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Published on Dalam perlaksanaan PBS , Kementerian Pelajaran telah menerapkan HOTS sebagai suatu penilaian akademik menjelang PMR, PBS pada tahun 2014. Oleh itu para guru perlu membuat persediaan yang mantap bagaimana HOTS ini perlu diserapkan ke dalam minda pelajar. Published in: Education, Technology • Be the first to comment No Downloads Total views On SlideShare From Embeds Number of Embeds Embeds 0 No embeds No notes for slide 1. 1. Higher OrderHigher OrderThinking SkillsThinking SkillsDavid W. DillardArcadia Valley CTC 2. 2. Definition Higher-order thinking essentiallymeans thinking that takes place inthe higher-levels of the hierarchy ofcognitive processing. Bloom’sTaxonomy is the most widelyaccepted hierarchical arrangementof this sort in education and it canbe viewed as a continuum ofthinking skills starting withknowledge-level thinking andmoving eventually to evaluation-level of thinking. 3. 3. Higher Order Thinking Skills: The Learning Research and DevelopmentCenter (1991) lists the following higherorder thinking skills: "Size up and define a problem that isntneatly packaged. Determine which facts and formulasstored in memory might be helpful forsolving a problem. Recognize when more information isneeded, and where and how to look for it. Deal with uncertainty by brainstormingpossible ideas or solutions when the wayto proceed isnt apparent. 4. 4. Higher Order Thinking Skills: Carry out complex analyses ortasks that require planning,management, monitoring, andadjustment. Exercise judgment in situationswhere there arent clear-cutright and wrong answers, butmore and less useful ways ofdoing things. Step outside the routine to dealwith an unexpected breakdown oropportunity." 5. 5. Thought "Every day thinking, like ordinarywalking, is a natural performancewe all pick up. But good thinking,like running the l00-yard dash, is atechnical performance... Sprintershave to be taught how to run the100-yard dash; good thinking is theresult of good teaching, whichincludes much practice."David Perkins, Howard University 6. 6. Realigning your curriculum to improvestudent achievement at the college-preparatory level “HOT” curriculum focuses onHigher Order Thinking andTechnology “HOT” courses utilize Hands-OnTechnology “HOT” instruction promotesCognitive Development “HOT” classroom environmentsreflect Active Interactions 7. 7. KnowledgeComprehensionApplicationAnalysis Benjamin Bloom (1956)6 levels of Blooms Taxonomy: 8. 8. 6 levels of Blooms Taxonomy:Knowledge statements askthe student to recite thepledge. Example: “Say thepledge.”Comprehension statementsask the student to explain themeaning of words contained inthe pledge. Example: “Explainwhat indivisible, liberty, andjustice mean.” 9. 9. 6 levels of Blooms Taxonomy: Application statements ask thestudent to apply understandings.Example: “Create your own pledgeto something you believe in.” Analysis statements ask thestudent to interpret word meaningsin relation to context. Example:“Discuss the meaning of ‘and to theRepublic for which it stands’ interms of its importance to thepledge.” 10. 10. 6 levels of Blooms Taxonomy: Synthesis statements ask the studentto apply concepts in a new setting.Example: “Write a contract betweenyourself and a friend that includes anallegiance to a symbol that stands forsomething you both believe in.” Evaluation statements ask the studentto judge the relative merits of thecontent and concepts contained in thesubject. Example: “Describe the purposeof the pledge and assess how well itachieves that purpose. Suggestimprovements.” 11. 11. Different types of thinking: 1. Critical thinking - This is convergentthinking. It assesses the worth andvalidity of something existent. Itinvolves precise, persistent, objectiveanalysis. When teachers try to getseveral learners to think convergently,they try to help them develop commonunderstanding. 2. Creative thinking - This is divergentthinking. It generates something new ordifferent. It involves having a differentidea that works as well or better thanprevious ideas. 12. 12. Different types of thinking: 3. Convergent thinking - This type ofthinking is cognitive processing ofinformation around a common point, anattempt to bring thoughts from differentdirections into a union or commonconclusion. 4. Divergent thinking - This type ofthinking starts from a common point andmoves outward into a variety ofperspectives. When fosering divergentthinking, teachers use the content as avehicle to prompt diverse or uniquethinking among students rather than acommon view. 13. 13. Different types of thinking: 5. Inductive thinking - This is theprocess of reasoning from parts to thewhole, from examples togeneralizations. 6. Deductive thinking - This type ofreasoning moves from the whole to itsparts, from generalizations to underlyingconcepts to examples. 14. 14. Different types of thinking: 7. Closed questions - These arequestions asked by teachers thathave predictable responses. Closedquestions almost always requirefactual recall rather than higherlevels of thinking. 8. Open questions - These arequestions that do not havepredictable answers. Openquestions almost always requirehigher order thinking. 15. 15. WHAT STRATEGIES HELP TODEVELOP THESE SKILLS? Help Students Organize TheirKnowledge Build on What Students Already Know Facilitate Information Processing Facilitate Deep Thinking ThroughElaboration Make Thinking Processes Explicit 16. 16. Becoming a guide(promoting cognitive development) --Require justification for ideas andprobe for reasoning strategies --Challenge students to developalternatives and to ask thought-provoking questions --As an instructor, ask open-endedquestions and accept varied responses --Require all students to participateactively in class discussions --Serve as a master of apprenticesrather than a teacher of students 17. 17. An IgnitingInteractive Environment --Reflects real-life situations andcontexts --Shows collaboration amongteachers, disciplines, and students --Encourages curiosity,exploration, and investigation --Demands student responsibilityfor his or own learning --Encourages various performance–based displays of competencies 18. 18. How do I foster higher-order thinking inmy classroom? 1. Set up a classroom environmentwhich is conducive to high-levelthinking. A. Multi-level materialsB. Flexible groupingC. Accept and celebrate diversityD. Print-rich environmentE. High expectationsF. Teacher as co-learnerG. Nurture risk-taking 2. Engagestudents in activities which foster high-level thinking. 19. 19. How do I foster higher-order thinking inmy classroom? A. Collaborative group activities in which studentscan communicate with others in a variety of ways.B. Problem-solving activities that require more thanroutine calculations.C. Open-ended activities with more than one "right"answer.D. Activities which acommodate multipleintelligences.E. Activities in which both genders participate freely.3. Construct questions that call for high-levelthinking. A. Ask yourself, "Do I always know the answer to myquestions?"B. Use a variety of assessment methods that matchteaching strategies. For example, use a project forassessment instead of an end-of-unit test. 20. 20. Evaluation: Words Appraise Choose Compare Conclude Decide Defend Evaluate Give youropinion Judge Justify, Prioritize Rank Rate Select Support Value 21. 21. Synthesis Change Combine Compose Construct Create Design Find anunusual way Formulate Generate Invent Originate Plan 22. 22. Synthesis Predict Pretend Produce Rearrange Reconstruct Reorganize Revise Suggest Suppose visualize write 23. 23. Analysis Analyze Categorize Classify Compare Contrast Debate Deduct Determine thefactors Diagnose Diagram Differentiate Dissect Distinguish Examine Infer Specify 24. 24. Application Apply Compute Conclude Construct Demonstrate Determine Draw Find out Give anexample Illustrate Make Operate Show Solve State a rule orprinciple Use 25. 25. Comprehension Convert Describe Explain Interpret Paraphrase put in order Restate Retell in yourown words Rewrite Summarize Trace Translate 26. 26. Knowledge Define fill in theblank Identify Label List Locate Match Memorize Name Recall Spell State Tell Underline 27. 27.  Knowledge: Identification and recall of information Who, what, when, where, how? Describe ___________________. Comprehension: Organization and selection of facts and ideas Retell ___________ in your own words. What is the main idea of ___________________? Application: Use of facts, rules, principles How is __________ and example of _______________? How is __________ related to _________________? Why is _________________ significant? Analysis: Separation of the whole into component parts What are the parts or features of ________________? Classify _______________ according to ________________. Outline/diagram/web ____________________. How does ______________ compare/contrast with __________________? What evidence can you list for _____________________? Synthesis: Combination of ideas to form a new whole What would you predict/infer from __________________? What ideas can you add to __________________? How would you create/design a new __________________? What might happen if you combine _______________ with ________________? What solutions would you suggest for __________________? Evaluation: Development of opinions, judgments, or decisions Do you agree with _________________? What do you think about _______________? What is the most important _____________? Prioritize ________________. How would you decide about ________________? What criteria would you use to assess ______________________? 28. 28. QUESTIONS THAT PROBEASSUMPTIONS What are you assuming? What is Karen assuming? What could we assume instead? You seem to be assuming________. Do I understand you correctly? All of your reasoning depends on the idea that . Why have you based your reasoning on ______rather than ____? You seem to be assuming _______. How would you justify taking this for granted? Is it always the case? Why do you think the assumption holds here? Why would someone make this assumption? 29. 29. QUESTIONS OFCLARIFICATION What do you mean by? Could you give me anexample? What is your main point? Would this be an example? How does_________relate________to? Could you explain thisfurther? Could you put that another way? Would you say more aboutthat? Is your basic point______or_____? Why do you say that? What do you think is the main issue here? Let me see if I understand you; do you mean_______or______?How does this relate to our discussion (problem, issue)? What do you think John meant by his remark? What did you takeJohn to mean? Jane, would you summarize in your own words what Richard hassaid? ...Richard, is that what you meant? 30. 30. QUESTIONS THAT PROBEREASONS AND EVIDENCE What would be an example? How do you know? Why do you think that is true? Do you have any evidence for that? What difference does that make? What are your reasons for saying that? Could you explain your reasons to us? Is there reason to doubt that evidence? What would you say to someone who said________? Can someone else give evidence to support that response? Who is in a position to know if that is so? 31. 31. QUESTIONS THAT PROBEREASONS AND EVIDENCE By what reasoning did you come to that conclusion? How could we find out whether that is true? Are these reasons adequate? Why did you say that? What led you to that belief? How does that apply to this case? What would change your mind? What other information do we need? But is that good evidence to believe that? Who is in a position to know if that is so? 32. 32. QUESTIONS ABOUT VIEWPOINTSOR PERSPECTIVES You seem to be approaching this issuefrom________ perspective. Why have you chosen this rather than thatperspective? How would other groups/types of peoplerespond? Why? What would influence them? How could you answer the objectionthat________would make? What might someone who believed________think? Can/did anyone see this another way? What would someone who disagrees say? What is an alternative? 33. 33. QUESTIONS THAT PROBE IMPLICATIONSAND CONSEQUENCES What are you implying by that? But if that happened, what else would happenas a result? Why? What effect would that have? Would that necessarily happen or only probablyhappen? What is an altenative? If this and this are the case, then what elsemust also be true? If we say that this is unethical; how aboutthat? When you say________you are implying? 34. 34. Suggestions Related to Using Writing to PromoteHigher-Order Thinking Write daily or frequently ratherthan sporadically. Write for real audiences andpurposes. Allot sufficient time for stages ofthought and editing to occur. Encourage peer review Write with an initial emphasis onthinking rather than onproofreading and editing. 35. 35. Writing to Promote Higher-Order Thinking (Synthesized from Teaching Children to Be Literate: AReflective Approach, by Anthony and Ula Manzo, 1995) Writing activates the reader’s background knowledgebefore reading/thinking. Writing builds anticipation of upcoming learning events. Writing raises the reader’s level of intellectual activity. Writing encourages meaningful comparisons of thestudent’s perspective with that of the writer (in readingsituations) Writing helps students better formulate their world view. Writing allows students to examine their perspectives onkey issues. Writing builds metacognitive as well as cognitive abilitiesbecause writing forces deeper levels of introspection,analysis, and synthesis than any other mediationalprocess. 36. 36. (Synthesized from Teaching Children to Be Literate: A Reflective Approach, byAnthony and Ula Manzo, 1995) 1. Remember to ask for it; that is, for discovery,invention, and artistic/literary creation. 2. Great curiosity and new ideas with enthusiasm; thesecan often lead to the most valuable “teachablemoments.” 3. Expose learners to new twists on old patterns andinvite looking at old patterns from new angles. 4. Constructively critique new ideas because they almostalways require some fine-tuning. 5. Reset our expectations to the fact that there will bemany more “misses” than “hits” when reaching forworkable new ideas. 6. Learn to invite contrary, or opposing, positions; newpossibilities are often discovered in this way and existingthoughts, patterns, and beliefs can be tested andstrengthened. 37. 37.  Head-on Approaches to Teaching Higher-OrderThinking (Synthesized from Teaching Children to Be Literate: AReflective Approach, by Anthony and Ula Manzo, 1995) “Thinking Thursdays” Consider setting aside a given amount of time on aregular basis to try some of these direct approachesto teaching critical and creative thinking. Word Creation: Define the word “squallizmotex” and explain howyour definition fits the word. If dried grapes are called raisins, and dried beef iscalled beef jerky, what would you call these items ifthey were dried: lemons, pineapple, watermelon,chicken. 38. 38.  Unusual Uses: Have students try to think of asmany unusual uses as they canfor common objects such asbricks, used toys, old tennisballs, soda bottles, and 8-trackcassette tapes. 39. 39.  Circumstances and Consequences:What would happen if . . . school was on weekends and notduring the week? water stuck like glue? gravity took a day off? there were no colors? everyone in the country could vote onevery issue that is now decided bygovernment representatives? 40. 40.  Product Improvements: How could school desks beimproved? How could living room furniturebe improved to provide betterstorage and even exercise whilewatching television? How can we better equip book-carrying bags to handle lunchesand other needs that you canthink of? 41. 41.  Systems and SocialImprovements: A sample question that couldlead into plenty of higher-leveldiscussion and a good give-and-take of views and needs couldbe: “How can schools be mademore fun without hurtinglearning?”
Glossary of Epidemiology: 13) Case-Control Studies: Design Start Studying! Add Cards ↓ 2 reasons case-conrtol trials are susceptible to bias 1) Extra step to select controls. 2) Both E and D are known and can influence both selection of subjects information accuracy 3 conditions necessary for valid case-control study 1) Identification of the study base. 2) Controls are random sample of study base. 3) Accurate nondifferential info on exposure and confounders. Identification of the study base 1) All cases. 2) Random sample of cases if large number 6 steps in a case-control study 1) Identify Study Base. 2)Identify cases. 3) Identify controls. 4) Exposure. 5) Confounders. 6)Analysis 3 keys for Disease: Cases 1)Aspire for high Sens and Spec. 2) Restrict to newly developed disease (or dealing with survival). 3)Try and get ALL CASES (avoids selection bias) random samples from study base Exposure: issues for case-control subjects enter study after disease occurrence. Pre-disease data needed. OR and RR estimates Study Base Underlying cohort and time-period where all cases are identified and controls are randomly samples. AKA - source cohort, reference population What IS NOT they study base Cases + Controls 2 types of study base 1) Primary. 2) Secondary Primary Study Base Explicit cohort where all cases and controls can be identified. Only info needed for idenficiation is: person and dates Nested case-control designs Random sample of controls from a primary study base. Could have been a cohort study at greater cost. EG. of primary study base 1) Study conducted within an existing cohort or rct population. 2) Study conducted with medical care DB where a retro-cohort could be done EG. of NOT primary study base 1) Population where cases are ascertained is ambiguously defined. 2) Well dfined but rosters do not define study base Seconday Study base Study base identified conceptually but no definitive roster. Selcting controls approximate random sampling. Danger of using a secondary study base Sampling is not random and introduces bias 5 reasons to use a case-control study 1) When cohort study not feasible (expense, time). 2)Brief transient exposures. 3) Outbreaks. 4)Primary study base is present. 5) Seconday study base approximates random sampling. Add Cards You must Login or Register to add cards
Leaders of developing countries should take a look at a new study by professors and researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the University of Chicago, and keep it in mind when they go to Paris to discuss a global climate agreement this December. According to the study, published in the journal Economic & Political Weekly (EPW), “India’s population is exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution.” Based on ground-level measurements and satellite data, the paper estimates that 660 million Indians live in areas exceeding the Indian government’s air quality standard for fine particulate pollution. The causes are the same as they are everywhere: cars, industrial activity, and electricity generation. Coal is India’s primary source of power, accounting for more than half of its energy portfolio. Car ownership is rapidly becoming more widespread, and Indian cars often run on diesel, which generates more particulate pollution than gasoline. While diesel emits less carbon, it may cause just as much global warming because the soot it creates is also a contributor to climate change. It’s not new news that India’s air pollution is terrible. The 2014 Yale Environmental Performance Index found India had the fifth worst air pollution out of 178 countries, and the World Health Organization ranked 13 Indian cities among the 20 in the world with the worst fine particulate air pollution. As The New York Times noted in a 2014 editorial, “According to India’s Central Pollution Control Board, in 2010, particulate matter in the air of 180 Indian cities was six times higher than World Health Organization standards.” Support Grist, win an electric bike! Here’s why this matters for climate change: The dirty fuels that cause particulate pollution are the same dirty fuels that cause global warming. Cracking down on local air pollution will not only save lives, it will shift the economics of energy toward cleaner sources that produce less carbon. The willingness of India and other populous developing countries such as China, Brazil, and Indonesia to adopt such policies may determine the fate of the Earth. A principal challenge to decisive, coordinated global action against climate change is the reluctance of developing countries to get onboard. Historically, poor nations have quickly escalated their energy use as they move from a rural farming economy to an urban industrial one. In China, both carbon emissions and particulate pollution have skyrocketed in recent years as the country’s economy has boomed. Now that its cities are choked in smog, China has finally begun to invest in cleaner energy. In November, the Chinese government committed to working alongside the U.S. to reduce its emissions and craft a global agreement at the climate negotiations in Paris later this year. Other industrializing nations aren’t there yet. India, for example, lags China in economic growth and carbon emissions. But if it were to catch up, with its population of 1.25 billion, the climate impact would be devastating. Understandably, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuses to subjugate the interests of his 400 million citizens living without electricity to the demands of wealthy countries that emit far more carbon per capita. But he doesn’t acknowledge that air pollution and climate change also threaten to harm India’s most vulnerable citizens. Modi skipped the U.N. Climate Summit last fall, and in his subsequent speech to the U.N. General Assembly, he voiced only vague platitudes about climate change — and a befuddling assertion that yoga can be used to help combat it. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff did address the Climate Summit, but she argued that developing countries should have different, lesser responsibilities than their rich counterparts. That’s all fair enough in principle. But countries such as India and Brazil must recognize that local air pollution has its own costs in lives and dollars. The EPW study finds that reducing particulate pollution everywhere it exceeds the Indian government’s standard would increase life expectancy by an estimated average of 3.2 years in those areas. For 660 million people, that’s a total of 2.1 billion life years. Absent that improvement, the sickness and premature death caused by air pollution will continue to drag on economic growth through health care costs and lost productivity — not to mention the human cost to individuals and their families. As the Times editorial pointed out, “The World Bank says that environmental degradation is costing India $80 billion annually and accounts for 23 percent of the nation’s child mortality. The bank estimated that reducing particulate emissions by 30 percent by 2030 would save India $105 billion in health-related costs.” The EPW paper argues that cleaner air would pay for itself, and it offers three suggestions for improving air quality: (1) more and better monitoring stations around cities and at industrial pollution sources; (2) replacing little-used criminal penalties for pollution violations with regularly implemented civil fines or a pollution tax; and (3) instituting an emissions credit trading system. If India adopted these approaches, it would be able to lift its citizens out of poverty while improving their health and restraining carbon emissions — and it would set an example for other developing nations to follow.
Rio de Janeiro About Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil. It has the second largest economy of Brazil, with the largest being that of the state of São Paulo.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast (assigned by IBGE). Rio de Janeiro shares borders with all the other states in the same Southeast macroregion: Minas Gerais (N and NW), Espírito Santo (NE) and São Paulo (SW). It is bounded on the east and south by the South Atlantic ... Show the whole text Rio de Janeiro's upcoming events Rio de Janeiro's previous events
Logntk Commands 1. LOGNTK diagrams often contain additional commands in the form of labels. These labels are always surrounded by "<" and ">" brackets. Any labels of this form, but with commands that LOGNTK cannot recognize, are simply ignored. LOGNTK assumes these commands belong to some other program, such as Digital LOG's hierarchy compiler. 2. You can also include these commands in your "log.cnf" file, preceded by "logntk:". For example, the label defines global signals just for one cell; the CNF command "logntk: global clock" defines global signals permanently. Finally, you could also press the ":" and type the "logntk: global clock" command during your LOG session. 3. Certain arguments may include wildcard characters. LOGNTK uses the same kinds of wildcards as Unix: "?" matches any character, "" matches any zero or more characters, and "[ABC]" matches either A, B, or C. Also, most names in LOGNTK are case-insensitive, but LOGNTK still strives to duplicate the upper/lower-casing that you use into the output file, and always capitalizes all the uses of a name consistently. 4. Every LOGNTK definition needs at least some commands. To create a named cell, you need a NAME command (or a quoted label; see below), and either a PORT command or a template gate. For an unnamed top-level cell, you need at least a FILE command. 5. Here is the list of LOGNTK commands. The ":" following the command names are optional. GLOBAL: signal-names This command lists names which should be "global" to the entire project. For example, VDD and GND are made global by the standard "logntk.cnf" file. This means that if you create a cell which includes VDD and GND gates, those nodes will automatically be made into "hidden" ports on the cell. Instances of that cell will gate VDD and GND wired to them automatically. All you have to do is used VDD and GND naturally, and let the system keep track of it for you. You can declare your own TO/FROM signal names to be global in the same way. The "signal-names" are case- insensitive, and may include wildcard characters. PORT: signal-names This command gives the list of ports in the cell. It may be used in place of a "template" or "example" gate. Port lists are supported for historical compatibility, but future designs should probably use template gates Each name in the list should correspond to a signal name in the circuit diagram. VDD and GND refer to the VDD and GND circuit symbols. The position of a name in the port list, not counting global names, corresponds to the pin number of the associated instance gate. For example, if the .GATE picture for an inverter has the input as pin 1 and the output as pin 2, then the appropriate command for the inverter's circuit diagram would be: or whatever. The positioning and ordering of global names in the list is irrelevant, but any global signal that is used by the cell or by its sub-cells must be present. (When you use a template gate instead of a port list, LOGNTK manages all this for you.) If you give a ":LOGNTK" command and their is neither a port label nor a template gate in the definition, LOGNTK will sort the signal names into alphabetic order and create a PORT label. You will probably need to edit this command to put the ports in the proper order. If several PORT labels appear in the cell definition, they are appended together in an undefined order. If you don't mind this uncertainty, LOGNTK can handle an unlimited number of ports. ORPHAN: gate-names This command gives the gate(s) which are used to represent "orphan" nodes, i.e., nodes that are not connected to any transistors or subcells. By default, the built-in gate CIRC1 is considered an orphan gate, so that a circuit with five CIRC1's will have five orphan nodes in its NTK file. The gate-names may use wildcards. IGNORE: gate-names This command gives a list of gates to be ignored. This is rarely necessary, because if LOGNTK sees a gate which has not been defined as a transistor or cell, and for which no "gatename.NTK" file exists, then it will automatically ignore that gate with a warning message. This command suppresses the warning. The gate-names may include wildcards. NAME: cell-name This specifies the name of the cell in the NTK file. This is an alternate form for the quoted "cell-name" label. There must be exactly one such label for each FILE: file-name This specifies the name of the output file. The suffix ".NTK" will be added if necessary. If you omit the FILE command, the file name will be taken from the cell name. (Every LOGNTK page must specify either a cell name or a file name, or both.) CELL: gate-name cell-name file-name This command links gates in the circuit diagram to the NTK files they represent. A good idea is to use the same name for the gate, cell, and file; if you give only one name in the command, that name will be used for all three. One time you might need to give the long form is if the NTK file is not in the standard directories, so you need to give a full path for it: In this example, OPAMP gates, or generic instance gates programmed as OPAMP's, will convert to calls to the cell TC_AMP, which may be found in the .NTK file specified. CELL commands describing cells that are never instantiated in a file are ignored. LIB: directories This command names directories in which .NTK files for sub-cells may be found. LOGNTK looks first in the current directory, then in each of these directories in turn. SIZE: number This specifies the sizes of nodes. Currently, there is no way to override this for particular nodes. The default size of 1 should be sufficient for CMOS users. Most NTK-reading programs ignore node sizes, anyway. STRENGTH: number This specifies the strengths for transistors. This can be overridden as described for TRANS. The default strength is 2. Most NTK-reading programs ignore transistor strengths. TRANS: gate-name type strength This command declares transistor symbols. If you need to make your own transistor gates, you will need to use this command. The "type" is one of N, P, or D. The strength is optional; if it is a positive number N, then the strength of the transistor is N; if it is missing, the strength is the default value; if it is -N, the strength is found in attribute number N of the transistor gate, which must be an integer-valued attribute. The file logntk.cnf contains TRANS commands for all the standard LOG transistors. PRIMITIVE: gate-name cell-name This command declares primitive gates, gates which should be converted into instances of cells which have no definition. If the gate has N pins, then the output file will call the cell with N ports, in order of pin numbers on the gate. For example, Causes the ACTEL gate A_AND2 to convert to a call to cell AND2. Both names may contain wildcards; the actual commands in logntk.cnf are: logntk: primitive a_ * logntk: primitive a_tribuf tribuff which maps A_AND2 to AND2, A_DFC to DFC, etc., and A_TRIBUF to TRIBUFF (a special case). Note that more specific names come after more general names. The command PRIMITIVE may be abbreviated as PRIM. TOP Force this to be a top-level NTK file, that is, after the main cell has been defined, one "call" to the cell is also written into the file. The NETCMP program can only read top-level NTK files. This mode is the default; you only need the TOP command to override an earlier LEAF command. LEAF Force this to be a leaf-level NTK file, that is, only the cell's definition is included (plus definitions for any subcells used). There is usually no reason to use LEAF, since most programs can read top-level NTK files and ignore the top part. NOTOP Set a compatibility mode in which a LOGNTK command on a page with no NAME command (or quoted name label) will produce an error instead of creating a top- level NTK file. (510) 643 4005
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 The following material is based on the books: 1. Carl B. Gibbs Principles of Biblical Interpretation 2. Gordon D. Fee, Douglas Stuart How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth Principles of interpretation of epistles: 1. Epistles were written in certain situations. In order to understand them, it is important to find these situations: 1) Who was the author? What was his relationship with the readers? What and when did he write? 2) Who were the readers? What was their culture? What was their spiritual condition? What were their outward circumstances? 3) What was the case when the epistle was written? Does the epistle correct errors, answers questions, interpret doctrines, or instruct in behavior? Where and when the epistle was written? 4) What is the subject and the content of the epistle? 5) Was the epistle written to one person or a church (or a group of churches)? 6) If the epistle was written to a church/a group of churches, does it present doctrines in systematic way or its purpose is to give explanations regarding a certain case? 2. Find out the structure of the epistle. Main parts of an epistle: 1) Introduction: a) Greetings b) Prayer 2) Main part: a) Doctrines (teaching, correction) b) Instruction (practice) 3) Conclusion - plans of missionary journeys, blessings 3. Find out the principles from the epistle: 1) Notice what instructions of the epistle are related to general matters of faith and morality. 2) If the instructions were related to specific situation or culture, find out general principles applied in that situation. How to distinguish culture related and universal instructions: 1. Distinguish the kernel doctrines of the Bible from its peripheral doctrines. 2. Distinguish the concepts that the New Testament considers as moral in their essence and those it does not. For example, Paul never mentions culture related matters in lists of sins. 3. Notice toward what matters the New Testament has the same attitude in all the passages and in what matters there are differences. 4. Sometimes, the New Testament indicates whether a principle is universal or local. 5. Consider the possible choices in the author's culture and his choice. 6. Consider the cultural differences between 1st and 21st centuries. No comments:
Customs means norms and callings that your particular particular our society bases following to guarantee cohesion and structure (David & Szeman, 2010). E-trade considerably signifies the settings that one is due to in virtually any environment (Deray, 2000). Societies have countries that men and women really should conform to, which make up the structure from the life. One’s also nearby affects the building and develop of an special. It is usually beneficial for one to buy the best organization of colleagues who will positively cultivate his reality. Lifestyle and natural environment, for that reason, enjoy a crucial role in shaping one’s everyday life, as clearly explained in this particular papers. Culture’s effect on one’s personal life Anyone should be considered born for a culture that features particular cultures. Traditions impacts how visitors relate and undertake their jobs. One must make sure all his proceedings come in accordance in to the set customs with his modern culture. The civilization on the modern society is obviously verified and analyzed by a lot of several years; for this reason someone might not have room or space to thing the established norms. Most residential areas discipline men and women who would probably neglect to follow the civilizations. Some are even excommunicated out of the modern society. The innovations involved in the contemporary society propelled by technical innovations could lead to changes of nationalities. Some countries may not fit in nowadays; thus the senior citizens also have a getting in touch with to modify civilizations. Yet, the improvements should never customize the basic goals within the nationalities (James & Szeman, 2010). Areas of culture and also their impact on one’s life span You can find very different parts of customs which may be apparent in communities. Dressing up way of life affects one’s program code of getting dressed. The first is assumed to wear what are the neighbourhood deems pertinent. Erectile heritage pinpoints the restrictions that any separate has when connected with other individuals. Some groups do not allow men of all ages to interact widely with women. Organization is actually an area of civilization wherein adolescent people in world are expected to admiration their seniors. Senior citizens furthermore have a area to learn in line with educating the youthful in the best ways to behave (Deray, 2000). Environmental surroundings with its affect one’s lifespan An individual’s setting can effect the best way people behave. An individual’s area combine women and men round them, contaminants, as an example ,, clamor and smoke a cigarette. One must the best ways of associating with other individuals so that you are covered in virtually any specific creating. But bear in mind, the choice of the one’s ecosystem is essential to his growth and development. A proper illustration is the time when one particular employees with drunkards and prescription drug addicts. This individual be swayed into testing out the practices, consequently becoming addicted. A education platform that fosters in good shape levels of competition amid men and women triggers stability and successes amongst the learners. Alternatively, a classes setting that enables bullying might deter some college students from comprehending their whole full potential (Goldhaber, 2012). Conclusions Lifestyle and ambiance are pertinent for the development of a person. They usually enjoy a serious position in step with pinpointing the associations which exist at the contemporary society. In addition help out with development positive connections among the societal associates. One must are located by its fixed way of life as part of his town or people that he visits. At least one comes with to discover the close friends and surrounding in an effort to have got a proper evolution in their life. Moms and dads own a dialing to ensure their kids know the cultures and environments that affect them confidently.
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These rocks are formed by the burial of sediment over millions of years and its subsequent chemical alteration (diagenesis). pdf31p doroxon 18-08-2010 56 7 Download • CHAPTER SEVEN The Cambrian Radiation and the Diversiﬁcation of Sedimentary Fabrics The Cambrian represents a pivotal point in the history of marine sedimentary rocks. Cambrian biofabrics that are directly a product of metazoans include ichnofabrics, shell beds, and constructional frameworks. pdf34p lqhoang 30-11-2010 47 5 Download pdf236p cucdai_1 16-10-2012 36 5 Download • Nature Coal is a dark brown to black sedimentary rock derived primarily from the unoxidized remains of carbon-bearing plant tissues. It is a complex, combustible mixture of organic, chemical, and mineral materials found in strata, or "seams," in the earth, consisting of a wide variety of physical and chemical properties. pdf14p liemthanh 16-12-2009 58 4 Download • Where did the water in the Oceans come from? 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See more Human voice articles on AOD. Powered by Share this page on Article provided by Wikipedia ( => ( => ( => Human voice [pageid] => 38481 ) => The "spectrogram of the human voice reveals its rich "harmonic content. The human voice consists of "sound "made by a "human being using the "vocal folds for "talking, "singing, "laughing, "crying, "screaming, etc. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound production in which the vocal folds (vocal cords) are the primary sound source. (Other sound production mechanisms produced from the same general area of the body involve the production of "unvoiced consonants, "clicks, "whistling and "whispering.) Generally speaking, the mechanism for generating the human voice can be subdivided into three parts; the lungs, the vocal folds within the "larynx, and the articulators. The "lung (the pump) must produce adequate airflow and air pressure to vibrate vocal folds (this air pressure is the fuel of the voice). The vocal folds (vocal cords) are a vibrating valve that chops up the airflow from the lungs into audible pulses that form the laryngeal sound source. The muscles of the larynx adjust the length and tension of the vocal folds to ‘fine-tune’ "pitch and "tone. The articulators (the parts of the "vocal tract above the larynx consisting of "tongue, "palate, "cheek, "lips, etc.) "articulate and "filter the sound emanating from the larynx and to some degree can interact with the laryngeal airflow to strengthen it or weaken it as a sound source. The vocal folds, in combination with the articulators, are capable of producing highly intricate arrays of sound.[1][2][3] The tone of voice may be modulated to suggest "emotions such as "anger, "surprise, or "happiness.[4][5] "Singers use the "human voice as an instrument for creating "music.[6] Voice types and the folds (cords) themselves[edit] A labeled anatomical diagram of the "vocal folds or cords. The folds are within the "larynx. They are attached at the back (side nearest the spinal cord) to the arytenoids cartilages, and at the front (side under the chin) to the "thyroid cartilage. They have no outer edge as they blend into the side of the "breathing tube (the illustration is out of date and does not show this well) while their inner edges or "margins" are free to vibrate (the hole). They have a three layer construction of an "epithelium, vocal ligament, then muscle ("vocalis muscle), which can shorten and bulge the folds. They are flat triangular bands and are pearly white in color. Above both sides of the vocal cord is the "vestibular fold or false vocal cord, which has a small sac between its two folds. The difference in vocal folds size between men and women means that they have differently pitched voices. Additionally, "genetics also causes variances amongst the same sex, with men's and women's "singing voices being categorized into types. For example, among men, there are "bass, "baritone, "tenor and "countertenor (ranging from "E2 to even F6), and among women, "contralto, "mezzo-soprano and "soprano (ranging from F3 to C6 and higher). There are additional categories for "operatic voices, see "voice type. This is not the only source of difference between male and female voice. Men, generally speaking, have a larger "vocal tract, which essentially gives the resultant voice a lower-sounding "timbre. This is mostly independent of the vocal folds themselves. Voice modulation in spoken language[edit] Physiology and vocal timbre[edit] Singers can also learn to project sound in certain ways so that it resonates better within their vocal tract. This is known as "vocal resonation. Another major influence on vocal sound and production is the function of the larynx, which people can manipulate in different ways to produce different sounds. These different kinds of laryngeal function are described as different kinds of "vocal registers.[10] The primary method for singers to accomplish this is through the use of the "Singer's Formant, which has been shown to be a resonance added to the normal resonances of the vocal tract above the frequency range of most instruments and so enables the singer's voice to carry better over musical accompaniment.[11][12] Vocal registration[edit] Vocal registration refers to the system of vocal registers within the human voice. A register in the human voice is a particular series of tones, produced in the same vibratory pattern of the "vocal folds, and possessing the same quality. Registers originate in "laryngeal functioning. They occur because the vocal folds are capable of producing several different vibratory patterns.[13] Each of these vibratory patterns appears within a particular Vocal range of "pitches and produces certain characteristic sounds.[14] The occurrence of registers has also been attributed to effects of the acoustic interaction between the vocal fold oscillation and the vocal tract.[15] The term register can be somewhat confusing as it encompasses several aspects of the human voice. The term register can be used to refer to any of the following:[16] In "linguistics, a register language is a language that combines "tone and vowel "phonation into a single "phonological system. Within "speech pathology the term vocal register has three constituent elements: a certain vibratory pattern of the vocal folds, a certain series of pitches, and a certain type of sound. Speech pathologists identify four vocal registers based on the physiology of laryngeal function: the "vocal fry register, the "modal register, and the "falsetto register, and the "whistle register. This view is also adopted by many vocal pedagogists.[16] Vocal resonation[edit] Influences of the human voice[edit] The "twelve-tone musical scale, upon which a large portion of all music (western popular music in particular) is based, may have its roots in the sound of the human voice during the course of "evolution, according to a study "published by the "New Scientist. Analysis of recorded speech samples found peaks in acoustic energy that mirrored the distances between notes in the twelve-tone scale.[18] Voice disorders[edit] There are many "disorders that affect the human voice; these include "speech impediments, and growths and "lesions on the "vocal folds. Talking improperly for long periods of time causes "vocal loading, which is stress inflicted on the "speech organs. When vocal injury is done, often an "ENT specialist may be able to help, but the best treatment is the prevention of injuries through good vocal production.[19] Voice therapy is generally delivered by a "speech-language pathologist. Vocal Cord Nodules and Polyps[edit] See also[edit] 1. ^ Stevens, K.N.(2000), Acoustic Phonetics, MIT Press, "ISBN "0-262-69250-3, 978-0-262-69250-2 2. ^ Titze, I.R. (1994). Principles of Voice Production, Prentice Hall (currently published by, "ISBN "978-0-13-717893-3. 4. ^ Smith, BL; Brown, BL; Strong, WJ; Rencher, AC (1975). "Effects of speech rate on personality perception.". Language and speech. 18 (2): 145–52. "PMID 1195957. 5. ^ Williams, CE; Stevens, KN (1972). "Emotions and speech: some acoustical correlates.". The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 52 (4): 1238–50. "PMID 4638039. "doi:10.1121/1.1913238. 6. ^ Titze, IR; Mapes, S; Story, B (1994). "Acoustics of the tenor high voice.". The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 95 (2): 1133–42. "PMID 8132903. "doi:10.1121/1.408461. 7. ^ Thurman, Leon & Welch, ed., Graham (2000), Body mind & voice: Foundations of voice education (revised ed.), Collegeville, Minnesota: The Voice Care Network et al., "ISBN "0-87414-123-0 8. ^ a b c Rothenberg, M. The Breath-Stream Dynamics of Simple-Released Plosive Production, Vol. 6, Bibliotheca Phonetica, Karger, Basel, 1968. 9. ^ a b Rothenberg, M. The glottal volume velocity waveform during loose and tight voiced glottal adjustments, Proceedings of the Seventh International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, 22-28 August 1971 ed. by A. Rigault and R. Charbonneau, published in 1972 by Mouton, The Hague – Paris. 10. ^ Vennard, William (1967). singing: The Mechanism and the Technic. Carl Fischer. "ISBN "978-0-8258-0055-9. 13. ^ Lucero, Jorge C. (1996). "Chest‐ and falsetto‐like oscillations in a two‐mass model of the vocal folds". The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 100 (5): 3355–3359. "ISSN 0001-4966. "doi:10.1121/1.416976. 15. ^ Lucero, Jorge C.; Lourenço, Kélem G.; Hermant, Nicolas; Hirtum, Annemie Van; Pelorson, Xavier (2012). "Effect of source–tract acoustical coupling on the oscillation onset of the vocal folds". The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 132 (1): 403–411. "ISSN 0001-4966. "doi:10.1121/1.4728170. 16. ^ a b c McKinney, James (1994). The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults. Genovex Music Group. "ISBN "978-1-56593-940-0. 17. ^ Greene, Margaret; Lesley Mathieson (2001). The Voice and its Disorders. John Wiley & Sons; 6th Edition. "ISBN "978-1-86156-196-1. 18. ^ Musical roots may lie in human voice – 6 August 2003 – New Scientist 19. ^ "Fine Tuning Your Voice". 20. ^ Clark A. Rosen-Deborah Anderson-Thomas Murry. "Evaluating Hoarseness: Keeping Your Patient's Voice Healthy". Further reading[edit] External links[edit] ) )
SFL: Structured Function description Language Tutorial SFL is a RTL (Register Transfer Level) hardware description language and serves as an input of the PARTHENON system. It has a simple clock model that allows describing synchronous single-phase clock digital circuits. The main characteristics of SFL are as follows: The following tutorial contains three simple examples that stress above concepts. We will simulate them with the PARTHENON simulator SECONDS. Here is the full SFL syntax (Backnus Naur Form). Let's have a look at the whole source code before sorting out line after line. The design holds two modules: 'adder1' (one bit full-adder) is a submodule and used in the top module 'adder4' (bit slice implementation). Code file 'adder4.sfl' (with line numbering) As in C language, SFL distinguishes between module declaration and module definition. Before the 'adder1' circuit can be used in the top module 'adder4', it must be declared. This is done in line 7..13. The definition of the 'adder1' behavior can be found in line 55..67. This definition code could be located in a separate file. Further it is not necessary to declare the top module 'adder4'. Comments are delimited with /this is a comment/. SFL module syntax always starts with the facility declaration. The 'adder1' module (line 7) declares three one bit data inputs 'a', 'b', 'cin' and two one bit data outputs, the sum bit 's' and the carry-out bit 'cout'. The control terminal 'add' in line 10 is an important thing. As mentioned in the introduction, behavior of an object can be associated with a control signal. If doing so the 'add' behavior is only "executed" if this control signal is active. Line 12 shows the argument binding of the 'add' behavior with the 'instr_arg' construct. With this it is very easy to access the object 'adder1' and its behavior 'add' from other modules (module instantiation). Before we use our 'adder1' object in the top module 'adder4', let's take a look at the actual implementation. After the facility declaration the 'instruct' keyword on line 60 starts the behavior definition related to the 'add' control signal. The 'par {..}' statement says what has to be done in parallel during that clock period. The sum bit 's' is realized with xor operations while the carry output bit 'cout' is formulated as a sum of product (SOP). Although this description holds some redundancy we leave it by this straightforward "truth table" definition and let the underlying PARTHENON synthesizer do the optimization work. In real designs its anyway appropriate to use building blocks such as adders or multipliers from a library, which is optimized for the target technology (CMOS, FPGA, etc). Now since the 'adder1' module is declared and defined we can use it in the top module 'adder4'. Again we start with the facility declaration in line 19. Apart from input and output we have some internal facilities, i.e. four 1-bit adders ('ADDER0'.. 'ADDER3') and three selectors ('CARRY1'.. 'CARRY3') for the carry calculation. The 'adder4' object binds its behavior to the 'ADD' control signal. Line 27..35 show how easy submodules can get connected in SFL. The most significant bit (MSB) of the sum vector 'S' is assigned to the output of the 'ADDER3' object by simply "calling" its behavior 'add' with the corresponding arguments. The SFL operator '\|\|' stands for concatenation with the order MSB..LSB. Thus the sum vector 'S=[S<3>.. S<0>]' can be assigned as in line 27..30. In line 31 and the following we do not have to repeat the argument binding (i.e. 'COUT= ADDER3.add( A<3>, B<3>, CARRY3)' ) since a hardware object can only get connected once. Because all the assignments are within the 'par' statement, their order does not matter. Now let's simulate the 'adder4.sfl' module with the PARTHENON simulator SECONDS with the script file 'adder4.scr'. Here is the result of following command. %seconds < adder4.scr --- simulation modules: adder4 (module ) adder1 (module ) --- facilities of top module: / (module ) A (term input ) ADD (instr input ) ADDER0 (submodule ) ADDER1 (submodule ) ADDER2 (submodule ) ADDER3 (submodule ) B (term input ) CARRY1 (term internal ) CARRY2 (term internal ) CARRY3 (term internal ) CIN (term input ) COUT (term output ) S (term output ) --- simulation start: input pins \| internal signals \| output pins 1 1 0 1 \| 1 1 0 1 1 \| 2 0 1 6 1 1 \| 1 0 1 1 1 \| 8 0 7 2 0 1 \| 1 0 0 1 0 \| 9 0 9 8 0 1 \| 1 0 0 1 0 \| 1 1 1 1 0 0 \| z z z 0 z \| z z 1 6 1 0 \| z z z 0 z \| z z After listing the simulated modules and the facilities of the top module 'adder4', simulation starts. Our circuit does what we want. Interesting are the control signals 'ADD' and 'ADDER0.add'. If they are zero, the output 'S' and 'COUT' are in an undefined state 'z'. Let's go down to gates now: The following shows a schematic (adder4.jpg, adder4.ps) and the listing of the netlist (adder4.edif) after PARTHENON synthesis with the demonstration CMOS library: %auto adder4 ps DEMO demo Where are our control signals 'ADD' and 'add'? They have gone. This is actually not surprising since the full-adder consist of only combinatorial circuitry. Because nothing has to be controlled the PARTHENON synthesizer has optimized them away. Actually it is a question of style to having introduced them after all. If we omit them, on the other hand, module instantiation becomes clumsy as in structural description languages. That is why we still use them even in combinatorial designs. The second example shows the implementation of an 8-bit timer. Here is the interface specification: sets the timer with the 'INIT<8>' value 8-bit initialization value resets timer by deactivating the 'EXPIRE' signal asserted if the timer reaches zero active if 'COUNT<8>' is valid otherwise inactive shows timer countdown The 'SET' signal initializes the timer with the 'INIT' value and the countdown starts. While counting down the 'COUNT' output shows the momentary value of the timer. The 'ENABLE' signal is '1' whenever 'COUNT' is valid, otherwise it is '0'. If the timer reaches zero the 'EXPIRE' signal is activated. It stays active until 'RESET' is triggered. If 'RESET' gets active during countdown, the timer stops and the 'COUNT' output is don't care. The first step is the interface declaration of the top module: declare timer8 { instrin SET, RESET; input INIT<8>; instrout EXPIRE, ENABLE; output COUNT<8>; instr_arg SET(INIT); We have declared four control signals: 'SET', 'RESET' as input and 'EXPIRE', 'ENABLE' as output. The reason for this is, that these signals are supposed to be driven all the times, i.e. they are '0' or '1'. On the other hand the input value 'INIT<8>' is a data terminal which must only be driven if the 'SET' is active. The same is true for the output 'COUNT<8>'. If ENABLE is zero it can have any value. Don't cares are very important when it comes to logic synthesis. A high degree of freedom allows the optimizer to find better solutions (i.e. shorter critical paths, less gates) for a given specification. The 'SET' behavior takes an argument 'INIT', which is declared with the keyword 'instr_arg'. After the interface declaration we can start now with the implementation of the timer. It consists of an 8-bit decrementor submodule 'dec8' and the top module 'timer8': Code file 'timer8.sfl' (with line numbering) After declaration the decrementor module 'dec8' is defined as a 'circuit' in line 17..23. A circuit is a library module that is already synthesized. With this it is possible to reuse third party designs. Thus we only have to declare its interface and a quasi behavior for simulating it. This is done in line 22 with the 'instruct' command. Since subtraction is not defined in binary world we use the addition with the "two's complement". Here is an overview of the SFL operators. not of all bits or of all bits xor of all bits and of all bits only circuit only circuit bit expansion only circuit bit shift right only circuit bit shift left only circuit only circuit, ok if rvalue is constant Operators only supported within circuit modules have an entry in the remark column. The comparison operator can be synthesized if the right value is a constant, i.e. a== 0xf8 works fine. In the future SFL will also allow multiplication and other operations for behavioral simulation within SECONDS. Let's come back to the code. The comments in the code of the timer8 module (line 28..) show the SFL syntax skeleton. It is divided into a "facility declaration F1..F4" (line 33..48) and a "behavior definition part B1..B3" (line 53..89). Facility declaration contains 4 subsections: The behavior definition part can be divided into three subsections B1..B3. Here is the result 'timer.sim' of the 'timer8.sfl' simulation with the SECONDS script 'timer8.scr': Again the simulation modules and the facilities of the top module 'timer8' are listed first. The first column 'CLK' shows the clock period. At CLK=1 we set the timer with the initialization value 'INIT'=0x04. As defined in our code, the state machine 'MAIN' is in the 'DOWN' state and the task 'MAIN.RUN' is not running. At power on, the content of the register 'REMAINED' is unknown. The output signals behave correct. As specified the control terminals 'EXPIRE' and 'ENABLE' are driven with '0'. On the other hand, 'COUNT' is not driven. From CLK=2..5 the timer is counting down in the 'DOWN' state. Now the output 'COUNT' shows the momentary value. In CLK=6 count has reached zero and the 'EXPIRE' signal is asserted, until the 'RESET' in CLK=9. In the last example we build a simple 8-bit MISC (Minimum Instruction Set Computer!?). It is a register-memory architecture with only 16 instructions. We use circuits out of the system library and show the concept of communicating state machines. First let's have look at the full source code. Code file 'cpu.sfl' (with line numbering) In line 8 an SRAM memory 'r256_8.h' with 256 cells is included from the PARTHENON system library. As in C language, the system library is searched if the object is in <brackets>. User defined includes are marked with "double quotes". Apart form the memory an 8-bit incrementor 'inc8.h' and carry look-ahead adder 'cla8.h' are included. The encoding of the instruction set is done with the define '%d' preprocessor statements in line 15..30. Instructions with a memory operand (LDAI, LDXI, LDXM, STXM, BC) have their MSB encode with '1'. The rest of the encoding is done with the 4 LSBs. Line 35..42 declare the 'cpu' module. It has a simple memory interface with two data buses 'dti', 'dto', one address bus 'adrs' and two control signals for read and write operations. Further the 'cpu' gets activated with the 'start' terminal. The behavior of the 'top' module is defined in line 47..55. Thanks to the object oriented SFL syntax connecting the 'ram' memory and 'cpu' is a piece of cake. The whole behavior is packed into three 'instruct' statements. The definition of the 'cpu' module starts with the I/O facilities declaration in line 60. The program counter 'pc' is a 8-bit register with reset 'reg_wr'. At power on it will be initialized with '0x00', ready to fetch the first instruction. Register 'a' is an accumulator, 'x' the memory address register, 'c' a carry or condition register. In 'op1' the fetched instruction is stored, while 'op2' holds the immediate memory operand. The memory data register 'md' is used for register deferred addressing mode of the ALU instructions ADCX and ANDX. In line 81..86 two state machines and corresponding tasks are declared. The 'if.ift' task controls the instruction fetch and the 'exec.ext' cares for proper execution. With these constructs control can be easily transferred from state machine to state machine and various kind of parallelisms can be utilized (i.e. leave behind, pipeline, etc.) Now let's simulate our machine with the PARTHENON simulator SECONDS. The code file is 'cpu.sfl' and the corresponding simulator script is 'cpu.scr'. Here is the result 'cpu.sim' of the following little program which computes the sum '0x12+ 0x34= 0x46': 0x83 0xfd 0x83 0xfe 0x83 0xff 0x8d 0x0b LDXI 0xfd LDXI 0xfe LDXI 0xff BC 0x0b x <- 0xfd a <- (0xfd) c <- 0 x <- 0xfe a <- a+ (0xfe)+ c x <- 0xff (x) <- a c <- 0 if (c) pc <- op2 This code is set in the simulator script 'cpu.scr' with 'meset /ram/cell X00 0X83 0Xfd..'. Data is set with 'memset /ram/cell Xfd 0X12 0X34 0X00'. After listing the simulated modules and the facilities of the 'top' module, simulation starts. The first colon 'CLK' numbers the clock cycles. After triggering the 'start' control signal in CLK=2 the 'ift' task is activated for two clock cycles: first in the 'fetch1' state (instruction fetch of LDXI) and then in the 'fetch2' state (operand fetch 0xfd). In CLK=4 the task 'ift' finishes and the execution task 'ext' is activated (relay statement). The operand 0xfd is transferred to the memory address register 'x'. If we compare the values in the colon 'ift' with the ones in 'ext' during the following clock cycles, we can see the ping-pong control between these two tasks. Only in CLK=14 both task are active because the instruction ADCX is pipelined. While the 'ift' task fetches the next instruction LDXI the 'ext' task adds the values 'a'= 0x12, 'md'= 0x34, 'c'= 0 and writes the result back into the accumulator register 'a'=0x46. The program hangs up in an endless loop after 'CLK'=21. Further examples Please try also these code examples: A quick overview of the SFL hardware description language was given by coding and simulating three examples. In order to compare SFL with other languages have a look at similar tutorials (LOLA, Verilog HDL, VHDL). The main advantages of SFL are:
Total Price: Rs. There are no items in this cart. Continue Shopping Viswadeep Sarangi Grade: 12 39) From a point P(1,0) , a tangent PA is drawn to the circle x2+y2-8x+12=0 , A being the point of contact. Find the equations of the tangents to the circle from the middle point of PA if A is in the first quadrant. 41) A tangent is drawn to the circle (x-a)2 + y2 = b2 and a perpendicular tangent to the circle (x+a)2 + y2 = c2 . Find the locus of their intersection and prove that the bisectors of the angles between them always touch one or other of two other fixed circles. 90) The base of a triangle through a fixed point (a,b) and its sides are respectively bisected at right angles by the lines y2-8xy-9x2=0. Prove that the locus of the vertex is a circle. Find its Equation. 8 years ago Answers : (2) Vijay Luxmi Askiitiansexpert 357 Points 39. Dear Student, Please have a look at the symmetry of the problem. First let us find the coordinates of A(x, y). One equation is – (4–1)2 + (0–1)2 = (x–1)2 + (y–0)2 + (4–x)2 + (0–y)2 …. (i) Second equation is – Slope of PA × slope of AL + –1 ….. (ii) Solving these two equations you get the coordinates of A(x, y) Then by applying mid-point formula, we get the coordinates of mid-point of PA say (x1, y1) Then we get the equation of pair of tangents to the circle from (x1, y1) as ?S1 = T2 Where S = x2 + y2 + 2fx + 2fy + c S1 = S12 + y12 + 2fx1 + 2fy1 + c and T = x x1 + y y1 + y(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c 8 years ago Vijay Luxmi Askiitiansexpert 357 Points 8 years ago Think You Can Provide A Better Answer ? Answer & Earn Cool Goodies • Complete JEE Main/Advanced Course and Test Series • OFFERED PRICE: Rs. 15,900 • View Details Ask Experts Have any Question? Ask Experts Post Question Answer ‘n’ Earn Attractive Gift To Win!!! Click Here for details
Muon Flux Counts from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Showing Selected Periods from 081109 to 072514 James A. Petrait These muon observations were made at selected times when the computer and monitor could be kept on for longer lengths of time. During the selected time periods, the observations were divided into day long periods as much as possible. However the starting and end times may vary and parts of some days may be missing because of power failures. The correct starting times are indicated on the graphs. Adjust the graph time axis by adding or subtracting an hour if there is any difference. The graph shows time versus the average count per minute (expressed in microroentgens per minute) for 60 minute periods. The counts per minute are almost the same as microroentgens per minute and differ by a ratio of 100:105. The location on the island of St. Croix is near 17.7 degrees North Latitude and -64.8 degrees West Latitude at an elevation of around 30 meters. All the times on the graphs are Atlantic Standard Time (AST) which is -4 hours from GMT. The method used to detect the muons is described in my online article Monitoring Muons on the Surface of the Earth . For these observations, the coincidence detector was placed straight up at a 180 degrees. Muons are secondary particles and arrive at the measuring instrument as part of a background flux which varies randomly, but over longer periods of time the data can be analyzed for meaningful variations with sunspots which can be observed at the Very Latest SOHO Images and other variables which are located at Today's Space Weather. The Satellite Environment Plot and its Kp index graph at the Space Weather site looks that it may show the effects of the primary particles deflections due to the change in the magnetic field of the earth. Most of the high energy primary particle are deflected towards the poles of the earth. However, there are anomilies like the one in South America where some of the the primary particles may enter. Also some of the primary particles may not have a charge and can pass directly down and generate secondary muons. I am still analyzing the data but there is possibly a higher average muon count when some sunspots are present on the sun. During night time, any high energy partcles from the sun would have to pass through the earth so many of the primary high energy particles would be arriving from other points in outer space. The high energy particles from outer space also occur in the daytime in addition to the high energy particles from the sun. Experimenters who are viewers of this website or those who like to analyze data are welcome to see if there is anything meaningful in these observations or from their own observations. Besides my own interest in the subject, I hope the posting of the data from my observations will encourage others to participate in this research. Go to the Graphs of the Observations: Muon Flux Data from St. Croix, U.S.V.I. during July, 2014 Four Day Muon Flux Count from St. Croix, U.S.V.I. from 012312 to 012712 Shows an Increase during the Solar Storm Muon Flux Count from St. Croix, U.S.V.I from 033110 and 040110 Compared to 033111 and 040111 072210 to 072510 071810 to 072110 071410 to 071710 071110 to 071310 063010 to 070310 081109 to 081609 123010 to 011010 033110 to 040910 Return to Muon Flux Background Intensity Research See more about muons and other science articles at the Science Websites of James A. Petrait For your convenience here is a list of conversion units: CPM = microroentgens (µR) per minute (after a slight correction factor) 1 µR = 1 microroentgen = 1/millionth of a roentgen 1 microroentgens (µR) = 0.01 microsievert (µSv) 1 microsievert (µSv) = 100 microroentgens (µR) © 2010 - 2014, James A. Petrait
Fine Print Imaging – Tech Tips Working with the Curves adjustment layer In the digital age, you have more control over your images than ever before. Of course with that control comes greater complexity. So each month we are going to have an article about the various tools available to you in Adobe Photoshop. One of the most important rules when working on a digital file is that you always want to leave the original file intact. That means that you should create a new “editing” file separate from your original and then when you are making your edits you do so using adjustment layers when available or background copies when you’re performing a task that does not have an adjustment layer for it. This insures if you make an adjustment and decide later that you don’t like it or it had an adverse effect you can readjust or simply throw away that adjustment layer. You can access a new adjustment layer by clicking on the half circle icon on the bottom of the Layers palette or by going to Layer >New Adjustment Layer. The first adjustment layer that we are going to look at is the Curves Layer. When you first open the curves layer you notice a window with a grid and a diagonal line running from the bottom left to upper right. The bottom is your black point and the top is the white point. Additionally if you need a smaller grid pattern, alt click for a PC or option click for a Mac inside the grid window to change the size of the squares. On the right side you have several buttons to use. The ok or cancel, load and save which allows you to save and load curves that you’ve made, auto that will automatically correct the file, and the options button. There are also three eyedroppers at the bottom to automatically correct the black, mid, and white points. The curves layer is much like the Levels adjustment layer in that it gives you the ability to control the density and contrast of the file. The biggest difference is that unlike the levels adjustment layer which only gives you control over the white point, mid point, and black point, you can make spot adjustments anywhere on the diagonal line by setting anchor points. An anchor point is the ability to set a point on the line that correlates to the tonal value in the file that you want to adjust and moving that point up or down depending on whether you want to lighten or darken that particular value. If you’re not sure what the tonal value is on the curve line, you can open the curves layer and then click and hold in the image and as you move the cursor you’ll see a point that moves up and down the curve line to tell you what the tonal value is. You can also set multiple points so as to affect only a specific tonal value and leaving the rest alone. If you want to increase the contrast of the file then you place an anchor point towards the highlight end of the line and drag it up and one towards the shadow end and drag that one down. As you do this you’ll see that the contrast will increase. Conversely if you want to decrease the contrast place the anchor points in the same spots but move the points in the opposite direction as before and you’ll see the contrast decrease. As you make your contrast adjustment you should see that your diagonal line will look like a gentle S curve. You do have to be careful when you use the curves layer because if you make to drastic of a S curve or move two points that are close to each other to far apart you will start to notice posterization in the file. The easiest way to get a feel for how far is to far is to take a file and create a curve layer and place some anchor points and start adjusting them and watch what happens. You may need to zoom into the image a little but you’ll be able to tell when you take it far. Along with the ability to make tonal and contrast adjustments, you can also make changes to the hue or color of the file. At the top of the window where it says RGB there is a drop down menu that allows you to choose between the red, green, or blue channels. You can make global or spot hue adjustments the same way as before by placing anchor points and pulling on the curve line. The curves layer is a very versatile tool with lots of control that can be very intimidating. The only way to learn it is with lots of practice and remember since it is adjustments layer you can always readjust or just throw away the layer and start over again without degrading the original file. But once you do learn it you’ll enjoy the control and the result that comes from this versatile tool.
