDR FCRAM can accept a new address once the current address is latched in the decoder. A third address can also be specified once the data of the first address has moved from the memory array to the I/O buffer. This pipeline architecture makes DDR FCRAM ideal for networking applications that require short random cycle times and multibank accesses, such as packet buffering. Similarities Exist: Even though DDR FCRAM's redesigned core concept offers significantly improved performance over DDR SDRAM, the two share several similar features. This makes it easy for designers to change their designs with minimum effort. The following attributes are common to both DDR FCRAM and DDR SDRAM: • TSOP 66-pin package • DDR clocking • Data strobe signal (DQS) clocking • four-bank organization • ×8 and ×16 I/O organization • 256-Mbit densities • two and four burst length • SSTL-2 2.5 V I/O As mentioned earlier, the architecture of DDR FCRAM has been modified to deliver a faster random cycle time. DDR FCRAM has lower latencies and can handle up to three commands simultaneously. Figure 2 shows this concept. The timing diagram illustrates the differences between a conventional DDR SDRAM and DDR FCRAM. It also reveals the smaller initial latency (tRCD) of DDR FCRAM due to the integrated row address strobe (RAS) and column address strobe (CAS) in the command set. Besides minimizing the latencies, DDR FCRAM operates at a 200-MHz clock rate—delivering the speed needed by high-end networking applications. Unlike DDR SDRAM, DDR FCRAM doesn't support page-mode operation. Instead, it automatically closes the row and precharges the bank. The device also has a significantly shorter random cycle time (25 ns versus 60 ns for DDR SDRAM). Moreover, DDR FCRAM can seamlessly operate in the bank-interleave mode. Bus utilization of up to 80% in DDR FCRAM is significantly higher than other DDR DRAM technologies. This higher bus utilization makes the device a suitable replacement for expensive high-speed SRAM technologies. Controller Considerations: Figures 3a and 3b show memory controller-to-DRAM and the microprocessor-to-memory controller interfaces for DDR SDRAM and DDR FCRAM, respectively. A DDR memory controller can be easily designed to accommodate both DDR SDRAM and DDR FCRAM. The —RAS, —CAS, and —WE pins are replaced by a function pin, FN, and two additional address pins, A13 and A14. A comparison of functional truth tables for DDR SDRAM and DDR FCRAM command sets shows that the latter is much simpler (see the table). A standard DDR SDRAM has separate signals for command and address: The Active command is issued first, and the row address input takes place at the same clock edge. A Read/Write command and column address follows this. After a specified CAS latency, the Read or Write command is executed. On the other hand, FCRAM has only two commands: First, an RDA or WRA command is issued, depending on if it's Read or Write (the state of —FN determines Read or Write), then the Lower Address Latch (LAL) command. The RDA and WRA specify the row, column, upper addresses (A0 to A14), and bank addresses, while the LAL completes the Read or Write operation by latching the lower addresses (A0 to A7). This broadside addressing (asymmetrical number of row/column addresses) lets FCRAM achieve faster random access and cycle times. Note that the above comparison is based on a 256-Mbit (×16) DRAM device. There are other design considerations to address: Signaling: To take full advantage of FCRAM, the high-speed bus must be able to pipeline addresses. Because a second address can be issued to the FCRAM before the production of the first requested data, an address pipeline must be implemented. DDR SDRAM does not require this. For ASIC-embedded CPU and controller designs, the ECC, Arbiter, DMAC, memory controller (FCRAM and SRAM), and external-bus interface module must be designed with careful consideration of the following key guidelines for high-performance memory-controller design: • Activate the memory within one clock cycle. • Release the high-speed bus before the cycle's end to keep from holding the bus for an extra cycle. • Use an arbiter to stage bus usage between bus masters and allow priority selection. • Use burst-increment, decrement, and hold functions. • Keep the external load to a minimum (few FCRAMs located in close proximity to the ASIC). Interface And Termination: The interface specification for DDR SDRAM and DDR FCRAM is Stub Series Terminated Logic (SSTL_2), JEDEC standard, JESD8-9. SSTL_2 offers adequate output current drive to permit parallel-termination schemes, which is important for high-speed signaling. It also allows for proper termination of the bus transmission lines and reduces signal reflections. This will improve settling, lower EMI emissions, and make higher clock rates possible. A minimum termination resistance to VTT can be used and still comply with the standard's minimum output voltages and currents. For best performance when implementing DDR FCRAM, the single-resistor termination scheme is strongly recommended. Benefits include lower cost, simpler signal routing, reduced reflections, and improved signal bandwidth and settling. DDR FCRAM supports four programmable SSTL_2 drive strengths, which are 4 mA (weakest), 8 mA (default), 12 mA (strong), and 16 mA (strongest). Selection is accomplished by an internal user-programmable register set. This feature allows designers to program the drive strength to suit their overall system and pc-board requirements. In lightly loaded systems—that is, systems with few memories—where the memories are physically close to the controller, the weakest drive type may be selected to limit the driver slew rates and benefit both signal integrity and radiated emissions. Higher drive currents would better suit heavily loaded systems with more memory devices and higher capacitance. DQS Termination: The DQS lines should be terminated with discrete resistors to VDDQ and VSS. This will keep noise on VTT caused by the changing data lines from affecting DQS. These lines should be terminated with discrete resistors. This allows the termination to be adjusted independently of any other signals. Bidirectional Line Termination: The data and DQS lines are bidirectional. To have the same levels at all receivers from all transmitters, a series resistor is required on all devices that can drive the line. The signaling standard is called series stub logic because there's a series resistor at every stub. Terminations to VTT should be at both ends of the main bus. Resistor packs are acceptable for these terminations. VTT And VREF: The VTT supply must be able to both sink and source current. This means that a standard switching power supply can't be used without a shunt to let the supply sink current. Because each data line is connected to VTT with relatively low impedance, this supply must be very stable. Designers shouldn't generate VREF with one divider routed from the controller to the memory devices. The optimal solution is to generate a local VREF at each device. Discrete resistors should be used to produce VREF, while resistor packs should be avoided. Address/Control-Line Termination: Address and control lines (except for DQS lines) are unidirectional. These lines need only a series resistor at the controller. Also, these lines transfer data at half the rate of the data lines and may need less termination to function properly. Resistor packs for these terminations are acceptable. Frequency Versus Termination: At lower frequencies, the full SSTL termination might not be needed. For point-to-point applications (one controller and one memory device per data line), both the series resistor and the resistor to VTT may often be omitted entirely for frequencies below 160 MHz. Just the series resistor may be required for frequencies under 200 MHz. These termination reductions must be simulated and checked out to ensure that the design has an adequate margin. Actual driver strength and board layout significantly affect the performance of these termination schemes. Several other schemes have been used successfully in point-to-point applications. The key to successfully implementing FCRAM and achieving peak performance is simulation. Data Strobe Signal (DQS): Because FCRAM is a DDR-type DRAM, it outputs data at both the rising and falling edges of the clock. In FCRAM, the address and command signals are synchronized with the clock input, while the data pins are synchronized with the DQS signal. Data output takes place at both the DQS's rising and falling edges. DQS is in phase with the clock input of the device. A lag may occur in the journey time for signals from the controller to the memory, and from memory to the controller due to different wiring lengths of data lines, command/address lines, and the clock (Fig. 4). This lag time makes it difficult for the receiver (memory or controller) to acquire data correctly. Because the FCRAM performs the input/output of data at twice the frequency of the external clock, the valid data window is narrower. To eliminate this difficulty, the devices (both controller and memory) output the DQS signal. The receiver can acquire data securely by receiving the DQS signal. Hide comments Plain text • No HTML tags allowed. • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
@article{item\textunderscore3004340, title = {{Late-season snowfall is associated with decreased offspring survival in two migratory arctic-breeding songbird species}}, author = {Chmura, H. E. and Krause, J. S. and Perez, J. H. and Asmus, A. and Sweet, S. K. and Hunt, K. E. and Meddle, S. L. and McElreath, Richard and Boelman, N. T. and Gough, L. and Wingfield, J. C.}, language = {eng}, issn = {0908-8857}, doi = {10.1111/jav.01712}, publisher = {Munksgaard}, address = {Copenhagen, Denmark}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-09}, abstract = {{While the effect of weather on reproduction has been studied for many years in avian taxa, the rapid pace of climate change in arctic regions has added urgency to this question by changing the weather conditions species experience during breeding. Given this, it is important to understand how factors such as temperature, rain, snowfall, and wind affect reproduction both directly and indirectly (e.g. through their effects on food availability). In this study, we ask how weather factors and food availability influence daily survival rates of clutches in two arctic-breeding migratory songbirds: the Lapland longspur Calcarius lapponicus , a circumpolar breeder, and Gambel\textquoterights white-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii , which breeds in shrubby habitats across tundra, boreal and continental climates. To do this, we monitored clutch survival in these two species from egg-lay through fledge at field sites located near Toolik Field Station (North Slope, Alaska) across 5 yr (2012\textendash2016). Our results indicate that snowfall and cold temperatures decreased offspring survival rates in both species; although Lapland longspurs were more susceptible to snowfall. Food availability, quantified by pitfall sampling and sweep-net sampling methods, had minimal effects on offspring survival. Some climate models predict increased precipitation for the Arctic with global warming, and in the Toolik region, total snow accumulation may be increasing. Placed in this context, our results suggest that changes in snow storms with climate change could have substantial consequences for reproduction in migratory songbirds breeding in the North American Arctic.}}, journal = {{Journal of Avian Biology}}, volume = {49}, number = {9}, eid = {e01712}, }
Assignments got your hair on fire? Douse the flames with our full-range writing service! Leslie Marmon Silko wrote an essay called Fences Against Freedom. Nevertheless, Ceremony earned Silko a place in the history books and caused The New York Times book review to call her "the most accomplished Native American writer of her generation." Whoa, that's some heavy praise, especially when you consider that Silko's generation was responsible for what would come to be known as the "Native American Renaissance." That's when, in the late 1960s and 70s, Native American writers began to draw the attention of mainstream publishing houses, critics, grant-bestowing foundations (Cha-ching!), and universities began establishing Native American Studies departments. And Leslie Marmon Silko was right in the middle of it all. Well, you can start by reading this book. Sure, lessons about tolerance have been around since Dr. Seuss wrote about the , but Ceremony digs a little bit deeper. The protagonist, Tayo, knows what it's like to live in a world of discord. The racial divisions in his society are extremely serious, and Silko doesn't let white people off the hook for the ways they have historically mistreated Native Americans. But this novel is about healing, and learning to forgive past wrongs in order to move forward. Write a response essay on the novel Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. Scott Momaday, James Welch, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Gerald Visenor. In this paper, I will discuss three different works by Silko (Lullaby, Storyteller, and Yellow Woman).... In the novel Ceremony, by Leslie Marmon Silko, this is witnessed in the character Auntie, a dominating, selfish woman who will do anything to gain a respectable status in the community. Leslie Marmon Silko is a pretty rad chick, and quite the accomplished author to boot—but she probably wouldn't tell you any of that herself. When she published Ceremony in 1977, she was reluctant to accept the title of "first female Native American novelist." As she points out in this , a lot about Native American history has been lost. "There might have been some Native American woman long ago that we don't know about," Silko speculates. Sounds like someone's been eating her fair share of humble pie. Ceremony Silko Free Essays - StudyMode 5. Discuss the importance of gender roles in the novel. Does anyone cross these roles? A speculative question: my might Leslie Marmon Silko chose to focus her novel on the experience of a man? In the Lesile Silko's novel Ceremony, the protagonist, Tayo, experiences a string of unfortunate events in his life that damaged his character both physically and figuratively. Versatile Services that Make Studying Easy We write effective, thought-provoking essays from scratch We create erudite academic research papers We champion seasoned experts for dissertations We make it our business to construct successful business papers What if the quality isn’t so great? How do I know the professor won’t find out? What if it doesn’t meet my expectations? Clients enjoy the breezy experience of working with us Click to learn our proven method Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko - Essay Leslie Marmon Silko - Wikipedia In Silko's "Yellow Woman", the confusing western-type setting of dry, hot alkali-white crust dirt, rivers, and horses with the contrast of modern day mentioning of trucks, schools, and jello set the tone. Ceremony by Silko Essay - 1755 Words \| Cram Leslie Marmon Silko uses these three short passages taken from an ancient Indian story included in the novel Ceremony to express and convey the idea that the white man’s fear was the primary factor contributing to their negative actions toward the Indian people.... of clients claim significantly improved grades thanks to our work. Clients Speak
On the Number 78 1) The 39th even number = 78 2) The 12th triangular number = 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, 78 Sum of the first 12 numbers: 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12 = 78 3) The 16th abundant number = 78 (12, 18, 20, 24, 30, 36, 40, 42, 48, 54, 56, 60, 66, 70, 72, 78) 4) The 56th composite number = 78 5) Sum of the first 8 composite numbers = 4 + 6 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 12 + 14 + 15 = 78 6) Product of the 1st perfect number and 6th prime numbers = 6 x 13 = 78 7) Product of the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th prime numbers = 2 x 3 x 13 = 78 8) Product of the 1st even & 25th composite numbers = 2 x 39 = 78 9) Product of the 2nd odd & 13th even numbers = 3 x 26 = 78 10) Difference of the 10th square & 13th composite numbers = 100 - 22 = 78 11) Sum of the 12th & 13th prime numbers = 37 + 41 = 78 12) The 66th & 67th digits of pi = 78 13) The 198th & 199th digits of phi = 78 14) Number of zeros in tredecillion (1078) = 78 (British system) (In the American system, tredecillion = (1042) 15) Atomic Number of Platinum (Pt) = 78 (78 protons & 78 electrons) 16) The 78th day of a non-leap year = March 19 ( Frédéric Joliot-Curie, French Nobel Prize-winning physicist, was born on this day 5-19-1900 & died on 8-14-1958) 17) The 78 RPM phonograph records became the standard in 1926. The common name for such records as 78s or "seventy-eights" as they played at 78 revolutions per minute. 18) In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, 78 gifts were given on the 12th day. 19) The number of cards in a Tarot deck = 78 (22 Major Arcana cards + 56 Minor Arcana cards = 78) Tarot history goes back to the early 1400 in Northern Italy. The 52-deck playing cards were first mentioned in Spain in 1371. Special cards were added that could beat any card of the four ordinary suits— called trionfi (triumphs), from which our word trumps is derived. When the game spread from Italy, the word Tarocco became Tarot in French and Tarok in German. By the late 1400, the 78 card pack with 21 trumps, 14 cards per suit and a Fool had become fairly standard. Until the 18th century, the four suits were: "spade" (swords), "bastoni" (batons), "coppe" (cups), "denari" (coins). In the late 18th century, the coins and batons were transformed into pentacles and wands, and the term "major arcana" was introduced for the 22 trumps. 20) Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot (1998) by Rachel Pollack brings awareness of myth and modern psychology to the Tarot's ancient symbolism. The author provides a thorough description of each card encompassing art, history, literature, mythology, and psychology. (Book Review by Laylian) 21) An elevator floor plaque from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center recovered from the wreckage (New York State Museum) NY Times, 11-25-2003 22) Hymn 78 in Book 7 of the Rig Veda is an invocation to Dawn: We have beheld her earliest lights approaching: her many glories part, on high, asunder... Rich Daughter of the Sky, we all behold her, yea, all men look on Dawn as she is breaking... Inspired with loving thoughts this day to greet thee, we and our wealthy nobles have awakened. Show yourselves fruitful, Dawns, as ye are rising. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings. 23) 78th word of the King James Bible's Old Testament Genesis = called 2: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. and God divided the light from the darkness. And the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis I.1-4 (1611) 24) Maschil of Asaph addresses to the Israelites in 78th Psalm: 15: He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths 16: He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers Psalms 78.2-3, 78.15-16 (1611) 25) Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Verse 78: Nothing in the world is weaker than water but against the hard and the strong nothing excels it for nothing can change it the soft overcomes the hard the weak overcomes the strong this is something everyone knows but no one is able to practice thus the sage declares who accepts a country's disgrace we call the lord of soil and grain who accepts a country's misfortune we call the king of all under Heaven upright words sound upside down. (translated by Red Pine, Tao Te Ching, Mercury House, San Francisco, 1996, p. 156) 26) 78th Verse of Buddha's Dhammapada: On the Wise Do not keep company with evildoing friends nor with people who are base; associate with the good, associate with the best of men. Buddha, Dhammapada Verse 78 (240 B.C.) 27) 78th Book of Enoch describes the Sun & Moon, Waxing & Waning of the Moon: “And on the first day she is called the new moon, for on that day the light rises upon her. She becomes the whole night through till the sun rises over against her and the moon is seen over against the sun.” Book of Enoch LXXVIII.12-13 (circa 105 B.C.-64 B.C.) 28) 78th Tetragram of the T'ai Hsüan Ching: Chiang / On the Verge December 3 (pm) - December 7: Correlates with Human's Mystery: Yin; the phase Water; and the I Ching Hexagram #64, Not yet complete; the sun enters the Dipper constellation, 9th degree. Momentous changes are about to occur in the phenomenal world. Yin ch'i, which has nearly effected the completion of the myriad things, will soon depart. Yang is on the verge of returning to its initial position at the beginning of the cycle. Such reversals are the key to renewal, but given the potential danger inherent in times of great transition, the noble man takes particular care to presevere in the course of moderation. Yang Hsiung (53 BC-18 AD), Canon of Supreme Mystery ( T'ai Hsüan Ching) (translated by Michael Nylan, 1993) 29) 78th Trigraph of the Ling Ch'i Ching: Chieh Chin / Abstaining The image of appropriately withdrawing A cluster of yin contrary to their positions Quarreling and fighting in their drunkenness, both knives and staffs are drawn. Only when the host, becoming fearful, humbles himself does it cease. Dwelling in prosperity, one should ponder and contemplate; Effecting plans lies in discerning the moment. When setting out the wine vessels, guard against uncouth guests; By being humble and retiring, one can be free of anxiety. Tung-fang Shuo, Ling Ch'i Ching (circa 222-419) 30) Verse 78 of Rubáiyát, of Omar Khayyam (1048-1122): What! out of senseless Nothing to provoke A conscious Something to resent the yoke Of unpermitted Pleasure, under pain Of Everlasting Penalties, if broke! (translated by Edward Fitzgerald, London, 1st edition 1859, 2nd edition 1868) 31) Invoking the Muse in 78th Sonnet of William Shakespeare: So oft have I invoked thee for my Muse, And found such fair assistance in my verse As every alien pen hath got my use And under thee their poesy disperse. Thine eyes, that taught the dumb on high to sing And heavy ignorance aloft to fly, Have added feathers to the learned's wing And given grace a double majesty. Yet be most proud of that which I compile, Whose influence is thine, and born of thee: In others' works thou dost but mend the style, And arts with thy sweet graces graced be; But thou art all my art, and dost advance As high as learning my rude ignorance. William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Sonnets LXXVIII, Commentary 32) 78th Poem of Emily Dickinson: A poor— torn heart—a tattered heart— That sat it down to rest— Nor noticed that the Ebbing Day Flowed silver to the West— Nor noticed Night did soft descend— Nor Constellation burn— Intent upon the vision Of latitudes unknown. The angels— happening that way This dusty heart espied— Tenderly took it up from toil And carried it to God— There— sandals for the Barefoot— There— gathered from the gales— Do the blue havens by the hand Lead the wandering Sails. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (edited by Thomas H. Johnson, 1955) 78th Verse in Tagore's Gitanjali: When the creation was new and all the stars shone in their first splendour, the gods held their assembly in the sky and sang 'Oh, the picture of perfection! the joy unalloyed!' But one cried of a sudden— 'It seems that somewhere there is a break in the chain of light and one of the stars has been lost.' The golden string of their harp snapped, their song stopped, and they cried in dismay— 'Yes, that lost star was the best, she was the glory of all heavens!' From that day the search is unceasing for her, and the cry goes on from one to the other that in her the world has lost its one joy! Only in the deepest silence of night the stars smile and whisper among themselves— 'Vain is this seeking! unbroken perfection is over all!' Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) Gitanjali: Song Offerings (1912), Verse 78 34) Opus 78 of Johannes Brahms' Violin Sonata #1 in G Major (Vivace ma non troppo, Adagio, Allegro molto moderto) was composed 1878-1879, in the idyllic surroundings of the resort town of Pörtschach. It was published in November 1879. Brahms connected this work to lyrical G-major sonatas by Mozart (K. 301) & Beethoven (Op. 96), as well as to a quote from Goethe's Queen of Heaven: "Come, rise to higher spheres." Clara Schumann hoped that this last movement would accompany her in her journey to the next world. 35) At Age 78: Euripides (485 BC-406 BC), Greek dramatist, writes The Cyclops & Orestes (408 B.C.) gives his definition of free speech (no right to shout "fire" in a theater) in 1919. Giovanni Giolitti (1842-1928), becomes Italian Prime Minister for the fifth time (1920) Henri Matisse (1869-1954), French painter, designs for the Chapel of the Rosary, Vence, France (1947) Granville Stanley Hall (1899-1924), U.S. psychologist, publishes Senescence (1922) D. T. Suzuki (1870-1966), Japanese Zen scholar publishes Zen Doctrine of No-Mind (1949) Erich Fromm (1900-1980), U.S. psychoanalyst publishes To Have or To Be (1970) [Sources: World Almanac Book of Who (1980); Jeremy Baker, Tolstoy's Bicycle (1982), pp. 478-480] © Peter Y. Chou, WisdomPortal.com P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039 email: peter@wisdomportal.com (6-3-2003)
Dealing with Constipation Constipation refers to bowel movements that either occur less often than expected or with a stool that is hard, dry and difficult to pass. (Types 1-3 on the Bristol Stool Chart, below.) A healthy adult should pass one to two stools a day, although some otherwise healthy adults pass a stool every other day. There are a number of reasons one might not pass feces, including diet, fluid intake, medications, stress, anal pain from hemorrhoids or fissures, lack of probiotic gut bacteria, laxative abuse, specific diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, thyroid disease and Parkinson’s, change in circardian rhythm (due to irregular sleeping while traveling) and a poor posture while eliminating In Chinese medicine proper digestion has been seen as a paramount hallmark of health and one school of medicine considered poor digestion to be the root of almost all diseases. Chinese medicine looks at whether the constipation is because of a dry hard stool (dryness, usually due to heat) or a normal stool without peristalsis (qi stagnation). Heat can be of external or internal origin and is the major cause of constipation, especially if stools are hard or dry. Qi stagnation involves anything that blocks peristalsis, from emotions (Liver qi stagnation) to physical blockages or lack of exercise. Laxatives and Laxative Abuse Western medicine recognizes two types of laxatives: hyperosmolar and stimulant. The hyperosmolar laxatives (MiraLax, GoLytely, and Philips Milk of Magnesium) are agents that draw water into the bowel, making the stool softer and promoting movement of the stool. Hyperosmolar laxatives are over the counter medications, often used in healthcare as they have few risks and tend not to cause abdominal cramping. Stimulant laxatives, on the other hand, stimulate the propelling action of the bowel.. These include the anthraquinone laxatives These medications are associated with cramping and potentially harmful side effects. Kyle Thompson, self made. Stool images and tex... Kyle Thompson, self made. Stool images and text made into document in, exported to PDF and then captured in OS X as a roundabout, but best way of ensuring good layout! Intended for use in a new article Bristol Stool Chart (Photo credit: Wikipedia) In Chinese medicine we use three classes of laxatives. Emergency cathartics are given only in serious circumstances such as constipation accompanied by ascites. Only experienced practitioners should use this category which causes serious cramping and diarrhea. Strong laxatives like Da Chen Qi Tang are often based on stimulants like rhubarb root and hyperosmolar magnesium, which are only taken until the first bowel movement. The second category is comparable to the anthraquinone laxatives (like senna, cascara sagrada, buckthorn, or aloe), Mirelax, phenolphthalein and bisacodyl. Gentle bulk laxatives make up most treatments for constipation. The gentle bulk laxatives include flax and psyllium seed (Metamucil), methylcellulose (Citrucel) and prunes. Stool softeners (emollient laxatives like docusate) are more benign western laxatives which are similarly gentle and allow fluids to penetrate the hard stool. Stool softeners are commonly used when there is a need to soften the stool temporarily and make defecation easier (for example, after surgery, childbirth, or heart attacks). They are also used for individuals with hemorrhoids or anal fissures.They have temporary uses, but over the long run water in the diet should do the trick for most people. A unique forth class of nourishing laxatives comes from Ayurvedic medicine and is based on the rasayana (longevity tonic) Triphala which consists of three fruits: : Amala (Emblica officinalis) one of the highest natural sources of Vitamin C, Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). This is the only nourishing laxative I know of and can be used to recover peristalsis after damage from overuse of anthraquinone laxatives. It may be combined with other herbs like guggulu, Laxative abuse can be a major cause of constipation since people with constipation will often inappropriately choose stimulant laxatives, use them too frequently or use them for purging in a misguided attempt to control weight. This can take over the body’s natural peristalsis and the person will no longer be able to have a normal bowel movement. The anthraquinonne laxatives will cause laxative dependence within two weeks of constant use. Herbalist David Hoffman tells how the British Navy in its wisdom wanted its sailors to be regular, so issued a daily dose of senna, dooming the sailors to lifetime laxative dependence. (Perhaps if they had listened to the Indians they were colonizing, they might have learned to overcome the dependence with triphala!) Medications and Constipation There are a number of medications that can cause constipation, notably pain killers and other medicines based on opiods. I once treated a woman on methadone maintenance who had retained so much stool that she appeared 9 months pregnant. She spent a large part of each day trying enemas and other actions to move a little stool. The opiate killed her peristalsis. Codeine based pain killers are known for causing constipation that can be worse than the pain being treated. Examples include Tylenol #3, oxycodone (Percocet), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid.) Ibuprofen (Motrin) often works as well after the first few doses of codeine. Diuretics like Lasix and calcium channel blocking drugs such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and nifedipine (Procardia) can dry the stool out. Antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) and imipramine (Tofranil and anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol) are constipating although Prozac is not. Parkinson’s disease medications including anticholinergic medications, Artane and Cogentin can constipate, but then so can the disease. Even iron supplements and aluminum-containing antacids such as Amphojel, Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil and Rollaids can cause constipation. Speak to your doctor about non-constipating alternatives and consider natural alternatives to iron and antacid supplements. For instance dock (Rumex crispus) tincture helps iron assimilation in drop doses. And bitters before meals can reduce the need for antacids (which are usually the wrong remedy for people over 30.) Diet and Constipation Diet is perhaps the main cause of constipation and can be the easiest to remedy once laxative dependence is addressed. Dietary influences come from a variety of sources. For example magnesium has decreased by over a third in most foods tested by the USDA since the mid 1970s and magnesium helps attract fluid into the stool. But we also have less fiber and fewer bitter vegetables, both of which would help reduce constipation.. • Honey Rum Fruit Salad Honey Rum Fruit Salad (Photo credit: SliceOfChic) Fluids: If you don’t get enough fluids from food or drink, your constipation won’t go away. You need 6-8 servings of fluid a day, approximately 2 liters. It does not have to be from pure water although water is good. Fluid can come from drinks, fruit like watermelon, vegetables like cucumber, coffee and tea (although a small amount of caffeinated beverages will pass through without hydrating you.) If you sip- half a cup or less at a time- you will hydrate better. If you gulp, you will trigger your urinary reflex. That is a good thing because it flushes out the tissues but you need hydration to stop constipation. • Lots of fluid-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon, honeydew melon, cucumber and celery. • Allergens or food sensitivities, especially milk can cause chronic constipation by creating inflammation that causes changes in the lining of the gut, specifically the eosinophilia of the rectal mucosa. (see references below.) Sometimes this causes diarrhea or mixed constipation and diarrhiea, but constipation alone can be triggered. • Insufficient fats. Fats lubricate the intestines and allow for smooth passage of the feces. In Chinese medicine we use oily seeds like apricot pits, flaxseed, cannabis seed and olive seed. Coconut or olive oil also work. • Fiber: You need about 25 to 30 grams of fiber every day to soften the stool and encourage proper bowel function. Most American diets contain less than half that amount. Fiber from powdered supplements can impact if you don’t take them with enough fluid. Fruits and vegetables provide fiber in a hydrating package. Bananas, apples, celery, fennel root and cucumber all help. • Mucilage is a specific kind of water-soluble fiber that provides lubrication. Sea vegetables, mucilage from slippery elm bark, hibiscus flowers, marshmallow root, okra, chia seeds or flax seeds will also lubricate the intestines. • Lack of bitters. The bitter taste stimulates the liver to make bile and to stimulate both digestive juices in the stomach and peristalsis. We have significantly reduced this important digestive signal by hybridizing bitter fruits and greens to have a sweeter taste. Bite into a lime peel, then squeeze the sour juice into water and drink it before your meal. Or eat grapefruit, radicchio salad, Karela (bitter melon), drink black coffee or have a little Angostura bitters in water before your main course. Urban Moonshine makes purse-sized bitter sprays that make it easy to get the bitter trigger in the go (tiny amounts work.) • Coffee. This is one of the most common agents to stimulate the bowel and a cup in the morning is often followed by a bowel movement. Coffee is a bitter, is rich in magnesium, chlorogenic acids, cafestol, kahweol, caffeine, theophylline and theobromine. • Fermented foods: are a source of probiotics wrapped up in fluid, frequently fat and often fiber. Aside from buttermilk, yogurt, kefir, sour cream, fermented butter, live blue cheese, gorgonzola, kombucha and live vinegar, which don’t appreciably contain fiber with their organisms, pickles, kim chee, sauerkraut, fermented veggies, olives, miso and fermented fish all help repopulate the gut and move things along. The fermented vegetables are easy to make if not found nearby, and they contain prebiotic foods for the probiotic organisms. Te good bacteria form a living wallpaper in your gut and help the health of the intestinal villi. • Probiotic supplements can be useful to repopulate the gut after antibiotics but very few probiotics have much more than 4-5 Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria species and we have hundreds to thousands of naturally-occurring gut species. So while there is value in populating the most common probiotic species there is a need to take in probiotic foods. The two probiotics I recommend are Pharmax Sinbiotics Human Lactobacillus Complex which come with very potent sachets and Florastor which uses the less common probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. In Europe one can find probiotic strains of benign e-coli (the kind thin people have naturally) like Escherichia coli Nissle, but the FDA does not permit their sale in the USA. • Vitamin C is also laxative in large doses. 1000 mg of the vitamin in the morning can help stimulate a bowel movement. Physical Aspects of Constipation The Puborectalis Muscle kinks the rectum closed while sitting but relaxes while squatting. First, movement is necessary to provide qi to the bowels so peristalsis can occur. A person who never moves is likely to have trouble moving their bowels. Engaging in walking after meals is good for someone who is beginning to move. Acupuncture can also help move the bowels. Your acupuncturist might us points near your belly button, with additional points on your lower leg to moisten the stool and points below your knee for peristalsis. The acupuncture acts as a reset button for your body to take over normal elimination. But another, less-appreciated issue in western society is that we eliminate in the wrong position. For most of human history and in most places people have defecated in a squatting position. With the knees above the hips and the pelvic floor engaged, elimination is easier and more complete. I did not appreciate this until going to Beijing and getting intestinal problems. We stayed in a fine hotel that provided both western thrones and eastern squat toilets and surprisingly it was easier to manage with the eastern toilets because you could clear out more easily. More significant to constipation is the understanding of the role of the puborectalis muscle. The large intestine unloads at the rectum. However the rectum is supported by a loop of muscle, the puborectalis muscle which in a sitting or standing position chokes off the rectum to maintain continence. When one squats, the anorectal angle is increased, the rectum straightens and the stool can be easily evacuated. We pay a high price for retaining the Victorian “throne”. Because the anorectal angle is in a kinked position while sitting one is forced to strain in order to move the bowels, which is the main cause of hemorrhoids. While squatting the angle straightens out allowing the fecal matter to eliminate quickly and easily without straining. Since most of us will be unable to install a squat toilet in a western home or business, the Squatty Potty was designed as a corrective to the toilet. It consists of an elevated step stool that has a cutout to hug the toilet and allows elimination with a 35 degree anorectal angle. It is better than using a narrow foot stool and certainly better than standing on an unstable toilet seat. Sitting with elevated feet is not quite as efficient as eliminating in a true squatting position. Weight rests on the buttocks instead of the feet, although one probably could work up to a true squat on the wood versions, as seen in the second video below. Nonetheless it is better than sitting at either a 90 degree angle or balancing on an unstable toilet seat. The Role of Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC)in Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders –What the Gastroenterologist Has to Know Christian Breuer.Clinic of General Pediatrics,Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology,University Children’s Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf,Germany Chronic Constipation and Food Hypersensitivity – An Intriguing Relationship. A. Carroccio, G. Iacono. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006;24(9):1295-1304 Multiple food hypersensitivity as a cause of refractory chronic constipation in adults. ANTONIO CARROCCIO, LIDIA DI PRIMA, GIUSEPPE IACONO, ADA M. FLORENA, FRANCESCO D’ARPA, CARMELO SCIUME` , ANGELO B. CEFALU`, DAVIDE NOTO & MAURIZIO R. AVERNA. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2006; 41: 498/504. Health Benefits of the Natural Squatting Position by JONATHAN ISBIT 8 people like this post. Leave a Reply
USAF F-4E Phantom Refuelling Air to air refuelling was pioneered by Great Britain during the early 1930s. It has now been developed to the point where it happens with many Air Forces on a daily, routine basis and is essential in extending the range of some military aircraft in order to complete their mission. The most complex air refuelling mission ever accomplished was that of the Vulcan bomber which bombed the runway at Port Stanley in The Falkland Islands. This consisted of a relay of Victor tankers refuelling each other to extend their range so that one could provide sufficient fuel to the Vulcan to get to its destination and then further Victors refuelling each other to pick up the Vulcan on its return. As an exercise in military planning it was an exceptional piece of work. The aircraft seen here is a USAF F-4E Phantom which was refuelling over Germany in 1983. The tanker was a KC-10, converted from a civilian DC-10 aircraft. F-4 USAF 2 next image
Term: otic vesicle neuron differentiation Name: otic vesicle Synonyms: otic capsule, otocyst, ov Definition: Epithelial sac present beside the fifth rhombomere; forms the semicircular canals dorsally and the otolith organs ventrally, and houses the acoustico-vestibular sensory epithelia (maculae) of hair cells. (Also see Anatomical Atlas entry for ear by T. Whitfield.) Ontology: Anatomy Ontology [ZFA:0000051] Name: neuron differentiation Definition: The process in which a relatively unspecialized cell acquires specialized features of a neuron. Ontology: GO: Biological Process [GO:0030182] QuickGO AmiGO
Start Reading Angular Cheilitis 24 pages15 minutes The book deals with Angular Cheilitis which is caused by bacteria, fungus, or both bacteria and fungus. This bacteria and fungus is naturally present on healthy people, but is usually kept under control by our body's immune system. However, if our immune system is weakened or if we have any type of mouth trauma it can make it easier for the bacteria and/or fungus that cause Angular Cheilitis to spread. The disease is common in the mouth corners as the germs (bacteria or fungus) thrive in areas where there is constant moisture. Since the corners of our mouth move so much there are many skin folds and creases for the germs to thrive. As the germs get stronger they weaken and kill the skin cells around it causing the skin to start flaking off. When our body's immune system attacks the germs, it causes the affected areas to become inflamed and swollen. The combination of inflammation, flaking skin, and constant movement of lips makes it very easy for the corners of the mouth to begin to crack and split open. Complete detailed information on the subject is available within the publication. Read on the Scribd mobile app Download the free Scribd mobile app to read anytime, anywhere.
amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation Amazon rainforest biodiversity: Conservation project gap years The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. As well as the largest, it’s also home to an incredibly diverse range of animals and plants. As a result, the Amazon is integral to the ecosystem of the entire planet. Furthermore, the threat of global warming and deforestation mean that it is more important than ever to protect the rainforest. Thankfully, many people are eager to do their bit to save the jungle. Now, it’s become a popular choice for high school students to take a year out before university to volunteer on Amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation projects. Often, these projects are an incredible way to learn, share experiences, and help conserve this precious environment. Here, we share some Amazon facts, describe a typical day on a conservation project, and cover whether or not volunteering is right for you. New Call-to-action A few Amazon rainforest facts amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation The Amazon rainforest covers approximately 5.5 million square kilometers of South America. For scale, the United Kingdom and Ireland could fit into it 17 times. Furthermore, it’s the most species-rich ecosystem on the planet. Scientists are unsure as to the exact numbers, but it’s estimately the Amazon is home to 40,000 plant species, 3,000 fish, 1,300 types of birds, 430 mammal species and a mind-boggling 2.5 million types of insect. However, it isn’t just animals that make the Amazon such a fascinating place; the jungle is also very culturally rich. As it stands, anthropologists estimate there are at least 50 remote tribes that have almost no contact with the modern world. Sadly, the Amazon is under threat. Every second, 1.5 acres of the jungle is cut down – which is sobering statistic. Even more tragically, scientists estimate that 137 plant and animal species become extinct every day. However, threats to the Amazon aren’t just local – they affect the entire world. Now, deforestation is responsible for 30% of global carbon emissions. This is why it’s incredibly important that people begin to do their bit to reduce their carbon footprint. A typical day on a conservation project amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation Therefore, Amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation is an extremely pressing issue. If you’re interesting in science, the environment, and animal protection, then a gap year volunteering in the Amazon could be an amazing way to give back. There are many companies that organize trips, including Projects Abroad and Gap Year. Every project’s aims and objectives are different, but most encompass: • Data collection on flora and fauna for biodiversity studies • Assistance with animal rescue, care and release programs • Insect studies, like endangered butterfly breeding projects • Pilot farming, where groups work on sustainable ways to farm crops like avocados, bananas, and chillies • Raising awareness about sustainability Most projects ask for around four to six hours of your time on weekdays. Volunteers start work from around 8am before it gets too hot. The team with then take a long break during the heat of the day, then finish off in the afternoon. Weekends are free, where you can explore stunning surroundings. Is volunteering on a Amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation project right for me? amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation Volunteering on an Amazon rainforest biodiversity conservation project is a fantastic gap year for intrepid explorers. If you love nature, animals, and the great outdoors, a gap year in the Amazon is a once in a lifetime experience. On top of doing your bit to save this precious place, volunteers can gain lots of practical experience – especially if your university course is in the sciences. However, you’ll need to be happy to get your hands dirty and forego some mod cons! That said, these are small sacrifices to make for an unforgettable experience. New Call-to-action 1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
The importance of organizing in memory training The brain and memory circuit has an amazing cleaning agent. This cleaning agent also called the hippocampus keeps our memory working efficiently. This fact is both a good thing and a bad thing for students and people all over the world. Memories are structured into systems called neural networks consisting of trillions of synaptic connections. Like any other network in the world and nature, these can either be orderly or highly chaotic. The hippocampus tends to love orderly memories and neural networks. This means that if the memories you are creating are disorganized and chaotic, they aren’t going to stay around for long. I always thought I had one of the world’s worst memories. And furthermore I would always wonder why other people had such an easy time memorizing new information. I didn’t realize that it wasn’t my fault, but I also didn’t realize that I also always have had the ability to reorganize my thoughts and memories. Organization is one of the key principles of memory training, and if you want to accelerate your learning it’s something you should try to do. There are many ways you can reorganize your memories. I will link some potential resources for you to use at the end of this blog post. One way that we are going to be talking about here in today’s video and blog post is called the memory palace. This is an ancient technique that has been around for the longest time. However the technique has been largely forgotten or seldom used by the modern world. The amazing power of the memory palace To understand why the memory palace is so effective, let’s do a quick thought exercise. We want to think of an information type or memory that’s already highly organized. So to find this type of memory, I want to think back to the most recent buildings you have been in or are in. See if you can navigate these structures in your mind and follow the paths that are built into the structure or are naturally in the world. What I’m getting at there is the navigational aspect of your geospatial memory is the most organized type of information that you can utilize. The memory palace is an advanced memory technique that builds upon many other techniques. The idea is that you create a set number of stations along your journey through a building or location. I like to choose vivid locations within rooms, or landmarks along a path within a park for example. These are easy to find, and they don’t take much conscious effort to remember where they are. If you have to struggle to find the specific location of your information, you’re going to have more trouble than you need. Then you can incorporate these locations into your memory encoding. You will do this by visualizing and associating new information into the stations you create along the journey. For example if I want to remember the german word for zero ‘null’ I can do the following. First I create a visualization for the world null. Null reminds me of zero so I imagine a black hole sucking everything in. Now I incorporate that into my memory palace station, so for this I just use my desk. I imagine the black hole on my desk sucking everything into it, all my papers and office supplies. Next I can encode more information into the other stations, and next time I want to remember the data, I just need to walk along the journey in my mind. Art of memory – How to build a memory palace Psychology Today – Organizing your memory
#!/usr/bin/env python # coding: utf-8 # # BASIC SEMI-SUPERVISED LEARNING MODELS # Sometimes pressing Enter in TensorFlow is not enough to get good results. Sometimes you have too little data to work with and maximum likelihood estimation gives you some bizarre answer. Or even more common - data and labeling are expensive and the relationship between the number of instances in your dataset and quality of the final model is not linear at all. # That's when semi-supervised learning (SSL) come to play. # # > Semi-supervised learning is a class of machine learning tasks and techniques that also make use of unlabeled data for training – typically a small amount of labeled data with a large amount of unlabeled data [[source]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-supervised_learning). # # These types of ML algorithms are using both labeled and unlabeled data to get more accurate predictions (or in rare cases to get them at all). # # # Img 1 - Types of learning [[source]](https://www.slideshare.net/Dataiku/dataiku-hadoop-summit-semisupervised-learning-with-hadoop-for-understanding-user-web-behaviours) # And since we are dealing with unlabeled data (obviously, unknown instances) we grab some assumptions from unsupervised learning: # # - Continuity assumption (Points which are close to each other are more likely to share a label) # - Cluster assumption (The data tend to form discrete clusters, and points in the same cluster are more likely to share a label) # - Manifold assumption (The data lie approximately on a manifold of much lower dimension than the input space) # They seem reasonable enough though it's not a problem to find counterarguments. # Why do we need all these complications? Well, because it's working (in theory). # # # Img 2 - Semi-supervised explanation [[source]](http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~niyogi/papersps/BNSJMLR.pdf) # The whole idea of SSL is kinda bayesian in its nature, but we won't dive deep. # # As analogy to SSL [some resources](https://deepai.org/machine-learning-glossary-and-terms/semi-supervised-learning) give human inductive logic: we know just some instances of the phenomenon, but we try to infer general principles and same here: algorithms are using few reference points (our labeled data) to find the general pattern that will suit our unlabeled data best. But it's not always the case. Some algorithms will try to find generalization for the data given (infer a function, that describes our data best), but some algorithms will use thing called [transductive learning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transduction_(machine_learning)) ([more here](http://www.cs.cornell.edu/courses/cs4780/2009fa/lecture/13-transduction.pdf)). We will use models that take this approach to solve the classification task. # # All in all inductive learning is trying to get generalization from the given data and only then predict new data. Transductive learning will just try to predict new data given training data, skipping generalization part. # # Let's code a bit. I will add comments and explain what I'm doing. I guess most of the time it won't be necessary but still. # In[1]: #Basic imports import os import pandas as pd import numpy as np import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import seaborn as sns from sklearn.utils import shuffle # `sklearn` has two SSL algorithms: Label Propagation and Label Spreading. Let's import them. # # We will also use [`pomegranate`](https://pomegranate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html). It's a bayesian lib with lots of features but we will take only one-two models from it. It's written in so called skl notation - it uses same syntax and methods names as `sklearn`, so you will understand it pretty quickly. To install it run: # # through pip # >pip install pomegranate # # through Anaconda # >conda install pomegranate # In[2]: import pomegranate as pg from sklearn.linear_model import LogisticRegression from sklearn.semi_supervised import LabelPropagation, LabelSpreading from sklearn.metrics import roc_auc_score from sklearn.datasets import load_breast_cancer # In[3]: import warnings warnings.simplefilter('ignore') #we don't wanna see that np.random.seed(1) #i'm locking seed at the begining since we will use some heavy RNG stuff, be aware # We will use this [dataset](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/datasets/index.html#breast-cancer-dataset). Here is `sklearn` [loader](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/modules/generated/sklearn.datasets.load_breast_cancer.html) # # Atributes: # # - ID number # - Diagnosis (M = malignant, B = benign) # # Ten real-valued features are computed for each cell nucleus: # # - radius (mean of distances from center to points on the perimeter) # - texture (standard deviation of gray-scale values) # - perimeter # - area # - smoothness (local variation in radius lengths) # - compactness (perimeter^2 / area - 1.0) # - concavity (severity of concave portions of the contour) # - concave points (number of concave portions of the contour) # - symmetry # - fractal dimension ("coastline approximation" - 1) # # The mean, standard error and "worst" or largest (mean of the three largest values) of these features were computed for each image, resulting in 30 features. For instance, field 3 is Mean Radius, field 13 is Radius SE, field 23 is Worst Radius. # # All feature values are recoded with four significant digits. # # Missing attribute values: none # # Class distribution: 357 benign, 212 malignant # In[4]: data = load_breast_cancer() df = pd.DataFrame(data.data, columns=data.feature_names) df['target'] = data['target'] # In[5]: df.head() # Now we will just briefly look through our dataset # In[6]: df.info() # In[7]: df.describe() # We will shuffle our dataset since it has order and we don't want that. # Also, I will reduce dimensionality by dropping features to simplify everything. # # Then we will create our `X` and `Y` and split them into three parts: labeled train data (1), unlabeled train data (2) and test data (3). We will drop a lot of features (se and worst columns; area/perimeter is redundant since it's highly correlated to the radius; concave points feature is redundant too and correlates to concavity and compactness). # # Little warning: result reproduction is only achievable if you shuffle data from its original order (order that it has in csv file). If you try to shuffle from another state (shuffle when you've already shuffled it, etc.) will give you different results. # In[8]: df = shuffle(df, random_state=1) X = df.drop(['target', 'radius error', 'texture error', 'perimeter error', 'area error', 'smoothness error', 'compactness error', 'concavity error', 'concave points error', 'symmetry error', 'fractal dimension error', 'worst radius', 'worst texture', 'worst perimeter', 'worst area', 'worst smoothness', 'worst compactness', 'worst concavity', 'worst concave points', 'worst symmetry', 'worst fractal dimension', 'mean area', 'mean perimeter', 'mean concave points'], axis=1) y = df['target'] # Since we have only seven features now we can do something called [pairplot](https://seaborn.pydata.org/generated/seaborn.pairplot.html): it will plot pointplots between each features and their distribution on diagonal. This will help us find correlations and see how we can normalize our features. # This will take a time. More features and objects = more time, so don't try it on large datasets. If you want you can try it on whole data set `df` (it will take more time and every graph will be smaller), you will see highly correlated features that I dropped above. # In[9]: sns.pairplot(X) #sns.pairplot(df) # Now we will merge labeled and unlabeled data. # The common practice (most libs will need it that way) is to label unlabeled data `-1`. Some libs will only accept `NaN` as label for unlabeled data. Always check documentation and user guides. # In[10]: X_1, X_2, X_3 = np.split(X, [int(.1len(X)), int(.5len(X))]) y_1, y_2, y_3 = np.split(y, [int(.1len(y)), int(.5len(y))]) y_1_2 = np.concatenate((y_1, y_2.apply(lambda x: -1))) X_1_2 = np.concatenate((X_1, X_2)) # In[11]: index = ['Algorithm', 'ROC AUC'] results = pd.DataFrame(columns=index) # In[12]: logreg = LogisticRegression(random_state=1, class_weight='balanced') logreg.fit(X_1, y_1) results = results.append(pd.Series(['Logistic Regression', roc_auc_score(y_3, logreg.predict_proba(X_3)[:,1])], index=index), ignore_index=True) results # Just for reference LR timings. # # Reminder: df is 569x31 dense matrix # In[13]: get_ipython().run_cell_magic('timeit', '', "logreg_test = LogisticRegression(random_state=1, class_weight='balanced')\nlogreg_test.fit(df, y)\nlogreg_test.predict_proba(df);") # ## Label Propagation # Time to use our first SSL model - `LabelPropagation` (LP). It's quite simple. Intuitively, it looks and sounds like a clustering algorithm that just "propagate" labels to nearest data points. But we need to go a little bit deeper. # # Y is our label matrix, it has size of $(l+u)\times C$, where l - amount of labeled data points, u - amount of unlabeled data points, C - number of classes. So in binary classification task we will get 2 columns. It's kind of list that we will get from `predict_proba` method. # # The algorithm will create a fully connected graph where nodes are all the data points. The edges between nodes will be weights $w_{i,j}$: # # $$w_{i,j} = exp(\frac{d_{i,j}^2}{\sigma^2})$$ # # where d - distance function (euclidean in this case, but in general could be any distance function you want), $\sigma$ - hyperparameter, that control (shrink) weights. # # Then we build probabilistic transition matrix T: # # $$T_{i,j} = \frac{w_{i,j}}{\sum_{k=1}^{l+u}w_{i,j}}$$ # # T is just a matrix with probability of every data point to be in class C. Our labeled data points has 1.0 probability to be in class C (since we know their classes) and unlabeled data will get their classes from neighbours (we calculated weights earlier, they depend on distance between 2 points). # # The whole algorithm looks like this: # 1. Propagate Y <- TY (we "propagate" labels from labeled data to unlabeled) # 2. Row-normalize Y (value of element in row / sum of all elements values in row) # 3. Clamp the labeled data (we fixinig our labeled data, so our algorithm won't change probability of class, or in another words change the label) # 4. Repeat from step 1 until Y converges (we recalculate or distances and weights, that will give us different transition matrix that will change our belief in assigned labels, repeat until process converge). # # In case of `sklearn` implementation we have a choice of weightening function: RBF (see formula for $w_{i,j}$) or KNN ($1(x' \in kNN(x))$). KNN is faster and gives sparse representation. RBF is harder to compute and store dense transition matrix in memory, but has more options for tuning. Also sklearn RBF implementation instead of dividing by $\sigma^2$ multiply it by `gamma`, so it should be float, not integer. # # To learn more you can read [this](http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~jerryzhu/pub/CMU-CALD-02-107.pdf) and [this](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/modules/label_propagation.html#label-propagation). `sklearn` also has some cool examples of `LabelPropagation`: [SVM vs LP](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/auto_examples/semi_supervised/plot_label_propagation_versus_svm_iris.html#sphx-glr-auto-examples-semi-supervised-plot-label-propagation-versus-svm-iris-py), [LP demo](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/auto_examples/semi_supervised/plot_label_propagation_structure.html#sphx-glr-auto-examples-semi-supervised-plot-label-propagation-structure-py), [LP digits recognition](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/auto_examples/semi_supervised/plot_label_propagation_digits.html#sphx-glr-auto-examples-semi-supervised-plot-label-propagation-digits-py) and [LP digits active learning](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/auto_examples/semi_supervised/plot_label_propagation_digits_active_learning.html#sphx-glr-auto-examples-semi-supervised-plot-label-propagation-digits-active-learning-py). # Now I will define a little function that will give us a plot of ROC AUC of our algorithm depending on our kernel and parameter list. # In[14]: def label_prop_test(kernel, params_list, X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test): plt.figure(figsize=(20,10)) n, g = 0, 0 roc_scores = [] if kernel == 'rbf': for g in params_list: lp = LabelPropagation(kernel=kernel, n_neighbors=n, gamma=g, max_iter=100000, tol=0.0001) lp.fit(X_train, y_train) roc_scores.append(roc_auc_score(y_test, lp.predict_proba(X_test)[:,1])) if kernel == 'knn': for n in params_list: lp = LabelPropagation(kernel=kernel, n_neighbors=n, gamma=g, max_iter=100000, tol=0.0001) lp.fit(X_train, y_train) roc_scores.append(roc_auc_score(y_test, lp.predict_proba(X_test)[:,1])) plt.figure(figsize=(16,8)); plt.plot(params_list, roc_scores) plt.title('Label Propagation ROC AUC with ' + kernel + ' kernel') plt.show() print('Best metrics value is at {}'.format(params_list[np.argmax(roc_scores)])) # In[15]: gammas = [9e-6, 1e-5, 2e-5, 3e-5, 4e-5, 5e-5, 6e-5, 7e-5, 8e-5, 9e-5] label_prop_test('rbf', gammas, X_1_2, X_3, y_1_2, y_3) # In[16]: ns = np.arange(50,60) label_prop_test('knn', ns, X_1_2, X_3, y_1_2, y_3) # Now you can define your model separately with the best (or whatever) hyperparameter value and check its score # In[17]: lp_rbf = LabelPropagation(kernel='rbf', gamma=9e-6, max_iter=100000, tol=0.0001) lp_rbf.fit(X_1_2, y_1_2) results = results.append(pd.Series(['Label Propagation RBF', roc_auc_score(y_3, lp_rbf.predict_proba(X_3)[:,1])], index=index), ignore_index=True) lp_knn = LabelPropagation(kernel='knn', n_neighbors=53, max_iter=100000, tol=0.0001) lp_knn.fit(X_1_2, y_1_2) results = results.append(pd.Series(['Label Propagation KNN', roc_auc_score(y_3, lp_knn.predict_proba(X_3)[:,1])], index=index), ignore_index=True) # In[18]: results # Now let's talk about time. You can just look at the results or run command on your machine. On dense matrixes it's okeish, but on sparse representation it's a catastrophy (maybe knn kernel is ok). But for this we have [Sparse Label Propagation](https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.01414) # In[19]: get_ipython().run_cell_magic('timeit', '', "rbf_lp_test = LabelPropagation(kernel='rbf')\nrbf_lp_test.fit(df, y)\nrbf_lp_test.predict_proba(df);") # In[20]: get_ipython().run_cell_magic('timeit', '', "knn_lp_test = LabelPropagation(kernel='knn')\nknn_lp_test.fit(df, y)\nknn_lp_test.predict_proba(df);") # ## Label Spreading # Next one is `LabelSpreading` (LS). The algorithm is very similar to spectral clustering algorithm normalized cuts algorithm ([look here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_clustering), [here](https://towardsdatascience.com/spectral-clustering-for-beginners-d08b7d25b4d8) and [here](https://papers.nips.cc/paper/2092-on-spectral-clustering-analysis-and-an-algorithm.pdf)). # LS will create a affinity matrix (same as LP weights calculation step): # # $$W_{i,j} = exp(\frac{-\|\|x_i - x_j\|\|^2}{\sigma^2})$$ # # for every $i\neq j$ and $W_{i,j} = 0$ for every $i = j$ # # Then we will construct the matrix (Laplacian): # # $$S = D^{-1/2}WD^{−1/2}$$ # # where D - diagonal matrix with its (i,i)-element equal to the sum of the i-th row of W. # # These two steps is just a spectral clustering on all our data. Next two is more interesting: # # Iterate $F(t+1) = αSF(t)+(1−α)Y$ until convergence, where α is a parameter in (0, 1), F(t) - classifying function # # Let $F^$ denote the limit of the sequence {F(t)}. Label each point $x_i$ as a label $y_i = argmax≤F^_{i,j}$ # # During each iteration of the third step each point receives the information from its neighbors (first term), and also retains its initial information (second term). The parameter α specifies the relative amount of the information from its neighbors and its initial label information. Finally, the label of each unlabeled point is set to be the class of which it has received most information during the iteration process. # # You can read article about Label Spreading [here](http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=19D11D059FCEDAFA443FB135B4065A6A?doi=, `sklearn` user docs are [here](https://scikit-learn.org/stable/modules/generated/sklearn.semi_supervised.LabelSpreading.html). # In[21]: def labels_spread_test(kernel, hyperparam, alphas, X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test): plt.figure(figsize=(20,10)) n, g = 0, 0 roc_scores = [] if kernel == 'rbf': g = hyperparam if kernel == 'knn': n = hyperparam for alpha in alphas: ls = LabelSpreading(kernel=kernel, n_neighbors=n, gamma=g, alpha=alpha, max_iter=1000, tol=0.001) ls.fit(X_train, y_train) roc_scores.append(roc_auc_score(y_test, ls.predict_proba(X_test)[:,1])) plt.figure(figsize=(16,8)); plt.plot(alphas, roc_scores); plt.title('Label Spreading ROC AUC with ' + kernel + ' kernel') plt.show(); print('Best metrics value is at {}'.format(alphas[np.argmax(roc_scores)])) # In[22]: alphas = [0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9] labels_spread_test('rbf', 1e-5, alphas, X_1_2, X_3, y_1_2, y_3) # In[23]: alphas = [0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09] labels_spread_test('knn', 53, alphas, X_1_2, X_3, y_1_2, y_3) # In[24]: ls_rbf = LabelSpreading(kernel='rbf', gamma=9e-6, alpha=0.6, max_iter=1000, tol=0.001) ls_rbf.fit(X_1_2, y_1_2) results = results.append(pd.Series(['Label Spreading RBF', roc_auc_score(y_3, ls_rbf.predict_proba(X_3)[:,1])], index=index), ignore_index=True) ls_knn = LabelSpreading(kernel='knn', n_neighbors=53, alpha=0.08, max_iter=1000, tol=0.001) ls_knn.fit(X_1_2, y_1_2) results = results.append(pd.Series(['Label Spreading KNN', roc_auc_score(y_3, ls_knn.predict_proba(X_3)[:,1])], index=index), ignore_index=True) # In[25]: results # And timings. They are the same, as LP. # In[26]: get_ipython().run_cell_magic('timeit', '', "knn_ls_test = LabelSpreading(kernel='rbf')\nknn_ls_test.fit(df, y)\nknn_ls_test.predict_proba(df);") # In[27]: get_ipython().run_cell_magic('timeit', '', "knn_ls_test = LabelSpreading(kernel='knn')\nknn_ls_test.fit(df, y)\nknn_ls_test.predict_proba(df);") # ## Naive Bayes # Now let us move to `pomegranate` lib. It supports SSL for some models: Naive Bayes, Bayes Classificator, Hidden Markov Models. # We will use only Naive Bayes (NB), it's plain and simple. # # >Naive Bayes classifiers are a family of simple "probabilistic classifiers" based on applying Bayes' theorem with strong (naive) independence assumptions between the features [[source]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naive_Bayes_classifier) # # # # We will use [Bayes theorem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayes%27_theorem) for our predictions. So, we need to find $p(c\|x)$ (probability of the class c given sample x). To do it we need to calculate $p(c)$ - just a class probability in general, $p(x)$ - our evidence and $p(x\|c)$. The last one is very hard to compute since in general we need to take into account conditional dependencies in our data. # # But what if we assume that all our features are conditionally independent given class c (very strong and mostly wrong assumption)? Well, this would make our life a lot easier. # We can now just calculate $p(c\|x)$ as a product of $p(x_i\|c)$. # # # Img 3 - Naive Bayes explanation [[source]](https://www.saedsayad.com/images/Bayes_rule.png) # For every sample we will pick the most probable class (this is known as the maximum a posteriori or MAP decision rule). Then we can write down our optimization task # # # Img 4 - Naive Bayes classifier [[source]](https://towardsdatascience.com/introduction-to-naive-bayes-classification-4cffabb1ae54) # Another assumption that Naive Bayes make use of is equality of all our features. It's wrong too, but with it we don't need to set weights to our features. Although some libs give you that possibility. # # There a lot of articles about NB, I like this [one](https://jakevdp.github.io/PythonDataScienceHandbook/05.05-naive-bayes.html) and [wiki's one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naive_Bayes_classifier). # `pomegranate` bayes classifier user docs are [here](https://pomegranate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/NaiveBayes.html) # Now we will initiate our NB model directly from our data. `from_samples` is the method that allow us to do it and set distribution that will model our data. # Another way is to directly pre-initialize distributions and its parameters and then just predict samples classes. # Here I picked `ExponentialDistribution` but you can pick whatever you want. The list of supported distributions is [here](https://pomegranate.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Distributions.html). The ones you want here are: `ExponentialDistribution`, `NormalDistribution`, `PoissonDistribution`. You can check others but it will give you an error since algorithm won't converge. # In[28]: nb = pg.NaiveBayes.from_samples(pg.ExponentialDistribution, X_1_2, y_1_2, verbose=True) roc_auc_score(y_3, nb.predict_proba(X_3)[:,1]) # Close to random. FeelsBad. Let's try some crazy things. We will construct our independent component distribution with n-dimensions (in this case 7). We will cheat a bit, since we already now how our data is distributed (see `sns.pairplot` step). My take on this is below # In[29]: d = [pg.ExponentialDistribution, pg.PoissonDistribution, pg.NormalDistribution, pg.ExponentialDistribution, pg.ExponentialDistribution, pg.PoissonDistribution, pg.NormalDistribution] nb = pg.NaiveBayes.from_samples(d, X_1_2, y_1_2, verbose=True) results = results.append(pd.Series(['Naive Bayes ICD Prior', roc_auc_score(y_3, nb.predict_proba(X_3)[:,1])], index=index), ignore_index=True) # In[30]: results # It's still bad since our data is correlated and not equal at all. At least our `logreg` doesn't think so. # But still NB could be useful in some cases since it's simple, very fast and has interpretability. You can use it as a baseline or as "scouting" algorithm. # In[31]: plt.hist(logreg.coef_.reshape(7,1)); # Last but not least - timings (as I said - very fast, even on sparse data) # In[32]: get_ipython().run_cell_magic('timeit', '', 'nb_test = pg.NaiveBayes.from_samples(pg.ExponentialDistribution, df, y, verbose=False)\nnb_test.predict_proba(df);') # ## Bonus # And the last one, but not the least. Pseudo-Labeling. I won't copy-paste it, you can do it yourself. This is very simple approach. We will just separate our labeled and unlabeled data, train model on labelled. Then we will sample unlabeled data and predict these samples and add them to labeled data as new ground truth. That's it. # You can literally use everything with it: regression models or classification models. In fact original it was designed for neural nets, but it is very versatile. # # # Img 5 - Pseudo-Labeling explanation [[source]](https://datawhatnow.com/pseudo-labeling-semi-supervised-learning/) # Pseudo-Labeling described [here](https://datawhatnow.com/pseudo-labeling-semi-supervised-learning/) with code and graphs, [copypaste on another blog](https://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2017/09/pseudo-labelling-semi-supervised-learning-technique/). # Original article is [here](http://deeplearning.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/pseudo_label_final.pdf) # You can copy it below and play with it! # In[ ]:
Engineering Resources properties and flow Pneumatic transport Process Safety Welcome to Pneumatic conveying in vertical pipe sections Specificity of vertical pneumatic conveying Question or remark ? Please contact us at Section summary 1. Definition 2. Impact of vertical conveying on pressure drop 1. Definition In a typical pneumatic conveying pipe layout, most of the pipe sections are horizontal. However, in certain situations, the elevation may not be negligible. It is specifically the case for factories having dry-mix towers which can reach 30 or 50 m height. This is all the more important to understand the impact of vertical conveying that it is very seldom to find a test center able to simulate such elevations, with maximum of 5 to 10 m generally. 2. Impact of vertical conveying on pressure drop Dilute phase pneumatic transport In conveying vertically a power or bulk solids in a vertical pipe, the interaction in between the pipe, the air and the solid transported will roughly be similar to the conveying in horizontal pipe, as the solids are dispersed in the carrying air. The pressure drop will be slightly higher than the pressure drop in an horizontal line (horizontal pipe section with already well established flow, without considering the acceleration of gas and solids at the beginning of the line) as the weight of the air and the weight of the solid in the vertical pipe needs to be compensated. In shortcut methods, this is taken into account by having an equivalent length of 2 times the length of the vertical section : Le(vertical section) = 2*Lv. In a test plant for example, the Engineer may compensate the lack of elevation by adding more horizontal distance. In more accurate model, the pressure drop due to the weight of gas and solid can be calculated. Dense phase pneumatic transport Manufacturers of pneumatic transport system are generally not too afraid of vertical section they cannot modify in their test line. The reason behind this is that friction of the solids with the pipe is much more intense in dense phase conveying versus dilute phase conveying, and more important in horizontal pipe compared to vertical pipe where the powder is not lying on the pipe. 3. Inclined pipe in pneumatic conveying Inclined pipes should be avoided when designing a pneumatic conveying pipe layout. Indeed, the saltation velocity in inclined pipe is actually higher than in horizontal ones [1], or the choking velocity in vertical pipe. Thus, even if the air conveying velocity is correct for vertical and horizontal section, it may be lower than the saltation velocity in inclined pipe, leading to deposition of product, reflux, pressure instability and maybe pipe blockage. If it happens, the air conveying velocity must be increased, which will be costly and may also affect the solids breakage / build-up along the pipe. [1] Powder Bulk Engineering, Pneumatic Points to Ponder, March 2017
The blockchain is an evolving technology that is the work of high minds from the fields of cryptography, information technology, mathematics, business, and finance. Many technologies today that we take for granted now were considered unthinkable in the past: steam engines, steamboats, and airplanes revolutionized global transportation, while the replacement of gold with paper currency revolutionized the financial world. Smartphones changed our communication and the way we entertain ourselves, while digital marketing services in the USA and elsewhere have altered how consumers make purchasing decisions. As we move towards the realization of the “Internet of things (IoT),” Blockchain could have an even more significant impact on businesses, society, government and everything in between. Are you considering the various options available as the basis for your database? Then you may be having trouble deciding between a traditional database or a Blockchain database. This article will provide an overview of Blockchain and its potential uses for you. However, before we look at the pros and cons of each approach, let’s take a quick look at the history of Blockchain. History of Blockchain Blockchain Version 0: Bitcoin The idea of utilizing timestamps and blocks, preventing data and documents from being tampered with, dates back to 1991 with the work of S. Haber and W. Stornetta. However, the real hype around the idea of Blockchain started with the seminal whitepaper by an unknown person calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. In this paper, Nakamoto described the functioning of a possible peer-to-peer, decentralized public ledger that now forms the basis for the trustless electronic cash, Bitcoin. Nakamoto launched Bitcoin on January 3, 2009, when they mined the first block for themselves. Since then the currency’s value has skyrocketed with the current market capitalization valued over $115 billion. Put simply; Bitcoin is a digital currency which relies upon Blockchain as the public ledger to record transactions on a network of computers. The main idea is to solve the problem of double-spending in the traditional financial system that requires a trusted authority as an intermediary. This system operates with a need of trust between transacting parties and is controlled by unbiased supercomputers that verify the transactions at minimal transaction costs. Blockchain 1.0 Initially, it was believed that Blockchain and Bitcoin were the same thing. However, people soon started to realize that Blockchain was not just a financial ledger: it could be used for all sorts of cooperative activities that involve some sort of exchange of value. This has led to many individuals and companies developing applications of Blockchain and making their own cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and databases. There are currently over 40 active cryptocurrencies; with Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple as the most prominent. People have even used Blockchain to create joke currencies, such as the meme-inspired Dogecoin. Blockchain 2.0: Ethereum Vitalik Buterin, a 26-year-old Russian-Canadian computer scientist, and Bitcoin codebase contributor, realized the limitations of Bitcoin around 2013. Buterin pushed for a change in the code to make the currency more flexible. However, he faced severe resistance from the Bitcoin community. Disappointed, Buterin set out to develop a separate public blockchain that allowed for the exchange of other assets such as loans, bonds, and contracts. Buterin launched a new digital currency based on his new set of protocols in 2015. In three years his new currency, Ethereum, has reached a market capitalization of $52 billion. Ethical Hacking Training – Resources (InfoSec) is a website dedicated to watching out for a possible future event when Ethereum takes over Bitcoin regarding market capitalization. According to the website, Ethereum has already overtaken Bitcoin in terms of daily transactions, daily mining reward and the number of nodes. Blockchain 3.0: Blockchain Applications Today, Bitcoin is just one among the hundreds of applications of blockchain technology. WiseKey, a Swiss cyber-security firm, uses blockchain to provide Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology for secure transactions in a range of activities like e-commerce, Internet banking, and email. Multinational corporations like IBM, Microsoft, Walmart, and BHP Billiton are leveraging blockchain technology to streamline their supply chain management. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) university became one of the first institutions to offer blockchain based virtual credentials to its graduates via a mobile app called “Blockcerts Wallet.” Medicalchain, a UK-based company, launched its technology infrastructure, based on Blockchain, smart contracts, and its own cryptocurrency, in February 2018; to be used in digital health applications, and EHRs. And business keeps growing. The state of Dubai has announced that it will be issuing all its documents via blockchain by 2020. Early this year, the Russian state-owned bank, Vnesheconombank (VEB), signed a deal with the Kaliningrad government to develop a payment system based on Blockchain. The Australian government announced in 2016 that it had plans to allow its citizens to vote online thanks to its use of blockchain technology. From the examples mentioned above, it is clear that Blockchain is a viable option for database development. But how does one decide if Blockchain is suitable for their business? Which type of Blockchain technology should be used for this purpose? Or is it too early for businesses to get on the bandwagon? To find the answers to these questions, continue to Part 2 of this article.
How Animal Farm Parallels the Russian Revolution An error occurred trying to load this video. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Coming up next: Why Was Animal Farm Banned? You're on a roll. Keep up the good work! Take Quiz Watch Next Lesson Your next lesson will play in 10 seconds • 0:04 Animal Farm • 0:36 Leadership • 2:14 Battle of Cowshed • 2:34 Battle of Windmill • 3:16 Lesson Summary Add to Add to Add to Want to watch this again later? Log in or Sign up Recommended Lessons and Courses for You Lesson Transcript Instructor: Kerry Gray ''Animal Farm'' by George Orwell paints a picture of the political events of the Russian Revolution in this allegorical tale of how power and greed among leadership lead to suffering among the working class. Animal Farm Why would George Orwell, a political journalist, write a story about animals? Animal Farm is a novel about anthropomorphic farm animals that start a revolution. Anthropomorphic means to ascribe human characteristics to nonhuman things. Animal Farm is, however, much more than your typical animal tale. The parallels that the author draws between the plot and the Russian Revolution make this story an example of an allegory. An allegory is a metaphorical representation. Let's look at some of the relationships found among the characters in the story and real, historical events. Old Major, is a well-respected pig who inspires the animals of Manor Farm to consider revolting in the hopes of a new and better life. He outlines what it would take to create a fair government that benefits all, but he dies before his dream is ever realized. Old Major represents Karl Marx, who in 1848 inspired an uprising against the ruling class with his book The Communist Manifesto and Vladimir Lenin, who helped lead the Russian Revolution of 1917 using Marxist principles. Like Old Major, both Marx and Lenin didn't live to see people triumph. After Old Major's death, three pigs emerge as leaders. Snowball wants to carry out the dreams of Old Major and improve the economy through industry (the windmill); however, he loses the battle for power and ends up being chased off the farm. His role is similar to the one of Leon Trotsky, a close associate of Lenin's who was exiled from the Soviet Union after he became a threat to its leader, Joseph Stalin. Napoleon took power by force and used it to improve conditions for himself and his supporters at the expense of the working class. Public executions ensured that no one would cross him. Napoleon represents Stalin, who was not considered part of the Russian Revolution per se, but instead a transitional figure to a bureaucratic dictatorship, whose economic ideas resulted in a famine that killed millions of people. Further, during Stalin's purges, several more million people were executed for opposing him. Squealer never sought power for himself but worked with Napoleon to keep the masses calm. Squealer doesn't represent a specific historical figure, but rather a tactic. During that time period, the government used the press to spread propaganda to sell Stalin to the people. To unlock this lesson you must be a Member. Create your account Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? Unlock Your Education See for yourself why 30 million people use Become a member and start learning now. Become a Member Back What teachers are saying about Try it risk-free for 30 days Earning College Credit To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page Transferring credit to the school of your choice Create an account to start this course today Try it risk-free for 30 days! Create An Account
Home » The meaning of «phs» Ahmedabad ( (listen) is the largest city and former capital of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarter of the Ahmadabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the stem cells that give rise to other blood cells. This process is called haematopoiesis. The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC), also referred to as the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service, is the federal uniformed service of the U.S. PHS may stand for The Personal Handy-phone System (PHS), also marketed as the Personal Communication Telephone (PCT) in Thailand, and the Personal Access System (PAS) and commercially branded as Xiaolingtong (Chinese: 小灵通) in Mainland China, is a mobile network system operating in the 1880–1930 MHz frequency band, used mainly in Japan, China, Taiwan, and some other Asian countries and regions. Organoselenium compounds are chemical compounds containing carbon-to-selenium chemical bonds. Organoselenium chemistry is the corresponding science exploring their properties and reactivity. Choice of words p-hs_ _ ph-s_ _ phs-_ _ phs:_ _ _ _ phs_ _ _ _ phs_ - _ _ _ phs-_ _ _ _ phs _ _ _ _ _ phs _ - _ _ _ _ © 2015-2019, Wikiwordbook.info Copying information without reference to the source is prohibited! contact us mobile version
Jump to navigation Vol 38 No 6 Published 14th March 1997 South Africa Trading places European politicians sound friendly but do not match post-apartheid expectations A cloud of misunderstandings surrounds the unfinished negotiations between South Africa and the European Union on the rules for trade between them. In the days before South Africa became a democracy, European politicians used to promise generosity when the change was made. South African policymakers believed them and began negotiations on the assumption that Europe would help with the economic transformation they needed after years of injustice, boycotts, sanctions and protection. End of preview - This article contains approximately 903 words. End of preview Subscribers: Log in now to read the complete article.
Skip to main content What’s In, What’s Out Designing Benefits for Universal Health Coverage Edited by Amanda Glassman, Ursula Giedion, and Peter C. Smith Vaccinate children against deadly pneumococcal disease, or pay for cardiac patients to undergo lifesaving surgery? Cover the costs of dialysis for kidney patients, or channel the money toward preventing the conditions that lead to renal failure in the first place? Policymakers dealing with the realities of limited health care budgets face tough decisions like these regularly. And for many individuals, their personal health care choices are equally stark: paying for medical treatment could push them into poverty. Many low- and middle-income countries now aspire to universal health coverage, where governments ensure that all people have access to the quality health services they need without risk of impoverishment. But for universal health coverage to become reality, the health services offered must be consistent with the funds available—and this implies tough everyday choices for policymakers that could be the difference between life and death for those affected by any given condition or disease. The situation is particularly acute in low- and middle income countries where public spending on health is on the rise but still extremely low, and where demand for expanded services is growing rapidly. Related Books Get daily updates from Brookings
Ways Of Helping Your Children Learn Self-Defense Children are naturally shy and can be anxious when meeting new people. They don’t allow their natural personality to come out and be themselves. This might be normal when they’re young, but if they don’t manage to overcome this it will carry on into their teenage years. So what can parents do to help children be more confident? Well showing children how to take care of themselves when you aren’t around is definitely one place to begin. Self defense is something that doesn’t just help kids get over being shy and introverted, but is a life skill that will keep them safe. But children may not want to sit and learn how to punch, kick and block. They are more inclined to run around and play with toys. It takes a lot of effort for children to take up martial arts because essentially, they in a classroom learning from a teacher. They do that for most of their day at school, so they might not be willing to sit still and learn after school has already ended. Here’s how to help them in this. Connect a superhero Superheroes have always been loved by children. It's a combination of characters that try to help other people and being physically strong enough to be the knight in shining armor. So as parents you should try to encourage children learning martial arts by connecting their favorite superhero. Show them how the characters fight the villains and use various martial art techniques to do so. This will influence them to follow in their footsteps and step outside of their comfort zone. Children will want to emulate the hero they believe in the most, so linking them to self defense can push them into learning how to fight and not just protect themselves but others around them. The moral significance of being brave and standing up for weaker people can also be connected. Learning at home Part of the fun of going to martial arts classes is that children can feel part of a small but special group. Each style of self defense has it's own culture and equipment. Something the kids will all need to know is how to wear their gear, which is often comprised of a gi, belt, gloves or foot pads. With the wealth of knowledge that you have online, your kids can learn at home how wear their gear. For example Judo Info Online Dojo will teach you how to tie your obi which is the judo belt. There’s a specific way you have to do this so your gi doesn’t become loose and get in the way of your movement. If your children are shy and don’t want to learn, you can get them used to wearing the judo clothes at home by teaching them how to tie the belt. The more they wear it comfortably the more used to it they will be when they first go into a class. Children can be shy at first, but with a little educated encouragement they can come out of their shell. Teach them how to wear a gi at home, so they will be more comfortable wearing it in front of other kids at class.
Aggregated News Illustration of a map of U.S.-Mexico border along the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. In the unfolding family separation crisis at the US-Mexico border, one thing has become increasingly clear; the federal government lacks any real plan for reuniting children with their parents. On Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order that would keep children and their parents together, though in indefinite detention. But the administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy reversal does little for the thousands of families currently waiting in US custody to be reunited. As WIRED and others have reported, the haphazard policy enactment has left asylum-seekers in a labyrinthine, multi-agency system rife with opportunities for records linking families to go missing or lack information. Especially for children less than a year old, it’s become distressingly difficult to simply match them to the parents they arrived with. Amidst the turmoil, some concerned citizens have proposed an unlikely fix: Ship a bunch of spit kits to the border and start a DNA trail. After pressure from a member of Congress and an outpouring of pleas on Twitter, direct-to-consumer testing company 23andMe has offered to donate DNA kits to help parents find missing children. Rival...
Web Results What Eats Dung Beetles ? While the dung beetle helps to remove dung from forests and pastures and re-introduce nutrients into the soil, it is a part of the food chain. This helpful beetle falls prey to other animals. Why are dung beetles the strongest animals in the world? What animals/insects eat solely the waste of another animal, e.g dung beetle? Insects: What are dung beetles? Sometimes dung beetles will try to steal the dung ball of another beetle, so the dung beetles have to move rapidly away from a dung pile once they have rolled their ball to prevent it from being ... Dung beetles, rabbits, chimps, and domestic dogs are among animals that are members of the dung diners' club. Most of them eat feces because it contains some undigested food—and thus vital ... There are dung-feeding beetles which belong to other families, such as the Geotrupidae (the earth-boring dung beetle). The Scarabaeinae alone comprises more than 5,000 species. The nocturnal African dung beetle Scarabaeus satyrus is the only known non-vertebrate animal to navigate and orient itself using the Milky Way. When an animal such as an elephant chews, swallows, and digests, there are always parts of its meal that pass through undigested. Those undigested bits pass out of the animal in its dung—and that is what provides food for dung beetles. Dung beetle larvae, or young, eat the solid dung while adult dung beetles stick to liquids. There is a good ... Some species of dung beetles however do feed on the dung of carnivores and some other species eat mushrooms, decaying leaves and fruit and the remains of dead animals. The dung of herbivores contains half digested grass and a liquid, and it is the liquid that the adult beetles feed on. From here we could get good hypotheses of what do beetles eat. What does a beetle eat? Some insects, such as mosquitoes, lice and bed bugs, feed on blood. Some feed on smaller insects and play the predator in the predator-prey biological relationship. Some feed on animal dung and carcasses. What do they eat? Beetles eat all kinds of food. Most are specialists in few kinds, but some, like ground beetles, eat lots of things. Most beetles eat plant parts, either leaves or seeds or fruit or wood. Many are predators on other small animals. Some eat fungus, and there are a bunch of species that eat dung. Dung beetles do just what their name suggests: they use the manure, or dung, of other animals in some unique ways! These interesting insects fly around in search of manure deposits, or pats, from herbivores like cows and elephants. Dung beetles come in a variety of colors, from dull and glossy black to metallic green and red.
The Tempest by: William Shakespeare Analysis of Major Characters Quick Quiz 1 of 5 What got Prospero into trouble before the play begins? 2 of 5 How have many critics and readers interpreted Prospero’s role in the play? 3 of 5 What does Miranda do in Act III, Scene i that is surprising? 4 of 5 What is Caliban? 5 of 5 What does Caliban do that contrasts with his savage demeanor and grotesque appearance?
Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) in Georgetown, Guyana (Photo by Kester Clarke The Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) can be found in the Lesser Antilles and northern South America among other places. Its plumage is entirely black with a violet iridescence, its eyes are yellow, and it has a strong dark bill. The Carib Grackle forages on the ground for insects, other invertebrates, or scraps. It can become very tame and bold, entering restaurants to seek food, normally feeding on leftovers. It will form groups to attack potential predators, such as dogs, mongooses or humans. Around the Web
TDFS Part 3 – Impedance Measurement for Switching Converters and Power System Stability Analysis Mike Donnelly's picture In this final installment of my series on TDFS (Time Domain Frequency Sweep) analysis, I’ll focus on measuring impedance vs. frequency. I’ll first demonstrate the method by showing the measurement of input impedance for a switching power converter. Then I’ll extend that method to analyze the “impedance stability” of a distributed power system. Power systems may include many DC to DC converters, some acting as sources and other as loads. They may also be distributed over significant distances, so that the impedance characteristic of the interconnecting cables (a.k.a. transmission lines!) becomes an important stability factor. The key stability metric is the ratio of the source to load impedance, Tm = Zsource/Zload, as defined in the paper STABILITY OF LARGE DC POWER SYSTEMS .... This paper describes the impedance specification design approach used for the International Space Station Electric Power System. Generally, Tm stability assessment can only be performed on power systems for which “AC analysis” is applicable. TDFS extends that approach to direct measurement of systems containing switching and sampled-data control aspects, without requiring state-average and other analytical linearization techniques. Input Impedance vs. Frequency As discussed in Parts 1 and 2 of this Series, TDFS uses a time-domain measurement that produces a frequency response result. In this case, a time domain simulation is performed and the computed impedance results are given as complex values vs. frequency, just like those of an “AC” or frequency-domain analysis. TDFS Input Impedance of Step-Down DC to DC (Buck) Converter - Switching The example circuit above demonstrates an input impedance measurement for a step-down or “buck” DC/DC switching power converter. There is no need for a state-average or continuous equivalent model of the circuit. Rather, the actual switching components can be used directly. The circuit is converting a 12V DC input to a regulated 5V output, while supplying a 5A current to the 1 Ohm load resistor. The impedance measurement is performed over the range 3 kHz to 30 kHz. Note that at low frequency, the impedance magnitude (dark blue waveform) is approximately 5 Ohm, with phase (red waveform) of -175 degrees, indicating it is a “negative resistance”. The value of 5 Ohms corresponds to the 1 Ohm actual load resistance, multiplied by to the square of the conversion ratio: 1 Ohm (12/5)^2 = 5.76 Ohms (approx. 5 Ohms, reduction due to losses in the converter) The nearly 180 degree phase is due to the constant power nature of the system. If the input voltage to the buck converter changes, the output voltage remains constant because it is regulated. This means that the output current and power delivered to the 1 Ohm load resistor are also constant. The reflection of this “constant output power” to the input implies that if the input voltage rises, the input current will fall, as expected for a “negative resistor”. This behavior can be observed directly in the time domain waveforms. In the zoom region near the 2ms mark, the line voltage (brown waveform) and the input current (green waveform) are almost completely out of phase at this time, when the stimulus frequency is 3 kHz. Also note in the un-zoomed time-domain waveforms, as the frequency of the constant amplitude voltage stimulus is increased, the current amplitude decreases. This corresponds to the increased impedance magnitude at higher frequencies. Impedance Stability Analysis In this section, the same switching DC/DC converter with input impedance measured above, is used in a “down hole” LED lighting application for a drilling rig camera. The regulated output voltage drives 3 parallel 8.4 Watt LEDs. The converter is supplied through a 400 meter power cable with 8 AWG wire. An 18V battery is used to accommodate the DC voltage drop of the cable. TDFS Impedance Stability of Transmission Line Fed LED Driver - Switching But a long cable has a more “complex” characteristic than DC resistance! J To measure it, as well as the converter input impedance, the TDFS impedance stability measurement model injects a 0.2A sinusoidal stimulus current, at the point where the cable connects to the converter. It monitors the voltage at that point, as well as the stimulus current splits toward the source and the load. The associated source and load impedances vs. frequency are computed from these three measured values. In addition, the ratio of the source to load impedance (Tm) is computed. Like the open-loop frequency response requirement for closed-loop system stability, Tm must not have magnitude = 1.0 and phase = 180 degrees at any frequency. The results show that the impedance ratio magnitude (green waveform) reaches unity, or 0 dB, at approximately 2 kHz. The phase (light blue waveform) is approximately 165 degrees at that point, which implies a phase margin of 15 degrees. Transient Simulation for Verification To verify this stability margin, a transient test circuit similar to the TDFS configuration above was used (click on the link below to see the “live” version of that design). A switch was added to delay the application of power to two of the circuit’s LEDs, in order to inject a load transient event. For the 400 meter cable configuration, underdamped ringing is observed in the buck converter’s input current (dark blue waveform, left chart) and voltage (red waveform). The measured overshoot is 0.822A, which is just under 70% for this current step change. This closely matches the expected step response for a system with 15 degrees phase margin, as measured using TDFS. Transient Stability Testing of Transmission Line Fed LED Driver The ringing and the corresponding TDFS phase margin are sensitive to cable length, as well as the value of the input filter capacitor of the converter. The reader is invited to copy the “live” circuit, change these design parameters and run new simulations to see the impact of those changes. For example, if the cable length is increased to 800 meters the power system becomes unstable, as shown in the chart on the right. More to this Series! In Parts 1 and 2 of this blog series, I discuss other TDFS measurement capabilities and models that are provided in SystemVision Cloud. In Part 1, I show the most basic use of TDFS, for simple transfer function (i.e. gain and phase) measurements of switched capacitor and mixed-signal filter circuits. In Part 2, I show how you can assess the closed-loop stability (i.e. open-loop gain and phase margin) for circuits and systems that include switching, modulation or sampled-data control aspects. * E.W. Gholdston (Rocketdyne), K. Karimi (Boeing), F.C. Lee, J. Rajagopalan, Y. Panov (Virginia Tech.) and B. Manners (NASA), “STABILITY OF LARGE DC POWER SYSTEMS USING SWITCHING CONVERTERS, WITH APPLICATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION”, 31st Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1996. IECEC 96-96079 ** This is the same step-down or “buck” converter that was shown in Part 2 of this Blog Series: Closed Loop Stability Analysis For Switching And Sampled-Data Circuits And Systems marcel hendrix's picture Are there any papers that show the mathematical basis / limitations / differences between TDFS and conventional (state-space + linearization + discrete->continuous) analysis? The IS station paper is not immediately obvious on this point. An alternative approach that seems to work is to construct an injection signal that is the sum of a few (say 32) frequencies between fmin and fmax and do an FFT on the output node signal. Mike Donnelly's picture Thanks for your question and comment Marcel. I don't believe there are any papers on the concept of TDFS itself, as in fact it is simply a simulation-based version of a commen measurement technique ... just take any device or system under test, whether it's analog or digital or switching or any combination of those, and inject a (step-swept) sinusoidal stimulus and measure the corresponding transfer function to the signal of interest. The benefit of this is that it does not require any analysis of the system itself (linearization, discrete -> continuous approximations, etc.), it's just a simulation-based measurement on the actual "virtual" circuit/system implementation. It's simple but useful! I think your approach of injecting multiple frequencies simultaneously and performing an FFT would also work. That might improve the simulation execution time, or it may do the opposite. In both cases (TDFS and FFT), you have to run at least long enough to catch multiple cycles of the lowest frequency stimulus. With TDFS these frequencies are applied in sequence, so the total simulation end-time to do all of them will be longer than for the FFT approach. However, the TDFS measurement model automatically decreases the measurement time window allocated for higher frequencies, to basically preserve a constant number of stimulus cycles at each frequency. So if the high-frequency stimulus actually causes the simulation to run more slowly when it is present, (i.e. drives the simulation time-step to smaller values), then it may cause a longer simulation run-time if that frequency is present during the entire run, albeit a shorter end-time. This would be an interesting test! marcel hendrix's picture Sweeping the frequency instead of stepping with additional waiting for steady-state, is certainly not the same as a .AC analysis (try sweeping quickly across a high-Q resonant peak). I expected that some authors would have detailed the sweep/stabilization times to get acceptable error margins. Please log in to comment.Log in
Marquetry's main Basis of Grain: The grain of veneer refers to the wood cells, particularly the figured elements. There are six general grain types: Straight grain - parallel to the vertical axis of the trunk. Irregular grain which occurs near knots or swollen butts. Diagonal grain, which is usually a milling defect in otherwise straight grained timber. Spiral grain, where fibres follow a spiral curve. Interlocked grain, where successive growth layers have fibres in opposite directions, occurring mostly in tropical timbers Wavy grain, where the direction changes in waves. Figure: The figure seen on the surface of veneer results from the interaction of several features such as scarcity or frequency of growth rings, colour tone variations, peculiarities of grain contortion around knots, roots, limbs. Irregular grain produces blistered or quilted figure; interlocked grain gives us pencil striped or ribbon striped figure; wavy grains yield fiddleback or bees-wing cross-figure. Combinations of wavy grain and interlocked grain give rope figure; other combinations provide attractive figure effects as block mottle; pommelle, moiree, cluster, etc. Texture: The physical texture of veneer refers to the variation in size of its wood cells. Oak is coarse textured; mahogany is medium textured; sycamore is fine textured. Diffuse porous woods with narrow vessels and fine rays are even textured, whilst porous woods with wide vessels and broad rays are coarse textured. Lustre: This depends on the ability of the cell walls to reflect light. Some woods are dull while others make excellent reflectors. Generally, quarter-cut veneers of striped figure are more lustrous than flat cut woods. The ability of wood to take a good polish does not necessarily coincide with its lustre potential. Odour: Many woods have a characteristic odour such as Camphor, Pine and Cedar. Go to Home Page Go to the Clubs and Groups directory page Go to the International Galleries directory page Go to the Marquetry Society official messages page Go to the National Exhibition Winners Gallery page Go to the Millennium Mural exhibition page
Drug Abuse, Alcohol & Substance Addiction Definition Many people are confused about what it truly means to be addicted to something or what the real drug abuse definition is. What is the addict definition? They may think that because someone uses a particular substance on a regular basis that they are addicted. The truth is that there are different types of addictions people can have. The best addiction definition is when someone feels the need to use a substance before they can do anything else. If a person cannot eat, sleep, drink or do any of their daily tasks without first taking a certain substance, which is a clear addicted definition example. One of the types of addiction is physical addiction. Types of substances people can become physically addicted to include alcohol, heroin and xanax. When a person is addicted to these types of substances they will go through painful and possibly deadly withdrawals if they quit. They can become sick and possibly have seizures from these types of withdrawals. They can break out in cold sweats and become very irritable and irrational. Another type of addiction is mental addiction. These types of drugs include stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. They give a person a surge of energy and a feeling of euphoria. After people who are addicted to these types of substances quit, they will feel tired and depressed and will not be motivated to do any kinds of activities before they get high. There are no physical side effects to speak of, but mentally the addict will be slow and depressed. These types of drugs release serotonin in the brain which makes them feel happy and optimistic. When they stop taking these drugs the receptors in their brains are damaged and they do not release as much serotonin. This causes them to feel depressed and negative. Another type of addiction people can experience is emotional addiction. This can come with any type of drug but it is the only type of addiction associated with marijuana. Marijuana can make people feel less anxious and worried, but it is not physically addictive. If someone is used to taking marijuana, they will have a harder time dealing with certain situations when they quit. They may not want to be around people or be in certain situations, and feel like they need marijuana in order to calm themselves down. They may not be able to deal with disappointment or boredom very well and they will start to crave the drug. This is when it goes beyond recreational drug use and it is used to deal with life situations. This should help clear up any questions you may have of the addiction definition, substance addiction definition or alcohol addiction definition. It can be summed up as someone needing a substance before they will by anything else, perform any tasks or go into any situation. Related Resources:
Turtle Island Music Updates Join the email list! Music From Turtle Island You Tube YouTube -- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg6d3LUhlbzsdlFa7M9niSA Oxana Ossiptchouk A song about what are called Daughters of the Country or Country Wives. Which were Indigenous Women taken as wives by the fur traders of the Hudson Bay Company of NorthWest Company. Usually, they were the daughters of Chiefs and used as a tactic by the trader to generate better relationships between traders and Indigenous people. As a result of these relationships, a people known as the Metis were created by these liasons and developed there own culture and way of life. The Métis, Bois Boule, Half-breeds or Katipayimsosik were from the Battle of Seven Oaks in 1816 to the 1885 northwest Rebellion, Princes of the Plains. Nothing happened on its vast expanse without some involvement of these proud and noble people. From the formation of the province of Manitoba to the signing of the Treaties by First Nations, the Métis were an integral part of the western plains. They were the mediators between the white fur traders and the Plains Indians, having a stokehold in both cultures. This was the time in history for the Métis people, a time when Métis nationalism came to the forefront in the history of Western Canada. They were the free traders; the Courier de Bois, buffalo hunters, and negotiators of the many treaties of Canada and America. The results of the negotiations were the Manitoba Act, passed by Parliament on July 12, 1870, and to take effect July 15. Although some of the Métis grievances were dealt with entry into Canada. It did not grant amnesty for individuals who involved with the creation of the new province, consequently, Riel and followers had to flee into the United States and would have to live the rest of his in fear of assassination. The Manitoba Act granted the Métis1,4000,000 acres of land where they could live. But this law was not abided by and it has been over 130 years of dealing with the government of Canada that have this legislation recognized. The Métis were abused and persecuted in the newly formed Province of Manitoba. So many left further west where they could maintain their way of life. The Canadian Government had no intention of living up to its end of the bargain. They sent Colonel Wolseley with 1200 soldiers embarked on a campaign of violence. Racism became an everyday occurrence, the need for land and the vanishing buffalo lead a massive westward migration of the Métis the new frontiers were they could live their lives as they once had. In 1870 the population of Manitoba was 12,000 of whom 10,000 were mixed blood and 6,000 French-speaking the remained being English speaking Half-breeds. In 1885 less than 12% of the population was of mix heritage. With the exception of John Norquay, an English speaking Half-breed became Premier of Manitoba in 1876. They were treated as second class citizens in the province which they helped to create. The Métis would never again dominant in their first homeland. A great migration took place which saw many of the Métis move from the now Province of Manitoba to places such as St. Laurent, Wood Mountain, Cypress Hills, Willow Bunch, Lewistown and other places that were traditional places the Métis had visited in their travels. It was in isolated pockets of Western Canada that they Métis thought that they could live out there live as they always had. It was not long though before many of the Métis living in St Laurent experience the same problems they had faced in Manitoba. They would have to take action, in 1884 lead by Gabriel a contingent of four Métis went to Montana to plead their case to Louis Riel who living in exile. They convinced him to return with them and send petitions to Ottawa. At this time the Métis wanted to be recognition of their rights to the land, which they now have been occupying for some time and wanted to retain title to it. Many petitions were sent to Ottawa and were heard by deaf ears. So began The Metis protection of The Metis Homeland and ended with Métis people being destitute and homeless, wanting justice where there was none to be found. The end result was the end to a way of life that many Métis had lived for hundreds. Oxana Ossiptchouk, Edgar Muenala Greg Edmunds Cheryl Ogram Oxana Ossiptchouk Oxana Ossiptchouk Oxana Ossiptchouk, Edgar Muenala, Becky Thomas Greg Edmunds, Becky Thomas
Culture and code lessig1.jpgA short recap of Creative Commons-founder Lawrence Lessig‘s evangelization talk (or rather motivation session for the converted) at 23C3 in Berlin about the differences between culture and code. The fundamental change is the fact that code had been used to create things like printer-drivers and such. But – since a few years, code, or rather the tools that had been coded have become a main element in the creation of culture as we use and witness it today. Especially the whole mashup-culture is heavily relying on the techniques and the mindset of digital creation and open access to other’s works for sampling from and building upon, etc. Popular examples are the anime music-clip subculture like the Muppet Hunter, the Jesus Christ the Musical-clip or lots of pieces that borrow from news networks’ footage to make their own suggestive edits. lessig2.jpgSo you could regard this as the pinnacle of today’s tools of creativity, even the most important contemporary form of expression, probably even replacing speech and text in an American mass-media context as the main means to reach people. Having said this (and that’s a bit of a rhetorical trick), he argued that threatening the freedom of this kind of usage of media equals threatening the freedom of speech itself. But, and that’s a fact, the nagging question is whether this form of expression is legal or not, both in the US and elsewhere. Lessig told of a recent meeting in NYC where lawyers tried to explain the four conditions which you have to fulfil to be able to work under the law of Fair use. It took four lawyers, one hour and in the end the audience was only more confused. To him he said, it seemed a bit like the the Soviet Union somewhere in between the height of its power and its downfall and brought up the question just how you could have convinced the Soviet officials to change their system in that era. lessing4.jpgIn his view, the system as it exists today doesn’t work anymore (and it’s constantly being ignored by many people because of that) and needs to be changed, so how would that work? Firstly, what won’t work – Hackers and technologists trying to break the system: They will continue to be able to break manifestations of the system like DRM but that is not really solving the overall problem. (John Perry Barlow later strongly disagreed and argued that “a combination of massive civil disobedience and the fact that we [the electronic Hezbollah] are more skilled” will solve all those issues). Count on the system to change itself: Won’t work either, especially in the US-context where virtually all parts of the political spectrum are strongly opposed against changing intellectual property rights towards greater openness. A guy he called Hollywood Howard just got to be the head of the most powerful organization in that area, proving that the property lobby has established a very firm grip there. Litigation: Lessig is a lawyer, and he first tried to go the legal way, took the case about Sunny Bono to the supreme court – and lost. In his view, the courts don’t understand the issue. Secondly, what will work – creating an infrastructure. In the late 1930s there was an interesting process in the US where an organization called ASCAP was owning all the rights to the most popular music and thus virtually holding the emerging broadcasting industry practically hostage. A second organization, called BMI, appeared, and even though they had an inferior portfolio of artists and titles, quickly shattered the power of ASCAP because they offered a far more attractive infrastructure for both artists and broadcasters. In Lessig’s view, Creative Commons’ ideal role would be to empower the change to come through the same creation of a framework. lessig3.jpgHowever, despite the amazing success of CC with 150 million licenses already issued, there are people who disagree, also within the free code/culture/knowledge-movement. There (and this was also a nifty rhetorical trick), he revealed that actually, he’s one of the old Soviets himself, because he actually doesn’t want copyright as such to be abolished. While the we-don’t-care-about-copies or join-if-you-want-to-use attitudes of the Copyleft and GNU movements may be right for some types of creativity, mainly the creation, improvement and distribution of computer software, it may not work for others. There are some forms of artistic expression like photography where a rule that only gets triggered when users actually creatively alter the creation doesn’t help much – if you put a photo up on Flickr under one of those licenses, Fox News could use it freely for evil misinformation if they do not change the photo itself. This is, why CC is designed to be a modification to copyright which allows creators to assign licenses to their work in a more flexible way instead of imposing an quasi-ideological demand to share all their work for free on them, often met by great criticism. Lessig does admit however, that creative domains other than the creation of code will need to fight the same struggles as the free software-community has done in the last three decades in order to win this war. (Yes, he really said war) Closing the session, amidst an even more heated discussion, he pointed out that the current situation reminds him a lot of the movie Awakenings where a group of people who had been in a condition called catatonic state wake up and stay awake for a limited time before they fall back into this state. To Lessig, we’re now in this phase of wake and we have a certain timeframe before the people who oppose access to culture will have cemented their views through DRM and legal deadlocks. Barlow had still a mic and replied “Oh, you’re such a pessimist”. You can find some more pictures on the 23C3-pool on Flickr and an actual gnu was also spotted at the venue. UPDATE: Here’s the complete talk on Google Video. (Via Joi Ito)
Doctor, Specialist Doctor Specialist 3871 Photo by: CandyBox Images A medical specialist focuses on diagnosis and treatment of a particular organ or body system, a specific patient population, or a particular procedure. Medical care of humans is a complicated task due to the many different organ systems that comprise the human body. Each stage of life presents a variety of health issues that need to be addressed as well. Moreover, males and females also have very different medical needs through puberty and adulthood. This complexity of life necessitates a high degree of specialization in the physicians that care for people's medical needs. There are many types of medical specialties. General Educational Requirements for Medical Specialists All physicians, regardless of their ultimate specialization, must obtain a bachelor's degree from an undergraduate college and graduate from medical school (four years). During the last two years of medical school, students perform clinical rotations in which they are exposed to a wide variety of medical specialties. This provides broad training for all medical professionals, as well as gives the students an opportunity to choose a specialty. After medical school, all physicians are required to do a residency. The purpose of the residency is to provide specific, detailed training in the chosen specialty. The length of the residency is determined by the specialty. The tables on page 231 include the average residency length for each of the specialties listed. Oftentimes, physicians will have a particular expertise within their specialized area. For example, most surgeons are subspecialized in the organ system on which they operate (neurosurgeons, cardiac surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons are examples). These subspecialties are obtained during a fellowship period that lasts one to two years after the residency is completed. It is not uncommon for a highly specialized doctor (such as a pediatric neurosurgeon) to invest ten years or more in his or her medical education after graduating from college. Job Duties and Educational Requirements for Sample Specialties Cardiologist. A cardiologist is a physician who cares for people with heart disease. Cardiologists treat conditions such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and angina (chest pain). They use diagnostic tools such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) and ultrasound to visualize the electrical and structural functioning of the heart. Cardiologists are employed by hospitals but also work in private practice. Since cardiology is considered a subspecialty of internal medicine, cardiologists must first complete a residency in internal medicine that lasts about three years after medical school. Cardiologists then complete a subspecialty residency in cardiology (another three years). Neurologist. A neurologist is a physician who treats patients with neurological disorders (involving the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system). Conditions that would necessitate treatment by a neurologist include, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Alzheimer's A surgeon reviewing CAT scans. A surgeon reviewing CAT scans. disease, traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, epilepsy, or stroke. Diagnostic techniques used by neurologists to detect these disorders include (but are not limited to) sensory and motor skills assessments, memory tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and positron emission tomography (PET). To treat these types of disorders, neurologists may prescribe medication, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or surgery. There are several new and very effective surgical treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Neurologists must complete at least four years of residency in an accredited neurology program before being eligible for certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN). An OB/GYN specializes in the care of women from puberty through pregnancy and menopause. An obstetrician focuses on the care of pregnant women and the delivery of babies. Although some doctors choose to specialize in either obstetrics or gynecology, it is very common for a physician to specialize in both since the two fields are so closely linked. In addition to delivering babies, OB/GYNs perform diagnostic tests such as pelvic exams (to look for ovarian cysts and other abnormalities), pap smears (to screen for cervical cancer), and obstetrical ultrasound (to assess the development of a fetus). After medical school, OB/GYNs must complete a four-year residency. Many OB/GYNs practice their specialty in private practices that are closely affiliated with hospitals in which they deliver babies. However, most hospitals employ OB/GYNs directly as well. Oncologist. An oncologist cares for patients with cancer. Cancer is a very complex disease that demands very specialized attention and intensive treatment. It is common for an oncologist to specialize in a particular type of cancer, such as lung or colon cancer. Oncologists may work in private practices that are closely affiliated with a particular hospital or may be directly employed by a hospital. Like cardiology, oncology is considered a subspecialty of internal medicine. Oncologists must first complete a residency in internal medicine that lasts about three years after medical school. They then must complete a subspecialty residency in oncology (another three years). Doctor, Specialist Doctors who have expertise in a particular disease/condition Specialist Oncologist Emergency physician Allergist Area of expertise Cancer Urgent and crisis medical needs Allergies Sample disease/disorders treated AIDS-related lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer, etc. Traumatic brain injury, emergency births, cardiac arrest, gunshot wounds, poisoning, etc. Asthma, hay fever, contact eczema, etc. Average # of years of residency 6 years (3 years-internal medicine; 3-years oncology) 3 years 5-6 years (3 years in internal medicine or pediatrics and 2-3 years in allergy, asthma, and immunology) Pediatrician. Infants and children have very specialized medical needs due to their rapidly changing and maturing bodies. Pediatricians are experts in the developmental stages of children and medical treatments of childhood diseases. In addition to treating childhood illnesses such as ear infections, jaundice, and respiratory infections, pediatricians also perform periodic exams of healthy children to ensure their proper development, administer immunizations to prevent disease, and advise parents on the proper care for each developmental stage. Pediatricians commonly work in private practice, but many are employed by children's hospitals as well. They are required to complete three years of residency before they are eligible for certification by the American Board of Pediatrics. Radiologist. The ability to visualize internal organs revolutionized twentieth-century medicine. A radiologist is a doctor who has expertise in a variety of diagnostic imaging technologies. These technologies include Doctor, Specialist Doctors who have expertise in a particular organ system Specialist Cardiologist Neurologist Dermatologist Ophthalmologist Podiatrist ENT Orthopedist Endocrinologist Urologist Gastroenterologist Area of expertise Heart Brain (nervous system) Skin Eyes Feet Ear, nose, throat Bones Hormone imbalances Urinary tract, kidneys Digestive system Sample disease/disorders treated Angina, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, heart attack, high cholesterol, etc. Stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer disease Bell's palsy, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, migraine, Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, vertigo, etc. Acne, birthmarks, eczema, fungal infections, moles, psoriasis, skin cancer, etc. Glaucoma, cataracts, etc. Achilles tendonitis, athlete's foot, bunions, corns, gout, heel pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc. Middle ear infections, sinus infections, allergies, balance disorders, strep throat, etc. Broken bones, bone malformations, joint problems Thyroid disorders, infertility, diabetes, hypoglycemia Bladder control problems, erectile disfunction, incontinence, kidney stones, Peyronie's disease, urinary tract infections, etc. Peptic and duodenal ulcers, acid reflux, impacted bowels, colon cancer, etc. Average # of years of residency 6 years (3 years-Internal medicine; 3 years-cardiology) 4 years 4 years 3 years 2-4 years 5 years 5-6 years 5 years 4-6 years 5 years x ray, ultrasound, and MRI. All of these procedures produce a picture of the internal organs. Radiologists often serve as consultants to other specialists who need to visualize a specific organ in a patient that they are treating. However, radiologists do participate in treatments such as unblocking arteries in the legs and trunk that eliminate the need for more invasive procedures like surgery. Although most radiologists work within hospitals, they are rarely employed by the hospital itself. Instead, they are employed by private practices and contract with the hospital to provide services. Radiologists must complete a residency of at least four years, and oftentimes they complete additional years of a fellowship to become an expert in a particular type of imaging technique. SEE ALSO Cardiovascular Diseases ; Doctor, Family Practice ; Imaging in Medicine ; Neurologic Diseases ; Nurse Practitioners ; Reproductive Technology ; Transplant Medicine Susan T. Rouse American Board of Medical Specialties. <> . 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Celtic Deities Craig Chalquist, PhD While training as a depth psychologist I sometimes caught myself translating the Greek deities I was learning about into their Celtic equivalents in order to understand these beings better in terms of my ethnic background. By “Celtic” I mean: of the collections of tribal pastoralists and part-time farmers who probably originated somewhere near the Caucasus and carried a common language and similar habits and beliefs across most of pre-Romanized Europe from the Atlantic to India. As Julius Caesar noted, they held a particular fondness for their equivalents of Mercury, trickster god of craft and eloquence. This document lists the major Celtic deities with some of their Greek and Roman counterparts. Because there is more than one Celtic language, pronunciations vary. The Celts emerged as a group around 3,000 BCE and fanned out west on horseback. The picture drawn by early commentators looked something like the stereotypical ancient Highlander, but neatly groomed and equipped with colorful cloaks clasped with cunningly wrought brooches. The status of women in Celtic society horrified the Romans and then the Christians: not only did women own cattle and keep their possessions when mated, they held political power, often led the men into battle, and worked as druids, satirists, and tellers of tales. For the most part they fared badly at the hands of those who wrote down the old myths. As with Norse myth, most of what survives of the lore of the Celts passed down through monks and missionaries, many of whom looked down on the indigenous stories as superstitious nonsense. This always happens when a society that considers itself civilized conquers land-based people. It is as though someone reduced the Library of Congress to four or five old books, in this case with the gods and monsters euhemerized into heroes and historical figures. Imagination must fill in the gaps as we invite these evocative mythic figures to dream themselves forward. See also my page on Nordic and Germanic myths and deities, some Sami deities, and a Gnostic glossary. Dedication: to my ancestors: my foremothers and forefathers who danced like furies, lived close to Earth, and held back the night in Britain, Gaul, Germania, Holland, Scandinavia, Spain, Ireland, and Scotland. And what a ruckus in Rome: Diwrnod i’r bren! Abhean (“AYV-an”; Ireland): the poet and harper of the Tuath de Danaan. In one story he was killed by Aengus for saying that Ogma (Aengus’s brother) was sleeping with one of Lugh’s wives. Abnoba (Gaul, Germania): a Black Forest goddess similar to Artemis and Diana. Aengus (Ireland): a god of love, youth, and beauty similar to the Greek Eros and Roman Cupid. His name means “one choice.” He came from an affair between Boann and the Dagda. At the Battle of Ventry he helped the Fianna hold back the Romans. He died of grief when a woman he loved converted to Christianity. The four birds of kisses that circle his head now appear in the “xxxx”s written in love letters. His Welsh counterpart is Mabon ap Modron. Aerten (Cornwall, Wales): goddess who decided the outcome of battles. Similar to Atropos, the Greek Fate who snipped the string of a life, or Nemesis, redresser of imbalances. Afallach (Wales): father of Modron. Agrona (Wales): goddess of battle and slaughter. Compare with the Greek Enyo and the Roman Ballona. Ai (Ireland): god of poetry. Similar to Apollo. Aife/Aoife (“AY-fah”; Ireland): Scottish warrior defeated by Cuchulain, who fathered the ill-starred Connla with her. She raised and trained Connla in the war arts, but Cuchulain killed him in a fight in which the two did not recognize each other until it was too late. Aillil (Ireland): king of Connacht, spouse of Medb (Maeve), and father of Finabair (“Fair Eyebrows”). The king and queen were so competitive that she launched the famous cattle raid of Cuailnge (“cooley”) to steal a Brown Bull as prolific as her husband’s White-Horned One. In the end as armies clashed and died, the Brown Bull killed the White and then died when its heart burst, so the king’s and queen’s possessions were finally balanced out at a terrible price. Aine (“EN-ya,” “AWN-ya”; Ireland): sun goddess of love and growth. Similar to the Greek Aphrodite and Roman Venus, but also associated with cattle and fire and a stone that made people crazy when they sat on it. Possibly a young byform of the Cailleach. Aisling (Ireland): a vision poem in which Ireland appears as a woman unhappy with the current state of affairs and promising a rejuvenation of the Irish people. Aislinghi begin with a “sh” sound and have sometimes inspired or been prominent in revolutions. Amaethon (Wales): an agricultural god so popular that Welsh words for “farmer” and “plow” derive from him. Compare with Saturn. Alaisiagae (Britain): a pair of victory goddesses Beda and Fimmilena. Amergin (or Amairgen) mac Míled/Aimhirghin/”White Knee” (“AYV-r-ghin”; Ireland): Milesian bard and druid who named Ireland after three goddess queens of the Tuath de Danaan: Eriu, Banba, and Fodla. During the conflict between the Milesians and the Tuath de Danaan, Amergin sang a magical song that gave Ireland its identity and allowed the Milesians to land safely. He then divided Eire between his brothers Eremon (who got the north) and Eber Finn (the south), a division that persists to this day. Ambisagrus (Gaul, Britain): an influential weather god comparable to the Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter. Andarta: a goddess of bears and wilds; compare with the Greek Callisto. Andraste (Britain): war goddess similar to the Greek Athena and the Roman Minerva. Annwvyn (“an-NOO-vin”; Wales): the Otherworld. Similar to the Irish realm of the Sidhe. Anu (Ireland): popular goddess of fertility, fecundity, plenty, cattle, and health. Compare with the Greek Demeter and the Roman Ceres. Arawn/Arawen (Wales): god king of the underworld enriched by his exchanges with Pwyll, head of Dyfed, who took over Annwyn in Awarn’s place but did not sleep with his wife. While in charge Pwyll kills Awarn’s rival Hafgan. Greek: Hades. Rome: Pluto. Arduinna (Gaul): goddess of the moon, the forest, and the hunt whose sacred animal was the boar. The Ardennes are named after her. She is a French equivalent of Artemis (Greece) and Diana (Rome). Arianrhod (“ah-RYAN-rud”; Wales): once-virginal moon goddess who insisted she arm her son herself. Her boat carried the dead into the afterlife. Compare with the Greek Artemis and Roman Diana. Arthur Pendragon (“Dragon Head”; Wales and Britain): Originally described in Welsh folklore (the elegy Y Gododdin in the 13th-century Book of Aneirin, and also Culhwch and Olwen, 1100, both from oral sources centuries older), Arthur first appears in written history in the Historia Brittonum collected by the monk Nennius around 796. He is described as the leader of kings warring at Mount Badon, presumably against the rebelling Saxons. Elaborations include those by Geoffrey of Monmouth (1138), who included Merlin (the Welsh Myrddyn) and made over Arthur into a Christian warlord from whom Mordred stole Guinevere; the Norman poet Wace, who added the Round Table (1155); Chretien de Troyes, who added Meleagant and Lancelot, Camelot, and the Grail Quest (1180); the Vulgate Cycle, which described Galahad (1215-1235); John Capgrave, who gave Arthur Veneraca, his second wife (1463); and Sir Thomas Mallory’s misnamed Le Morte Darthur (1470; reorganized and printed by William Caxton in 1485). Gradually whatever Welsh deities Arthur and his Knights started out as were euhemerized into heroes. Arthur’s first name might derive from words that mean either “bear” or “ploughman.” Arvernus (Gaul): the Gaulish Mercury/Hermes. Atepomarus (Gaul): a healing solar god similar to Apollo. Athirne/Athairne the Importunate (Ireland): satirist of King Conchobar and stealer of cranes from Midir until the misdeeds of himself and his sons resulted in his being burned alive in his house with his family. Avagdu (Wales): the ugly son of Cerridwen and brother of a beautiful sister who sought wisdom and knowledge outside himself, unsuccessfully. A possible parallel with the Greek Hephaestos and Roman Vulcan. Aveta: goddess of childbirth and breast-feeding. Compare Artemis (of Ephesus) and Diana. Awen (“ah-OO-wen”; Welsh): poetic inspiration. Badb, The (“Bahv” – Ireland): five war goddesses similar to the three Erinyes (Greece) or Furies (Rome). Also, the raven death-predicting aspect of the Morrigan. Banba (Ireland): triune crone of war and fertility. Compare with the Greek Hecate. Barinthus (Wales): the driver of a chariot carrying the dead into the otherworld. Greek: Charon. Belatucadros (Wales and Britain): god of war. Compare with the Greek Ares and Roman Mars. Bel/Belenus (Ireland): widely worshipped fire and sun god celebrated at Beltane and also associated with music, science, and healing. Similar to the Irish god Bile. Often compared with Apollo, who also kept cattle. Beli Mawr (Wales): a god possibly connected to Belenus and father of Arianrhod, Caswallawn, Lludd and Llefelys. Beltane/Bealtaine (“bee-AL-ten-ay”): Celtic celebration of May Day. Belisama (Gaul, Britain): goddess of fire, the forge, crafts, and illumination. Often compared to the Greek Athena and Roman Minerva. Belatucadros (“decorated by death”; Britain): a Celtic war god often compared to Mars. Bladud (Wales): a flying sun god similar in some ways to the Greek Helios. Blodenwedd (“blo-DOY-weth”; also “BLOOD-wed”; Wales): lunar goddess of flowers. Compare Selene and Chloris. Might be the same goddess as Nemetona. Her name means “Flower Face.” She was created out of oak, meadowsweet, and broom by Gwydion and Math ap Mathonwy to be the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes, who’d been cursed by his mother Arianrhod never to marry a human woman. With her lover Gronw Pebr she successfully plotted to kill her husband, but Gwydion brought him back to life and turned her into an owl. Lleu Llaw Gyffes killed Gronw Pebr. Bodb (“bov”) Derg (Ireland): brother who finds Aengus his lover Caer Ibormeith; king of the sidhe of Munster and eventual head of the Tuatha de Danaan. Book of Invasions of Ireland (Leabhar Gabhala Eireann): the closest Celtic lore comes to a creation myth. Gabhail can mean taking, performing, conceiving, tethering, crossing, and signifies comprehending or apprehending. According to Irish Jungian James Fitzgerald, the work could be called Book of Making Ireland Conscious. See Amergin, a character in the Book, who brings a formative poetic consciousness from outside (from the Otherworld). Borvo (Britain): a hot springs healer god sometimes compared with Apollo. Bran / Bendigeidfran (“Crow”; Wales): “the Blessed,” a solar god associated with prophecy, music, writing, the arts, and death. Compare Apollo. His sea voyage, inspired by the dream gift of a branch with white blossoms, summoned by a woman in strange raiment, and guided by Manannan mac Lir, reached an island of immortality, the Land of Women. Eventually he and his men get homesick for Erin, but none can touch foot there (one does and becomes a sacrifice), so Bran visits and leaves his story behind. A Welsh tale says his head was buried was buried in London until Arthur dug it up. His sister is Branwen. Branwen (Wales): unhappily wed love and beauty goddess reminiscent of the Greek Aphrodite and Roman Venus. Bres (“BRESH”; Ireland): son of Elatha and Eriu and husband of Brigit until his incompetent kingship and oppression of the Tuatha de Danaan forced him to step down. When defeated at the second Battle of Mag Tuireadh he taught agriculture and harvesting to the victorious gods. He was the target of the first satire (vocalized by Cairbre) in Ireland. Bricriu Nemthenga (Ireland): trickster holder of a feast at which the warriors Loegure Buadach, Conall Cernach, and Cuchulain competed for the biggest feast and the privilege of sitting at King Conchobar’s right. He did this to stir up trouble, but when Cuchulain lifted the entire building off its foundation, Bricriu and his wife rolled out into the trash. Brigit/Brigid (“Breet”; Ireland): goddess of acquiring talents such as divination, healing, prophecy, smithing, and occult knowledge; associated with the serpent. Compared by Caesar to Minerva (Athena). Also known as Sulus and Brigantia. Brugh (“Bruh”): an underground fairy palace. Buggane: a tunneling, territorial, black-haired ogre of Manx myth. Fairies used them to punish offensive people. Bussumarus: a Gaulish and Galatian thunder god comparable to Zeus and Jupiter. His name means “Great of Voice.” Caer (Ireland): daughter of Ethal Anubal, a prince of the sidhe. Having