Sloth, Sin & Sorrow Named after one of the Seven Deadly Sins, the sloth gets a bum rap. Yet, the sloth was tree-hanging upside-down and belly crawling three feet per minute well before the word sloth even formed from Middle English in the late twelfth century. It wasn’t until the seventeenth century when the Portuguese encountered the animal that it was named from a translation of preguiça, from the Latin pigritia meaning “laziness.” The original Latin for this Deadly Sin was acedia. Thomas Aquinas suggests that sloth is not a sin or vice but rather the passion of sorrow. This particular sorrow leads to a spiritual paralysis that causes people to shirk duties, such as charity to others. No doubt Aquinas understood that acedia meant literally “not-caring.” But the sloth’s slow motion is due not to sorrow but an adaptive response that allows it to conserve energy since its diet consists mainly of leaves, which provide very few nutrients. Plus, the sloth is quite charitable ecologically in that it’s host to all sorts of other living beings, including moths, beetles, and algae. The sloth not only exemplifies conservation and charity but also leisure and rest. In our world of technological instantaneity and progressive haste, we’d do well to follow the sloth’s example. There are times it’s better to move too slowly than too quickly, and “[if] you’re having a stressed out day, remember the sloth. They don’t do shit, and they haven’t gone extinct.”
Ash layers in the Lower Tithonian Longing Member (Ameghino Formation) on the Antarctic Peninsula are derived from the fallout of tephra associated with explosive eruptions. These layers are preserved in a complete and continuous sedimentary record formed in a deep, anoxic marine environment, with high background sedimentation rates allowing rapid burial and preservation. Absence of bioturbation precluded the thin ash beds from mixing with enclosing sediment. The average interval between explosive eruptions in the volcanic arc of the Antarctic Peninsula during the Early Tithonian is estimated at between 700 and 1000 years, the highest frequency of explosive volcanic events ever defined in ancient marine rocks. This frequency is comparable to that of explosive eruptions in some presently active volcanic arcs. This indicates that deposition in some deep marine settings can produce records sufficiently complete to determine accurate frequencies of explosive eruptions in ancient magmatic arcs. The apparent lull in the volcanic activity in the Antarctic Peninsula during this time, inferred from dating of volcanic rocks from the arc itself, is not supported by the marine record in the adjacent basin and must be due to a bias of sampling. You do not currently have access to this article.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 ANZAC day: Red Poppies, White Poppies and the White Feather There's been some controversy recently about Peace Movement Aotearoa selling white poppies before the Returned Services Association's red poppy day. The money sold from white poppies goes to peace scholarships. These peace scholarships were started by Professor Cynthia Enloe where the scholarship would go to students studying the effects of war on society. The money sold from red poppies goes to the RSA's welfare services. This is a controversial situation. There's been quite a bit of animosity from some war veterans and the RSA over what Peace Movement Aotearoa has been doing. The White Poppy has also been compared to the White Feather, often thought of as a symbol of cowardice. I want to prove that The White Poppy doesn't have to be gawked at. I also want to prove that the White Feather is the complete opposite of the coward's symbol it's been made out to be. But first let's look at the Red Poppy. The Red Poppy What is it? It is an international symbol of rememberance. Where is it from? As the RSA explain to us: It was verses by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae (1872-1918), a Canadian Medical Officer, which began the intriguing process by which the Flanders Poppy became immortalised worldwide as the symbol of remembrance: Moina Michael, moved by John McCrae replied to him after his death: "We Shall Keep the Faith" Oh! You who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet-to rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With all who died. We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valour led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields. And now the Torch and Poppy red We wear in honour of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fiel Madame E. Guérin, conceived the idea of widows manufacturing artificial poppies in the devastated areas of Northern France which then could be sold by veterans' organisations worldwide for their own veterans and dependants as well as the benefit of destitute French children. Throughout 1920-21, Guérin and her representatives approached veteran organisations' in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and urged them to adopt the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. So what is the White Poppy? The White Poppy What is it? It is an international symbol of peace. Where is it from? As the BBC's well-researched rememberance page explains: The White Poppy was first introduced by the Women's Co-operative Guild in 1933 and was intended as a lasting symbol for peace and an end to all wars. Worn on Armistice Day, now Remembrance Sunday, the White Poppy was produced by the Co-operative Wholesale Society because the Royal British Legion had refused to be associated with its manufacture. While the White Poppy was never intended to offend the memory of those who died in the Great War, many veterans felt that its significance undermined their contribution and the lasting meaning of the red poppy. Such was the seriousness of this issue that some women lost their jobs in the 1930s for wearing white poppies. The White Poppy Appeal is now run by the Peace Pledge Union. Professor Paul Gough, Dean of the Faculty of Art, Media and Design in Bristol has this to say about the white poppy. "There is, of course, a fundamental difference between a war monument that purports to encapsulate and define memory, and a peace monument that aims to extend a process, or to further a cause. Inevitably, the issue of political legitimacy is central to the issue of peace, as its pursuit has never served the state’s monopoly on violence. Being associated with internationalism, organisations such as the Peace Pledge Union, the white poppy movement and such like, represent a threat to the nation-state which regards an anti-war stance as anti-nation." Of course, the white poppy isn't as internationally recognised as the red poppy. However it still features internationally. There has been controversy around its presence as well. It disappoints me that the white poppy has existed for over 70 years and many people are still worried about it. Well-known New Zealand blogger David Farrar has accused the Peace Movement of Aotearoa of "[effectively] stealing money from the RSA". The thing is however, you're kind of playing with semantics when you wonder if money's being stolen or not. It's like being asked to give money for food or give money to research diseases. You can do both. Multiple charities can co-exist together and work together. This isn't a news paper advert asking for $500 so you can win at race horses. These donations fund scholarships given by a professional long-standing academic so people who have been affected by war can study it and learn how to help prevent it. You don't have to buy a red or white poppy. That's why it's called a donation. They are both valid and nobody's disrespecting anybody. It's been around for over 70 years. This isn't Cola vs Pepsi. They are both legitamite symbols. Everyone has there own interpretation of them and that's fine, this is a democracy after all. There has also been associations with the white poppy and the white feather. The White feather has been known as the coward's symbol. However I think it's a symbol of courage and I'll explain why. The White Feather What is it? In the Online Etymologhy dictionary, they describe the White Feather "as a symbol of cowardice, 1785, supposedly from game-cocks, "where having a white feather, is proof he is not of the true game breed" [Grose]. However, Margaret Orbell(as cited by Ana Pallesen, page 4) gives us another explanation in her book, Seabirds and people: the cultural importacne of seabirds, the illustrateed Encyclopedia of Maori Myth and Legend. The albatross(white) feathers were a spiritual symbol of peace to those affiliated with Taranaki iwi, “Let this be clearly understood by all Maoris, pakehas and all other nations. The white feather is a sign that all nations through the world will be one, black, red and all others who are called human beings. This feather will be the sign of unity, prosperity, peace and goodwill.” Te Whiti o Rongomai(Parihaka's founder) and Tohu Kakahi(Pariahaka's prophet) used the white feather as a symbol of Parihaka's non-violent resistance movement. Where is it from? The first explanation is from eugenics. It states if you have a white feather, you are not "true game breed" or of "good stock". This means you aren't built to fight and you aren't strong or desirable. Personally, war is not desirable. World Vision explains about war's causes to us: "Conflict is more likely to happen in poor countries, partly because people are more desperate for land, rights, water or even food. Of the 150 or more major conflicts since the Second World War, 130 of these have been in poor countries." The more we can reach solutions with peace the better. Peace is an ideal, but it's an ideal worth striving for and it can be a reality. It's an ideal the ANZACs and the people at Parihaka died for. It was a symbol of Parihaka's non-violent resistance movement and this is why I consider it a symbol of courage, as well as peace. It will be 94 years since the ANZACs arrived at Gallipoli. While we remember our soldiers, it seems many countries have forgotten about peace. I hope this post has given you some food for thought. Please enjoy your ANZAC day. People of Australia and New Zealand, remember the victims of war, remember our soldiers and remember what they fought for. 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Cancer radiotherapy and proton beam therapy So, the facility will also be an alternative to conventional radiotherapy for treating certain cancer. But what is traditional radiotherapy, and how will access to improve how we manage cancer? What is radiotherapy? Radiotherapy, together with surgery, chemotherapy and palliative care, are the cornerstones of cancer . Radiotherapy is recommended for half of cancer patients. Most radiotherapy treats cancer by directing beams of high energy X-rays at the tumour (although other radiation beams, such as gamma rays, electron beams or /heavy particle beams can also be used). The X-rays interact with tumour cells, damaging their DNA and restricting their ability to reproduce. But because X-rays don’t differentiate between cancerous and healthy cells, normal tissues can be damaged. Damaged healthy tissue can lead to minor symptoms such as fatigue, or, in rare cases, more serious outcomes such as hospitalisation and death. Getting the right amount of radiation is a fine balance between therapy and harm. A common way to improve the benefit-to-cure ratio is to fire multiple beams at the tumour from different directions. If they overlap, they can maximise the damage to the tumour while minimising damage to healthy tissue. How it works What is cancer radiotherapy, and why do we need proton beam therapy? A single radiotherapy treatment takes 15 to 30 minutes. Credit: IAEA Imagebank/Flickr, CC BY There are three key stages in the radiotherapy process. The patient is first imaged – using such machines as computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This estimates the extent of the tumour and helps to understand where it is with respect to healthy tissues and other critical structures. In the second stage, the doctor and treatment team will use these images and the patient’s case history to plan where the radiation beams should be placed – to maximise the damage to the tumour while minimising it to healthy tissues. Complex computer simulations model the interactions of the radiation beams with the patient to give a best estimate of what will happen during treatment. During the third, treatment-delivery stage, the patient lies still while the treatment beam rotates, delivering radiation from multiple angles. Each treatment generally takes 15 to 30 minutes. Depending on the cancer and stage, there are between one and 40 individual treatments, typically one treatment a day. The patient cannot feel the radiation being delivered. Benefits and side effects Side effects for radiotherapy vary markedly between treatment sites, cancer stages and individual patients. They are typically moderate but can be severe. A general side effect of radiotherapy is fatigue. Other side effects include diarrhoea, appetite loss, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing for head and neck cancer radiotherapy, as well as incontinence and reduction in sexual function for pelvic radiotherapy. Long-term effects of radiotherapy are a concern, particularly for children. For instance, radiation to treat childhood brain tumours can have long-lasting cognitive effects that can affect relationships and academic achievement. Again doctors will need to weigh up the risks and benefits of treatment for individual patients. Proton beam therapy is arguably most beneficial in these cases. Proton therapy requires large accelerators to give protons enough energy to penetrate deep into patients. Other radiotherapy challenges Radiotherapy can’t easily adapt to the complex changes in patients’ anatomy when a patient moves – for instance, when they breathe, swallow, their heart beats or as they digest food. As a result, radiation beams can be off-target, missing the tumour and striking healthy tissue. Also, we currently treat all parts of the tumour equally, despite knowing some of the tumour’s regions are more aggressive, resistant to radiation and likely to spread to other parts of the body. The tumour itself also changes in response to the treatment, further confounding the problem. An ideal radiotherapy solution would image and adapt the treatment continuously based on these changes. Improvements in technology, including in imaging systems that can better find the tumour, can help overcome these challenges. Proton beam therapy and other innovations Proton beam therapy will help maximise benefits for many patients, including those with cancers near the spinal cord and pelvis. It requires large accelerators to give protons enough energy to penetrate deep into patients. The energetic protons are transported into the treatment room using complex steering magnets and directed to the tumour inside the patient. Protons slow down and lose energy inside the patient, with most of the energy loss planned to occur in the tumour. This reduces energy loss in healthy tissues and reduces side effects. The problems of changing patient anatomy and physiology in other forms of radiotherapy are also challenges for proton beam therapy. Please enter your comment! Please enter your name here
Blog Archives Your Questions About For Those In Peril On The Sea February 11, 2014 Lizzie asks… What is taking all of the oil out of the earth doing to our earth??? admin answers: Nothing that the earth hasn’t been doing without us for millions of years. It’s called the carbon cycle. Most of the oil ever formed on Earth has already been released back to the atmosphere by plate tectonics. Billions of barrels of oil have been formed and released by natural processes, often very gradually, but sometimes catastrophically. Evidence of this can be seen all over the world. In terms of ocean oil spills alone, about 63 MILLION gallons of oil naturally seep to the oceans surface each year. TEN THOUSAND gallons a day seep up along the coast of Santa Barbara in California from natural seeps. Many oil seeps are not under the ocean, so that figure does not include surface seeps on land, which are considerable. I drive past a natural surface oil seep regularly that seeps about 50 gallons a day. Most of this oil evaporates and is broken down in the atmosphere. Other seeps contain microbes that digest the oil and naturally convert it to carbon dioxide and some methane. Here is an example of natural oil seeps in California: There is even a significant amount over time of natural gas and oil that actually migrates naturally upwards through the earth to the surface. This can and is measured by oil companies who are looking for places to drill. Chances are, if you live above an oil or gas field, there are very small but measurable amounts of oil and gas in the atmosphere around you that have seeped naturally to the surface. The issue that you are alluding to is that by removing oil very rapidly over the last 150 years, we have created an excess of carbon in the earth’s atmosphere that may change our climate. Keep in mind that during many periods in the ancient past, long before man had evolved, there were periods of higher carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere than today. Life did thrive on the planet during these periods, it just wasn’t us. The earth, and its life forms adapted and evolved. The threat today is if WE can evolve quickly enough to survive the changes we may be causing. Obviously, if we cause a rapid enough change that affects sea level and climate, most of our cities will be in peril and the devices of human civilization are likely to fail. The Earth, however, is likely to continue to exist and change as it has for billions of years. Helen asks… What are 5 other famous shipping disasters apart from the Titanic? admin answers: The Eastland – Early on the morning of Saturday, July 24, 1915, with a light rain falling and the air filled with much anticipation and excitement, thousands were gathering along the Chicago River for Western Electric’s fifth annual employee picnic. In fact, over 7,000 tickets had been purchased. The S.S. Eastland, known as the “speed queen of the Great Lakes,” was part of a fleet of five excursion boats assigned to take Western Electric employees, their families and friends across Lake Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana, for the day’s festivities. But the Eastland, docked at the Clark Street Bridge, never left the Chicago River. It instead rolled into the river at the wharf’s edge with over 2,500 passengers, including crew members, on board. Over 800 people lost their lives, including 22 entire families. The USS Indianapolis – There are few tragedies at sea that capture one’s imagination and fear more than the nightmare which took place under the glow of the moon, on a hot and steamy summer’s night, just after midnight on July 30, 1945. This tragedy took the lives of 883 souls. Only 316 survived to tell of the horrors. The Mary Celeste – On December 5, 1872 the Mary Celeste was found adrift with all soles on board missing and no signs of violence. This one incident among many was made famous by being the subject of a book authored by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(pre-Sherlock Holmes). The Edmund Fitzgerald – On November 10, 1975 the Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin carrying 26,000 tons of iron ore pellets, bound for Detroit. Though the day was bright, in her path lay a terrible storm with 60 MPH winds and waves in excess of 15 feet. As the storm built, her experienced Captain Ernest McSorley bore north across Lake Superior, seeking the relative shelter of the Canadian shore and Whitefish Bay. Luck was not with the ship or the crew. The radar system and its backup failed. The storm took out the power to Whitefish Point’s light and radio beacon. Though the light was brought back on line, the radio beacon was not. The Arthur M. Anderson, another ship within 10 miles of the Fitzgerald, received reports that the ship was listing to the starboard and of other structural damages to the vessel. At 7:10 PM, Captain McSorley delivered what was to be his final message: “We’re holding our own.” The Arthur M. Anderson lost the Fitzgerald’s image on its radar screensat 7:25 PM. The ship and crew of 29 men, sank to the bottom of Lake Superior. It was made famous by a song in remembrance of the ship by Gordon Lightfoot: Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya. At Seven P.M. A main hatchway caved in, he said Fellas, it’s been good t’know ya The captain wired in he had water comin’ in And the good ship and crew was in peril. And later that night when his lights went outta sight Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Andrea Doria, Oceanos, and Achille Laurel are some famous sea disasters. James asks… Spiritually, do you ever feel like Sisyphus?Like you are pushing that rock up the hill until it rolls over you? Try try try again seems futile can anyone give me scripture verses referencing triumph over adversity? admin answers: Personally, I feel more like the rock. I’m being shoved and pushed, and every time I fall down the hill, little pieces are being chipped away. And that’s how it’s supposed to be. Every trial refines us. Every hardship makes us stronger. We may not WANT to be stronger, of course, but isn’t that the goal of this life? Someone else already gave you a scripture that fit what you were looking for. However, if I may add a few: 2 Ne. 2:11 12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power and the mercy, and the justice of God. 2 Ne. 2:22-25 22 And now , behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were created, and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And there’s nothing more comforting then the words given to Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. D&C 121: 7-9: 8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all they foes. 9 They friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail the again with warm hearts and friendly hands. D&C 122: 5-7 7 And if thou shoulds be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep…and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. 9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what they can do, for Go shall be with thee forever and ever. You may feel that your trials aren’t doing anything for you, but you’re not God. As an imperfect, limited human, you can’t see beyond your pain and your exhaustion. God, though, sees the big picture. He knows what you’re gaining from each trial, even if you don’t. He knows what you stand to lose if you don’t go through this. Have patience and trust in Him. Whether you’re Sisyphus or the rock, He’s still beside you, watching over you. Powered by Yahoo! Answers Your Questions About For Those In Peril On The Sea February 10, 2014 Helen asks… Does God hide himself because humanity has evolved to be superior to him? Especially morally and ethically? admin answers: God is not hiding himself. Man has rebelled against God’s rulership. Man is still rebelling in all their forms of ism’s that don’t work. God is allowing the rebellion to continue in a hands-off-policy to demonstrate that no form of human self governance can achieve good. If he helps mankind with all their perils, then he would be intervening. That would make human rule look good. He will not help the rebellion of man look good by helping with hurricanes, earthquakes, pestilences. Etc. . . This is what he will do: (Proverbs 2:22) . . .As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it. (Proverbs 2:21) . . .For the upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. (Revelation 11:17-18) . . .“We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king. 18 But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth [like the greedy capitalists].” When god begins to show his face, just hope you have been a decent person because there will be an accounting: (Jeremiah 25:31-33) 31 “‘A noise will certainly come clear to the farthest part of the earth, for there is a controversy that Jehovah has with the nations. He must personally put himself in judgment with all flesh. As regards the wicked ones, he must give them to the sword,’ is the utterance of Jehovah. 32 “This is what Jehovah of armies has said, ‘Look! A calamity is going forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest itself will be roused up from the remotest parts of the earth. 33 And those slain by Jehovah will certainly come to be in that day from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth. They will not be bewailed, neither will they be gathered up or be buried. As manure on the surface of the ground they will become.’ Then this is the kind of life decent people will be able to enjoy forever on earth: (Revelation 21:3-4) 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things [human rule] have passed away.” Ruth asks… What are the differences between Mermaids, Sirens and Nyads? I was just wondering what the main differences between those three are because apart from mermaids having tails they all sorta run into one admin answers: The Argonauts escaped them because when he heard their song, Orpheus immediately realized the peril they were in. He took out his lyre and sang a song so clear and ringing that it drowned the sound of those lovely fatal voices. When on another journey the Odysseus’ ship passed the Sirens, had the sailors stuff their ears with wax. He had himself tied to the mast for he wanted to hear their beautiful voices. The Sirens sang when they approached, their words even more enticing than the melody. They would give knowledge to every man who came to them, they said, ripe wisdom and a quickening of the spirit. Odysseys’ heart ran with longing but the ropes held him and the ship quickly sailed to safer waters (Odyssey XII, 39). Homer mentions only two sirens, but later authors mention three or four. They were regarded as the daughters of Phorcys, or the storm god Achelous and either Melpone, Sterope, or Terpsichore. Libanius on the other hand relates that they were born of the blood of Achelous when he was wounded by Heracles. A marine creature with the head and upper body of a beautiful young maiden and with the lower body of a fish. She can be found in seas and lakes, or lying on a rock and combing her hair with one hand while holding a mirror in the other. Mermaids sometimes foretell the future and are often accompanied by seals. According to myth, they lure sailors by singing and with lovely music. They live in a kingdom on the bottom of the sea, and it is here they take their prisoners to. From this story, the fear amongst the sailor grew and they thought that seeing a mermaid would cause bad luck: it could predict death by drowning. The belief in mermaids is not limited to a few countries, but there are tales from all over the world (in India, for instance, there are the Apsara, beautiful water nymphs). However, most of those tales were told by sailors who “saw” them on their long journeys. The idea of mermaids and mermen, the male equivalent, could be based on creatures from Greek and Babylonian mythology: Sirens and Tritons of the Greeks, and the fish gods, who were half human and half fish, from the Babylonians. The Naiads were nymphs of bodies of fresh water and were one of the three main classes of water nymphs – the others being the Nereids (nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea) and the Oceanids (nymphs of the oceans). The Naiads presided over rivers, streams, brooks, springs, fountains, lakes, ponds, wells, and marshes. They were divided into various subclasses: Crinaeae (fountains), Pegaeae (springs), Eleionomae (marshes), Potameides (rivers), and Limnades or Limnatides (lakes). Roman sources even assigned custody of the rivers of Hades to Naiads classified as Nymphae Infernae Paludis or the Avernales. The Naiad was intimately connected to her body of water and her very existence seems to have depended on it. If a stream dried up, its Naiad expired. The waters over which Naiads presided were thought to be endowed with inspirational, medicinal, or prophetic powers. Thus the Naiads were frequently worshipped by the ancient Greeks in association with divinities of fertility and growth. The genealogy of the Naiads varies according to geographic region and literary source. Naiads were either daughters of Zeus, daughters of various river gods, or simply part of the vast family of the Titan Oceanus. Like all the nymphs, the Naiads were in many ways female sex symbols of the ancient world and played the part of both the seduced and the seducer. Zeus in particular seems to have enjoyed the favors of countless Naiads and the other gods do not seem to have lagged far behind. The Naiads fell in love with and actively pursued mortals as well. Classical literature abounds with the stories of their love affairs with gods and men and with the tales of their resulting children. Stories of the Naiads could take the form of cautionary tales with unhappy endings. The Naiad, Nomia, fell in love with a handsome shepherd named Daphnis and could not do enough for him. He repaid her love with unfaithfulness and she repaid his inconstancy by blinding him. The Naiads of a spring in Bithynia took a liking to Hylas (companion of Heracles) and lured him into their waters. The cautionary element is uncertain here. The fate of Hylas could have been either an abrupt death by drowning or everlasting sexual bliss. Other stories of the Naiads were explanations of the origins of immortals and mortals. The sun god Helios mated with the Naiad Aegle (renowned as the most beautiful of the Naiads) to produce the Charites. Melite, a Naiad of the Aegaeus River in Corcyra, had a liaison with Heracles and became the mother of Hyllus. Naiads we Sandra asks… I need a really good, long book series to read? No vampires, no super natural. Im 18, so books that will interest me. Not the obvious ones like twilight, harry potter, hunger games, 50 shades. I want the books to be long, not difficult to read. Maybe a book series that will become movies soon??? Hook me up. admin answers: ~well this is not supernatural, but its mythical: Percy Jackson series: the lighting thief, the sea of monsters, the titan’s curse, the battle of the labyrinth, the last Olympian. Author-Rick Riordan about: this kid who finds out his dad is Poseidon–he finds out he’s half Olympic god ~a series of unfortunate events: the bad beginning, the reptile room, the wide window, the miserable mill, the austere academy, the ersatz elevator, the vile village, the carnivorousness carnival, the slippery slope, the grim grotto, the penultimate peril, the end. About: these 3 siblings become orphans when their parents die in a fire. They inherent a lot of money, and this guy tries to kidnap them in each book for their fortune. Author: lemony snicket ~maximum ride series: angel experiment (no its not supernatural, a girl in the book her name is angel), schools out forever, Saving the World & Other Extreme Sports, Th Final Warning, MAX, Fang, Angel, nevermore. About: these 6 six were genetically enhanced with wings and they are trying to escape from the evil scientist who did that to them and they want to keep experimenting on them. Author: James Patterson ~Gallagher Girls series: i’d tell you i love you, but then i’d have to kill you, cross my heart and hope to spy, don’t judge a girl by her cover, only the good spy young, out of sight out of time. About: this girl goes to this private shcool where you learn to be better spies than the CIA. Author: ally carter ~GONE series: gone, hunger, lies, plague, fear, light. About: all of a sudden kids 15 and older (including adults, doctors, police, firefighters, everyone 15 and older) disappear. All the kids 14 and younger have to survive on there own, and the bullies try to take over and some people try and kill each other. Author: Michael grant so yeah thats all i can think of for right now :) i hope you enjoy these books! Powered by Yahoo! Answers Your Questions About An Impaired Immune System February 9, 2014 Ruth asks… What can my grandfather take for a sinus head ache, when he takes medication for parkinsons? Please help. My grandfather is having a lot of trouble. He went to the drug store to get over the counter medication since it is 11 pm here. But when we got home we relized he cannot take it. Since he is on medication for his parkinsons. I need to know what medication he can take that will not have any negative side effects with his current medication. Please help. Thanks admin answers: Wow that can be an unpleasant surprise but this is a problem. I share that issue when I go grocery shopping, when shopping for OTCs for my husband.. One does have to be aware of drug interactions for PD Not all Parkinson’s disease medications are the same so to determine the best answer to your question we would need to know if your grandfather was taking a dopaminergic, an MAO inhibitor, a dopamine agonist, a dopamine antagonist, a COMT inhibitor or an anticholeringeric. That said, if your Grandfather is taking a drug such as Selegiline- eldepryl (MAO-B inhibitors) he cannot take anything with pseudoephedrine in it – and that is a common ingredient. He can use a saline nasal solution although I don’t find those that effective. Another thing to consider is a vaporizer – Eucalyptus is an effective additive to assist breathing. It can be used alone or with camphor and menthol. Being able to breathe easily is often a problem which impairs sleep for PD patients. There are also eucalyptus room sprays which can be used. Another vaporizer additive would be vinegar. Despite to salad aroma, this is an excellent natural aid to addressing symptoms and causing the sinuses to drain: You are correct, he cannot take just anything so if in doubt, pick out a handful of medications and take them to the pharmacy and ask them to look up the contraindications. You must already have the list of everything your Grandfather is currently taking. It’s good to keep this list updated because sometimes there will be supplements which won’t appear on a prescription list and sometimes there are prescriptions for other conditions which might not be on the PD list. In the future, whenever your Grandfather is considering an OTC (over-the-counter medication) he should take it to the pharmacy counter for review. Scroll down the next link for a sample of possible drug interactions under the heading: What other drugs will affect carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa? The medicine info for the product you are considering should indicate if there is a contraindication with an ingredient. But often there is no complete list on the packaging. Which is why it needs to be pulled up online – don’t expect that the pharmacist will know it all off the top of the head. You grandfather should also consider some high quality anti-oxidants as well as Vitamin D3 for both the Parkinson’s and to assist in strengthening his immune system. A nice cup of green or black tea with honey will also soothe his throat as well as providing antioxidants with the health benefits of honey. Just one thing about honey – you should always buy local honey if you are looking for health benefits. You can read about it below: There are also some acupressure points that can help relieve blocked sinuses I like the ones at the side of the bridge of the nose and the one just between the upper lip and below the nose. There are also forehead points and a good one on either side of the cervical spine at the back of the head. The next links are to natural sinus remedies and sinus massage techniques: If used in combination these points can be very effective: It is wonderful that you are involved with your Grandfather’s care. I hope you will continue to be informed about his condition. Betty asks… Why does my throat always burn when I eat bananas? I used to be able to eat bananas with no problem. Then, I went for a while without eating them. Now, my nutritionist says I need to eat more of them because I’ve been getting cramps lately during workouts. However, once I tried to start eating them, my throat burns really badly :/ could I have developed an allergy or something? P.S. – also, what other natural foods would be high in potassium? admin answers: Allergy,u may have others,,,,,like havin only one mouse in th’ house,,,usually a few,,,,,,,,,an exercise in confirming that state certified allergists,nutritionists,,and a lotta mds are not minimally qualified to deal with allergies is to look up the entire class/genus of fruits to which bananas belong,,,,the complexity of the immune system(8 to the tenth power of immune cells in the adult human…..the biological heredity of humans,,,,,,common illnesses that have immune correlation,hence ,often improve based on a correct reading your own biological make up,then suppose a food/protein source may be causative in weakening the mucous membrane throat and GI tract lining thru damage to dna strands or ligands of immune cells in this area,causing inappropriate actions against a common foods as if they were an invading pathogen,,,,avoidance of bananas is axiomatic,other foods in this group should be avoided for six weeks,,,,,,stay away from chemicals,like bleach,alcohol,insecticide,phenol,aerosols,petrochemicals,sodas,pops bleached flours,herb type drugs antibiotics,buy either mineral water,or use only good quality tap water,,,,,process of elimination may help ferret out other foods that are a problem,,,,,eat whole grains,veggies,,,,see if a protein source like chicken,fish,beef,lamb might be the “hidden” immune system damager,this means the food itself is no problem,but impairs you tolerance of other foods,,,, Susan asks… What are the worst stuff that could happen to you if you have chicken pox? I have posted a lot of questions about chicken pox today. Thats because I have chicken pox and this is the first time. I am 14. I am asking this question because I heard people can get blind, or even DIE!!! admin answers: The most common complications are pneumonia and secondary bacterial skin infections. There are also neurologic and hepatic complications. The risk of complications or death is highest in people with compromised immune systems, to fetuses (early & late pregnancy), newborns, and adults. You are not at risk. “I am asking this question because I heard people can get blind, or even DIE!!!” — Impaired vision is part of neurologic complications and also pregnancy complications. Death is part of pregnancy complications and respiratory complications. Those in high risk groups who have been exposed can be treated with Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin. Powered by Yahoo! Answers Your Questions About An Impaired Use Of Language February 8, 2014 Laura asks… How to get disability payments for the following? I have a total of seven diagnosed disorders, but would I qualify for disability insurance or any of those awesome benefits? Should I be put in an institution as well? 1. I have severe OCD which makes it so I can’t go ten minutes without washing my hands, and the medication was proven to fail. 2. I have mild ADD which impairs my learning 3. I have severe Hypochondria that adds to my OCD and it adds in the fear of getting brain damage, and the medication was proven to fail. 4. I have moderate Dyslexia which obviously impairs my ways of spelling words and of reading written language. 5. I have been diagnosed with severe Anxiety Disorder. 6. I have been diagnosed with moderate Narcolepsy which puts me to sleep at uncontrollable times and caffeine has been proven to fail. 7. I have been diagnosed with impaired vision, but I’m not blind at the moment. This has got to qualify for some real good disability payments, especially with the dimwitted ‘OCD and Hypochondria’ combination. What institutions take folks like me as well? I’m obviously insane with all of these disorders if Hypochondria happens to be one, so there has got to be one for me. admin answers: Nothing qualifies for real good disability payments—being on disability often means living in poverty The OCD, Anxiety could possibility qualify Carol asks… Is it smart to be a Spanish major and the once I get my undergrad degree, Master in Speech Language Pathology? I want to be a SLP, but I am confused. My advisor isn’t helping to much either. admin answers: Wonderful question. I ran a search on and came up with 147 accredited 4-year universities in the USA that offer an undergraduate major in one of the following: Communication Disorders , Education of Speech Impaired , Speech-Language Pathology Amend your question to say which state you are in and I can give you a more specific recommendation. In general, look for schools where you can major in one and minor in the other. You are wise to recognize that you will probably need a Masters in SLP, but there is no reason why you can’t get your pre-requisite coursework completed as part of your Bachelors. Chris asks… What time of requirements are needed by speech therapists working in schools in Texas? I have been a speech/language teacher in NY state for 31 years in public schools. We are relocating and I would like to work in Texas. I do not have my C’s or NYS license. I have my master’s degree and permanent certification in new york state as a teacher of the speech/hearing impaired. admin answers: You need to be liscensed by the State. Powered by Yahoo! Answers Your Questions About An Impaired Immune System February 7, 2014 Laura asks… How to understand that a heart attack was caused by an acute stress reaction? admin answers: In healthy subjects, acute mental stress simultaneously activates coagulation (ie, fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor) and fibrinolysis (ie, tissue-type plasminogen activator) within a physiological range. In patients with atherosclerosis and impaired endothelial anticoagulant function, however, procoagulant responses to acute stressors may outweigh anticoagulant mechanisms and thereby promote a hypercoagulable state. Chronic psychosocial stressors (job strain or low socioeconomic status) are related to a hypercoagulable state reflected by increased procoagulant molecules (ie, fibrinogen or coagulation factor VII) and by reduced fibrinolytic capacity. There is also some evidence that points to hypercoagulability in depression.(… ). There is good evidence to show that stress can increase a person’s heart rate, lower the immune system’s ability to fight colds and increase certain inflammatory markers but can stress also raise a person’s cholesterol? It appears so for some people, according to a new study that examines how reactions to stress over a period of time can raise a person’s lipid levels. Hope answered your question. You can click on my answer in sources link, it will help you more. Michael asks… Why is green tea better for you than regular tea? They both have antioxidants, so whats the difference? admin answers: I have answered this question a few months ago …this is my answer Best Answer – Chosen by Asker both teas are good for you, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful: rheumatoid arthritis high cholesterol levels cariovascular disease impaired immune function Green tea can even help dieters In comparison white tea white tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. White tea is similar to green tea, in that it’s undergone very little processing and no fermentation. But there is a noticable difference in taste. Most green teas have a distinctive ‘grassy’ taste to them, but white tea does not.There is also considerably less caffeine in white tea .research shows White Tea Extract can actually destroy in vitro the organisms that cause disease. Study after study with tea extract proves that it has many healing properties. This is not an old wives tale, it’s a fact.” I think white tea tastes better then green tea i think the best is to include both teas in your diet David asks… How long can a stage 4 cancer patient live with ascites? She is in hospice care and has stopped all treatments for advanced metastatic breast cancer. The cancer has spread to her liver and bones. She is living with us and has full-time caregivers in addition to Hospice. She’s trying to avoid invasive treatments like a Plurex catheter. We’re managing it with morphine, low salt diet etc…. admin answers: You would need to find this out from someone that has more complete information on the situation. There are all sorts of possible systemic failures that can occur, so whatever system is most impaired will probably fail first, and different systems fail at different rates. Ascites can persist for months or cause the circulatory system to collapse within days, depending on the severity. Liver failure varies in severity, and could take weeks to months. Bone cancer can affect blood characteristics in a variety of ways – a common effect is loss of the immune system, so people often die from an infection like the flu or pneumonia. Powered by Yahoo! Answers
A rare water-borne amoeba that swims up through the nose and infects the brain has led to the death of 3 young Americans, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) said on Friday. Known as Naegleria fowleri, the amoeba is found in warm freshwater lakes as well as the occasional poorly treated swimming pool. The result is a “rare, but severe” brain infection, and kills on average 3 people per year. AFP reports: In the first week the disease causes major headaches, fever, vomiting and a stiffening of the neck, eventually leading to confusion, seizures and hallucinations. The disease is almost always fatal. There is no apparent cure for the extremely rare disease, though some drugs have proved effective in the laboratory, the CDC said. Just 32 people were infected in the United States from 2001 to 2010, far less than the 36,000 drowning deaths recorded between 1996 and 2005, according to the CDC. Earlier this month a 16-year-old died of the infection after an outdoor swim in Florida and a nine-year-old died in Virginia after contracting the disease at a summer fishing camp. In June a 20-year-old in Louisiana was infected by a contaminated nasal allergy spray. The disease is more common in the balmy US southern states. Amoebas thrive in warm water, and another species, Entamoeba histolytica, causes intestinal disease, particularly in tropical climates with poor sanitary conditions. Storable Food About Anthony Gucciardi: Author Image
Forging technology: What is forging? Iron – a symbol of civilization It is said that the use of iron began around the 20th century BCE. In those days, because processing of iron was difficult, most of the metals that were processed were gold, silver, and copper. It is said, however, that the Hittites, who thrived from around the 16th century BCE, had excellent iron processing skills and were able to use strong weapons made of iron, enabling them to conquer the Mesopotamia region. Since then, iron, as a symbol of civilization, has been used in a wide variety of forms, such as for farm implements and household tools in addition to weapons. After the Industrial Revolution, iron and steel became more and more important – so much so that there was a saying that the iron and steel industry ‘makes’ a country. Production of iron and steel has dramatically increased, and they now are indispensable materials in our lives. Iron - a symbol of civilization What is forging? As implied by the saying “Strike while the iron is hot,” it has long been known that iron becomes stronger by striking it. In Japan, the work of heating and striking iron has traditionally been known as kaji (blacksmithing) or hizukuri (smith forging). It is what we now call “forging.” Heating, hammering, and applying pressure to steel removes gas pockets, structural deviations, and impurities in the metal, and homogenizes its structure, making the steel hard and strong. Forged steel products are strong and durable, and they have been used for farm implements, kitchen knives, and other everyday items since time immemorial. Free forging and die forging Free forging and die forging Forging is divided into two types: free forging, where dies are not used, and die forging, where dies are used. Free forging refers to a method of forging where the heated iron/steel is anchored and then formed by hammering, pressing, or other methods. Free forging can flexibly form the shape of each product, and is suited to making large components or for diversified small-quantity production. On the other hand, in die forging, dies are prepared in advance, and refined iron is placed in the dies and formed by compression. While it takes time and effort to make the dies, it is possible to mass produce products with accurate dimensions; therefore, this forging method is suited for the production of industrial product components. 8,000-ton hydraulic press
Saturday, August 3, 2013 Arthritis and Colloidal Gold Arthritis is characterized by joint's stiffness and swelling combined with joint inflammation. Various forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, temporomandibular joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and Ankylosing spondolysis. Almost all forms of arthritis are chronic in nature. Though sings and symptoms produced by some forms of arthritis are mild in nature, arthritis could lead to gradual damage of joints. One may experience uncommon conditions such as redness, warmth and swollen joints as effects of certain forms of arthritis. Stiffness of joints, swelling of joints and persistent joint pain are main common symptoms of the arthritis. Some people may experience difficulty in joint movements, tenderness and pain and redness and warmth surrounding joints. Different forms and varying symptoms makes it difficult to treat or cure the arthritis. Certain pain relieving medications and steroid injections are used commonly for treatment of arthritis. Arthritis treatment is aimed and reducing pain and inflammation of the joints. Usually physicians prescribe combination of NSAIDs and DMARDs. Generally, arthritis condition subsides with medication. However, certain severe cares may require surgeries such as joint replacements. Though the traditional medications used for arthritis treatment have produced positive results, it may not be possible for every person to tolerate with such medications as these medications can produce certain adverse side effects. To overcome this possibility researches are going on for natural remedies and alternative therapies. Weak body immune system, lack of nutritious diet (minerals, vitamins etc) is considered as the main factor which can contribute towards occurrence of health abnormalities. To avoid such health disorders we must ensure adequate quantity of vitamins and minerals in our daily diet. Liquid supplements such as colloidal gold have the properties to enhance the body immune system and regulating hormonal balances. Most importantly, colloidal gold being obtained from pure natural element (gold) does not produce any side effects. Though gold was known since ancient times, it was considered only as precious metal. The medicinal properties of the gold came to light only during last century. Researches have shown that colloidal gold has the property to kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that could develop diseases. Colloidal gold and other dietary supplements are not medications but surely can be used as complementary therapy for preventing or treating various diseases including arthritis. Surgery to Treat Arthritis of the Big Toe Joint Arthritis of the big toe joint is common, and can be particularly disabling. Options to manage this condition non-surgically are few, given the express need for the big toe joint to attempt bending during the walking cycle. This article discusses the cause of this painful arthritis, as well as surgical treatment options to relieve pain. The big toe joint consists of the first metatarsal bone forming the 'ball' of the joint, and the initial bone of the big toe (the first proximal phalanx) forming the 'socket'. It has an important role in how the body moves when walking, and limitation of its motion forces other joints and muscles to function abnormally to take up the slack. Arthritis of this joint, or cartilage wear, occurs when there is abnormal pressure or positioning of the joint bones. This results in grinding down of the smooth cartilage that covers the bone surface at the joint, allowing for smooth motion. As this cartilage erodes, the bone underneath begins to become exposed, and parts of the joint surface start to see bone rubbing during joint motion. In addition to this, thickened spurs of bone can develop along the margins of the joint, further hampering motion. When bone grinds on bone and when spurs limit joint motion, pain usually results. This condition will gradually worsen, leading to destruction of much of the joint surface. In severe cases, the bones will even partially fuse together. The structural cause of arthritis can be due to many factors. Natural bone structure can contribute to this, such as seen in people with longer or shorter first metatarsals, as well as first metatarsals that are angled too steeply in elevation or declination with respect to the ground surface. Bunions and other rotational deformities of the big toe joint can also contribute to cartilage wear and tear. Fractures, crushes, sprains, and other injuries to the joint can also result in arthritis after awhile. Finally, certain body-wide joint-affecting diseases will cause joint erosion as well, such as seen with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Non-surgical treatment is limited, consisting of measures to limit the painful motion of the joint and decrease the resulting inflammation. Stiff soled shoes and specialized custom foot inserts can be used to limit the painful motion. Anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections can reduce the inflammation, although this is not nearly as effective as it is in larger joints like the knee. However, the unique structure of the big toe joint generally necessitates surgical treatment in many cases of arthritis. Surgical treatment is divided into procedures that destroy the joint and procedures that maintain the joint (in the case of mild arthritis). When joint destruction is severe or significant, the joint destruction technique is chosen as the cartilage of the joint will have to be replaced or removed entirely in order for the pain to be resolved. The choice of whether to use an artificial implant or fuse the joint surgically is up to the health of the patient and the preference of the surgeon. Joint implants have been in use for fifty years, and are made of metal or silicone gel. Various designs can replace the ball of the joint, the socket, or both. There are advantages and disadvantages to each design, and certain conditions like diabetes with nerve disease, poor circulation, and obesity limit their use. Their lifespan is much longer than hip or knee implants, which have to be replaced after a certain number of years. The motion restored by these implants is rarely equal to the motion of the joint before the onset of arthritis, but in generally is significant enough to relieve all motion pain and limitation. When these fail, or if the surgeon is not advising their use, a joint fusion is the preferred method of relieving joint pain. This procedure fuses the bones across the joint, resulting in no motion at all. It differs from painful arthritis that is partially fused in that there are still areas of motion in those cases that produce pain. By removing all motion, the joint is no longer painful, leading to a stiff lever upon which the foot rolls off during the walking cycle. Eventually the body adapts to this, although some minor strain can occur to the joint in the middle of the big toe, or the complex of joints in the middle of the foot. If the arthritis is only mild, the surgeon may elect to preserve the joint. In this technique, the surgeon simply removes any bone spur limiting motion, and drills holes in the eroded areas of cartilage. The drilling promotes growth of a tissue called fibrocartilage, which is a rough form of cartilage that is not as functional as regular joint cartilage, but is better than the bare bone below. It is usually necessary to address the underlying structural problem if this procedure is selected, as leaving the reason behind the arthritis alone will simply result in further arthritic change years down the road. These additional procedures could include procedures to elevate, lower, shorten, or shift over the first metatarsal back to a proper position based on the underlying structural problem. Often a bunion is corrected if present. Follow-up with long term orthotics foot supports is usually needed, along with periodic monitoring. Regardless of the selected procedure, repair of the big toe joint is generally successful, with good long term results. Complications, including infections and implant or hardware failure, do occur. However, they are uncommon and most patients are restored to pain-free or significantly reduced pain-limited walking within a month or two following the surgery. Nearly all podiatrists (and a small number of specially trained orthopedic surgeons) perform these procedures. If one is suffering from big toe joint arthritis, a visit to their foot and ankle specialist can lead to relief and restoration of activity. Pain Management - Dealing With Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis As if growing pains were not enough, there is such a thing known as systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis which afflicts both girls and boys as they progress from childhood to preadolescence. As a juvenile disorder, it affects children younger than 16 years of age, although there are cases wherein it persists beyond the teens. What is Systemic JRA? Think of it as an autoimmune disorder wherein the immune system which normally responds beneficially to fight any infection automatically reacts to combat its own defenses. Even a minor infection which raises the white blood cell count could trigger the autoimmune system of to attack its own body tissues. Poorly understood, systemic JRA is difficult to diagnose and treat without a series of tests to rule out all other diseases. It can be worrisome because some of its symptoms closely resemble those of leukemia, bone cancer, and other nervous syndromes. How does it show? Depending on its severity, the disease is characterized by multiple signs and symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, and stiffness for more than six weeks straight. The child experiences prolonged bouts of high fever and chills which peaks with unexplained measles-like rashes. The experience can be very disheartening and debilitating, which is why pain management should be given importance in systemic JRA. It is not contagious, because it is neither bacterial nor viral but rather a disease of the immune system. It can be inherited as a third-generation disease, meaning it skips one generation and manifests itself in the next. There is no clear explanation why some children outgrow it completely while others have long symptom-free periods followed by a sudden show of flare-ups. How do you manage it? During JRA flare-ups, a child is prone to lose weight and muscle mass which results from lost appetite and limited body movement. On the other hand, prolonged medication and lack of activity would lead to excessive weight gain. Rather than leading a sedentary lifestyle, you could encourage your child to engage in non-strenuous play and sports activities which exercise the joints, bones, and muscles. As part of pain management care, a child with systemic JRA is attended to by a pediatric rheumatologist. Aside from pain relievers, the usual medications would include NSAIDs and low-dose steroid treatment. The patient may also need specifically-prescribed exercise programs and rehab sessions under the supervision of a physical therapist to completely recover. How do you deal with it? When chronic joint pain is recurrent, it goes far beyond what we know of as musculoskeletal pain. The pain is simply indescribable. It could affect the entire body starting from the ankles to the knees, higher to the hips and the shoulders, and even up to the neck and jaws. As parents of a child with systemic JRA, we only have to deal with it. However, it is our children afflicted with the disease who have to live with it. They will have to cope with its long-term side-effects such as growth delays, accelerated tooth decays and inner eye inflammations which lead to premature scarring and vision problems. With prolonged medication, complications of the heart and liver as well as stomach ulcers are bound to happen. Aside from our love and patience, we can only lend our children additional support through pain management medications, clinics, and therapies. Keeping informed and updated on current developments in patient care for systemic JRA would help families deal and live with a disease which goes beyond the pains of growing up. Turn to our Fitness Books for more information on pain management and other health matters. Innovative Medical Equipment and Methods For Rehab of Injuries Innovative Medical Equipment and Methods for Rehab of Injuries: Let us take a look at what new advances there are in this specialized field. First we need to list the type of injuries which can be alleviated by physiotherapy. They are sports injuries, pain of the lumbar or cervical spinal regions, torn muscle ligaments and tendon problems, join pains caused by osteoarthritic changes resulting from old injuries or the more severe and difficult to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Bio mechanical assessment and orthopedic provision, manual manipulation, ultrasound, laser therapy in the form of laser acupuncture or laser interference therapy are all available for treating these painful conditions and promoting healing within the body. Most of these methods are covered by medical insurance. Some of them may require treatment from time to time for a number of years, such as spinal injuries. Massage Therapy Equipment and Supplies: Massage Balls have taken the physiotherapy field by storm. Here are a few of them. Soft spiked massage balls are perfect for sensory therapy and release muscle spasms, good for fingers, legs, feet and back. Other spiky massage balls release tension and muscle aches throughout the entire body. Soft hand balls offer therapy for repetitive stress injuries, stroke recovery and arthritis. There are soft balls with bumps, rollers with soft spikes or bumps for massage, point relief mini massagers for painful muscles, massage chairs, pressure points packages which contain balls and acupressure for self-administration and massage. You can purchase infra-red massagers which are absolutely ideal for reducing soreness and additionally, provide comforting warmth as they vibrate. There are more. Take a look at the Thumper Versa-Pro Massager which is a step-on massager for deep muscle relief of the lower body, feet, hamstrings, quads, and lower back. A Foot Spa complete with whirlpool, water jets, vibrating massage is wonderful for hands or feet. The most innovative must surely be Theraputty. This putty heats up in the microwave and is available in differing strengths and sizes from 2 ounces to five pounds and is ideal for hand therapy. Finger Webs for strengthening hands and fingers are new on the market and are available in differing resistance strengths of interchangeable web inserts. Memory foam is also being used with great success for hand therapy. The Orbit Massager is a small and simple massager with a fantastic range of motion and is great as it is easily portable. Physical Therapy Equipment and Supplies: These can either be purchased or hired as they are sometimes only needed for a short period of time. Great for sports injuries, injuries caused by falls in the frail and elderly, from severe burns or injuries caused by over-exercising or exercising wrongly. Here are a few: Resistance bands, ankle and wrist weights, and finger and hand exercisers, exercise pulleys, balance boards and stretching equipment and the very popular exercise balls of all shapes sizes and forms dependent on the injuries they are needed for or muscle building and repair of muscle tone. Using balls to stretch, blood supply and flexibility are increased, as is the case with much of the other physical therapy equipment used to treat injuries. It is necessary to point out that at all times if using any equipment at home; the patient must be guided by his or her physiotherapist to ensure that the products are being used properly to prevent further injury or damage. Warming up before using any exercise products is essential and taking calcium supplements together with magnesium should prevent painful cramping while muscles are healing. Make it a point to first be guided by your professional caregiver and then you can feel free to hire or shop on line for what your therapist has suggested, no matter how innovative. What to Do If You Are Pregnant and Have Lupus Or RA The excitement of the positive pregnancy test, for most expectant mothers, can be clouded with concern for a healthy pregnancy and baby. But, if you have RA or Lupus, it can be multiplied. You also have to worry about if your pregnancy will cause a flare-up, what medicines are safe for your baby, and whether or not your condition will affect your growing fetus or your own long-term health. This article addresses the issues of two, out of many, rheumatic conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). RA and lupus are autoimmune diseases and in autoimmune diseases the immune system, which is suppose to protect your body from any foreign substances that may harm it, malfunctions and attacks your own body's tissues. If you have RA or lupus you are probably taking medication that reduces the immune systems activity to a greater or lesser degree. But pregnancy has its own impact on the immune system and your system must make some adjustments so that your body won't attack what it perceives to be foreign, the genes that come from the father of your baby. These adjustments make it possible for your baby to grow safely. But there are other effects which can impact your rheumatic conditions such as RA and lupus in different ways. Something to think about. It can be hard to determine whether the changes in the way you feel are from the pregnancy or your RA or lupus. Unfortunately when you are pregnant you can become anemic, which can cause you to be tired and have a lack of energy, this also happens when you have RA or lupus. Your pregnancy will also affect certain markers of inflammation, doctors use blood test to measure your inflammation called a erythrocyte sedimentation rate or ESR, which is often high if you have RA or lupus. These markers can also be high when you're pregnant so measuring ESR may not be the best way to gauge how active your RA or lupus is. Also, your pregnancy may make blood clots more likely, but if you have lupus, there is also an increased risk that you will have blood clots because there is a protein called antiphospholipid antibodies in your blood, and these proteins is what increases your risk. Your pregnancy can also cause musculoskeletal problems because as your baby grows, your ligaments will relax to allow the pelvis to stretch. You will also put on weight, which is a healthy thing but this can cause your posture to change which can result in joint aches and back pain. Another thing is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which causes wrist pain and numbness, is a common complication of your pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters but is is also associated with RA and lupus. All these things can make it tricky to figure out whether or not they are problems with the pregnancy or are a part of your rheumatic conditions. Things to do if you have RA. RA mainly affects the joints and it will make them stiff, painful, swollen and sometimes, unstable and deformed, but it can also cause fatigue and you may have problems with your heart and your eyes. There is between 1% and 2% of the United States population that have RA, and it is most common among women than men. It will usually appear when you are in your twenties or thirties, the child bearing years, so finding women with RA who are considering pregnancy is not all that surprising. The first thing you will want to know, if you have RA and are considering having a baby, is whether or not your arthritis is going to flare-up during your pregnancy. The thought of carrying around an extra 20 - 30 pounds of weight on replaced joints or on joints that are sometimes swollen and sore can be a bit discerning. Luckily there are about 70% - 80% of women who have RA that go into remission during their pregnancy, another words their symptoms go away. For the rest of those women with RA who don't go into remission, their symptoms may become milder and easier to manage. It's hard to predict just who will go into remission but despite this uncertainty, some doctors will tell their patients to stop taking their RA medications when they become pregnant because of the high likelihood that they will go into remission and not need treatment. But there are some steps you can take before you get pregnant that can help you during and after the pregnancy. Work out a plan with your rheumatologist for what medication you will take if you do have a flare during your pregnancy. You will also have to consider the type of delivery you will have. Most women with RA can safely go through the labor and vaginal delivery, but if your RA affects your pelvis and legs extensively, a vaginal delivery may not be what you want to do. Your doctor may opt for a planned cesarean section. For some of you with RA, you may find that after you have your baby your arthritis flares up. Because arthritis flares can make it difficult to care for a newborn, you will want to plan very carefully just how you will manage this period. By planning you can ease the adjustment of this postpartum period. If you are planning on breast feeding you will need to discuss this with your rheumatologist, obstetrician and pediatrician ahead of time. There are some RA medications that are compatible with breast-feeding. Try to decide which one you want to take just in case you have a flare after your baby is born. If it's possible, try to have someone to help you at home during the transition time. If you are unable to, there are some things you can do to make it easier on yourself, such as; having some extra meals stashed in the freezer so that all you have to do is to pull them out of the freezer when things get difficult. Planning is the key and it will go a long ways to helping you ease the stress of your worst flare. The good news is that RA doesn't have a negative impact on the baby, it doesn't increase the rate of miscarriages, and it doesn't cause any problems in the baby. What if you have lupus If you have systemic lupus erythematosus, it's a bit more complicated. The reason it's more complicated is that lupus can affect many parts of the body, such as the skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs. The most common symptoms are a rash on the face, pain and swelling in the joints and a fever with kidney disease being the most serious symptom. Lupus is more common in women then men and it will usually show up when you are between the ages of 15 and 45. Doctors of the past would often counsel women with lupus against getting pregnant based on the assumption that pregnancy would always cause lupus flares, possibly serious flares, and that babies would do so well. These were and are valid concerns, but there is now a better understanding of lupus and how to treat it that has made pregnancy very realistic and a safe option if you decide to get pregnant. There are several studies that have shown that being pregnant may increase your risk of flares and yet other studies that have found that it doesn't. This confusion in part lies with how the different researchers measure and define a flare. And also, during any nine-month period you may have a flare or flares whether you are pregnant or not, so flares during your pregnancy are not exactly related to your pregnancy. Headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath and joint pain are all symptoms of a lupus flare as well as the possibility being a part of your pregnancy. The most likely risk is that women with lupus have a slightly higher chance of having a flare-up but for many women it can be controlled with medication. You will most likely flare and not do so well during pregnancy if your lupus was active at the time of conception. This will be the case if your lupus has affected your kidneys because pregnancy will also stress your kidneys. Most doctors will generally not recommend getting pregnant until you have been in remission from kidney disease and active lupus for six months. The most ideal situation is if when you have decided to become pregnant, that you see your rheumatologist ahead of time so he can run blood tests that will determine just how active your lupus is. The blood test will also establish a baseline that your doctor can refer to later during your pregnancy in case there are any difficulties. If you don't get these test done before you get pregnant then definitely get them done shortly after. You will also want to consult with an obstetrician who has experience with treating women who have lupus or possibly an obstetrician who specializes in high risk pregnancies. It is also a good idea if when you become pregnant, you are taking medication to control you lupus and that you can continue to take them safely during your pregnancy. Although, if you have RA you are able to stop taking your medications during your pregnancy, this may not be the case if you have lupus. You and your rheumatologist will need to plan for what medications you can take if you have a lupus flare during your pregnancy. If your blood tests show that you have the antibodies called anti-RO (SSA) or anti-La (SSB), you will have a small risk of having a baby born with a rare condition called neonatal lupus. The main symptom of neonatal lupus is a skin rash, and it will usually disappear in six months. There is a very small percentage of babies with neonatal lupus, about 2% to 5%, who will develop heart block, which causes the heart to beat abnormally. If you are known to have the anti-RO or anti-La antibodies, you will probably have an ultrasound at 18 to 24 weeks into the pregnancy to see if there is heart block. The doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid in an attempt to treat the heart block if there is one. Although, research doesn't show a clear benefit of doing this. It may become necessary to deliver the baby early but most babies born with heart block need to have a pacemaker implanted, wither at birth or later in life. There are other complications that come with lupus and that includes preeclampsia, premature rupture of the membranes, which means the baby will be born prematurely, and low-birth-weight babies. In preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced hypertension, you will have high blood pressure and retain fluid among other symptoms. Preclampsia is thought to be more common if you have lupus and most often it can be hard to distinguish between preeclampsia and a lupus flare. But if it's not treated appropriately, preeclampsia can damage your kidneys and liver as well as increase the risk for a miscarriage and premature birth or even cause the baby to be very small. If you have preeclampsia your doctor may recommend that you deliver the baby early, either by induced labor or a C-section. The same advice that applies if you have RA applies to you if you have lupus as far as the period after the birth of your baby. Planning makes all the difference and having help lined up in case you have a lupus flare prevents you from taking care of your baby. As with RA, you will want to have ready-to-eat meals in the freezer and be sure to know what your options are in terms of breast-feeding and medications. As you can see, there are some very special considerations for you if you have lupus and are considering having a baby, but if you have a clear understanding that your chances are good that our outcome will be nearly as good as someone who doesn't have lupus. Remember that the best approach is to have your health care team, your rheumatologist and obstetrician, working hand in hand and also good communication and close follow-up with this these team members is the key. Your medications There are many medicines that are used to treat RA and lupus that are relatively safe during pregnancy, but some of the drugs used for rheumatic conditions increase the risk of birth defects, and it's also important to remember that birth defects occur in about 3% of pregnancies where the mother doesn't take any medications. When you are considering if a medication is safe during pregnancy, you should determine if the risk of birth defects is greater than 3%. Your doctor should be able to help you figure it out. NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treat the pain and inflammation of arthritis. These NSAIDs include the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (Clelbrex) and traditional NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) and the many other, both prescription and over the counter. There are studies in animals that have shown that NSAIDs can cause birth defects, but there hasn't been any findings in humans. It is possible to take these medicines safely during your pregnancy up to the third trimester. Taking NSAIDs during the third trimester, will increase the risk that one of the baby's heart vessels will close prematurely, a good reason to stop taking them at 24 weeks of pregnancy. If you are trying to get pregnant you may want to stop taking the NSAIDs, including COX-2 inhibitors, from the time of ovulation until their next menstrual period because there is a hypothetical risk that these medicines will interfere with the implanting of a fertilized egg. Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids decreases the inflammation throughout the body and these drugs are often the mainstay of treatment for people with inflammatory conditions such as RA and lupus. Prednisone and prednisolone are the most commonly prescribed drugs that your doctor will give you and you can continue to take these medicines during your pregnancy if you need to. But before you do, remember that if you take the corticosteroids during the first trimester of your pregnancy, your baby could be born with a cleft palate. This risk is still fairly low, with cleft palate happening in roughly 1 in 300 babies exposed to the drugs in the womb compared to 1 in 1,000 when there is no exposure. Babies born to mothers who take corticosteroids during pregnancy are also more likely to be smaller and born prematurely. They also will raise your risk of pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that happens only during pregnancy, and pregnancy-induced osteopenia or bone thinning. Corticosteroids are often a reasonable choice during pregnancy for the management of both RA and lupus despite the potential side effects. Hydroxychloroquie: It was thought that hydroxychloroquine or Plaquenil, was not compatible with pregnancy but over the past decade that idea has changed. Right now most rheumatologists in the United States and elsewhere with patients who need hydroxychloroquine to keep their condition stable will keep them on it during their pregnancy. Studies have been done to substantiate the claim that the medicine might cause problems with the development of the fetus's visual and hearing systems, but the studies didn't prove it. Sulfasalazine: Sulfasalazine or Azulfidine, is considered to be safe to use when you are pregnant. Azathioprine and cyclosporine: These drugs are immunosuppressive drugs that are used mainly to maintain organ transplants. Doctors will also subscribe them to treat RA and lupus. There is information from world wide transplant registries of literally thousands of babies that were exposed to these medications in the womb. This information shows that there were no increased rates of birth defects, but the babies do seem to be smaller and to be born earlier. There are many doctors will use these medications if they need to control RA or lupus activity in women who are pregnant. Methotrexate, leflunomide, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide: These medications can cause early fetal death and birth defects at a rate higher than what you would expect. You shouldn't take them during your pregnancy and also if you are planning a pregnancy you should stop taking methotrexate or CellCept at least one menstrual cycle before trying to get pregnant. If you're a man taking these medications then you will want to stop taking them three months ahead of time. If you are taking leflunomide you will need to to stop taking it two years before you try to get pregnant, or you could under go a two-week procedure to wash the medicine out of your bloodstream. Biologics: There isn't enough data to conclude whether or not this newer type of drug is absolutely safe during pregnancy. However, we do know that TNF-alpha blockers, etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), and adalimumab (Humira) may contribute to birth defects according to recent evidence. You will want to stop taking biologic drugs before trying to become pregnant. In just about all circumstances, if you have RA or lupus, you can be sure it is safe to become pregnant as long as you are sure your RA and lupus are under control and your pregnancy is planned. If you have lupus it is particularly important to keep the communications open with your rheumatologist and that you have an obstetrician that is experienced in dealing with women with lupus or high risk pregnancies. With careful monitoring and the appropriate use of your medicines, it will be possible to successfully manage your pregnancy when you have RA or lupus. Friday, August 2, 2013 Chronic Renal Failure - Specialized Ayurvedic Treatment Chronic kidney disease is defined as kidney damage or a decreased kidney glomerular filtration rate of less than 60, for 3 months or more, irrespective of the cause. This results in a progressive decline in kidney function, resulting in accumulation of toxic waste products, excess water and salts, increased blood pressure, anemia and many other complex symptoms. Chronic renal failure is divided into Stages I - V, out of which the first three stages are asymptomatic, and usually discovered incidentally, while doing routine blood tests. The management of chronic renal failure consists of treatment of the underlying cause if possible, aggressive treatment of high blood pressure and other symptoms, liquid and diet control, cessation of smoking, and finally, with end-stage disease, resorting to dialysis or a kidney transplant. The Ayurvedic treatment of chronic renal failure is based on three principles: (i) treating the damaged kidneys (ii) treating the body tissues (dhatus) which make up the kidneys and (iii) treating the known cause. According to Ayurveda, the kidneys are made up of the "Rakta" and "Meda" dhatus. Treating these two dhatus is also an effective way to treat the kidneys. Medicines used are: Patol, Saariva, Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Chirayta (Swertia chirata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Chandan (Santalum album) and Shunthi (Zinziber officinalis). Lastly, the known cause of chronic renal failure is treated using medicines which also act upon the kidneys. Vascular (related to the blood vessels) diseases like renal artery stenosis and inflammation of the artery walls(vasculitis) can be treated using medicines like Arogya Vardhini, Tapyadi Loha, Mahamanjishthadi Qadha, Kamdudha Vati, Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Bhrungraj (Eclipta alba), Saariva, Kutki and Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina). Primary glomerular diseases like membranous nephropathy and glomerlonephritis can be treated using Punarnava, Gokshur, Saariva and Manjishtha. Secondary glomerular disease resulting from diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis etc. can be treated accordingly, using the medicines appropriate for those diseases. Similarly, suitable Ayurvedic medicines can be given for other causes like polycystic kidneys, prostate enlargement and neurogenic bladder. For patients with chronic renal failure intending to take Ayurvedic treatment (or for that matter, any alternative treatment), the following points should be kept in mind: (i) all patients should be under the regular supervision and treatment of a qualified and experienced Urologist (ii) Ayurvedic medicines should be taken in the form of additional treatment, and should not replace other, regular treatment or dialysis and (iii) the attending Urologist should be informed of the decision to start Ayurvedic treatment. Diet Therapy For Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is marked by pain, stiffness and swelling of joints, affecting those under 16 years of age. Fortunately, the problem has low occurrence, as only about 1 out of 10,000 children report the disease. It appears in one of three forms; pauciarticular (less than four joints affected), polyarticular (four or more joints affected), and systemic-onset (inflamed joints with high fever and rash). Despite encouraging medical advance, diet therapy is still an appealing way to control juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It is a promising solution for the young ones with the early diagnosis of the problem. Therapy is an effective diet plan which controls symptoms like inflammation and pain, besides, contributing to the overall wellness of the child. Several diets hold the promise to relieve or prevent arthritic symptoms. The effective dietary approaches use fasting, vegan diets and elimination diets. The fasting diet comprises of periods of only juice and water. Vegan diet brings everything, except the animal derived products, while the elimination diet restricts foods supposed to cause joint inflammation and hyper active immune reaction. Vegan diet is designed to meet all the nutritional requirements of the child. Particular foods and nutrients are really exceptional for treating rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, omega-3 fatty acids containing foods are helpful in reducing inflammation. They are involved in decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine level. Different fish types including salmon, albacore tuna, lake trout, herring, sardines and mackerel are good sources of this helping agent. In addition, several plant-based sources such as flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts and canola oil are good for it. Mineral, vitamins and anti-oxidants play a significant role in controlling arthritis symptoms. Try to include fruits, vegetable and whole grain food in your diet. Intake of calcium-rich foods, such as low-fat dairy products improves bone health, making it stronger and resistant. Put your child on the Mediterranean diet, having a low content of red meat and a high content of olive oil. Olive oil is good for inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell activity, adhesion molecule expression on lymphocytes and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Some foods are strictly prohibited in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Citrus fruits, for example, generally aggravate the symptoms. Wheat and other rough grain products also may elicit severe allergic reaction in such patients enhancing the production of pro-inflammatory agents causing pain and swelling. Diet therapy is a mild, least risky but exceptionally effective way of treating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. What Causes Arthritis Knee Pain? Arthritis is a disease which causes pain and damage to the body's joints. Any joint can be affected, and all will cause different quality of life issues. One of the problems that affects many sufferers is arthritis knee pain. There are different causes for this pain depending on the type of arthritis that you have. The knee is made up of three bones. It is located where the bottom of the femur and the top of the tibia meet. It is protected in the front by a bone known as the patella, or kneecap. There are a number of tendons and ligaments which hold the bones in the proper alignment and allow the bones to hinge properly. There is also cartilage which is located on the bones and under the kneecap that cushions the joint and prevents damage to the leg bones. A tissue pad called the meniscus also helps cushion the joint. In osteoarthritis, knee pain is a result of the break down in cartilage. The ends of the bones become rough and jagged in later stages of the disease, and knee damage and pain can result. Osteoarthritis is normally a disease which affects older people but younger people who have injured their joints may also experience the symptoms of osteoarthritis. With rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system attacks the joints and can destroy cartilage. There is inflammation, heat and swelling in addition to joint pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of any age, which makes it different than osteoarthritis. There are a few different ways that you can treat knee pain that comes from arthritis. There are anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers and supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin that are designed to support and repair cartilage. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, there are oral medications which are designed to modify the way the disease is affecting you. They include methotrexate. Gold therapy is also used although this is much less common now that safer drug alternatives have been discovered. If you are suffering from pain in your knees, you should check with your doctor to make sure that there are no untreated injuries. This can include torn cartilage, damaged ligaments, or even a dislocated kneecap. Surgery can correct these. If your joints are severely damaged by arthritis, you may need to have the joint surgically replaced. Other non medical means of treatment can include heat wraps and arthritis creams. These can soothe sore joints and provide some relief. Remember that you should never heat a joint that has been affected by rheumatoid arthritis. You want to calm the heat that is in the joint, not add to it. You also want to make sure you are continuing to use the joint since letting it become immobile will not help and you will end up with more severe problems down the road. Arthritis websites or a rheumatologist can help you establish a safe and effective exercise routine. Knee pain can be one of the most difficult aspects of arthritis to deal with. You use your knees for so much in your life that having pain can cause problems in your every day routines. Knowing what your treatment options are can help you get on with your life and stay as normal as possible. Graves Disease And Rheumatoid Arthritis Do you have Graves disease? If so, then you must be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as well. Graves disease and rheumatoid arthritis are two diseases that are linked to each other. One common symptom of patients suffering from this disease is a fine tremor in their hands and fingers. Incidentally, this is also a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. Graves disease is an autoimmune disease. It is a health problem wherein a person's immune system attacks the thyroid glands. And consequently, it causes the same gland to produce too much thyroxin hormone. It is usually referred to as hyperthyroidism's most common form. The similarity between the two is the fact that they are both autoimmune diseases. Like Graves disease, rheumatoid arthritis is a problem with the immune system, causing chronic inflammation on the joints. A person with rheumatoid arthritis has his joints being attacked by the antibodies, thinking that they are detrimental to the body processes. But of course, either the thyroid glands or the ligaments of the joints they aren't harmful to one's health at all. But both of them moves the body's immune system to think and work otherwise. The antibodies, instead of attacking bacteria and viruses, end up destroying the glands and the parts that are needed by the body to function. As such, Graves disease and rheumatoid arthritis [] should be treated and cured early on. Because if not, a number of other health complications can be expected. And everybody wants to keep a healthy body. Therefore, it is advisable that you consult with a doctor at once if and when you experience any symptom related to these diseases. Controlling Arthritis Symptoms With Chiropractic Care Not too long ago, arthritis was deemed to be just another facet of the aging process - something someone would have to suffer through. Once arthritis reared its rickety head, patients were advised to slow down, rest and take drugs to alleviate the symptoms. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. Recent findings have added a wealth of new evidence to question the treatment of arthritis. Arthritis is defined as an inflammation of the joints, and is commonly used to refer to rheumatic diseases. Diseases of a rheumatic nature consist of more than 100 conditions. Among them are psoriasis arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. One of these conditions is rheumatoid arthritis, which affects about 2 million people in the US. Even though rheumatoid arthritis typically starts either in one's middle age or, more frequently, in one's later years, some patients experience symptoms much earlier. Those afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis experience joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and, in more severe cases, loss of function. The following symptoms categorize rheumatoid arthritis: Joints that is swollen, warm, and tender Prolonged joint stiffness and pain that lasts more than 30 minutes A general sense of illness, tiredness, or fever Symmetrical symptoms; both joints are affected (both wrists, for example) Most often the wrist and finger joints that are closest to the hand are affected as well as the shoulder, hip, knee, elbow, ankle, neck, and feet Symptoms can progressively spread to other parts of the body, not just the joints, and can last for years The way in which rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself is highly individualized. There are those patients who experience only mild symptoms for a few months or a number of years, and then see their symptoms disappear. Others have moderate symptoms with occasional flares (when the symptoms worsen), and periods where the symptoms also either gets milder or disappears for a time. Those patients who have severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, experience constant pain. Their pain persists for years, and may lead to serious joint damage and/or disability. Arthritis and Exercise In order to ameliorate symptoms, arthritis patients can greatly benefit from regular exercise. In fact, exercise is considered key to arthritis management. Exercise promotes the maintenance of healthy, strong muscles, flexibility, endurance, and joint mobility. However, rest helps to lessen active joint inflammation, fatigue, and pain. To achieve optimum results, one needs to strike a balance between the rest and exercise - resting more during active phases of arthritis and exercising more during the times when symptoms decrease. In those times when symptoms systematically or locally flare up, patients can gently exercise their joints. A health care provider should be consulted in order to determine how much rest is best during these periods. Exercises known as "range of motion," such as dance, stretching, and tai chi, help maintain regular joint movement and stimulates overall joint flexibility. They can be done on a daily basis, or at least three or four times a week. Strengthening exercises such as mild weight lifting helps increase muscle strength, which plays a role in supporting and protecting affected joints. Unless the pain and swelling is severe, these exercises should be done three or four times a week. Other aerobic exercises, such as walking and swimming, aids the cardiovascular system, muscle tone, and weight control. Swimming, in particular, provides a low risk of stress injuries and has little impact on the body, making it an ideal option for many patients. Swimming can be practiced for 20 or 30 minutes every other day if the symptoms are not aggravated. The Role of a Chiropractor in Managing Arthritis Your chiropractic doctor can help your body move with more ease and comfort. The need for pain medications is reduced once the body is aligned and can move more freely. Chiropractic care can significantly help avoid arthritis' more damaging effects. Chiropractic care addresses lifestyle, diet, exercise, and other factors that influence a person's health as a whole. A healthy weight and immune system are also relevant factors in preventing the more harmful effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Chiropractic care focuses on physical manipulation and alignment, so that joints can benefit from adjustments aimed at reducing pain and stiffness. Many additional approaches of chiropractic care address the needs of arthritic patients. The incorporation of massage in chiropractic care can play a role in reducing stiffness, helping the arthritic patient move more freely. Heat and cold compresses helps relieve arthritic pain. In addition, electrical stimulation is linked with encouraging the release of endorphins, also countering pain receptors. Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, holistic way to promote overall health and manage conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, reducing the reliance on strong medications. As well as addressing joint inflammation through physical manipulation, chiropractic care can tailor the right exercise program, and offer comprehensive nutrition and supplement advice for your needs. Gouty Arthritis Treatment and Causes Gouty arthritis is also known as gout. This article is going to detail the top gouty arthritis treatment methods, as well as some of the causes. First, however, an overview of gout is necessary. Many people do not realize what it is and thus may not even be sure that they have it. It is a classically misunderstood problem. Gout is typically characterized by attacks wherein there is a burning kind of pain, a stiffness, and a swelling within certain joints. The attacks will continue occurring until the gout itself gets properly treated. If left untreated, gout can cause serious harm to the tendons, joints, and various other tissues in the body. Generally, men have gout more often than women. People who are overweight have a higher chance of getting gout. The same goes if you tend to drink a lot of alcohol, or eat high quantities of fish and meat which have a high purine content. There are even certain medications, like diuretics, which can cause gout in some people. Usually, the big toe is where the symptoms of gout which most often occur. The big toe may become tender, it may swell, take on redness, and be the victim of sharp pains. Other times, gout pains occur in the feet, the ankles, or even the knees. An attack may last for several days or it can go on for weeks. A physical exam will be done to diagnose gout. Sometimes, fluids from the joints are taken and checked for uric acid crystals. An abundance of uric acid within the blood is the primary cause for gout. As such, blood tests are also done to diagnose the problem. Quite often, the treatment of gout can consist of a shot of a medicine called corticosteroid. Sometimes, one or more different medications are prescribed. As the symptoms begin to lessen, the dose will gradually decrease as well. If the treatment begins quickly, the gout patient will begin to feel relief within twenty four hours. Otherwise, you can rest the joint which is causing you the most pain. Over the counter anti inflammatory medications can be beneficial as well. However, you should not take aspirin. It can cause the level of uric acid in your blood to get higher. You also want to manage your diet and stay away from the aforementioned foods whenever possible. Cut down the amount of alcohol you drink. Make sure you are getting all the healthy nutrients you need. Drug Free Arthritis Treatment Using a Tens Machine Arthritis is a painful condition that can affect the joints. This is a common chronic disorder that can not only cause pain and discomfort but can also be limit mobility. You can treat arthritis with many different methods including a drug-free tens machine. Who Suffers From Arthritis? Arthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints that occurs commonly as we get older. There are a number of different types of arthritis that can also affect younger people. For example rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that has been found to affect women from as early as their mid-twenties. Why Use a Tens Machine? A tens machine can offer a pain relief treatment for arthritis that does not involve drugs. Taking arthritis medication can be an effective way to treat the condition. However the long-term impact of these drugs can result in a number of side-effects. This is why doctors are keen to encourage other pain relief methods such as a tens machine as an alternative, particularly in younger patients. How Tens Machines Work A tens machine works by using soothing pulses of electricity. These are transmitted to areas affect by arthritis by small pads placed on the skin. The electrical pulses are used to suppress the pain messages that are travelling to the brain. This can relieve symptoms of pain without the need for strong medication. A tens machine can also help to encourage the body to produce more natural pain killing chemicals (encephalins and endorphins). This can be an effective way to manage pain resulting from chronic conditions like arthritis without having to resort to powerful and expensive prescription medication. A tens machine is often used alongside physiotherapy. These are both pain relieving treatments that do not require the use of drugs. Physiotherapy helps you to improve overall fitness and mobility with stretching and toning exercises. Physiotherapists are able to assist you with managing your condition and can also provide that treatments. You can also find out more about where to get that therapies from your doctor or health care centre. Pain Management Tips To help you make the best out of your tens machine sessions here are a few essential tips: - Pace Yourself - don't push yourself too hard if you have arthritis. This can exacerbate the pain and make it more difficult to manage. Make sure you keep your activity at a comfortable level. Try to find the right balance between resting and working or moving around. - Exercise Regularly - exercising can help you to improve your overall health and stamina. This can also help you to manage pain as exercise release natural pain relieving chemicals such as endorphins. When you have arthritis you do need to take more care when exercising. Speak to your physiotherapist or doctor about suitable exercises for your condition. Thursday, August 1, 2013 When Treating Arthritis, There are Definite Foods to Avoid, and Specific Arthritis Foods to Eat Foods to Avoid You need to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio in any of the foods you eat is as low as possible - this is because excess phosphorus will increase the loss of calcium from the body and worsen the condition. The more phosphorous-containing foods you eat, the more you need to supplement with a good source of calcium. Reduce your intake of: o red meat, red-fleshed fish o most grains, especially wheat. o soft drinks - high in phosphoric acid o organ meat (liver, kidney), processed meat - especially high in phosphorus o caffeine - increases the rate of loss of minerals and nutrients o fried foods and vegetable oil - a high intake of fried foods and omega 6 from vegetable oil can make the inflammation worse o sugar - results in poor absorption of nutrients o antacids - neutralize stomach acid and result in poor absorption of calcium (heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and NOT ENOUGH stomach acid!) Important Note: Eliminate the bad fats such as margarine, cooking with too much vegetable oil and fried foods from your diet. A high intake of vegetable oil (a source of Omega 6) needs to be avoided as this will aggravate any inflammation. Arthritis Foods The best arthritis foods are diets high in calcium and magnesium and other trace minerals - this will ensure healthy bone and bone matrix structure. Specific nutrients are also required to build bone and bone structure. Calcium: Non fat milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, snow peas, soybeans, tofu, sardines, salmon, walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, kale and other green leafy vegetables, broccoli, alfalfa seeds - to name a few. Milk isn't a great source of calcium because it has a low magnesium content and you need magnesium to get the calcium into your bones. Magnesium: Many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, bananas and apricots - all these make great arthritis foods. Vitamin D: is required to get the calcium into the bones. The best source is the sun - about 10 minutes per day is fine. Other sources include dairy products and fatty fish. Trace minerals: Boron and Manganese are important to help the body absorb Calcium; the best sources of Boron are green leafy vegetables, apples, almonds pears and legumes. For Manganese, look for ginger and oats as your arthritis foods. Collagen & Support Tissues: Collagen is part of our bone matrix, the cartilage in our joints and in the fluid that protects and lubricates our joints. It's also part of our skin, hair and the connective tissues of the body. Arthritis foods containing the following nutrients will provide nutrition for bone support: zinc, copper, selenium and beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Green leafy vegetables and pumpkin seeds are good sources of zinc; selenium may be found in brazil nuts from Brazil (because of the high selenium content in the soil); while Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. Eggs and meat are good sources of amino acids which form part of the collagen structure. Essential Fatty Acids - are excellent arthritis foods and are required for the body's natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory responses. They are also part of the protective joint fluid. Best sources are from fish (particularly oily fish such as salmon and mackerel), animal fat and some oils such as flaxseed (for omega 3)and borage oil (for omega 6). Regarding essential fatty acids, ideally you should consume Omega 6 EFA & Omega 3 EFA at a ratio of 2:1. Most people find it very difficult to get this right (the average ratio in the U.S. and UK is around 10:1) so we suggest you use an EFA Supplement from a quality source. Final Note on Arthritis Foods While it is possible to meet some of your dietary requirements from the food you eat, if you are serious about preventing or reversing arthritis, you need to consume these arthritis foods in combination with nutrient supplements. Also consider that the majority of the food we eat is grown in minerally-depleted soils - so an almond may not contain all the calcium and magnesium it's supposed to have, sad but true! If you have a busy lifestyle, eat junk food and/or can't get enough fresh food in your daily life, then you should consider supplementing with all 90 essential nutrients including plant derived colloidal minerals and supplements containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Calcium and magnesium are normally very difficult to absorb from our arthritis foods diet and from supplements, however, calcium liquid supplements containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin D and Glucosamine are a good way to supplement your diet. Supplements that specifically assist with maintenance and repair of the joint such as Glucosamine, are also beneficial. If you suffer pain and inflammation, then CM Cream has been scientifically and medically proven to relieve pain and improve mobility. The use of a digestive enzyme supplement - will improve the absorption of the good arthritis foods you eat and will maximize the benefit you receive from taking supplements. As we all reach the age of 40, our stomach acid concentration begins to fall and this can lead to complications of existing chronic disease conditions, such arthritis. 1. Avoid foods high in phosphorus - particularly SOFT DRINKS, processed foods, processed meat and organ meat. No fried foods, cooking oil or margarine - use butter small amounts of extra virgin olive oil. 2. Eliminate caffeine and sugar from your diet and stop taking antacids. 3. Consume food with a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and eggs. Reduce your intake of red meat and fish. 4. Consider the use of supplements to support and reverse your arthritis, and digestive enzymes to maximise the absorption of the food and of the supplements. Doctor... I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis - Can I Drink Alcohol? Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic disease and the most common cause of crippling. RA affects roughly 2 million Americans. The treatment of RA involves the use of two major types of medications. The first type is the anti-inflammatory group. These help with symptoms. The second type is the disease modifying group. These help slow the disease process down. Both groups of medicines are metabolized through the liver. What that means is that it is not a good idea to use alcohol either heavily or chronically while on these medicines. In fact, many rheumatologists advise their RA patients taking methotrexate- one very common disease modifying drug- to avoid alcohol altogether. Another issue is the increased rate of peptic ulcers that can develop in patients taking non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Concomitant alcohol use increases the risk of ulcers. Now... what is the evidence to the contrary? A recent Swedish study found that a copious dose of alcohol reduced the risk that mice would develop rheumatoid arthritis. Lead researcher Dr. Andrzej Tarkowski, professor of rheumatology at Goteborg University said, "I wouldn't dare to do it (the experiment) in humans." The mice were given a daily regimen of tap water supplemented with 10 percent alcohol. "That would do liver damage in humans," Tarkowski noted. Tarkowski, published the findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (December 19, 2006). Tarkowski was interested in the mechanism by which alcohol might help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own joint tissue. "We have shown that it goes through the up-regulation [increase] of testosterone," he said. "That down-regulates inflammation, which is part of the arthritic process." "Test tube studies also show that alcohol increases the migration of white blood cells, which take part in the inflammatory process," Tarkowski added. In the experiment, male mice were given injections of collagen to induce rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers noted a significantly lower onset of disease and fewer destructive symptoms in mice who drank water with 10 percent alcohol added in, than in those who drank plain tap water. Does this now give permission for RA patients to party hardy? The study has very little application to humans in that it was a study designed to study possible RA prevention in male mice through testosterone modulation. Since most RA patients are women, the results of the study probably aren't useful for most RA suffereras. It might be interesting someday to look at possible RA prevention in men using alcohol but it's entirely too premature to look at it now. Tarkowski also alluded to the possibility of using acetaldehyde, a breakdown product of alcohol, in preventing rheumatoid arthritis. Acetaldehyde though is toxic and it would have to be used cautiously, if ever, in a human trial. My advice is that it's OK to have an occasional drink. In particular, there is evidence that red wine might have beneficial effects as far as cardiovascular risk, which is a real worry in RA patients who appear to have accelerated atherosclerosis as part of their disease. But do it in moderation. Arthritis Cure: Nature's Amazing Disease Reversal Process Arthritis cure or arthritis reversal and recovery - call it what you will. Any adult stricken with arthritis will tell you they spend a great deal of time searching for anything that can offer even a glimmer of hope that one day they will, in fact, find an arthritis cure. This is an admirable mindset and many who are stricken with arthritis will have varying degrees of success in that pursuit. If you have arthritis and are determined to find a cure, I applaud your tenacity but there is something you must know if your efforts are to bear fruit. The great majority of arthritis cases develop as a consequence of certain physiological, mental and emotional conditions. In order to cure arthritis, per se, nature will exact from you an effort that you may or may not be able to muster. She will require that you retrace every step along the path to sickness that you originally passed through while the disease was setting up shop and gaining strength. The effort of which I speak will take you back through every major painful and stressful episode you encountered since you first contracted arthritis. The distress you will experience will include memorable mental and emotional episodes that were tied to your arthritic condition. In the language of alternative health practitioners, this is known as nature's disease reversal process. No degenerative illness, of which I'm aware, can be removed from the body until its roots are torn out. If you don't retrace the steps and pick up every bit of rubbish and waste material the disease has left in its wake, your body will not be properly positioned to heal itself of your rheumatic disease and grant you the arthritis cure you seek. Nature requires that you clean up the mess along the way on the path back to health - the disease reversal process. How does this mysterious process work? It's based on a natural law that proclaims: 'all cure comes from within the deepest recesses of the body and proceeds outward toward the skin. It moves from the head down toward the feet and it will heal in the reverse order in which the symptoms originally appeared in the body.' What this implies is that degenerative disease states develop along predictable lines and travel the same predictable course, in reverse direction, back to the acute stage of initial irritation and inflammation. In essence, an inflammation continually treated with drugs, without focusing on the cause of the inflammation, will eventually advance to the sub-acute stage, then onward to a chronic condition and ultimately to a degenerative disorder such as arthritis. To bring about an arthritis cure, or complete healing, you must travel backward along the path you took to get where you are today. It can be intense, upsetting, disturbing and possibly one of the most difficult things you will ever do. However, if you persevere through all of this you may find that elusive treasure you seek - an arthritis cure served to you on nature's golden platter. Worries Over New Arthritis 'Smart Drug' Monthly Injection While the media currently feeds a frenzy of excitement regarding the new arthritis gene therapy drug known as Tocilizumab, Hundreds of thousands of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers are offered new hope in beating there debilitating condition. The new drug is being heralded as a mile stone in rheumatoid arthritis treatment following a trial in which nearly half of patients on the medication found their condition did not get any worse. Tocilizumab, which will be sold under the brand name 'Actemra' works in conjunction with an existing treatment, methotrexate, and is administered monthly in hospital. In the trial, taking methotrexate on its own only stopped symptoms in eight per cent of patients.Combined with Tocilizumab, 47 per cent of patients saw their condition halted. The drug is still under review in the UK by Nice ( National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) but is it expected to gain its UK marketing license in January 2009. Nice caused some controversy recently by ruling that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers could not switch from one form of a pain relieving drug to another if the initial treatment did not work. There are fears that Tocilizumab - which could cost up to £10,000 per annum - may not become available on the NHS and if it does become available will it be available to the masses and not just the few. Known side effects include diarrhea thalamic infarction, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, vomiting, upper respiratory tract inflammation, ligament rupture, hypoaesthesia, headache, cholelithiasis. gastrointestinal bleeding, gastroenteritis, bronchitis, Pneumonia and a potentially serious bacterial skin infection called cellulitis. Concerns have also been expressed in regard of cholesterol levels apparently Tocilizumab is thought to raise LDL, which is bad cholesterol, & could put patients at risk of heart attack or stroke. Study participants who took Tocilizumab also had a higher risk of serious infections compared to study participants who were treated with methotrexate alone or with a combination of a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug and a placebo. Reported problems with Tocilizumab in Japan, Reported Tocilizumab problem on Oct 25, 2005. Male patient, 34 years of age, was treated with Tocilizumab. After the drug was administered, patient experienced the following problems/side effects: acidosis, alpha haemolytic streptococcal infection, bacteraemia, brain abscess, candidiasis, cerebral hemorrhage, dehydration, depressed level of consciousness, disseminated tuberculosis. Dosage: unknown. During the same period the patient was treated with Klaricid, Iscotin, Ethambutol, Hydrochloride, Rifadin & Pyrazinamide, following the medication the patient was hospitalized. Patient unfortunately died on 02/19/2006. Another reported Tocilizumab problem was reported by a Physician from Japan on Nov 30, 2005. a female patient, 53 years old, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was treated with Tocilizumab. After the drug was administered the patient in question experienced the following side effects: condition aggravated, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, thalamic infarction. Tocilizumab dosage: unknown During the same period the patient was treated with Methotrexate, Predonine, Diclofenac, Misoprostol, Nifedipine, Arotinolol, The patient was hospitalized but later recovered. These are just a couple of incidents which have been reported, however many more can be found if you Google Tocilizumab, of course, as with any medication, problems will exist due to their toxicity. Tocilizumab may be an excellent treatment for some, but perhaps not so for others. How To Treat Arthritis Naturally Without Prescription Drugs When you face the pain, stiffness and swelling of arthritis you want to find something that will help alleviate the problem. Your doctor may prescribe medications that will help with the inflammation and pain but these treatments often come with the potential for addiction and a list of possible side effects. This could easily leave you wanting to find other alternatives that do not carry the same risks. There are plenty of herbal and natural remedies that are used regularly for that very purpose. Knowing which ones to try comes down to locating the ones that resolve the problems you are trying to alleviate. You should also consult with your physician on any remedies that you choose to use so that you can be monitored. The diet you consume can play a pivotal role in the effect your arthritis has on your body. One of the most obvious effects of a healthier diet is that you will be able to reduce any excess weight. This weight places unnecessary pressure on your bones and joints and increases the pain and other problems that you may feel. In addition to this benefit, some foods enhance the arthritis symptoms while others help to fight them. If you want to fight your arthritis you will want to consume a diet that is healthy and rich in omega 3 fatty acids. The more vitamins you take in the better off your body will be. Sugar, dairy and wheat only work to make arthritis worse and should be eliminated from your diet. You will begin to feel the effects of a healthy diet fairly quickly and as you lose weight you will notice many other benefits as well. With exercise you are helping that goal of reducing your weight, but you will see more advantages to your body than simple weight loss. Regular exercise helps your body to relax and stay mobile. If you are mobile then your joints are consistently moving. This will help to prevent the stiffness that often accompanies arthritis. An active person will have less stiffness in their joints than one who is sedentary. Stiffness is one of the most difficult symptoms of arthritis because it causes you problems moving around. You may find yourself unable to do normal tasks that you once performed easily. Castor Oil Castor oil has been used for many things over the years and arthritis is among them. You can use the oil as a rub when your joints become sore and swollen. Simply rub the castor oil into the joints and you will feel the relief it provides. It is also a great oil to use for massaging joints to help prevent the soreness and stiffness that you often feel. Many people have found that castor oil provides relief almost instantly. Taking in enough fluids is vital to your health for many reasons, but fluids have to be the right ones. The best fluid you can take in is water. It will work to release the built up toxins in your body and keep your organs functioning as they should. Water will keep you from suffering constipation problems as well. Another benefit of water is that it keeps the joints lubricated so that they move easier and more freely. You can even count on plenty of water to aid in your weight loss goals. Ginger was discovered to relieve pain in arthritis many years ago by the Chinese. Like many supplements, ginger works well in both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Since pain is one of the most predominant symptoms of arthritis, ginger is a favored herb among many sufferers. Those who use it say that it can take as long as three weeks before the effects are noticed. Unlike prescription pain medications, a user does not have to be concerned with addiction to ginger and does not have to worry about side effects. It can cause a slight increase in blood pressure, but otherwise is considered safe among those who take it daily. Not all herbal remedies have to come packaged in a supplement. You can take advantage of the celery you already have in your home. The benefit of celery is that it is known to be an anti-inflammatory. This means that if you consume it you will likely see a decrease in swelling. You can opt to eat the celery if you wish or you can make a celery tea and drink it. If you choose the tea you will need to drink as much as three cups a day when the pain is at its worst. Cortisone is a popular medication used to treat arthritis, but it carries with is some side effects that you may not wish to contend with. If you opt to go with licorice you will not have to. Licorice offers the user the same effect they would get with cortisone without the side effects that they do not want. It helps alleviate pain when you consume the extract daily. You may notice a slight increase in blood pressure, but it carries no other serious side effects. The most popular supplement for arthritis is glucosamine. This is a natural substance that is made in the body and helps to rebuild and repair the damaged cartilage. When your body ages you do not produce as much glucosamine. Because of this your body does not repair the cartilage as easily. You are left with deteriorating cartilage in your joints. Taking these supplements can help to rebuild the cartilage and alleviate the pain and swelling that comes with arthritis. People have been taking glucosamine for many years as a treatment for their arthritis because it attacks the cause of the problem and not the symptoms. It is often combined with chondroitin to receive the maximum effect. There are some minor side effects that may occur, with the worst being a reaction in those who are allergic to shellfish. Some Natural Ways to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious form of arthritis where the immune system which is supposed to defend the body, actually starts to attack it. It is more serious than say osteoarthritis simply because in addition to the standard joint pain and swelling, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause anemia, poor circulation and debilitating fatigue. The best natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are the same as osteoarthritis, however with more emphasis being placed on diet. Here is a look at a few that have proven to be particularly helpful. Heat Application Whether it be electric blankets, heating pads or hot packs, applying heat to painful joints can offer substantial relief. One method of heat application that has shown to be particularly helpful is hot baths, especially when infused with essential oils such as rosemary and eucalyptus. Cold Application At the other end of the spectrum is the application of cold. This is most effective and appropriate when your joints are really inflamed. A cold pack or bag of peas compressed against the area can bring much needed relief in a short period of time. This is due to the fact that the cold reduces the swelling fast and also stimulates the nerve endings which acts as a distraction against deeper joint aches and pains. Vegetarian Diet Recent studies have shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis showed significant improvement after just 30 days of switching to a vegetarian diet. This diet also excluded eggs, dairy, gluten, caffeine, alcohol, salt and refined sugar. Going vegetarian may seem like a daunting prospect if you are a heavy meat eater however being vegetarian is not about just eating vegetables / salads. There are lots of beautiful tasting, hearty dishes that can be prepared. If you are interested in this just do a search online for vegetarian recipes. You will find plenty. However, if vegetarianism is not an option for you, the next best thing is to really tune into your body after you eat. This will give you some insight into which particular foods seem to flare up your symptoms. You can then decide whether or not to reduce or exclude these foods from your diet. These are just a few things you can do to treat your rheumatoid arthritis naturally. I know this is an awful condition to have to deal with (my Mother has it) and my heart goes out to you. Just keep an open mind and keep trying new things until you have got enough 'things that help' in your back pocket that you can draw on as needed. Wednesday, July 31, 2013 Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Life-threatening Condition? Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis and affects approximately two million Americans. It is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by abnormal function of the immune system. For whatever reason (and that reason is still unknown), the immune system attacks healthy tissue. In rheumatoid arthritis, joint tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles, are attacked and become inflamed. Symptoms that develop include painful, swollen, tender joints. The small joints in the hands and feet are the most commonly affected. Other prominent symptoms include fatigue and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease meaning it attacks many different organ systems. One organ system that can be affected are the blood vessels. This inflammation of blood vessels is called vasculitis. It is especially dangerous because vessels carry blood throughout the body: to the brain, lungs, skin, kidneys, and heart. "Shutdown" of organs occurs. Why? As the inflammation of the blood vessels progresses, the blood vessels are no longer able to transport blood. Vasculitis due to rheumatoid arthritis can lead to heart attack and stroke. (Roman MJ, et al. Preclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Annals Int Med 2006; 144: 249-256) A sidebar to this is the eye involvement that can occur. Inflammation of the sclera- the white part of the eye- can lead to blindness as a result of perforation or hemorrhage. An interesting side light to this is that several studies provide evidence that long-term smoking contributes to the immune system's malfunctioning. This most likely explains why smoking is associated with increased severity of the disease. This is also why smoking and rheumatoid arthritis make a terrible combination. Smoking causes premature atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis does also. If untreated, rheumatoid arthritis significantly shortens life span by an average seven to eight years. It increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. Sixty percent of untreated patients are disabled and dependent on others to take care of them within 10 years. One other factor that contributes to the shortened lifespan is the increased incidence of lymphoma that occurs in patients with RA. Arthritis Treatment: What Are the Common Tests Ordered on Arthritis Patients? Laboratory tests are an integral part of "working up" a patient with arthritis. While there is no substitute for a careful and thoughtful history and physical examination, laboratory testing has a number of important functions including screening in and out different conditions, confirming diagnostic suspicions, staging disease, monitoring progress of disease and checking on effects of therapy. While routine testing including complete blood count (CBC), chemistries, urinalysis, and such are part and parcel of "standard" testing, this article will focus on the "arthritis tests' most often ordered. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate) is a time honored blood test for measuring inflammation. As a response to inflammation, the liver produces proteins that coat red blood cells. This causes the blood cells to clump and sediment faster than individual red blood cells. The sed rate is sensitive but not very specific, so that it can be increased as a result of inflammation due to arthritis, malignancy, or infection. Other conditions where the sed rate can be elevated are pregnancy and diabetes. The C-reactive protein (CRP) is another blood test that measures inflammation. It rises more quickly than the sed rate and resolves more quickly as well. In that respect it probably is a better test for monitoring the inflammation of arthritis. Unfortunately it can also be elevated in patients with other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking, and obesity. Rheumatoid factor is an antibody (IgM) that binds to another antibody (IgG). It is positive in about 70-75 per cent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Early in the disease it can be negative and it remains negative in about 20 per cent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It can also be positive in other diseases such as syphilis, sarcoidosis, malignancies, and infections. In recent years, other forms of rheumatoid factor have been identified which can be useful in diagnosing patients who have rheumatoid arthritis but don't fit the "usual mold." Anti-CCP is another blood test that is based on an autoantibody directed against the amino acid, arginine. It is much more specific than rheumatoid factor for rheumatoid arthritis although in our lab it is a bit less sensitive. Anti- CCP can occur early in the disease and predicts patients who will have more aggressive disease. We often will use the combination of rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP to achieve both increased sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis. Antinuclear antibodies are just that... antibodies directed against the nucleus of cells. This is a test that is useful for screening for systemic lupus erythematosus. A patient who is negative for ANA does not have lupus with about 99 per cent certainty. Unfortunately, ANA can be positive in many other conditions including other autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's disease, scleroderma, inflammatory muscle disease, malignancy, and infection. It can also be positive in up to 30 per cent of healthy people. For patients where a high level of ANA is noted, there are more specific tests that can be ordered in order to sort out the diagnosis. How You Can Get Arthritis In The Fingers Did you know that arthritis can also attack your fingers? Arthritis in fingers is also a common symptom of arthritis. Our hands are one of the most important parts of our body. We almost can't do anything without using our hands. Each of our fingers has a different function. What if one of our fingers is disabled? Can we still do what we want? Possibly, yes, but it will be more difficult the more advanced the arthritis is. And by difficult, I mean painful; even worse, as arthritis advances, you may cause even more damage to your finger joints, making even more difficult to move your fingers. The types of arthritis that typically attacks our fingers are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis commonly affects those of more advanced years, but rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone of any age. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that is a result of years of wear and tear on the joints. Eventually the body is unable to keep up with the damage, and the connective tissue is unable to regenerate to its former elasticity. When this happens, it can harden and crack, allowing the bones of the joints to come in contact, resulting in pain. Do you crack your knuckles? This is one way to induce wear and tear of the finger joints, which can result in arthritis in fingers down the line. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder; basically, your immune system, for some reason, starts to attack the tissues around your joints, resulting in damage similar to that in osteoarthritis. This damage happens on a quicker timetable when compared with osteoarthritis, however, and those with rheumatoid arthritis will often eventually experience arthritis in fingers. In both cases the symptoms are the same: joint pain, swelling, cracking sounds, stiffness and immobility. While the arthritis is not yet advanced, you may only experience some swelling and joint pain, which may go away in time. But you may also hear some cracking sounds when you move your finger joints, which is a sign of damaged connective tissues. Eventually, if the arthritis in fingers gets worse, your fingers may become immobile and deformed, as the flexibility and mobility of your fingers is lost. The pain of arthritis in fingers can be relieved through a variety of treatments. Just as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, there are medications that can relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation. Some less advanced cases may also be treated with physical therapy, while more advanced cases may require special surgery to restore mobility. There are also a variety of natural remedies that can be used to treat arthritis when it attacks your fingers, though the most important of them involve a healthy diet and lifestyle, in order to help your body fight the effects of arthritis. Important Symptoms and Treatment of Polimialgia Reumatica Both the inflammatory rheumatic diseases polimialgia reumatica and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are often overlapping conditions with undiscovered causative factors. There are some clinical indicators that are common to both conditions and they typically occur in adults over the age of fifty years. As far as the incidence of both disorders in America and England it is estimated that GCA occurs approximately 200 cases per 1 million people. For polimialgia reumatica depending on the country of choice the annual incidence can be anywhere from 120 - 1120 per million. Giant cell arteritis is easier to diagnose than polimialgia reumatica. The typical presenting symptoms are a new, not normal headache that feels like head pain that is associated with an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate or a high C-reactive protein level. The most feared side effect of gca is permanent visual loss. This occurs in approximately 15% of cases and is the reason why GCA is treated as a rheumatologic emergency. Other possible but less common signs and symptoms include jaw or tongue numbness which happens as a result of decreased blood to the head and jaw due to inflammation narrowing the arteries. Upon further testing about half of sufferers will have vascular inflammation affecting several main arteries throughout the body. Polimialgia reumatica on the other hand presents with stiffness and aching of the neck, shoulders and hips. Associated with this by one third of patients is weight loss, fever and mental disturbances like depression. There may be no known cause for the onset. The symptoms may appear almost overnight or develop over a period of a few days. Although pain and stiffness may feel like they are originating in the joints or bones, that is not the case. Polimialgia reumatica only affects the muscles or the muscle attachment to the bone called the tendon. It is usually present on both sides of the body. Often a final diagnosis may take some time as other conditions such as neurological, hormonal and endocrine are ruled out. A standard approach of corticosteroids is used for both the treatment of GCA and polimialgia reumatica. The best practice is to find the lowest dose possible that can still provide symptomatic benefit, this is termed a maintenance dose. This is desirable to decrease toxicity from the drug. During the current day there is no set way for determining this dose for each individual other than trial and error. Typically people will begin on medium or high doses and this is monitored and then lowered gradually. More than half of patients with polimialgia reumatica and about one third of GCA have a relapse of the condition and therefore need to stay on corticosteroids therapy for several years. A large number of relapses happen in the first year of treatment in conjunction with the corticosteroid dosage being reduced to less than 7.5mg per day. In conjunction with a medical approach for polimialgia reumatica some sufferers have benefit from lifestyle and dietary changes and nutritional supplements. Trying to reduce the amount of stress in your life and promoting a calm and relaxing mind can benefit some individuals. Improving your diet and decreasing the amount of processed foods that you eat and increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables can only be beneficial to helping your body cope with both these disorders. Also the addition of natural supplements that are aimed at reducing inflammation can help. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Role Of The Occupational Therapist In Seating - 1 Correct seating for the patient with rheumatoid arthritis is very important, as if the patient has a seat/chair that is not suitable, it will result in pain and/or discomfort aggravation. On top of that, it will also contribute to the worsening of his or her independence when they want to get up to go toilet, answer the phone, have a meal etc. Very few patients with rheumatoid arthritis have adequate seating support in their chairs. Perhaps it is a financial limitation, or it may be a case of lower priority so the project may have been shelved. For seating clinics, many simply provide a means of elevating the seating itself as an option, which most of the time, unnecessary for the person with rheumatoid arthritis. When choosing a chair for a patient, the following should be considered 1. Patient is to wear his or her usually worn home shoes to ensure that the correct height is measured using day to day tools and equipment. 2. The fabric needs to be a firm one (vinyl material causes perspiration, which leads to other problems) 3. The adequate seat height for the patient is measured from the bottom of the shoes (soles) to the back of the knees of the patient in sitting, and the knees must be at right angles (90 degrees). 4. Seat depth is measured from the back of the buttocks, to the back of the knees of the seated patient. 5. Seat width needs to be measured with the patient seated in the chair, with 1-1.5 inches extra space on each side from the buttocks. This is for turnings, transfers and overall comfort. It should not be more than a total of extra 3 inches as it will result in a further apart arm rests. 6. There needs to be backrest contours along the entire length of the spine, including the neck, and angled to suit each individual patient. 7. Arm rests are required, and they should support the arms without requiring the patient to hunch their shoulders. 8. Each arm rests for the chair should be level, or inclined slightly at the digits, reaching right to the front of the knees to help the patients in getting to stand. 9. It is best when the arm rests are padded with cushions to make room or accommodate painful flare up of joints and nodules. 10. There should not be any boards or crossbars that brace the front legs of the chair, as this will limit the patient's ability to stand up on their own. Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Getting to the Bottom of a Rheumatoid Arthritis Natural Remedy A rheumatoid arthritis natural remedy works by treating the cause and rebuilding the joint with natural supplements. The cause of Rheumatoid arthritis has been identified many years ago and successfully treated using a simple antibiotic. However while doctors continue to debate this treatment, everyday people continue to suffer. According to naturopath, physician, health and longevity expert and veterinarian Dr Joel Wallach in his book, 'Let's Play Doctor', "This disease has been recognized and eliminated by the veterinary industry". Dr Wallach contends that the cause of the disease isn't a problem with your immune system - it's caused by a foreign organism such as a bacteria or a virus attacking the joint capsule membrane and the tendon sheaths of the fingers and toes. And this then triggers the normal immune system response which involves inflammation, heat around the joint, sickness and fever. To first begin treating the infection - most likely a pleuro-pneumonia or similar organism that causes upper respiratory infection and pneumonitis - you need to discuss options with your health care professional. One suggestion is an older antibiotic such as minocycline as it has few side-affects than its modern counterparts. You should discuss minocycline treatment with your health care practitioner - and if they're not interested, then you can always go an get another opinion. The facts are that a significant number of people in a number of scientific studies have shown improvement during and after treatment with minocycline - one this is one treatment option you shouldn't ignore just because your doctor has never heard of it. The process of rebuilding the joint and providing a rheumatoid arthritis natural remedy involves supplementation with the building blocks of the bone, joint and joint capsule. The ideal supplements for bone and joint health are: o All 90 Essential Nutrients - a multi-nutrient supplement plan involving minerals, vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids. o Supplements containing glucosamine & chondroitin improve lubrication of the joint, may ease pain and improve the repair process o An effective pain relief cream - such as Cetyl Myristoleate cream which is scientifically proven to reduce pain &inflammation and improve mobility Just to recap, for supplements to help with a rheumatoid arthritis natural remedy, start with the 90 Essential Nutrients the body needs to achieve good health. This involves 60 minerals, 16 vitamins, 12 amino acids and essential fatty acids (which will also help with natural pain relief). The addition of specific supplements that support healthy bones & joints such as glucosamine/chondroitin and a natural pain relief remedy will also assist. One other thing to consider in any rheumatoid arthritis natural remedy - especially if you are taking some type of antibiotic to treat the infection - is that you need to make sure that your 'gut flora' - the good bacteria that help you break down and absorb nutrients - are healthy. This will also maximize the effectiveness of the supplement nutrients. In this case it is recommended that you consume foods that are high in these organisms - such as natural yoghurt with acidophilus or take a supplement that contains high amounts of this 'good bacteria'. The use of a digestive enzyme product will also assist the absorption of the nutrients in the supplements and from food and may greatly assist relief and recovery. Here's a summary of the things we've covered in this article: 1. A rheumatoid arthritis natural remedy is achieved by treating the likely cause - most likely a bacterial infection - with a safe antibiotic such as minocycline 2. Supplementing with the 90 essential nutrients, glucosamine, chondroitin and CM will help the body rebuild the joint as well as provide pain relief and reduce the inflammation 3. Consider the use of digestive enzymes to improve absorption of the nutrients Finding Relief From Arthritis Pain in an Adjustable Bed Arthritis is a joint disorder that leads to inflammation in one or more joints. Due to the increasing number of people affected by this condition, health experts and various institutions today are finding effective ways to prevent and cure arthritis. One of the popular solutions recommended by experts to relieve and prevent arthritis is to sleep with the legs and feet positioned in a manner that promotes exceptional blood flow, and the best way to achieve this end is through the use of an adjustable bed. Arthritis is one of the main medical conditions that can be prevented and eased by using adjustable beds during sleep. Arthritis is becoming a serious problem especially in the United States. According to studies, arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the US. The country also spends more than $50 billion every year for hospitalization, medications, doctors, physical therapies, home care, wage loss, family discord and death due to arthritis. Because of this condition, people's functionality and overall quality of life is degraded. For example, individuals with arthritis may not be able to engage in the physical activities to which they are accustomed. Arthritis may even be debilitating, depending on the severity of the pain. Common Types of Arthritis and Available Treatments There are numerous types of arthritis and each is classified according to their causes. Two of the most common arthritis affecting millions of people all over the world is osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is joint inflammation caused by wear, tear, and aging. On the other hand, Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by disorder in the immune system. Various treatments for arthritis include medications, physical therapies, and even surgical procedures. These treatments may help to alleviate arthritis but it cannot prevent relapse. In addition, many of these treatment options are unavailable to the masses because they may be very expensive. How Sleeping Well Can Reduce Arthritis Pain One effective solution to ease and prevent arthritis is to sleep in a position that inflicts minimal tension on the joints and tendons. Most adjustable beds can be adjusted in order to raise the legs and feet during sleeping. Health experts usually recommend that patients elevate their lower body preferably with their legs raised about 40 degrees higher from the bed or the 90/90 sleeping position. This position promotes proper blood and fluid circulation in the muscles, joints, and tissues preventing joint diseases like arthritis. With a good and proper sleeping position, adjustable beds are also effective in relieving joint pains caused by arthritis. Proper sleep also helps the body to repair and recover faster from certain wear and tear affecting the muscles and joints. With a properly rested body, adequate sleep and relieved arthritis, people can now work properly and do the things they need to do efficiently. Arthritis is a very common condition especially for aging adults. However, this condition can also affect young people due to various causes like autoimmune disorders and infections. Using adjustable beds when sleeping can help the body relieve arthritis and preventing it from coming back by promoting proper blood and fluid circulation in the joints and muscles. Proper sleep also means better body rehabilitation especially wear and tear problems affecting the joints. Compared to other expensive solutions, using adjustable beds is a natural and noninvasive solution that can provide effective and long-term effect with less cost.
I love the map feature on my smart phone. I am no longer burdened by carrying a stack of maps that feel like they could fill every library in the world thrice over. And unlike print maps, the map program can tell me if I’m about to encounter bumper-to-bumper traffic or some other horrible event. It truly is a wonderful piece of technology. If only, we could have something similar when it comes to our health. Well, maybe we do. The market is inundated with wearable devices and other pieces of technology that can help improve our healthcare. Using personal data and other bits of data, we can have a lovely voice, vibration, etc. tell us it’s time to move, what exercises to do or what foods to eat. Technology has even advanced to the point that wearables can deliver insulin (or another medication) when a patient needs it (Amgen, 2017; Falcone, 2015). These technological advancements have provided people wonderful new ways to manage their health. What if, though, we could see deeper, casting light all the way to the molecular level? Would we get more insightful information? Evidence already suggests yes. Consider the emerging field of proteomics (measuring the constant changes in the proteins that constitute us). Proteins are the products encoded by our genomes and responsible for what happens in the cell. Changes in protein concentrations or combinations can be an early warning of an oncoming health event (Schubert, Rost, Collins, Rosenberger, & Aebersold, 2017). To measure thousands of proteins over a very broad concentration range simultaneously and quickly, however, proves to be a daunting challenge long recognized (Chandramouli & Qian, 2009). SomaLogic, a company nestled in Boulder, CO, has discovered a way to achieve what may have seemed impossible. Instead of relying upon mass spectrometry (a conventional means of looking at proteins), SomaLogic has developed a unique, chemically-synthesized affinity agent (known as a SOMAmer) for each protein. At the moment, over 1,300 SOMAmers are available and more are in the works. SomaLogic incorporates the SOMAmers into a SOMAscan assay to detect changes in the proteome (over a very large concentration range). The SOMAscan platform can provide insights that are invaluable to the medical community. For example, the information gleaned from the technology provided risk scores for an oncoming health event (such as a stroke or heart attack), which was better than conventional methods (Ganz et al., 2016). In another instance, the SOMAscan platform could retroactively identify patients who would suffer an adverse reaction to a drug being tested in clinical trials. The platform even identified the organ systems that would be affected by the new drug (in progress). The power of the SOMAscan assay is being increasingly recognized by many different researchers in many different fields. In recognition of its potential, the Chinese “Digital Life” company iCarbonX invested $161 million dollars into SomaLogic to push protein-based health insight generation further and faster (Bonislawski, 2017). In the near future, the SOMAscan platform is going to expand from the currently offered 1,310 SOMAmers to more than 5,000. It is envisioned that a version of the SOMAscan platform will one day be able to identify and monitor the 20,000 proteins that constitute our bodies (Bonislawski, 2017). By coupling the technology with biological samples provided by collaborators/partners, the company intends to deliver deep insights that carry the potential of identifying oncoming medical events, grade a response to a medical treatment or lifestyle choice, and more. With this type of molecular vision, it is possible that individuals will be empowered to take progressive action to enjoy greater health for most their lives. This may prove beneficial in other ways, such as decreasing medical care costs by catching things early and decreasing health insurance costs because people are staying healthier longer. I can hardly wait till my phone has a feature linked to this technology. I can already hear the lovely voice say, “Alert. A (insert a medical event of choice here) is in your near future. Time to change direction.” Amgen (2017, April 18). Retrieved from https://www.amgen.com/media/news-releases/2017/04/amgen-launches-neulasta-pegfilgrastim-onpro-narratives/. Bonislawski, A. (2017, May 25). With $161M In Funding, SomaLogic Shifting Focus to Dx and Wellness Products. Retrieved from https://www.genomeweb.com/proteomics-protein-research/161m-funding-somalogic-shifting-focus-dx-and-wellness-products Chandramouli, K., & Qian, P. Y. (2009). Proteomics: challenges, techniques and possibilities to overcome biological sample complexity. Hum Genomics Proteomics, 2009. doi:10.4061/2009/239204 Falcone, A. (2015, October 13). Doctors and Patients See Benefits of Wearable Technology. Retrieved from http://wnpr.org/post/doctors-and-patients-see-benefits-wearable-technology/. Ganz, P., Heidecker, B., Hveem, K., Jonasson, C., Kato, S., Segal, M. R., . . . Williams, S. A. (2016). Development and Validation of a Protein-Based Risk Score for Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Patients With Stable Coronary Heart Disease. JAMA, 315(23), 2532-2541. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.5951 Schubert, O. T., Rost, H. L., Collins, B. C., Rosenberger, G., & Aebersold, R. (2017). Quantitative proteomics: challenges and opportunities in basic and applied research. Nat Protoc, 12(7), 1289-1294. doi:10.1038/nprot.2017.040
Secret sex lives of bacteria 'behind antibiotic resistance' The 'peculiar' way in which bacteria reproduce could be behind their resistance to antibiotics, UK scientists have said. A new study from Imperial College London, published in the journal Science, says that disease-causing bacteria are becoming resistant to new antibiotics by picking up DNA from other bacteria, even from other species. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a 'major challenge' to those treating infectious diseases, with the bacteria involved in this study - pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumonia) - responsible for causing one million deaths annually through pneumonia and bacterial meningitis. Dr William Hanage, the lead author of the study, said that bacteria have 'very peculiar sex lives'. 'When humans have kids they mix up their DNA with that of their partner, but bacteria can pick up DNA from all sorts of places, even other species,' he revealed. 'Our research shows that bacteria which do this, that is undergo sex, with their own and other species are more likely to develop resistance to antibiotics, protecting them from being killed by these drugs.' Bacteria reproduce asexually, by splitting in two to produce identical 'daughter' cells. Sometimes, however, they can take up DNA from other bacteria or the environment and incorporate it into their own genome. This mixing process, called recombination, is what happens in animals during sexual reproduction. It is most common between bacteria of the same species but, unlike animals, bacteria can sometimes undergo recombination with different species of bacteria, which means the daughter cells end up with some DNA from those species. Some combinations of DNA help bacteria to survive better. It appears that antibiotic resistant strains of pneumococcus are more likely to mix up their DNA in this way, and so are more likely to hit upon the adaptation which helps them resist antibiotic treatment. Dr Hanage added: 'Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, particularly for potentially dangerous pneumococcal infections. Our new findings help us to understand how bacteria can wriggle their way out of tight spaces, finding ways to evade the drugs we bombard them with. 'Ultimately, we hope that we could use this knowledge to limit the emergence of new types of antibiotic resistance.'ADNFCR-554-ID-19215599-ADNFCR More from Netdoctor: This medication could protect against 99% of HIV strains It's shown promise in tests on monkeys Multi-coloured towels hanging up This is exactly how dirty your towel is Time to do a wash... Group of people at standing desk Your standing desk might not be as good for you as you think Depending on how you use it, says research Secondary school boy asleep on desk Does this controversial (and expensive) chronic fatigue syndrome treatment really help patients? Despite new research, ME experts remain sceptical and say the Lightning Process could be damaging Man in betting shop 4 myths about gambling addiction you need to stop believing It's not about the money, money, money 7 foods that can help if you have high blood pressure Simple changes can support high blood pressure management little girl with cancer What you need to know about blood cancer Student feeling ill with cold What is Fresher's Flu? And how do you avoid it? The first week of university can take its toll 16-year-old girl dies from rare condition caused by hair chewing A "hairball" was reportedly found in her stomach Sad teenage girl Mental Health A quarter of all young girls are depressed, study shows Experts say the problem is "reaching crisis point"
Printer-friendly versionSend by emailPDF version Una Kumba Thompson talks about the special challenges facing Liberian women and calls for greater solidarity amongst African women. For over two years Africa and the world has seen and witnessed the rise and fall of Liberia. Starting from the 1800s with the arrival of free slaves to the shores of West Africa, leading to the declaration and independence of Liberia in July 26, 1847. Since that time, Liberia has served as a beacon of hope for Africa, until 1980 when this “proclaimed” peaceful country experienced its first calamity of a bloody coup de tait. The country thereafter degenerated into anarchy and chaos, with rampant corruption, human rights abuses and bad governance as its hall mark. 1990 civil war was the final result of one hundred and forty years of rule of successive governments. It is estimated that over 250.000 Liberians and other nationals died in this crisis; including raping of women/girls, sporadic killing, execution of civilians and destruction of millions of dollars of property, infrastructure and a complete break down of the rule of Law. Liberia became a “no mans” land with its people fleeing and seeking refugee in various African, European countries including America; thousands languishing in refugee camps. The once beloved nation, one that African countries strived to emulate had become a sad story. Just as everything must come to an end, so it was that the civil crisis came to an end in 2003.The ushering in of another interim government with the support of regional and international organizatons, countries lead the process of the general elections of Liberia. The election of 2005 saw again the transformation of Liberia, setting once more a record in African history as the first African country to elect a woman as their President H.E Ellen Johnson – Salieaf. Liberia is once again on the rise, showing to Africa and the world at large that indeed women are capable of leading their nations. African women as well as Liberian women are now singing the song “this is our time” while African men are now realizing that times have changed and that women also can be Heads of state. Fingers are pointing to, heads are turning towards, and eyes are focused on Liberian not in pity but in admiration- setting the pace once more for true democracy in the African continent. Liberian women have felt the tied of woes over the years, paid the price of successes, failures in blood, tears, sacrifice even unto death. Their sufferings are untold, their numerous contributions, yet not recorded. Today, Liberian women are more conscious of their rights to political, social and economic inclusion and their significant contributions. It is in recognition of these rights that their issues are identified in order to correct the wrongs and rebuild Liberia for sustainable and lasting peace. There are many issues that women are faced with in Liberia that were never considered National issues, but norms of the society and community. This orientation is a major cause of women marginalization, discrimination, exclusion and human rights abuse. Some of the prevalent issues that are of grave concern are; Gender Based Violence (GBV) { rape, domestic violence, Sexual exploitation), Harmful Cultural practices, particularly FGM, the lack of marketable vocational and technical skills, illiteracy and access to Justice. Before the civil war, women/girls were seen as sex objects, to provide sex for the pleasure of men be it by coercion, force, exploitation, mutual agreement or violence. Sexual abuse was never a topic to be discussed in private or public. The Liberian government and society perpetuated a culture of violence against women that saw the escalation of rampant sexual abuse against women and girls during the war. Even though the guns are silent, women and girls continue to suffer sexual violence. The lack of political will to implement laws to protect women/girls and the acceptance of harmful cultural practices,( FGM, beatings, killings, arranged child manages, incest, rape, dowry or bride price) are major contributing factors to the high rate of illiteracy, violence and vulnerability of women in Liberia. For this and many other reasons, WOLPNET- Women of Liberia Peace Network, a non political, governmental organization, has joined the vanguard to promote women’s rights and to advocate for the adherence to and implementation of national conventions such as the AU Protocol to support, protect and enhance women social economic, civil, liberty and political development. With the collaboration and financial support from regional and international organizations, WOLPNET is engaging communities, public and policy makers through its program/projects to sensitize and highlight these issues affecting women Advocating for change in policy, ending violence against women, elimination of harmful cultural practices (Female Genital Mutilation), right to dignity, life, and integrity. Through its media program, Women Agenda, WOLPNET is spreading the message of positive change; a change that is transforming and defining politics in Liberia; a change that must also be realized in the lives of women by the elimination of vices that impede women progress, calling for full implementation of; Article 2 elimination of discrimination against women ,Article ¾ rights to dignity, life integrity and security of the person Article 8, Access to justice and equal protection before the law by the AU Protocol on Human and peoples rights on the right of women in Africa. To my sisters and women, I urge you to say no to male supremacy, superiority, political domination, exclusion, discrimination and Violence against Women (VAW). Stand for peace, justice, equality and unity. The road is rocky and very rough right now, but my sisters, it has been for a long time before now. Like Liberian women, you have been excluded, abused, misused, disgraced, discriminated against and persecuted. Nevertheless, stand firm. Liberian women can do it you can do the same .Do not go down but stand up fighting for women’s right; your bodies may be broken but do not allow you sprit and minds to be broken. Remember, many are called but few are chosen- to lead the cause for justice and equality. Una Kumba Thompson is CEO of Women of Liberia Peace Network (WOLPNET). *Please send comments to or comment online at
This website is no longer actively maintained Some material and features may be unavailable Mother Earth has a fever And what about justice? Among the disruptions that could result from testing the Pinatubo Option is a weakening of the Asian monsoon, a source of water for hundreds of millions of people in India. Those in developing countries will “eat the risk” of geoengineering trials, shouted one of the climate scientists at Asilomar during his presentation. If representatives from just a small set of countries were appointed as doctors to the planet, then the less powerful nations might end up as the world’s guinea pigs. Of course, the citizens of those nations also would seem to have the most to lose from uninterrupted global warming. These two dangers would have to be measured one against the other—and compensation as part of the experimental program could be one way of making tests more fair. If medical ethics aren’t quite up to the task of guiding our forays into geoengineering, what other sort of principles should we keep in mind? One important danger to be aware of is the moral hazard that might come with successful trials. That’s the idea that protective circumstances or actions can encourage people to take undue risks—government insurance of banks led to risky investments that caused the savings-and-loan crisis in the 1980s, for example. Moral hazard looms particularly large for geoengineering studies since medium-scale field tests could prematurely give us the sense that we have a low-cost technical fix for global warming, no emissions cuts needed. (Moral hazard isn’t quite as potent in medical research. The availability of cholesterol-lowering drugs may well discourage people from maintaining healthy diets, but it’s unlikely that mere clinical trials would have the same effect.) Another ethical principle that might apply to geoengineering is minimization—the idea that, a priori, it’s better to tinker at the smallest-possible scale necessary to answer vital scientific questions. This notion comes from the ethics of animal experimentation; now we might apply it to planetary systems and the environment more broadly. Up until now, the medical ethics frame for geoengineering has guided discussions of how geoengineering might affect people in various countries. Perhaps we should be talking about how it affects the planet itself. By that token, we might gain something by thinking of the Earth as a patient on its own terms. The rules and regulations we come up with for tests of geoengineering should take into account the way those experiments might affect ecosystems and nonhuman animals, both under threat from warming. And so maybe the most famous piece of medical ethics ought to apply: the Hippocratic Oath. “First, do no harm” is the crux of the original, but an updated version exhorts doctors to avoid “the twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.” The climate crisis may force us to act despite myriad ethical challenges, for our benefit and for the planet’s. This story was produced by Slate for the Climate Desk collaboration. • Differing views on fracking's impact • thumb Too much solar energy? • thumb Nominee has industry ties
UW News June 23, 2016 How well do facial recognition algorithms cope with a million strangers? photo of images in MegaFace gallery “We need to test facial recognition on a planetary scale to enable practical applications — testing on a larger scale lets you discover the flaws and successes of recognition algorithms,” said Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizerman, a UW assistant professor of computer science and the project’s principal investigator. “We can’t just test it on a very small scale and say it works perfectly.” Google’s FaceNet showed the strongest performance on one test, dropping from near-perfect accuracy when confronted with a smaller number of images to 75 percent on the million person test. A team from Russia’s N-TechLab came out on top on another test set, dropping to 73 percent. graphic of MegaFace results By contrast, the accuracy rates of other algorithms that had performed well at a small scale dropped by much larger percentages to as low as 33 percent accuracy when confronted with the harder task. The MegaFace challenge tested the algorithms on verification, or how well they could correctly identify whether two photos were of the same person. That’s how an iPhone security feature, for instance, could recognize your face and decide whether to unlock your phone instead of asking you to type in a password. “What happens if you lose your phone in a train station in Amsterdam and someone tries to steal it?” said Kemelmacher-Shlizerman, who co-leads the UW Graphics and Imaging Laboratory (GRAIL.) “I’d want certainty that my phone can correctly identify me out of a million people — or 7 billion — not just 10,000 or so.” Images showing facial recognition matches The MegaFace challenge highlights problems in facial recognition that have yet to be fully solved – such as identifying the same person at different ages and recognizing someone in different poses.University of Washington They also tested the algorithms on identification, or how accurately they could find a match to the photo of a single individual to a different photo of the same person buried among a million “distractors.” That’s what happens, for instance, when law enforcement have a single photograph of a criminal suspect and are combing through images taken on a subway platform or airport to see if the person is trying to escape. “You can see where the hard problems are — recognizing people across different ages is an unsolved problem. So is identifying people from their doppelgängers and matching people who are in varying poses like side views to frontal views,” said Kemelmacher-Shlizerman. The paper also analyses age and pose invariance in face recognition when evaluated at scale. The MegaFace challenge is ongoing and still accepting results. The team’s next steps include assembling a half a million identities — each with a number of photographs — for a dataset that will be used to train facial recognition algorithms. This will help level the playing field and test which algorithms outperform others given the same amount of large scale training data, as most researchers don’t have access to image collections as large as Google’s or Facebook’s. The training set will be released towards the end of the summer. “State-of-the-art deep neural network algorithms have millions of parameters to learn and require a plethora of examples to accurately tune them,” said Aaron Nech, a UW computer science and engineering master’s student working on the training dataset. “Unlike people, these models are initially a blank slate. Having diversity in the data, such as the intricate identity cues found across more than 500,000 unique individuals, can increase algorithm performance by providing examples of situations not yet seen.” Co-authors include UW computer science and engineering professor Steve Seitz, undergraduate student and web developer Evan Brossard and former student Daniel Miller. For more information, contact Kemelmacher-Shlizerman at kemelmi@cs.washington.edu.
Frank’s Framework: Germany By Jess Bank Because the educational system used by the FRG during the days of East and West Germany is the system used today, we will analyze the educational system used today using Frank’s Framework. Frank’s Framework has four topics and three lines of questioning for each topic. While the questions are most effective when used at one time and regarding one particular issue, the framework can also be applied broadly by applying knowledge of the educational system and addressing questions that seem appropriate for the issue. Frank’s Framework can be found on page 274 of the Kubow and Fossum (2007) text. Policy Effectiveness One question addressed under policy effectiveness is, “what monetary and other costs are associated?” Education is compulsory and government-funded, much like it is in the United States, so there is a good deal of government funds associated with education; however, I am more inclined to consider the other costs associated with this educational system. When being sorted into secondary education tracks, students whose parents have degrees are at an academic advantage, and immigrants are at a distinct disadvantage (Reucher, 2012) (Speigel, 2006). The costs associated with this is that students who are disadvantaged are sorted into tracks of lower achievement and probably do not get degrees. When their children go to school and are sorted, the same thing could potentially happen. This cycle lends itself to class stratification, which is a huge social cost to consider. Theoretical Adequacy In terms of theoretical adequacy, we will next cover, “what reasoning and justifications are associated with this issue?” One idea illustrated in the Kubow and Fossum (2007) text is that students can change tracks, or “move up or down the ladder (pg. 192).” When met with the criticisms of students being sorted too early, I think German educators could use this idea to rebut. While students are sorted, it is not a permanent sort, nor is it indicative of a student’s ultimate ability to enter the university–in theory, anyway. Empirical Validity “What signs or specific changes related to an issue might be relevant? Will these be broadly reconized?” In short: everything changed, and yes it’s recognized. While it’s not an issue per se, the entire educational structure of East Germany changed, resulting in mass layoffs of teachers, a completely different approach to education itself, and a different view of how education should function and what purpose it should serve. This huge overhaul of…everything, really, is still broadly recognized because the wall fell in 1989–just over 20 years ago. These changes are all relevant because it changed the whole structure of a country, so it is, of course, relevant. Ethical Merit Finally, let’s examine the question of roles and responsibilities–“are roles and responsibilities openly discussed?” In some senses, yes. Because of the tiered government system of overseeing education, roles are very well-defined by necessity, and I believe if they are well-defined, they are discussed. Additionally, teachers in Germany have such influence over sorting their students–another role that is widely recognized and, therefore, most likely discussed. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
New Hubble Telescope Photos Capture One of the Universe's Most Stunning Formations Source: NASA, ESA/Hubble and the Hubble Heritage Team In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope captured what would become one of history's most enduring images of the universe: The Eagle Nebula's Pillars of Creation. Now, 20 years later, Hubble has released a collection of brand new, high-definition shots of the iconic formation. If you thought the universe was hauntingly beautiful before, wait until you see these. Comprised of three towers of gas, dust and space matter, structures like this are not altogether uncommon in star-forming regions. But as the Hubble website notes, the Pillars of Creation are some of the most photogenic and mesmerizing examples ever seen. "The Hubble image of the pillars taken in 1995 is so popular that it has appeared in film and television, on tee-shirts and pillows, and even on postage stamps," HubbleSite writes. The telescope used the Wide Field Camera 3 to capture the stunning new images. It sees near-infrared light, visible like and near-ultraviolet radiation, and also has higher resolution and a bigger field of view than the camera that came before it. This time, Hubble also captured an image taken in infra-red light, which "penetrates much of the obscuring dust and gas and unveils a more unfamiliar view of the pillars," according to the website. "Here newborn stars, hidden in the visible-light view, can be seen forming within the pillars themselves." Not everything is happy-go-lucky in Pillars of Creation-land, however. Despite their name, the new shots indicate that the pillars are also being worn down by the very stars they are helping to incubate. "The dust and gas in these pillars is seared by intense radiation from the young stars forming within them, and eroded by strong winds from massive nearby stars," HubbleSite explains. Arizona State University's Paul Scowen, who helped lead Hubble's first deep dive into the Eagle Nebula, stressed just how incredible our sightings of the Pillars are. "I'm impressed by how transitory these structures are," he said in a press release. "We have caught these pillars at a very unique and short-lived moment in their evolution." Interestingly, environments like the Eagle Nebula and other star-forming regions were instrumental in our own solar system's development. "What that means is when you look at the environment of the Eagle Nebula or other star-forming regions, you're looking at exactly the kind of nascent environment that our Sun formed in," Scowen said.