dreamed about her, Aengus sought her out and found her in her swan form by a lake. He turned into a swan to be with her. Cailleach Bheur (“KILE-yahck”; Ireland, and Scotland, where she is Beira, the winter queen): a veiled, wintry crone turned to stone on Beltane and back to feminine form on Samhain. Her name means “veiled” or “cloaked.” In one tale a knight’s love converts her into a beautiful woman; in another she is connected to Brigit; in yet another she kills an intruder with an axe, and in many she appears as a young woman. A crone counterpart to Artemis/Diana, goddess of the wild; her roaring and crying out link her to the banshee (and to La Llorona, the Weeping Woman). Her hammer shapes mountains, her presence shapes hills and cliffs, and her staff freezes the ground. Caledonia is named after her. She was particularly prominent at Samhain, tends deer and livestock, and appears at the birth of children, as Hecate sometimes does. Cairbre (Ireland): son of Ogma and head bard of the Tuatha. His shaming voice caused Bres to break out in boils, forcing him to stand down as king in favor of Nuada. Camulos (Britain, Romania, Germany, Belgium): a sword-bearing war god similar to Ares (Greece) and Mars (Rome). Symbolized by a boar or by a male head with the horns of a ram. The name might derive from the same root as “champion” and is the basis for Camelot. Caswallawn (Wales): turned himself invisible with a magic cloak and seized the British throne from Bran during a war with Ireland. He is probably based on Cassivellaunus, a British war leader who fought against Julius Caesar. Cathbad (“CAH-bah”; Ireland): King Conchobar’s head druid and husband of the fighting woman Ness. He foretold the tragedy of Dierdre. Cattle Raid of Cuailnge (“Cooley”; Ireland): a major battle between Connaught and Ulster in which the hero Cuchulain died. The Raid started with Queen Maeve’s quest to own the perfect bull. Catubodua (“Battle Crow”; Gaul): see Badb. Compares to the Greek Nike, the Roman Victory, and the Norse Sigyn. Cerridwen (“ker-ID-wen”; Wales): an agricultural goddess also associated with war, grain, and the moon. She gave reluctant birth to the hero-poet Taliesin (Gwion), whom she had eaten after drops from her magical cauldron fell upon his hand. Similer to the Greek Demeter (who toasted a boy in an initiatory fire rather than tossing him into a river) and the Roman Ceres, although she is sometimes compared with Hecate. Cernunnos (“KER-new-nose”; Gaul): a very widely worshipped horned fertility god similar to Pan. Cet (“KET”): warrior of Connacht upstaged by Cuchulain in the satire “The Carving of Macc Datho’s (“DAH-hoes”) Pig.” Cian (“KEE-ahn”): the shapeshifting father of Lug and son of Dian Cecht. He married Balor’s daughter Eithne. Cigfa: wife of Pryderi. Cliodhna (“klee-OH-nah”; Ireland): goddess of beauty. Greek: Aphrodite. Roman: Venus. Cocidius (Britain): god of hunting or war sometimes depicted with a sword in his hand. Compare with the Greek Pan and Roman Sylvanus. Also called Segomo. Coimgne (Ireland): knowledge handed down; lore and historical wisdom; inherited, storied, shared knowledge. Conchobar (“CON-hah-war”; Ireland ): king of Ulster whose lust for Dierdre precipitated eventual war between Ulster and Connacht. Condatis (Britain): god of the place where waters mingle, as when two streams meet. He had an affinity for warm waters. The Romans thought of him as Mars. Connla’s Well: a source of wisdom deep in the sea. Nine hazel trees drop the nuts of visionary inspiration into it; salmon that eat them learn how to leap above the surface. Cormac mac Airt (Ireland): grandson of Conn Cetchathlach (Conn of the Hundred Battles), who granted a disguised Manannan three wishes in exchange for a glimpse at the Land of Promise and a branch bearing three golden apples that made music when shaken. Manannan returned a year later and took Cormac’s wife, son, and daughter. Cormac followed him, got lost, and wound up in a fabulous palace, where his family was restored to him along with a cup that broke into three when lies were told and repaired itself when three truths were uttered. Coventina (Britain): goddess of wells and springs. Credenus (“KRAY-nus”): master craftsman of the Tuatha de Danaan. Creiddylad (Wales): a flower goddess similar to Persephone; Lludd Llaw Eraint was her father. She was betrothed to Gwythr ap Greidawl but kidnapped by Gwyn ap Nudd, and the two fight for her every May Day. The annual May Queen emulates her. The name Cordelia derives from her. Creidne (“CREJ-nuh”; Ireland): daughter of a King of Ireland who had three sons by her. When he exiled them, she joined the Fianna and became a war leader. Cromlech: an ancient circular stand of tall stones, like Stonehenge. Crunnchu (“CROON-hoo”; Ireland): wealthy widower who slept with Macha and bragged about her fleetness of foot. When the king of Ulster forced pregnant Macha to run a race against his horses, she won but cursed them to feel the pangs of childbirth for nine generations. Cuchulain (“coo-CHOOL-in,” with the “ch” like that of the German “Ich”; Ireland): powerful, heroic son of Lugh. A 17-year-old Irish Hercules who died on Samhain. Famous for his strength, arrogance, and salmon leap. His name means “Hound of Culan” after the smith whose ferocious dog he killed. His birth name was Setanta. His “riastarthae” was a kind of rage frenzy that made him uncontrollably dangerous. Cu Rui (Ireland): husband of Blathnait and caster of a spell that rotated whatever stronghold he stayed in so that its door could not be found after sunset. He declared Cuchulain the best warrior of the three who stayed in his home one night to be tested; Cuchulain killed a giant. Culhwch (“kil-HOOCH,” with the “ch” like that of the German “Ich”; Wales): a cousin of King Arthur and betrothed to Olwen, whom he wedded after accomplishing a number of difficult feats required by Olwen’s giant father Ysbaddaden. Arthur helped Culhwch hunt the dangerous boar Twrch Trwyth. Cyhiraeth (“kuh-HUH-rayth”; Wales): stream goddess whose three banshee cries or moans anticipated death. Similar to the Greek Sirens. Cŵn Annwvyn (“koon an-NOO-vin”; Wales): the ghostly hounds of Gwynn ap Nudd. Their baying is said to signify death and to help drive souls to the underworld. Cythrawl (Wales): a masculine destructive entity similar to the Greek god Chaos. Dagda, The (“DOY-dah”; Ireland): chief father god (also called Allfather) and spouse of the Morrigan. He was pot-bellied, dressed like a peasant, carried a huge club that could kill or restore life, and dispensed bounty from an enormous cauldron similar to Zeus’s horn of plenty. Similar to Zeus and the Roman Jupiter. His harp helped the seasons cycle, and on it he could play melodies that made people grieve, laugh, or sleep. Dahud-Ahes/Dahut (Britain): a coastal goddess of pleasure and sensuality sometimes compared to Aphrodite/Venus. She was said to have been reviled by Christian monks. Danu (Ireland): the great mother earth goddess who gave birth to the other gods (the Tuath de Danaan); similar to the Welsh goddess Don, the Russian Dennitsa, the Greek Danae, the Roman Cybele. Dechtire (Ireland): mother of Cuchulain by Lugh and half-sister to Conor mac Nessa, ruler of Ulster. Deirdre: the beautiful goddess with second site wed to Noisiu but pursued by King Conchobar. As an infant she shrieked in the womb. Dewi (Wales): dragon god whose crimson form was said to have appeared in King Arthur’s dreams and, later, on his battle standards. Dian Cecht (“DYE-ann-ket” – Ireland): god of healing similar to the Greek Asclepius. Diarmait ua Duibne: handsome Fian with whom Grainne falls in love and elopes with, in part to escape being married to Fionn mac Cumhaill. Diarmait sets her a number of impossible conditions to fulfil, but she does so successfully and marries him. After many hazardous escapes he is eventually gored to death by a boar sent by Fionn. Dienw’r Anffodion (D’YENN’-oorr An-FOD-yon)(Wales): “The Nameless One of Misfortune,” due to his bearing thirteen years of homeless, wandering suffering and poverty with no memory of who he was until meeting harp-playing Goreu, cousin of Arthur and ally to Culhwch. Heaping abuse on him, Goreu led him to grouchy Cerridwen, who gave him a drink from her cauldron, whereupon the wanderer realized he was Manawyddan. Goreu turned out to be Gwydion. Dinnshenchas (Ireland): the lore of special places. Dispater (Gaul): a father god, but similar to Pan in his earthy reach. Dôn (“dohn”; Wales): the Welsh Danu. Droch Shuil (Scotland): the evil eye. Druantia (Britain): druid queen and tree deity similar to a Greek dryad or the goddess Dentritus. Dubthach (“DOOV-tah”; Ireland) Dóeltenga: Trouble-making ally of Fergus and killer of Conchobar’s son and grandson. His name means “beetle-tongue.” Dubh Ruis (“Duv Rush”; Ireland): harpist husband of Mis, whose madness he cured with music and love. Dylan Ail Don (“son of the wave”; Wales): sea-loving brother of Lleu and son of Arianrhod killed by accident by his uncle Gofannon. He was born when Arianrhod stepped over Math’s magic wand. Each-Uisge (Scotland): the Water Horse, who would appear saddled and ready to ride and drag the rider down into a nearby stream or river. It would sometimes appear to young women or girls as a beautiful male youth. Eachtra (“AHK-truh”; Ireland): literally “Adventure,” the word often refers to a heroic journey into the Otherworld. Eadon (“OH-wen”; Ireland): inspirerer of poets; similar to the Muse Calliope. Efnysien (Wales): half-brother of Branwen and twin brother of the calm, generous Nisien. His tricksterish disruptions of peace attempts between the Irish and the Welsh finally ended when he dove into the Irish cauldron of rejuvenation, destroying it so their warriors could not use it. The twins’ father was Euroswydd, their mother Penarddun (“Most Fair”). Eire (“AIR-uh”; Ireland): Ireland, named after Eriu, goddess of the island and mother of Bres. Elatha: king of the Formorians who stepped down in favor of his son Bres after the war with the Tuatha. Elen (Wales): patron of road-builders for the roads she had built to help soldiers defend Wales. Elphane (Scotland): a crone and witch queen sometimes associated with illness and death but also with arcane knowledge. Compare Hecate. Emain Macha (“EV-in “MAH-hah”; Ireland): prehistoric capital of Ulster in northern Ireland where Navan Fort now is. It was named in honor of the goddess Macha. Eochaid (“YEO-hay”; Ireland) mac Eirc: king of the Fir Bolgs. He established laws and oversaw the yearly harvest (compare Saturn and Freyr). Eochu (“YEO-hoo”) Airem (“Plowman”; Ireland): high king of Ireland. He married Étaín, the most beautiful woman in Ireland, but his brother Ailill Angubae pines away for her to the point of death. She agrees to be with him three times while Eochu is traveling, but only to discover she has actually been with Midir. He was burned to death by Sigmall Sithienta. Éogan (“YEO-gan”) mac Durthacht (“DOO-hah”): henchman of his former enemy Conchobar and killer of Dierdre’s husband Naoise. Epona: goddess of horses (hence “pony”). Called Bubona in Scotland. Might have prefigured Lady Godiva. Her earliest manifestations as a divine mother recall Rhea. See Rhiannon. Erc: king of Leinster, ally of Connacht, and enemy of Cuchulain. He was on hand for Cuchulain’s death after killing his horse (Cuchulain had killed Erc’s father). Eriu: Tuatha lover of Elatha and mother of Bres. Esus (Britain, Gaul): a sea god similar to the Greek Poseidon and the Roman Neptune. In Gaul he was worshiped as a forest and nature god depicted as cutting down trees with an axe. Etain (“et-OYN”; Ireland): an aphroditic woman who was daughter of Aillil and victim of the spells of Fuamnach, wife of Midir, the god who fell in love with Etain. Turned into a fly and reborn 1012 years later from the woman who swallowed the fly in a glass of wine, Etain married Eochaid Airem but is carried off to Brí Léith, the sidhe of Midir. When Airem begins digging it out, Midir has him choose Etain from fifty women who look like her; Airem inadvertently chooses his own daughter instead. Faoin dulraoidh (Ireland): songs in praise of place. Faeries: visible to animals but not always to humans, the Fair Folk are otherworldly beings who bestow gifts upon newborns, switch them with other newborns (changelings), and celebrate at midnight under the full moon. Their magic is called “glamor.” They are said not to like iron or certain herbs. Hearing their music and laughter usually precedes a trip to the Otherworld. Fand: Irish name for Rhiannon, wife of Manannan mac Lir. Ferdia (Ireland): champion of Queen Maeve and friend of Cuchulain. After days of battle Cuchulain reluctantly killed him with his famous spear. Fergus mac Leide: king of Ulster so badly disfigured by the Sineach monster that mirrors were removed from Emain Macha. After imprisoning King Iubdan and Queen Bebo of the leprechauns, he agreed to release them for a pair of magical shoes offered by Iubdan. The shoes allowed him to walk on water and thereby kill the Sinceach with the sword Caladcolg before dying of his own wounds. Fianna (Ireland) : roving, independent poet-warriors who fought to protect the high kings of Ireland. Many fian were small groups of aristocratic young men not yet come into an inheritance and living off the land. Fidchell (“fickle”; Ireland): a Celtic board game of strategy and moving pieces. It involves one player moving his king from the center to the side of the board while avoiding an opponent’s attacks. Often played in Irish myths and folklore, often as a metaphor for plotting going on secretly. Filidh: Irish bards. Originally of the Druids, they evolved into the poets who preserved Irish culture through many waves of attempted colonization. A fili had to memorize hundreds of songs and stories. Some of their tales kept alive the collective attachment to particular sacred places. Bards and harpers were respected in Irish history for their ready access to the Otherworld. Fionn mac Cumhaill (“FINN mac COOL”; Ireland): last head of the Fianna, he was raised by his foster mother Liath Luachra, who also trained him to fight. Feats attributed to him include slaying a fire-breathing fairy and fashioning many of the geographical features of Ireland. His original name was Deimne. His hunting hounds were Bran and Sceolan. His son was Oisin, and his grandson Oscar. Fir Bolg (“FEAR-bolg”): early gods related to the Tuatha de Danaan and led to Ireland by King Eochaid mac Eire. They held Ulster, Munster, and Meath. After the Battle of Mag Tuiredh (“moytura”), where their treaty-refusing king was killed by the Morrigan, they were confined to Connacht. Flidais (Ireland): a goddess of forests and wildernesses; she rode in a chariot drawn by deer. Greek: Artemis. Roman: Diana. Fomorians (Ireland): the race of gods who displaced the Nemedians and were displace by the Tuatha de Danann. Similar to the Greek Titans. Their name means “Sea Giants,” and they each had one leg, one hand, one eye in the forehead, and three rows of teeth like daggers. When the Tuatha had built their capital at Tara, their King Bres, successor to Nuatha, forged an alliance with the Formorians (his father had been one) by marrying the Dagda’s daughter Brigit. Bres having disgraced himself, the alliance ended until the Second Battle of Mag Tuiredh, when a projectile from Lugh’s sling caught mighty Balor in the eye and made his head explode. The Dagda got back the magic harp Bres had stolen from him, the seasons resumed their turnings, and Formorian power was broken. Like the Titans, they were forced beneath the sea. Fuamnach (“FOOM-nah”): spell-casting wife of Midir, who fell in love with Etain despite the spells. Gae Bolga: name of Cuchulain’s many-barbed spear. Goewin (Wales): the maiden who held Math’s feet. When she is raped by Gilfaethwy, Math marries her to protect her from shame. Compare with the Greek Hebe. Goibniu (“GOY-neeoo” – Ireland; Welsh Gofannon): a blacksmith god who armored his fellow immortals. Similar to the Welsh Govannon, the Greek Hephaestos, and the Roman Vulcan. Grainne (Ireland): a sun goddess who was Diarmait’s lover and wife and who put Fionn and his men asleep with a potion to escape them. Their tale is one source of the Tristan and Iseult story. Gronw Pebr: lover of Blodenwedd. Grannus (Gaul): a healing god of spas, solar heat, and hot springs. Often equated with Apollo. Gwenhwyvar (“GWIN-hwee-var”; Wales): wife of King Arthur. Named Guanhumara by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Originally a powerful Celtic goddess or nature spirit. Gwyddion (“GWID-yawn”; Wales): a cunning enchanter, brother of Gilfaethwy, and patron of the arts and education; somewhat similar to the Greek Hermes and the Roman Mercury. Thought by many to be a forerunner of Arthur of Camelot. Gwyddno (Wales): a sea god ruling from an underwater kingdom; compare Poseidon/Neptune. Gwyn ap Nudd (Wales): an underworld god of the hunt and fallen warriors. A pack of dogs accompanies his Wild Hunt. Similar to Hades/Pluto, he is also chief of the Tylwyth Teg (Faeries). Gwri Gwallt Euryn (GOOR-ee Gwalht EYE-reen; Wales): Pryderi. In Arthurian legend he appears as Sir Gaheris. Gwythur ap Gwreidwyl (Wales): opponent of wintry Gwyn ap Nudd, who made off with Gwythur’s intended bride Creiddylad. He is a solar/summer deity. Icovellauna (Gaul): a goddess who poured healing waters. Imbas (Ireland): visionary poetic inspiration and clairvoyance. Imbolc: the early spring festival (February 1). Associated with milk, the first lambs, and lactating ewes before missionaries turned it into the Feast of St. Brigid and then Candlemas. Intarabus (Gaul): a warrior god who acted as protector of place. A statue shows him draped in a wolf skin and curling his hand to hold what was probably a spear. Iouga (Britain): a goddess of joinings, as when two rivers come together. Iubdan: a boastful king of leprechauns and husband of Queen Bebo. His bard Eisirt made a fool of him, prompting him to visit the court of Fergus mac Leide. Fergus made the king and queen hostages until the leprechauns dried up the Ulster milk supply, fouled the springs, and mowed down the corn. Laeg (“LAYG”; Ireland): charioteer of Cuchulain. He was killed by a spear thrown by Lughaidh, king of Munster and enemy of Cuchulain. Laegaire (“LEERY”; Ireland): warrior companion of Cuchulain and the uncouth Conan. Leanansidhe (Ireland): fairy mistress, usually one attractive to human males. Leprechauns: the only industrious folk of the Otherworld, these male, red-clad faeries were expert shoemakers. They are said to be wealthy and eloquent in conversation. Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny; Ireland): a standing stone brought to Ireland by the Tuatha de Danaan. It sits on an Forrad (Inauguration Mound) on the Hill of Tara. According to legend it cries out when the rightful king of Ireland places his foot upon it. Llefelys (Wales): brother of Lludd, king of Britain. Llefelys was king of Gaul and helped Lludd against three magical threats to his kingdom. Lleu Llaw Gyffes: son of Arianrhod and nephew of Gwydion. Compare Lugh. Llyr (Ireland): a sea and underworld god similar to the Greek Poseidon and the Roman Neptune. Father of Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan by Penarddun. Lludd (“LOOTH”; Wales): another name for Nuada. Father of Gwynn ap Nudd, king of Britain (London and Ludgate might be named after him), and brother to Llefelys, who helped him combat three magical plagues. Llwyd ap Ci Coed (Wales): imprisoner of Rhiannon and Pryderi in the kingdom of Dyfed until Manwydan tricks him into freeing them. Lugh (“loo” – Ireland; Lleu in Wales): Shining One: a bright-faced solar god of endless talents, arts, crafts, healing abilities, prophecy; similar to Apollo even though Julius Caesar took him for Mercury. Also known as Lamfhada (“Far-Shooter”) because of his skill with sling and spear. His many talents gained him admittance into the Tuatha. He was the father of Cuchulain, whose battle wounds he cured once with herbs, and husband of Bui and Nas. Lughaidh (Ireland): young king of Munster who cut off Cuchulain’s head for Queen Maeve. Lughaidh was decapitated by Conall the Victorious, who fought with a hand tied behind his back. Lugnasadh: the end of harvest celebration (August 1). Associated with games and contests before being Christianized as Lammas. The Fir Bolg came to Ireland on this day and their Queen Tailtiu died of weariness after clearing the land for planting. The holiday is named after her adopted son Lugh. Oisin (“fawn”; Ireland): son of Fionn mac Cumhaill. With Fionn’s grandson Oscar (“one who lives the deer”) he brought aid to the faery folk when they were attacked. They also warned Diarmait and Grainn that jealous Fionn was after them. Olwen: wife of Culhwch. Mabon (Wales): a generally youthful harvest and wine and hunter god similar to Dionysus and Aengus and the Gaulish Maponos. Culhwch rescued him from Annwvyn and was helped by him to wed Olwen. Mac Cecht (“mak-ket”; Ireland): one of three brothers who murdered Lugh in retaliation for the death of their father Cermait. They shared the rulership of Ireland before the coming of the Milesians. Macha (“MAH-hah”; Ireland): wife of Nuada and muscular war queen similar to the Greek Artemis (Roman Diana) and often compared with Rhiannon and Epona. Often associated with horses and other animals. She once made the men of Ulster suffer the pangs of childbirth for forcing her to run a race against their horses; because she had twins at the finish line, the capital of Ulster is named Emain Macha (Macha’s Twins). Maeve/Medb (“MAYV”; Ireland): queen of Connaught and spouse to King Aillil. Her attempt to own more than her husband led to many deaths–including Cuchulain’s–as the men of Connaught and Ulster fought a bloody battle during the cattle raid of Cuailnge (“KEL-nuh”). Mallt-Y-Nos (Wales): the shrieking crone who accompanied Gwynn ap Nudd and his ghostly hounds on the Wild Hunt. Maponos (Britain): poetry and music god reminiscent of Apollo. Manawyddan ap Llyr (“Man-ah-WEE’-than ap Leer”; Wales): a shapeshifting sea and storm god known in Ireland as Manannan mac Lir. Compare with Proteus. Irish counterpart: Manannan mac Lir, after whom the Isle of Man is named. His pigs kept the gods from growing old. In The Black Book of Carmarthen his role is similar to that of Merlin. Pryderi arranged his marriage to Rhiannon. Marcia Proba (Britain): a lawgiver and warrior queen similar to Athena/Minerva. Math ap Mathonwy (Wales): a god of prosperity, coinage, acute hearing, and magic. Compare Hermes/Mercury. Matholwch (Wales): king of Ireland and cruel husband of Branwen. Matrona (Gaul, Britain): Gaulish river goddess sometimes worshipped as the Matronae, three mother goddesses each baring one breast. See Modron. Melusine (Britain): a two-tailed mermaidlike water spirit similar to a siren. Menw (Wales): a magician in Arthur’s court. Miach: surgeon son of Dian Cecht. When his jealous father hit him over the head with a sword, Miach healed the wound three times, but the fourth stroke killed him. On his burial mound grew three hundred and sixty five herbs that could heal all ailments. Miach’s sister spread her mantle on the ground to sort them, but Dian Cecht snatched it away and scattered them forever. Midir (Ireland): god of the underworld, lover of Étaín, husband of angry Fuamnach. His three magical cranes denied entry into his house until Athirne stole them. Greek: Hades. Roman: Pluto. Milesians: the first inhabitants of Ireland; probably Goidelic Celts. According to the Book of Invasions they were all descended from Goídel Glas, a Scythian who saw the fall of the Tower of Babel, and Scota, a pharaoh’s daughter. They were the human invaders who displaced the Tuatha de Danaan, who came to live in the invisible world while the Celts lived in the visible one. In certain special places these two worlds still live close together. Modron (Wales): a powerful harvest goddess similar to Demeter/Ceres and to the Gaulish Matrona. Daughter of Avalloc, mother of Mabon, possible forerunner of Morgan le Fey. Morfran: ugly son of Cerridwen. Morias (“MARE-ish”; Ireland): druid of Falias, from where came the Stone of Virtue. Muireartach (Ireland): a one-eyed battle goddess whose name means “eastern sea.” Compare with Enyo/Ballona. Morrigen, The (“moh-REE-gan”; also “mohr-IG-nah”; Ireland): queen of the pantheon and war goddess married to the Dagda. She led him to victory over the Fomorians at the second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. Sometimes takes the form of a raven or crow. She gave the Heraclean hero Cuchulainn a lethally bad time after he rejected her appearance as a young, lovely woman. Compare with the Irish Murigen, Morgan le Fey, the Greek Hera, and the Roman Juno. Muirne (“Mwir-nuh”; Ireland): mother of Fionn mac Cumhaill. Muirthemne (“MOOR-temmee”; Ireland): the plain where tired Cuchulain fought his last battle. Naisi (“NA-SEE”; Ireland): unfortunate lover of Dierdre. Neart (Ireland): the power brought forth when natural forces are invoked to heal the soul. In common usage it means “energy” or “force.” Nehalennai (Gaul, Britain): coastal protector of travelers and sailors. Similar to the Greek Fortuna and especially Brizo, protector of mariners. Neit (“NYIT”; Ireland): war god husband of the battle-frenzied fairy Nermain. Niamh (“NEE-ev”; Ireland): the fairy princess who took Fionn’s son Oisin to Tir Na N’Og. Nicevenn (Scotland): a witch goddess associated with Samhain and the moon. Possibly a parallel with Artemis/Diana. Nuada (“NEW-ah”; Ireland): husband of Macha and first Tuatha king, who stepped down when he lost a hand fighting the Fir Bolg at the First Battle of Mag Tuiredh. He earned the nickname Airgedlamh (“Silver Hand”) from the artificial limb he wore. A flesh arm given to him by Miach, son of Dian Cect, enabled him to be king again after Bres. He eventually passed the kingship to Lugh and was beheaded by Balor at the second Battle of Mag Tuired. His Welsh counterpart is Lludd of the Silver Hand. Nudons, Nodens (Wales): a god of the sea, sometimes beardless or driving a chariot, thought to resemble Poseidon/Neptune. Also associated with dogs and hunting. See Nuada. Nwyvre: possibly a sky god similar to Uranos. Little is known of him. Ogham (OH-wam): the original Celtic alphabet. According to legend, Creirwyn daughter of Cerridwen solved the riddle they presented when brought by Ogma and thereby made them available to everyone else as a form of writing. Ogma (“UG-m”; Ireland): god of letters and learning who invented an alphabet. A son of the Dagda. Greek: Hermes. Roman: Mercury. Orain Luadhaidh (Scotland): “waulking songs” sung along with waulking (shrinking by hand) tweed to make Highland cloth. The songs preserved ballads, clan lore, love songs, heroic stories, and myths and were sung only by women. Pryderi (“pruh-DAIR-ee”; Wales): the kidnapped son of Pwyll and Rhiannon. His name means “worry.” His strength and skill are comparable in some ways to those of Heracles. (Note: some lists of Celtic dieties nominate Pwyll as a god, but he is more of a heroic king who learns important lessons from the Otherworld. At most he is a highly differentiated byform of Arawn and, through an involved genealogy, possibly the father of the British god Maponos, from whom the Welsh word mabinogi might derive in its meaning as a collection of ancient stories.) Pwyll (“pooeel”; Wales): Lord of Dyfed, first husband of Rhiannon, and father of Pryderi. Pwyll traded places with Arawn, Lord of Annwn, for a year, to the enrichment of both their kingdoms. During this period he defeated Arawan’s enemy Hafgan and lived with Arawn’s wife without taking advantage of his disguised position. Rathadach (Scotland): lucky omens. Unlucky ones were called rosadach. Ratis (Britain): god of fortified boundaries and walls. Somewhat similar to Enodia, guardian of gates, and Cardea, Roman goddess of doors and thresholds. Rhiannon: strong, outspoken queen goddess associated with a magical pale horse. Known to the Romans as Epona, she married Pwyll and mothered Pryderi. Compare with the Greek Persephone. Ritona (Gaul): possibly a goddess of fords. Rosmerta (Gaul): a provider goddess who carried a caduceus and a cornucopia. Similar to the Greek Protogenia and the Roman Maia. The Romans married her to Mercury. Ruadan (Ireland): a son of Bres by Brigid, he posed as a Tuatha warrior with a broken spear. He stabbed Giobniu with it, but the smith pulled it out and lethally stabbed Ruadan with it. Rudianos (Gaul): a war god whose name means “red.” Sadb (“Save”; Ireland): a woman of the sidhe turned into a fawn by Fear Doirche (“fair door-uh”), a druid who wanted her and who abducted her after Fionn mac Cumhaill married her and sailed off to fight the Vikings. Upon his return Finn found a son she had bore him in the woods: Oisen (“Little Fawn”). Samhain (“SAH-win”): the Celtic origin of All Soul’s Day. The word means “November” and refers to the time when this world and the Otherworld are in maximum conjunction as the metaphysical doorways of the sidh stand open. It was also the day that the Dagda mated with the Morrigan as she stood astride the River Unius washing the armor of men about to die in battle and with Boanne (from whom the River Boyne is named) on the eve of the Second Battle of Mag Tuiredh. Celebrants gave masked visitors from the Otherworld treats so these guests would not play dangerous tricks. Scathach (“SKAH-tah”; Ireland): the battle strategist goddess who trained the Irish hero Cuchulainn, lover of her daughter Uathach. Compare with the Greek Athena and the Roman Minerva. Seanachaidh (Scotland): traditional teller of tales. Selkie (Ireland, Scotland, Iceland): magical seals who can temporarily assume human form, often long enough to love and break the heart of a human lover. Senias (“SHE-nas”): a druid and teacher of Murias, where the Dagda’s magical cauldron originated. Senua (Britain): a goddess similar to Minerva and worshipped near a spring. Sheela Na Gig: stone carving of a woman pulling open her vagina. Often seen on Norman churches. No one knows which deity she represents, although it is presumed to be a comical one. (The Celts seemed not to have been saddled with many sexual taboos. They were also civilized and open about bisexuality and homosexuality.) Sidhe (“SHE”; Ireland): a burial mound thought to lead down into the underworld. Also, the underworld or Otherworld itself (the realm of the Sidhe), sometimes called “the Land of Women.” Silvertree and Goldtree (Scotland): a jealous mother and a beautiful daughter. The mother had a habit of asking a magical trout, “Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?” When the trout replied “Your daughter” one day, Silvertree plotted to have her killed; instead, she was forced to drink poisoned wine, ridding Goldtree of her influence. Moral of the story: Never flaunt a fancy parasol during a trout. Sineach (“stormy one”; Ireland): a man-eating monster dwelling within Loch Rudraige. It maimed the face of Fergus mac Leide, a king of Ulster. Sirona (Gaul): a goddess associated with healing, children, and wolves. Sometimes compared to the Greek goddess Hygieia. Sloinneadh (Scotland): the traditional naming of the ancestors. Smertrios (Gaul): a bearded war god often compared to Ares/Mars. Sreng (“share-EN”): the Fir Bolg warrior who cut off Nuada’s hand. Sualtam (Ireland): Ulster chieftain, husband of Dechtire, and stepfather of Cuchulain. Sucellos (Gaul, Britain): a bearded, hammer-wielding god comparable to the Dagda. His wife was Nantosvelta. Sometimes accompanied by a three-headed dog. Often worshipped as a god of forests, agriculture, and beer. Sulis (Gaul): a spring goddess similar to Athena. Taibhsearachd (second sight; Scotland): a Highland knack for seeing into the future. Taillte (“DAYL-tya”): foster mother of Lugh and wife of Eochaid mac Eirc, last Fir Bolg to rule Ireland. Taliesin (“tal-YES-in”; Wales): earliest known Welsh poet. Some of his poems were written down in the 10th century. In myth he was a servant to Cerridwen who accidentally drank some of her brew of poetic inspiration. Tannus/Taranis: a thunder god similar to the Roman Jupiter and the Greek Zeus. He carried a spoked wheel and was associated with the oak and the eagle. Tarvis Trigaraunos (Gaul): a bull god similar to the Roman god Mithras. Teulu (“TIGH-lee”; Wales): a king’s bodyguard sworn to die to protect him. Teutates (Britain, Gaul): a god of war and wealth often compared to Mars. Tir Na N’Og (Ireland): the Land of the Ever-Living; a timeless Otherworld realm. Trods: barely visible pathways walked by the immortal folk. The sick could walk them in hope of improvement, but only if no faeries were using them at the time. Tuatha de Danann (“TOO-ha-day-DAHN-en”; Ireland): the Children of Danu-Ana (Great Mother); the Irish equivalent of Olympians. They overthrew the Fomorians (similar to the Titans). Tuiren (“TOOR-un”; Ireland): homely aunt of Fionn mac Cumhaill and wife of Fianna chief Eachtach Iollan. His jealous lover tapped her with a druid wand and turned her into an Irish wolfhound. As such she gave birth to Fionn’s dogs Bran and Sceolan before reassuming human form. Iollan wound up with the wand-wielding woman of the sidhe. Tuireann (Ireland): thunder god father of several gods and goddesses. Similar to the Gaulish Taranis, the Welsh Taran, and the Norse Thor. His name means “thunder.” Twrch Trwyth (“turk TROO-ith”; Wales): the wild boar hunted by Culhwch and King Arthur. He was the son of Prince Tared before being turned into a giant boar with poisonous bristles. Between his ears he carries a scissors, a comb, and a razor. He was finally driven into the sea and drowned. Uathach (“OO-ha”): daughter of Scathach and lover of Cuchulain. Uchtdealb (“OOKT-jelb”; Ireland): jealous lover of Iollan. Ulaid: another word for Ulster. Uroica (Britain): goddess of heather and of heather wine; compare with the Greek Amphictyonis, byform of Demeter. Vindonnus (“Clear Light”; Gaul): a name for Apollo in his healing aspect. Vindos: later became Gwynn ap Nudd, the king of the underground kingdom of Annwn and the leader of the Wild Hunt. He rides forth at night accompanied by a pack of Otherworld hunting dogs and bears the dying souls away to Tor at Glastonbury. Wachilt: goddess of the sea and mother of Wayland. Greek: Amphitrite, consort of Poseidon. Wayland: a smith god who pined for a swan goddess and could not refuse a commission. He escaped capture by his enemies on wings he made himself. Compare Hephaestos/Vulcan. Wisdom of the Oak: a contemplative form of Druidic-poetic knowing. Y Draigh Goch: for more about Arthur’s dragon emblem, see Dewi. Ysbaddaden Pencawr: giant father of Olwen. Her future husband Culhwch fulfilled Ysbddaden’s difficult conditions for marrying her, at which point her father was beheaded by Goreu, a companion of Culhwch. Local Versus Nonlocal Gods In the cultural sense, all gods are local. Athena, for example, belongs in Athens. Nevertheless, the qualities and principles they embody vary widely in terms of their universality. Culturally, Aphrodite is Greek, but she can also be thought of nonlocally as the power of attraction that binds together the cosmos two particles at a time. The Celtic pantheons are rich in highly localized earth deities like Sequana, goddess of the Seine, and Tamesis, goddess of the Thames, whose influences remain within fixed geographical bounds. The list above excludes most of these because its purpose is one of comparative mythology whose focus is on beings recognizable across cultures, times, and places: in other words, nonlocal gods. (It would be interesting to explore how the Celtic emphasis on earthly places corresponds to their belief in relatively easy passages into and out of the Otherworld. The worlds stood in much closer proximity than in more formalized religious systems. Does prioritizing heaven above earth somehow make it more necessary to keep them separate?) Consider Aphrodite, known to the Romans as Venus….and to the Norse as Freya, the Irish as Branwen and Deirdre, the Chinese as Kwan Yin. Or consider Arduinna, goddess of the moon and the hunt. She is often compared to the Greek Artemis (Diana to the Romans). The question suggests itself: are these different beings (in Jungian: different archetypes), or the same beings showing up in different cultural guises? Although the compiler of this comparative mythology list tends toward the latter view, the comparisons below are offered not as reductions or simple equivalences that blur important qualities, but as bridges for understanding. Anything more, and I am covered by the proverb: Fear sam bith a loisgeas a mhàs, ‘s e fhèin a dh’fheumas suidhe air (roughly: “Burn your rump, and you’re the one who must sit on it”). A Brief List of Theisms: Atheism: there is no god or gods. However, prominent atheists have been caught worshipping Science or Progress on the sly now and then. Monotheism: one god only. The first monotheist on record was Akhenaton of Egypt. Monotheism more or less correlates with organized religion. Current monotheisms include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Polytheism: many gods, whether considered separate (“hard” polytheism) or aspects of one deity (“soft”). The term “pan-polytheist” circulating in neo-Pagan circles is a bit redundant: polytheism does not preclude the concept of an underlying divine Presence wearing many different faces. Example of a polytheist in the “soft” sense: Joseph Campbell (see the quotation below). Henotheism: many gods, but one in charge. Polytheism with a commander-in-chief. Some of the later Celtic and Viking peoples believed in a godhead (the Dagda; Odin) ruling over a pantheon. Pantheism: no god outside of the universe. Stated positively: God and the universe coexist. There is no other world. Candidates include Spinoza and Einstein. Panentheism: similar to pantheism in its emphasis on divine immanence, but the god came first to manifest the universe in a kind of engaged monotheism. Unlike pantheists, panentheists believe in the supernatural. Example of a panentheist: Thoreau. Paganism: from “rural,” “country people,” “rooted,” “peace,” and similar to “peasant”: a derogatory term for a non-monotheist, usually indigenous, who believes the natural world to be adorned with sacred presences. Most pre-Christian pagans were either polytheists (the majority) or henotheists (more typical of strongly stratified societies). Symbols are only the vehicles of communication; they must not be mistaken for the final term, the tenor, of their reference. No matter how attractive or impressive they may seem, they remain but convenient means, accommodated to the understanding. Hence the personality or personalities of God–whether represented in trinitarian, dualistic, or unitarian terms, in polytheistic, monotheistic, or henotheistic terms, pictorially or verbally, as documented fact or as apocalyptic vision–no one should attempt to read or interpret as the final thing. — Joseph Campbell
How Breathing Works: A Guide for Singers When I started taking singing lessons, I never expected that I would come to know so much about the human body. I’m still not convinced that anatomy is my favourite subject, but it’s vital for singers and singing teachers to understand what’s going on in the body. The very first process singers are introduced to is usually their breathing mechanism. Breathing is an automatic process for the body – a reflex. We don’t have to consciously decide to breathe in and breathe out (how bad would it be if we did?). Instead, our body knows to tense and relax the right muscles at the right time all by itself. The muscle which does most of the work for our breathing is called the diaphragm. It’s a large muscle located right on the bottom of your lungs, dividing them from the rest of the organs in your abdomen (stomach, kidneys, liver, intestines, etc). It is what draws air into your lungs. Without it, your lungs would be empty, like a party balloon when it comes out of the packet. Here’s where it gets a bit technical. Unlike a party balloon, where we push air into it, and it expands (this is how medical artificial respirators work), our body uses an amazing bit of science to draw air into our lungs. When our diaphragm becomes tense, it creates a vacuum in your chest which sucks your lungs down. Our muscles around our ribs (intercostal muscle) also tense, moving our ribcage up and out, increasing this vacuum that’s opening our lungs. As our lungs open up, that creates another vacuum in our lungs which air rushes into. It’s exactly the same scientific principles as a vacuum cleaner uses. When the diaphragm relaxes, the vacuum stops, the lungs close down again, and the air in the lungs flows back out again. Amazing stuff, eh? So what does this mean for singers? Well, our diaphragm works automatically without us noticing most of the time, but singers need to become aware of it. Sometimes it goes wrong, and we get hiccups – the feeling you get at the base of your ribs when you hiccup, or when you’re waiting to see if you’re going to hiccup? That’s your diaphragm you’re feeling. You don’t want to try to induce hiccups just to feel your diaphragm so when you’re breathing normally, place your hand just across the bottom of your ribs, where the left and right separate, and you should be able to feel a rising and falling sensation. That’s the effect of your diaphragm. Some people say singers need to learn to “breath with (or from) your diaphragm”. This isn’t anatomically correct, but the principle is the right. We need to learn to do two things as singers – breath using our whole lungs and control the speed of our breathing. Normally, our breathing is fairly shallow – we don’t need to breath heavily as we’re not using much oxygen up when we’re sitting down. As we do more active things – walking or running, our breathing gets deeper as we need more oxygen. Singers harness this natural ability to vary the depth of our breath by developing conscious control over how far out the muscles inbetween our ribs (our intercostal muscles) move out, and how quickly or slowly our diaphragm tenses. You can already do this a little because you can already choose to take an extra large and deep breath. Singing is always building on natural things our bodies do anyway. It’s not a mythical or mysterious process – there are lots of buzz words and jargon some teachers use, but really, it’s all about getting your body to do the stuff it already does even better! You can already control the speed of your breathing a little too – you can hold your breath. When we hold our breath, we are consciously telling our diaphragm to stop moving. Eventually, our body will override this command as we need oxygen, but we can control it. Singers develop a very fine control over this muscle, not only being able to hold their breath, but to control how slowly the diaphragm releases, and using the muscles around our intercostal (rib) muscles to control the speed of our breathing. Lots of techniques exist now that help with general breathing. Many people, singers and not, find yoga really helpful as there is a focus on breathing deeply and rhythmically. The Alexander Technique can also help with breathing along with improving posture and movement. Keep following the blog for exercise ideas that will help you with controlling your breathing for singing. If you’re serious about getting better at singing, do find a singing teacher in your area to help you. For Edinburgh-based lessons, contact me. Leave a Reply