By Todd Hargrove The SAID Principle The SAID Principle While it is almost impossible to understand and account for all these separate mechanisms in devising a training program, it is easy to remember the general SAID principle - it means that the body is always trying to get better at exactly what you practice. Adaptation is Specific So if you want to get better at dealing with some some form of stress such as hitting a tennis ball or running 26 miles, start exposing yourself to the stress in question and then hope that the body makes some favorable adaptations. There are two major limitations to keep in mind. First is that the training stress must be the right amount and second, the stress must be sufficiently specific to ensure "transfer" or "carryover" to your sport or activity. Let's look at these issues in turn. The Right Amount of Stress Stress in the right amount simply means not too much and not too little. If there isn't sufficient stress, there will be no adaptation, and if there is too much stress, you will cause injury or burnout. If you want to strengthen your arm bones, tapping them with your finger won't help, and a whack with a hammer will just break them. If you have been biking for years without improvement in your speed or endurance, then maybe you are not exposing yourself to sufficient stress to encourage the body to build the adaptations that will allow biking success. On the other hand, maybe your failure to improve is because each workout is too stressful, and therefore the body is failing to fully recover before the next workout and is instead just progressing into chronic injury. The basic rule about getting better at anything is to keep progressing the level of difficulty of the training without getting hurt or overtired. Very simple concept in theory, but it can be hard to apply in practice. Performance tends to plateau when the difference between too much and too little is so small that we can't find it. The greatest athletes in the world are those people who are able to expose themselves to the greatest amount of stress without injuring themselves. At some point even they will reach a point where further stress will only cause injury instead of adaptation. Most of us reach this point much sooner. Carryover of Training to Sport The carryover issue is a little more complex. Remember that that the S in SAID stands for specific. This means that the body only makes adaptations to withstand the specific stress it encounters - it has no interest wasting time making changes that don't directly address the issue. For example, if you train your right arm, the right arm will get stronger, not the left. If you practice the piano, you will get better at the piano, not horseshoes. But if you practice the piano will you get better at the oboe? Maybe a little. In other words, there is a some carryover or transfer from piano to oboe. There's probably a lot of carryover from piano to organ. How much does your training program in the gym carryover to the sport you are training for? The answer as confirmed by almost any study on this issue is - probably nowhere near as much as you would imagine. Let's use some examples. What about trying to become a better soccer player by using a swiss ball or other unstable surface to train your "balance." Study after study shows that training on an unstable surface confers no measurable performance benefits on the field of play that could not be obtained by general exercise. In fact, people who train balance on a swiss ball are no better than anyone else at balancing with one foot on the ground! Why? It turns out that the mechanism by which the body balances on an unstable surface (called the "righting reflex") is a totally separate mechanism from that which allows you to balance on a stable surface (called the "tilting reflex." But you don't even need to remember all that, just remember the SAID principle - if you want to get better at soccer, play soccer, don't try to balance on a ball, that's an entirely different skill. So, in summary, remember to keep training simple - if you want to get better at X, do X as hard as possible without getting hurt or overtrained. Be very skeptical of the carryover or transferability of "functional training" or even training that purports to be "sport specific." Chances are, it's not. Nerve Mechanics Part I The Skill of Relaxation
Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III Business Environment Topic – 1 Nature of Business Environment Q1 what is Business Environment, what is the importance of Business environment? Ans: Business is any activity undertaken for the purpose of producing or selling a particular commodity r service and earns a profit. The business has several dimensions such as purchasing the inputs, converting the inputs into the output, selling that output at a profitable price. Every dimension of a business depends upon several factors. Hence a business is influenced by several factors, all them put together are described as Business Environment. A business can grow and prosper in a particular environment just as a plant can grow in a particular soil, climate, water supply etc. Hence the entrepreneur has to pay attention to the environment in which he has to conduct his business activities. If he is able to adapt his business to the environment effectively and efficiently the business can make higher profits. This makes the study of business environment important. The business environment is studied under different categories and sub-categories. Business Environment Micro Customers Competitors Suppliers Channel Intermediaries Society (Public) Macro Demographic Economic Natural Environment Political Cultural Legal International Mission and Objectives Plans and Policies Human Resources Physical Resources Financial Resources Corporate Image Labour Management Relations Research and Development Organisational Structure Micro Environment Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III This refers to the factors which influence the prospects of a particular firm; the firm can influence them with certain efforts. They are as follows: 1 – Customers The type and the nature of the customers influence the rate of growth of any firm if the customers belong to an affluent section of the community; they are very particular about the quality of the commodity. The firm has to be very particular about choosing the inputs and transforming them in to the output. The cost factor is subsidiary if the firm is dealing with such customers. If the customers are more commoners the quality of the commodity if less important than the cost of production. The customers want the commodity at a lower price so the firm will have to conscious about the cost in purchasing the inputs, in employment of labour, in packing and such other factors influencing the cost. 2 – Competitors In modern age an absolute monopoly is a very rare thing. Most of the FIRMS have to work in some type of competition such as Monopolistic Competition or Oligopoly. A Firm has to be particular about the intensity of the competition. If the competition is severe the firm will have to be very particular about keeping the costs at the lowest level so that it can sell the commodity at a competitive price. If the Firm is working in monopolistic competition it has to spend substantial amounts of money on marketing the commodity. The firm has to spend on advertisement, promotions the product through brand ambassadors undertaking sports and cultural programmes etc. If the firm is working under Oligopoly, There is Inter-Dependence of the firms whatever action is taken by a particular firm gets a reaction from the other firms. Therefore a firm has to think of the possible reactions of competitors before taking any action. Now a days the non price competition has become more prominent than price competition,. Instead of selling the commodity at a lower price the firms prefer to offer other incentives to the buyers so that they are attracted to the product. The other incentives are in the form of gifts, providing some complementary commodities, a longer period of guarantee home delivery, after sales service etc. 3 – Suppliers The quality of the commodity and the cost of production are considerably influenced by the supplies of the inputs. If the inputs are supplied at economical prices, are of standard quality and if the supply is uninterrupted and timely the firm can produce a standard quality of a commodity and sell it at reasonable prices. Often the firms employ more than one supplier so as to ensure an uninterrupted supply of inputs. Some firms setup their own firms / units for producing or supplying the inputs required. That is helpful in ensuring an uninterrupted supply of inputs at proper time and at proper prices. Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III If the supplies of inputs are regular, consistent and reliable there is no need to keep a larger quantity in stock. The working capital required will be less; the interest on working capital will be less. Interest is a part of the cost of production. If the firm economizes on interest payments it can bring down the cost of production and sell the commodity at a lower price 4 – Channel Intermediaries They refer to the different levels in the chain from the production unit to the final customer. The chain incorporates the stockists, the wholesalers, the distributors, the retailer etc. If there is a high level of efficiency maintained at every part of the chain the commodity can reach the final consumer in good condition and at a reasonable price. So the Firm has to select and maintain efficient intermediaries. The firm has to offer them proper terms 5 - Society: The prospects of a firm depend upon the society in which it has to work and sell its products. In a homogenous society the job of the firm is easy. The people have almost the same habits likes and dislikes, values and ethical norms. In a heterogeneous society the job of the firm is difficult. A particular product may be acceptable to a particular section of the society but not acceptable to some other sections. In a country like India a firm has to into consideration all types of sections of the community such as the religious sections, the caste, the sect, language, region etc. Conclusion: All these forces influence the chances available to a firm to survive and develop. Macro Environment Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III The macro environment comprises of those forces which influence all business firms operating in an economy. They can be studied under the following categories 1 – The Demographic Environment The demographic features of an economy are highly influential in determining the prospects of a business firm. The following dimensions of the demographic environment can be particularly mentioned a Size of the population; A large size provides a large market. In a country like India, the producer of any commodity can hope to have an adequately large market. b the financial status of the population Mere size of population is no guarantee of a market for a commodity except in bare necessaries of life. Even a small but an affluent community can provide a larger market for durable consumer goods like Automobiles, Personal Computers and TV’s. The market for these commodities in a small country like france or germany is much larger than in a larger country like India. The following table shows the demand for certain commodities in India and China Particulars Electricity Con per Capita (kWh) Air Passengers (‘000) PC (per 1000 persons) 12 Mobile Subscribers (per 1000 persons) c – Rural Urban Distribution Normally the demand for most of the costly durable consumer’s goods is higher in urban areas. Therefore if the share of the urban population in the total population is larger, the market for costly durable consumer goods is larger. d - The rate of Growth If the population is growing at am faster rate the share of infants and children in the total population would be larger. Consequently the demand for goods required by infants and children will be higher. If the population is more or less stable the share of the population occupied by senior citizens will grow and that will increase the demand for goods entering in to their consumption eg: Medicines. e – Labour Supply India 435 23,797 44 41 China 1,379 119,797 258 Consequently the firms will have to use labour intensive technologies as far as possible. If the firms use capital intensive technology the problem of unemployment will be aggravated. The government may be forced to increase taxed which will also put a burden on the higher income groups. f – Level of Education and technical training If the educated class occupies a larger share of the population. 566 326 412 60 29 17th Aug 08 . The following table shows the sale of newspapers per 1000 persons in certain countries Japan UK Sweden India Bangladesh Conclusion Thus every aspect of the demographic structure of the population provides an opportunity and also a challenge to a Firm.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III A large size of the population will create a large supply of labour. the demand for newspapers books and notebooks will be relatively higher. It has to convert the challenge into the opportunity and sell its products. The society will have to spend large amounts of money on giving relief to the unemployed persons. they are i) ii) iii) Which commodities should be produced? In which quantities they should be produced? How they should be distributed? The countries are classified in to three groups on the grounds of the methods adopted by them for finding answers to these questions. factories. Every farmer decides the commodity to be produced in his land. Means of transport. their use is also with the individuals. As the ownership of the productive resources is with individuals. Private Use of the Productive Resources: This is a corollary of the 1st feature. but their contribution to total production is very small. Every industrialist decides the commodity to be produced.. shops. Profit Motive: All Productive activities are undertaken with the intention of earning a profit that is an income. A Few productive resources may be owned by the government. theatres. The concerned person has to produce ii) iii) . 1) The Free Market Economies 2) Command Economies 3) Mixed Economies 1 – Free Market Economies Basic Features i) Private ownership of the productive resources: All productive resources in the form of soil. newspapers etc are privately owned by individuals and their groups.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III Economic Environment Economic Conditions in the Market Demand Factors Supply Factors Levels of Income Level of Savings Levels of Spending Number of Suppliers Extent of0 Competition Nature of Supply Economic Environment Economic Policies of Govt Industrial Policy Fiscal Policy Monetary Policy Foreign trade Policy Foreign Exchange Policy Economic System of Country Free Market Economy Command Economy Mixed Economy Economic Systems Every country has to address itself to some basic problems. Welfare Motives: The productive activities are guided by the welfare motive and not by the profit motive. the demand exceeds supply with the result that the price of the commodity rises. The price may cover / may not cover the cost of production. Till the supply rises. within the legal framework. A commodity needed by the community is produced in the required quantity irrespective of the profit or loss made in its production. Administered Prices: The prices of different goods and services are fixed by the government under the expert advice of the planning authority. The use of few resources may be left to individuals. the demand for that commodity rises. The people are free to take up any productive activity and conduct it in their own way.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III something which would satisfy the want of the community and thereby would increase social welfare but the primary end of an individual in taking up any productive activity is to earn an Income. Complete Control by the Government: All Activities relating to the production and the distribution of goods and services are completely controlled by the government. ii) iii) iv) v) 3) Mixed Economy . If the people want larger quantity of a commodity. iv) Non interference on the part of the government: The government does not interfere in economic activities. Collective Use of Resources: All productive activities are undertaken by the government as a representative of the community. This is a green signal for the producers. factories etc are collectively owned by the government which is the representative of the society. Few productive resources may be left in private ownership but their contribution to total production is negligible. They increase the production of the concerned commodity by diverting productive resources from other commodities to the concerned commodity. v) 2) Command Economies Basic Features i) Collective ownership of resources: All productive resources in the form of land. The people have no freedom of production and restrictive freedom of occupation and even of consumption. Price Mechanism: The production of different goods and services and the allocation of the resources in the production of different goods and services is regulated by the invisible hand of the price mechanism. We rejected total capitalism because we had experiences of exploitation and inequalities. Government control over Productive Activities: So far as the public sector is concerned. He features of a mixed economy are as follows i) ii) iii) iv) v) Distribution of Ownership of Resources between Government and People: Some resources are owned by the government and some other resources by the people. . but the basic idea was to entrust some of them to be in the care of the public Sector and keep some others open for the private sector. The economic activities were divided into four categories. it is completely under the control of the government. The Heavy Industries are placed in to the public sector and the light and consumer goods industries in the Private Sector. This gave an assurance to the private sector that it would continue to operate in particular fields. Regulated Prices: The prices of goods produced in the public sector are decided by the government. The private sector is indirectly controlled by the government. Distribution of Productive Activities: The productive activities are divided between the government (Public Sector) and the people (Private Sector). The Industrial Policy Resolution.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III India has adopted mixed economy with the intention of procuring the advantages of both and avoiding their disadvantages. Normally the basic industries. even the prices of the products of the private sector are regulated by the government to balance the interest of the producers on one hand and of the consumers on the other hand. New Industries would be setup by the public sector but existing industries in the private sector would be continued in the private sector. the Capital Goods Industries. They balance each other. Our Choice After getting political freedom we were confronted with the problem of choosing an appropriate system for us. The industries were put into three categories: Schedule A – It consisted of twelve industries. Hence we adopted a mixed economy model. The Industrial Policy Resolution of Sep 1956: This resolution further strengthened our wish to have a mixed economy led by a strong public sector. Welfare Motive and Profit Motive: The activities of the public sector are guided by the welfare motive whereas the activities of the private sector are guided by profit motive. We also rejected socialism because it does not admit freedom which was so dear to us. It was decided that those industries which were already in the public sector would continue with the public sector. 6th April 1948: This resolution ushered mixed economy in to India. This ensures earning a profit and also a high level of public welfare. Up to 1990. Schedule C – All other industries were kept open for the private sector but it was made clear that if any industry in this schedule is not developed properly by the private sector. In the non agricultural sector. The state tries to change the structure of the capitalist economy so as to make it more appropriate for model economy situations.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III Schedule B – It consisted of seventeen industries. 1951. It was decided that as far as possible new industrial units in this schedule will be setup in the public sector but if necessary the private sector may be invited to help the public sector in the development of these industries. Several industries were nationalized the government also introduced very strong controls on setting up and operating the industries with the help of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act. thus government was not debarred from any industrial activity. Economic Conditions in the Market Demand Factors Levels of Income Level of Savings Levels of Spending Supply Factors Number of Suppliers Extent of Competition Nature of Supply 23rd Aug 2008 Mixed Economy . 3/4th of the industries are in the private sector. we operated the mixed economy Model leaning towards public sector. A Change in this policy was made with the economic reforms introduced by the Narasimha Rao government in 1991. Private and state ownership of the means of production In India almost the entire agricultural sector is under private ownership. It is not a complete different economic system. The prominent features of a mixed economy can be described as follows: 1. The private sector got a subordinate position in India’s industrial setup. The air transport is being privatized rapidly. government may develop it. The wholesale and retail trade is mostly in the private sector and transport is also largely in the private sector except the railways transport. .a mixed economy as it prevails in India A mixed economy resembles a capitalist economy with certain modifications. Our business units were required to prepare and execute their policies in that atmosphere. The producers are guided by the changes in the prices of different goods. Intervention Role of the State In a mixed economy the state intervenes in any productive activity with the intention of making it more community friendly. Decisive Role of Market Mechanism with supportive role of planning On the whole the economy is regulated by the market mechanism. If it s found that the private sector is cornering the stocks of a commodity and exploiting the consumers. This is necessary for balancing the balance of payments. The state also intervenes in the market for fixing the prices of commodities. The money market and the capital market supply the long and short term capital required by productive activities. On the other hand if the local currency is appreciating the state enters in to the market and sells it.: depreciation of the foreign currency. The state intervenes in the forex market also through the Central Bank of the country (RBI in India).: Demand for foreign currency) increases which prevents appreciation of the local currency i. 3. If capital is cheaper then the producers use capital intensive technology. A fall in price is a signal to reduce production. If the local currency is depreciating the state enters in to the forex market and starts purchasing it that halts the depreciation. They are also controlled by the forces of demand and supply. The public sector also develops the basic and capital goods industries. If supply exceeds demand the price falls. 2. if the prices are rising the government starts selling that commodity and protecting the interests of the consumers. The fluctuations in share prices reflect the performance of the different companies.e. If the share prices are rising it is a sign of an excellent performance of the company concerned. the state setup its own units to produce the commodity and augment its supply. The public sector is expected to build the infrastructure which is sued by the private sector. The supply of the local currency (i. Their products are used by the private sector but even in this field we are fast moving towards privatization. The technique of production is also regulated by the prices of the factors of production.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III The role of the public sector is supportive. If at a particular price demand exceeds supply the price rises. if labour is cheaper the producers use labour intensive technology. Of course in certain productive activity the technique to be used is determined by the nature of the industry. The prices of goods and services are determined by the operation of forces of demand and supply. Thus the production of goods and services and the allocation of resources as between the production of the different goods and services are controlled by the invisible hand of the price mechanism. If the prices are falling the government fixes minimum prices and purchases the commodity . The level of investment is determined by a balance between the rate of interest and the marginal efficiency of capital. This is also helpful to the company to raise more capital and undertake expansion of its business. A rise in the price of a commodity is like a green signal for the producer to increase its production. This is helpful in arresting the rise in the price of the commodity.e. It is not a matter of any ideological step like socialism. This prevents a further fall and protects the interests of the producers. The more prominent are as follows: 1. The government also undertakes purchase and sale of necessaries of life so as to protect the vulnerable sections of the community against an excessive rise in prices. Planning introduces priorities in the use of resources which is a basic need of a developing economy hence the planning in a mixed economy has a different nature than planning in a socialist economy. supply of cooking gas. Planning is an ingredient of a socialist economy but that does not mean that every economy which has planning is a socialist economy. In a less developed economy which is trying to develop. supply of water and such other commodities which enter into the budget of the common man.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III at those prices. The rise of the UPA government with the support of the leftist parties strengthened the importance of the public sector. 4. It is prone to all types of political. In a developing economy planning is necessary for introducing a system in economic development and an efficient exploration and exploitation of resources. the basic and heavy industries. the capital goods industries etc because its material and human resources are limited. social and international developments and changes. It is indicative in nature. The Supportive role of economic planning. A mixed economy is characterized by co-existence of the public sector and the private sector but the relative importance of the two sectors changes from country to country and also from time to time. . Public Sector Activities guided by Social Benefit The public sector mainly specialized in the production of public utilities such as local transport. In India the public sector was born in 1948 to give a big push to the developmental efforts 5. Therefore the public sector is a dire need of a developing economy particularly in the initial period of development. Appraisal of a Mixed Economy Though mixed economy is an inescapable for a developing economy it has drawbacks of its own. The state has unlimited powers and can mobilize resources on a very large scale. Less Firm The mixed economy is a very delicate form of economic system. The private sector is not capable of developing the infrastructure. It is easily influenced by political changes in the country. the public sector is born out of need. 978 crores each. Sliding back to Capitalism Though mixed economy is supposed to maintain between the public sector and the private sector. But as the economy develops the private sector rise into prominence and the mixed economy is knowingly or unknowingly transformed in to a market regulated economy. In 1963-64 there were only 2 monopoly houses namely Tatas and Birlas with assets exceeding Rs: 200 crore each. Conclusion Thus a mixed economy is a need of a developing economy in the initial stages.000 crore. The economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few big business houses that can exert a strong political influence on the government. corruption and favoritism . . in its operations it slides back to capitalism. It looses incentive to innovate. It becomes rigid and indifferent towards the buyers. Political pressure is used in taking economic decisions. The combined effect is a huge loss on the part of the public sector undertakings.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 2. Even the money market and capital lean towards the big business houses. The government policies can be turned to the benefit of the big business houses. 3. In 2004 only Reliance Industries was worth Rs: 71. The government takes several steps for accelerating the pace of economic growth but they may give a scope for emergence and growth of big business houses. They can expand at a fast rate. It is often characterized by bribery. Concentration of Economic Power The goal of a developing economy is to bring about a rapid economic growth. In 2001 – 02 there were 10 monopoly houses with assets exceeding 5. Inefficient public sector The public sector symbolizes state monopoly and incorporates several evils of monopoly. In India the licensing policy was actually helpful in the growth of big business houses. This is borne by the tax payers 4. India is a glaring example of the mixed economy adopted in 1948 became virtually a free market economy by the year 2000. and Fertilizers etc. That gave a confidence to the private sector. Shipbuilding. 3. Thus a clear cut demarcation line was drawn between the private sector and the public sector. Aircraft Manufacture. Iron n Steel. 2. Telegraph and wireless apparatus and mineral oil. Hence a conference of industrialists was held in February 1948 and based upon the deliberations in the conference the 1st industrial policy resolution was adopted by the parliament on 6th April 1948. two important developments took place . Government Control This category included 18 industries such as Automobiles. There was nothing like an Industrial Policy in India in the pre-independence period. Exclusive Monopoly of the State : It included three industries namely the production of arms and ammunitions. These industries would continue to be in the private sector but they will be subject to an extensive control by the government. The private sector would not get any entry in these three industries. production and control of atomic energy and railway transport. Manufacture of telephone. At the outset of independence there was confusion and misconceptions in the minds of the industrialists about the fate of their businesses. 2nd Industrial Policy of Sep 1956 After the 1st resolution was passed. Heavy Machinery. State Initiative This sector included six industries namely Coal. The main provisions of the IPR April 1948 The industries were divided in to four categories as follows: 1. New units in these six industries would be setup by the state but the existing units would get a life of 10 years after which the government would take final decision in respect of them. Machine Tools. It was necessary to remove the confusion and give a clear cut direction to the industries to invest and expand. Heavy Chemicals.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 30th Aug 08 – Saturday Journey of India’s Industrial Policy from 1948 – 1991 Introduction In a mixed economy the industrial policy of the government reflects the thinking of the community on the spheres earmarked for the public sector and the private sector. 3. Besides the government may take the co-operation of the private sector to develop the industries in this sector. To prevent the growth of monopolies. new units would be setup by the state but the existing units in the private sector would be allowed to be continued in private hands. plastics. 2. Heavy Electrical Equipments. railway transport and air transport were to be exclusive monopoly of the state. The Indian Constitution was passed conferring the right to property on the people. machine tools. Private Sector All the remaining industries were left in the 3rd category. To reduce inequalities in the distribution of incomes and wealth by providing more employment opportunities. It was necessary to pass the 2nd resolution in the light of these two developments. besides the industries in the 2nd category which were in the private sector were given a lease of ten years from 1948. . sea transport. drugs. To expand the public sector in conformity with the goal of the socialistic pattern of society. Exclusive Monopoly of the State This category included 17 industries divided into two sub-categories. Ship Building etc. It was necessary to take a final decision in respect of them before 1958. Division of Industries The 1956 IPR divided the industries into three categories: 1. To accelerate the pace of Industrialization by creating an appropriate atmosphere 2.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 1. State Initiative This category included 12 industries such as minerals not mentioned in the 1st category. Heavy Machinery. generation of atomic energy. antibiotics etc. 4. road transport. b) In respect of the remaining 13 industries namely. Iron and Steel. To develop the heavy industries including machine making industries 3. hence the 2nd IPR was passed in Sep 1956. a) Four industries namely production of defence equipments. The private sector was free to develop it but if the private sector failed to develop any of the remaining industries the government may take it up and develop it. In these industries the state would increasingly establish new units but the state may invite the private sector to supplement its efforts if necessary. Coal. 5. The objectives of the 1956 resolution: 1. The parliament adopted resolution declaring “Socialistic Pattern of Society “as our goal. 2. iii.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III Thus the 1956 resolution strengthened the public sector. 3. i. Exposing the Indian industries to global competition. Industries employing less than 100 workers and having fixed capital of less than Rs. the method of production etc. Giving front seat to the private sector in industrial development. Protection to Indian industries against foreign competition. Hence the licensing . 3. 5. ii. 6. No new industrial enterprise could be established without a prior license from the central government 2. Liberating the industrial sector from government control 2. The government would appoint development councils representing the management and labour for every industrial unit. Front seat to the public sector in industrial development. the quantity to be produced. The clauses of the new industrial policy are to be studied in the light of these principles a) Abolition of the licensing system The licensing policy was expected to direct India’s industrial development in the desirable sectors but it developed evils like delays and corruption. The main provisions of the act were as follows 1. The government would conduct enquiries in to the working of any licensed industrial unit and may point out the malfunctioning in the working if any. The environment created by these three principles gave results for some time but it also developed several evils in course of time. A strict control of the government over industries. Almost 29 industries were now taken over by the public sector in its jurisdiction. Therefore the industrial policy resolution of 1991 reversed these principles and adopted new principles such as 1. No substantial addition to the capacity of an existing industrial unit can be made without prior license of the central government. The Industrial Policy Resolution of July 1991 The journey of India’s industrial policy from 1948 till 1990 was guided by 3 basic principles. Ten lakhs would be exempted from licensing. The council would prepare and implement programs of development. 4. The government is authorized to prescribe the prices of the products. Industries (Development and Regulation) Act of 1961 Aim: The aim of this resolution was to give a complete control to the government over the management and development of industries. The list was subsequently reduced to 11 industries which are mainly related to safety. The 1991 resolution removed these restrictions. atomic energy. They were not allowed expansion and development without prior permission of the government of India. coal and lignite. Foreign equity was allowed upto 51 % in these industries. b) Curtailing the size of the public sector The no of industries in the public sector was reduced to only 8 mainly production of defence equipment. security. The new policy removed that provision and incorporated the following simple procedures: . 100 crores were put into this category. Foreign Investment Implementation Authority has been setup for providing a single point interface between foreign investors and government machinery. Thus 85 % of the Indian industrial sector was liberated from licensing.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III system was removed except in case of 18 industries. high technology industries was prepared. public health and morality. chemicals required for atomic energy and railway transport. No Firm is now declared as a MRTP firm or a dominant enterprise. They can be used by foreign capital. A Foreign Investment Promotion Council had been setup to prepare project reports in certain thrust areas. The government is planning to reduce its equity holdings in public sector banks to 50%. Subsequently this list was reduced to only 3 industries mainly generation of atomic energy. Even the licensed industries were given freedom to expand to satisfy market needs without taking prior approval / capacity clearance from the government. The other industries were thrown open to the private sector. declared certain companies as MRTP companies and dominant enterprises. c) Foreign Investments A list of 34 high priority. The industries in the public sector were given greater autonomy. They were permitted to sell a part of their capital to private parties so as to widen the capital base. They were required to obtain permission from the government of India for any type of investment. mineral oils etc. amalgamation or appointment of directors. Foreign equity holdings in Insurance sector and telecom sector were increased. d) Removing controls on Monopoly The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956. In some industries even 100 % foreign equity is allowed. In 1986 companies having fixed assets of more than Rs. The MRTP commission continues e) Removal of locational Restrictions Earlier permission from the government of India was required for locating a particular industrial unit at a particular place. expansion. ii. iii. The bank money which is also called the Credit money . b) If the population is more than 1 million and the industry is a polluting one the unit can be setup outside a periphery of 25 kms. If increase in the supply of money exceeds increase in the production of goods and services the result is inflation. Instruments of monetary Policy In a modern economy the supply of money consists of two parts: i. if the production of goods and services increases at a fast rate and the supply of money increases at a slow rate the result is recession and maybe depression. services and factors are fixed in terms of money. The monetary authority has to maintain a perfect balance between increase in the production of goods and services and increase in the supply of money. Hence the monetary authority has to monitor the growth in production very closely and adjust the money supply to it. Directing the supply of money to the required channels in accordance with the plan of priorities prepared by the planning authority. In India the monetary policy is formulated and implemented by the Reserve Bank of India which is an autonomous financial institution. Importance of monetary policy A modern economy is a money economy. So the supply of money creates money income in the hands of the community and expenditure of money generates the demand for different goods and services. All transactions are effected with the help of and through the medium of money. It is expected that the RBI would use professional expertise to control the supply of money to the benefit of the community. 6th Sep 08 Monetary Policy Meaning Monetary policy refers to policy formulated and implemented for achieving the following objectives: i. The legal tender money ii. People earn their income in the form of money and spend it in the form of money. On the other hand. Regulating the supply of money including credit money and adjusting it to the needs of the economy To control the cost of money by regulating the rates of interest. The prices of goods.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III a) An Industrial unit can be setup in a place with a population of less than 1 million without any restrictions. Gold plus Foreign securities worth not less than Rs 200 crores Out of this the value of gold should not be less than Rs 115 crores. These assets are composed of three parts i. The Bank rate policy: Bank rate is the official rate at which the central bank of the country rediscounts bills offered by the commercial banks. ii. drafts etc are also used as medium of exchange. Bank money which is also called the Credit money The commercial banks accept deposits and use them for advancing loans. Instruments of Monetary Policy The instruments used by the central Bank for controlling the supply of bank money are classified into two categories namely General Instruments and Selective Instruments. A Bill is an order made by the drawer (the seller) on the drawee (buyer) to pay a particular amount of money to him (the seller) on or before a particular date.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III i. Government of India securities worth the remaining part of the note issued. The legal tender money : It consists of coins and paper currency. The legislature of the country lays down the system of note issue. The general instruments are as follows: i. He can discount that bill with a commercial bank. Thus the RBI cannot increase the supply of legal tender money without acquiring the required monetary reserves. The bill is accepted by the drawee and then it becomes a negotiable instrument. This is completely controlled by the central bank of the country (RBI in India). If the bank is . The General Instruments These instruments are called general because they are uniformly applicable to all commercial banks and in respect of loans given for all purposes. The liabilities must be balanced by equivalent assets. If the monetary authority desires a contraction in money supply it has to create an atmosphere in which the commercial banks reduce loans. ii. The credit instruments issued by them in the form of cheques. On the other hand if the central bank wants to bring about an expansion of money supply it can create an atmosphere in which the commercial banks can expand their loans. The outline of the system is as follows: The notes issued constitute a liability on the part of the RBI. The following example shows how a change in the bank rate can bring about a change in the supply of money. Hence an increase in the loans advanced by commercial banks increases the supply of money. Since 1952 we have adopted the fixed fiduciary system of note issue. It is returned to the drawer. The rate at which the bill is discounted by the commercial bank is called the Market Rate. A Bill is drawn when some goods are sold by a person to another person. iii. e. Rise in the market rate brings about a contraction in the volume of bills offered by the customers to the commercial banks. The rate at which the bill is rediscounted by the central bank is called the Bank Rate. It is normally a little below the market rate. RBI collects the amount from BOB.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III itself in need of money it rediscounts the same bill with the Central bank of the country. The amount of these cheques are collected by the commercial banks from the central bank. If the ratrio of cash held by the commercial banks to their deposits is 10%. If the volume of bills is less. The ephicacy of the open market operations depends upon the following factors: a) An adequate volume of government securities in the market The central bank can purchase a sizeable amount of government securities provided the total volume of government securities in the market is large. They are purchased by a person A. The difference between the MR and BR gives profit margin to the commercial bank. a draining of 5 crore from the cash reserves of the commercial banks can bring about a contraction of credit to the extent of Rs. It gives cheques drawn upon itself to the sellers of those bonds.: the supply of money is less. They deposit those cheques with the commercial banks in which they have their accounts. The commercial banks can lower the market rate due to which the people offer more bills for discounting and the supply of money increases. the amount of money going out from the commercial banks to the people is less i. It has to reduce credit to the extent of a multiple of rs : 5 cr. b) The capacity of the central bank to invest in government bonds . This cheque is drawn upon some commercial bank (BOB). They are able to expand credit to the multiple of the additional cash reserves. The cash in the possession of BOB is reduced by Rs 5 cr. When the central bank wants to bring about a contraction in bank credit. The cash reserves held by the commercial banks increase. he gives a cheque for Rs. it purchases govt bonds in the open market. it raises the bank rate. 13th Sep 08 2 – Open Market Operations The Central bank enters in to the bond market and purchases or sells government securities for bringing about expansion or contraction of credit. 5 Crore to the RBI. The effect is that the commercial banks raise the market rate in order to retain their profit margin. If the central bank wants to bring about an expansion of Bank credit it lowers the bank rate. When the Central bank wants to bring about expansion of credit. 50 cr. Open Market sales bring about contraction of credit in the following way RBI sells bonds worth rs: 5 crore. The ratio of these cash deposits to the total deposits of a commercial bank is called the cash reserve ratio. The range is between 5% to 20%. If the CRR is 10 % and if the total deposits of a bank are rupees Rs. RBI is authorised to change the rate within that margin depending upon the requirements of the time.25 % upto july 2008. In India the range within which the CRR can be changed is fixed by Parliament under the RBI act 1935 as amended from time to time. If the bank rate is increased in that situation. It has to maintain a very high degree of liquidity.5%.5% progressively to 4. takes away excess liquidity from the commercial banks and then raises the bank rate.5%. The ratio of the money invested in government bonds to the total deposits is called the statutory liquidity ratio. the commercial banks have to pay a higher rate. The CRR was lowered from 8. Now the commercial banks are forced to approach the central bank for accommodation. .1000 crore.5 % by June 2003. The supply of credit money declines. When the banks keep more cash with the central bank they are left with less cash for advancing loans. The central bank takes initiatives in implementing the open market operations.100 crore with the central bank in the form of cash.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III The central bank is described as the Lender of the Last Resort. 3 – Variable Reserve Ratio Every commercial bank in the country is under a legal obligation to keep a certain proportion of their deposits in the form of cash with the central bank of the country. It was raised to 8. Since then RBI adopted the policy of lowering it because of the recessionary tendencies prevailing in the country. Thus the bank rate and the OMO are often used simultaneously. They are forced to raise their rate of interest. In that situation the central bank starts open market sales. In Feb 2001. As between bank rate and open market operations the OMO are more effective. In the bank rate the role of the central bank is a little passive. c) A very big sale of bonds in the market may result into a substantial fall in bond prices that may be harmful to their prices in particular and the entire capital market in general. if the commercial banks have excess liquidity they may not raise the market rate even though the central bank raises the bank rate. on 19th july to 8. The government bonds may be absolutely safe but the central bank may find it difficult to convert them into cash in an emergency. the CRR was 8. It serves two purposes a) it provides the central bank an Instrument of monetary policy. Statutory Liquidity Ratio It is legally obligatory on the part of all commercial banks to invest a certain part of their deposits in govenment bonds.75% and on 29th of July to 9%. it has to keep Rs. On 5th july 2008 it was increased to 8. It was almost on the same level till the end of 2004 since when the RBI started raising it. It was lowered to 6. The prominent amongst them are as follows: a) Regulation of credit margin Whenever a commercial bank gives a loan against a tangible security. The repos are purchased by RBI which means. When it wants to bring about a contraction of credit. A rise in the repo rate means that the commercial banks have to pay higher rates of interest to RBI. Upto 1991. In 2005 parliament authorised RBI to lower it below 25%. it maintains a margin between the value of the security and the amount of the loan given. These instruments incorporate a specific date on which they would be purchased back by the issuing bank.5 % from 8 % on 5th July ‘08 subsequently it was increased to 9% on 29th July ’08. it increases the SLR. It was also raised to 8. The RBI is authorised to fix and change the SLR within this margin. Since then it has been continuously increased. The commercial banks have to invest a larger part of their deposits in government bonds.5% which was very near the ceiling. The rate charged on the repos is called the Repo rate. but RBI did not use that authority.25 % in nov ’05. Consequently they have to charge higher rates of interest to their customers. Hence they are called selective instruments. The cost of money is raised. On the recommendations of N Narsimha committee. They issue credit instruments called repurchase obligations. RBI puts that much money at the disposal of the commercial banks. The demand for money falls and the amount of money flowing from the RBI to the commercial banks and thereafter from the commercial banks to the public is reduced.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III b) It provides a certain definite amount of money to the government for financing economic development. In feb 2001 the Repo rate was 10%. RBI started lowering the SLR. the SLR was 38. It as reduced in the subsequent period which was a period of recession in india. To that extent they are left with less cash for advancing loans that puts a brake on their capacity to extend credit. Selective Instruments of Credit Control These instruments of monetary policy can be used in respect of any particular bank or in respect of a loan given against a particular security. . 5 – Repo Rate This is the rate at which RBI advances short term funds to the commercial banks. It also provides an instrument to the central bank to control the volume of credit given against a particular security. This is necessary for maintaining safety of the bank. Now it is not possible that the SLR would be lowered till the inflationary trends are controlled. The parliament has fixed the range of the SLR between 25% and 40%. It was brought to 25% by 2005 and has been maintained at the same level since then. The action consists of charging a penal rate of interest to the offending bank. If the margin is increased to 30% the commercial bank will have to reduce the loan to 7 lac. The central bank can prescribe the rate of interest which they have to charge on these loans. This instrument is especially used for preventing cornering of stocks of essential raw materials. They directly bring about the desired . The demand for the concerned consumer commodity falls. This method is also widely used by the central banks in developing countries. Moral suasion is better than direct action. Conclusion In a developing country like India. stopping lending to that bank or rejecting the bills offered by that bank for discounting. It can also fix the installments in which the loans are to be recovered. If the rate of interest is raised and the number of installments is reduced it is difficult for the people to use them. They produce positive as well as negative effect. The market value of the gold is Rs.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III Eg. If a particular bank ignores the instructions RBI can take disciplinary actions against it. Besides a disciplinary action taken by the central bank against a commercial bank creates an atmosphere in which the people avoid to go to that bank. It is preventive whereas direct action is curative. 10 lacs. Hence as far as possible the central bank relies upon moral suasion. b) Direct Action The central bank gives instructions to the commercial banks in respect of their lending policies. The commercial bank will be able to give a maximum amount of 8 lac against that security. and the credit margin prescribed by RBI is 20%. In any case the bank has to raise the rate charged to the customers which drives the customers away from that bank. c) Moral suasion The central bank interacts with the commercial banks and urges them to adopt a particular credit policy. A frequent direct action taken by the central bank spoils the atmosphere between the central bank and the commercial banks. The commercial banks accept that policy even when the central bank does not insist upon it. e) Publicity The central bank of the country gives a wide publicity to its policy through its publications. d) Consumer credit The commercial banks advance loans to enable their customers to purchase durable costly consumer goods. A person tenders gold and applies for a loan. The commercial banks accept the policy suggested by the central bank because they have a respect for the central bank. the selective instruments are used more. Free trade policy means there are no restrictions on imports and exports especially imports. The tariffs are import duties imposed at very high rates. The imports are restricted with the help of tariffs that is heavy import duties or with the help of non tariff barriers. Every country tries to take maximum benefit from its international trade. If the tariffs are not effective the non tariff barriers are quantitative restrictions are used for preventing foreign goods from entering in to the domestic market. Dimensions of Trade policy The trade policy of a country has two dimensions namely free trade policy and protection. The prices of the imported goods rise to such a level that the people do not purchase them. The people purchase the domestic goods which are substitutes for the imported goods. It has a strong bearing on economic development of the country. The share of total benefit arising out of global trade going to a particular country is mostly influenced by its foreign trade policy together with the global conditions. It is said that trade is the engine of growth for an economy. They can be effective even if the country does not like a well organized money market and capital market. The forms of non tariff barriers are a) b) c) d) e) f) g) Quota Health Restrictions Social restrictions Import licensing Exchange control Carrier requirements Voluntary restraint .Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III change. These duties are nominal duties. The quantitative restrictions are almost absent under the policy of free trade. The domestic industries get a protected market. The goods and services can move freely between different countries as they move between different parts of a country. The imports of some commodities are totally banned. The other part of the market remains open for the domestic industry. Under the policy of globalization and with fast means of transport and communication the international trade is expending in volumes. 20th Sep 08 trade Policy Meaning The Trade policy of a country refers to its policy relating to its foreign trade. Under policy of protection the government takes steps to restrict imports with the intention of reserving the domestic market for domestic industries. The government may impose some taxed on imports and exports especially imports but the intention behind imposing these taxed is not to restrict the inflow of goods in to the country but to earn some revenue from foreign trade. The imports of some other commodities are allowed upto a particular level. It can use that market and grow. The quota is adjusted to suit changes in our requirements or our own production. Voluntary restraint . Then the shipping charges are adjusted in such a way that certain commodities do not get hipping space. The pool is distributed between the importers in the light of the importance and priorities of the commodities to be imported. The less important commodities are denied foreign exchange. Exchange Control Under exchange control all foreign exchange becoming available to the citizens of a country is pooled together in the hands of the central bank of the country. Social restrictions Several commodities are not imported by the developed countries on grounds of use of child labour. 6. The prospective importers are given a license to import a particular quantity of a particular commodity in a particular period. Health Restrictions The developed countries prevent import of certain commodities on health grounds. 7. Their imports are automatically restricted. Those commodities which enjoy a higher priority get the required foreign exchange. Import Licensing A quota is normally accompanied by import licensing. Carrier requirements Some countries lay down a condition that the imported commodity must be carried in their own ships. Under the global quota a particular quantity is allowed to be imported in one financial year. 3. The government fixes the quota after taking into consideration the demand for the commodity in the domestic economy minus our own production. Quota Quota is the maximum quantity of a commodity allowed to be imported in one financial year. The people are free to import it from any country they like. 5. The European countries do not import commodities like milk and meat from India on health grounds. 4. The quota is classified into global quota and allocated quota.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 1. A particular quantity must be imported from a particular country. Under the allocated quota the total quantity to be imported is allocated between different countries. 2. improving the quality of the commodity. Consequently all countries get economies of scale in respect of the production of all commodities. Competition is a driving force behind reducing the cost of production. Advantages of competition Under free trade policy the producers of different commodities have to compete with not only producers working in that country. Competition is taken up from the national level to the international level. The country imports the other commodities from the other countries easily because there are no restrictions on imports or exports. The WTO is a champion of the policy of free trade. . Highest Remuneration to the factors The remuneration which a factor gets depends upon its productivity. So all commodities are produced at the minimum cost from where all countries can get it. Under free trade all countries produce all commodities at minimum costs of production. Maximum benefit to the consumer A consumer is always interested in getting a commodity at the lowest price.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III A country requests another country to put a voluntary restraint on the exports of a particular commodity. Arguments made in support of the policy of Free Trade Free Trade is the most natural form of trade between different countries. introducing innovations and paying more attention to the needs of the customers. Economies of Scale When different countries specialize in the production of different goods each country produces the chosen commodities on large scale. The production of different goods is maximized when different countries specialize in the production of different goods depending upon their capacity to produce them. The single advantage of the economies of scale is that goods are produced at the minimum cost. Naturally all factors get maximum remuneration 3. 2. 4. Under the policy of free trade the production of all countries is maximized. Maximum Output of all countries of all goods Different countries have different advantages in the production of different goods depending upon the availability of different factors of production. The main arguments made in support of the policy of free trade can be summarized as follows: 1. 5. Under free trade a country specialises in the production of those commodities in which they have a comparative cost advantage. but producers producing those commodities in other countries also. They are carried from one country to another country freely and easily so the people of any country can get these commodities at lowest prices. The response of the other country depends upon the relation between the two countries and the influence of the requesting country. technical knowledge. Arguments against the policy of free trade Though free trade is regarded as the most natural form of trade conferring maximum benefits on the countries participating in it. In this competition the developing countries are weaker competitors. The prominent amongst them are as follows 1. 3. Possibility of cut throat competition Under free trade all countries have to compete with each other. Harmful to the developing countries A system of free trade gives rise to a competition between different countries of the world. agricultural countries 2. 7. from developed countries. Excessive dependence – Undesirable and risky Free trade required that a country should develop only those industries in which it has advantage. This is alright in normal period but in a period like war if the other country refuses to supply some important commodities the receiving country may face a very difficult situation. 6. there is a possibility that some people may take undue advantage of the policy and may import those goods which are on a lower order of priority from the point of the country. Cordial international political relations Under free trade system the countries are dependent upon each other for the commodities required by them. oil. They always remain backward. 4. This is true up to a particular level. Helpful to the developing countries The developing countries require several things such as machinery.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III That serves the purpose of getting maximum production within the available resources. they have to maintain cordial political relations between them. Possibility of non priority imports Once a country adopts the policy of free trade and removes restrictions on imports. It should import all other commodities from other countries thus a country has to depend upon other countries for several commodities. Consequently. If fair . They are not able to compete with the developed countries and develop their industries. If political relations between them are cordial they can devote all their attention to their economic problems and economic development. It is said that competition is helpful to progress. there are several arguments made against it. Under free trade they can conveniently export their goods to the developed countries and import the required goods from them. designs of complex commodities. circuits of electronic goods etc. the developing countries may suffer. Economic Arguments 1. To give his quotation “Nurse the baby. Beneficial. 3. In practice it is difficult to find out an infant industry with high potentialities. Protect the child and Free the Adult”. The developing countries have infant industries. Specialization is desirable but excessive specialization is risky. They require some time to develop the infrastructure. Anti Dumping Argument . This argument was made by the german economist Frederic List against the well established british industries in the post industrial revolution period. During this period they require protection against the well established industries of the developed countries. Conclusion Thus the policy of free trade is no doubt beneficial to all countries in the long run but it can be misused due to which particularly the developing countries may suffer. 5. Diversification Argument Free trade policy results into specialization of different countries in the production of different goods and services. Hence it is safe to develop a number of industries even though they may have no advantage at present. if followed uniformly by all countries It is found that some countries follow the free trade policy sincerely but some other countries try to find loopholes in the policy and take undue advantage of those loopholes. Arguments made in support of the policy of protection Though theoretically the policy of free trade is beneficial to all. train the workers and inculcate the spirit of dedication to work. The arguments in favour of protection are conveniently classified into two categories namely the economic arguments and the non economic arguments. 2.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III competition develops into an unfair and cut throat competition. If the concerned industry faces a difficulty due to global situation or some domestic problem the entire economy of the country may be devastated. In such a situation the countries following the policy honestly would suffer. It can never compete with a well established industry with matured entrepreneurs. The infant industry argument A newly started industry is called an infant industry. experienced trend and dedicated labour force and well built infrastructure. some countries have to resort to the policy of protection in certain circumstances. The wages in developing countries are low yet the cost of production is high. Pauper Labour Argument This argument is made by the trade unions operating in developed countries. 