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (also known as SIDS) refers to the sudden death of an apparently healthy infant under 1 year of age whose death cannot be explained even after a complete investigation. for searching the Internet and other reference sources Prenatal Care Taking Care Mrs. Wyatt is doing all the things her doctor told her to do with her new baby. She puts him to sleep for naps and at night on his back instead of on his stomach. She makes sure the crib has a mattress that is firm, and that there are no blankets, pillows, or toys around the baby. She refrains from bundling her baby in thick clothing before putting the baby to bed. The doctor recommended these things because they reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a mysterious disorder that is a leading cause of death for children between the age of 1 month and 1 year. SIDS kills more than 3,000 babies a year in America, usually while they are asleep in cribs. But since mothers like Mrs. Wyatt started to put their babies to sleep on their backs, and to adopt other preventive strategies, the number of SIDS deaths has dropped more than 40 percent. No one knows for sure why these babies die. Most of the babies appear to be healthy until their deaths. Parents often feel guilt mixed with their grief over the death. They think perhaps there was something they could have done. But SIDS is no one's fault. * vaccination (vak-si-NAY-shun) is taking into the body a killed or weakened germ, or a protein made from such a microbe, in order to prevent lessen, or treat a disease. What Is SIDS? Researchers have not discovered a cause for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in the more than 30 years they have been studying it. In fact, it is easier to say what SIDS is not than what it is. SIDS does not result from suffocation, choking, vomiting, or a fatal reaction to a vaccination * . A baby does not catch it like a cold. The only time doctors say that a baby has died of SIDS is if no other cause of death is found after there has been an autopsy * , an investigation of the place where the baby died, and a review of the baby's medical history. Recent research suggests that infants who die of SIDS might have a problem in an area of the brain that controls two functions while they are asleep: breathing and waking up. This problem area in the brain, however, might not be enough on its own to cause SIDS. Other things may have to happen to reduce the amount of oxygen a baby gets, or to disrupt the baby's breathing and heart rate. For example, babies might not get enough oxygen when they breathe air that is trapped in soft beds or in folds of blankets near their mouths. This is not the same as suffocation, which usually involves completely blocking a person's ability to take in air. In SIDS, the babies may be getting air but not enough oxygen, because they are breathing in their own exhaled breath. Respiratory infections such as a cold or other ailment also can make breathing difficult for a baby. Usually, babies would wake up and cry if they were not breathing well. But it may be that some babies cannot process the signals in the brain when they are not breathing properly. These examples could help explain why babies who sleep on their stomachs or have infections are at higher risk of SIDS. It also might explain why SIDS is more likely to occur in the winter, when the risk of infection is higher and babies might be sleeping with more bedclothes or blankets. Researchers are investigating other possible physical problems that could contribute to the risk of SIDS. One possible factor is an immune system * disorder that creates too many white blood cells and proteins, which disrupt the brain's control over breathing and heart rate. Like many disorders, SIDS might have a combination of factors that cause it, including some that have not been discovered. Who Is at Risk for SIDS? Although research is beginning to suggest causes for SIDS, there is still no way to predict who will die of the disorder. The vast majority of babies who are laid to sleep on their stomachs, have infections, or sleep with blankets do not die from SIDS. Others who sleep on their backs in ideal conditions still die of the disorder. There are no warning signs of SIDS before a baby dies. Doctors only diagnose it after ruling out other possible causes of death. Certain things are known. SIDS can happen any time within the first year, but it occurs most often between the first and fourth month after birth. Seldom does it occur within the first 2 weeks following birth or after 6 months. * autopsy (AW-top-see) is the examination of a body after a person has died, to determine the cause of death. * immune system is the system that protects the body from diseases. It includes elements such as the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and antibodies (AN-te-bod-eez), The Back to Sleep Campaign For decades, parents thought it was best to put babies to sleep on their stomachs. They thought that if babies were on their backs, they would choke on their vomit if they threw up. Doctors today say that should not be a concern. In fact, a national Back to Sleep Campaign was launched in 1994 by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and other organizations to inform parents that they should put healthy babies to sleep on their backs, because doing this appears to reduce the risk of SIDS. It was in 1992 that the American Academy of Pediatrics first recommended that babies sleep on their backs. Between 1992 and 1997, the number of children sleeping on their stomachs dropped from 70 percent to 21 percent, and the death rate from SIDS dropped by 42 percent. The Back to Sleep campaign also informed health professionals and the general public about other ways to lower the risk of SIDS. These include: • Having the mother avoid smoking during pregnancy • Making sure the mother gets medical care during pregnancy • Having family members avoid smoking around the baby after it is born • Making sure the baby gets ongoing medical care after it is born • Having the mother breast-feed the baby • Providing the baby with a firm mattress • Keeping pillows, blankets, and toys in the crib from crowding the baby • Not dressing a baby in too many clothes when the baby is sleeping. Not all babies should sleep on their backs. A few have problems with their airways or keeping food down. Doctors may recommend in these rare cases that the babies be placed on their stomachs on a firm mattress without soft pillows, blankets, or plush toys. Some parents have misunderstood the intentofthe Backto Sleep Campaign. They never put their children on their stomachs, even when they are awake. Doctors say it is important for children's physical and mental development to spend sometime on their stomachs while they are awake, so long as an adult is watching. What Are the Risk Factors for SIDS? A baby is more likely to die of SIDS if the baby has: • A mother who smoked during pregnancy • A mother less than 20 years old • A mother who did not receive proper medical care before her baby was born • A birth before the full 9 months of a normal pregnancy • A lower than normal birth weight • Family members who smoked around the baby. However, babies who are breast-fed have a lower risk of SIDS than babies who are fed with a bottle. One possible reason might be because breast-feeding helps reduce the risk of the types of infections that may contribute to breathing problems. Horchler, Joani Nelson, and Robin Rice Morris. The SIDS Survival Guide: Information and Comfort for Grieving Family and Friends and Professionals Who Seek to Help Them. Revised and updated edition. Hyattsville, MD: SIDS Educational Services, 1997. Guntheroth, Warren G. Crib Death: The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Third edition. Armonk, NY: Futura Publishing Company, Inc., 1993. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), posts information about SIDS on its website, which also includes information on the Back to Sleep Campaign. Telephone 800-505-2742 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Network, P.O. Box 520, Ledyard, CT 06339. This organization is dedicated to providing information on SIDS, and support for families who lose a baby. It features information in more than a dozen languages. National SIDS Resource Center, 2070 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 450, Vienna, VA 22182. Telephone 703-821-8955 SIDS Alliance, 1314 Bedford Avenue, Suite 210, Baltimore, MD 21208. SIDS Alliance is a national network of SIDS support groups. Telephone 800-221-7437 or 410-653-8226 See also Tobacco-Related Diseases Also read article about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome from Wikipedia User Contributions:
hat is the shortcut key to display field codes? Options: Alt + F9 B. Ctrl + F9 C. Shift + F9 D. Space + F9 Ans:– A , Description: mcqquestions Hits Today: 5473 \| Level: Moderate More MS-Word Related questions: You copy a configuration from a network host to a router's RAM. The configuration looks correct, yet it is not working at all. What could the problem be? Options: You copied the wrong configuration into RAM., You copied the configuration into flash memory instead., The copy did not override the shutdown command in running-config., The IOS became corrupted after the copy command was initiated. Ans:C ,C Ans:C ,C . All of the following are TRUE regarding virtual memory EXCEPT Options: a. Any amount of RAM can be allocated to virtual memory b. The setting for the amount of hard disk drive space to allocate virtual memory canbe manually change c. This temporary storage is called the swap file or page file d. Virtual memory is the physical space o the hard drive Ans: a, a Which of the following data structures are indexed structures? Ans: a, a What command is used with vi editor to append text at end of line? Options: I, i, a, A Ans:D ,D A pricing strategy model would function most effectively as a Options: transaction processing model, batch model, time sharing model, realtime model Ans:C ,C Invoices are deleted from the invoice detail file by the Options: cash receipts subsystem, execution procedures of accounts, sales analysis system, All of the above Ans:A ,A _____________ refers to the correctness and completeness of the data in a database? Options: Data security B. Data integrity C. Data constraint D. Data independence Ans:– B , . The virtual memory is Ans:5 – c ,5 – c A record management system Options: a. can handle many files of information at a time b. can be used to extract information stored in a computer file c. always uses a list as its model d. both a and b Use of a supertype/subtype relationship is necessary when which of the following exists? Options: An instance of a subtype participates in a relationship that is unique to that subtype., An instance of a subtype participates in a relationship that is the same as the other subtypes., Attributes apply to all of the instances of an entity type., No attributes apply to any of the instances of an entity type. Ans:A ,A If you are an information-system manager, which organization is most appropriate for your interest? Options: ACM, SIM, ASA, IEEE Ans:B ,B The main difference between synchronous and asynchronous transmission is Options: the clocking is derived from the data in synchronous transmission, the clocking is mixed with the data in asynchronous transmission, the pulse height is different., the bandwidth required is different Ans:A ,A Strategic Planning factors do not include which of the following? Options: Organizational goals, Critical success factors, Information engineering, Problem areas Ans:C ,C Which of the following is not true of the conversion phase of the development life cycle? Options: the user and systems personnel must work closely together., steps must be taken to phase out the old system, documentation should be emphasized, the non machine components of the system should be considered Ans:C ,C What multicast addresses does EIGRPv6 use? Options: FF02::A, FF02::9, FF02::5, FF02::6 Ans:A ,A Options: Hypertext, Hypermedia, HyperCard, Wildcard Ans:B ,B What is the name of the device that converts computer output into a form that can be transmitted over a telephone line? Options: Teleport, Modem, Multiplexer, Concentrator Ans:B ,B . Which function can not be used for calculated controls in a report? Options: a. SUM b. AVG c. MPT d. COUNT Ans:– c,– c Which of the following keys is used to delete the character beneath the cursor? Options: x, X, dd, D Ans:A ,A . In Word 2007 the Zoom is placed on Ans:– D,– D A single packet on a data link is known as Options: Path, Frame, Block, Group Options: a. memo b. data/time c. number d. All of above Ans:ndash; a,ndash; a Options: more, pg, cat, lp Ans:B ,B Human beings are referred to as Homosapiens. Which device is called Silico sapiens? Options: Monitor, Hardware, Robot, Computer Ans:D ,D D/A (digital to analog) conversion: Options: results in a binary code as the final output, has to be sampled at 1/2 the highest input frequency, must be fed through a filter to reproduce the original signal accurately, both (b) and (c) Ans:C ,C Ans:A ,A Ideally, the chairman of the MIS committee should be the Options: vice-president of manufacturing, vice-president of marketing, vice-president of finance, All of the above Ans:E ,E All worksheet formula Options: a. Manipulate values b. Manipulate labels c. Return a formula result d. Use the addition operator Ans:#8211; c,#8211; c In an SQL SELECT statement querying a single table, according to the SQL-92 standard the asterisk (*) means that: Options: all columns of the table are to be returned., all records meeting the full criteria are to be returned., all records with even partial criteria met are to be returned., None of the above is correct. Ans:A ,A The macro processor must perform Options: recognize macro definitions and macro calls, save the macro definitions, expand macro calls and substitute arguments, All of the above Ans:D ,D . The maximum length of any single path from the root directory? Options: a. 54 b. 63 c. 80 d. 27 Ans:7 – b ,7 – b Options: a. Once in the beginning of the report b. At the top of every page c. Every after record break d. On the 1st and last pages of the report Ans:dash; a,dash; a In precedence of set operators the expression is evaluated from Options: a. Left to Left b. Left to Right c. Right to Right d. Right to Left Ans:â€“ b , . Which of the following field properties displays a model or pattern for entering data? Options: a. Field Size b. Format c. Input Mask d. Validation Rule Ans:6 – c ,6 – c Embedded SQL is which of the following? Options: Hard-coded SQL statements in a program language such as Java., The process of making an application capable of generating specific SQL code on the fly., Hard-coded SQL statements in a procedure., Hard-coded SQL statements in a trigger. Ans:A ,A You are connecting your access point and it is set to root. What does Extended Service Set ID mean? Options: That you have more than one access point and they are in the same SSID connected by a distribution system., That you have more than one access point and they are in separate SSIDs connected by a distribution system., That you have multiple access points, but they are placed physically in different buildings., That you have multiple access points, but one is a repeater access point. Ans:A ,A Options: A) Hardware B) Software C) Firmware D) ROM ware Which is a machine-oriented high-level language for the GEC 4080 series machines. Options: LOGO, SNOBOL, Babbage, ALGOL Ans:C ,C Which of the following is a programming language? Options: Â Lotus B. Â Pascal C. Â MS-Excel D. Â Netscape Ans:– B , When of the following produces the best quality graphics reproduction? Options: Dot metric printers, Ink jet printers, Laser printers, Plotters Ans:D ,D A characteristic of an MIS is: Options: user-oriented information, restrictions on the system's size to inhibit future growth, priority for data handling over the output of decision-oriented information, All of the above Ans:A ,A A COM port is a _____ port. Options: parallel, serial, static, multi Ans:B ,B COM 4 uses which I/O port? Options: 2F8H, 3F8H, 3E8H, 2E8H Ans:D ,D In magnetic disks, data is organized on the platter in a concentric sets of rings called Options: sector, track, head, block Ans:B ,B . The operating speed of third generation computer was Options: A) Milliseconds B) Microseconds C) Nanoseconds D) Picoseconds . You can use the horizontal and vertical scroll bars to Ans:– b,– b The advantage of Purchase Option is (are) Options: No financing is requird. The risk of system obsolescence is shifted to the lessor, the flexibility of modifying the system at will, Insurances, maintenance, and other expenses are included in the rental charge, All of the above Ans:B ,B Ans:0 – B ,0 – B
How many worksheets can a workbook have? Ans:– D , Description: mcqquestions Hits Today: 16499 \| Level: Moderate More MS-Excel Related questions: How many non-overlapping channels are available with 802.11h? Options: 3, 12, 23, 40 Ans:C ,C . The Microsoft clip gallery allows you to Options: a. Add word art images to a slide b. Spell check your presentation c. Add clip art images to a slide or slides d. Add slides to a presentation Ans:3 – C ,3 – C What will be the output of the program? #include<stdio.h> #include<string.h> int main() { char s; char fun(); s = fun(); printf("%s\n", s); return 0; } char fun() { char buffer[30]; strcpy(buffer, "RAM"); return (buffer); } Options: 0xffff, Garbage value, 0xffee, Error Ans:B ,B . Word length of a Personal Computer is ___ Options: A) 4 bits B) 8 bits C) 16 bits D) 64 bits Ans:D ,D What do the following declaration signify? char *argv; Options: argv is a pointer to pointer., argv is a pointer to a char pointer., argv is a function pointer., argv is a member of function pointer. Ans:B ,B . In a module, a(n) _______ is a series of commands and properties that perform a specific task. Ans:– c,– c Which of the following is an essential file of a MS-DOS boot disk? What command is used to remove the directory? Options: rdir, remove, rd, rmdir Ans:D ,D Ans:6 – c ,6 – c Which of the following is not the Networking Devices? Options: Gateways B. Linux Â Â Â Â Â Â C. Routers D. Firewalls Ans:– B , A Database Management System (DBMS) is Options: Collection of interrelated data B. Collection of programs to access data C. Collection of data describing one particular enterprise D. All of the above Ans:– D , In DOS, which of the following keys will bypass the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files? Options: F8, F5, F4, Fl Ans:B ,B What is the smallest number of polarities required for current flow? Options: One - a negative terminal, Two - a negative terminal and a positive terminal, Three - negative, positive and neutral terminals, Four - two negative and two positive Ans:B ,B What is the shortcut key to â€œCenter Align â€ the selected text? Options: Ctrl + C B. Ctrl + E C. Ctrl + F D. None of above Ans:â€“ B , Ans: b, b Options: /usr, /tmp, /opt, /mnt Ans:A ,A What will be the output of the program? #include<stdio.h> #define PRINT(i) printf("%d,",i) int main() { int x=2, y=3, z=4; PRINT(x); PRINT(y); PRINT(z); return 0; } Options: 2, 3, 4,, 2, 2, 2,, 3, 3, 3,, 4, 4, 4, Ans:A ,A In LISP, the function assigns the symbol x to y is Options: (setq y x), (set y = 'x'), (setq y = 'x'), (setq y 'x') Ans:D ,D Which statement is true regarding classless routing protocols? The use of discontiguous networks is not allowed. The use of variable length subnet masks is permitted. RIPv1 is a classless routing protocol. IGRP supports classless routing within the same autonomous system. RIPv2 supports classless routing. Options: 1, 3 and 5, 3 and 4, 2 and 5, None of the above Ans:C ,C What is the language used by most of the DBMSs for helping their users to access data? Options: a. High level language b. SQL c. Query Language d. 4GL Ans:. c ,. c Which of the following is not a restriction for a table to be a relation? Options: The cells of the table must contain a single value., All of the entries in any column must be of the same kind., The columns must be ordered., No two rows in a table may be identical. Ans:C ,C â€œCtrl + PageDownâ€ is used to Options: a. Moves the cursor one Paragraph Down b. Moves the cursor one Page Down c. Moves the cursor one Line Down d. Moves the cursor one Screen Down Ans:â€“ B,â€“ B Ans:A ,A If a robot can alter its own trajectory in response to external conditions, it is considered to be: Options: intelligent, mobile, open loop, non-servo Ans:A ,A Options: A) Charles Babbage B) Dr. Herman Hollerith C) Howard Aikin D) Joseph Jacquard Which one of the following statements most accurately applies to the frequency of a waveform? Options: The actual frequency of a sine waveform is 1.41 times the working frequency, Unless specified otherwise, the frequency of a waveform is assumed to be 60 Hz, The higher the amplitude of a waveform, the higher its frequency, The longer the period of a waveform, the lower its frequency Ans:A ,A UDP is: Options: Not a part of the TCP/IP suite, Connection oriented and unreliable, Connection orientated and reliable, Connectionless and unreliable Ans:D ,D . Which of the following is NOT possible when printing Forms? Options: a. Print page 1, 3, and 5 b. Print pages 1 through 5 c. Print selected records d. Print only the third record Ans:5 – a ,5 – a The bubbles in a bubble memory pack are created with the help of? Options: Laser beam, Magnetic field, Electric field, X-ray Ans:B ,B Which of the following statements in correct? Options: most analysts agree on the structure and organization of MIS., operational planning reports are a primary informational tool for middle management., an MIS focuses on managing information generated with a computer system, the cross reference of data items is an integral feature of the simple structure used in database organization. Ans:C ,C A memory that holds micro programs is Options: Core memory, ROM, RAM, Control memory Ans:B ,B In DOS, what key would you press to step through the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat? Options: F1, F3, F5, F8 Ans:D ,D Which of the following frequency ranges is used for AM radio transmission? Options: Very Low Frequency : 3 kHz to 30 kHz, Medium Frequency : 300 kHz to 3 MHz, High Frequency : 3 MHz to 30 MHz, Very High Frequency : 30 MHz to 300 MHz Ans:B ,B Options: A) Cylinder B) Surface C) Track D) Cluster . What was the first computer to perform all calculation using electronics rather than wheels, ratchets, or mechanical switches? Options: A) Mark I B) ABC C) Z3 D) None of above . You can open the consolidate dialog box byt choosing Consolidate from the â€¦.. menu. Options: a. Insert b. Format c. Tools d. Data Ans:– d,– d Ans:– c,– c Options: Hold down the SHIFT key during startup B. Hold down the CTRL key during startup C. Hold down the ESC key during startup D. Hold down the ALT key during startup Ans:– A , Â Slide sorter of PowerPoint is available on _____ menu. Options: Insert B. File C. View D. Edit Ans:â€“ C , A compiler for a high-level language that runs on one machine and produces code for a different machine is called Options: optimizing compiler, one pass compiler, cross compiler, multipass compiler Ans:C ,C Which of following commands is used for an automatic reminder service? Options: write, mesg, calendar, mail Ans:C ,C . How to restrict the values of a cell so that only whole numbers between 9 and 99 can be entered in a cell. Options: a. The Settings tab under the menu Format -> Cells b. The Settings tab under the menu Data -> Validation c. The Settings tab under the menu Data -> Filter -> Advanced Filter d. the Settings tab under the menu Format -> Conditional Formatting Ans:– b,– b To get the Norton current, you have to Ans:C ,C . Which of the following is first generation of computer Which one of the following equations most directly determines the power dissipation of a resistance when you know the power dissipation of a resistance when you know the voltage drop and current? Options: P = IE, P = E2/R, P = I2R, I = P/E Ans:A ,A Which file executes commands in DOS? Ans:C ,C Which of the following statement is false? In latest generation computers, the instructions are executed Options: Parallely only, Sequentially only, Both sequentially an parallely, All of the above Ans:C ,C The control unit of a microprocessor Options: stores data in the memory, Â Â accepts input data from a keyboard, Â Â Performs arithmetic / logic / functions, Â Â none of the above Ans:D,None of the above
Options: ALU, CPU, Input-Output device, All of the above Hits Today: 9566 \| Level: Moderate More Computer Fundamental Related questions: A general purpose single-user microcomputer designed to be operated by one person at a time is Options: Special-purpose computer, KIPS, M, PC An integrated circuit is Options: a complicated circuit, an integrating device, much costlier than a single transistor, fabricated on a tiny silicon chip Ans:D ,D Options: Input, Output, CPU, Memory What will be the output if you format the cell containing 5436.8 as ‘#,##0.00’? Options: 5,430.00 B. 5,436.80 C. 5,436.8 D. 6.8 Ans:– B , An optical input device that interprets pencil marks on paper media is Options: O.M.R, Punch card reader, Optical scanners, Magnetic tape Ans:A ,A While working with MS-DOS, which command is used to restore files that were backed up using the BACKUP command? Ans:C ,C The coming together of three technologies i.e. microelectronics, computing and communications has ushered in Options: information explosion, information technology, business revolution, educational upgradation Ans:B ,B You are working with a network that has the network ID What subnet should you use that supports up to 12 hosts and a maximum number of subnets? Options:,, 255.255.255. 240, Ans:C ,C Historically, central systems were used because: Options: semiconductor memory was not available, memory was very expensive, memory consumed a large amount of power, All of the above Ans:D ,D What technology is used for flat panel displays? Options: Solid state, RBG monitor, VLSI, Direct view storage tube When mapping a binary many-to-many relationship into a relation which of the following is true? Options: One relation is created., Two relations are created., Three relations are created., Four relations are created. Ans:C ,C The ALU of a computer responds to the commands coming from Options: primary memory, control section, external memory, cache memory .Â Â Â Which command displays only file and directory names without size, date and time information? Options: a.Â Â Â Dir/w b.Â Â Â Dir a: c.Â Â Â Dir /b d.Â Â Â Dir /s Ans:c,Correct Answer: dir/b Which of the following languages is often translated to pseudo code? Options: Assembly, FORTRAN, PASCAL, BASIC Ans:C ,C Business Intelligence (BI) reporting systems cannot do which of the following operations? Options: Filter data, Group data, Modify data, Both filter and group data Ans:C ,C PowerPoint presentations are widely used as Options: a. note outlines for teachers b. project presentations by students c. communication of planning d. All of above Ans:– D ,– D ________ is an object-oriented interface that encapsulates data-server functionality. Options: ODBC, OLE DB, JPCD, ADO Ans:B ,B As compared to diskettes, the hard disks are Options: more expensive, more portable, less rigid, slowly accessed Ans:A ,A Options: CTRL + D B. CTRL + T C. CTRL + ; D. CTRL + / Ans: – C , Home Key Options: a. Moves the cursor beginning of the document b. Moves the cursor beginning of the paragraph c. Moves the cursor beginning of the screen d. Moves the cursor beginning of the line Ans:â€“ D,â€“ D Which of the following commands is not the vi Input mode command? Options: rch, R, S, j Ans:D ,D Objects on the slide that hold text are called Options: a. Placeholders b. Object holders c. Auto layouts d. Text holders Ans: – A , – A Which of the following is used as a primary storage device? Options: Magnetic drum, PROM, Floppy disk, All of the above Ans:B ,B Which of the following statement is true Ans:ndash; c,ndash; c The first cell in EXCEL worksheet is labeled as Options: AA B. A1 C. Aa D. A0 Ans:– B , Which of the following is not an important principle for evaluating the raw data for decision-making: Options: selection, pattern, everage, overview Ans:C ,C What IRQ is used for COM 2? Options: 4, 3, 2, 1 Ans:B ,B Options: A) Z3 B) ABC C) Mark I D) None of abobe The spelling tool is placed on ______ toolbar Options: a. Standard ,b. Formatting ,c. Drawing ,d. Reviewing Which runs on computer hardware and serve as platform for other software to run on? Options: Operating System B. Application Software C. System Software D. All Ans:– A , If a file has read and write permissions for the owner, then the octal representation of the permissions will be Options: 1, 6, 5, 3 Ans:B ,B Options: protect, index, retrieval, update Ans:C ,C . Boot startup process Options: a. Loads system files to RAM b. Checks the computer connections c. Clean up the computer memory d. Prepare the computer ready Ans:5 – a ,5 – a What is the use of Researching Timings? Options: This option allows you to rearrange slides B. This option allows you to set the time of animations C. This option allows you to rehearsal of slide presentation D. There is no such option in PowerPoint Ans:– B , In the system concepts, term organization Options: implies structure and order, refers to the mannar in which each component functions with other components of the system., means that parts of the computer system depend on one the another., refers to the holism of systems Ans:A ,A How many types of storage loops exist in magnetic bubble memory? Options: 8, 4, 16, 2 Ans:D ,D Ans:2 – D ,2 – D An autonomous homogenous environment is which of the following? Options: The same DBMS is at each node and each DBMS works independently., The same DBMS is at each node and a central DBMS coordinates database access., A different DBMS is at each node and each DBMS works independently., A different DBMS is at each node and a central DBMS coordinates database access. Ans:A ,A Which method uses the design analysis as a method for effecting the design? Ans:B ,B . Another term for hyperlink is Options: a. Link b. Source c. Bar d. None of above Ans:9 – a ,9 – a What command will display the line, protocol, DLCI, and LMI information of an interface? Options: sh pvc, show interface, show frame-relay pvc, show run Ans:B ,B . What is the correct way to refer the cell A10 on sheet3 from sheet1? Options: sheet3!A10 B. sheet1!A10 C. Sheet3.A10 D. A10 Ans: – A , . What is the method of handling deadlocks? Ans:5 – d ,5 – d If the processor of a computer does not have a direct and unassisted access to data items, these items are said to be Options: offline, remote, disconnected, detached Ans:A ,A 63. How to use Format Painter multiple times Ans:–Â B ,–Â B Ans:C ,C What is the purpose of the PSH flag in the TCP header? Options: Typically used to indicate end of message B. Typically used to indicate beginning of message C. Typically used to push the message D. Typically used to indicate stop the message Ans:– A , Which peripheral port provides the FASTEST throughput to laser printers? Options: RS-232, SCSI, Parallel, Serial Ans:C ,C . A chart can be put as a part of the presentation using Options: a. Insert -> Chart b. Insert -> Pictures -> Chart c. Edit -> Chart d. View -> Chart Ans:9 – B ,9 – B . From where can we set the timing for each object? Options: a. slide show, custom transition b. Slide show, Slide transition c. slide show, custom animation d. view, slide sorter Ans:1 – C ,1 – C
REA: don't confuse biomass with 'bad forestry' by Josie Le Blond Millions of tonnes of wood pellets produced in US swamp forests are being shipped to Europe to be burned in wood-fired power stations, according to a BBC report broadcast. The burgeoning trade in US waste wood is being driven by a spate of conversions of coal-fired plants to wood-fired plants in the scramble to meet the EU's looming renewable energy targets. The UK's Drax power station in Yorkshire, for example, is set to convert half its facility from coal to wood-burning in coming years, said the report. Yet critics, who question whether power generated from wood-burning should be classed as renewable, fear the expanding transatlantic trade threatens Europe's carbon emissions reduction targets and are concerned for the conservation of US natural swamp forests and wildlife. However, advocates of using biomass to generate heat and electricity say burning low-value waste wood from trees thinned out in US timber plantations is both a cost-effective and low-carbon energy solution for Europe. “As well as being a cost-effective fuel for heating purposes, wood provides an excellent fuel for baseload power generation. It helps keep the lights on and is low carbon,” said Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the UK-based non-profit trade association Renewable Energy Association, responding to the BBC report. Hartnell said that as long as forestry is practiced sustainably, there will be no delay in the carbon sink created by new trees planted to replace what has been harvested. “Provided that wood is harvested at a slower rate than it grows, the net effect is carbon saving,” said Hartnell. “The biomass industry supports strong regulation and only wants to use timber from sustainably managed forest.” The problem, she said, lies not with generating energy from biomass with forestry practice and not biomass itself. “We welcome the environmental NGOs’ campaigning against bad forestry practices, but it makes no sense for them to campaign against the concept of using biomass for energy.” Share this article More services This article is featured in:
Home » Glossary » Magnetic Particle Inspection magnetic particle inspection mag-net-ik pahr-ti-kuh l in-spek-shuh n Magnetic Particle Inspection, or sometimes called Magnafluxing, involves “magnetizing” or placing a magnetic field into a part, and then reading the strength of the implanted magnetic signal. Since areas with surface defects will allow air into the cracks or scratches, and air does not magnetize as well as some industrial materials, a reading of the magnetized area should reveal any defects. While Magnetic Particle Inspections are technically a form of Non Destructive Testing (NDT), they aren’t necessarily considered a Remote Visual Inspection (RVI) technique because of the nature of the inspection. The Magnafluxing inspection procedure needs to be conducted extremely close to the inspectable area and even when defects are found, they would require an additional RVI tool (such as an inspection camera) to see the defects if found on internal components or in hard-to-reach places. Inspection technicians are also limited by the amount of materials that can be inspected and they have the chore of demagnetizing parts after inspection. Magnetic Particle Inspection Images
Bit perfect playback The holy grail of computer audio playback. Feeding the unadulterated bits to the DAC. An audio file has a: Most of the time bit perfect playback refers to the absence of any type of DSP (Digital Signal Processing) like volume control, sample rate conversion, dither, etc. True bit perfect playback is sending the audio file unaltered to the audio device. Bit depth, sample rate, number of channels should remain unaltered. This of course requires the hardware to match the properties of the audio source exactly. Playing a 16 bits audio file on a 24 (or 32) bit DAC is not bit perfect by definition as to play it, 8 zero bits must be appended to each sample. However appending 8 zeros won’t alter the sound. It might even be beneficial as you can use these eight bits for 48 dB volume reduction without loss of resolution. MSB first (Most Significant Bit) 1111111111111111 - 16 bits word 111111111111111100000000 - pad 8 bits for a 24 bit word Apply volume control 111111111111111100000000 0 011111111111111110000000 -6 001111111111111111000000 -12 000111111111111111100000 -18 000011111111111111110000 -24 000001111111111111111000 -30 000000111111111111111100 -36 000000011111111111111110 -42 000000001111111111111111 -48 However this is a bit theoretical as very good DACs in practice resolve 19 bits leaving you with 3 bits or 18 dB effective volume control before there is audible degradation. Most DACs only have 17 or 18 bits of resolution, so a digital volume control can only apply 6 to 12 dB of attenuation before artifacts show up. Once again, this applies to playing a 16 bit source on a 24 bit DAC. More about digital volume control. How to obtain bit perfect playback This is a matter of disabling all DSP in your media player. Configure the audio of your operating system right to avoid e.g. sample rate conversion. Choosing the right drivers like WASAPI or ASIO. See the Operating Systems section for more details. Testing bit perfect playback Either you believe you have your configured your system right or you proof it. This can be done by playing a file. Record the digital out of your sound device. Load both the original and the recorded file in an audio editor. Time align (crucial, they must start with the same sample at the same time) Subtract the tracks. If you don’t end up all samples being zero, there is a difference so the recording is not bit perfect. This is called the null test. How many bits do you hear? Even if you have bit perfect playback this does not necessarily means you hear them all. DACs do differ in their ability to resolve the bits. Some cannot even resolve all the 16 bits, some might go as far as 22. This is called the linearity of a DAC.
How to Choose a Toolbox? Guidelines and what you need to know In all trades, workshops, industries and even homes, there is a toolbox that is essential. From the simplest and smallest to the most sophisticated and extensive, they are a useful resource for storing and transporting both manual and electrical tools, as well as countless accessories, from nails and screws to nuts, washers and a host of other elements. The first toolboxes appeared about 150 years ago and were primarily large wooden trunks. Later a portable size was built consisting of an open wooden box with a handle for carrying it. In the 1920s, wood was gradually replaced by metal, and for a long time, there was a great boom in metal boxes for tools. In the late 1960s, plastic burst into the toolbox industry, not precisely as technological innovation, but because the material that was already standard in a particularly active market - fishing boxes - was being adopted. Today, toolboxes not only serve the primary function of storing and transporting tools but also of organizing them. That is why there is a wide variety that requires detailed analysis to select the toolbox that best suits our needs. In this article, we will address that analysis based on a set of critical parameters that characterize the kind of toolbox to choose. Regardless of size and type, the toolkits we can currently purchase on the market have some of the various materials mentioned above, as well as others. This feature is related to the size of the toolbox and its ease of transporting it from one place to another. Given this, we can distinguish the following types of boxes: a) Stationary or trunk boxes They are generally made of steel or reinforced plastic and are the ones usually found in large garages, gardens, and workshops, especially car repair shops. Some models may include wheels at the bottom, although these are not intended to assist in the movement of the box throughout the workshop. Instead, they serve the purpose of facilitating the placement of the box, allowing periodic cleaning underneath it. At the same time, keeping it separate from the floor so that it does not come into contact with fluids or even stagnant water. Wheeled toolbox The advantage of these boxes is they can store a large number of tools of all sizes and types. The disadvantage is that, for this reason, they are challenging to maneuver once full and occupy a considerable space. b) Movable boxes This group includes different sizes of boxes built with any of the materials we have seen. We can subdivide them into: Small size boxes for manual transport: they can be opened, with a longitudinal bar that serves as a handle (like the first portable toolboxes) or provided with a lid with hinges and a handle for transport. They are found in homes, garages and under workbenches everywhere, so they are probably the most common and economic toolboxes offered on the market. This group also includes leather briefcases and textile backpacks for storing and transporting tools. Manual boxes are ideal for the home, the hobbyist or the newcomer to trade can be stored in a closet, and you can easily carry where desired. However, remember that they have only a limited capacity to hold tools. Large size boxes fitted with wheels: when the quantity and weight of the tools to be transported exceed the dimensions of the smallest boxes, as well as the physical capacity of the user, wheeled toolboxes are a broad choice. This type of box is also available in a variety of materials, such as hard plastic, canvas, composites or metal. It is easy to transport over short distances, placed in a van or even in the trunk of a car. Some models incorporate, in addition to the wheels, telescopic handles to make transport even more manageable. These boxes are handy for plumbers, carpenters and other workers who make home visits because it allows them to store and transport a wide selection of tools with them and have them at hand when they need them. Although, as we have already said, these boxes allow tools to be quickly moved anywhere, keep in mind that their sizes are generally used to store small and medium tools only. Vehicle Mount Boxes: For those who travel in trucks, trucks, or tractors from one place to another, whether on construction sites, mining, agriculture, or jobs on routes that cover long distances, the trunks that are bolted to the vehicle's box. It provides a better alternative for storing tools safely, rather than having them loose and scattered. These are stationery boxes, but from the moment they can be moved in a vehicle, we include them in this group. This type of boxes are expensive, many come specifically designed for the make and model of the car, and has an element of steel. It also comes in the plastic of high resistance and low tendency to deformation, and able to withstand extreme environmental temperatures. The advantages of these boxes are translated in their exceptional capacity to store tools, which can be transported anywhere the vehicle goes, but it is not easy to dismantle them. As we said before, today's toolboxes allow not only to store and transport tools, but also to organize them, occupying as little space as possible and providing as much use as possible. So we have tool boxes, from the smallest to the largest which fulfill several functions among which we can highlight the following types. a) Boxes with removable tray Whatever the size and type of box, many models incorporate a tray with a handle that can be completely removed from the box to access tools stored on the bottom of the box. This removable tray has various compartments that allow you to organize small tools or accessories. Toolbox with removable trays b) Extendable or cantilever boxes These boxes also incorporate trays with compartments, but unlike the previous ones, the trays are not removable. It is folded in cantilever within the same box, forming stacked shelves that can be unfolded to allow simultaneous access to tools or accessories arranged on multiple levels. This type of mechanism is known as "cantilever," whose advantage is its large storage capacity in a small space. In addition to cantilevered trays, some models also have small drawers that allow various accessories to be stored and sorted. Electricians, plumbers, locksmiths, electronic technicians, and electrical appliance repair technicians find this type of box very useful. c) Portable boxes combined with workbenches Those who want to spend a little more, but in return get a sophisticated work tool can opt for tool boxes with wheels, which on the top offer a full and smooth surface for use as a workbench. They have a metal component or reinforced plastic of high resistance. They can incorporate drawers and trays in the cantilever, and they constitute an excellent option to move our complete work equipment by the workshop, the garage or other wide places. The significant advantage of these boxes is their versatility, but in return, they are expensive and are not moveable beyond the shop or a nearby area. Modular Design Both the stationary and the large movable boxes can have a horizontal or vertical design, in what is generally called a trolley and mostly resembles a modular cabinet with several compartments that you can e dismantle. a) Horizontal modules They are usually stationary, made of metal or reinforced plastic and have a multiplicity of drawers and compartments to classify a large number of tools and accessories. They are very useful in workshops and even in gardens. b) Vertical modules They usually consist of a lower module with wheels containing one or more stackable boxes and drawers for storing large tools, and an upper module. Sometimes, it fitted with a telescopic handle, providing one or more stackable boxes and smaller drawers for storing keys, bits, and screwdrivers. In mechanical workshops, these vertical trolleys can be transported to the vehicle to have the tools at hand. They are also useful in factories, companies offering product repairs, garages or larger home workshops. Vertical modules The advantage of these trolleys is that they can store a large number of tools of all types and sizes and that they can be moved around the garage or workshop, but only for short distances. The best choice of a toolbox depends on the intended use we have. By what you have just seen, each one will be able to decide on the most suitable toolbox according to the needs and specific type of work. It is evident that the tools that a box for an electrician must contain, for example, are not the same as those provided in a box for a carpenter. Guidelines for Choosing a Toolbox Article Name Guidelines for Choosing a Toolbox Publisher Name Jack Noelsson Publisher Logo Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 0 comments Leave a Reply:
AkkuSer from Nivala recycles batteries – but how? In Finland consumers can return their used portable batteries in the red cardboard boxes supplied by the Finnish producer organization Recser. These red boxes can be found in the stores and in the companies that sell batteries. But have you ever wondered, what happens to the batteries after you have dropped them to the box? Project Engineer Jukka Kumpusalo from AkkuSer is about to tell you in his blog text. Portable batteries collected by the Finnish producer organization are delivered to AkkuSer’s factory at Nivala. There’s a steady flow of recyclable material to AkkuSer’s factory around the year. First the batteries are weighed and sorted. After sorting the different battery fractions are directed to AkkuSer’s own recycling solution or delivered to other recyclers specialized in processing certain battery types. Our recycling professionals are responsible of sorting different kinds of batteries into separate fractions – for each of which there is an appropriate recycling solution. What materials are recovered and how? puhelimen lataus AkkuSer operates two recycling solutions. The first one is used for recycling the lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) originating mostly from laptops, mobile phones and digital cameras. These batteries are called the high grade cobalt lithium-ion batteries and they are recycled with AkkuSer’s patented Dry Technology -method. With this technology three different fractions are produced: one rich in cobalt, and the two remaining fractions rich in copper and iron, respectively. The most valuable fraction is the one containing cobalt. Fraction’s quality is close to the primary cobalt ore, hence it is delivered to Freeport Cobalt at Kokkola for refining. Lithium-ion batteries are also acquired from some other countries, for instance from some Nordic countries and Germany. The other AkkuSer’s recycling solution is used for alkaline batteries – the main product recovered from them is the so called black mass. Iron is separated from the batteries, too. Black mass is delivered further to Poland for zinc recovery. AkkuSer is also cooperating with Tracegrow at Kärsämäki: in the near future Tracegrow will separate manganese and zinc from the black mass in a chemical process. The recovered elements are used to produce a fertilizer to be utilized in agriculture around the globe. Additionally, nickel-metal hydride batteries (Ni-Mh) are recycled with the alkaline recycling solution. Nickel and cobalt are the most important metals recovered. Some of the battery types sorted at AkkuSer are delivered for further processing to some other operators, for instance lead (Pb) batteries used in cars. Also nickel cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd) and lithium primary batteries are directed to specialized processes external to AkkuSer. Future challenges in cobalt production In EU cobalt is classified as a critical raw material. In the future the need for cobalt is increasing further. Most of the cobalt produced in the world originates from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Usually cobalt is a by-product of mining, not the main target. Auton lataus It is evaluated that electrical vehicles under development would use approximately 7 kilograms of cobalt per battery pack (in Tesla S-model). At present cobalt production is around 100 000 tons per year. That would cover the need of approximately 14 million cars per year. This is quite a small amount considering the intended generalization of the electric vehicles. The sufficiency is further diminished when all the laptops, the mobile phones, the digital cameras and other applications using Li ion batteries are taken into consideration. It is urgent to get the lithium-ion batteries into the organized collection system to enable the recovery of the cobalt in the first place. Also more and more so-called low grade lithium-ion batteries are coming to the market. This is due to the challenges in cobalt production and the different properties required from the batteries in different applications. The challenge considering their increase is how to recycle these mixed-metal batteries cost-effectively and ecologically. Luckily AkkuSer has an ongoing development project for tackling these challenges. Jukka Kumpusalo works as a Project Engineer at AkkuSer. His tasks include e.g. designing and coordinating development projects for AkkuSer. Täytä tietosi alle tai klikkaa kuvaketta kirjautuaksesi sisään: Olet kommentoimassa WordPress.com -tilin nimissä. Log Out / Muuta ) Google photo Olet kommentoimassa Google -tilin nimissä. Log Out / Muuta ) Olet kommentoimassa Twitter -tilin nimissä. Log Out / Muuta ) Olet kommentoimassa Facebook -tilin nimissä. Log Out / Muuta ) Muodostetaan yhteyttä palveluun %s
The tax year begins on this strange day for historical reasons. In the olden days, the new year began on March 25th, being the feast of the Annunciation. However, the calendar in use was not accurat; when they changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calender, they corrected for the inaccuracy simply by dropping the days that the calendar was out of sync by. But because the accountants didn’t want a year with fewer days, the tax year date was changed by adding the right number of days. Actually, since lots of people are paid or pay bills on the first of the month, or somewhere at the end of the month, it can be convenient to change the tax year at a day that is not one of those dates. Time to: Check bank accounts, file tax return (unless you’re waiting for an important document, of course).