6. Retaliation Argument If country A imposes restrictions on imports from country B. obviously country B will have to impose restrictions from imports from country A. The workers will become poor. They maintain that the wages are lower in the developing countries. If the countries follow free trade policy these goods will rush into the developed economies and will increase the supplies there. 5. therefore the cost of production is lower and prices are lower. 8. The key industries argument Every country has to develop the key industries whether or not they enjoy economic advantages at present. The developing countries hence cannot compete and beat the developed countries. This argument is fallacious. it has to restrict imports by using tariffs or non tariffs barriers to eliminate the deficit in the BOP. The receiving country has to protect its industries by using tariff and non tariff barriers. 7. Defence Industries . A rise in supply will result in to a fall in price and fall in wages. Promoting Employment If a country develops some industries under protection. Expediting recovery A country facing a depression has to restrict the imports of goods from other countries. they may work as catalyst agents and help in the development of several other industries and that may create employment opportunities.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III Some countries resort to dumping. The quality of the goods is also inferior as compared to the quality of goods in developed countries. Non Economic Arguments 1. 4. Balance of Payments Arguments If a country if facing a deficit in the BOP. If imports are not restricted the supply of those goods in the receiving country will increase still further and the country will find it almost impossible to recover from recession. so the wages in the developed countries will also decline. 9. 2. country B may pay it back in the same coin. improve the quality of the commodity and be able to compete in the world market without protection in due time. Those industries have got to be protected on grounds of emotions and not on grounds of economic advantage. It is risky to depend upon other countries in respect of defence. The WTO is expected to play that role. The Preservation Argument Certain industries are associated with some important period in the history of a country. . Conclusion In general the policy of free trade is beneficial to all countries but it should be followed honestly by all countries under the supervision of some impartial agency. This will result into contraction of global trade with loss of advantages of trade. Burden on the consumer If a country restricts imports with the help of tariff or non tariff barriers the prices of the commodity rise and the consumers are put to a loss. Arguments against Protection In general the arguments made in support of free trade are the same as arguments made against protection but few special arguments can be mentioned here 1. But it is possible that some industries may never try to develop if they become sure of protection for a long time. Possibility of retaliation If country A restricts the import of goods from country B. 3. Misuse of protection It is expected that the protected industry will spend on research.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III A country has to develop industries producing defence equipments whether they enjoy economic advantages or not. reduce the cost of production. 2. In less developed countries. The prominent amongst them are as follow:1. producing services & in the field of trade. Thus. is relatively small. Raising the level of investment A developing economy is caught in vicious circle of low level investment. the population is large. The local producers belonging to the host countries are able to learn modern technology from MNC. Carrying modern Technologies to developing economies In any country the production is largely determined by the technology used. A developing economy has a comparatively backward technology. They inject some capital into the developing economy. They carry that technology to the developing countries. Consequently. Addition to national income is low. the MNCs are instrumental in expanding economic growth of the developing economies. They can also improve their technology. the market for the goods excepting necessaries. . The MNCs confer several benefits on the host countries. The National income is low. The level of technology is also determined by the size of the marked. The level of investment rises. Meaning An MNC is a commercial concern set up in one country having its base in that country (which is called the home country) & has its operations in many other countries (Host countries). At least 25% of the world production of that concern is raised outside the home country. 2. This is supplementary to own investment of the developing economies. The effect is that the per capita income is low besides a part of that income is invested in unproductive assets. The MNCs are helpful in breaking this vicious circle. It is not able to send adequate amount of money on scientific research. The MNCs have most modern technology at their disposal. The turnover is small. the national income shows a tendency to remain at a low level. the rate of economic growth rises. the producers are not able to spend on research & introduce innovations. such as Gold & silver. 2008 Multinational Corporations Explain the effects of MNS from the point of view of the developting countries. The rate of economic growth is slow.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 27th Sep. Thus. therefore the productive investment is low. The MNCs are found in the field of manufacturing commodities. They ignore the production of more important commodities if they do not give them the required profit margin. 5. they also create some problems for them. b. They take care to maintain a high level of physical fitness & motivation. Disturbing the plan priorities The MNCs are profit oriented. . The MNCs are helpful in curing the deficit in BoP in two ways:a. Work discipline The MNCs maintain a very high level of discipline amongst workers. 6. They show a strong tendency to take up the production of those commodities in which they can earn a high profit margin. They purchase raw materials in the local markets. they produce them on large scale. Balancing the Balance of Payments In general. the total increase in employment is a multiple of the initial addition to employment in the MNC unit. their production is increased. Benefits to consumers The MNCs are very particular about maintaining the high standard of their products. The workers employed in MNCs units carry that discipline to the local work force. This is an incoming payment which is helpful in reducing the deficit in the BoP. They are able to sell those goods at reasonable prices. They bring out high quality goods. This is also helpful in balancing the BoP. this increases the demand for several goods & services. The workers employed in the MNCs spend their income on goods & services.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 3. Their products have a world wide market. this increases the demand for raw materials & provides an incentive to the producers of the raw materials to increase their production. Harmful Effects of MNCs on developing countries Though MNCs confer several benefits on the developing countries. the consumers belonging to the developing countries get the benefit of high quality goods at affordable price. This results into the allocation of resources to the production of low priority goods. MNCs bring in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the developing economy. Many workers are employed in their production. the developing countries are confronted with the problem of a deficit in the Balance of payment. The MNCs have a high world wide reputation. Catalytic Agent The MNCs set up units mostly in basic & heavy industries. 4. A developing country can export them to near by countries & earn foreign exchange. Because. Thus. The more prominent amongst them can be described as follow: 1. The local producers also show a tendency to enter into the low priority industries if they are more profit earning. Excessive profits Most of the MNCs earn excessive profit by selling their products at very high prices. . The possible adverse effects of their working can be controlled by suitable action. The host country has to provide foreign exchange to the MNCs to enable them to remit the profit to the Home country. Political pressure The MNCs often use their money power for bringing pressure upon the government & political parties of the host countries. They bring that technology to the developing countries. This creates discontent amongst the staff & labor. They do not care for the long run effects of their activities.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 2 . It aggravates the problem of unemployment. 5.Inappropriate technology The MNCs are accustomed to use a particular type of technology which is suitable for conditions in developed countries. They do not care to renew or replace the used resources. Discrimination in staff Often the MNCs give a cordial treatment to their own persons & a step motherly treatment to the staff belonging to the host country. Conclusion Balancing the pros & cons of the business of the MNCs. 4. Indifference to social cost The MNCs are not very particular about controlling the social costs like pollution or loss of life in the event of an accident. The technology introduced by MNCs is not proper for absorbing labor. They interfere in the administration of the developing countries. There is excessive supply of labor in developing countries. They are careless in maintaining the required safety measure. Over exploitation of resources The aim of an MNC is to maximize profit in shortest possible period. A large part of the profit is sent by the MNCs to their home countries. we have to admit that they are beneficial to the host. 3. 6. but that technology is not suitable for the developing countries. 7. They use the productive resources at a very fast rate & finish them. 5. . a decision taken by the govt. suffering a heavy loss in the shifting.. If the govt. They provide opportunities for the business units to achieve heir goals. The dimensions of political environment In any country. At the same time the political conditions pose challenges before the business enterprises. the govt. does depend upon the support of the people in continuation in office. 3. it can be carries to its logical end even in the face of opposition from certain sections of the community. In China. the political environment is characterized by the following dimensions: 1. An autocracy is a state in which the govt. is elected by the people and is answerable to the people for every action or failure to take an action. The experts may be in favor of a particular activity but the govt. because of the nature of Chinese govt. Single. In a democracy. Under this type of govt. Under democratic policy the govt. If the party is convinced of the importance of a particular project it can be carries through. in respect of Tata motors.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT The Political Conditions in the country influence business activities in different ways. can be smoothly carried out even in preface of a strong opposition from some people. has to take the people into confidence before taking any important decision. of the people. the decision of the west Bengal govt. The nature of the polity The political systems in the world can be broadly classified into democracies and autocracies. s convinced of th utility and importance of a business enterprises. They have to adjust themselves to the political environment and use it to their benefit. a. The nature of the polity 2. The company was required to shift its plants from west Bengal to some other place. two and multi party states In a single party state like China. 4. may not be able to take up that activity if it is opposed by a large no. it is easy to implement any economic reform. The autocracy may take the form of the monarchy of the military or some other type of a dictatorship. We have the example of. The nature of the constitution of the country The political system The political awareness of the people and of the government The laws passed by the government 1. any economic reform can be effectively carried through. It can easily carry through any economic reform or give patronage to any project or business enterprise. Sometimes. there is no guarantee that any single party would enjoy the support of the majority. in which more than one parties come together to form a govt. . Thus. If a particular law passed by the parliament or a particular order issued by the executive is contradictory to any provision of the constitution. the party enjoying support of the majority gets powered. The parliament is supreme. In a multi party state. It can do or undo things. Those projects and enterprises which fall into the framework of the common minimum program can be carries though. The parties adopt a common minimum program. from outside. every law passed by the parliament is equally important. 2. The nature of the constitution of the country If a country has an unwritten constitution like that of England. It can help any project which gets its approval.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III In a two party state. the authority of the parliament to help business or to stop a particular business is limited by a provision of the constitution. some parties support the govt. Often. But those projects which are outside the common minimum program may find it difficult to work. the authority of the parliament is limited to the clauses of the constitution. such a country is ruled by a coalition govt. it can not be put into practice. In a country like India having written constitution. n the other hand if the people are passive and indifferent. is more responsive to the wishes of the people. India has a federal constitution. Different states may try to attract business activities to them by providing different incentives. ahs to take into consideration the type of political system while taking any decision. A decision which may appear to be economically sound may not be taken if it has a strong opposition from the people. . for attracting business units to them. They do not have any independent powers. and the state govts. income. 4. sects. The govt. In India. concerned. If the people have a high sense of awareness. The business enterprises have also to take into consideration the tax structure of different states while selecting their location in a particular state. and the state govts. the income tax on individuals and the corporation tax are with the central govt. looses its democratic character. People having personality cult and a blind faith in certain things are not able to bring into practice the spirit of democracy. It is possible that a particular project may be approved by the central govt. Certain decisions may be opposed on religious grounds. the govt. whereas the sales tax and the excise duty on alcohol are with the state govt. but they may not be implemented if it has an objection from the state govt. There might be other administrative units but they derive their authority from the central govt. The Political System India has a representative democracy based on adult franchise. unitary constitution or powers are concentrated in the hands for one central govt. The fundamental rights are justiciable whereas the rights incorporated in chapter 4 are non-justiciable. All individuals who have completed the age of 18 years have a right to vote irrespective of their educational standards. possession of wealth. Any citizen can establish his fundamental rights by taking the help of the court of justice. occupation etc. The population is divided into different groups on grounds of religion. the powers of the govt. caste etc. The political awareness of the people and the govt.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 29 Sep 2008 Unitary or Federal Constitution Under. The people should be aware of their rights and also of their duties in the smooth functioning of a democracy. The sources of income including taxes are also divided between the central govt. 3. are divided between the central govt. the govt. Under a federal constitution. this is beneficial to business enterprises because they can get maximum advantages because of the competition amongst the state govt. The India Constitution guarantees justiciable and non-justiciable rights to the people. Some prominent amongst them are the companies act which regulates the formation and management of joint stock companies and gives protection to the investors. In that respect the business has to extend its co-operation to the government. Any law which is contradictory to the constitution can be repealed. 4th Oct 08 Responsibilities of business towards the government In any country the government tries to preserve the community and improve its conditions. The foreign exchange management act regulates the buying and selling and possession of foreign exchange by individuals and foreign exchange dealers. If the business discharges its responsibilities the government sincerely and effectively. The laws passed by the govt.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 5. The constitution of the country is described as the law of laws. several laws have been passed for regulating business enterprises. The monopolies and restrictive trade practices act tries to control the growth of monopolies and prevent the use of restrictive trade practices. If business obeys laws the society can function smoothly and business can prosper only when the society is functioning smoothly but if laws are oppressive or obstructing the path of business. The prominent responsibilities of the business towards the government can be described as follows: 1. The laws control the behavior of the individuals with each other and with the community. In India. The business can take the help of constitution or the judiciary to oppose the laws and get them repealed. The development of business depends upon the development of the community. they can be opposed in constitutional manner. The executive is bound by the laws and individuals are an d institutions can be penalized only under the provisions of a law. To obey Laws The laws reflect the wishes of the community. the government can function more efficiently. the will of the people is expressed in the form of laws passed by the legislature. This is in the interest of the whole community and indirectly in the interest of the business. Any business enterprise has to work within the legal framework set up by the state. The . The prospects of the business depend upon the status of the community. hence business has got to be very particular about discharging its obligations towards the government. The industrial disputes act sets up machinery for resolving the disputes between management and workers. The workers remuneration is regulated by several acts such as the minimum wages act and the payment of bonus act. In any modern state. The maharashtra government banned the sale of gutkha in maharashtra state. The factories act regulates the working conditions in the factories. The competition act 2002 tries to protect and foster competition which is helpful to progress. they show what the community wants the member to do and what the community wants the member to avoid. The business leaders have practical experience of a particular type of business. taxes on own income and taxes on the incomes of the employees. playgrounds etc. the burden of taxation increases on some other group. Government Contracts The government has to take up several works such as construction of roads. Government Services The business offers services of its leaders to the government to work on different committees. Other things remaining the same the government prefers to impose a tax on a commodity which enjoys relatively less elastic demand. Sometimes these works are undertaken by the government departments but a more common method of undertaking that work is to invite tenders and give contracts to business. libraries. The business has contacts in different sections of the community. taxes on goods imported by them. hospitals. airports etc. the business has to provide training facilities for the unemployed persons so that they can get absorbed in some occupation or can setup self employment units. It is the responsibility of the business to complete the work in time and maintain a high level of quality of the work. Providing inputs to the government Often the government requires inputs of technical economic financial or political importance for framing appropriate policies. 2. the business has to take up several moral responsibilities towards the society. Any action based upon accurate inputs has greater chances of achieving a higher success. 4. Thus. Social responsibility In addition to the legal and political responsibilities. They can be used for collecting the required information and providing it to the government. bridges. Several business houses established educational institutions. 6. flyovers.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III producers of gutkha approached the court which repealed the order of the government of maharashtra on the ground that tobacco is in the jurisdiction of the central government. For eg: before imposing a tax on commodity the government likes to know the elasticity of demand for that commodity. The business pays taxes on goods produced by them. for the community. If business pays the taxes honestly and on time the government can fulfill its responsibilities efficiently. It is like an investment made by the business. This is helpful in winning them sympathy from the community. The bulk of the tax revenue is collected from business. 5. A huge project like the sewi – nhava seva sealink can be conveniently undertaken with the help of business. 3. recreation halls. If taxes are evaded by one group. Payment of taxes The expenditure of a modern government is heavy and is fast increasing. Non payment of a tax is a political offence and also a social dishonesty. The main source of income for the government is the different type of taxes imposed by it. A committee appointed for doing something in respect of that business is . Providing Money and Credit Every business requires credit. Though passing of proper laws is important. If a good law is implemented in a bad way it produces harmful effects. It is like blood circulation in the body of the economy. The . At the same time the laws should be capable of controlling the dishonest businessmen and prevent and punish their unfair practices. The government has to pass laws which would create a friendly and helpful atmosphere for the business to grow. an efficient implementation of the law is more important. the foreign exchange management act etc. Finance is provided to business by the money market and the capital market. 7. The labour Laws. Any business can exist and prosper if there is law and order in the country. Active participation in politics Sometimes the businessmen try to participate actively in politics. The government has to maintain law and order for attracting foreign investment. It encourages dishonesty on the part of the people. Maintenance of law and order It is the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order and peace in the community. Government Responsibility towards Business As the business has to discharge certain responsibilities towards the government. In India the government has passed several laws such as Companies Regulation Act. Sometimes the leaders of the business are nominated to the Rajya Sabha so that the government gets the benefit of their practical experience of that field. It can do or undo anything. The government can use that power to regulate and to stimulate business. the social security laws. To pass and execute proper laws The behaviour of the people in society can be effectively controlled with the help of laws. 3. Government is the most powerful and sovereign authority in the country. A member of the TATA family contested election to the lok sabha. but often the businessmen try to keep themselves away from active politics. 2. similarly the government has to discharge several responsibilities towards the business.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III highly benefited if some prominent person from that field is appointed as the chairman of that committee or commission. Periods of disturbance are harmful to the existence of business and much more to the progress of the business. The factory Act. In particular the responsibilities of the government towards business can be described as follows: 1. This information is highly useful to business in formulating its policies. It is of 2 types: a: Basic research and b: commercial research. 8. .Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III government has to regulate them in such a way that they are able to attract more capital and direct it to the business. hence it is the responsibility of the government to conduct it and provide foundation for the commercial research. They result into concentration of economic and political power. 6. They are also instrumental in increasing inequalities. The remaining part is kept open to the private sector. providing appropriate information about the openings for different businesses etc. business can expand at a fast rate. 5. the business undertakes commercial research by using the basic research as the foundation. supply of energy and credit. The government can pass appropriate laws and can take timely action for preventing the growth of monopolies and encourage competition. through the central bank of the country has to maintain a stable and appropriate rate of exchange which is helpful in attracting more foreign investment 4. Controlling the growth of monopolies and preserving competition A free market economy has an inherent tendency to give birth to monopolies. In India several fields of production were reserved for the small scale and cottage industries. Reservation of fields of production The government reserves certain fields of production for the public sector. If the government is successful in building efficient infrastructure. trends in migration etc. Introduction of proper innovations at proper time requires extensive research. The government can give incentive to commercial research by providing fiscal concessions and monetary incentives. B: Commercial research is profit oriented. A: Basic research is not profit oriented. The sphere was contracted after we adopted the policy of globalization. The government. The government can keep that information open to business 7. Providing information The government collects information on several issues such as the growth of population. They are economically and socially harmful. It is the responsibility of the government to maintain the financial institutions in sound health so that they can mobilize more finances. Basic Research Innovation is the watchword of modern business. changes in the demographic features. Building Infrastructure All productive activities require infrastructure by way of means of transport and communications. The finance bill which is attached to the budget contains tax proposals.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 9. The taxes are of two types. Direct & Indirect taxes. Part B – Tax proposals. copy rights and allied matters 10. state government. It is discussed and passed by the legislature. but that does not allow the government to use that money. The budget contains two parts: Part A – Speech of the finance minister giving economic survey of the country. which serves as a background against which the budget is presented. After the establishment of the WTO the member countries have adopted the rules and regulations prepared by WT in respect of patent rights. It is the responsibility of the government to give them protection by using tariff and if necessary. The money . Government is empowered to impose and collect a tax only after the finance bill is passed by the parliament. Conclusion The success and progress of business depend upon perfect understanding and cooperation between government and business. protection is slowly on the decline. 11th Oct 08 Budget Meaning Budget is a financial statement incorporating the income and expenditure of a public authority for one financial year. In India the central government. local self governments and even autonomous institutions like universities prepare and present their own budgets. At the same time the industries should not get undue protection which would develop complacency. The procedure for passing the budget Budget is prepared by the finance department and is presented to the legislature by the finance minister. After the establishment of the WTO. Awarding patent rights and copy rights Progress in any field requires research inventions and innovations. Every country has its patent rights. The job of patent rights and copyrights is to give protection to those who invest in research and arrive at inventions and innovations. non-tariff barriers. Protections The industries belonging to the developing countries are not able to compete with the industries belonging to the developed countries. gifts and donations to the government. 2. Both of them are further classified into two categories: Receipts 1. The peculiar feature of the revenue receipts is that they are not refundable to the payers so they do not create any liability on the part of the government. The budget is like a weapon which can be used for removing the obstacles in the path of economic development and expediting the pace of economic development. controlling internal and foreign trade. maintenance of the members of the government. Expenditure 1. distribution of income and wealth amongst different sections of the community.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III collected through taxed is credited in to the Consolidated Fund of India. salaries paid to the employees. Parts of the Budget A budget is divided in to two parts namely income and expenditure. Revenue Expenditure This refers to expenditure on civil and military administration. conducting elections etc. They create a liability on the part of the government. giving protection to the domestic industries and accelerating the rate of economic development. money deposited by the public with the government. Hence a modern budget is regarded as reflection of the mind of the government in respect of the economic and social problems confronting the country and the possible solutions to them. The government has to introduce another bill called the appropriation bill in parliament. Capital Receipts They refer to money collected by the government through public borrowings. post office saving deposits. the peculiar feature of these receipts is that they are refundable. The peculiar feature of this expenditure is that it does not create any productive assets i. provident funds collected from the salaries of the employees etc. it does not help directly in increasing the productivity of the economy. stationery movement of government employees.e. small savings of the people. Revenue Receipts They refer to the money collected through taxes. The budget is an instrument which can be used for controlling production of goods and services. Importance of the budget Though budget is a financial statement incorporating the income and expenditure of the government. . it has wide effects on the economy of the country. Government is authorised to withdraw money from the consolidated fund of India and use it only when the appropriation bill is passed by Parliament. profits of public undertakings. fines and special assessments. railways. Plan capital expenditure. Non Plan revenue expenditure and non plan capital expenditure.e. additional paper currency through the Reserve Bank of India. Capital expenditure This refers to expenditure incurred on construction of roads. RE = revenue expenditure and RR = revenue receipts. Deficit financing causes inflation hence budget deficit is to be avoided as far as possible.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III 2. It is shown by the following formula: RD = RE-RR Where RD = revenue deficit. The government of India also divides expenditure in to plan expenditure and non plan expenditure. Types of Budget Deficits A budget deficit is a situation in which the expenditure of the government is in excess of the income. This is shown by the following equation B D = Total Expenditure – Total Receipts = (Revenue Expenditure + Capital Expenditure) – (Revenue Receipts + Capital Receipts) The budget deficit is covered by the government by resorting to deficit financing i. Revenue Deficit This is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts. power houses etc. The revenue deficit is covered by the government by transferring some amount from capital receipts to revenue receipts. this expenditure builds productive assets which are helpful in increasing the production of goods and services in the future. Budget Deficits This is the excess of total expenditure of the government (revenue expenditure + capital expenditure) over total receipts (revenue receipts + capital receipts). so we have four categories of expenditure namely Plan revenue Expenditure. bridges. 2. 3. Fiscal Deficit . The revenue expenditure is also called non productive and the capital expenditure is also called productive expenditure. The deficits are further classified into four categories 1. dams. Therefore the fiscal deficit is equal to public borrowings. It is shown in the following equation. Primary Deficit This is arrived at by deducting the interest payments on government loans from the fiscal deficit. . 4. hence the parliament has passed the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act in 2003.Business Environment Notes MFM 07-10 Sem III This refers to the excess of total expenditure of the government over total receipts excepting public borrowings in that year. This is given by the following formula Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit – Interest Payments Conclusion In normal circumstances a budget deficit is something to be avoided. FD = (Rev Exp + Cap Exp) – {Rev Rec + (Cap Rec – public borrowings)} If the public borrowings are added to the capital receipts. Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure – Total Receipts excepting borrowings. the fiscal deficit will become NIL. A marginal deficit is manageable but excessive and persistent deficits are harmful. Sign up to vote on this title UsefulNot useful Master Your Semester with Scribd & The New York Times
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Monday, June 11, 2012 June 11, 2012 What If England Had Become Catholic? I often muse that, had the Reformation not started when it did, and had England not embraced it, it is unlikely that both English and foreign Protestants --- the ancestors of countless descendants now living in America --- would never have been allowed to settle the “New World.” In the 1600s, England, known by this time as a thoroughly Protestant country, was a bastion of strength and a well-sought ally by the French Huguenots in their distress. Louis XIV of France The French Calvinists took for granted that Protestant England would disregard their Frenchness (France and England had long been enemies) and instead think of them as fellow Protestants in danger. Throughout the 17th century the Huguenots flocked to England as a haven from persecution. Little did they know that in 1670, Protestantism was in grave danger of being suppressed. The date: June 01, 1670. The event: The “secret treaty” of Dover. The instigator: King Charles II of England. It was sort of an “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine” endeavor . . . he promised to help France win the war with the Netherlands if France would help him return Catholicism as the official faith in England. Countless Protestant families remained largely ignorant of this treaty formed with King Louis XIV. One hates to think of what would have happened if Louis, who became known for his brutal treatment of the Huguenots throughout the next few decades, had given Charles II advice on how to “persuade” English Anglicans and Puritans to adopt Catholicism. Charles II of England Charles promised to become a Catholic openly and publically after the treaty was ratified and when certain terms were met. But England had not had a Catholic monarch since “Bloody” Mary Tudor, and memories of those horrendous “burning times” would have certainly been enough to send a ripple of fear through the English people. In 1672 Protestants began to get suspicious. King Charles II showed an alarming amount of tolerance to Catholics; this in itself was not reprehensible, but it was worried that he would showcase tendencies that might open up England’s Protestants to acts of great cruelty. Parliament exercised a healthy dose of caution. They forbid even King Charles to supersede former decrees, and his ideas of aligning with France and returning England to Catholicism were duly crushed. Few families probably had any idea how close they might have come to being in a situation very much like that of the Huguenots for whom they had such sympathy. (c) 2012 Joyously Saved No comments: Post a Comment Search This Blog
Details of the interface This is how to wire everything up : This is the pinout of the parallel port, as seen if you look at the 25 pin female connectoer on the outside of your computer So pin 2 to 9 carry the 8 data signals in the parallel port and should be connected to the pins on the two 4066 IC's that control the switching. Those pins are the ones that the green lines in the schematic above connect to. In the parallel port all the pins from 18 to 25 are ground an any one of them should be connected to the - terminal on the toys battery compartment, which is also connected to pin 7 of both the 4066 IC's. The rest of the pins in the parallel port is not used. Pin 14 of both 4066 IC's are connected to the + terminal on toys battery compartment. As already mentioned the core part of the interface is the 4066 IC. Each 4066 IC has 14 pins, four control pins, 4 pairs of switching pins , and 2 pins for power supply. Each control pin can turn one of the switch pairs on or off. Pin 14 is for the positive powersupply and pin 7 for ground. As you can see the control pins are pin 5, 6, 12, 13. These pins work at "the logic level" that just means that they are either high or low, high meaning at +5 V, and low meaning +0 V. In other words if you apply +5 V to pin 13 then pin 1 and pin 2 will be shorted together, and the same goes for the rest of the control pins. Now this is very practical, because the data pins of a computers parallel port work at exactly the same logic levels, +5 V for high, and +0 V for low. That means that you can connect the data pins from the parallel port directly to the control pins of the 4066 IC. As luck is the high / low status of the parallel ports data pins can fairly easily be controlled from software. The parallel port has 8 data pins so two 4066 IC's can be controlled. That's all there is to it. Two 50 cent IC's and you can control 8 switches. I'm absolutely no electronics guru, but as far as i can understand the spec sheet of the 4066 it's switches can only control voltages up to Vss, and max 20V. This means that the voltages you are switching with the 4066 must always be less than or equal to the supply voltage to the 4066, AND NEVER EXCEED 20V. For your own saftey and the safety of your parallel port i suggest that you follow the general guidelines of circuit bending stay under 9V and never use stuff connected to mains voltages not even with a wall wart. Here's an overview of the interface : Disclaimer : I build a couple of these interfaces, i have had them connected to several different computers and until now i have not damaged anything, but if you use this design it's at your on risk. Most modern computers have the parallel port embedded on the mother board so if it fries, you might have a very expensive motherboard repair. I have a couple of very old and outdated Compaq notebook computers that was going to be thrown out at the company where i work and i use them to drive the interface. The sequencer program i have written will run on anything from Windows 95 and up, so most old computers should be sufficient. I chose to build the interface in to the controlled toy. You could just as well build a stand alone version of the interface, and use it to control different toys, or maybe more than one toy at a time. If you do the interface should be powered from a ca. 5 V source. I tried with 3 AA batteries i.e. 4.5 V and that works fine. Here's a couple of pictures showing the interface and the parallel port connector. inside the Habitat Intercom Theres a lot of wires going to the the interface, 8 from the parallel port and 16 to the switches, and to to the battery compartment, i strongly recommend a consistent use of colored wires. If for instance you use yellow wire from pin 2 (D0) on the parallel port to pin 13 on the first 4066, then you should also use yellow wire from pin 1 and 2 on the first 4066, the two pins that make up the switch that pin 13 controls. This way any troubleshooting will be a lot easier. > Circuit Bending > Schematics > Computer interface > Details
Interaction among inductors Chapter Interaction among inductors Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics Third Edition Book Pages 748 Views 8,235 Downloads : 12 times PDF Size : 4.4 MiB Summary of Contents Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics Third Edition Book • Problem 10-3Suppose there are three inductors, each with a value of 40 µH, connected in parallelwith no mutual inductance, as shown in Fig. 10-4. What is the net inductance of the set?Interaction among inductors18710-4Inductors in parallel.Call the inductances L140µH, L240µH, and L340µH. Use the formulaabove to obtain 1/L1/401/401/403/400.075. Then L1/0.07513.333µH.This should be rounded off to 13 µH, because the original inductances are specified toonly two significant digits.Problem 10-4Imagine that there are four inductors in parallel, with no mutual inductance. Their val-ues are L175 mH, L240 mH, L3333µH, and L47.0 H. What is the total net inductance?You can use henrys, millihenrys, or microhenrys as the standard units in this prob-lem. Suppose you decide to use henrys. Then L10.075 H, L20.040 H, L30.000333H, and L47.0 H. Use the above formula to obtain 1/L13.332530030.1433041.473. The reciprocal of this is the inductance L0.00032879 H328.79µH. Thiscan be rounded off to 330 µH because of significant-digits considerations.This is just about the same as the 333-µH inductor alone. In real life, you could haveonly the single 333-µH inductor in this circuit, and the inductance would be essentiallythe same as with all four inductors.If there are several inductors in parallel, and one of them has a value that is farsmaller than the values of all the others, then the total inductance is just a little smallerthan the value of the smallest inductor.Interaction among inductorsIn practical electrical circuits, there is almost always some mutual inductance betweenor among coils when they are wound in a cylindrical shape. The magnetic fields extendsignificantly outside solenoidal coils, and mutual effects are almost inevitable. The sameis true between and among lengths of wire, especially at very-high, ultra-high, and mi-crowave radio frequencies. Sometimes, mutual inductance is all right, and doesn’t havea detrimental effect on the behavior of a circuit. But it can be a bad thing.
First, Do No Harm Required Staff Training “Leaders foster a culture that emphasizes a team mentality while maintaining high standards and accomplishing the mission.” ~ AFDD 1-1 (2006) In this class, we will: Discuss the Cadet Protection paradigm; Define appropriate intensity levels; Analyze the spirit and the letter of the CPP; Learn proper reporting procedures; Apply Operational Risk Management; and Work through a number of case studies. Cadet Protection Paradigm What is the primary purpose of the Cadet Protection Policy? Cadet Protection Paradigm What is the primary purpose of the Cadet Protection Policy? Appropriate Intensity Levels Low intensity: social events, activity graduation Medium intensity: classroom instruction High intensity: drill, inspections, PT, activity sign-in Definition of Abuse CAP defines abuse in CAPR 52-10: “Sexual abuse is defined as sexual molestation, touching, contact, exposure, suggestions, or other incidents of a sexually oriented nature.” “Physical abuse is defined as any conduct whereby someone physically strikes or assaults another in any way.” Definition of Hazing The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program has adopted the standard Department of Defense policy on hazing: “Hazing is defined as any conduct whereby someone causes another to suffer or to be exposed to any activity that is cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning, or The Spirit and the Letter If the Letter is “cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning, or harmful,” what is the The Spirit and the Letter The Rule of St. Benedict: “Arrange everything so that the strong have something to yearn for, and the weak nothing to run from.” Reporting Procedures Why do you think some people choose not to report CPP violations? Is it ever okay not to report an incident? What if I report the incident to my direct superior but nothing is done about it? What if the person violating the CPP is in my chain of command? Is it ever okay to skip links in the chain of command, even if they aren’t personally involved in the CPP violation? Planning Ahead 1. IDENTIFY the hazards (cadet abuse) 2. ASSESS the risks 3. ANALYZE the risk control measures 4. DECIDE how to control the risks 5. IMPLEMENT risk controls 6. SUPERVISE and review (course correct) Planning Ahead Break into small Apply the 6 steps of ORM to CPP issues at this activity Each group will be given a specific focus “The idea [of leadership] is to get people working together, not only because you tell them to do so and enforce your orders but because they instinctively want to do it for you.” Dwight D. Eisenhower Case Studies We will now apply CPP concepts to specific scenarios - Discuss in small groups - Present findings to entire group Case Study #1: Overzealous Barracks Inspection You are a cadet squadron commander at a summer encampment. Each night you walk through your flight’s barracks to check in with the Flight Staff and to assess the training progress. One night you find the barracks in complete disarray: boots and shoes in the middle of the aisle, uniform items on the floor, blankets and mattresses torn up. You find out from the Flight Staff that the inspection team had just come through and conducted a “hurricane” inspection, tossing cadets’ personal belongings around and flipping mattresses if the beds were not made to standard. The Basics are working frantically to get everything back in order, with the exception of one, who appears to be sitting on his bed, shaking uncontrollably. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? What actions should you take? What do you say to the Flight Staff? What about the Basics? Case Study #2: Building a Team The Zulu Flight Guidon Bearer has left the guidon behind twice. The first time, the Cadet Commander gave it back, explaining that it was not just the Guidon Bearer’s responsibility; the flight needed to work together as a team to keep track of the guidon. When the guidon gets left behind a second time, the Cadet Commander and Cadet Deputy Commander decide that there needs to be a consequence. This time, the Cadet Commander returns the guidon to Zulu Flight, furled with duct tape. He says, “Until you can figure out how to work as a team, nobody needs to know who you are.” Several of the cadets are very upset. They feel that their flight is being singled out and treated unfairly. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? How would you address the flight’s concerns? What are some other consequences the Cadet Commander could have Case Study #3: Taking Responsibility Three of the Basics in your flight left their training manuals in the dining hall after lunch. You’re really frustrated, because this is not the first time you’ve had to address this issue with your flight. While venting to a Flight Commander from another flight, he tells you that the night before he had his entire flight work together to complete a total of 200 push-ups and 400 flutter kicks by Taps that night in order to earn back the training manual belonging to one of his Basics. He explained that his Flight Sergeant thought they might get in trouble for hazing, but that his TAC Officer said it was okay because they took a poll and the Basics all agreed to do the push-ups and flutter kicks. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? Since this method of teaching responsibility seems to be condoned at this activity, would you choose to use it, too? If you do believe this is an example of hazing, who do you report it to, since at least one senior member approves of it? Case Study #4: Under Cover A cadet seems to have misplaced her flight cap. She looked through all of her belongings and searched high and low throughout the barracks, but it’s nowhere to be found. You’re already running behind schedule, and you can’t wait around for one person to make everyone late. You instruct her to leave without the flight cap, but to walk around all day with her left hand over her head whenever she’s outside, so she’ll be “under cover.” What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? What are some alternative consequences for being out of uniform? What other methods can be used to teach cadets to take responsibility for their belongings? Case Study #5: Contraband Collection From the very first announcements, the expectations were clear: cell phones, mp3 players, and other electronic devices would not be permitted at this activity. During in-processing, one staff member searched the bags for unauthorized items while another staff member explained the policy and asked each cadet individually to report any unauthorized items they might have brought with them. Those items would then be collected, labeled, and kept in a secure location for the duration of the activity. Anyone who failed to report any unauthorized items during in-processing would be sent home for lying. A few days into the course, during one of the classes, the Activity Director hears an odd sound. He recognizes it immediately as the sound of a cell phone that has been set to vibrate, instead of ringing, but he can’t determine the source of the sound. As soon as the class is over, he announces that there will be no personal time, no talking during meals, and the cadets will do two sessions of standard PT per day instead of a standard PT session in the morning and a relaxed game of ultimate Frisbee in the evening. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? Is this an appropriate use of group punishment? Case Study #6: Leading by Example During the final standby inspection of the encampment, C/2d Lt Smith’s room fails miserably. He tells the inspector that he spent so much time helping his Basics prepare their rooms that he didn’t have enough time to get his own room in order. The inspector doesn’t buy it. Whatever else might have happened, the Flight Commander clearly failed to meet the standards. The inspector tells the cadet: “Are you kidding me? There’s really no excuse for this, Smith. I mean, you couldn’t even figure out the shoe line? Lead by example, Smith. Your room should be the best one in these barracks. I really expected better from you.” What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? What are some other ways the inspector could have handled this Case Study #7: In the Heat of the Moment It’s Friday of the first full week of encampment, and the cadets still can’t seem to figure out how to stand at Parade, REST or how to stay in step while performing Eyes, RIGHT. The Commandant of Cadets orders the cadet command staff to continue practicing until they get it right. Afternoons get pretty hot in July, and most of the cadets’ canteens are empty with nowhere to refill them. Two cadets have already passed out, but they still have not taken a break in over 45 minutes. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? What would you do if you were a flight commander? What if you were the public affairs officer, completely removed from the direct chain of command? Case Study #8a: Cleaning Detail (Part 1) You walk into the bathroom, and it is completely trashed: toilet paper on the floor, trash in the sink, and graffiti that says “CAP rules” in one of the stalls. Immediately, you are furious. You walk back out and call the barracks to Attention, demanding to know who did it. When nobody takes responsibility, you order the entire group to scrub the entire latrine— including all of the toilets—with no cleaner and no gloves. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? Case Study #8b: Cleaning Detail (Part 2) By the time the cadets finish the cleaning detail, you’ve calmed down considerably. You begin to think that you might have overreacted. What do you do when you realize you’ve gone too far? When you talk with the Activity Director, he asks you what you think an appropriate response would have been. What do you tell him? Case Study #9: Team Spirit Two cadets were caught running around doing “spirit missions” after lights out. The commander said he would deal with it in the morning, but handed the cadets over to the cadet staff to “deal with” until then. The two cadets were ordered to scrub the kitchen until the next morning, with only two 5minute breaks and no sleep. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? Hazing or not, who bears the most responsibility for this incident? Case Study #10a: To Blow the Whistle (Part 1) 2d Lt Brown is a former cadet who recently returned to your squadron after four years on active duty as an Army Ranger. With his experience, he has become a great resource: helpful, approachable, and a great mentor. He quickly became popular with cadets and senior members alike. You and the other cadet staff have been very frustrated with one particular cadet, a 14-year-old C/A1C. He’s never been defiant, but sometimes he makes sarcastic remarks at inappropriate times and he often needs to be reminded of simple directions multiple times. While out on a Wing-level FTX, he smarts off to 2d Lt Brown, who responds by saying, “Come on, let’s do some push-ups.” 2d Lt Brown and the cadet drop together and they both do 10 push-ups. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? Should you report it? If so, who do you report it to? 2d Lt Brown and the C/A1C are both in your squadron, but the incident occurred at a wing-level Case Study #10b: To Blow the Whistle (Part 2) You weren’t actually there when the “let’s do some push-ups” incident occurred, but you heard about it later from your squadron’s cadet First Sergeant. He mentioned it while bringing you up to speed on the attitudinal cadet’s progress, smiling as he said, “He had it coming.” Based on your understanding of the Cadet Protection Policy, you believe that this is an incident of hazing. Should you report the incident, even though you weren’t actually a witness? How do you work with the First Sergeant on this issue, considering his opinion about the cadet and the incident? Case Study #11: Time Management Zulu Flight can’t seem to make it out the door on time for breakfast in the mornings. The Zulu Flight Staff recognizes that the cadets need some help developing time management skills, so they have devised a plan to assist them. During hygiene time, the Flight Staff rushed the Basics through the showers. The Flight Sergeant stood just outside the shower room yelling at them that they had one minute to shower, while the Flight Commander kept time. They decided to be nice by really giving the Basics two minutes, instead of one. Tomorrow they plan on waking the Basics up 15 minutes before the scheduled wake up time, to ensure that they have plenty of time to prepare for the morning’s first event. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? As a staff member not assigned to Zulu Flight, what would you do if you heard about this plan? Case Study #12: Scare Tactics C/CMSgt Wright is on top of the world. He’s wanted to be First Sergeant at an activity outside his squadron ever since his Basic Encampment and now it’s his time to shine. He wants to make an impression on the cadets, so every time he addresses them, he does so loudly. “I never yell,” he likes to say. “I merely speak in a tone which ensures that I will not be misunderstood, misheard, or ignored.” The Chief has already been mentored several times by those in his chain of command. He seems to understand now that while yelling isn’t always bad, he was doing it excessively. Much to the Chief’s surprise—and delight—his TAC Officer’s advice that whispering can be just as effective is true. You couldn’t hear what he whispered to cadets during inspections, but the Chief approaches you to brag about the level of discipline under his watch: “When a cadet isn’t standing at Attention properly, I like to sneak up behind ‘em and just whisper a few sentences. Works every time! They straighten right up. But just to keep ‘em on their toes, after whispering, sometimes I yell suddenly, just to see ‘em jump.” What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? How would you respond to the Chief’s statement that he yells “just to see ‘em Case Study #13: Mind Games If your team wins this volleyball game, you’ll advance to finals. The stakes are high, but the team generally works well together on the court. As the pressure builds, the volleyball team captain becomes more competitive. She has been playing volleyball since she was 8, so it’s serious business to her. There are two cadets on the team who are particularly uncoordinated. If they don’t miss the volleyball altogether, they always seem to hit it the wrong direction. You overhear the team captain talking to them before the game, telling them that they’d better figure it out so they don’t ruin it for everyone else. Once the game begins, she’s particularly sarcastic whenever the two “weakest links,” as she calls them, try to go for the ball. What training purpose does this serve? Is it an example of hazing? How do you think the team captain’s attitude and behavior affect the rest of the team? Case Study #14: Personal Hygiene Everyone has noticed that one particular cadet, a quiet C/SSgt who just turned 14, is beginning to smell. The other cadets have already been complaining about it and his roommate informed you that the cadet hasn’t showered in three days. You pull him aside at the beginning of personal time and ask him—in a straightforward way, but with a kind tone—if he’s been taking care of his hygiene needs. At first he tells you that he’s fine, but with a little prodding, he explains that he’s uncomfortable taking communal showers. While he doesn’t come right out and mention it, you infer that he’s nervous about developmental differences between him and the other boys. Do communal showers present a violation of CAP’s Cadet Protection Policy? What can you do to help the cadet adjust? The Bottom Line The best leaders take care of their followers while living the Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Excellence, and Volunteer Service. similar documents
Presentation is loading. Please wait. Presentation is loading. Please wait. Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Similar presentations Presentation on theme: "Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)"— Presentation transcript: 1 Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) 2 Background Also called ‘The Notional-Functional Approach’(觀念/意念功能教學法） In 1960s, Situational Language Teaching(情境式語言教學）was popular. Learners are able to socialise/ communicate (溝通/交際）with social notions in social situations. Emphasis shifts from language structures to communicative functions. 3 Background (cont.) Most of the methods are for Ss to learn to communicate in target language. In 1960’s, it has been questioned that Ss couldn’t genuinely communicate outside of the classroom properly. Being able to communicate required more than mastering linguistic structures. 4 Background (cont.) Communication required Ss perform certain functions within a social context. Linguistic competence – rules of linguistic usage. Communicative competence – knowing when and how to say what to whom. In late 1970’s and early 1980’s, linguistic structure-centered approach shifted to Communicative Approach. 5 A communicative (or funtional/notional) approach is organised on the basis of communicative functions (e.g.aplogising, describing, inviting, promising) that a given learner of group of learners needs to know and emphasises the ways in which particular grammatical forms may be used to express these functions appropriately (Canale & Swain, 1980:1) 6 Theory 1965, Noam Chomsky- linguistic competence. Learners are able to communicate with grammatically correct sentences. VS. 1972, Dell Hymes- communicative competence. When communicative competence is acquired, learners should acquire the knowledge and competence in different situations. 7 Theory (cont.) Communicative competence: Dell Hymes (1972) 1.possiblility 可能性 2.feasibility 可行性 3.appropriateness 適當性 4.probability 現實性 8 Theory (cont.) Communicative Competence: Canale & Swain (1980) 1. linguistic competence 語法能力 2. sociolinguistic competence社會語言能力 3. discourse competence話語能力 4.strategic ceompetence策略能力 9 Theory (cont.) Three principles by Richards & Rodgers (1986): The communication principle: activity design with communicative purpose. The task principle: activity design with using language to achieve meaningful task. The meaningfulness principle: activity design should be meaningful to the learners. 10 Theory (cont.) Richards (1985) Communication is meaning-based. Communication is conventional. Communication is appropriate. Communication is interactional. Communication is structured. 11 Aims Communicative competence. Interdependence of language and communication. Broadly apply the theoretical perspective of the Communicative Approach. 12 Characteristics Done with a communicative intent. Use authentic materials. 13 Teacher/ students’ role Teacher- facilitator, advisor. less dominant than teacher- centered. Students- communicators. actively engaged in negotiating meaning (try to make themselves understood and understand others) 14 Three features of communication information gap- one person in an exchange knows something the other person doesn’t. choice – speaker has a choice of what he/she will say and how to say it. feedback- communication is purposeful. Evaluate if purpose has been achieved by feedback. 15 Three conditions for communication Have something to say. Have someone to say to. Have a genuine interest in the outcome of the communication (involved, engaged). 16 Ways to stop Ss communicating Ask Qs to which you already know the answer. Reject Ans. If they’re not the ones you’d thought of. Reject Ans. If they’re not the ones the textbook demands. Respond to the form rather than the content. Initiate every piece of communication yourself. Pretend to understand when you haven’t. Fill the silences. Download ppt "Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)" Similar presentations Ads by Google
Variations taking into account mention to the game of handball have been played all anew the world for thousands of years. Known as one of the oldest ball games, handball was played in Egypt again four thousand years ago, in ancient Rome, and by many South American cultures. The ancient Egyptians played a variety of ball games. Drawings of Egyptians playing handball have been found decorating five thousand year archaic tombs at Saqqara, which depict girls in teams of two playing the game. Balls used in Egyptian handballs were meant to be both open and durable – they were made of a leather skin stuffed as soon as hay or added reforest fibers such as papyrus vestido de malhar. In the Roman Empire, the game was called expulsim ludere, and was played upon courts called sphaeristas. Alexander the Great is said to have been responsible for spreading the game along together in the middle of Greek colonies in Italy in the first millennium BC, and from there it rearrange to adding together countries of the Roman Empire. Details of how the game was played during this period are unreliable, but it is believed it was along in addition to what is known today as one-wall handball. In France during the Middle Ages, the game was called jeux de paume (palm dogfight) and was popular as soon as both nobility and peasants. The ball was made from pieces of tightly-rolled cloth stitched together, and as the game evolved decorate were used to divulge more forceful hitting of the ball. This form of handball is thought to be an in front precursor of tennis – as the game evolved in France, players began to use larger and larger beautify in crime, until eventually they began to use items which resembled into the future tennis racquets. In America, handball is exceeding three thousand years old, and originated in Mexico. Handball players are depicted upon painted pottery items, sculptures, and wall paintings found at archeological sites in many parts of Central America. Of the games played by these ancient civilizations, the one which most closely resembles militant handball is Rebotea a mano take steps pelota dura, or “Hardball pelota rebounded gone the hand”. This game was played by the Chichimeca people, upon courts measuring 20 feet by 40 feet. Many ancient ruins sites in Central America contain such courts, and together considering the multitude of art which depicts the game, indicates that it was an important part of enthusiasm for these ancient cultures. These days, handball is an increasingly popular sport – it has become portion of the Olympic Games, and many international tournaments are dedicated to handball – not surprisingly, the Egyptian team is known to be definitely gifted, perhaps because of all the civilizations in the world, they have been playing it the longest!
The Spanish Tragedy Test \| Mid-Book Test - Medium Buy The Spanish Tragedy Lesson Plans Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________ Multiple Choice Questions 1. At the end of Act 3, Scene 1, what are the fates of Villuppo and Alexandro? (a) Alexandro is to be executed and Villuppo imprisoned. (b) They are both to be executed. (c) Villuppo is to be executed and Alexandro publicly exonerated. (d) Villuppo is to be executed and Alexandro remain in prison. 2. When the procession in Act 1, Scene 2 passes by the king, to whom does the king demand a reward be given? (a) Horatio and Balthazar. (b) Andrea and Lorenzo. (c) Lorenzo and Balthazar. (d) All the soldiers. 3. Which of the following characters is not present when a general reports to progress of Spain's war with Portugal in Act 1, Scene 2? (a) The Spanish king. (b) Hieronimo. (c) Don Pedro. (d) The Duke of Castile. 4. How does the ambassador prove to the viceroy that Balthazar is alive? (a) He tells him that his servant says Balthazar is alive. (b) He gives the viceroy letters from Balthazar. (c) He brings a photo of Balthazar. (d) He vouches for Alexandro's innocence. 5. Who challenged Don Pedro during the battle between Portugal and Spain? (a) Andrea. (b) Hieronimo. (c) Lorenzo. (d) Balthazar. Short Answer Questions 1. Why is Hieronimo expected at the king's banquet in Act 1, Scene 4? 3. Who accompanies the Ghost who appears in Act 1, Scene 1? 4. Why does Horatio hesitate to tell the story of Andrea's death in the Spanish court? Short Essay Questions 1. How is Balthazar greeted as a prisoner by the king and how does Balthazar respond? 3. Describe Hieronimo's play, including whom he plans to include on stage. 4. Why does Hieronimo invite the third citizen to his house and what happens at the house? 5. How is Alexandro going to be executed and how does he escape this fate? 6. What excuse does Lorenzo give Bel-Imperia for imprisoning her? 9. At the beginning of Act 1, Scene 3, who are the courtiers that report to the viceroy and what do they reveal? 10. To whom does Bel-Imperia find herself attracted after Andrea's death and why does she resolve to love him? (see the answer keys) This section contains 851 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) Buy The Spanish Tragedy Lesson Plans The Spanish Tragedy from BookRags. (c)2017 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved. Follow Us on Facebook
Searching for Gold Leads to Trouble for Wagon Train Wagon train filled with friends searching for gold finds trouble as young man's impulsive act teads to two deaths. Content Tools When my grandfather was 16 years old, in 1849, he traveled with friends searching for gold on the West Coast. Their wagon train, 15 wagons in all, was on the road six months from Illinois to Sacramento, California. The women, children and provisions used up most of the space in the wagons, so the men and boys walked many miles of the trip. A young man among the group walking was a "smartie." He noticed a young Indian woman fishing on the bank of a stream. He was carrying a rifle, and on impulse he shot her. Near sunset, Indian warriors surrounded the caravan and demanded the killer. Unless he was surrendered, all whites would die. The young man was scalped before the very eyes of his friends and left to die on the trail. Sacramento was just a tent city when they arrived, with not a woman in the town. Thirty dollars worth of gold was considered a good day's diggings. But prices were high. A pair of chickens sold for $12; oysters were $5 a pint. My grandfather lived in California 16 years, and during that time went to Cuba for a short time. When he returned to Illinois, he had a total saving of $800. Mrs. Fred Scar Earlham, Iowa
How to Learn any Programming Language Faster Learning to program isn’t something you can do in an afternoon, but it doesn’t have to be a life’s work, either. There are lots of things you can do to make it easier on yourself when you are learning to program. You already know about The 5 Most Common Problems New Programmers Face–And How You Can Solve Them. Now, discover how to get the most out of your learning. Programming involves activities such as analysis, developing understanding, generating algorithms, verification of requirements of algorithms including their correctness and resource consumption, and implementation (commonly referred to as coding) of algorithms in a target programming language. Source code is written in one or more programming languages (such as C, C++, C#, Java, Python, Ruby, Smalltalk, JavaScript, etc.). The purpose of programming is to find a sequence of instructions that will automate performing a specific task or solving a given problem. The process of programming thus often requires expertise in many different subjects, including knowledge of the application domain, specialized algorithms and formal logic. Related tasks include testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code, implementation of the build system, and management of derived artifacts such as machine code of computer programs. These might be considered part of the programming process, but often the term “software development” is used for this larger process with the term “programming”, “implementation”, or “coding” reserved for the actual writing of source code. Software engineering combines engineering techniques with software development practices. How to Learn any Programming Language Faster Move with Right Phase: Don’t go too fast; get it right before moving on. When I was a student, there were always a few of my friends who came knowing a bit about programming. Inevitably, some of these friends did great in the first few weeks only to fall further and further behind as the course went on. Why? They went too fast through the introductory part of the course, thinking they knew it all–but they rarely did. They knew some of the material, but not enough to have a strong grasp of the fundamentals. At the same time, you must not stop making progress–you can go too slow as well as too fast. Don’t avoid a topic after you’ve mastered everything leading up to it. By facing more challenging ideas, you’ll help cement your grasp of the basics. Look at the Example Code: Reading is usually about the words on the page, but learning to program is about code. When you’re first learning to program, you should make sure to look at, and try to understand, every example. When I first learned to program, I would sometimes read the code examples before the text, and try to figure out what they did. It doesn’t always work, but it did force me to look at the example very carefully, and it often helped make the write-ups clearer. Run The Example Code: Don’t Just Read Example Code–Run It. But when you’re reading a programming tutorial (or book), it’s easy to look at the sample code and say “I get it, I get it, that makes sense”. Of course, you might get it, but you might not get it, and you just don’t know it. There’s only one way to find out–do something with that code. If you haven’t already, get a compiler like Code::Blocks set up. Then type the sample code into a compiler–if you type it, instead of copying and pasting it, you will really force yourself to go through everything that is there. Typing the code will force you to pay attention to the details of the syntax of the language–things like those funny semicolons that seem to go after every line. Then compile it and run it. Make sure it does what you think it does. Then change it. Software is the most easily changed machinery on the planet. You can experiment easily, try new things, see what happens; the changes will happen almost immediately, and there is no risk of death or mayhem. The easiest way to learn new language features is to take some code that works one way, and change it. Write your Own Code as Soon as Possible: Once you understand something about the language–or even if you’re still getting your head around it–start writing sample programs that use it. Sometimes it’s hard to find good ideas for what programs to write. That’s OK, you don’t have to come up with every idea at the beginning. You can find some programming challenges on any web, also you can reimplement the examples from the book or tutorial you are reading. Try to do so without looking back at the sample code; it won’t be as easy as it seems. This technique can work especially well if you tweak the sample code. If you can’t think of a small program to write, but you have in mind a larger program you want to implement, like a game, you could start building small pieces that you can later use for a game. Whether you use them later or not, you will get the same useful experience. Learn to Use a Debugger: Debugging is an important tool in writing effective programming. The sooner you learn good debugging techniques, easier it will be to learn to program. The first step in doing so is to learn how to use a tool called a debugger, which allows you to step through your code. • A debugger will allow you to step line by line through a piece of code. It will let you see the values of variables, and whether the code inside an if statement is executed. • A debugger can help you quickly answer questions about what your code is doing. int main() int x; int y; if( x > 4 ) // <– what is the value of x here? y = 5; // <– did this line of code execute? A final word about debuggers: the first time you learn about a debugger, it will take you longer to fix the problems with your code. After the tenth or so bug, it will really start to pay off. And believe me, you will have way more than ten bugs in your programming career. I often saw many of my friends unwilling to use a debugger. These people really made life hard on themselves, taking ages to find very simple bugs. The sooner you learn to use a debugger, the sooner it will pay off. Seek out More Sources: If you don’t understand something, there’s a good possibility the way it was explained just didn’t click. First, look for alternative explanations. The internet is filled with information about programming, and some explanations work better for different people; you might need pictures, someone else might not. There are also lots of good books with detailed explanations. But if that doesn’t work, the easiest way to figure out where your misunderstanding lies is to ask someone else. But try to go beyond saying, “I don’t understand. Please explain.” You’re likely to get a link back to the same text you didn’t understand. Instead, rephrase your understanding of the text in your words. The more your question reveals about what you are thinking, the easier it will be for a knowledgeable expert to answer it. Programmers sometimes have a reputation for being grumpy about answering questions, but I think the reason is that they want to make progress in a conversation, and that requires both sides to put in effort. If you ask a smart, detailed question that shows you are thinking, you will generally get good results. There are plenty of places you can go to ask questions. You can always post below on the comments. (Visited 20 times, 1 visits today) About Haja Speak Your Mind
Creating Rollovers A rollover is an image which changes in some way when the user's mouse pointer passes over it. It is most often used as an interactive device as part of a site's navigation buttons. Stereotypically the button may appear to light up or squash to indicate a link. If the user chooses not to click the link, the first image is usually restored once the mouse pointer has passed over it. Note that these do not work with most touch screen devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and probably Android/Blackberry/Windows smartphones and tablets too) as the code is not triggered to show the second image. Dreamweaver is far more than just a tool for producing html (hyper text markup language). Rollovers make use of the JavaScript language, and Dreamweaver makes this possible for non-programmers too by writing the code for you. To create a rollover you will first need a pair of images in .gif, .jpg or .png format (you can mix and match formats, and gifs can be animated. There are a few examples on my son's first homepage at Click here for a pair of images you can download to practice with. Your images should be the same width and height (measured in pixels), or else JavaScript will resize the second image to match the first, even if this distorts the second image beyond recognition. Then choose 'Insert Image Objects > Rollover Image' from the Insert menu, or just click on the symbol for this from the Common panel of the Insert palette, you even drag it to where you want the rollover to be inserted, once you've done one and the symbol has replaced the usual 'Image' tree symbol in the palette. win rolls to classic mac Original Image: Then fill the Original Image box by browsing for the image that you want displayed when the page is first displayed. This original version is also called the 'off', the 'up' or the 'static' state. Image Name: The JavaScript requires that each time an image is used on your page it has a unique name, so Dreamweaver conveniently names it for you as Image 1 - you can rename this now or from the Properties Inspector later, or just leave it be. Rollover Image: Next browse for your Rollover Image. This is your 'on' or 'over' state. Link or When clicked, go to URL: (URL = Uniform Resource Locator, the official term for a web page address). The JavaScript is attached to a web link associated with the first image - even if you just want a graphic effect, there must be a link. This can be an absolute address such as which can link to an external page on someone else's site or a relative link to within your own site. Dreamweaver will put in a # hash symbol as a blind link for you if you do not specify a real link of your own. You can go back and change this link afterwards from the Properties Inspector, but if you simply delete the # hash and leave the link empty your JavaScript will break. (Some American authors call the # hash sign 'pound'). Preload Rollover Image: Usually you will want to preload your second image to give a good response - otherwise there will be a delay while the browser calls back to the server when it needs the second image state. There is a special case when this may not apply. The rollover image does not have to be a simple unmoving picture - it can be an animated gif. If this is set to loop then it should still be preloaded. If set to play only once or a few times, it will have likely stopped moving long before anyone invokes it, so then DON'T preload. This is also true if it relates closely to the original image and must be seen from frame 1 rather than viewed from any point in the animation. You cannot preview your rollover in Dreamweaver so press function key 12 (F12) to switch into your browser. When you come back to Dreamweaver press F10 to view the source code and see how much JavaScript has been written for you. Dreamweaver can take rollovers to the next level with a function which will create an entire Navigation Bar. This can even automate the production of a table into which the buttons will be ordered. It allows each of the buttons to show a different look for up to FOUR states. In addition to the 'up' and 'over' states used for simple rollovers as detailed above, it allows for extra images to represent 'down' for when the user has their mouse button depressed and the rare 'over while down' when the pointer is over the image after it has been clicked. Complex rollovers where more than one area of the page change on mousing over something are often easier to create in a Web graphics application such as Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks using 'slicing'. You can save from these an html page containing a table, together with all the graphics in their various rollover states. Here's one I created earlier... Note that it is possible to create simple two stage rollovers in html without the large chunk of JavaScript that Dreamweaver inserts. Much of the JavaScript relates to preloading the rollover second state for instant response. Here is a simple html rollover, the code can be copied by viewing the source. The problem with this code is a slight delay before the rollover takes place due to the browser having to call back to the server for the second image. The latest trend is to create both the original and over states as a single graphic which is then moved up or down with CSS while just half is visible - easier to keep track of the graphics and guarantees that the over state will load without having to include the cumbersome preload code: Dreamweaver also makes 'Flash' buttons easy to create. These can have sounds attached and can look very good - unless your user lacks the Flash plug-in: in which case your site just lost its navigation (Apple IOS devices - other than computers running Mac OS - don't support Flash, and it is doubtful on other smartphones and TVs etc. It's good practice to offer alternative simple text links at the bottom of the page).
How to Conduct a 'Close Analysis' of a Media 'Text' A basic media literacy exercise. While getting "caught up" in a storytelling experience has been the essence of entertainment since our ancestors told tales around the fire, the relentless pace of entertainment media today requires that at least once in awhile, we should stop and look, really look, at how a media message is put together and the many interpretations that can derive from it. The method for this is called "close analysis." To learn to conduct this basic media literacy exercise, try it first yourself; then introduce it to a group or class using tips at the end of this article. Any media message can be used for a close analysis but commercials are often good choices because they are short and tightly packed with powerful words and images, music and sounds. Find a commercial to analyze by recording, not the programs but just the commercials, during an hour or two of TV watching. Play the tape and look for a commercial that seems to have a lot of layers-- interesting visuals and sound track, memorable words or taglines, multiple messages that call out for exploration. Replay your selection several times as you go through the following steps: 1. Visuals. After the first viewing, write down everything you can remember about the visuals-- lighting, camera angles, how the pictures are edited together. Describe any people-- what do they look like? what are they doing? wearing? What scenes or images do you remember clearly? Focus only on what is actually on the screen, not your interpretation of what you saw on the screen. (See the following sample exercise, What Do You Notice? ) If necessary, play it again but with the sound off. Keep adding to your list of visuals. 2. Sounds. Replay again with the picture off. Listen to the sound track. Write down all the words that are spoken. Who says them? What kind of music is used? Does it change in the course of the commercial? How? Are there other sounds? What is their purpose? Who is being spoken to-- directly or indirectly? (That is, who is the audience addressed by the commercial?) 3. Apply Key Questions. With the third viewing, begin to apply the Five Key Questions and the Guiding Questions that lead to them. Identify the author(s) and how the specific "construction" techniques you identified in steps 1 and 2 influence what the commercial is "saying"-- values expressed and unexpressed; lifestyles endorsed or rejected; points of view proposed or assumed. Explore what's left out of the message and how different people might react differently to it. What is the message "selling"? Is it the same as the product being advertised? Continue to show the text over and over; it's like peeling back the layers of an onion. 4. Review Your Insights. Summarize how the text is constructed and how various elements of the construction trigger our own unique response-- which may be very different than how others interpret the text. Try this exercise with other kinds of messages-- a story from a newscast, a key scene from a movie, a print advertisement, a website. Are different questions important for different kinds of messages? Doing a close analysis with a class or group can be exhilirating, with insights coming fast and furiously. After the first showing, start the group exercise with the simple question: " What did you notice?" Different people will remember different things so accept all answers and keep asking, " What else did you notice ?" If the group is having a hard time, show the clip again and invite them to look for something that stands out for them. Continue the brainstorming until you have at least 15 or 20 answers to the question: " What did you notice ?" Challenge any attempt to assign interpretation too early. Keep the group focused on identifying only what was actually on screen or heard on the soundtrack. The key to success with this exercise is for the teacher/leader to keep asking questions . Refrain from contributing too many answers yourself. While no one has the time to subject every media message to this kind of analysis, it takes only two or three experiences with close analysis to give us the insight to "see" through other media messages as we encounter them. It's like having a new set of glasses that brings the whole media world into focus. What Did You Notice? A sample inquiry into visual language . Media Text: A :60 commercial showing an attractive middle-aged woman driving on a dark, lonely road when her car breaks down. She tries in vain to restart the car. . .a truck passes going the other way but does not stop. (Turns out to be a commercial for a cell phone.) Teacher/Leader: What did you notice about this text? First, what did you actually see on the screen? Group Responses: driving on a lonely road. . . it's night / dark . . . woman alone . . . car breaks down . . . she's afraid. . . T/L: Oh?, you saw fear?! How did you see fear? Fear is an abstract concept . . . what did you actually see (that led you to conclude : fear)? (You might want to chart the following typical responses in two columns which can later clarify: denotation / connotation) GR: Closeup of woman turning key in ignition with sound of car grinding but not starting. . . close-up of foot on gas pedal. . . close-up of engine light. . . close-up of her fingers drumming on the steering wheel. . . closeup of her looking out the window to see if anyone around. . . no . . . on the sound track, the music is in a minor key, kind of eerie. T/L: Okay! After the establishing shot which put her on a dark country road, there were four quick cuts showing her trying to start the car. Put those together with the eerie music and we viewers jump to the conclusion that she's afraid-- or that she should be afraid. . . Further exploration reveals that each shot of the commercial, plus the editing which goes faster and faster like a racing heartbeat, is carefully constructed to build the case that the woman is in danger and afraid. If we, as viewers, buy into it and begin to identify with a feeling of fear, we've been "hooked" by the commercial's premise, whether we ever buy a cell phone or not. This is the power of visual language and why we need to help our students learn to "read" it.
Sample Release To show what our motto “rescue – rehabilitate – release” looks like in a practical, real-life setting, we present a sample release from start to successful finish. We have here Eastern Bluebirds, who were once endangered but thanks to initiatives such as the Bluebird Trail, they are making a comeback. Once the rescued animals arrive at the Centre, in this case due to being orphaned, they are weighed and measured. As adults, these birds will measure about 18 cm long and weigh about 30 grams. They are then given food appropriate to their species. The type of food and methods of feeding differs by species. In this case, according to some literature, baby Eastern Bluebirds may not open their mouths (gape) for a foster parent. However we were able to play a sound recording of an adult bird song and they gaped immediately! This sound recording was then used throughout their care to ensure that they recognize the sound of their own species. Here they are during a feed: Once the baby rescues are old enough, they are transferred from special, more intensive care to a general natural environment. They are able to socialize with other members of their species and learn the “rules” of life as a bird. This is the first day in an outdoor aviary: It is sometimes necessary for us to determine whether the rescued animal is a male or female, especially when dealing with an endangered species. The Eastern Bluebird is of the few birds where this can be easily seen at this age. In this photo, the female is on the left.SampleRelease4 Once the Centre caretakers decide that the rescued animal is fit and healthy enough to be released, they are carefully transported to the same location where they were originally rescued. This is so that the animal will be able to easily remember where to find shelter, food, and other members of his/her group. Sometimes, the rescue location is deemed unsuitable for various reasons, and a new ideal area must be found in which to release the animal. This was the case for the Eastern Bluebirds and a perfect habitat was located which included open fields with trees, shrubs, and berry bushes. Finally the rescued birds are released!
Skip to content BLOG ENTRY 8 Do visual media work differently to other media forms? May 1, 2012 I will be conducting an analysis of visualisations in relation to the following three forms of visualisation: scientific research, communication of science within the “public sphere” and “real time” interactive visualisation. These images are mostly coming from scientific or visualisation blog sites which dedicate their entire site to a certain topic. These intricate images are created by talented graphic designers who passionately use their skills to depict an image that represents the scientific significance that defines it. The only one I found on a broad news site was the Polar Bear visualisation which was about climate change. These images are able to relate to the general publishing sphere by their use of global internet which is their means of entering the “public sphere”. The most important process that occurs in creating a visualisation involves the collection of scientific data needed to arrange the visual objects within the resulting image created by the graphic designer. VISUALISATION 1: Struggling Polar Bear ( This visualisation is in a news site and compliments an article based on climate change. In this particular context, this image of the Polar Bear is functioning to gain emotional attention from the audience. Without the image, the article would lack a sense of connection and impact towards the concept of global warming. This perhaps is the largest function and effect of the images publication with the written article. This image assembles information and warnings about climate change which is assembled in a compact photograph that really does say 1000 words. VISUALISATION 2: Mouse Eyeball Cells ( This visualisation was found on a scientific blog site called Wired Science which I found to be a favourite and particularly interesting. On this same site I found a quote quite relevant to the concept of visualisations representing scientific data by Thomas Wagner, a cryosphere scientist at NASA who states, “I think because information technology tools and visualization tools have advanced, people have found ever-increasingly clever ways to display difficult scientific concepts”. I believe this sums up the function of using visualisations in this scientific context. What is happening to this image in this context is it is attracting the human eye through its aesthetics and therefore, simplifying the daunting biological data of the mouse eyeball cell. This image won first place in the 2011 International Science and Engineering Visualisation Challenge by its strategic use of colour and it states on the Wired Science site that judges chose their winners based on, “visual impact, originality and clarity” (Dave Mosher). It assembles the cell data by assigning red, blue and green to antibodies which resulted in the revelation of “70 different cell types in the organ” (Dave Mosher). VISUALISATION 3: Climate Change Deniers vs The consensus ( Although I did like the site name, “Information is Beautiful”, I did not particularly consider this one the best example of visualisation. This is mainly because the graphs are quite complex and the only thing that gives these graphs any kind of visual appeal is their use of colour in contrast to the black background. There is also a large use of words surrounding the visualisations which takes away from the whole effect of using visualisations. The context is global warming and carbon dioxide levels and the form of assembly of data is graphs which act as a way of presenting the data in a professional and prepared manner. However, on the other hand, I do think that it serves its function to represent the written information in a visual form. The graphs assemble data of carbon dioxide in a more calculated way than the other visualisations as it does not focus necessarily on aesthetics but rather on information publication. The most important effect of the graphs is that it indicates a thorough amount of time and effort that the site has spent on constructing the data. It gives readers a chance to choose between words and pictures to learn more about the topic. VISUALISATION 4: Global Carbon Emissions on the CO2 now site ( I think this particular visualisation was really effective in the sense that it captures attention by use of photography. The images in the context of carbon emissions and humanity’s role in terms of causing carbon pollution is demonstrated fairly well through the juxtaposition of the natural scenes and the industrial settings depicted through the photos used. The images somehow tell a simple story teaching those who do not study science about how our actions affect our natural world in every aspect: air, land and sea. This is the function of the photos– to portray a deeply concerning and relatively complex idea through a simple and eye capturing photos which is something that everyone can understand. In turn, this effectively publishes an urgent cause which is carbon gases and its effect on the natural world. Each of the photographs assemble a message for everyone in the world that humans must stop polluting the environment in order to save it and the designer of the visualisation does this through the use of the words, “come from” and “goes” to establish something similar to a flow chart. How do they fold into both the general social body, and individual bodily interaction with media? Scientific visualisations affect the media and society by teaching us something that cannot be entirely explained through traditional reading of words on a page. Through employment and creations of visualisations, people who are not fully aware of the context of a concept are more able to grasp its defining idea through an immediate glance at an image. It simplifies information that would be otherwise very difficult to digest and perhaps take a long time to learn. In the media, visualisations work very well because the media must simplify everything to the audience and make information as easy as possible. How do visual modes of publishing relate to the issues we are concerned with in ARTS2090? In terms of assemblages, these image assemble complex data systems and compress them into simplified pictures that every day people would find easier to understand especially in the context of science. It also relates to attention as these images capture our attention through colour and other visual techniques. Lastly, it relates to archiving as it somewhat archives scientific data through its compression of information in the image or visualisation used to represent that data. From → Uncategorized Leave a Comment Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s %d bloggers like this:
/mɜːs; Scottish mɛrs/ noun (Scot) low level ground by a river or shore, often alluvial and fertile a marsh /mɜːs; Scottish mɛrs/ the Merse, a fertile lowland area of SE Scotland, in Scottish Borders, north of the Tweed Read Also: • Merseburg /German ˈmɛrzəbʊrk/ noun 1. a city in E Germany, on the Saale River, in Saxony-Anhalt: residence of the dukes of Saxe-Merseburg (1656–1738); chemical industry. Pop: 35 358 (2003 est) • Mersenne [mer-sen; French mer-sen] /mərˈsɛn; French mɛrˈsɛn/ noun 1. Marin [ma-ran] /maˈrɛ̃/ (Show IPA), 1588–1648, French mathematician. • Mersenne-number noun, Mathematics. 1. a number of the form, 2 p −1, where p is a prime number. • Mersey
In this Article we are discussing below the frequently asked question by taxpayers on Income Tax related to Taxable Income, General Question, Tax on Income, Return of income, PAN, Salary Income, Income from House property, Income from business and Profession, Capital Gains, Tax Deduction at Source and Assessment which will provide an insight to the laymen on income tax provisions. A. General 1. What is Income Tax? 2. What do you mean by ‘income earned in India’? 3. Who administers the Income-Tax Act? The job of monitoring the Income-tax collection by the government is entrusted to a Department called Income-Tax. This department functions under the ‘Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. 4. What is the period for which a person s income is taken into account for purpose of Income tax? 5. What is an Assessment Year ? 6. Who is supposed to pay Income Tax? 7. Is Income tax Act applicable only to residents? 8. Who is a resident? 9. How can I know whether a company is resident or non-resident? B. Taxable Income 12. What does the Income Tax Department consider as income? 1. Income from Salary 2. Income from House property 3. Income from Business or Profession 4. Income from capital gains 5. Income from other sources 13. Are all receipts considered as income? Receipts can be classified into two kinds. A) Revenue receipt B) Capital receipt. 14. What are revenue and capital receipts? 15. Is income tax levied on gifts received by a person? Gift exceeding Rs 50,000 is taxable unless it is received from • any person who is a relative or • on occasion of marriage or • under will or by inheritance or • in contemplation of death of the payer 16. I own shares of various Indian companies and receive dividends. Is it taxable? 18. Can I claim deduction for my personal and household expenditure in calculating my income or profit? 22. Is there any limit of income below which I need not pay taxes? 23. I am an agriculturist. Is my income taxable? 24. What is agricultural income? 25. Is income from animal husbandry considered as agricultural income? 26. Do I have to maintain any records or proof of earnings? 27. As an agriculturist, am I required to maintain any proof of earning and expenditure incurred? 28. I win a lottery or prize money in a competition. Am I required to pay taxes on it? C. Tax on Income 29. How does the Government collect Income Tax? Taxes are collected by three means: a) voluntary payment by persons into various designated Banks. For example Advance Tax and Self Assessment Tax b) Taxes deducted at source [TDS] on your behalf from the payments receivable by you. c) Taxes collected at source [TCS] on your behalf at the time of spending. It is the constitutional obligation of every person earning income to compute his income and pay taxes correctly. 30. How will I know how much Income tax I have to pay? The rates of income tax and corporate taxes are available in the Finance bill [commonly called budget] passed by Parliament every year. 31. Does every person have to keenly follow the annual Finance bills? You need not do so. You can take professional help or the help of Public Relation Officer [PRO] in the local Income Tax Department office. You may also take assistance from Tax Return Preparers [TRP] 32. When do I have to pay the taxes on my income? Generally the tax on income crystallizes only on completion of the previous year. However for ease of collection and regularity of flow of funds to the Government for its various activities, the Income tax Act has laid down payment of taxes in advance during the year of earning itself. Taxes may also be collected on your behalf during the previous year itself through TDS and TCS. If at the time of filing of return you find that you have some balance tax to be paid after taking into account your advance tax, TDS & TCS, the short fall is to be deposited as Self Assessment Tax . 33. What is the procedure for depositing tax? A form called Challen available in the Income Tax department, in banks and on the IT department web site should be filled up and deposited in the bank along with the money. Taxes can also be paid on-line. 34. In the challan there are terms like Income tax on companies & Income tax other than companies . What do they mean? The tax to be paid by the companies on their income is called corporate tax and in the challan it is mentioned as Income tax on Companies . Tax paid by non-corporates is called Income tax and in the challan it is identified as Income tax other than Companies . 35. How is advance tax calculated and paid? It is paid in installments. The amount payable is to be calculated in the following manner: Status By 15th June By 15th Sept 15th Dec 15th March Corporate 15% 45% 75% 100% Non-Corporate nil 30% 60% 100% The deposit of advance tax is made through challan by ticking the relevant column. 36. What is regular tax and how is it paid? Under the Income tax Act every person has the responsibility to correctly compute and pay his due taxes. Where the Department finds that there has been understatement of income and tax due, it takes measures to compute the actual tax amount that ought to have been paid. This demand raised on the person is called Regular Tax . The regular tax has to be paid within 30 days of receipt of the notice of demand. 37. What are the precautions that I should take while filling up the tax payment challan? Clearly mention: i. Head of payment eg. Corporation Tax/Income Tax ii. Amount and mode of payment of tax iii. Type of payment [Advance tax/Self assessment/Regular/Tax on Dividend] iv. Assessment year v. The unique identification number called PAN [Permanent Account Number] allotted by the IT Department. (Since PAN related services have been outsourced, for further details on PAN please see the departmental website or The filled up taxpayers counter foil will be stamped and returned to you by the bank. Please ensure that the bank stamp contains BSR[Bankers Serial number code] , Challan Identification Number [CIN], and the date of payment. 39. How can I know that the Government has received the amount deposited by me as taxes in the bank? The NSDL website [] provides online services called Challan Status Enquiry . You can also see your tax pass book , an online tax credit viewing facility in the same website. 40. What is the procedure to be followed to view my Tax passbook/Tax statement? You must first register your PAN by logging into the online service called view tax credit in the NSDL website []. Thereafter your PAN registration must be authorized by visiting the nearest TIN [Tax Information Network] facilitation center of NSDL or getting their representative to call upon you. These are paid services. 41. What should I do if my tax payment particulars are not found against my name in your website? For payments deposited by you into the bank you will have to contact your bankers if the credit has not been given even after three days. In case of TDS or TCS you will have to contact the concerned deductor /collector after the due date for filing the quarterly TDS/TCS return by them is over. 42. Is my responsibility under the Income tax Act over once taxes are paid? 43. What can I do to reduce my tax? The tax can be reduced by making investment in approved schemes and also by making donations to approved charitable institutions. D. Return of income 44. What is a return of income? It is a prescribed form through which the particulars of income earned by a person in a financial year and taxes paid on such income is communicated to the Income tax department after the end of the Financial year. Different forms are prescribed for filing of returns for different Status and Nature of income . 45. From where can I get a return form? The Public Relation Officer [PRO] can be contacted for this purpose. The form can also be downloaded from the site 46. How can I know which form is applicable for my income? You should choose a return form according to your status and nature of income from the following: ITR1 For Individuals having Income from Salary/ Pension/ family pension & Interest ITR2 For Individuals and HUFs not having Income from Business or Profession ITR4 For individuals & HUFs having income from a proprietary business or profession ITR5 For firms, AOPs and BOIs ITR6 For Companies other than companies claiming exemption under section 11 ITR8 Return for Fringe Benefits 47. What documents are to be enclosed along with the return of income? The new return form numbering 1 to 8 is annexure less. Hence no documents need to be attached. 48. Where and how am I supposed to file my return? A return is to be filed before your Assessing officer. It may even be sent by post or filed electronically. Nowadays returns are also being received at designated post offices. 49. Who is an Assessing officer? He/She is an officer of the Income tax department who has been given jurisdiction over a particular geographical territory or class of persons. You can find out from the PRO or from the Departmental website as to your jurisdiction. 50. How is a return filed electronically? Companies and firms are compulsorily required to file their return electronically, while for others it is still optional. For electronic filing of return you have to log on to the Departmental website and upload the information of income and taxes in the prescribed form. If you have digital signature the same can be appended and there would be no need to file a paper return. In case you do not have a digital signature you will be required to file a paper return quoting the provisional acknowledgement number received on completion of uploading. 51. I am going out of India. Who will file my income tax return for this period? You can authorize any person by way of a Power of Attorney to file your return. A copy of the Power of Attorney should be enclosed with the return. 52. Will I be put to any disadvantage by filing my return? No. On the contrary by not filing your return in spite of having taxable income, you will be laying yourself open to the penal and prosecution provisions under the Income-tax Act. 53. What are the benefits of filing my return of income? 54. Is it necessary to file return of income when I do not have any positive income? If you have sustained a loss in the financial year, which you propose to carry forward to the subsequent year for adjustment against its positive income, you must make a claim of loss by filing your return before the due date. 55. What are the due dates for filing returns of income/loss? The due dates are as follows: Companies & their Directors 3oth September Other business entities, other than companies, if their accounts are auditable & their working partners 3oth September In all other case 31st July 56. If I fail to furnish my return within the due date of filing, will I be fined or penalized? Yes. This may take the form of interest if the return is not filed before the end of the assessment year. If the return is not filed even after the end of the assessment year, penalty may also be levied. 57. Can a return be filed after the due date? Yes. It may be furnished at any time before the expiry of two years from the end of the financial year in which the income was earned. For example, in case of income earned during FY 2010-01, the belated return can be filed before 31st March 2013. It is never too late to start honoring your constitutional obligations for payment of tax. The department may ask you to file return of income for earlier years if it finds that you had taxable income in those years. 59. If I have paid excess tax how and when will it be refunded? The excess tax can be claimed as refund by filing your income tax return. It will be refunded by issue of cheque or by crediting to your bank account. The department has been making efforts to settle refund claims within four months from the month of filing return. 60. If I have committed any mistake in my original return, am I permitted to file a corrected return? 61. How many times can I revise the return? Theoretically a return can be revised any number of times before the expiry of one year from the end of the assessment year or before assessment by the department is completed; whichever event takes place earlier. 62. Am I required to keep a copy of the return filed as proof and for how long? 63. There are various deductions that have not been reflected in the Form 16 issued by my employer. Can I claim them in my return? 64. Why is return filing mandatory even though all my taxes and interests have been paid and there is no refund due to me? 65. Am I liable for any criminal prosecution [arrest/imprisonment etc] if I don t file my income tax return even though my income is taxable? 66. What are the benefits of obtaining a Permanent Account Number [PAN] and PAN Card? 67. I have lost my PAN card but remember my number. Do I necessarily need to get a fresh card? 68. I have been allotted two PANs. Which number should I use? 69. If I do not surrender the additional PAN number, is there any problem? 70. By mistake I have been using different PANs for different purpose like one for my demat account and another for filing my Income Tax return and payment of taxes. How do I set this right? It is advisable to retain only one PAN, preferably the one used for Income Tax purpose and surrender the other number immediately. The institutions where the latter number has been quoted should be informed of the correct PAN. 71. Is it mandatory to file return of income after getting PAN? No. Return is to be filed only if you have taxable income. F. Salary Income 72. What is considered as Salary income? Whatever is received by an employee from an employer in cash, kind or as a facility [perquisite] is considered as Salary. 73. What is meant by an employer-employee relationship? If a person has the right/power to hire and fire another, then he is an employer of the latter. 74. What are allowances? Are all allowances taxable? Allowances are fixed amounts, apart from salary, which are paid by an employer for the purpose of meeting some particular requirements of the employee. There are generally three types of allowances for the purpose of income tax- taxable, fully exempted and partially exempted. 75. I am always on tour and my employer gives me substantial daily allowance, most of which is saved. Will this saving be treated as income? 76. My employer reimburses all my expenses on grocery and children s education. Would this be considered as income? Yes. These are in the nature of perquisite. 79. Is pension income considered as salary? Yes. However pension received from the United Nation is exempt. 80. Is Family pension considered as salary? No. It is taxable under other sources . 81. If I am receiving my pension through a bank who will issue Form-16 or pension statement to me- the bank or my former employer? The bank. 82. Are retirement benefits such as PF and Gratuity taxable? No. They are exempt subject to conditions and limits laid down in the Income Tax Act. 83. Are arrears of salary taxable? Yes. However certain benefit of spread over of income to the years to which it relates can be availed for lower incidence of tax. This is called relief u/s 89(1) of Income-tax Act. 84. Can my employer consider relief u/s 89(1) for the purposes of calculating my tax liability? 85. My income from let out house property is negative. Can I ask my employer to consider this loss against my salary income while computing my tax liability? 86. Is leave encashment taxable as salary? It is taxable if received while in service. Received as retirement benefit, however it is exempt subject to certain conditions. 87. Life insurance amount received on maturity along with bonus – is it taxable? G. Income from House property 88. What do you mean by Income from House Property ? Unlike the other heads of income, Income from house property is a notional income based on a concept called Annual value . This is the value a property is expected to fetch if it is let out. It may be more than the actual rent being received if let out. If it is not let out the expected market/fair rent will be considered as annual value for the purpose of taxation. Property includes the building and the land surrounding it. 89. If a property is not a residential house, can its income still be considered as income from house property? Yes, provided the property is not used for business purpose. 90. What are the conditions for taxing income from a property under this head? The person should own the property. 91. Can interest paid on hand loans taken from friends and relatives be claimed as deduction while calculating house property income? 92. I have two houses. One is a farmhouse that I visit on weekends and the other is in the city that I use on weekdays. Is it correct to treat both these residences as self occupied? No. You can claim any one as self occupied. Incomes from buildings situated in or near agricultural farm are considered exempt provided they are used for dwelling of the farm owner/cultivator or for related purposes of storage etc. 93. I own two houses both of which are occupied by my family and me. Is there any tax implication? Yes. As already mentioned in the answer to Q.No: 87, income from house property is a notional income and only in respect of one residential unit, if self occupied, it will be considered as nil . In case of the other residential unit, marketable rental value will have to be offered for tax. 94. My spouse and I are joint owners of a house constructed by availing housing loan separately. Are we both individually/separately entitled for deduction of the maximum interest payable of Rs.1.5 lakh? No. The net taxable income from the property must be calculated first and then apportioned between the co-owners. In this process of calculation maximum interest payable of Rs.1.5 lakh can be considered only once. 95. My spouse and I jointly own a house for construction of which both of us have invested equally out of independent sources. Can the rental income received be split between us and taxed in the individual hands? 96. I have 5 separate let out properties. Should I calculate the house property income separately for each individual property or by clubbing all the rental receipts in one calculation? The calculation will have to be made separately for the various properties. H. Income from business and Profession 97. What does Profession mean? 100. Are professionals required to maintain any books of account under the Income tax Act? 1. Cash book 2. Journal in case of mercantile system of accounting 3. Ledger 4. Carbon copies or counter foils of all bills issued, being serially numbered 5. Original copies of all expenditure bills. Signed vouchers where bills not available for less than Rs.50. 101. I am a small time trader. Do I need to maintain any accounts? 102. Where should the books of account of my business be kept and for how long? 103. Do I have to keep an accountant to maintain my account? 104. What is meant by audit of the books of account? 106. I am a medical practitioner. Do I need to maintain any accounts? 107. Can an electric contractor also avail the benefit of deemed income provision? No. These provisions are specifically for civil contractors. No. The scheme is applicable to owners of goods carriages. 109. What are the expenses that I can deduct from my business receipt while calculating the business profit? 110. What do you mean by revenue expenditure? 111. In what form can I claim deductions for capital expenses incurred in my business? I. Capital Gains 114. I have sold a house for Rs.5 lakh, which had been purchased by me 5 years ago for Rs.2 lakh. Am I required to pay any tax on the profit of Rs.3 lakh earned by me? Yes. This profit, which is called capital gain, is taxable subject to certain conditions. 115. Sale of what kind of assets attracts capital gains? All transfer of capital assets attracts capital gains. Capital assets are those properties that have an enduring value and they are not consumable. 116. What does transfer mean? Transfer means giving up your right on an asset. It includes sale, exchange, compulsory acquisition under any law, relinquishment etc 117. Does the capital gain tax differ according to my period of holding an asset? Yes. If assets are held for more than 36 continuous calendar months prior to transfer they are called long-term assets and their transfer results in long-term capital gain that is taxed at the rate of 20%. The only exception to this general rule is in respect of securities for which the period of holding prior to transfer is 12 months to be considered as long-term capital asset and the rate of tax is nil, provided securities transaction tax has been paid. Any transfer of assets held for lesser than these periods would result in short-term capital gain. This is taxed at normal rates in respect of all assets except securities. For securities the rate of tax is 10% along with payment of securities transaction tax. 118. Can I get any benefit for erosion in the value of money over the years while calculating my gain on sale of asset? Yes. To neutralize the erosion of value of money over the years the cost index for the year of sale is factored in while calculating the cost of investment so that the impact of inflation is neutralized and only the actual gain to the seller is brought to tax. 119. I have sold a property and made profit. If the sale amount is reinvested in purchase of a site, is my profit exempt from tax? No. For getting exemption the nature of property sold is relevant. If you have sold a residential property, the gain received on sale should be reinvested in another residential property [which may include land and building] to qualify for exemption [section 54]. Even if you have sold a property other than a residential property, you will qualify for exemption only if the net consideration is reinvested in a residential property which may include land and building [section 54F]. 120. If I sell my land will I be taxed? Gain from sale of non-agriculture land is taxable as capital gain. Gain from sale of agriculture land is taxable only if it is located within 8 kilometers from the urban limits. J. Tax Deduction at Source 121. What is TDS? 122. Is TDS relevant for me as a businessman? 123. I have made some deposits with a bank on which annual interest is around Rs.15000. My income is below taxable limit. The banker wants to deduct tax. What do I do? 124. I have let out a property for Rs.20,000 per month. The tenant is deducting tax that is more than my tax liability. What can I do under this circumstance? 125. I have deducted tax from payments disbursed but used the same for some urgent financial needs. What are the consequences? 126. What can I do if I am unable to get the TDS certificate [form-16 or 16A]? 127. I have not received TDS certificate from my employer. Can I claim TDS deducted from my salary? 128. If the employer does not deduct tax and employee also does not pay his due tax, who will be held responsible for tax payment? 129. I am buying a property from a person residing in USA. Should I deduct tax while making payment? 130. Can I use PAN to pay the TDS deducted into government account? 131. In case the deductee comes back stating that the original TDS certificate is lost, whether a duplicate certificate can be issued? L. Assessment 132. What is the mechanism by which the department checks the correctness of my return of income? Would I be given an opportunity to present my views during the course of such verification? Based on information available with the department a small percentage of returns are picked up for verification. This process is called scrutiny. You will be given full opportunity to put forth views and evidences to support your claims. 133. What recourse is available to me if I am unhappy with the order passed by my Assessing officer? The Income tax Act has provided for filing appeals in such cases. The first appellate authority is the Commissioner (Appeals). Subsequently the matter can be taken to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, then to the High Court and Supreme Court. 134. Some demand has been raised by my Assessing officer after assessment. Can I pay this demand in installments or seek time till my appeal is settled? Yes. You may approach your Assessing officer within 30 days of receipt of demand notice for installments or stay or seek time for payment. However you are liable to pay interest for delay in payment of demanded tax. More Under Income Tax Posted Under Category : Income Tax (25033) Type : Articles (14344) Featured (4134) 19 responses to “Beginners Guide to Income Tax with FAQ” 1. T.S.Radhakrishnan says: I receive a pension after retiring from a Central Govt Department. I declare the pension income under salaries. DO I mark Government in the Employment category while filing return? 2. Vipul Jain says: Dear Sir, I Purchase a flat in Apr 2015 in Rs 71Laks (SEVENTY ONE LAKS) whereas government circle value considered Rs 90laks (NINTY LAKS). Will 19laks (difference amount) added in my income(as other income) or Not. Will income tax applicable in difference amount. Kindly suggest. 3. Vipul Jain says: Dear Sir, I received a land (agriculture) from my parents / grandparents in year 1978 (as a varis). My father purchase such land in rs 40,000/- FOURTY THOUSAND RUPEES (11500 sq mtr). Now I sale that land in August 2015 in Rs 1.25 crore. I want to know how much capital gain tax will be applicable? How to calculate index value? What are the possibilities to save capital gain tax? Thanks and Regards 4. sanjay says: Ay 2002-03 Refund not get .contact many times but still no said it is time out proposal 5. manishkumar says: Dear sir/ Madam, I would like to know that, I am NRI since long time and my wife is housewife and she is in India. I gave some money to my wife every month and She invest monthly in stock market. Since she invested she did not sell the stock yet since last one year. As I inform you that, I am NRI there is no tax in India on my money. I want to know that, how much my wife can invest yearly and how can I pay tax on capital gain if she sells the stocks. As I inform you she is housewife and she is not doing any job. We both did not pay any income tax till now. Please guide me I am waiting for your reply. Anticipate your favor. 6. vivek says: I want to registered a plot for which I paid 20000 rupees as booking amount. Now guideline has increased and ammendment of sec 56 has done.My questions is that can I registered plot on agreement value before 1 april 2014 withaut tention?the agreement is 2 years purchased before 1 April 2014 attract 56 it act or not? 7. vivek says: 8. Nikhil says: Dear sir, I have a question If i am contractual employees and company give me form 16A for the deduction of tax from my salary, then which IT return will be applicable to me? Please reply me 9. rahul says: my mother has a family pension of Rs65000/-p.a also she has Rs. 250000 in FD’s on which she gets interest whether she is required to file a return also her interest from FD’s if exceed 10000/- whether IT is required to be paid and return filed? if she opts for TDS of IT by the banks is return necessary to be filed? i would appreciate, if i get some insight on these points. thanx all 10. Jhalajhal says: Dear, i am a salaried person and i have two House property first one is self occupied and other one is deemed let out property i have availed housing loan on both property. annual housing interest on self occupied house is Rs.1 lac and Rs 2.00 lac on deemed let out property. my quest. is this can i claim entire interest on both house or not if not please explain 11. Narendra says: Thank you so much This is excellent compilation of information. Very useful. Appreciate your efforts. 12. Gautam Jhangiani says: An excellent FAQ. Simple and crisp and easy to be understood by a layman. 13. RAVI DIWAN says: What is the rate of interest accrued on RPF exempted from Tax for AY 2011-12? 14. Rangareddy says: Nice work 15. Ashis says: 16. Danny says: My father, a senior citizen, sold his agricultural land and deposited the proceeds in fixed deposits in banks. He earns interest income of Rs. 6 lakh annually. Is he required to pay income tax? One view is that he is not because the interest is derived out of corpus created through sale of agricultural land. Another view is that he is required to pay income tax because interest income is not agricultural income. Which view is correct. • CA.Narayana says: Hi Danny, The second view is correct. as the interest income is not agricultural income. so your father has to pay income tax on the income tax. Infact there should some TDS already made on the interest income if its is deposited in any of the banks CA. Narayana 17. N GANESN says: Leave a Reply