Earth Day Earth Day Kratom as an Alternative for Opium Withdrawal Story at-a-glance - • Opioid overdose is the No. 1 cause of death of Americans under the age of 50, and opioid addiction is so widespread it has led to a decline in the average life expectancy in the U.S. • Kratom has been used as a traditional medicine in Thailand and Malaysia for centuries, primarily to boost energy. It also has a long history of use as an opium substitute and to wean off opium • Kratom contains corynantheine alkaloids such as mitragynine, which interacts with opioid receptors, adrenergic receptors, serotonin receptors, dopamine receptors and adenosine receptors • While the alkaloids in kratom bind to opioid receptors, animal trials suggest the abuse potential of kratom is very low • A compound found in dried kratom leaves, 7-hydroxymitragynine is known to be a fast-acting full opioid agonist that substitutes directly for morphine and can be habit-forming. This compound does not appear to be present in detectable amounts in fresh extracts, so using tea from fresh leaves and/or extracts may be a way to circumvent its addiction potential By Dr. Mercola With opioid overdose being the No. 1 cause of death of Americans under the age of 50, it's quite clear we need safer alternatives to pain management. Rampant opioid addiction is so significant it has even led to a decline in life expectancy in the U.S. In this interview, Christopher McCurdy, professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and former postdoctoral fellow in opioid chemistry at the University of Minnesota under a National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral training fellowship, discusses the use of kratom for pain relief and opioid withdrawal. He's one of just a handful of American scientists studying kratom, which he's been investigating for nearly 15 years. According to McCurdy: "[A]bout 115 or 116 people a day [are] now dying from opioid overdose .. It's surpassed car accidents and other forms of death … This plant, I believe, has real potential to help curb this. It may not be the single solution to the crisis, but it certainly could help." What Is Kratom? Kratom (mitragyna speciosa) is a native tree of Thailand and Malaysia, but it grows all over Southeast Asia in tropical areas. While part of the coffee family, it has a very different chemistry than coffee beans. Kratom has been used in traditional medicine in Thailand and Malaysia for centuries, primarily to boost energy. It also has a long history of use as an opium substitute. "A lot of opium smokers who would run out of opium would use kratom preparations to tide them over until they could get their opium. They also found that it was a very good way to wean themselves off of opium or wean other family members or friends from opium," McCurdy says. "They would … pluck the leaves fresh in the morning, brew a tea and then drink that tea two or three times a day … That brings about a lot of questions scientifically, as to why does that work, and is it habit-forming and habituating itself?" Unfortunately, there's not much research being done on kratom, in part because you cannot patent natural products such as plant material. You also cannot patent the plant's use for opioid withdrawal or pain relief of antidepressive treatment, as all of these therapeutic potentials are covered under the historical use of kratom. McCurdy explains: "If you were to produce any of the molecules through a patentable process, like a total synthesis or an enzymatic or biochemical synthesis, then that could be a product that could be patented. That process could be patented. That could move forward into commercialization. But simply getting the plant material itself as it's available today in the marketplace and making an extract … does not lend itself to a patentable standpoint …" Kratom Has Opioid Activity McCurdy has studied how kratom affects opiate addiction and withdrawal. The plant contains a number of alkaloids (nitrogen-containing compounds). Morphine is an example of an alkaloid found in the poppy plant. Kratom contains corynantheine alkaloids, the primary one being mitragynine, thought to be responsible for most of its pharmacological effects. That said, there are many other alkaloids in the plant, and many of its compounds work synergistically to cause beneficial effects. Mitragynine does have opioid activity. It and many other alkaloids in the kratom plant were recently called out as opioids by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner. "A lot of people were upset about that at first, but I think they need to understand that an opioid is any molecule that can interact with opioid receptors or those proteins in the body," McCurdy says. In other words, an opioid is not identical to an opiate, derived from opium poppy, such as morphine, oxycodone or oxymorphone. Opioid is a generic term that include even endogenous endorphins that bind to opioid receptors in your body. Mitragynine Is Different From Other Opioids While it has opioid activity, the mitragynine molecule is different from other opioid molecules. McCurdy explains: "We initially sent out purified alkaloid of mitragynine for a screen across a whole panel of central nervous system drug targets … What we found was a really remarkable profile of this molecule. For example, morphine … is pretty selective for opioid receptors. Mitragynine binds with opioid receptors … but it also interacts with adrenergic receptors, serotonin receptors, dopamine receptors, and adenosine receptors. Adenosine receptors are the target for caffeine. It kind of explains why some of these alkaloids in the plant might cause this excitation or stimulant-like effect. It also interacts with alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, [which] are … used in opioid withdrawal. Agents that activate alpha-2 receptors, like clonidine, are used in opioid withdrawal treatment to stop withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, sweating and heart racing … In all honesty, when I got the report back from the company that screened the molecule, I thought, 'Wow. We just found nature's answer to opiate addiction,' because here it was interacting with many of the same targets that we would target pharmacologically on an individual basis … Then we went on to pursue much more detailed pharmacology studies, looking at what is it doing in animals addicted to morphine and how the animals behave when we take away their morphine and turn them over to mitragynine. What we saw was really remarkable. We compared mitragynine to methadone and buprenorphine, the two marketed drugs to treat opioid addiction and opioid withdrawal. What we found was a much cleaner profile. [Kratom] wasn't incredibly superior … but it seemed to be milder. It activates opioid receptors. So does methadone and buprenorphine, but buprenorphine and methadone seem to be full agonists or activators of opioid receptors, whereas mitragynine, we think, is a partial agonist … Also, it activates a different signaling pathway once the receptor is turned on … It can be thought of as different inputs into a television … where the system is on but we're getting input from a Blu-ray player or we're getting input from a satellite — just different ways of signaling. Mitragynine seems to signal in a way that seems to not cause respiratory depression, at least to the extent that other traditional opiate drugs do … Respiratory depression or stopping breathing is essentially the cause of death from opiate overdose. Opioids are pretty safe to your body's organs, except for the fact that they are central nervous system-depressants. They will shut everything off." How Kratom Eases Withdrawal Symptoms As a therapeutic agent to help people get off opioids, kratom offers significant benefits. In the CNN news report above, Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to two opioid addicts who kicked their habit with kratom, and interviews McCurdy about kratom's superior ability to serve as a treatment for opioid addiction. It does, however, need to be regulated, McCurdy believes, to avoid the hazardous mixing with other far more dangerous drugs. It is this mixing, he claims, that is responsible for the deaths that have been linked to kratom. So, just how does kratom work to curb opiate addiction? As explained by McCurdy, there are three traditional opioid receptors: mu, delta and kappa, all three of which are associated with numbing or dulling pain. In other words, they're analgesic receptors. They block or slow pain signal transmissions at the spinal cord level, so your brain doesn't process the pain signals as much. Mu was named for its ability to interact with morphine. The mu receptor is responsible for the euphoric effects associated with opiates. It's also primarily responsible for respiratory depression. The delta receptor is also a target for selective analgesics, and does not appear to have as strongly addictive capabilities as the mu receptor. Unfortunately, the delta receptor is linked to convulsions, and many drug trials aimed at the delta-selective opioid receptor had to be halted due to seizures that could not be resolved. Kratom does not appear to significantly interact with delta receptors. The kappa opioid receptor, while good for killing pain, causes dysphoria — aversive-type feelings. "In the '70s and '80s, they thought they discovered a selective kappa opioid non-addictive painkiller that was just as potent as morphine, if not more potent," McCurdy says. But when the human clinical trials began, the drug failed. "The people who took the drug said, 'I don't know what that was, but don't ever give it to me again.' They felt so awful they dropped out of the trials even after a single dose." Abuse Potential of Kratom Appears To Be Low Kratom appears to be a partial agonist for all of these receptors, only weakly affecting delta and kappa. But, if the mu receptor is the primary target, doesn't that mean kratom is addictive? At present, animal trials suggest the abuse potential of kratom is actually quite low. McCurdy explains: "I have a paper under review right now in addiction biology with a colleague of mine, Scott Hemby, from High Point University in North Carolina … [looking] at what the actual abuse potential is for mitragynine. He trained rats to self-administer morphine. They were able to learn to press a lever and they would get injections of morphine ... Once you've trained those animals, you can then substitute that morphine for some other drug and see if they think it's like morphine, right? We substituted mitragynine and they stopped self-administering. It seemed like, 'Well, this is interesting. Maybe it doesn't activate the mu opioid receptor in an addictive manner or in a manner that would produce addiction.' Of course, … we did it in a limited fashion at the moment because we're hoping to get some grant funding to really pursue this. But the fact of the matter is many drugs will substitute for morphine … like oxycodone or oxymorphone, that we know are used clinically. But mitragynine did not substitute. What was even more interesting is we couldn't train the animals to self-administer mitragynine to themselves over several doses. This was a very strong indicator that mitragynine doesn't have an abuse potential. In fact, that's kind of the sort of story of our paper." Fresh Kratom Leaves May Be Safer Than Dried Another compound in some processed and dried kratom products, 7-hydroxymitragynine, is known to be a full opioid agonist, and a very fast-acting and powerful one that does substitute directly for morphine and can be habit-forming. It does not appear to cause severe respiratory depression, however. This compound is not present in fresh extracts, and McCurdy's team is trying to determine exactly how, when and why the compound is created. It could be an oxidative byproduct created during the drying process, or it could be the result of different growing regions, microclimates, the presence of certain insects or soil microbes, for example. "I think what's even more interesting about this study we did — we treated animals with mitragynine that were already addicted to morphine, and then re-exposed them to morphine self-administration … It decreased their intake of morphine. This was pretty exciting, because it also shows that there's some therapeutic potential in reducing opioid intake. That begs the question about if there is 7-hydroxy present in a very small amount, and you have maybe 20 times or more of mitragynine relative to the 7-hydroxy. Is that actually counteracting the effect of the 7-hydroxy compound so it's not as bad? It's really hard to say at this point, because we don't have all the science done. We've got lots of additional studies planned and hope we can figure out what's going on there. But our take-home is that kratom, as a whole, is pretty much on the addictive level of coffee. It's really not that harsh of an addictive plant, but it depends. It's starting to look like it may depend on what level of this 7-hydroxymitragynine is present in the material or in the product that's utilized." Right now, the evidence is leaning toward 7-hydroxymitragynine being the result of oxidative stresses from drying the leaves, which suggests using fresh leaves to make tea, or taking an extract, would eliminate the risk associated with this oxidative metabolite, essentially eliminating the addictive potential of kratom. "That's our hypothesis right now," McCurdy says. "We've been fortunate to gain collaborations with the University of Science, Malaysia, where they have actual cultivars of Mitragyna speciosa trees that they can use and study. We've been studying fresh extract material from them under an agreement." McCurdy's team is also investigating traditional preparations made by users in Malaysia, and have received samples from trees grown in the native environment. None of the fresh samples have 7-hydroxymitragynine in detectable amounts. Future Potential McCurdy has created a modified kratom tea, in which certain alkaloids and plant chemicals were removed, thereby eliminating all side effects. Once perfected, this would be a patentable product that could be used therapeutically to counteract opioid withdrawal symptoms without causing any. One obstacle that needs to be overcome is finding a verifiable kratom source that meets FDA standards to ensure public safety. "Basically, if it's a clean, good product that we can get on a regular basis and be able to standardize, that would be the next thing. You don't want to have the product being really good one day and not so good the other because the alkaloid content has changed from one batch to the other. You have to have batch-to-batch consistency," he says. To solve this issue, he's working with horticulturists at the University of Florida to understand the conditions necessary to allow kratom to grow in the U.S., particularly Florida. Could they be grown in a greenhouse? What types of nutrients do they need? He's also been approached by commercial growers looking into the feasibility of growing kratom trees. "I think there's an interest in it. It may be a groundswell of interest to really see if we can create a new type of product for these growers to look at. That product would ensure us as researchers or producers of a pharmaceutical that we would have a good reliable source that we can control and understand," he says. "We could then hopefully blend up and produce a really top-notch product that we can do controlled clinical trials with, and then move that on to helping people. That's the whole goal here. It's to really get help to a lot of these opiate addicts and hopefully get them off opiates." Current Legal Status of Kratom Kratom is legal in most states, but not all. To check the legal status for your state, see's legality map.1 In Florida, kratom is legal in all areas except Sarasota, where kratom was banned. In the fall of 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sought to add mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine and kratom to the Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule 1 means the substance has absolutely no medical use and is highly addictive. This classification essentially halts all research on the substance. There was no science or evidence to back up the DEA's rationale, and the agency was contacted by a number of researchers expressing their objections. Researchers even contacted Congress for congressional intervention. "Suffice it to say, there were many points of pressure on to the DEA to not make this scheduling official," McCurdy says. "The DEA decided to open up a 30-day comment period to obtain information. Scientists and people who have benefited from it flooded the DEA with messages." The DEA received more than 23,000 individual comments urging them not to add kratom to Schedule 1. The opposition worked, and the DEA dropped it. This was largely a result of Chris Bell telling the story on Joe Rogan's podcast and encouraging their viewers to write in. Rogan's podcast has tremendous influence as this is the first time the DEA has overturned an action like this. I've included this historic podcast below for your convenience. Still, the threat is there. They could, at any time, decide to make it illegal. "We had to actually shut down our research while that threat was underway, because I didn't want to wake up one morning, come into work and be in violation of federal law at the university. I don't have a Schedule 1 research license," McCurdy says. About the Deaths Linked to Kratom According to McCurdy, kratom has a "remarkable" safety profile. While there have been a few reported deaths associated with kratom in the U.S., most have been in combinations with other drugs. A couple of cases have reported only finding kratom or mitragynine alkaloids in the deceased person's system, but in McCurdy's view, it's a tough sell that kratom alone would be responsible, as this herb has been used for hundreds of years in Malaysia and Thailand without any history of lethal consequences. "We just don't know enough about how it's being metabolized," he says. "If somebody has some impaired function; they may be on a high-protein diet or they may be on some other type of diet that they think is healthy, but unfortunately isn't healthy when taking kratom. We don't know the answers to all of these questions. There's a lot more work that has to be done. However, in the indigenous population where this is used, in Malaysia and in Thailand, there haven't been any reports in the history associated to only kratom. In fact, it's never been a drug of abuse or a drug that's sought out for pleasure. It's a societal norm. It's just like [what] coffee is in the United States. [They] drink it in the morning before they go to work. They drink it in the mid-afternoon … Many of the men will gather in the evenings and drink a glass or two of kratom tea as they socialize … It's been safe for hundreds of years … Any death is a sad event. We don't like to see it. But we need to understand what's going on and how it's happening, even in the few cases that have been reported. Is it a combination with antidepressants that's a problem? Is it a combination with other drugs, like muscle relaxants? We just don't know enough of these answers yet to really tell people how to safely use the product, although millions of consumers are using it and appear to be using it safely. The other issue on safety comes back to … getting a reliable source of the biomass … I've heard rumors that some products have been shipped into the United States under the form of kelp, so just as seaweed. It comes in wet and damp. That could be some of the problems that we're seeing now with the salmonella outbreak that has been linked to kratom." Types of Kratom There are four different types of kratom: red, white, green and Maeng Da. While the white and green are considered the same (the only difference is the timing of when the leaves are picked), the red-veined version is different. Many claim the red-veined leaves have more alkaloids and the plant is a more potent version, but based on McCurdy's testing, the potency has less to do with the vein or strain and more to do with location. "We've analyzed many products that are available in the marketplace through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. What we've learned from that is sometimes the ones that people think are the strongest — the red vein being — actually have the lowest [alkaloid] content compared to the products that are cheaper. But, again, it's one of these things where there are no real labeling laws. There's no consistency. You could buy the red vein one day, buy it the next week and it's less potent. Go back in the next week and the potency's back up … But from what we've seen in the natural environments, the difference is really going to be the microclimates … The Maeng Da strain, touted as one of the high-end and superior strains, comes from a horn-shaped leaf called tooth leaves. Instead of a nice smooth leaf, like what you would see on mitragyna leaf, you see it's smooth at the bottom and then real jagged edges up to a point. Again, we haven't seen a huge difference in any of these supposed strains. A lot of it comes down to marketing, and what can play to the consumer environment." Teas and Extracts Can Be Made From Several Parts of the Kratom Tree Traditionally, kratom has been used as a water extract and as tea made from the leaves. McCurdy has done a systematic study to evaluate various solvents, including ethanol, methanol and acetone, to determine the best extraction method. He's also studied the various extracts in animals, finding there are definitive differences between them. Extracts of bark, stems, roots and flowers have also been investigated. "We do know there's a higher concentration of alkaloids in the vein than there is in the flesh of the leaf material," he says. "Most of the products that we see coming into the U.S. are whole leaf, just chopped up or ground up, so they do have the vein … One other thing I find really fascinating is the bark or the branches. If people feel they need a boost, they will put the bark branches into their tea as they brew it. They say it makes it much stronger. We really haven't found out what that molecule is that's helping to make it stronger yet … We haven't seen much of a difference outside of the leaves. There are different compounds, of course … that are in higher quantities in the stems [and] fruits. We're trying to pursue and see what the pharmacology is that's associated to them … Most of the time that people brew teas from the leaf material, they'll also add citric acid, lemon juice or orange juice to the water to make it more acidic and pull more of those compounds out. I think, in theory, it should be a very similar process to the water extract. But the water extract will concentrate it better." Even Kratom Should Be Used With Caution While kratom appears to have a favorable safety profile compared to opioids, this isn't to say that kratom usage is without risk and can be used without concern. It's important to recognize that kratom is a psychoactive substance and should not be used carelessly. There's still very little research showing how to use it safely and effectively, and it may have a very different effect from one person to the next. Also, while it may be useful for weaning off opioids, certain types of kratom could potentially be addictive. So please, do your research before trying it. One place to start is the American Kratom Association.2 Also know there are many other safe and effective alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter painkillers. If you're looking for safer options for pain relief than opioid drugs, please see these options for treating pain without drugs.
Frackonomics: the implications of cheap gas Frickity frac: what is sand mining’s impact? At the second of three forums on frac sand mining organized by the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Nelson Institute, four interesting voices stood before another packed lecture hall. There was a representative of sand mining companies, an investigative journalist, a sociologist, and a groundwater specialist. Each voice added context to the conversation Wisconsin is having as major energy companies move into the state. The Nelson Institute’s first forum two weeks ago, focused on why energy companies have pulled Wisconsin into the hydraulic fracturing industry: the vast amounts of a particular type of sand (frac sand) needed for fracking. This second forum sought to elucidate some of the impacts the state’s new industrial connections may have. Continue reading Why the frack is Wisconsin in the energy game? Wisconsin is suddenly a player in the national energy game. No, America’s dairyland doesn’t have newly discovered deposits of coal, oil, or natural gas. No, it’s not a leader in wind or solar power. Rather, Wisconsin is a valuable source of….sand. Yes, sand. The specific type of sand needed for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Wisconsin is in the middle of a sand rush because of increased use of the fracking method to extract natural gas. Given the state’s role as a sand supplier, there is a three-part public information series on hydraulic fracturing for Wisconsinites. The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies is hosting the forums in Madison, they are live-streamed online and archived so that people all over the state and country can tune in. The first session was this evening and it aimed to help Wisconsinites understand what fracking is and why it’s happening and also to address the role western Wisconsin is suddenly playing in this round of the national energy game. In a sentence, hydraulic fracturing is a process that breaks up shale deep underground in order to access a trapped, dispersed deposits of natural gas. Sand is key to that process and I am going to discuss how Wisconsin came to claim ownership of most the sand frackers want to use, called frac sand. For more on fracking itself, see the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism’s short explainer piece, or, for way more than that, check out Propublica’s fracking series. Wisconsin State Geologist James Robertson stood before a nearly full lecture hall this evening to answer four basic frac sand questions: Continue reading
Home » Temperature Standards Temperature Standards The most common technologies for industrial temperature measurement are electrical in nature: RTDs and thermocouples. As such, the standards used to calibrate such devices are the same standards used to calibrate electrical instruments such as digital multimeters (DMMs). For RTDs, this means a precision resistance standard such as a decade box used to precisely set known quantities of electrical resistance. For thermocouples, this means a precision potentiometer used to generate precise quantities of low DC voltage (in the millivolt range, with microvolt resolution). Photographs of antique potentiometers used to calibrate thermocouple-sensing temperature instruments appear here: (Old Models) thermocouple-sensing temperature instruments Modern, electronic calibrators are also available now for RTD and thermocouple instrument calibration, capable of sourcing accurate quantities of electrical resistance and DC millivoltage for the simulation of RTD and thermocouple elements, respectively. A photograph of a Fluke model 525A laboratory standard is shown here: electronic calibrators Both the antique potentiometers and modern laboratory calibrators such as the Fluke 525A are self-contained sources useful for simulating the electrical outputs of temperature sensors. If you closely observe the potentiometer photos, you can see numbers engraved around the circumference of the dials, showing the user how much voltage the device output at any given setting. Given an accurate enough voltmeter, it is possible to construct your own calibration potentiometer for simulating the millivoltage output of a thermocouple. A simple voltage divider set up to reduce the DC voltage of an ordinary variable-voltage power supply will suffice, so long as it provides fine enough adjustment: calibration potentiometer for simulating the millivoltage output Unlike the potentiometers of old, providing direct read-out of millivoltage at the potentiometer dial(s), we rely here on the accuracy of the precision multimeter to tell us when we have reached the required millivoltage with our power supply and voltage divider circuit. This means the high accuracy multimeter functions as the calibration standard in this set-up, permitting the use of non-precision components in the rest of the circuit. Since the multimeter’s indication is the only variable being trusted as accurate when calibrating the thermocouple-input temperature transmitter, the multimeter is the only (Note) component in the circuit affecting the uncertainty of our calibration. Note : This, of course, assumes the potentiometer has a sufficiently fine adjustment capability that we may adjust the millivoltage signal to any desired precision. If we were forced to use a coarse potentiometer – incapable of being adjusted to the precise amount of millivoltage we desired – then the accuracy of our calibration would also be limited by our inability to precisely control the applied voltage. Electrically simulating the output of a thermocouple or RTD may suffice when the instrument we wish to calibrate uses a thermocouple or an RTD as its sensing element. However, there are some temperature-measuring instruments that are not electrical in nature: this category includes bimetallic thermometers, filled-bulb temperature systems, and optical pyrometers. In order to calibrate these types of instruments, we must accurately create the calibration temperatures in the instrument shop. In other words, the instrument to be calibrated must be subjected to an actual temperature of accurately known value. Even with RTDs and thermocouples – where the sensor signal may be easily simulated using electronic test equipment – there is merit in using an actual source of precise temperature to calibrate the temperature instrument. Simulating the voltage produced by a thermocouple at a precise temperature, for example, is fine for calibrating the instrument normally receiving the millivoltage signal from the thermocouple, but this calibration test does nothing to validate the accuracy of the thermocouple element itself! The best type of calibration for any temperature measuring instrument, from the perspective of overall integrity, is to actually subject the sensing element to a precisely known temperature. For this we need special calibration equipment designed to produce accurate temperature samples on demand. A time-honored standard for low-temperature industrial calibrations is pure water, specifically the freezing and boiling points of water. Pure water at sea level (full atmospheric pressure) freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). In fact, the Celsius temperature scale is defined by these two points of phase change for water at sea level. To use water as a temperature calibration standard, simply prepare a vessel for one of two conditions: thermal equilibrium at freezing or thermal equilibrium at boiling. “Thermal equilibrium” in this context simply means equal temperature throughout the mixed-phase sample. In the case of freezing, this means a well-mixed sample of solid ice and liquid water. In the case of boiling, this means a pot of water at a steady boil (vaporous steam and liquid water in direct contact). What you are trying to achieve here is ample contact between the two phases (either solid and liquid; or liquid and vapor) to eliminate hot or cold spots. When the entire water sample is homogeneous in temperature and heterogeneous in phase (i.e. a mix of different phases), the sample will have only one degree of thermodynamic freedom: its temperature is an exclusive function of atmospheric pressure. Since atmospheric pressure is relatively stable and well-known, this fixes the temperature at a constant value. For ultra-precise temperature calibrations in laboratories, the triple point of water is used as the reference. When water is brought to its triple point (i.e. all three phases of solid, liquid, and gas co-existing in direct contact with each other), the sample will have zero degrees of thermodynamic freedom, which means both its temperature and its pressure will become locked at stable values: pressure at 0.006 atmospheres, and temperature at 0.01 degrees Celsius. The major limitation of water as a temperature calibration standard is it only provides two points of calibration: 0 degC and 100 degC, with the latter being strongly pressure-dependent. If other reference temperatures are required for a calibration, some substance other than water must be used. A variety of substances with known phase-change points have been standardized as fixed points on the International Practical Temperature Scale (ITS-90). The following list is a sample of some of these substances and their respective phase states and temperatures: • Neon (triple point) = −248.6 deg C • Oxygen (triple point) = −218.8 deg C • Mercury (triple point) = −38.83 deg C • Tin (freezing point) = 231.93 deg C • Zinc (freezing point) = 419.53 deg C • Aluminum (freezing point) = 660.32 deg C • Copper (freezing point) = 1084.62 deg C Substances at the triple point must be in thermal equilibrium with solid, liquid, and vaporous phases co-existing. Substances at the freezing point must be a two-phase mixture of solid and liquid (i.e. a liquid in the process of freezing, neither a completely liquid nor a completely solid sample). The physical principle at work in all of these examples is that of latent heat : the thermal energy exchange required to change the phase of a substance. So long as the minimum heat exchange requirement for complete phase change is not met, a substance in the midst of phase transition will exhibit a fixed temperature, and therefore behave as a temperature standard. Small amounts of heat gain or loss to such a sample will merely change the proportion of one phase to another (e.g. how much solid versus how much liquid), but the temperature will remain locked at a constant value until the sample becomes a single phase. One major disadvantage of using phase changes to produce accurate temperatures in the shop is the limited availability of temperatures. If you need to create some other temperature for calibration purposes, you either need to find a suitable material with a phase change happening at that exact same temperature (good luck!) or you need to find a finely adjustable temperature source and use an accurate thermometer to compare your instrument under test against. The latter scenario is analogous to the use of a high-accuracy voltmeter and an adjustable voltage source to calibrate a voltage instrument: comparing one instrument (trusted to be accurate) against another (under test). Laboratory-grade thermometers are relatively easy to secure. Variable temperature sources suitable for calibration use include oil bath and sand bath calibrators. These devices are exactly what they sound like: small pots filled with either oil or sand, containing an electric heating element and a temperature control system using a laboratory-grade (NIST-traceable) thermal sensor. In the case of sand baths, a small amount of compressed air is introduced at the bottom of the vessel to “fluidize” the sand so the grains move around much like the molecules of a liquid, helping the system reach thermal equilibrium. To use a bath-type calibrator, place the temperature instrument to be calibrated such the sensing element dips into the bath, then wait for the bath to reach the desired temperature. An oil bath temperature calibrator is shown in the following photograph, with sockets to accept seven temperature probes into the heated oil reservoir: oil bath temperature calibrator This particular oil bath unit has no built-in indication of temperature suitable for use as the calibration standard. A standard-grade thermometer or other temperature-sensing element must be inserted into the oil bath along with the sensor under test in order to provide a reference indication useful for calibration. Dry-block temperature calibrators also exist for creating accurate calibration temperatures in the instrument shop environment. Instead of a fluid (or fluidized powder) bath as the thermal medium, these devices use metal blocks with blind (dead-end) holes drilled for the insertion of temperature sensing instruments. An inexpensive dry-block temperature calibrator intended for bench-top service is shown in this photograph: dry-block temperature calibrator This particular dry-block temperature calibrator does provide direct visual indication of the block temperature by means of a digital display on its front panel. If greater accuracy is desired, a laboratory reference-grade temperature sensor may be inserted into the same block along with the sensor being tested, and that reference-grade sensor relied upon as the temperature standard rather than the dry-block calibrator’s digital display. Optical temperature instruments require a different sort of calibration tool: one that emits radiation equivalent to that of the process object at certain specified temperatures. This type of calibration tool is called a blackbody calibrator (Note), having a target area where the optical instrument may be aimed. Like oil and sand bath calibrators, a blackbody calibrator relies on an internal temperature sensing element as a reference, to control the optical emissions of the blackbody target at any specified temperature within a practical range. Note : A “black body” is an idealized object having an emissivity value of exactly one (1). In other words, a black body is a perfect radiator of thermal energy. Interestingly, a blind hole drilled into any object at sufficient depth acts as a black body, and is sometimes referred to as a cavity radiator. 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Encyclopedia of Law and Economics 2019 Edition \| Editors: Alain Marciano, Giovanni Battista Ramello Political Corruption • Roy CerquetiEmail author • Raffaella Coppier Reference work entry Political corruption represents a specific type of public-to-public corruption which implies that one participant of corrupt transaction belongs on the State and the other to the private sector: in fact, public corruption is a particular (and illegal) State-society relationship. Political corruption occurs when politicians, who are delegated to make laws and enforce them by the citizens, act themselves in a corrupt way. More precisely, it appears when policymakers exploit their political strength to pursue their own economic benefits and/or maintain their powerful position. 1. Argandoña A (2003) Private-to-private corruption. J Bus Ethics 47:253–267CrossRefGoogle Scholar 2. Austen-Smith D, Wright JR (1994) Counteractive lobbying. Am J Polit Sci 38:25–44CrossRefGoogle Scholar 3. Campos N, Giovannoni F (2007) Lobbying, corruption and political influence. Public Choice 131:1–21CrossRefGoogle Scholar 4. Damania R, Fredricksson PG, Mani M (2004) The persistence of corruption and regulatory compliance failures: theory and evidence. Public Choice 121:363–390CrossRefGoogle Scholar 5. della Porta D (1997) The vicious circles of corruption in Italy. In: della Porta D, Mény Y (eds) Democracy and corruption. Printer, London, pp 35–49Google Scholar 6. della Porta D, Pizzorno A (1996) The business politicians: reflections from a study of political corruption. J Law Soc 23:73–94CrossRefGoogle Scholar 7. della Porta D, Vannucci A (1997) The “perverse effects” of political corruption. Political Stud XLV:516–538CrossRefGoogle Scholar 8. della Porta D, Vannucci A (2016) The hidden order of corruption: An institutional approach. Routledge, London.Google Scholar 9. Friedrich CJ (1989) Corruption concepts in historical perspective. In: Heidenheimer AJ, Johnston M, LeVine VT (eds) Political corruption. A handbook. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick. (third printing 1993)Google Scholar 10. Grossman G, Helpman E (1999) Competing for endorsements. Am Econ Rev 89:501–524CrossRefGoogle Scholar 11. Grossman G, Helpman E (2001) Special interest politics. MIT Press, Cambridge, MAGoogle Scholar 12. Harstad B, Svensson J (2011) Bribes, lobbying and development. Am Polit Sci Rev 105:46–63CrossRefGoogle Scholar 13. Huntington SP (1968) Political order in changing societies. Yale University Press, New HavenGoogle Scholar 14. Jain A (2001) The political economy of corruption. Routledge, LondonGoogle Scholar 15. Leff NH (1964) Economic development through bureaucratic corruption. Am Behav Sci 8:8–14CrossRefGoogle Scholar 16. Nye JS (1967) Corruption and political development: a cost-benefit analysis. Am Polit Sci Rev 61:417–427CrossRefGoogle Scholar 17. Olken BA, Pande R (2012) Corruption in developing countries. Annu Rev Econ 4(1):479–509Google Scholar 18. Peters JG, Welch S (1978) Political corruption in America: a search for definitions and a theory, or if political corruption is in the mainstream of American politics why is it not in the mainstream of American politics research? Am Polit Sci Rev 72:974–984CrossRefGoogle Scholar 19. Pizzorno A (1992) La corruzione nel sistema politico. Introduction to Della Porta D, Lo scambio occulto. Il Mulino, BolognaGoogle Scholar 20. Rose-Ackerman S (1978) Corruption. A study in political economy. Academic, New YorkGoogle Scholar 21. Rose-Ackerman S (1996) Democracy and ‘grand’ corruption. Int Soc Sci J 48(149):365–380Google Scholar 22. Rose-Ackerman S (1999) Corruption and government. Cambridge University Press, New YorkCrossRefGoogle Scholar Copyright information Authors and Affiliations 1. 1.Department of Economics and LawUniversity of MacerataMacerataItaly
– Všetko čo študent potrebuje Utorok, 23. apríla 2019 Zaujímavosti o referátoch Theseus summary Dátum pridania: 29.05.2009 Oznámkuj: 12345 Autor referátu: Irejs Jazyk: Angličtina Počet slov: 1 389 Referát vhodný pre: Gymnázium Počet A4: 3.8 Priemerná známka: 2.98 Rýchle čítanie: 6m 20s Pomalé čítanie: 9m 30s Theseus was the son of the Athenian King and everyone considered him a great hero. He didnt spend his childhood in Athens, he lived with his mother. His father, many years ago, placed in a hollow a sword and a pair of shoes and covered them with a big stone. He told his wife that when the boy was strong enough to move the stone and take the sword and the shoes, he could come to Athens to see his father. The boy was stronger than other boys in his age and lifting the stone didnt cause him any trouble at all. Theseus refused to go to Athens by water, he preferred land, he wanted to experience danger immediately. His journey was dangerous, there was a lot of bandits, which he all killed. He had his own justice, he did to everyone what they had done to others. When he came to Athens, all the people heard about him. The King invited him to a banquet in order to poison him, because he didnt know Theseus was his son and he was afraid that popular young man can become king and get rid of him. The King wasnt the one who thought of that, it was Medea, who knew the truth and didnt want Theseus to take her influence on the King. But his father recognized him because he saw the sword and Medea had to escape again. The King immediately claimed Theseus his son and heir. There was something Theseus could do to make himself popular amongst Athenians. Minos, the ruler of the Crete, had lost his only son while he was visiting the Athenian king many years ago. This was the King´s fault and Minos invaded Athens after this and made the King send him 7 young boys and 7 girls every 9 years. When they reached Crete, they were given to the Minotaur. The Minotaur was half bull, half human, he was son of Minos´ wife and a bull that Poseidon gave to him. He was supposed to sacrifice it but he kept it and Poseidon as a punishment, made his wife fall in love with it. When the Minotaur was born, Minos had Daedalus, the famous architect to build him the Labyrinth, from which was impossible to escape. Theseus offered to be one of the victims, he wanted to try to kill Minotaur. He promised his father that if he succeeded, he would change the black sail on his ship to white so the King knows if his son was safe. When the victims came to the Crete, they were shown to the inhibitants on their way to the Labyrinth. Minos´ daughter, Ariadne fell in love with Theseus at first sight. She made Daedalus show her a way to get out of the Labyrinth. She told Theseus she would help him if he promised her to take her to Athens and marry her. He promised her so and she gave him a ball of thread to fasten at one end to the inside of the door and unwind as he went on. He did that and he could retrace his steps whenever he chose. He found Minotaur and killed him with his fists, because he didn´t have any weapon. Theseus, with the help of ball of thread, found a way out of labyrinth. He took others and Ariadne to the ship and they sailed. There are two versions of what happened next. One says that Theseus sailed away without Ariadne when she fell asleep on the island Nexos and the other says that she was seasick and he left her recover while he was doing some other job on his ship. The wind carried him away and when he came back, Ariadne was dead. Theseus, when they were close to Athenes, forgot to hoist the white sail. His father, thinking he lost his only son, killed himself, so Theseus became the King of Athens. He was a wise and fair king. He wanted a people´s government where all would be equal. Athens became, with him as a king, the happiest and most prosperous in the world. He fought in the great War of the Seven against Thebes, he was with Oedipus when he dies, he supported Hercules when he killed his wife and children. He went to the Amazons country and brought one of them to Athenes, he had a son with her, the other Amazons came to rescue her and invaded Attica. Theseus defeated them and no enemy entered Attica till Theseus´ death. 1 \| 2 ďalej ďalej Copyright © 1999-2019 News and Media Holding, a.s.
Back to: Why I made my web site ― Rollo May, The Courage to Create Rollo May (April 21, 1909 – October 22, 1994) was a pioneer in the field of humanistic psychology. He is best known for his work with existentialism. He created an Americanized version of existentialism that asked of people to go above and beyond what they dreamed they could do. Unlike the European existentialists that dissected and discussed nothingness and an existence that based the future on this philosophical bent, May’s existentialism had the brand of new wave on it. There is not a lot of information that litters the cyber waves about Rollo May as say compared to Sigmund Freud. Rollo May was considered somewhat of a rebel and this was apparent when he was asked to leave Michigan State University because of ties to “a radical student magazine” He left there and continued his studies at Oberlin College in Ohio where he graduated. He was at that, time involved with art and was making the acquaintance of Alfred Adler while residing in Greece and teaching English conversation. A major turning point for hi was when he returned to the United States and met Paul Tillich. It would seem that he would have a profound effect on Rollo May as evidenced by his path after meeting Paul Tillich. He had entered Union Theological Seminary, Tillich was one of his teachers, and he graduated in 1938. Another event that would shape his life and perspective on the world was that he contracted tuberculosis and had to be confined to a sanatorium for three years. Struggling with his health and facing the prospect of death and the end of his time in the physical realm Rollo May must have come full circle with his life and had time to spend looking inward and contemplating about the world and all that he ahd experienced up until that point. While in the sanatorium he read profusely and was greatly influenced by the existentialist Soren Kierkegaard who was another inspiration for the work that he would produce and the ideological perspectives that he would go on to formulate. Having recovered from tuberculosis, he went on to study psychoanalysis where his colleagues were Harry Stack Sullivan and Erich Fromm. He introduced existentialism into the United States and his published works made it very easy for the common reader to grasp. His philosophical theory was based on humanistic themes of things such as love, will and creativity. He brought existentialism into the mainstream of American pop culture. His influenced was great in the production of some of his classics such as Love and Will and The Meaning of Anxiety. May is best known for his creation and of the diamonic, which he stated, was the motives of each individual. He stated that it was anything, which could overpower any one person. It was a construct that he used to highlight attention to the idea of motivation. He also created stages of development but they were far removed from the stages that Freud had developed. In his stages, the influence of Humanistic Psychology is very apparent. Each stage as in the diamonic is different for each individual and they are not governed by age, as were Freud’s stages. He has four that he created to use in the lifecycle of individuals. They were Innocence, Rebellion, Ordinary and Creative. Each of these stages touches on his main theme of anxiety and how an individual copes with it. Another important aspect of May’s philosophical bent and his theoretical approach was the idea of will. This was simply being motivated enough to completing a goal. There is not a lot of information about Rollo May to be found but he certainly had an important place in the history of Humanistic psychology. Source photo Rollo May: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollo_May
Mental Imagery: Mental Imagery & Yogi Berra, a strange pair, but Yogi once said something like “ Baseball is 100% Mental .. And the Rest is Physical.” Although Yogi-isms at first glance rarely made since, there was always a profound and insightful meaning within, and this one is no exception. What he was stressing is something, which later Science and Sports Medicine proved to be true, “ A player’s mental approach to the game can positively, or negatively, affect his performance regardless of his athletic ability.” Mental Imagery: We have discussed mental imagery in other links within the site, but I believe a segment devoted entirely to the subject is warranted, as I believe it’s that important. A simple definition of Mental imagery is, the act(s) involving the player imagining themselves performing a specific activity, using all their senses (sight, hearing, feel and smell) while successfully performing a specific act of their sports performance. It Can Seem To Be A Long Trek In other words, in your mind, see, feel, hear and smell everything which happened the time at bat when you hit The game winning Grand Slam. You want to be able to recreate that exact scenario at will and at anytime. Why ?? What Can I Possibly Use Mental Imagery For ?? There are many Sports associated, as well as Real Life Situations, which imagery can have a direct bearing on. For instance: 1. Reduce Negative Thoughts by Focusing on Positive Outcomes.. 2. Perfect Skills and Sequences the Player is Learning… 3. Vividly Seeing Themselves Performing the Skills Correctly… 4. Being Able to Familiarize Yourself With A Complex Play … 5. Motivation by Seeing Past Victories Over the Opponent… 6. The Ability to Refocus 7. Set the Stage, Energy & Mental Wise for Their Performance.. It must be noted here…. Mental imagery should focus on the actions the player is required to perform in order to achieve success … NOT the desired outcome. There are steps which must be taken in order to get to where the player wants to be. It’s those steps which must be focused on. How Can I Apply Mental Imagery ?? The application of imagery depends on your sport, your ability to project imagines, (which improves with practice) and your desired effects. For this articles’ sake let’s go through an imaginary scenario. Being a pitcher, you realize you’ll be called upon to sacrifice bunt on a regular occasion, so you’re at the batting cage to work on your bunting skills, which we’ll say are rather “Poor.” After a few of quarters and a lot of missed or popped up bunt attempts, you step out of the cage and take several deep breathes to release the frustration of the continuing failures. Taking another deep breath, close your eyes and visualize yourself, as if another person, in your batting stance inside the batting cage. You see the ball spinning out of the wheels approaching you. Now …. Actually See The Bat Hit the Ball ... Hear The Sound Of The Bat Against the Ball 1. See yourself squaring (facing) your body towards the oncoming ball…. 2. You know your bat is in fair territory because you had slightly moved up in the batters box…. 3. You see your back hand slide up the bat, stopping at the trademark, the bat resting in your fingers which are located behind the bat out of harms’ way…. Your other hand controls the bat handle near the knob…. 4. You see and hear the ball all the way to contact with the bat …. 5. You see the bat recoil in your hand, which was gently holding the bat, not seizing it in a death grip, deadening the ball … 6. You see the ball bouncing downward to the ground into fair territory. In this One sequence of visualization, you have taken your body through its expected actions ( muscle memory), your eyes are focused entirely on the bat / ball contact, you see the desired results. (mental) There’s two layman’s reasons this works so well. You have given your senses their assigned task and how you expect them to react…. And you may have been doing something wrong which you didn’t realize, but now the body has been retrained to perform the task correctly. When Is The Best Time To Use Mental Imagery ?? To become proficient or better yet, great, at any skill, the more you use it the better you’ll become. I strongly suggest you use it on a daily routine. 1.Use it on the way to the batting cages… 2. During the Practice Session … 3. On the way back home to revisit every move … During Game Day …. 1. While in the On-Deck circle before hitting … 2. Before or While you’re stepping on the rubber getting your signals .. Laser Focusing On the Task Maintaining Focus: What do you do when you’re really trying to use mental imagery, but you can’t help but thinking about the negative things, which of course defeats the purpose. Number one, welcome to being human, because for some unknown reason most people tend to dwell on the negative instead of the positive. So how do we break this habit? We’ve all seen professional players release torrents of anger and frustration by throwing their glove, breaking a bat or knocking the water cooler off the bench. The player’s focus is consumed by his anger at making a mistake, a negative attitude, instead of focusing on how to avoid making that mistake again. (positive attitude) Sports psychology recognizes this human trait and has developed a counter-measure which they call Pattern Breaking, which is the ability to quickly turn off the negative thoughts and refocus on the positive. This “Pattern Breaker” is normally a word or phrase which the coach and player have developed which, more or less, immediately brings the player out of his negative rage. Athletes are humans, and Every major league player grew up having another major league player as a role model. Doesn’t matter if the player was the home team favorite, the best player at the kid’s position or a legend, like Babe Ruth, he was the major influence on the player as he grew up. The sound of that influence’s name or phrase will help the player to re-focus on the positive instead of the negative. One example of a great phrase is “What Would Jesus Do?” when confronted with a right and wrong situation in life. After practice the player will be able to repeat the name or phrase to himself and bring himself back to the positive. This is a Life-Long Skill which will help the player in all phases of his life. What Are the Benefits ?? This mental imagery thing sounds pretty cool, but it also sounds like it could be hard. Why would I use 30 minutes of my time practicing this instead of practicing hitting? Imagery is Never intended to replace practice !!! Again, it’s not intended to replace physical practice. It’s intent is to enhance or supplement it. For example mental imagery is helpful in enhancing: 1. Developing Self-Confidence 2. Planning a pre-competition strategy which familiarizes a player with an unfamiliar situation. For instance, you have never faced a pitcher who can throw 95 mph before, but will today. You can develop a strategy of moving back in box, starting your swing earlier or seeing the seams of the ball, all before actually physically encountering the situation. 3. Focusing your attention on a specific or new skill you have/are developing. For instance, you’ve begun throwing a circle change and this is the first game you’ll use it. You can visualize properly gripping the ball, the correct finger pressure, your arm speed, the ball tailing downward. You can throw the pitch a 100 times before the game without picking up a baseball. Used in conjunction with “relaxation techniques” imagery can help: 1. Remove muscle tension and strain from stress. 2. Promote pain management. 3. Cultivate a mental attitude readily acceptable to positive imagery. 4. Maintain physical and emotional energy levels prior to competition. Relax And Focus Mental imagery is not a magical cure all, as it’s just one cog in the complex machinery of a finely tuned athlete. However, it has been proven to be extremely beneficial in assisting a player to reach their maximum abilities. If you encounter difficulty while practicing mental imagery or ever wonder why you’re doing it to begin with … think of this statement….. You Can Only Achieve What You Believe. If you see yourself doing it … you can do it. Mental Imagery back to Sports Motivation Learn Youth Baseball Coaching New! Comments
UTS Library Leap Motion Controller In this guide: Leap Motion Controller is a small sensor device that allows you to use hand and finger motion as input. The controller itself is a small USB peripheral device that can be placed on a desktop or mounted onto a virtual reality headset. Use Leap Motion Controller to play or create VR apps, or use it with other Tinker Kits (e.g. Arduino, LittleBits) for Internet of Things projects and experimentation.
CleansingEMFsHeavy metalsToxicity EMFs- what can be done? By March 9, 2017 July 4th, 2017 No Comments Why do “heavy metals” worsen the effect of external EMFs? Researchers have discovered that microorganisms tend to take hold in body areas harbouring the highest toxic metal load. Due to environmental exposure, diet, lifestyle, and existing genetic conditions, on average we are accumulating more metals in our bodies than ever before. In a health context, these are referred to as “heavy” metals, particularly if they have a toxic, or poisonous, effect on the body. According to Dr. Joseph Hickey, “Heavy metals explain most of the previous origins of disease. Your body stores them because it cannot neutralize them.” If you wanted to attract wireless signals, you would need an antenna. An antenna intercepts some of the power of an electromagnetic wave in order to produce an electrical current. Among the best metals to build an antenna are copper, aluminum, calcium, tungsten, zinc, nickel, or iron. Now, if you have accumulated enough of one or a combination of these metals in your body then you become a natural antenna and become more susceptible and affected by external EMFs. The absolute fact is that we are a living antenna – sending and receiving information. It is now easy to understand how the heavy metals in our body can amplify symptoms. We are more susceptible to receive harmful radiation from cell phones, cell towers, etc., due to our level of toxicity in heavy metals”. – Theresa Dale, PhD, CCN, NP. Heavy metal toxicity may be one of the most significant issues in relation to electromagnetic toxicity. Dr. Yoshiaki Omura’s research shows that the more your system is contaminated with heavy metals from silver amalgam fillings, eating contaminated fish, living downstream from coal burning power plants and so forth, the more your body becomes a virtual antenna that actually concentrates radiation, making it far more destructive. With more electromagnetic energy in our environment than ever before, there is increased concern about what is safe for normal, healthy people. This safety concern is much higher for a growing segment of the population particularly sensitive to changes in our environment. What can be done to protect us? Good question. The technology industry is one of the largest in the world. Governments do not have a history of stepping in very quickly to protect the consumer, particularly against very powerful organizations who employ a lot of people, are well-funded, and are adept in political lobbying. There has been some success in the law courts: In October 2012, an Italian court ruled that there was a link between the use of mobile and cordless phones and tumors, based on the testimony of Professor Lennart Hardell, MD, of Orebro University Hospital in Sweden. According to the brain tumour specialist, “The evidence for risks from prolonged cell phone and cordless phone use is quite strong. For people who have used them for 10 years or longer, mainly on one side of the head, the risk of malignant brain tumor is doubled for adults and is even higher for persons with first use before age 20. Attempts to appeal the ruling were rejected, the supreme court upholding the court’s ruling as being justified with credible scientific evidence to support it. (For more details see Dr. Joseph Mercola’s website.) I remember walking into our local library and seeing a librarian helping someone to their feet. This woman had collapsed because she was so sensitive to EMFs. Behind the librarian’s desk was a bank of computers where people went online. She explained, “I always do this when I get around too much electricity.” A commercial artist, she worked with stained glass windows. Her lead levels were very high and she had accumulated a high level of lead toxicity. What can we do about it? If you have heavy metals in your body, this increases your EMF sensitivity so it may be even more necessary to address this underlying problem. As stated by Dr. Lyn Hanshew, MD, “If the problem is toxicity, then the solution is detoxification.” A cleansing process is essential to reduce the current accumulation of heavy metals, biotoxins, and vulnerability so that you do not overwhelm your natural detoxification systems. If you’re concerned about a possible EMF sensitivity or simply want to protect yourself against more harmful exposure, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your risk. Keep your cell phone and computer at a distance of at least 3 ft. whenever possible and limit your exposure by restricting use. Use a headset or speakerphone when taking calls, but avoid Bluetooth headsets, they have a metal antenna and therefore increase your brain’s vulnerability to EMFs. If you need to carry your phone on your person, switch it to the in-flight or offline mode when possible. If you are worried about possible sources of external EMFs in your home then invest in a meter to determine where the potential problem areas are. It is especially important to keep the bedroom clear of EMFs. You can also purchase a variety of shielding solutions which claim to protect you from EMFs, some are reliable and others are not, so be sure to do your research. So, as you can see, while government agencies continue to make up their minds about the harmful effects of EMFs, there are a number of measures you can take to reduce your exposure and decrease your toxicity. For an introduction to EMFs and their impact on the body, see our earlier blog “EMFs- what’s the harm?” Leave a Reply
Animals Archives - Spoken Swahili Blog Spoken Swahili Blog Common Farm Animals in Swahili Farming and agriculture are big industries in East Africa. The following are some of the farm animals. Paka (Cat) Cat - Paka Picture Source A: Angalia Pale! (Look there!) B: Unaona nini? (What do you see?) A: Ninaona paka. (I see a cat.) B: Paka anafanya nini? (What is the cat doing?) A: Paka anapiga miayo! (The cat is yawning!) Animals you see on Safari Safaris are the biggest tourist attractions in East Africa. The following are some of the animals you see on safari. There are some conversations to assist you with vocabulary and grammar. Simba (Lion) Simba - Lion Picture Source Q: Unaona simba? (Do you see the lion?) A: Ndiyo, ninaona simba. (Yes, I see the lion.) Q: Simba anafanya nini? (What is the lion doing?) A: Simba anapumzika. (The lion is relaxing.) Subscribe to our mailing list • Get FREE weekly tips on speaking swahili. • Get FREE mini lessons in your email. • Receive special offers and discounts on courses. • You can unsubscribe at anytime.
Asked by \| 3rd Sep, 2008, 07:38: PM Expert Answer: Resistor is a specially designed device used to introduce a resistance into an electrical circuit but poor conductors means those substances which do not have enough number of free carriers of current and hence do not allow electricity to pass easily. Answered by \| 3rd Sep, 2008, 11:49: PM
Nutritional Support for Wound Healing Nutritional support for wound healing can greatly affect the three stages of the process: the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Poor nutrition can prolong every stage of the wound healing process and cause the development of non-healing wounds. Significant wounds can increase the nutritional demands of the body, which means that a patient will need more nutrients than usual to allow for optimum wound healing. Uses for Nutritional Support in Wound Healing Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is one factor that can cause a delay in wound healing. PEM complicates wound healing by increasing the catabolic state (breakdown of tissues) and decreasing the anabolic state (buildup of tissues). Therefore, the right nutrition can provide necessary macronutrients, such as carbohydrates and proteins. It can also decrease the catabolic state by increasing the body's energy stores and tissue buildup, thereby producing new proteins. How Good Nutrition Helps You Heal To heal a wound, the body needs to produce new proteins from amino acids. When nutrition is inadequate, the body tries to get these amino acids from the lean body mass (LBM), which is the sum of the body's protein and water content. Approximately 50 to 60 percent of the LBM is composed of the skeletal muscles. In the presence of significant wounds, such as non-healing wounds, this response can lead to severe muscle wasting. When the loss from the LBM reaches 20 percent, the body will try to conserve the LBM by limiting the amino acids used for wound healing. At this stage, the process of wound healing slows. Further loss of proteins can also cause the development of new wounds due to skin thinning brought about by the loss of collagen proteins. Nutrtional Assesssment During a nutritional assessment, a patient's body weight and the basal metabolic requirements are calculated. The objective of the assessment is to devise a nutritional plan aimed at: • controlling the catabolic state • increasing the energy intake to 50 percent more than the usual need • increasing the dietary protein requirement by up to twice the recommended daily allowance • increasing the anabolic state • avoiding the replacement of lean body mass with fat Carbohydrates should supply 55 to 60 percent of the total caloric intake to ensure adequate energy stores. Carbohydrates are also important components of glycoproteins, which play roles in the wound healing process. Cell migration and proliferation are processes mediated by cell surface molecules composed of carbohydrates. Proteins, which are made up of amino acids, should constitute 20 to 25 percent of the required caloric intake. Amino acids such as leucine, arginine and glutamine have been shown to possess anabolic activity. Protein production is a vital process in wound healing. This process is mediated by fibroblasts, which produce collagen, the skin's major structural protein. Fats comprise 20 to 25 percent of the total dietary requirement. They also provide additional energy during wound healing and are the raw materials used for the production of new cell membranes. Have specific questions? All Article Categories Suggested Doctors Sorry, there are no matching doctors in your area Please choose a different location See more Suggested Doctors Recently Asked Questions
Contra Account Contra account is an account that appears as a subtraction from another account on balance sheet of a company. For example, provision for bad debts is a contra account of accounts receivable. Accounts receivable is the main account with a debit normal balance and provision for doubtful debts is an account with credit normal balance which offsets the main account. In an accounting system, ledger accounts are designed to contain similar classes of transactions. But for presentation purposes it is sometimes necessary to show net balance of two accounts. For example, there need to be separate accounts to hold the actual cost of property, plant and equipment and related accumulated depreciation. If we record depreciation related adjustments in the cost accounts we will lose key information about the original cost of the assets and accumulated depreciation. To avoid this loss of important data, we record actual cost and depreciation in separate ledger accounts. However, it will be meaningless to show the property plant and equipment cost account and the related accumulated depreciation account separately on the balance sheet. We need to show the net book value of the property plant and equipment which equals the cost of PPE offset by related accumulated depreciation which is a contra account. Written by Obaidullah Jan, ACA, CFA and last revised on
Safeguarding Your Book Medieval books were time consuming and expensive to produce, which rendered many almost impossible to replace. Bibles, liturgical books, and standard university texts could be replaced with effort and expense, but less widely circulated works and volumes that contained multiple texts could be literally irreplaceable. In an age with limited communications and few substantial libraries, locating another copy of an unusual book might well have been impossible. Given these difficulties, it is hardly surprising that medieval book owners worried about the possibility of theft and therefore attempted to guard their holdings against it. Throughout the Middle Ages, denunciations of book thieves were included in Latin as well as vernacular texts. Takamiya MS 125: Homiliae in evangelia Takamiya MS 125. Gregorius Magnus, Homiliae in evangelia, libri II. Italy, Piacenza, second half of twelfth century. Takamiya MS 125 contains an anathema directed against anyone who might steal Pope Gregory the Great’s Homiliae in evangelia from the Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria della Columba. Of the thief who would steal or otherwise cause this volume to be lost, the fragment declares, “Anathema sit” (let him be cursed). This leaf containing the anathema is the only trace left of what must have been an impressive manuscript. Takamiya MS 4: Mirrour of the blessed lyf of Jesu Christ Takamiya MS 4. Nicholas Love, Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ. England, c. 1450. Substantial volumes were the most likely to contain anathemas. Takamiya MS 4 is an excellent, complete copy of Nicholas Love’s popular Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ bound with several other devotional poems and texts. This unique combination of texts would have made it challenging to re-create. Perhaps that inspired the ferocity of its owner, Erkynwalld Gyttyn, who threatens earthly punishment rather than eternal damnation: “He that stellys yt shalbe hangyd on a hooke.” Takamiya MS 114: Polychronicon Takamiya MS 114. Ranulph Higden, Polychronicon. England, late fifteenth century. For those unwilling to rely on curses, however stern, there were chains. Takamiya MS 114, a copy of Ranulph Higden’s Polychronicon, is an excellent example of a chained book, though its present binding is post-medieval. Chaining was particularly favored in libraries at schools or cathedrals, where multiple people would have access to the collection. Chains secured to a bookcase were generally attached at a corner or back of a book’s cover, and the books usually were shelved with the fore-edge facing out to prevent tangling. Safeguarding Your Book
Qatar is an emirate also called as State of Qatar located in the Middle East. The State of Qatar is surrounded by Persian Gulf making it a peninsula. Saudi Arabia borders the country in the South and a strait of Persian Gulf separated Qatar from Bahrain. Qatar is a monarchy ruled by al-Thani family from 19th century. Qatar is an emirate government and the legal system consists of both civil and Islamic law codes controlled by Emir. Qatar is divided in to eight municipalities. The economy of the country mainly depends on oil resources as it has rich oil and gas reserves. Oil and gas reserves made the country the second highest one in terms of per-capita income. Before discovering the petroleum reserves, the country’s economy was mainly focused on pearl hunting and fishing. Because of the oil exports, the country is earning high revenues and now Qatar has high standard of living with all facilities of a modern state. Country has a population of more than 1.5 million and Islam is the major religion of the country. Among the population, 77.6% are Muslims and other religions of the country are Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Bahais. Majority of the population consists of ethnic Arabs and official language is Arabic. Other languages spoken all around Qatar are English, Tamil, Malayalam, Urdu, Hindi, Sindhi, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian, Bengali, Telugu and Balochi. Nearly three-fourth of the people is expatriates as the petroleum industry lured people to Qatar. Majority of foreigners are from South Asia mainly from India. Qatar follows a civil law which uses Sharia law for inheritance, family law and some criminal acts but most of the Qatar citizens follow Hanbali Madhhab, a religious law. Qatar opened its doors for tourism in 1989 and the country is a fast developing mid-east tourist destination. There are several interesting tourist spots in Qatar and each destination is unique on its own. You can come know the history, culture and heritage of the country by visiting places. One of the most popular tourist destinations of Qatar is Doha. Doha is a city with several beaches that allows you to enjoy the water sports and Doha Fort is another tourist spot. Al-Khor is a major tourist spot that offers natural beauty, several watchtowers and commercial port. Kingdom of Aladdin, an entertainment city is located at West Bay consists of play features suitable for each age group, artificial lagoon, cafeteria, rest house and theater. Al Rumaila Park is situated at Doha cornice lures the travelers with restaurants, shopping facilities and children rides. Dahl El-Hamam Public Park is situated at Khalifa Al-Shamalia has children play area, green lawns and walking space. Al Jassasiya is a tourist spot with rocky hills located between two villages Al Huwailah and Fuwairit which are famous for the stone carvings of pre-historic times. Desert Safari is a major attraction for the tourists and the air-conditioned vehicles that take you to the safari are well equipped with safety equipments in order to make the trip exciting as well as safe.
Search This Blog Friday, July 17, 2015 The folksong The vocal folk music in the Nordic lands has a somewhat different origin than the remaining Western European art music and may, for the modern ear, appear "off-key" and unstructured. To listen to folk music therefore requires that we listen with a "folk-ear". These songs have been performed over a long period of time, usually several generations, and the performer uses his or her voice merely as an instrument in the communication of the lyrics. A skilled folk singer tells a story with the song, which is quite often recited in an oral manner. In Norway, there are several genres of the vocal folk tradition, such as lokk (eng. “lure”), lullabies, ballads, viser (folk songs), religious folk, and stev The latter one, the stev (eng. stave) is a form of Scandinavian folk song, of which the oldest form were established already around the end of the 13th century. The newer form, nystev (eng. new stave) probably stems from around 1700, and has been regarded to be the Norwegian equivalent of the American blues. The stave expresses love and longing, but they can also be performed to make a jest of someone. It has four lines of lyrical stanzas that are recited in a regular rhythm, and the performer, called a kveder, often accentuate the rhythm by tapping his or her feet. The songs were presented when several people were gathered, and people sang, or kvedet, to each other, and answered one another. A singer could come up with a text then and there, or make use of existing texts that fitted the context. Even today, one may occasionally experience spontaneous performances of stev when several kvedere meet. The following example of a nystev is written by Jørund Telnes (1845-1892), a popular poet and local politician from the county of Telemark in Norway. At the end of the 19th century, his poetry was widely known across the country. This version of Telnes’ Folkesongen ("the folk song"), is performed by the Finnish band Gjallarhorn, who gives a haunting and reflective interpretation of this 123 year old text. Som Blomen upp utor Marki tyte, Som Eple fram utpaa Kvisten skyte, Er Folkesongen for Mann og Møy, Men Folkevetter, naar den mun døy. (Like flowers growing from the soil, like apples flourishing on the trees, So is the folksong for man and maid, but if the song dies, so does the people.) So lat daa Tonen fraa Hjarta strøyme! Og lat oss kvea og lat oss drøyme! Her er so mykje, som dreg oss ne! Dæ svarte rømer so snegt me kve. (So let the song flow from our hearts! Let us sing and let us dream! There are so many things that bring us down, but the darkness vanishes as we sing.) Men kom mæ Visur av Heimeslage, Og lat oss kvea paa gamle Lage! Og lat oss kvea foruta Bok! Den Notesongen han er so klok! (Bring us songs from our home, and let us sing like we’ve always done! Let us sing without a book, the scholarly song is not for us.) No comments: Post a Comment
You are browsing the archive for Education. The Importance of Early RA Diagnosis February 22, 2019 in Advocacy, Education, Important By Kelly O'Neill Young, RPF Founder & President I’ve been a passionate advocate of early RA diagnosis for over a decade. One of the first articles I wrote for a medical website urged doctors to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) / rheumatoid disease (RD) earlier by looking outside of the proverbial box of arthritis in the hands. Why was I so convinced about the importance of early RA diagnosis? As we mark the 7th Rheumatoid Awareness Day, February 2, it’s important to remember why early diagnosis is key to the mission of RPF—improving the lives of (PRD) living with RD. That’s why RPF is excited to partner with imaware™, a new at-home test for RA. Read the rest of this entry → Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Disease February 20, 2019 in Awareness, Education By Kathryne Marks Why are biomarkers important? Looking for certain markers in a blood sample is a method that is helpful in the diagnosis many conditions, including Rheumatoid Disease (RD) and other autoimmune diseases. These biological markers—biomarkers— are increasingly helpful as we work to get to earlier and earlier diagnoses in order to hopefully get people treatment sooner—even before obvious symptoms—to improve outcomes. There are a few different markers to know about, the most important of which are antibodies. Antibodies are produced by B cells, one of the most important types of cells of the adaptive immune system. Each B cell produces antibodies that are specific for, or capable of binding to, a particular other molecule. You don’t need to be an immunologist to understand why it is essential to identify these antibodies. Read the rest of this entry →
North American P-51A One of the most important fighters of WWII was the North American P-51 Mustang. It is not commonly known, but the P-51, although designed and built in the USA, owes its existence to a British Purchasing Commission request for a more advanced fighter than the Spitfire and Hurricane. The design of the wing, in particular, helped reduce drag and improve the aircraft’s range. Initially the aircraft used an American designed Allison engine and was known as the P-51A of which this photograph is an example. Performance in RAF service was disappointing. The engine had a single-stage compressor and power output fell off above about 16,000 feet which meant that it could not climb up to meet the incoming Bf109s of the Luftwaffe and it was at a serious disadvantage. Then someone asked a very simple question … ‘what would happen if we put a Rolls Royce Merlin into the aircraft?’ This was done with amazing speed and the result was the greatest escort fighter of the Second World War. The P-51D variant could fly all the way to Berlin and back escorting the B-17s, participate in aerial combat with the Luftwaffe over the target and still have sufficient fuel for the journey home, often taking part in a little bit of train-busting at low level. The aircraft shown here is one of those early P-51As. It never saw wartime service as it crashed on top of a mountain in Alaska before the USA entered the war; the pilot was rescued but the aircraft remained there for many years until recovered from the ice by Jerry Gabe and restored to flying condition. It is seen here over Northern California shortly after its return to flight. next image
Japanese prime minister requests a summit meeting with FDR On this day in 1941, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, prime minister of Japan, announces that he would like to enter into direct negotiations with President Roosevelt in order to prevent the Japanese conflict with China from expanding into world war. Konoye, a lawyer by training and well studied in Western philosophy, literature, and economics, entered the Japanese Parliament’s upper house by virtue of his princely status and immediately pursued a program of reform. High on his agenda was a reform of the army general staff in order to prevent its direct interference in foreign policy decisions. He also sought an increase in parliamentary power. An antifascist, Konoye championed an end to the militarism of Japanese political structures, especially in light of the war in Manchuria, which began in 1931. Appointed prime minister in 1933, Konoye’s first cabinet fell apart after full-blown war broke out between Japan and China. In 1940, Konoye was asked to form a second cabinet. But as he sought to contain the war with China, relations with the United States deteriorated, to the point where Japan was virtually surrounded by a U.S. military presence and threats of sanctions. On August 27, 1941, Konoye requested a summit with President Roosevelt in order to diminish heightening tensions. Envoys were exchanged, but no direct meeting with the president took place.In October, Konoye resigned because of increasing tension with his army minister, Tojo Hideki, who would succeed him as prime minister. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Konoye was put under military surveillance, his political career all but over until 1945, when the emperor considered sending him to Moscow to negotiate peace terms. That meeting never came off either. The grand irony of Prince Konoye’s career came at the war’s conclusion, when he was served with an arrest warrant by the U.S. occupying force for suspicion of war crimes. Rather than submit to arrest, he committed suicide by drinking poison. Mountbatten killed by IRA The Battle of Brooklyn During the American Revolution, British forces under General William Howe defeat Patriot forces under General George Washington at the Battle of Brooklyn in New York. On August 22, Howe’s large army landed on Long Island, hoping to capture New York City and gain control of the more Krakatau explodes Romania enters World War I On this day in 1916, after Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary, formally entering World War I, Romanian troops cross the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the much-contested province of Transylvania. By the outbreak of war in Europe in 1914, Romania had long been at more Agnew meets with President Thieu in Saigon Vice President Spiro Agnew meets with South Vietnamese president Nguyen Van Thieu in Saigon. In a speech at Ton Son Nhut air base, Agnew praised the South Vietnamese people for suffering “so much in freedom’s cause” and promised that “there will no lessening of U.S. support.” more Henderson steals his way to a record Oakland Athletics outfielder Rickey Henderson steals his 119th base of the year, breaking Hall of Famer Lou Brock’s 1979 record for stolen bases in a season. Rickey Henley Henderson was born on Christmas Day, 1958. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Oakland, where more LBJ is born On this day in 1908, future President Lyndon Baines Johnson is born on a farm near Stonewall, Texas. The brash, outspoken Johnson grew up in an impoverished rural area and worked his way through a teachers’ training college before entering politics. In 1937, Johnson won a seat in more Tycoon William Ralston drowns Hours after being asked to resign as president of the Bank of California, the powerful western capitalist William Ralston is found drowned in San Francisco Bay. One of the first men to build a major financial empire in the Far West, Ralston was born in Ohio in 1826. In 1854, he more Krakatoa erupts The volcanic island of Krakatoa near Indonesia erupts on this day in 1883, killing thousands in one of the worst geologic disasters of modern times. The beginning of the amazing events at Krakatoa in 1883 date to May 20 when there were initial rumblings and venting from the more Red Scare dominates American politics As the presidential election of 1952 begins to heat up, so do accusations and counteraccusations concerning communism in America. The “Red Scare”—the widespread belief that international communism was operating in the United States—came to dominate much of the debate between more The attack on Cape Hatteras begins Union ships sail into North Carolina’s Hatteras Inlet, beginning a two-day operation that secures the area for the Federals and denies the Confederates an important outlet to the Atlantic. The Outer Banks is a series of long, narrow islands that separate Pamlico Sound from the more
All About Oventure: Learning About Outdoor Education! Climbing utilizes a person’s hands, feet or any other part of the body to ascend a steep object. It can be done recreationally or competitively in specific trades that rely on it. It is also used during military and emergency rescue operations. Climbing could be practised indoor, outdoors as well as on man-made or natural surfaces. Kayaking is another popular outdoor sport performed using a boat. This boat is called a Kayak. It is distinguished by the sitting position of the person and the number of blades on the paddle. The paddler faces forward with the legs in front in a kayak. A double-bladed paddle is used for paddling purposes. The majority of kayaks are closed decks. But inflatable and sit-on-top kayaks are becoming quite popular right now. Hiking is another adventure outdoor sports event popular in most of the countries. In Canada and the USA, hiking is used to describe a sport where an individual walks on trails or footpaths placing long steps quite vigorously. Walking is used to describe a shorter or urban walk in Canada and the USA. But in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, walking is the term used to describe any form of walking whether it be walking in the park, trekking on the Alps or walking on the street. The word hiking is also used interchangeably for hill-walking, rambling or fell walking. In New Zealand, a long vigorous walk is usually called tramping. No matter how you describe it, hiking is a very popular sport around the world with numerous health benefits. Mountain biking is an outdoor sport event that is popular in numerous countries across the globe. It is a sport of riding a bicycle off-road. It is usually done in rough terrain. Mountain bike are different from the normal cycle due to the features included in it to perform in rough terrain. Mountain biking has several categories such as trail riding, cross country, downhill riding, free riding and dirt jumping. But the majority of mountain biking falls into the cross country riding and trail styles. Our Sponsors Danley Electrical Contracting continues to support the education and experience for the great outdoors of today’s youth. They specialize in Generator Installation in New Jersey.
SCU CCA Refract House US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon This world is worth trying for. The California Coast. Credit Ross Ruecker This is Green building, after all it's a bridge in nature. Credit to dkon on flickr. concept :: What Can You Do :: To the students of Team California, ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ aren’t just words: they are a call to action. As broad and overused as these terms may have become, they represent a profound and obvious truth: we have to be smarter about the way we live on this planet. That starts with doing something about it. Below, broken in what we consider the five branches of sustainability, are tips to live a more sustainable lifestyle that sharpen your connection with the planet. There are also special kids and homeowner sections to peruse. Even though energy can be hard to see, it comes at a real cost, using limited resources and producing pollution. Even in a solar-powered home energy efficiency is still important: every bit we use is energy we can’t give back to the grid, offsetting other homes’ use. Buying efficient appliances is important, but so is how we use them. •Put your entertainment system and speakers on one power strip and turn it off when you’re not around. This way you eliminate phantom loads. •Buy the most efficient appliances available when you upgrade. If you have electric hot water, consider one of the new heat pump water heaters •Insulate your hot water tank, and any exposed pipes. It’s cheap and easy •Set your thermostat moderately, and set it to turn off when you are at work, when you’re asleep, and when you go on vacation. •Install a summer ventilation fan for your attic, or consider insulating your attic more. •Use your own passive solar! Open south facing blinds on winter days, and close them in the heat of summer. •Wash clothes in warm or cold water whenever possible. It’s usually just as effective! •Set your dishwasher to air dry instead of electric dry. Clean water is a limited resource, especially in some areas. Water’s relatively low cost belies how important conservation can be. The average American uses 80-100 gallons a day directly, and much more than that if you consider the water used to make food, materials, and energy. • Use a low-flow shower head and install low-flow aerator caps on faucets • Upgrade your toilet to a high-efficiency model, especially if it’s old. Newer toilets use a fraction of the water. For an interim fix, you can put a bag of gravel in your toilet tank to reduce water use. • Always run full loads in your dishwasher, just as you should for your clothes washer. Do not pre-wash dishes, and fill the sink rather than running the tap if you do. • Irrigate your lawn and garden sparingly, and always in the cool part of the day or at night. Install a rain sensor if you don’t have one. Consumption and Waste Consider how much stuff passes through our hands: water bottles, bags, coffee cups, batteries, paper, and a thousand more items – all made of valuable materials and then thrown ‘away’. Nature recycles everything, and we will not be sustainable until we are doing the same. But recycling is not enough – reduction and reuse are more critical. • Skip the bottled water: save money, energy and resources by using a reusable water bottle. Do the same with a coffee mug. • Recycle everything! And be sure to collect and dispose of e-waste properly • Avoid buying things you don’t really need. Consider what is likely to end up becoming junk • Reduce printing utilize digital media, use scrap paper, and print double-sided • Buy used whenever you can! Secondhand shops and craigslist are good places to Save money and resources. And try to donate or sell items you no longer need. Personal transportation is one of the greatest luxuries of American living, but this comes at great cost: the US passenger vehicle fleet guzzles about 10% of the world’s annual refined petroleum production. Driving an efficient vehicle can help a lot, but how you drive and how much you drive are even more significant. • Drive less! Try bundling trips, carpooling, biking, or using public transit. • Drive a bit slower on the highway. And easy on the acceleration everywhere else • Choose based on efficiency for your new or used car purchase. • Keep your car tuned up: tires, air filter, and other maintenance save gas and money. The food we choose to eat has a profound effect on our environmental impact, and how secure and robust our food future is. Food that is highly processed and travels long distances uses a lot more energy. But ultimately we need food that is sustainably harvested, maintains topsoil health, and uses less water and pesticides and fertilizer. •Buy local, or nearly local, and least-processed. Establish connections with a CSA, or a farmer’s market, or just try to know your source. •Eat less meat! Meat costs much more energy, land, and water to produce. Chicken and sustainably-harvested fish are better choices than beef. •Buy grass-fed beef, free-range animal products, and organic foods, but know these labels can be misleading. Educate yourself! •Grow your own food at home! Guaranteed fresh and with no transport! Go Explore If you're looking for inspiration, take a step outside and enjoy the world we are a part of. In the fast pace society of iPhones, texting, global news, and 200 mph cars, it is easy to forget what is around us. Exploit any opportunities to go outdoors and adventure. Nowadays, we are so hyperwired and inter-connected that is only in nature that we can actually be ourselves. This is why we choose sustainability: to keep this world around, and to keep ourselves as part of it.
According to a variety of research studies, 70 percent to 90 percent of startups fail in the first few years of their establishment. Most recent studies confirm the numbers that are close to the higher extremity of this scale. Startups Fail This may be proof that, despite the growing cult of entrepreneurship in our society, the actual number of successful new businesses does not increase year over year and that more new ventures fail. While there could be plentiful reasons behind every story of failure, here is what we came to consider the main reasons why most startups are not able to make it. The Quality of the Idea What sparks enthusiasm and at the same time blindfolds entrepreneurs to determine the probability of the future success is their idea. Business ideas have become a subject of an obsession in the modern entrepreneurial culture. As a result, creative thinking and innovativeness are put before common sense and doom new companies to fail. While many entrepreneurs focus on the creativity and novelty of the idea, what they should really spend most of their time doing is searching for a problem that their product will solve. Observational rather than creative work should be the first phase of the entrepreneurial process. The role of this work is invaluable to predict unidentified needs sooner and increase the chances of the new product being accepted by the market. No idea can survive the startup phase if it doesn’t provide a solution to a growing or a big enough audience. A Lack of Competitors Research and Poor Timing What you would always hear from most startup entrepreneurs is that they are the first to make the product available to the market and nobody has ever tried to do the same. But what they usually don’t think of is that more startups are created each year in almost any niche, and the same idea might have already come up to someone else who is trying to implement it, not to mention larger companies that might already be doing research related to the manufacturing of similar products. The truth is, the newer the idea, the harder it is to find information about other startups, and when the situation does seem unclear, timing becomes crucial. All circumstances being equal, the earlier you start, the more chances your idea will survive. Prototyping and Manufacturing Flaws Many startups fail within the first few years of their launch because they release products that have not been given necessary testing and quality assurance. It happens because they try to minimize prototyping and manufacturing costs at the expense of dissatisfied customers. These are usually the products that break down in the first few weeks or months, products that are inconvenient to use or are not appealing aesthetically. In some cases, it gets even worse –the final product is disconnected from the initial idea and is not able to deliver the solution to the problem identified during the research phase. A Lack of Experience and Expertise People are one of the most valuable assets in every startup, and while the passion to build and grow a new business can be crucial to creating the initial drive, the knowledge about a particular industry, management skills, and business experience can at times be much more important. Joe French of, a company that specializes in employee identification solutions says that… He observes more new companies coming into this industry each year, but unfortunately to them, they are mostly driven by their ambitions that prove insufficient when it comes to various subtleties that can only be seen by an expert in the field. Most of them fail, Joe says, because they underestimate the importance of expertise that took his team years to build. A Lack of Money Insufficient financing is named as one of the common reasons for startup failure. What is usually omitted is that, by its nature, it is not an external factor of funding availability but rather an internal problem of not being able to attract investors and plan for future expenses. The venture capital market has regained its momentum during the last few years after the recession. What we now see is that not even the brightest ideas get picked up by investors. However, beginning entrepreneurs don’t realize that creating a portfolio of investors is an important skill set in itself. Presenting your idea, putting in a significant amount of work in preliminary research and being able to demonstrate expertise needed to gain trust are all important to secure sufficient funding for your future business. It is impossible to predict or guarantee a success in any endeavor, let alone in starting a new business. There will always be a multitude of things that affect a particular scenario, but hopefully, if you bear in mind these reasons why most startups fail, your escape 9-to-5 Plan will become more real and your founder’s journey will begin with a positive experience. This article is written by Dennis Rukosuev who is an entrepreneur and marketing expert who is helping start-ups and established businesses build their online presence and reach their target audience via the Internet. Published by AtulHost Hi, I'm Atul Kumar Pandey, an entrepreneur. I build atulhost to with an objective of sharing fresh, honest, and helpful contents. From case studies to comprehensive guides it's all here! Leave a comment
Thyroid gland is the largest endocrine organ its function is to secrete thyroxin (T4) & triiodothyronine (T3). The isthmus of the thyroid gland is located midway between apex of thyroid cartilage & suprasternal notch. • Wt: 10-20 gm in adulthood • Width: 1.5-2 cm • Length: 2.4-4 cm • Thickness: 1-1.5 cm Thyroid gland has a rich blood supply & the blood flow to thyroid gland is about 5ml/gm/min so it’s very high blood supply. The thyroid gland is palpable in about 50% of women and 30% of men. It is located in the neck, inferior to the larynx and cricoid cartilage. It has two lobes, each about 5 cm long and joined by a narrow isthmus. The lobes lie either side of the trachea and oesophagus, and the isthmus crosses the trachea anteriorly, usually over the second and third tracheal cartilages. The thyroid gland is surrounded by a fibrous capsule derived from the pretracheal layer of the deep cervical fascia. Extensions of this capsule into the body of the thyroid create septae, which divide the gland into lobules. This connective tissue firmly connects the thyroid to the larynx and explains why the thyroid moves on swallowing. The thyroid is highly vascular, and a bruit (the sound of turbulent blood flow) is sometimes heard in overactive glands. It is supplied by two arteries that anastomose (join) within the gland: the inferior and superior thyroid arteries. The inferior thyroid artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk that arises from the subclavian arteries. It ascends behind the carotid sheath to enter the thyroid posteriorly. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve is intimately related to this artery near the inferior pole of the thyroid gland. Surgery to the thyroid gland can damage this nerve, causing temporary difficulty with speaking. To minimize the risk to this nerve, the artery is ligated far away from the thyroid gland during thyroidectomy. Interesting Questions about Thyroid: What About Nodules? What are hot and cold nodules? Thyroid nodules do not function like normal thyroid tissue. A thyroid image (scan) done with a radioactive chemical shows the size, shape, and function of the gland and of thyroid nodules. A nodule that takes up more of the radioactive material than the rest of the gland is called a hot nodule. A nodule that takes up less radioactive material is a cold nodule. Hot nodules are seldom cancerous, but less than 10% of all nodules are hot. Cold nodules may or may not be cancerous. All lumps should be checked by your doctor. How do doctors test nodules for cancer? Your doctor can use several tests to find out whether or not a thyroid lump is cancerous. • A thyroid image or scan shows the size, shape, and function of the gland. It uses a tiny amount of a radioactive chemical, usually iodine or technetium, which the thyroid absorbs from the blood. A special camera then creates a picture, showing how much iodine was absorbed by each part of the gland. • In needle aspiration biopsy, a small needle is inserted into the nodule in an effort to suck out (aspirate) cells. If the nodule is a fluid-filled cyst, the aspiration often removes some or all of the fluid. If the nodule is solid, several small samples are removed for examination under the microscope. In over 90% of all cases, this testing tells the doctor whether the lump is benign or malignant. • Ultrasound uses high-pitch sound waves to find out whether a nodule is solid or filled with fluid. About 10% of lumps are fluid-filled cysts, and they are usually not cancerous. Ultrasound may also detect other nodules that are not easily felt by the doctor. The presence of multiple nodules reduces the likelihood of cancer. How are nodules treated? Nodules that are thought to be benign are usually observed at regular intervals. Some patients may be advised to take thyroid hormone pills. In certain instances, the nodule may be surgically removed because of continuing growth, pressure symptoms in the neck, or for cosmetic reasons. Fluid-filled cysts that come back after several aspirations may need to be removed. If the testing shows a nodule that is, or might be, malignant (cancerous), your doctor will recommend surgery. (You should discuss special situations, such as pregnancy, with your doctor.) The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the cancerous tissue as possible. If the cancer is found in the early stages when it is still confined to the thyroid gland, the surgery is almost always successful. With papillary cancer, patients usually do well after treatment, even if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. The surgeon starts by removing one lobe of the thyroid. This specimen is tested during surgery (frozen section) to tell the surgeon whether it is benign or malignant. If it is malignant, most or all of the thyroid is removed. If the cancer has spread, lymph nodes in the neck may also have to be removed. In addition, in patients with either papillary or follicular cancer, radioactive iodine therapy may be needed six weeks after surgery to destroy any remaining cancerous tissue. What happens after surgery? After surgery, patients must stay in the hospital for one to three days. They may also need to take some time off from work (one to two weeks for a desk job; three to four weeks for physical labor). Most patients do not have any trouble speaking or swallowing, and they report minimal pain after the surgery. In patients with thyroid cancer, a scan may be done approximately six weeks after surgery to detect any residual thyroid tissue that needs to be treated with radioactive iodine. Patients with thyroid cancer will need to take thyroid hormone their entire lives. Some patients who have had a noncancerous nodule removed will also be advised to take thyroid hormone pills. These may prevent new nodules from forming in the remaining portion of the thyroid gland. Rate this post Pregnancy & Thyroid Disease Why are women more likely to get thyroid disease? In general, women are much more likely than men to become hyperthyroid or hypothyroid and to get Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The reason for this is uncertain. Women are also more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases. Two of the most common thyroid diseases, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease, are caused by problems with the body’s immune system. Normally, the immune system defends the body against germs and viruses. In autoimmune diseases, the system attacks the body’s own tissues. Diseases of the immune system tend to run in families. What about thyroid disease and pregnancy? Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can affect a woman’s ability to become pregnant. They may also cause a miscarriage if they are not quickly recognized and properly treated. Women who become pregnant may not notice signs of thyroid disease because similar symptoms can occur in a normal pregnancy. For example, patients may feel warm, tired, nervous, or shaky. In addition, enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) commonly occurs during pregnancy. A pregnant woman is treated differently than is a non-pregnant woman or a man. For example, radioactive materials commonly used in diagnosing and treating many thyroid diseases are never used in pregnant women. The timing of a biopsy or surgery for a thyroid nodule and the choice of drugs for hyperthyroidism may be different in a pregnant woman. These issues require careful consultation with your doctor. What is postpartum thyroiditis? Postpartum thyroiditis is a temporary form of thyroiditis. It occurs in 5%-9% of women soon after giving birth (postpartum period). The effects are usually mild. However, the disease may recur with future pregnancies. The symptoms usually last for six to nine months. First, the damaged thyroid gland may release its stored thyroid hormones into the blood, causing hyperthyroidism. During this time, you can develop a goiter, have a fast heart rate, and feel warm or anxious. Then, a few months later, you will either return to normal or become hypothyroid. Hypothyroidism occurs because the thyroid has been damaged and its hormone reserves used up. If this happens, you may feel tired, weak, or cold. The hypothyroidism usually lasts a few months until the thyroid gland completely recovers. Occasionally, the hypothyroidism may be permanent. How do doctors test for thyroid disease during pregnancy? As with any disease, it is important that you watch for the early warning signs of thyroid disease. However, only your doctor can tell for sure whether or not you have the disease. Your doctor may examine: • your history and physical appearance • the amount of thyroid hormones, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid antibodies in your blood. How is thyroid disease treated during pregnancy? Pregnancy places some limits on the treatments which you can receive, because your doctor must also look out for the safety of your child. A common treatment for hyperthyroidism is radioactive iodine, but it must be avoided by women who are pregnant or nursing a baby. Surgery to remove a goiter or cancer may also be delayed until after the pregnancy. However, needle aspiration biopsy of a thyroid nodule may be safely done during pregnancy. Treatments which may be used for thyroid disease during pregnancy include: • antithyroid drugs, which block the production of thyroid hormone • thyroid hormone pills, which provide the body with the right amount of thyroid hormone when the gland is not able to produce enough by itself. Postpartum thyroiditis may or may not be treated during the hyperthyroid stage, depending upon its severity. If the patient later becomes hypothyroid, her doctor may prescribe thyroid hormone pills. Rate this post What About My Child? If you or a blood relative has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, there is a chance that your children will inherit the problem. These diseases are also linked to other autoimmune conditions, such as premature gray hair, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and patchy loss of skin pigment (vitiligo). You should tell your child’s doctor, so that the appropriate examinations can be performed. Also, one out of every 4,000 infants is born without a working thyroid gland. If the problem is not corrected, the child will become mentally and physically retarded. Therefore, all newborns in the United States are tested for the disease. Once the problem is discovered and corrected, the child can grow up normally. Rate this post The superior thyroid artery is usually the first branch of the external carotid artery. The external laryngeal nerve is related to this artery, but it is at less risk than the recurrent laryngeal during thyroid surgery. The superior thyroid artery is ligated close to the thyroid gland to reduce this risk. A third artery, called the thyroid ima artery, is present in 10% of people. It supplies the isthmus and it arises near the aortic arch, although the exact origin varies. The thyroid gland is drained by three veins: • Superior thyroid vein. • Middle thyroid vein. • Inferior thyroid vein. The first two veins drain into the internal jugular, whereas the inferior vein drains into the brachio-cephalic veins. Thyroid lymphatics drain into four groups of nodes: • Prelaryngeal lymph nodes. • Pretracheal lymph nodes. • Paratracheal lymph nodes. • Deep cervical lymph nodes. The thyroid is composed of about one million spherical follicles or acini. Each follicle is lined by a single layer of secretory epithelial cells (follicular cells) around a colloid-filled space. These cells secrete thyroglobulin into the lumen of the follicle, and thyroid hormones are synthesized from thyroglobulin at the cell–colloid boundary. When the thyroid gland is not actively secreting hormones, the size of the colloid store and the follicle itself increase in diameter. When the follicular cells enter an active secretory phase, microvilli form on their inner surface and thyroglobulin is absorbed. The colloid store shrinks as a result. The absorbed thyroglobulin is broken down to release thyroid hormon. Another type of secretory cell is found between the follicles. These parafollicular cells (C cells) synthesize and secrete calcitonin. Thyroid FAQ & Links to Related Articles Thyroid Hair Loss
Plastic pollution threatens the food supply from the world’s oceans In a recent study that was conducted by researchers from Lund University in Sweden, it was revealed that fish are exposed to too much plastic. It has reached such a severity that tiny plastic particles find their way inside the fishes’ brains and negatively impact the fish’s behavioral patterns, inducing them to quit eating. Scientists also found that when animal plankton are exposed to large plastic particles, they die. A gigantic amount of plastic is dumped into the sea on a yearly basis – so much so that it can fill five carrier bags for every foot of coastline on the planet, scientists said. Most of the trash that flows into the oceans all over the world comes from these five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The only industrialized country that contributes majorly to the general amount of plastic in the oceans – at No. 20 world-wide ranking, no less – is the United States. (Related: 75% of world’s fish have been wiped out by mankind…Collapse of marine ecosystems now imminent.) According to the researchers, the federal governments of the U.S. and developed countries in Europe have structured waste collection systems, so the problem all boils down to citizens practicing the bad habit of throwing litter. Plastic pollution has even reached the North Pole Plastic chunks were discovered on remote frozen ice floes just 1,000 miles from the North Pole, with scientists noting that this is the farthest that plastic has been sighted in the Arctic regions. The plastic was found on ice floes at the location of between 77 degrees and 80 degrees north in the Arctic Ocean. Tim Gordon of Exeter University in London and his group of experts from Hong Kong, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. went on an expedition to the North Pole and were flabbergasted to find blocks of polystyrene floating in the Arctic waters. “For the 25 years I have been exploring the Arctic I have never seen such large and very visible items of rubbish. The blocks of polystyrene were just sitting on top of the ice,” Gordon said. According to the scientists, a lot of plastic end up in the Arctic Ocean because there are many rivers that empty into the Arctic basin. Scientists previously remarked that there are over five trillion pieces of plastic that are contaminating our oceans, with some claiming that the amount is so vast that should they get pieced together, they can form a permanent layer in the fossil record. Humans manufacture around 300 million tons of plastic annually, with around half of that number being used just once before they are permanently junked. Gordon’s team will also study how human-made noise pollution can negatively impact the Arctic and how ice loss in the region can affect how sound travels through the sea. This is an important subject matter as many aquatic animals, such as ringed seals, belunga wales, and walruses, depend on using sounds for navigation and communication while under the black depths of the oceans. How polyester fibers go from your laundry to your plate Your everyday clothes are chock-full of polyester fibers that are released from the fabric of your clothes when they get washed. Some of the fibers, which are too small to be caught by machine filters of washing machines, are directly proceed to the sewage systems, where they end up in seas. The fish that live in the seas ingest these fibers, at the risk of choking themselves. The fish then get caught, sold in the market, and guess what? The fiber from your jacket is back in your house – only instead of being in your windbreaker, it’s inside the fish that’s on your plate. Sources include: 1 2 comments powered by Disqus
NGC 877 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search NGC 877 NGC 877-876 PanSTARRS1 i.g.jpg NGC 877 (left) and NGC 876 (right) by PanSTARRS Observation data (J2000 epoch) Right ascension 02h 17m 59.6s[1] Declination+14° 32′ 38″[1] Redshift0.013052 ± 0.000010 [1] Helio radial velocity3,913 ± 3 km/s[1] Distance154 ± 25 Mly (47.1 ± 7.5 Mpc)[1] Apparent magnitude (V)11.8 [2] TypeSAB(rs)bc [1] Apparent size (V)2′.4 × 1′.8 [1] Notable featuresLuminous infrared galaxy Other designations UGC 1768, CGCG 438-052, MCG +02-06-058, PGC 8775[1] See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies NGC 877 is an intermediate spiral galaxy located in the constellation Aries. It is located at a distance of circa 160 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 877 is about 115,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on October 14, 1784.[3] It interacts with NGC 876. NGC 877 features two spiral arms with a grand design pattern and slightly disturbed morphology. When pictured in H-alpha, the arms have numerous knots and appear brighter than the nucleus.[4] The northwest part of the galaxy has higher polarised emission than the rest of the galaxy. A bar appears in radio waves.[5] The nucleus has activity that resembles that of a HII region.[6] The galaxy has been categorised as a luminous infrared galaxy, a category of galaxies associated with high star formation rate. The total infrared luminosity of the galaxy is estimated to be between 1011.04 L[7] and 1011.1 L, lying near the threshold to classify a galaxy as luminous infrared. The total star formation rate in NGC 877 is estimated to be between 20 and 53 M per year.[8] One possible supernova has been observed in NGC 877, SN 2019rn. It was discovered by the robotic sky survey ATLAS on January 12.30, 2019, using a twin 0.5m telescope system. It had apparent magnitude 18.9 on discovery.[9] The supernova was initially classified as a type II supernova with spectroscopic observations by Keck-II,[10] and further spectographic observations categorised it as type IIb, although it could also be a cataclysmic variable or another type of variable star.[11] NGC 877 forms a pair with the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 876, which lies 2.1 arcminutes to the southwest. At the distance of NGC 877, this corresponds to a projected distance of 30 kpc.[4] A low surface brightness bridge connects the two galaxies.[5] NGC 870 and NGC 871 are two other nearby galaxies.[4] NGC 877 is the brightest and most massive member of a galaxy group known as the NGC 877 group or LGG 35. Other members of the group include NGC 876 and NGC 871, as well as UGC 1693, IC 1791, UGC 1773, and UGC 1817.[12] The group contains large amounts of HI gas.[13] 1. ^ a b c d e f g h "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 877. Retrieved 2016-01-18. 2. ^ "Revised NGC Data for NGC 877". Retrieved 25 November 2018. 3. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "NGC 877 (= PGC 8775)". Celestial Atlas. Retrieved 19 November 2018. 4. ^ a b c Hattori, T.; Yoshida, M.; Ohtani, H.; Sugai, H.; Ishigaki, T.; Sasaki, M.; Hayashi, T.; Ozaki, S.; Ishii, M.; Kawai, A. (February 2004). "A Study of the Distribution of Star-forming Regions in Luminous Infrared Galaxies by Means of H Imaging Observations". The Astronomical Journal. 127 (2): 736–757. arXiv:astro-ph/0311179. Bibcode:2004AJ....127..736H. doi:10.1086/381060. 5. ^ a b Drzazga, R. T.; Chyży, K. T.; Jurusik, W.; Wiórkiewicz, K. (19 August 2011). "Magnetic field evolution in interacting galaxies". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 533: A22. arXiv:1107.3280. Bibcode:2011A&A...533A..22D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201016092. 6. ^ Ho, Luis C.; Filippenko, Alexei V.; Sargent, Wallace L. W. (October 1997). "A Search for "Dwarf Seyfert Nuclei. III. Spectroscopic Parameters and Properties of the Host Galaxies". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 112 (2): 315–390. arXiv:astro-ph/9704107. Bibcode:1997ApJS..112..315H. doi:10.1086/313041. 7. ^ Sanders, D. B.; Mazzarella, J. M.; Kim, D.-C.; Surace, J. A.; Soifer, B. T. (October 2003). "The IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample". The Astronomical Journal. 126 (4): 1607–1664. arXiv:astro-ph/0306263. Bibcode:2003AJ....126.1607S. doi:10.1086/376841. 8. ^ Pereira-Santaella, Miguel; Alonso-Herrero, Almudena; Colina, Luis; Miralles-Caballero, Daniel; Pérez-González, Pablo G.; Arribas, Santiago; Bellocchi, Enrica; Cazzoli, Sara; Díaz-Santos, Tanio; López, Javier Piqueras (6 May 2015). "Star-formation histories of local luminous infrared galaxies". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 577: A78. arXiv:1502.07965. Bibcode:2015A&A...577A..78P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201425359. 9. ^ "ATel #12384: ATLAS19bdu (AT2019rn): discovery of a candidate SN in NGC 0877 (47 Mpc)". ATel. 13 January 2019. 10. ^ "ATel #12388: Spectroscopic classification of SN2019rn as a Type II supernova with Keck-II". ATel. 14 January 2019. 11. ^ "ATel #12391: SCAT classification of optical transients". ATel. 15 January 2019. 12. ^ Garcia, A. M. (1993). "General study of group membership. II - Determination of nearby groups". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 100 (1): 47–90. Bibcode:1993A&AS..100...47G. ISSN 0365-0138. 13. ^ Lee-Waddell, K.; Spekkens, K.; Cuillandre, J.-C.; Cannon, J.; Haynes, M. P.; Sick, J.; Chandra, P.; Patra, N.; Stierwalt, S.; Giovanelli, R. (1 October 2014). "An extremely optically dim tidal feature in the gas-rich interacting galaxy group NGC 871/NGC 876/NGC 877". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 443 (4): 3601–3611. arXiv:1407.1732. Bibcode:2014MNRAS.443.3601L. doi:10.1093/mnras/stu1345. External links[edit]
What makes writing a recursive process of reading In English I, students practice all forms of writing. This is where publishers come in: This chapter offers some helpful tips and strategies for collaborating on documents. Divergence from ideal plans may result in wrong results, exceptions, or endless loops. Revising[ edit ] Revising is making the changes you or your editors determined were necessary during the editing process. No one is born a mathematician. Writing process Style is traditionally concerned with clarity, elegance, and precision. But none of that can happen until the first row makes its way down the pipe. Collaboration is essential to the writing process. The thread was initially about HierarchyId but eventually morphed into a discussion on various other hierarchy techniques. I arrived at the following four T-SQL functions, which are what you will find in the archive attached to this post: In this plan, the anchor part of the CTE is evaluated on the upper subtree under the Concatenation operator, and the recursive part on the lower subtree. Now consider the following program that computes the same thing: A work-around example is: An insight gained while editing one chapter might convince the writer that an additional chapter is needed; as a result, she might start another drafting phase--or even decide to divide one chapter into two or three, and begin reorganizing and developing new drafts. However, often we want to write programs for later use by others, and want to program in a defensive style, providing useful warnings when functions have not been invoked correctly. New in ConfigObj 4. The Foundation of Structured Programming Functions provide an effective way to package and re-use program code, as already explained in 3. It updates the contents of a frequency distribution that is passed in as a parameter, and it also prints a list of the n most frequent words. As always, you should make your own decisions on those kinds of issues based on your applications and workloads. Writing process It is fast, easy to understand, and straightforward to implement. I consider this a bug, and have reported this to Sun. Organization, often called "arrangement," concerns the order and layout of a paper. The underlying value presented in the style guide is consistency, for the purpose of maximizing the readability of code. Like she was an empress in her domain and all of us unpowered people were set dressing she could easily rearrange. If any members or keys have been set as byte strings instead of Unicode, these must first be decoded to Unicode before outputting in the specified encoding. It returns the desired results, but at a cost: Everything else builds on those simple processes.How to Read This Manual. If you are new to make, or are looking for a general introduction, read the first few sections of each chapter, skipping the later funkiskoket.com each chapter, the first few sections contain introductory or general information and the later sections contain specialized or technical information. Valgrind is designed to be as non-intrusive as possible. It works directly with existing executables. You don't need to recompile, relink, or otherwise modify the program to be checked. 4 Writing Structured Programs. By now you will have a sense of the capabilities of the Python programming language for processing natural language. In computing, an optimizing compiler is a compiler that tries to minimize or maximize some attributes of an executable computer program. The most common requirement is to minimize the time taken to execute a program; a less common one is to minimize the amount of memory occupied. The growth of portable computers has created a market for minimizing the power consumed by a program. Writing in Response is a flexible, brief rhetoric that offers a unique focus on the critical practices of experienced readers, analysis and reflection, the skills at the heart of academic writing. It helps students compose academic essays by showing how active reading and exploratory writing bring fresh ideas to light and how informal response. Jun 15, · Welcome to a crossover of a sequel of a fork of an AU fanfic with the canon storyline! Concise Summary: A fluke application of a device made by L33t lands a fanfic Taylor Hebert, Deputy Commander of Wards ENE, into the canon timeline during the fallout of the Empire 88 Unmasking. What makes writing a recursive process of reading Rated 3/5 based on 66 review
screen-shot-2016-12-02-at-1-21-15-pmAspects of the Book \| Read It Forward Most books on literary history focus on the writers and social forces that engendered what we call literature, the abstract totality of creative and intellectual authorship. But over the course of human civilization, there is another story demanding to be heard, and that is the numerous narratives that lead to the book as an object, a literal thing you can hold in your hand. Although it may seem like the more stale story, the history of the book and its myriad parts is as deeply rich and as populated by fascinating figures as any text on a specific writer or movement. To prove this, I present 7 books on different aspects of, well, the book, beginning with Keith Houston’s The Book, as it is not only a wonderfully engaging and lucid work moving through various details and geographies and centuries, but it’s the perfection foundational text for this list. The Book covers every aspect of our venerated codex, while the rest focus on specific subjects or developments. The book is mankind’s greatest achievement, so it’s only right that we should celebrate all the people and all the circumstances that helped usher it into existence. Continue reading… Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Google photo Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s
Do You Know How Many Words Shakespeare Invented? 5/5 (12) How Many Words Did Shakespeare Invent Surprising words Shakespeare invented that we all use today By Lisa Brown William Shakespeare has been part of all of our high school days, and although interesting, his work was not always enjoyable for all. There are some books where you have almost to decipher what you are reading. We have to understand that at the time he wrote it was very different and the English language has changed a lot since then. It is said that there are more than 2,200 English words in Shakespeare’s writing that were not in use in English until his time. Did he just make these words up or was he just smarter than the rest of us? I am sure there were no professional typing services online assistance back then, and he probably did everything on his own. His writing was of course not bad because he is one of the most famous writers ever to exist. Over time, we can track back to a lot of the words that Shakespeare invented. We know this because it was never used before his writing. Who knows how he came up with these words, but it is an exciting side to have a look at. This word is known by most English writers and has been around for so long, that we do not give it a thought. In Othello, this word is used with confidence. Even though people probably did not know this word, in the book, it makes perfect sense. Shakespeare was not a man who kept his language simple. Instead, a lot of the words he invented are a little dramatic and over the top. Assassination was used in Macbeth, and the word in itself is compelling. Today, we use this word without giving it much thought, but it is one of his best-invented words. In Shakespeare’s time people did have belongings, but it was referred to as something else. The word “belongings” in itself was another great invention of this genius. I am not sure what we would call the things we have if this word were not added to his list. At some point, I would like to hire any professional typing services and see if they can come up with anything as brilliant as this. His book, Measure for Measure, was one of the best pieces of literature ever written. When someone was killed, that would probably be how it would have been described back in the day. Cold blooded is a word invented by Shakespeare, and this word intends to create a dramatic effect. In King John, Shakespeare refers to a slave who is cold-blooded, and this is the first time this word appeared in the English language. Interesting word, even for Shakespeare, but he did love to express himself with many words that did not exist as yet. In “As You Like It”, Shakespeare uses this word to refer to history, which might not be the way we would use it today. We use this word to describe an occasion that was full of energy. Shakespeare used it as a way to describe a time where life was not always as simple as we have it today. Yes, you read correctly. Shakespeare is the one we need to thank for this widely used word. He did not exactly have a garment in mind when he used this word for the first time. In fact, he was referring to the host of a part in Troilus and Cressida. We use this word in our everyday lives and on social media. In time, this word has been adapted from the original meaning. Some may agree with the way we are using this word to describe someone who dresses well, but others not so much. No, Shakespeare did not invent a creature named ladybird, but his use of the word makes us feel all fuzzy inside. In Romeo and Juliet, he endearingly used this word. This was the way the nurse spoke about Juliet, which is a beautiful word to describe someone else. The word has caused some controversy simply because not everyone is recognising it as a word to be used in the manner in which Shakespeare did. We are all grateful that Shakespeare decided to come up with this word because we need to complain about someone at work. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare uses this word effortlessly in a manner that we are comfortable with today. If Shakespeare had some reasonable typist rates, I might just ask him to write my next essay. If you ever believed that Shakespeare was not the coolest guy around, you might want to reconsider. Who comes up with a word like swagger and is not cool? To be fair, he was not referring to any pop star who can wear a hoodie and low riding jeans. Shakespeare was way too classy for that, but never the less, he does deserve credit for this one. This word might be just the right way to describe the way Shakespeare’s writing made me feel in high school. In one of his most renowned pieces, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses the word ‘uncomfortable’ in a way that communicates the meaning beautifully. There is no rush in his writing, but the impact of what needs to be said is there. Even in his theatrical tone, we can understand that the time of which he speaks was uncomfortable. It is easy to understand why Shakespeare’s work is still loved by many today. We do not always relate to the language, words and phrases, but we all love a little romance and theatre. It does not work for everyone, but even if you don’t like his work, you know who he is. As a wise man once said, “respect is earned” and he has earned it more than 2,200 times over. Without Shakespeare, we would probably never have added so many words to our English vocabulary. It’s about time a new writer decided to break the mould and come up with a few new words again. More reading: 350 Other Words For Said For Your Dialogue Writing Lisa BrownLisa Brown works as a content manager. She is specialized in writing useful articles for writers, students and people who want to improve their writing skills. Her hobby is reading, travelling and blogging. Lisa`s life motto is “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching”. How helpful was this article for you? 1 2 3 4 5 3 thoughts on “Do You Know How Many Words Shakespeare Invented? Leave a Reply to Derek Haines Cancel reply
Welsh language Brythonic language spoken natively in Wales Welsh language (Under CC License) Welsh or y Gymraeg is a member of the Brittonic branch of the Celtic languages. It is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa. Historically, it has also been known in English as "Cambrian", "Cambric" and "Cymric". Welsh language News and Videos LIVE Supermarket confirms it won't actually be giving away booze in Cwmbran store Credit: Independent - Published 6 days ago You might like
Any experienced .NET developer knows that even though .NET applications have a garbage collector, memory leaks occur all the time. It’s not that the garbage collector has bugs, it’s just that there are ways we can (easily) cause memory leaks in a managed language. Memory leaks are sneakily bad creatures. It’s easy to ignore them for a very long time, while they slowly destroy the application. With memory leaks, your memory consumption grows, creating GC pressure and performance problems. Finally, the program will just crash on an out-of-memory exception. In this article, we will go over the most common reasons for memory leaks in .NET programs. All examples are in C#, but they are relevant to other languages. Defining Memory Leaks in .NET In a garbage collected environment, the term memory leak is a bit counter intuitive. How can my memory leak when there’s a garbage collector (GC) that takes care to collect everything? There are 2 related core causes for this. The first core cause is when you have objects that are still referenced but are effectually unused. Since they are referenced, the GC won’t collect them and they will remain forever, taking up memory. This can happen, for example, when you register to events but never unregister. Let’s call this a managed memory leak. The second cause is when you somehow allocate unmanaged memory (without garbage collection) and don’t free it. This is not so hard to do. .NET itself has a lot of classes that allocate unmanaged memory. Almost anything that involves streams, graphics, the file system or network calls does that under the hood. Usually, these classes implement a Dispose method, which frees the memory. You can easily allocate unmanaged memory yourself with special .NET classes (like Marshal) or with PInvoke. Many share the opinion that managed memory leaks are not memory leaks at all since they are still referenced and theoretically can be de-allocated. It’s a matter of definition and my point of view is that they are indeed memory leaks. They hold memory that can’t be allocated for another instance and will eventually cause an out-of-memory exception. For this article, I will address both managed memory leaks and unmanaged memory leaks as, well, memory leaks. Here are 8 of the most common offenders. The first 6 refer to managed memory leaks and the last 2 to unmanaged memory leaks: 1. Subscribing to Events Events in .NET are notorious for causing memory leaks. The reason is simple: Once you subscribe to an event, that object holds a reference to your class. That is unless you subscribed with an anonymous method that didn’t capture a class member. Consider this example: Assuming the wifiManager outlives MyClass, you have a memory leak on your hands. Any instance of MyClass is referenced by wifiManager and will never be allocated by the garbage collector. Events are dangerous indeed and I wrote an entire article about it called 5 Techniques to avoid Memory Leaks by Events in C# .NET you should know. So what can you do? There are several great pattern to prevent memory leaks from event in the mentioned article. Without going into detail, some of them are: 1. Unsubscribe from the event. 2. Use weak-handler patterns. 3. Subscribe if possible with an anonymous function and without capturing any members. 2. Capturing members in anonymous methods While it might be obvious that an event-handler method means an object is referenced, it’s less obvious that the same applies when a class member is captured in an anonymous method. Here’s an example: In this code, the member _id is captured in the anonymous method and as a result the instance is referenced as well. This means that while JobQueue exists and references that job delegate, it will also reference an instance of MyClass. The solution can be quite simple – assigning a local variable: By assigning the value to a local variable, nothing is captured and you’ve averted a potential memory leak. 3. Static Variables Some developers I know consider using static variables as always a bad practice. While that’s a bit extreme, there’s a certain point to it when talking about memory leaks. Let’s consider how the garbage collector works. The basic idea is that the GC goes over all GC Root objects and marks them as not-to-collect. Then, the GC goes to all the objects they reference and marks as not-to-collect as well. And so on. Finally, the GC collects everything left (great article on garbage collection). So what is considered as a GC Root? 1. Live Stack of the running threads. 2. Static variables. 3. Managed objects that are passed to COM objects by interop (Memory de-allocation will be done by reference count) This means that static variables and everything they reference will never be garbage collected. Here’s an example: If, for whatever reason, you decide to write the above code, any instance of MyClass will forever stay in memory, causing a memory leak. 4. Caching functionality Developers love caching. Why do an operation twice when you can do it once and save the result, right? That’s true enough, but if you cache indefinitely, you will eventually run out of memory. Consider this example: This piece of code might save some expensive trips to the database, but the price is cluttering your memory. You can do several things to solve this: 1. Delete caching that wasn’t used for some time 2. Limit caching size 3. Use WeakReference to hold cached objects. This relies on the garbage collector to decide when to clear the cache, but might not be such a bad idea. The GC will promote objects that are still in use to higher generations in order to keep them longer. That means that objects that are used often will stay longer in cache. 5. Incorrect WPF Bindings WPF Bindings can actually cause memory leaks. The rule of thumb is to always bind to a DependencyObject or to a INotifyPropertyChanged object. When you fail to do so, WPF will create a strong reference to your binding source (meaning the ViewModel) from a static variable, causing a memory leak (explanation). Here’s an example. This View Model will stay in memory forever: Whereas this View Model won’t cause a memory leak: It actually doesn’t matter if you invoke PropertyChanged or not, the important thing is that the class derives from INotifyPropertyChanged. This tells the WPF infrastructure not to create a strong reference. The memory leak occurs when the binding mode is OneWay or TwoWay. If the binding is OneTime or OneWayToSource, it’s not a problem. Another WPF memory leak issue occurs when binding to a collection. If that collection doesn’t implement INotifyCollectionChanged, then you will have a memory leak. You can avoid the problem by using ObservableCollection which does implement that interface. 6. Threads that Never Terminate We already talked about how the GC works and about GC roots. I mentioned that the Live Stack is considered as a GC root. The Live Stack includes all local variables and members of the call stacks in the running threads. If for whatever reason, you were to create an infinitely-running thread that does nothing and has references to objects, that would be a memory leak. One example of how this can easily happen is with a Timer. Consider this code: If you don’t actually stop the timer, it will run in a separate thread, referencing an instance of MyClass, preventing it from being collected. 7. Not de-allocating unmanaged memory Up to now, we only talked about managed memory. That is, memory that’s managed by the garbage collector. Unmanaged memory is a whole different matter – Instead of just avoiding unnecessary references, you will need to de-allocate the memory explicitly. Here’s a simple example: In the above method, we’ve used the Marshal.AllocHGlobal, which allocates a buffer of unmanaged memory (documentation). Under the hood, AllocHGlobal calls the LocalAlloc function in Kernel32.dll. Without explicitly freeing the handle with Marshal.FreeHGlobal, that buffer memory will be considered as taken in the process`s memory heap, causing a memory leak. To deal with such issues you can add a Dispose method that frees any unmanaged resources, like so: Unmanaged memory leaks are in a way worst than managed memory leaks due to memory fragmentation issues. Managed memory can be moved around by the garbage collector, making space for other objects. Unmanaged memory, however, is forever stuck in place. 8. Adding Dispose without Calling it In the last example, we added the Dispose method to free any unmanaged resources. That’s great, but what happens when whoever used the class didn’t call Dispose? One thing you can do is to use the using statement in C#: This works on IDisposable classes and translates by the compiler to this: This is very useful because even if an exception was thrown, Dispose will still be called. Another thing you can do is utilize the Dispose Pattern. Here’s an example of how you would implement it: This pattern makes sure that even if Dispose wasn’t called, then it will eventually be called when the instance is garbage collected. If, on the other hand, Dispose was called, then the finalizer is suppressed. Suppressing the finalizer is important because finalizers are expensive and can cause performance issues. The dispose-pattern is not bulletproof, however. If Dispose was never called and your class wasn’t garbage collected due to a managed memory leak, then the unmanaged resources will not be freed. Knowing how memory leaks can occur is important, but only part of the whole picture. It’s also important to recognize there are memory leak problems in an existing application, find them, and fix them. You can read my article Find, Fix, and Avoid Memory Leaks in C# .NET: 8 Best Practices for more info on that. Hope you enjoyed the post, and happy coding. Subscribe to get post updates and: Performance Optimizations in C# .NET: 10 Best Practices
Greater Scaup Aythyra marila Photo of a pair of greater scaup floating on water. This photo clearly shows the rounded head shape that distinguishes greater scaup from lesser scaup. Jim Rathert Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans) in the order Anseriformes In greater scaup, the adult male’s head is rounded in profile, not angular or peaked as in the lesser scaup, and it has a green (not purple) sheen. The bill is bluish with a hard-to-see broad black nail at the tip, which is much wider than that of the lesser scaup. The white wing stripe extends into the primaries. The female is brown, with white around the base of the bill giving it a white "face," similar to the lesser scaup female. Scaups are mostly silent. The female makes a hoarse can-can-can that is lower and coarser than the female lesser scaup’s. The male is usually silent. Similar species: The closely related lesser scaup is a common migrant in Missouri. See the paragraph above for how to distinguish between the two. Ring-necked ducks have a point or bump on the back of the head; the male has a black back, and the female a white eye-ring. Photo of a male greater scaup floating on water. Greater Scaup (Male) The male greater scaup can be distinguished from the similar lesser scaup by its rounded (not angular) head with a greenish sheen. Photo of a female greater scaup floating on water. Greater Scaup (Female) The female greater scaup is brown, with white around the base of the bill, giving it a "white face," similar to the lesser scaup female. Photo of a pair of greater scaup floating on water. Greater Scaup Pair Greater scaup are rare migrants in Missouri and are less common than the closely related, similar-looking lesser scaup. Habitat and conservation Occurs on rivers and lakes. Like other bay ducks (diving ducks, or pochards), scaups can dive completely underwater. Compared to dabbling ducks, their wings are smaller relative to their body weight. To take flight, they flap their wings and run along the surface of the water, patting their feet on the surface, gaining speed and lift until they are airborne. Like other diving ducks, scaups forage for aquatic invertebrates such as snails, crayfish, and aquatic insects, and submerged aquatic vegetation by diving completely below the surface and swimming underwater. The word scaup (pronounced “skopp”) may be related to the word scalp, akin to terms in northern European languages that mean “shell” or “shellfish bed”: In some regions, scaups feed on clams, oysters, and mussels. image of Greater Scaup Distribution Map Distribution in Missouri Rare transient and winter resident; accidental summer (nonbreeding) visitor in the northwest part of the state. Life cycle Greater scaup breed in Alaska and across northern Canada. In fall, they migrate south across most of Canada and the upper Midwest and Great Plains, and along east and west coasts. Most winter along the east, west and Gulf coasts, and in a region from the southern Ozarks of Arkansas and Oklahoma and east into Georgia. In Missouri, we usually only see them in spring and fall as they migrate. Human connections Birding is a tremendously popular (and addictive!) hobby. As with other activities, the fun increases as our skills improve. Learning how to distinguish between greater and lesser scaups isn't easy, so pat yourself on the back once you can identify them! Ecosystem connections Although the similar-looking lesser scaup is found only in North America, the greater scaup's range is circumpolar. That means it's found all around the north pole, in both North America and Eurasia.
+44 131 225 9666 info@scotlandstophostels.com #1 A Mars twinning ceremony with Tartan Martians The Scottish village of Glenelg was the first city on Earth to be twinned with a geological feature on Mars. NASA’s Curiosity rover launched and landed at Glenelg, Mars in 2012 in a mission find life on the Red Planet. NASA decided that naming Mars’ geological features after cities on Earth would make it easier for the public to keep up with the mission. But why was Glenelg bestowed this honour, you might ask? The Curiosity rover will visit the geological feature twice on its journey, which inspired NASA to use a palindrome. So, essentially, they needed a name that would read the same forwards and backwards. The Tartan Martians. Source: Scotland Now To celebrate the occasion, the 280-population village hosted a ‘twinning ceremony’ where residents dressed up Tartan Martians. The school hall was decorated to look like Mars, where people could drive a simulated Mars rover, stargaze and of course – ceilidh dance. But that’s not the best part. As of 2016, all astronauts heading to Mars have to wear a Mars Exploration Tartan scarf to represent human settlement on Mars. Mars Exploration tartan. Source: The Scotsman According to the designer, Charles Cockell, each colour symbolises aspects of the mission: • Red for Mars • Four green lines as Mars is the fourth planet from the sun • Blue for the presence of water • White for the Martian poles visible from earth #2 Haggis hurling Source: Aberlour Highland Games Yup, this really is a thing. Although it started as a joke at Gathering of The Clans in 1977, haggis hurling is now an official sport with rules and regulations. The sport involves standing on a platform (ideally, a whisky barrel) and throwing the haggis as far away as possible. It is essential that the haggis has been boiled for 3 hours and consists all the traditional ingredients… Essentially, all the internal organs of a sheep you can find. At the World Haggis Hurling Championships, the haggis weighs 500 grams and is a maximum diameter of 18cm. However, those competing in the heavyweight events can hurl haggis weighing up to 1kg. The current record holder, Lorne Coltart, hurled the haggis 217 feet. Australian cricket player Tom Moody famously hurled a haggis 230 feet in Scotland in 1989. However, the World Haggis Hurling Association does not recognise Moody’s attempt as an official hurl. #3 Deep fried Mars Bars (and everything else) Source: UKCN You might think Americans are bad for eating deep fried food, but Scotland does it better. Besides haggis, one of the most famous Scottish delicacies is the deep fried Mars Bar. In fact, walk into any Scottish chippy and they will probably deep fry anything for you. Another classic Scottish dish is the deep fried pizza – incidentally, also one of the most delicious things you’ll ever taste. Pro tip: use your chips as a (fried) pizza topping. Source: Telegraph #4 The historic Scottish castle that hosts a music festival Source: Scotland Now Kelburn Castle, one of the oldest in Scotland and home to the Earl of Glasgow, was in need of concrete replacement in 2007. So, the Earl decided it would be fun to have the castle graffitied by four Brazilian street artists before the concrete was removed. The Earl loved the new look so much, he asked Historic Scotland to keep the graffiti permanently. Inspired by the creativity of the graffiti, the Earl launched the Kelburn Garden Party in 2009. Kelburn Garden Party involves everything from art installations, music performances, dance tents, cabaret, sculpture gardens, plunge pools and pop-up theatre. So, if you think Scottish castles are boring, think again. #5 The “Aye Mac” computer that runs on Irn Bru Source: ITV Irn Bru, a bright orange soft drink, is renowned as Scotland’s other national drink (second only to whisky). It remains the number one selling soft drink in Scotland, beating out big dogs like Coca Cola and Pepsi. For some reason, a computer repair shop owner in Edinburgh decided to try juicing his computer battery with Irn Bru. Against all odds, this Scottish hero managed to create the Aye Mac, which you can now see in PC Doctor in Edinburgh. Maybe don’t try this one at home, though. Leave a Reply Close Menu
What is a battery? What is a battery? Batteries are the part of an electronic cigarette which makes the whole system work. In simple words the battery is what supply the power to an electronic cigarette and initiates the process of vaporising the e-liquid. Without a battery the electronic cigarette will simply not work. The battery is the most essential part of e-cigarettes as it powers the vaporising system. They are rechargeable lithium ion or Li-Mn batteries depending on the model or functionality. Depending on the models and manufacturers they can range from 240 mAh to 4500 mAh. The mAh rating determines how long it will last between charges. Warnings and recommendations To get the best results and life span from batteries you need to keep in mind the following recommendations: * Run batteries flat before you recharge them * Only recharge batteries using the recommended USB Cable, wall chargers or any other chargers provided with the starter kit or mods. * Do not charge the batteries with other type of charger from other manufacturers, even if they match the battery fitting. * Never leave a battery to charge unattended * Charge away from flammable materials * Don’t attempt to charge a battery that is damaged (including damaged battery wrap) or has been subjected to major shock * Ensure there is a solid connection between battery and charger, but don’t over tighten. Over tightening the chargers and atomisers is one of the biggest causes of battery failure. * Clean any mist or residues inside the battery fitting and connectors using a cotton butt or the end of a paper towel. Do this before you put your battery to charge. This will avoid your batteries from getting shorted and allow the batteries to perform better and last its complete life span. * Do not overfill your cartomisers to avoid e-liquids going into the battery fitting. * Unscrew the cartomiser from the battery any time before you want to refill your cartomisers. * Remove the battery from the charger once the charging cycle is completed * Avoid dropping your batteries. * Don’t charge a battery in a hot car * Let batteries rest for an hour or so after charging before use * If a battery is getting very warm while charging, disconnect the charger immediately. * Keep your batteries away from moist, water and high temperature. Don’t charge them inside a hot car. * When vaping, allow intermittent slow and smooth puffs. If you vape long puff too often, too quick, too hard, you will not allow the battery to cool down and can result with e-liquids in your mouth and overheated battery. * Don’t take your electronic cigarette when you go to sleep as the battery might get activated and hot. Available batteries Soulblu Nano II batteries Although Soulblu Nano II batteries are small, they can last up to 1.5 hours for an average and heavy vaper, they are more suitable for lite and social vapers. These “manual batteries” are the closest size to traditional cigarettes due its length and diameter, but when attached to the Nano II tank the entire e-cigarette looks a bit longer. If you are not fuzzy about size, then we recommend updating to Soulblu Caballero ecigs. Soulblu Caballero II Batteries Bigger batteries, means longer hours of use. Soulblu Caballero II batteries have been designed for heavy duty. These batteries are manual and supply 900 mAh. You don’t need to worry about the size, length and diameter of your Soulblu caballero. You will feel so satisfied by the performance, clouds of vapour produced and throaty hit, that you will soon love the switch. IMR 18650, 26650 batteries IMR 18650 high drain rechargeable Li-Mn batteries are designed for most high voltage and wattage mods and vaping devices which requires an external rechargeable battery. IMR 26650 are more powerful, bigger and long lasting with a 4500mAh, they only fit specific models of MODs, such as the Vaporesso Nebula 100W, Eleaf Pico mega 100W. Print This Page
November 20, 2018 Managing Noise Fears and Phobias Many types of loud sounds can trigger phobias in dogs, but there are a number of ways to address the problem. By Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD, DACVB Noise phobia, or noise aversion, is a very common presentation to veterinary behaviorists, second only to aggression. Some dogs are presented to the veterinarian because the owners are concerned when the pets shake and hide during a thunderstorm or fireworks; others are brought in when the dogs claw through a wall or jump from an upper-story window in response to the noise. In either case, the veterinarian needs to ask who, what, where, and when: • Who is the fearful dog? In a multidog household, it may not be clear which pet is affected if the owner is not home when the fear-provoking sound occurs. • What is the dog doing in response to the noise? Is it simply hiding, or is it destroying the house? • Where is the dog? Is the animal inside the house trying to get out or outside the house trying to get in or run away? • When is the dog most fearful? The answer to this is usually pretty easy to determine. Independence Day and New Year’s Eve bring fireworks, and summertime is peak season for thunderstorms. Many dogs are presented on the fifth of July or the day after the season’s first thunderstorm. The noises to which dogs develop phobias can be divided into naturally frightening noises and learned phobias. The noises that most commonly frighten people and animals include thunder, fireworks, and gunshots. The booming crack of thunder is naturally frightening, and it’s one of the most common causes of noise phobia. It is interesting to note that noise phobia related to thunder is one of the few behavior concerns that is likely to appear late in life. This is probably because an older dog may have had the opportunity to experience a thunderstorm that causes a tree to fall on the house where the animal lives; the dog then associates the sound of thunder with a very scary event. There may be some social facilitation as well; dogs that are scared of thunder are more likely to be owned by people who are afraid of thunder. Some dogs learn to associate fireworks with terror when they try to flee the noise and inadvertently choke themselves when tethered outside (learned phobia). Unfortunately, fireworks displays and private fireworks detonation seem to be increasing. Today fireworks can be heard during the entire first week of July as well as around other holidays, such as New Year’s Eve. Gunfire is another very loud noise that a dog may fear. Many dogs develop a phobia and react fear- fully to even a distant shot. Of course, the owners who are most upset about gunshot phobias are often hunters whose dogs disappear back to the truck at the first shot rather than retrieving the duck or flushing the pheasant. Insect Buzzing Dogs may be afraid of buzzing sounds, especially those created by bees. It is not clear whether these dogs have been stung and thus associate the noise with the pain of a sting. Some dogs like to catch insects, and if a dog caught a bee or a wasp, it could have learned that the buzzing noise means an intense pain in the mouth. Microwaves and Smoke Detectors Microwave ovens produce high-pitched noises to which some dogs develop a phobia, either because the sound is painful to the animal or because the sound is similar to the noise its electronic collar produces to warn the pet of impending shock. The noise a smoke detector makes is loud, but when the batteries are low, these detectors emit a sound to alert the homeowner. Unfortunately, that sound is high pitched and sometimes not very loud. The treatment approaches for noise phobias are intended to mask the noise, medicate the dog, or desensitize the animal. Masking the sound can be accomplished by playing music, preferably classical music, at high volume when the sound is occurring. Sound-dampening earmuffs made for dogs are available, but few dogs tolerate them. Although desensitization is intellectually the best and least expensive approach, most owners do not have the skills or patience necessary to teach the dog not to be frightened. The idea behind desensitization is that by playing the frightening sound at very low volume and pairing it with a delicious treat or a favorite game, the owner will help the dog learn a new association and extinguish (forget) the fear response. The volume can be raised gradually, but only if the dog shows no signs of fear (eg, panting, pacing, yawning, or showing the whites of the eyes). Commercially available CDs purport to desensitize dogs as well. Other viable treatment options include pheromones (Adaptil) and compression shirts (eg, ThunderShirt). Medications can be very helpful for pets with noise phobias. Medication can be used long term (ie, during the entire thunderstorm season, from the last frost in the spring to the first frost in the fall in temperate climates) or short term (eg, when a thunderstorm is impending). Tricyclic antidepressants such as clomipramine and amitriptyline (2 mg/kg twice daily) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (1 mg/kg/ day) can be used long term. Because these medications take weeks to reach effect, they should be started well before thunderstorm season. The problem with most short-term oral medications is that they take about 30 to 60 minutes to take effect, by which time the dog may have already become alarmed and likely will not be calmed. Owners should be counseled to give benzodiazepines before a storm is predicted to hit. Diazepam (0.5-2.2 mg/kg) and alprazolam (0.02- 0.1 mg/kg) can be used acutely, but they must be administered before a storm hits. Some owners are reluctant to do this, apparently fearing that the storm will pass and they will have wasted a pill. These owners should be reminded that the dog is really frightened and that it is cruel to withhold the medication even if it ultimately is not needed. The availability of the α-2 adrenoreceptor agonist, dexmedetomidine (Sileo, Zoetis) has been a boon in the treatment of noise phobia because it acts so quickly when administered to the oral mucosa. The dose is 125 μg/m2. The only problem is that the drug is expensive, especially if storms are infrequent and the drug becomes outdated before it needs to be administered again. Dr. Houpt treats horses, dogs, and cats with behavior problems. She is professor emeritus at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she taught courses on equine, farm animal, and companion animal behavior. She is the author of Domestic Animal Behavior and has written numerous scientific articles. Sign up to receive the latest news in veterinary medicine. Latest Issue Client Education January Client Handout American Veterinarian
Mass Transport Through Nonporous Membranes The solution-diffusion model describes reverse osmosis in ideal membranes as well as nanofiltration processes in non-porous membranes. The transport of a component through a non-porous membrane is only possible by dissolution and diffusion. In this idealized model of mass transport, the membrane is treated like a liquid. Figure 12.3 shows the concentration and pressure gradients for an asymmetric membrane, where the active layer is responsible for separation and the supporting layer for mechanical stability. The specific mass transfer rate of diffusion is described by Fick's first law: where c' is the concentration of the dissolved component and D is the diffusion coefficient. The diffusion coefficient D is idealized to be independent of concentration. That means D is constant and not affected by location in the membrane or by concentration. For one-dimensional diffusion, the diffusive flux follows as: This is a solution for the steady-state mass balance for diffusion across two planes (e.g. through a thin plate membrane at the points z and z + dz): dz and considering Eq. (12.7): dz dz dz2 According to Henry's law, we obtain for ideal systems with linear sorption characteristics with respect to the dissolved impurity concentration in the membrane c': The membrane constant for the dissolved impurity B is independent of pressure but is a function of temperature because H and D vary with temperature. The diffusive water flux follows in analogy to (12.8): cow c^w Because of the water surplus, the absorption equilibrium can be described via (partial) pressure: and the water flux follows taken together with Eq. (12.13): Dw Hw Usually, the water flux is written as a function of the pressure difference: pAz as the membrane constant A and p as the density of water. Note that, in contrast to the dimensionless H (see Eq. 5.6), HW has the dimension g (m3 bar)-1 (Eq. 12.14). The membrane constant A for the solvent (here water) is a function of temperature as well as a function of membrane properties [DW(T), HW(T)] and the thickness of the active layer Az. Equation (12.16) is valid if the osmotic pressure n is negligible. Otherwise the diffusive flux is: Vi it follows: RT where ai is the solvent activity, Yi is the activity coefficient, xi is the mole fraction, xj is the mole fraction of the solute, Vi is the molar volume of the solvent and R is the gas constant. For ideal mixtures or for very low solute concentrations (Xj<<1) the activity coefficient Yi is unity (Mulder 2000) and the activity becomes: Thus, using the equation for the state of ideal gases for diluted solutions the molar concentration follows according to the amount of moles Nj and Nz: At least the osmotic pressure difference between membranes follows: respectively for dissociating compounds, including the osmotic coefficient p: where c0 is the feed molar concentration of the solute, c2 is the permeate molar concentration of the solute and p is the osmotic coefficient for the change in numbers of moles by dissociation, depending on the degree and stoichiometrics of the dissociation reaction (Rautenbach and Albrecht 1981). From Eqs. (12.23) and (12.24) it follows that An is high for high values of c0 and for low values of c2. Considering concentration polarization, the solute concentration at the membrane surface is c3 >c0 (Section 12.3). The membrane constants A and B depend on temperature according to exponential functions (Rautenbach 1997) because of its influence on D and H (B in Eq. 12.12) and on DW and HW [A in Eq. (12.17)]. Yet the temperature dependency of B is often neglected for practical purpose. A and B have to be determined experimentally. They characterize the permeability of the membrane; the quotient A/B is a degree for the selectivity of the system. For a low A/B the selectivity is high. Often the designer's aim is to calculate: • The flow rate of the water through membrane wp. • The permeate concentration c2. With the flow rate of permeate wp (Fig. 12.3), we obtain the mass flux JD for the solute with c2: and for water: From Eqs. (12.18) and (12.26), the permeate flow rate can be calculated: 0 0 Post a comment
The Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease Health Professional One question I am frequently asked is "What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease?" On one level, the answer to this question is relatively easy and straightforward. Compare the definitions of dementia and Alzheimer's. Dementia is an impairment of thinking and memory that interferes with a person's ability to do things which he or she previously was able to do. Alzheimer's disease is the common cause of dementia, and is particularly common in older people. Because it is the most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer's disease is commonly equated with the general term dementia. However, there are many other causes of dementia. Distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other causes of dementia is not always as easy and straightforward as defining these terms. In practice, people and their disorders of behavior are far more complex than simple definitions sometimes commonly imply. Alzheimer's: Microscopic Brain Abnormalities Alzheimer's disease is a specific form of dementia having very specific microscopic brain abnormalities. However, in typical medical practice, we do not have the ability to see microscopic brain abnormalities. History and Examination for Alzheimer's Therefore, distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other forms of dementia requires a doctor to establish certain background information (the history) and define a patient's abilities (the examination), and then perhaps obtain results from certain tests. The last step is guided by the results from the first two. Alzheimer's disease is typically a slowly progressive disorder that involves memory for recent information (short-term memory) and one or more other abilities, such as speech and language, personality, decision-making and judgment or awareness and ability to interact with the environment. A doctor attempting to distinguish Alzheimer's disease from another form of dementia asks questions about these abilities and examines them as well. Additionally, the doctor also asks questions about and examines abilities that are typically not impaired in a patient with Alzheimer's disease. These abilities include, among others, memory for information of long ago (long-term memory), vision, ability to feel things and muscle strength. In doing these things, the doctor is attempting to determine if the pattern of impairments that the patient has are typical or not typical for Alzheimer's disease. CT Scan or MRI for Alzheimer's After the history and examination are completed, the doctor will commonly obtain a scan of the brain, using either a CT scan or MRI scan. The scans look at brain large-scale (macroscopic rather than microscopic) structure. (Newer scan types are being developed to begin to examine brain function and microscopic structure. In the future, these are likely to help better diagnose Alzheimer's disease.) Also, the doctor, after the history and physical examination are completed, will commonly obtain certain blood tests. Which blood tests are obtained will depend on the background history and physical examination. Alternative Causes of Dementia In attempting to make a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, the doctor will be considering alternative causes of dementia. For example, if a child, teenager or young adult has features of dementia, as described above, Alzheimer's disease is very unlikely. Therefore, the causes of dementia in a young person would be considered. Another setting of dementia that is not Alzheimer's disease would be someone who has dementia after a head injury. In an older person, the presence of a head injury does not exclude the possibility of Alzheimer's disease as well. However, any young person who was normal before a head injury and who had dementia after a head injury would be diagnosed with "post-traumatic (after injury) dementia." Distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other late-life causes of dementia is not as easy or as obvious as the examples given above. In fact, even the doctors most knowledgeable about Alzheimer's disease are not always accurate in making the diagnosis. Parkinson's Disease with Dementia vs. Alzheimer's Disease with Dementia There is a list of other forms of dementia that can occur in later life. Distinguishing some of these from Alzheimer's disease may be important. For example, the treatment of Parkinson's disease with dementia is different from the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, because there are specific treatments for the problems of movement seen in patients with Parkinson's disease. Therefore, one of the goals of the doctor is to distinguish disorders that have different treatments and attempt to use that treatment most appropriate for that individual person. Another goal that the doctor has is to have enough information about the dementia to appropriately counsel the patient and family members about the diagnosis and treatment plan. In summary, Alzheimer's disease is, by definition, a type of dementia. However, a diagnosis of dementia does not always mean that the person with that diagnosis has Alzheimer's disease. Sometimes these distinctions are easy, and sometimes they are not. To learn more about Alzheimer's and dementia diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, check out Alzheimer's Basics.

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