This is a good article. Click here for more information. Siege of Yorktown From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the Surrender at Yorktown, German Battle or the Siege of Little York,[a][b] ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virginia, was a decisive victory by a combined force of American Continental Army troops led by General George Washington and French Army troops led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by British peer and Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. The culmination of the Yorktown campaign, the siege proved to be the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War in the North American theater, as the surrender by Cornwallis, and the capture of both him and his army, prompted the British government to negotiate an end to the conflict. The battle boosted faltering American morale and revived French enthusiasm for the war, as well as undermining popular support for the conflict in Great Britain.[8] The French and American armies united north of New York City during the summer of 1781. When word of de Grasse's decision arrived, both armies began moving south toward Virginia, engaging in tactics of deception to lead the British to believe a siege of New York was planned. De Grasse sailed from the West Indies and arrived at the Chesapeake Bay at the end of August, bringing additional troops and creating a naval blockade of Yorktown, he was transporting 500,000 silver pesos collected from the citizens of Havana, Cuba, to fund supplies for the siege and payroll for the Continental Army.[9] While in Santo Domingo, de Grasse met with Francisco Saavedra de Sangronis, an agent of Carlos III of Spain. De Grasse had planned to leave several of his warships in Santo Domingo. Saavedra promised the assistance of the Spanish navy to protect the French merchant fleet, enabling de Grasse to sail north with all of his warships;[10] in the beginning of September, he defeated a British fleet led by Sir Thomas Graves that came to relieve Cornwallis at the Battle of the Chesapeake. As a result of this victory, de Grasse blocked any escape by sea for Cornwallis. By late September Washington and Rochambeau arrived, and the army and naval forces completely surrounded Cornwallis. After initial preparations, the Americans and French built their first parallel and began the bombardment, with the British defense weakened, on October 14, 1781 Washington sent two columns to attack the last major remaining British outer defenses. A French column took Redoubt No. 9 and an American column took Redoubt No. 10. With these defenses taken, the allies were able to finish their second parallel, with the American artillery closer and its bombardment more intense than ever, the British position began to deteriorate rapidly and Cornwallis asked for capitulation terms on October 17. After two days of negotiation, the surrender ceremony occurred on October 19; Lord Cornwallis was absent from the ceremony. With the capture of more than 7,000 British soldiers, negotiations between the United States and Great Britain began, resulting in the Treaty of Paris of 1783. A plan of the Battle of Yorktown drawn in 1875 Franco-American cooperation[edit] On December 20, 1780, Benedict Arnold sailed from New York with 1,500 troops to Portsmouth, Virginia, he first raided Richmond, defeating the defending militia, from January 5–7 before falling back to Portsmouth.[11] Admiral Destouches, who arrived in Newport, Rhode Island in July 1780 with a fleet transporting 5,500 soldiers, was encouraged by Washington and French Lieutenant General Rochambeau to move his fleet south, and launch a joint land-naval attack on Arnold's troops.[11] The Marquis de Lafayette was sent south with 1,200 men to help with the assault.[12] However, Destouches was reluctant to dispatch many ships, and in February sent only three, after they proved ineffective, he took a larger force of 8 ships in March 1781, and fought a tactically inconclusive battle with the British fleet of Marriot Arbuthnot at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Destouches withdrew due to the damage sustained to his fleet, leaving Arbuthnot and the British fleet in control of the bay's mouth.[12] On March 26, Arnold was joined by 2,300 troops under command of Major General William Phillips, who took command of the combined forces.[12] Phillips resumed raiding, defeating the militia at Blandford, then burning the tobacco warehouses at Petersburg on April 25. Richmond was about to suffer the same fate, but Lafayette arrived, the British, not wanting to engage in a major battle, withdrew to Petersburg on May 10.[12] On May 20, Charles Cornwallis arrived at Petersburg with 1,500 men after suffering heavy casualties at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, he immediately assumed command, as Phillips had recently died of a fever.[12][13] Cornwallis had not received permission to abandon the Carolinas from his superior, Henry Clinton, but he believed that Virginia would be easier to capture, feeling that it would approve an invading British army.[12] With the arrival of Cornwallis and more reinforcements from New York, the British Army numbered 7,200 men.[3] Cornwallis wanted to push Lafayette, whose force now numbered 3,000 men with the arrival of Virginia militia,[3] on May 24, he set out after Lafayette, who withdrew from Richmond, and linked forces with those under the command of Baron von Steuben and Anthony Wayne.[3] Cornwallis did not pursue Lafayette. Instead, he sent raiders into central Virginia, where they attacked depots and supply convoys, before being recalled on June 20. Cornwallis then headed for Williamsburg, and Lafayette's force of now 4,500 followed him.[14] General Clinton, in a confusing series of orders, ordered Cornwallis first to Portsmouth and then Yorktown, where he was instructed to build fortifications for a deep water port.[15][16] On July 6, the French and American armies met at White Plains, north of New York City,[17] although Rochambeau had almost 40 years of warfare experience, he never challenged Washington's authority, telling Washington he had come to serve, not to command.[18] Washington and Rochambeau discussed where to launch a joint attack.[19] Washington believed an attack on New York was the best option, since the Americans and French now outnumbered the British defenders 3 to 1. Rochambeau disagreed, arguing the fleet in the West Indies under Admiral de Grasse was going to sail to the American coast, where easier options than attacking New York could be attempted.[19] In early July, Washington suggested an attack be made at the northern part of Manhattan Island, but his officers and Rochambeau all disagreed.[20] Washington continued to probe the New York area until August 14, when he received a letter from de Grasse stating he was headed for Virginia with 29 warships and 3,200 soldiers, but could only remain there until October 14.[20] De Grasse encouraged Washington to move south so they could launch a joint operation. Washington abandoned his plan to take New York, and began to prepare his army for the march south to Virginia.[21] March to Virginia[edit] On August 19, the march to Yorktown led by Washington and Rochambeau began, which is known now as the "celebrated march."[21] 4,000 French and 3,000 American soldiers began the march in Newport, Rhode Island, while the rest remained behind to protect the Hudson Valley. Washington wanted to maintain complete secrecy of their destination.[22] To ensure this, he sent out fake dispatches that reached Clinton revealing that the Franco-American army was going to launch an attack on New York, and that Cornwallis was not in danger.[23] The French and American armies marched through Philadelphia from September 2 to the 4th, where the American soldiers announced they would not leave Maryland until they received one month's pay in coin, rather than in the worthless Continental paper currency. General Rochambeau generously loaned Washington half of his supply of gold Spanish coins, this would be the last time the men would be paid. It significantly strengthened French and American relations[24] On September 5, Washington learned of the arrival of de Grasse's fleet off the Virginia Capes. De Grasse debarked his French troops to join Lafayette, and then sent his empty transports to pick up the American troops.[21] Washington made a visit to his home, Mount Vernon, on his way to Yorktown.[25] In August, Admiral Sir Thomas Graves led a fleet from New York to attack de Grasse's fleet. Graves did not realize how large the French fleet was, and neither did Cornwallis,[25] the British fleet was defeated by de Grasse's fleet in the Battle of the Chesapeake on September 5, and forced to fall back to New York.[25] On September 14, Washington arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia.[25] The siege[edit] Siège de Yorktown by Auguste Couder, c. 1836.[c] Rochambeau and Washington giving their last orders before the battle. Initial movements[edit] On September 26, transports with artillery, siege tools, and some French infantry and shock troops from Head of Elk, the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, arrived, giving Washington command of an army of 7,800 Frenchmen, 3,100 militia, and 8,000 Continentals.[2] Early on September 28, Washington led the army out of Williamsburg to surround Yorktown,[26] the French took the positions on the left while the Americans took the position of honor on the right.[2] Cornwallis had a chain of seven redoubts and batteries linked by earthworks along with batteries that covered the narrows of the York River at Gloucester Point.[2] That day, Washington reconnoitered the British defenses and decided that they could be bombarded into submission,[27] the Americans and the French spent the night of the 28th sleeping out in the open, while work parties built bridges over the marsh. Some of the American soldiers hunted down wild hogs to eat.[28] On September 29, Washington moved the army closer to Yorktown and British gunners opened fire on the infantry.[29] Throughout the day several British cannon fired on the Americans but there were few casualties. Fire was also exchanged between American riflemen and Hessian Jägers.[29] Cornwallis pulled back from all of his outer defenses, except for the Fusilier's redoubt on the west side of the town and redoubts 9 and 10 in the east.[2] Cornwallis had his forces occupy the earthworks immediately surrounding the town because he had received a letter from Clinton that promised relief force of 5,000 men within a week and he wished to tighten his lines,[2][30] the Americans and the French occupied the abandoned defenses and began to establish their own batteries there.[31] With the British outer defenses in their hands, allied engineers began to lay out positions for the artillery, the men improved their works and deepened their trenches.[32] The British also worked on improving their defenses.[32] On September 30, the French attacked the British Fusiliers redoubt,[33] the skirmish lasted two hours, in which the French were repulsed suffering several casualties. On October 1, the allies learned from British deserters that, to preserve their food, the British had slaughtered hundreds of horses and thrown them on the beach;[33] in the American camp, thousands of trees were cut down to provide wood for earthworks. Preparations for the parallel also began.[34] By October 5, Washington was almost ready to open the first parallel,[38] that night the sappers and miners worked, putting strips of pine on the wet sand to mark the path of the trenches.[38] After nightfall on October 6, troops moved out in stormy weather to dig the first parallel: the heavily overcast sky negated the waning full moon and shielded the massive digging operation from the eyes of British sentries.[d] Washington ceremoniously struck several blows with his pick axe to begin the trench, the trench was to be 2,000 yards (1,800 m) long, running from the head of Yorktown to the York River.[40] Half of the trench was to be commanded by the French, the other half by the Americans, on the northernmost end of the French line, a support trench was dug so that they could bombard the British ships in the river.[40] The French were ordered to distract the British with a false attack, but the British were told of the plan by a French deserter and the British artillery fire turned on the French from the Fusiliers redoubt.[41] Washington firing the first gun On October 7, the British saw the new allied trench just out of musket-range,[41] over the next two days the allies completed the gun placements and dragged the artillery into line. The British fire began to weaken when they saw the large number of guns the allies had.[42] Assault on the redoubts[edit] Storming of Redoubt #10 The storming of Redoubt No. 10, by Eugene Lami Storming of Redoubt #9 At 6:30 pm, gunfire announced the diversionary attack on the Fusiliers redoubt.[53] At other places in the line, movements were made as if preparing for an assault on Yorktown itself, which caused the British to panic,[53] with bayonets fixed, the Americans marched towards Redoubt No. 10. Hamilton sent Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens around to the rear of the redoubt to prevent the British from escaping.[54] The Americans reached the redoubt and began chopping through the British wooden defenses with their axes. A British sentry called a challenge, and then fired at the Americans,[54] the Americans responded by charging with their bayonets towards the redoubt. They hacked through the abatis, crossed a ditch and climbed the parapet into the redoubt,[55] the Americans forced their way into the redoubt falling into giant shell holes from the bombardment of the redoubts. The British fire was heavy, but the Americans overwhelmed them.[55] Someone in the front shouted, "Rush on boys! The fort's ours!" The British threw hand grenades at the Americans with little effect.[55] Men in the trench stood on the shoulders of their comrades to climb into the redoubt, the bayonet fight cleared the British out of the redoubt and almost the entire garrison was captured, including the commander of the redoubt, Major Campbell.[56] In the assault, the Americans lost 9 dead and 25 wounded.[56] The French assault began at the same time, but they were halted by the abatis, which was undamaged by the artillery fire,[56] the French began to hack at the abatis and a Hessian sentry came out and asked who was there. When there was no response, the sentry opened fire as did other Hessians on the parapet,[57] the French soldiers fired back, and then charged the redoubt. The Germans charged the Frenchmen climbing over the walls but the French fired a volley, driving them back,[57] the Hessians then took a defensive position behind some barrels but threw down their arms and surrendered when the French prepared a bayonet charge.[57] With the capture of redoubts 9 and 10, Washington was able to have his artillery shell the town from three directions and the allies moved some of their artillery into the redoubts,[58][59] on October 15, Cornwallis turned all of his guns onto the nearest allied position. He then ordered a storming party of 350 British troops under the command of Colonel Robert Abercromby to attack the allied lines and spike the American and French cannon (i.e., plug the touch hole with an iron spike).[60] The allies were sleeping and unprepared, as the British charged Abercromby shouted "Push on my brave boys, and skin the bastards!"[59] The British party spiked several cannon in the parallel and then spiked the guns on an unfinished redoubt.[61] A French party came and drove them out of the allied lines and back to Yorktown, the British had been able to spike six guns, but by the morning they were all repaired.[61] The bombardment resumed with the American and French troops engaged in competition to see who could do the most damage to the enemy defenses.[59] On the morning of October 16, more allied guns were in line and the fire intensified;[61] in desperation, Cornwallis attempted to evacuate his troops across the York River to Gloucester Point.[59] At Gloucester Point the troops might be able to break through the allied lines and escape into Virginia and then march to New York.[62] One wave of boats made it across but a squall hit when they returned to take more soldiers across, making the evacuation impossible.[63] British surrender[edit] The fire on Yorktown from the allies was heavier than ever as new artillery pieces joined the line.[64] Cornwallis talked with his officers that day and they agreed that their situation was hopeless.[65] On the morning of October 17, a drummer appeared followed by an officer waving a white handkerchief,[66] the bombardment ceased, and the officer was blindfolded and led behind the French and American lines. Negotiations began at the Moore House on October 18 between Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Dundas and Major Alexander Ross (who represented the British) and Lieutenant Colonel Laurens (who represented the Americans) and the Marquis de Noailles (who represented the French).[66] To make sure that nothing fell apart between the French and Americans at the last minute, Washington ordered that the French be given an equal share in every step of the surrender process.[66] The surrender of Lord Cornwallis, October 19, 1781 at Yorktown The articles of capitulation were signed on October 19, 1781.[66] Signatories included Washington, Rochambeau, the Comte de Barras (on behalf of the French Navy), Cornwallis, and Captain Thomas Symonds (the senior Royal Navy officer present).[67] Cornwallis' British men were declared prisoners of war, promised good treatment in American camps, and officers were permitted to return home after taking their parole, at 2:00 pm the allied army entered the British positions, with the French on the left and the Americans on the right.[66] The British had asked for the traditional honors of war, which would allow the army to march out with flags flying, bayonets fixed, and the band playing an American or French tune as a tribute to the victors. However, Washington firmly refused to grant the British the honors that they had denied the defeated American army the year before at the Siege of Charleston.[68] Consequently, the British and Hessian troops marched with flags furled and muskets shouldered, while the band was forced to play "a British or German march."[g] American history books recount the legend that the British band played "The World Turn'd Upside Down", but the story is apocryphal.[70][71] Cornwallis refused to attend the surrender ceremony, citing illness. Instead, Brigadier General Charles O'Hara led the British army onto the field. O'Hara first attempted to surrender to Rochambeau, who shook his head and pointed to Washington. O'Hara then offered his sword to Washington, who also refused and motioned to Benjamin Lincoln, the surrender finally took place when Washington's second-in-command accepted the sword of Cornwallis' deputy.[72][73][74] The British soldiers marched out and laid down their arms in between the French and American armies, while many civilians watched,[75] at this time, the troops on the other side of the river in Gloucester also surrendered.[76] The British soldiers had been issued new uniforms hours before the surrender and until prevented by General O'Hara some threw down their muskets with the apparent intention of smashing them. Others wept or appeared to be drunk;[77] in all, 8,000 troops, 214 artillery pieces, thousands of muskets, 24 transport ships, wagons and horses were captured.[73] Article 10 controversy[edit] George Washington refused to accept the Tenth Article of the Yorktown Articles of Capitulation, which granted immunity to American Loyalists, and Cornwallis failed to make any effort to press the matter. "The outcry against the Tenth Article was vociferous and immediate, as Americans on both sides of the Atlantic proclaimed their sense of betrayal."[78] Effect of disease[edit] Malaria was endemic in the marshlands of eastern Virginia during the time, and Cornwallis's army suffered greatly from the disease; he estimated during the surrender that half of his army was unable to fight as a result. The Continental Army enjoyed an advantage, in that most of their members had grown up with malaria, and hence had acquired resistance to the disease, as malaria has a month-long incubation period, most of the French soldiers had not begun to exhibit symptoms before the surrender.[79][80] Five days after the battle ended, on October 24, 1781, the British fleet sent by Clinton to rescue the British army arrived, the fleet picked up several Loyalists who had escaped on October 18, and they informed Admiral Thomas Graves that they believed Cornwallis had surrendered.[81] Graves picked up several more Loyalists along the coast, and they confirmed this fact. Graves sighted the French Fleet, but chose to leave because he was outnumbered by nine ships, and thus he sent the fleet back to New York.[82] After the British surrender, Washington sent Tench Tilghman to report the victory to Congress,[83] after a difficult journey, he arrived in Philadelphia, which celebrated for several days. The British Prime Minister, Lord North, is reported to have exclaimed "Oh God, it's all over" when told of the defeat.[84] Washington moved his army to New Windsor, New York[85] where they remained stationed until the Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, formally ending the war.[86] Four Army National Guard units (113th Inf,[90] 116th Inf,[91] 175th Inf[92] and 198th Sig Bn[93]) and one active Regular Army Field Artillery battalion (1-5th FA[94]) are derived from American units that participated in the Battle of Yorktown. There are thirty current U.S. Army units with lineages that go back the colonial era. Yorktown Victory Monument[edit] Yorktown Victory Monument Five days after the British surrendered, Congress passed a resolution agreeing to erect a structure dedicated to commemorating those who participated in the battle.[95] Construction of the monument was delayed, however, as the federal government had several other financial obligations that were considered to be of a more urgent nature,[95] the battle's centennial sparked renewed enthusiasm in the resolution and prompted the government to begin building the monument in 1881 amid national support.[95] The structure was formally erected in 1884 and currently resides within Colonial National Historical Park.[95] See also[edit] 1. ^ "He was again drafted for 3 months and served the time fully under the command of Capt. John Faulkner, and was in the Siege of Little York, when Lord Cornwallis surrendered..."[6] 2. ^ "...we were going by Gen. Washington and marched down to the siege of Little York"[7] 4. ^ The moon had been full on 2 October.[39] 5. ^ The pitch dark of a new moon occurred 17 October 1781.[50] 7. ^ Article 3 states that: “the garrison of York will march out to a place to be appointed in front of the posts, at two o’clock precisely, with shouldered arms, colors cased, and drums beating a British or German march. They are then to ground their arms, and return to their encampments, where they will remain until they are dispatched to the places of their destination.”[69] 1. ^ "German Auxiliary Units at Yorktown". National Park Service. Retrieved July 28, 2016. 2. ^ a b c d e f g Lengel p. 337 3. ^ a b c d Lengel p. 330 4. ^ a b c Greene, p. 307 5. ^ a b Greene, pp. 307–308 6. ^ Declaration of John Dunkley in open court, Halifax County, Virginia: U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Operations, Inc., 2010.; Original data: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C., October 23, 1832 7. ^ Thornton Gentry (Georgia Chapter Director - DAR), Lelia (ed.). Historical Collections of the Georgia Chapters Daughters of the American Revolution. Vol. 1. Clearfield Publishing (original)/Genealogical Publishing Co (reprint). p. 147. Retrieved August 22, 2016. . 8. ^ Herring p. 26 9. ^ Chávez p. 225 10. ^ Mitchell p. 23 11. ^ a b Lengel p. 328 12. ^ a b c d e f Lengel p. 329 13. ^ Ferling, p. 510 14. ^ Lengel p. 331 15. ^ Wickwire, p. 340 16. ^ Grainger, p. 44 17. ^ Davis p. 3 18. ^ Davis p. 14 19. ^ a b Lengel p. 332 20. ^ a b Lengel p. 333 21. ^ a b c Lengel p. 335 22. ^ Davis p. 21 23. ^ Davis p. 36 24. ^ Vowell, Sarah (2015). Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. New York City: Riverhead Books. p. 229. ISBN 978-1-59463-174-0. 25. ^ a b c d Lengel p. 336 26. ^ Davis p. 189 27. ^ Davis p. 193 28. ^ Davis p. 194 29. ^ a b Davis p. 195 30. ^ Davis p. 197 31. ^ Lengelp. 337 32. ^ a b Davis p. 199 33. ^ a b Davis p. 202 34. ^ Davis p. 203 35. ^ Davis p. 204 36. ^ a b Davis p. 205 37. ^ Davis p. 207 38. ^ a b Davis p. 208 39. ^ Davis p. 214 40. ^ a b Davis p. 215 41. ^ a b Davis p. 216 42. ^ a b c Davis p. 217 43. ^ a b Davis p. 218 44. ^ a b Davis p. 219 45. ^ Davis p. 221 46. ^ Davis p. 222 47. ^ a b c d Davis p. 224 48. ^ a b Lengel p. 338 49. ^ a b c Davis p. 225 50. ^ NASA Eclipse Website - Phases of the Moon 1700-1799; accessed 4 October 2009; "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-10-04. 51. ^ a b Lengel p. 339 52. ^ Davis p. 225. 53. ^ a b Lengel p. 340 54. ^ a b Davis p. 227 55. ^ a b c Davis p. 228 56. ^ a b c Davis p. 229 57. ^ a b c Davis p. 230 58. ^ Davis p. 232 59. ^ a b c d Lengel p. 341 60. ^ Davis p. 234 61. ^ a b c Davis p. 235 62. ^ Davis p. 236 63. ^ Davis p. 237 64. ^ Davis p. 255 65. ^ Fleming p. 16 66. ^ a b c d e Lengel p. 342 67. ^ Morrissey, p. 73 69. ^ "Surrender of the British General Cornwallis to the Americans, October 19, 1781". The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 70. ^ Kennedy, David; Cohen, Lizabeth (2015). The American Pageant. Cengage Learning. p. 153. Cornwallis surrendered his entire force of seven thousand men on October 19, 1781, as his band appropriately played "The World Turn'd Upside Down." 71. ^ "Cornwallis' Surrender". Visiting American tradition has it that the British song played was "The World Turned Upside Down." However, there was no historical record of which song or songs were played by the band. The account of it being that particular song was added to the historical record almost a 100 years after the event. 72. ^ Davis p. 265 73. ^ a b Lengel p. 343 74. ^ Manning, Jack (October 19, 2016). "Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown". The American Patriotic Chronicle. Alabama Society, Sons of the American Revolution. 75. ^ Davis p. 267 76. ^ Davis p. 268 77. ^ Hibbert p. 330 81. ^ Fleming p. 34 82. ^ Fleming p. 35 83. ^ Fleming p. 21 84. ^ "Yorktown Battlefield". 85. ^ Fleming p. 194 86. ^ Fleming p. 312 87. ^ Reeves p. 253 89. ^ Cronau, pp. 243–244 93. ^ Department of the Army, Lineage and Honors, 198th Signal Battalion. 95. ^ a b c d "Yorktown Victory Monument". National Parks Service. August 21, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2017. External links[edit]
Bad Breath Halitosis or more widely known as Bad breath is the embarrassing smelly odor coming from your mouth or breath. You might have problems with bad breath and not have any success in finding the cause of the problem. So you may like to know that there can be a few things that can contribute to bad breath. Keep a log of the foods you eat. If your bad breath is not being caused by a problem in your mouth, it could be the things you eat. • Also known as Halitosis • Bad breath can be caused by the foods you eat and improper oral hygiene. • Untreated gum disease may be the cause of Persistent bad breath • Poorly fitting dentures and/or other devices can also cause bad breath if not cleaned properly. • Yeast infections of the mouth, Cavities, Dry mouth, Illnesses • Good oral hygiene can prevent bad breath • See your dentist on a regular basis • Stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco • Drink lots of water Bad breath may be caused by the foods you eat. Odors in your breath may be caused by bacteria in your mouth. Plaque can build up and bacteria can continue to grow if left untreated. The bacteria can give off the odor that may cause your bad breath. Ongoing bad breath may the symptom of a bigger problem. Gum disease can also lead to the growth of bacteria. The bacteria under your gums could be contributing to the cause of your bad breath. An improperly fitting denture or device may cause bad breath if bacteria can get trapped in a pocket or crack. The best thing to do to prevent bad breath is good oral hygiene. Visit your dentist on a regular basis for routine cleanings, and brush and floss regularly. This will reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. We also suggest bringing your appliances such as night guards, retainers, dentures, and partials with you to your routine checkups twice a year to have them cleaned professionally. **Another good tip is to brush your tongue with a tongue cleaner which can sometimes be found on your toothbrush!!!
Homophones and Homonyms are words that sound like another when spoken but have different meanings and use, different spelling and origin. Homonyms are words that are spelled like another but of a different meaning. (e.g., bank= a place where you keep money, bank= the edge of a river. Words from the first group are the most common misused words in the English language when writing. Most of the mistakes I see in writing on websites and blogs are words that are used quite often in the English language. Most of them fall into the homophones category. I see a lot of blogs that contain these common mistakes. Needless to say after a while I quit reading the blogs. So this is a reminder to all bloggers READ what you post and look for these common mistakes. I'm sure your readers will be very thankful. I have been receiving emails with questions about oxymoron, euphemism, metaphor, cliche, palindrome, anagram, and pleonasm. The most frequent ones we see on the internet are usually OXYMORON. I know you have received (as all of us have) some ads/emails that say free loan, biggest little, and/or pretty ugly. I get a laugh every time I see these ads. Well, my dear readers here are the answers to what each of these are. oxymoron: a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness" euphemism: 1. the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt. 2. the expression so substituted: "To pass away" is a euphemism for "to die." metaphor: a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity, as in "love is a battlefield. cliche': A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. For example: "One man’s trash is another man’s treasure." palindrome: A word, phrase, verse, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. For example: A man, a plan, a canal, Panama! anagram: a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters: “Angel” is an anagram of “glean.” pleonasm: 1. the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy. 2. an instance of this, as free gift or true fact. 3. a redundant word or expression. A little language humor A little language humor Word for the week: arachibutyrophobia Learn a new word every week to expand your vocabulary. Almost everyone likes peanut butter but there are some who suffer with arachibutyrophobia rachibutyrophobia : fear of peanut butter sticking to roof of mouth I don't think a Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Psychotherapists or a Mental Health Specialists would ever use this word in front of a patient who has this phobia even if it is the correct word for their fear. hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia... the fear of long words Adj.; A subject of jest or mockery – This word describes a person, thing or situation that is likely to be the butt of jokes. Use it when you want to sound justified in poking fun at someone. erotem: noun; The symbol used in writing known as a question mark...? Phantomnation: "rare" noun; a perfect example of a ghost word--a word that exists only in a dictionary and has never actually been used. neologism: noun ; coining of new words, new word or meaning enormity: noun;heinousness, evilness, wickedness, monstrous, great size abscond: verb; to run away and hide, depart hurriedly, avoid arrest. samizdat: noun; clandestine publication of banned literature anomaly: noun; something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified; deviation from the normal or common order, or form, or rule; a person who is unusual obfuscate: verb; To make something obscure or hard to understand. ( Like the tax codes) quintessence: noun; purest and most perfect form, manifestation, type, or embodiment Lipogram: noun; A piece of writing that avoids one or more letters of the alphabet. From Greek lipo- (lacking) + gram (something written).] triskaidekaphobia: noun; Fear of the number 13. anomalous: adjective; irregular, deviant, abnormal diatribe: noun; a bitter verbal attack or speech ennui: noun; mental weariness, boredom aficionado: noun; devotee of a sport or pastime Saturday, March 21, 2009 3 Most Common Mistakes made in English Punctuation 3 Most Common Mistakes made in English Punctuation Punctuation marks that are not placed where they should be give a negative impression of the writer as much as bad grammar does. 1. Writing Sentence Fragments Sentence fragments are not complete sentences but they can be made a part of sentences. You should avoid using them, as such. For example: I would go there. If I could. There should be no period before the sentence fragment “if I could”. Instead, the fragment should be made part of the sentence, so that it reads like this: I would go there if I could. 2. Using the Comma Splice The comma splice joins two independent clauses with a comma. Below is an example. I saw the itinerary, I want to join. In this sentence, a comma connects two independent clauses. To correct this, you can either put a period after the first independent clause or add a conjunction after the comma. I saw the itinerary. I want to join. I saw the itinerary, and I want to join. 3. Putting Apostrophes for Plural Forms of Nouns Another common mistake is adding apostrophes to plural nouns. Below are examples. The orange’s are really sweet. The kid’s will be performing in a musical. The apostrophes in these examples should be omitted. Correct way: The oranges are really sweet. The kids will be performing in a musical. thatlovedflower said... I saw the itinerary that i wanted to join. I saw the itinerary and i wanted to join. The two conjunctions that n and just change the meaning. This is also a matter to note that use of appropriate conjunction is necessary. Anyway very informative post. Keep it up. Mikes said... Very Intelligent. i got reminded about fragments. i always get corrected by microsoft word about it. sigh!
Thursday, July 28, 2016 Writing Effective Exception Descriptions Writing exception descriptions are not really taught in programming classes but are vitally important in the field. Namely if you need to refine your descriptions to find a problem it can lead to multiple pushes to a production environment before you actually fix the problem. Depending on the issue this could waste valuable time. Between reading about how to write good exception descriptions from various companies and my personal experience I've accumulated the following tips to share. Note that most of the time exception text bubbles into your log files so some references to log files will be mentioned as well. Be Layer-Centric If you catch an exception and re-throw, describe the problem in the terms of the current (throwing) layer. As an example, if you are writing TCP/IP library code and catch an IP exception, state your TCP problems. If you are (ab)using TCP for Inter-Process Communication (IPC), state the process you are trying to reach. I have mistakenly thought there was a networking error when a program couldn't connect to localhost before. Not a Singleton? Include your object ID Imagine a case where there is a complex object with invariants. With two instances of the class logging at the same it could easily appear to violate it's invariants or demonstrate impossible behavior. Imagine your TCP class logging that it closed the connection and then that it read data successfully - this could be very confusing. With object IDs you would log that client 1 closed the connection and client 2 read successfully - this makes much more sense. Multi-threaded? Include your Thread ID Some times you need to trace the execution flow in a particular thread. If you do not include your Thread IDs this is an impossible task to do via the logs. Don't Trust Library Exceptions Frequently exceptions generated by library, module or component code is not very descriptive. Continuing with the networking examples I've had many HTTP exceptions with no more description than "Bad Request". Note the lack of IP address, host name, or port. Given that exceptions turn into logs that then can go into various applications (e.g. Splunk) I think the descriptions are generic due to security concerns. Include Some Variables Try to include one or two other things to help you track down a problem, knowing WHAT from following the recommendations above won't necessarily help you figure out WHY. Make it easy When you write your subclass consider including a String.format style constructor. This would let you avoid having to do a String.format call on every exception you need to throw. Alternatively you could make an ExecptionDescription builder that includes the object ID and Thread ID automatically. In conclusion if you plan ahead and write descriptive exception messages that let you track the instance, the thread and some internal state you will be able to diagnose (possibly critical) issues much faster. Tuesday, July 12, 2016 Overview of JSON Libraries and How to Choose a Library It's good to be back. The blog had an expected hiatus while I moved to a new city, also around Seattle. Many of my posts are about overcoming unexpected difficulties when using some software library or module or another. I decided to take a step back and try to select a quality module in the first place. This is my analysis of the JSON libraries I was able to find and can count as a how-to to select a library in general. The short result is that if a Library is in Maven, you can look at Maven Central to see how popular a library is and how frequently it is updated. Then you can use one of the most used and updated libraries out there. You can also consult StackOverflow. Here are some examples. The List • JSR 353 - We have javax.json-api and org.glassfish/javax.json. Out of these two the This could be you! Image from org.glassfish one has more users and more updates (version 1.0.4 vs 1.0), so it is the winner so far. • Fast-XML Json Parsing / Jackson has many more updates (version 2.8), is far more used and the updates are fresher. That makes it the winner so far. • JSON-Simple is comparable to the JSR 353 libraries. If not for the Jackson library you could choose based on how well prior Google libraries have worked vs Oracle libraries. • org.json falls between Jackson and the JSR 353 libraries with about 700 users and a release in Feb of 2016. • Google GSON has about 2000 users and was updated last month. This puts it on par with Jackson. • quick-json has 0 users! This would make it almost unqualified even if there were no alternatives. • JsonPath - Lastly, JsonPath has a couple of hundred users. Now, you may be skeptical of the Wisdom of the Crowd (e.g. appeal to the people or groupthink) but more users means that there is a higher chance someone found the same problems that you have. Even in this day and age Googling an error string can still produce 0 results. Based off of this my project is using Jackson and hasn't had any problems with it for months. Next Steps Once you have your JSON library picked out, how do you manipulate it? I've had good luck using, although in the options you have have it add annotations... which makes it a non-POJO technically...
Sunday, March 18, 2007 A Post-enclosure Farmhouse The Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions marked the end of what is known as "vernacular architecture"- the building of structures in local materials, to local traditional styles by local craftsmen. This Hampshire farmhouse is in the "new" style- although made of local materials it is classically Georgian in design and there's nothing about it to tell you it's definitely a farmhouse and not, say, a country rectory, a merchant's town-house, or even the home of a sailor. It's a "house", that's all, and if it wasn't for the surrounding buildings you wouldn't know it was a farm. If it wasn't for the local materials, it might as well be at York, or even on the outskirts of Bath. The picture is from Geograph again. See here:
image provider Finish the Work of Ada LoveLace and Charles Babbage This essay does not describe an existing computer program, just one that should exist. This essay is about a suggested student project in Java programming. This essay gives a rough overview of how it might work. I have no source, object, specifications, file layouts or anything else useful to implementing this project. Everything I have prepared to help you is right here. This project outline is not like the artificial, tidy little problems you are spoon-fed in school, when all the facts you need are included, nothing extraneous is mentioned, the answer is fully specified, along with hints to nudge you toward a single expected canonical solution. This project is much more like the real world of messy problems where it is up to you to fully the define the end point, or a series of ever more difficult versions of this project and research the information yourself to solve them. Everything I have to say to help you with this project is written below. I am not prepared to help you implement it; or give you any additional materials. I have too many other projects of my own. Though I am a programmer by profession, I don’t do people’s homework for them. That just robs them of an education. You have my full permission to implement this project in any way you please and to keep all the profits from your endeavour. Please do not email me about this project without reading the disclaimer above. Back in 1830 Lovelace and Babbage worked on an analytical engine, mechanical computer. In theory it would have been capable of computing Bernouli numbers. The gears of the day were not precise enough and had to much friction, so the machine never worked. Your job is to complete the project in two possible ways: 1. Discover all you can about the analytical engine and create a simulator for it. Your simulator could merely simulate it programming language, or it could be so elaborate as to provide a 3D view of the internal workings of its perfect gears whirring about from any point of view, or like being a mouse in the clockworks. 2. Using modern high accuracy machining and materials, actually build a mechanical analytical engine. When you are done, surely many museums would be interested in the result. In a related project, the ancient Mayans had a mechanical calculator for doing calendar calculations. Some people have made computer simulations. Other early computers you might like to simulate: Eniac Simulator Z80 emulators This page is posted on the web at: Optional Replicator mirror on local hard disk J: Canadian Mind Products Your face IP:[] You are visitor number
Monsters come out in the dark, so turn on the lights! Light Sources Mostly you will use torches to provide light, but a number of other items are practical light sources too. One stick and one piece of coal or charcoal makes four torches. They're cheap as well as useful! Torches provide light when you place them on a wall or the floor. They do not provide light when you are just holding them. Put a torch into a pumpkin and what do you get? A decorative light source. This block can be found in the Nether. When mined it breaks into Glowstone Dust, which can be reconstituted to make Glowstone. Many wooden blocks can be set on fire with a flint and steel. The only thing that burns for a long time, however, is Netherrack. Preventing Mob Spawning Technical details Every block has a light level between 0 and 15. 0 is dark, 15 is the same as bright sunlight. A torch has a brightness of 14, the other light sources described above have a brightness of 15. Each block you travel away from the light source, the light level drops by 1. Mobs can spawn when the light level is 7 or lower. How to Space Your Torches Some tips on how to keep the light level at 8 or above In Tunnels In a 1-block-wide tunnel, torches may be placed every 13th block (i.e. 12 empty blocks between) if at floor level, or every 11th block (10 blocks spacing) if at eye level. For a 2-block-wide tunnel, 10-block spacing at floor level or 8-block spacing at eye level will do the trick. Covering large areas Place a row of torches with gaps of 11 blocks between them (a torch every 12th block). Place a parallel row of torches, staggered, leaving a 6-block gap. torch spacing Check levels with a redstone torch If you have a redstone torch handy, you can use it to check light levels. Redstone torches emit a light level of 8. If you place a redstone torch and the square doesn't get any brighter, you know it was at level 8 or higher. Check light levels by pressing F3 It seems a little bit like cheating, but you can check your current light level where you are standing. The debug screen that comes up shows various information about lightinf; the light level you are interested in is "rl". Minecraft light level
The Tio Family's Resilience The Tio family is best known as a prominent contributor to early jazz of the 20th century, notably the addition of a “Mexican Tinge” to the genre. However, the Tios were, in fact, native New Orleanians who had lived in the city since the late 1780s when the family patriarch immigrated from Catalonia, Spain. They subsequently left New Orleans for Mexico in the late 1850s and lived there for about twenty years to escape the discrimination against free people of color that arose before the Civil War. It was resilience like this against social pressures that allowed the Tios, against all odds, to go from a small but close-knit family of immigrants and free people of color to a successful and relatively wealthy family of musicians whose influence in jazz is still apparent today. From its start in New Orleans, The Tio family fought against social norms to create a large and close-knit family. Augustin Macarty (ca.1774-1844) was a white Francophone from an influential Creole family who would later become the mayor of New Orleans from 1815-1820. Known in New Orleans society for his frequent flings with free women of color, he entered into a relationship with free woman of color, Victoria Wiltz (ca.1777-1847), and had a daughter with her that they named Josephine Macarty (1792-1867). As with his other affairs, Augustin soon left Victoria for another woman. By 1794, despite having been scorned by Augustin, Victoria had fallen in love with another white man: Marcos Tio (ca.1755-1823), a Catalonian immigrant to New Orleans. In 1794 they had their first child together, whom they named Joseph (1794-1837). By 1804, Marcos’s nephew Francisco Tio (ca.1788-ca.1869) had come to New Orleans as well, moved into his uncle’s household, and begun to fall in love with Josephine. By 1807 Francisco and Josephine were living together. Although interracial marriages were illegal, both Marcos and Francisco formed life partnerships with their companions, forming marriages in all respects except in name. Francisco and Josephine took it a step further and actually illegally married before a priest. Victoria had nine children with Marcos, and Josephine and Francisco had eleven children together. Both fathers proudly signed their names in large letters on the bottoms of their children’s baptismal records. Although the odds were against them, the Tios created a successful life for themselves in New Orleans. Marcos Tio had started out in New Orleans as a tavern keeper on Levee St.; but by 1807 he was established as a commission merchant—someone who buys the cargoes of ships to sell wholesale. A few years later, Marcos built a two-story building at 623-625 St. Ann St., which served as the business’s headquarters, a storehouse for merchandise, and Marcos’s official residence. Although this building was his official residence, it is unlikely that Marcos lived in what was basically a warehouse; rather, in reality, he probably lived at one of his other properties with Victoria. The Tio family business was successful, and throughout the years they bought and sold numerous properties, commercial goods, and enslaved persons. Marcos’s first son Joseph Marcos, a free man of color, also followed in the family business, trading in property and slaves. He became successful as well and helped expand the Tio business into overseas trade. In 1817 Joseph registered a schooner, a small and quick trading boat, and with the success of their business in 1836 Francisco bought a brig, a large trading boat. The Tios traded at least as far as Haiti and Mexico, evidenced by transaction records and an 1821 travel record. Despite their social disadvantages, the Tios were successful; and by 1850, about fifteen years before his death, Francisco had a personal estate of $30,000, approximately $862,000 today. With their financial success, the Tios fought to improve their social standing in various ways. During the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, Francisco fought with the white militia and Marcos’s son, Joseph, as a member of the free black militia. The Tios continued to fight for success; but as the nineteenth century went on, laws and social conditions became harder for free people of color in New Orleans. One of the most significant events of this sort for the Tios was the trial over Augustin Macarty’s will, which reached the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1851. The State of Louisiana prohibited a natural father—a man who had children with a free woman of color—“from leaving to [his] acknowledged illegitimate children more than a third of his estate.” To work around this law, many biological fathers began to leave their estates to someone they trusted so that that person could give the entire inheritance to the father’s children—a tactic called interposition. Lawmakers soon caught on to this ploy and made interposition illegal as well. Augustin Macarty tried to do so anyway. The evidence that proved the interposition was Augustin’s relationship with Celeste Perrault. Because Augustin had lived with Celeste when their child, Patrice, was born, he claimed paternity; in addition, Augustin remained with Celeste for fifty years and deeply cared for her and Patrice. Because Augustin did not leave his estate to his beloved Celeste and Patrice but instead to Francisco, someone he had no relationship or common interests with, the court proved his interposition. After a frustrating and emotionally-draining case for the Tio family, Francisco had to give the entire estate, what he had spent, and what could have been earned in the four years of the case to the estranged relatives, to people Augustin probably had not seen in decades, rather than to Augustin’s own children. On top of this cruel decision by the court, in the late 1850s, radical bills threatening the very rights and continued freedom of free people of color surfaced in the Louisiana legislature. These events, combined with the loss of the majority of the Tio family primarily to diseases convinced the young musician Thomas Tio (1828-ca.1881), the grandson of Marcos Tio,to move the rest of his family to Mexico for their continued freedom. They would not return until after the Civil War. 623-625 St. Ann Street, New Orleans, LA
Sicht vom Hochblauen Evelyn Hecht-Galinski Essential Readings: Palestinians in Latin America Palestinian struggles in maintaining a strong national identity have been affected by the emergence of three similar yet distinct groups: internally displaced persons; refugees in exile; and Palestinians who have emigrated from their homeland to countries outside of the Middle East. This third group includes descendants born outside of their ancestral homeland. Narratives of Palestinians living in Latin America, falling in the third group, have been largely neglected in scholarly discourses. They do not fit well into a national narrative that has been exclusive to the refugee experience. Therefore, they have not had much space in Palestinian historiography and often do not meet the category of “Palestinian-ness” as defined by a nationalist discourse centered on statelessness and dispossession. This list of essential readings for those interested in the topic surveys the existing literature (in English, Spanish, and Arabic) on questions scholars have raised regarding Arabs, and more specifically, Palestinians living in Latin America and their relationships to both their homeland and their new communities. It describes their arrival in Latin America from the Levant and Palestine; their integration into Latin American society; the factors behind their considerable success; and the consequences of discrimination. Furthermore, it incorporates scholarship on the inter-regional links between Latin America and the Middle East and the impact of Latin American policy on the Middle East, as demonstrated in relations with Israel and the Arab states, as well as Latin America’s involvement in partitioning Palestine. read more Hinterlasse jetzt einen Kommentar Kommentar hinterlassen E-Mail Adresse wird nicht veröffentlicht. %d Bloggern gefällt das:
Hearing Voices: Understanding The Different Voice Types Female Soprano: The female soprano speech generally ranges from middle C to at the least the soprano D, that's two octaves higher. The voice is high-pitched and will be different from the light and sweet soubrette type to a rich and powerful dramat... Voice type is just a specific system for classifying opera and classical performers. Should people hate to learn new resources on choirbuy lowest price guarantee, there are tons of on-line databases people could investigate. The device allows composers, singers, and listeners to quickly and easily sort voices. Here's a simple breakdown of the different kinds of singing voices. Female Soprano: The female soprano voice an average of ranges from middle C to at least the soprano D, that's two octaves higher. The voice is high-pitched and will change from a light and lovely soubrette design to your powerful and wealthy dramatic soprano. Female Mezzo-Soprano: The mezzo-soprano is more often employed for choral voices. The range is frequently lower than the tessitura and the soprano, or relaxed timbre, is lower as-well. Female Contralto/Alto: The Contralto, o-r Alto, could be the lowest female voice, frequently deep and dark. The definition of alto is normally utilized in choral and popular music. Male Sopranist: The sopranist is a person able to attaining the degrees of a lady soprano. It is the greatest selection for male voices, and frequently sung in falsetto or by teenagers. Officially, area of the tenor range. Male Tenor: Though you can find numerous sub-classifications, tenor generally speaking describes just a higher pitched male voice. Male Baritone: Here is the level that falls between a and a bass. Rich and strong, but still with action. Discover more on our affiliated wiki by going to choirbuy church gowns for your choir info. The lyric baritone is a effect larger and lighter compared to the dramatic baritone, which requires a larger style. Male Bass: The bass is extremely low, in fact it is the lowest section of the expressive. The area should rumble, each time a bass man sings. The basso profundo could be the deepest and darkest of the singing voices, one usually used for frightening and dramatic events. Meanwhile, the Basso cantante still holds some agility. The next time you're listening to your favorite musician, see if you could tell which class they're in..
CancerType ID Classifying Cancer: Better Diagnosis, Better Prognosis. As long as a cure remains elusive, the fight against cancer will hold a prominent place in medicine. And rightly so. Perhaps one of the greatest medical challenges in oncology care is treating a cancer whose origin (where the cancer started) is unknown or uncertain after initial diagnostic work-up. In the oncology world, the most difficult of these cancers to diagnose are known as cancer of unknown primary (or CUP for short). Cancer patients diagnosed with CUP often have delays in treatment, suboptimal treatment options, and poor prognoses. CancerTYPE ID is a validated molecular cancer classifier, developed by Biotheranostics, Inc. (San Diego, CA), to help Oncologists and Pathologists provide an accurate diagnosis for metastatic cancer patients with these unknown or uncertain cancer types. Access Health
Important Information for Today’s Cancer Patients “Protecting your bones if cancer spreads to them” Imagine you’re a patient with cancer encouraged by a string of successful treatments. You’ve overcome setback after setback and finally feel some measure of control over your disease. Now imagine discovering that your cancer has spread to a bone in your rib, or your leg, or your hip, weakening the bone to the point that it needs radiation therapy or, worse, that it breaks without warning. All your positive momentum fighting cancer halts right in its tracks. Such serious bone problems are a real threat when cancer spreads to bone, but today’s leading medicines can help protect appropriate patients.1,2 1. American Cancer Society. Bone metastasis. American Cancer Society Web site. Revised February 17, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2016. 2. Product B Prescribing Information, Company U.
Chronic lack of sleep increases risk-seeking August 28, 2017 Science Daily/University of Zurich Sleepiness, reduced concentration and performance -- more and more people are suffering from the consequences of a chronic lack of sleep. Researchers have now demonstrated a further consequence: the people affected are subject to more intensive risk-seeking behavior without even noticing. Young adults have a natural sleep requirement of about 9 hours a day on average, older adults 7.5 hours. Many people in western societies, however, get considerably less sleep. According to studies, about one-third of the persons surveyed in several industrial countries reported too little sleep. If a young adult sleeps less than 8 hours a night, increased attention deficits occur, which can lead to considerable negative consequences. In sleep clinics there is an increasing number of healthy people who are suffering from the negative consequences of insufficient sleep. Not enough sleep leads to riskier decision-making Researchers at the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich have now identified a further critical consequence of a chronic lack of sleep: increased risk-seeking. The sleep and neuroeconomics scientists studied the risk behavior of 14 healthy male students aged from 18 to 28 years. If the students slept only 5 hours a night for a week, they displayed clearly riskier behavior in comparison with a normal sleep duration of about 8 hours. Twice a day, they had to choose between obtaining a specified amount of money paid out with a given probability or playing it safe with a lower amount of money paid out for sure. The riskier the decision, the higher the possible prize -- but also the risk of getting nothing. Riskier behavior remains unnoticed While a single sleepless night had no effect on risk-seeking, 11 of 14 of the subjects behaved significantly and increasingly riskier as the week of a reduced sleep duration went on. An additional finding is particularly alarming: The students assess their risk-taking behavior to be the same as under regular sleep conditions. "We therefore do not notice ourselves that we are acting riskier when suffering from a lack of sleep," emphasizes Christian Baumann, professor of neurology and the head of the Clinical Research Priority Programs (CRPP) "Sleep and Health" at UZH. According to the authors of the study, we should therefore all strive for a sufficient sleep duration -- especially political and economic leaders who make wide-reaching decisions daily. "The good news is," Baumann says, "that, in the high-powered world of managers, getting enough sleep is increasingly being seen as desirable." Lack of recovery in important regions of the brain For the first time, the researchers have proven that a low depth of sleep in the right prefrontal cortex is directly connected with higher risk-seeking behavior. This part of the cerebral cortex has already been associated with risk-taking behavior in earlier studies. "We assume that behavioral changes occur for anatomical-functional reasons to some extent as a result of the right prefrontal cortex not being able to recover properly due to a chronic lack of sleep," Baumann concludes. Member Login Welcome, (First Name)! Forgot? Show Log In Enter Member Area My Profile Not a member? Sign up. Log Out
Harry Potter in Chinese, Japanese & Vietnamese Translation Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Chapter Titles in Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Chapter 27: The Centaur and the Sneak (For the romanisation of Chinese and Japanese, see Transliteration. To understand the writing systems of CJV, see Writing Systems. For word order notes, see Word Order) Where a Vietnamese word has been borrowed from Chinese, the original Chinese character is shown in parentheses. Chinese (Mainland) 马人和告密生 Mǎrén hé gàomì-shēng 马人 mǎrén = 'horse-person' = 'centaur'. = 'and'. 告密 gàomì = 'to tell-secret' = 'to inform'. shēng = 'student (used as suffix)'. Centaur and informer Chinese (Taiwan) 人馬與告密者 Rénmǎ hé gàomì-zhě 人馬 rénmǎ = 'person-horse' = 'centaur'. = 'and (formal)'. zhě = 'person (used as suffix)'. Centaur and informer Japanese ケンタウルスと密告者 Kentaurusu to mikkoku-sha ケンタウルス kentaurusu = 'centaur'. to 'and'. 密告者 mikkoku-sha 'informer'. Centaur and informer Vietnamese Nhân mã và chỉ điểm nhân mã (人馬) = 'person-horse' = 'centaur'. = 'and'. chỉ điểm (指點) = 'spy, detective, informer'. Centaur and spy The centaur is Firenze. A centaur is literally a 'horse person' or a 'person horse' in Chinese and Vietnamese. Japanese uses the word ケンタウルス kentaurusu, which looks to the ancient Greek pronunciation rather than the modern English. Centaurs do not occur in Eastern mythology; these terms were originally coined to translate the Western name. The 'sneak' is Marietta, who reported the activities of 'Dumbledore's Army' to Umbridge. To translate this, the Mainland version uses 告密生 gàomì-shēng 'informer'. Notice the suffix shēng meaning 'student'. The Taiwanese version uses the more conventional word for 'sneak', with the suffix zhě meaning 'person'. In Japanese, the order of elements is reversed, that is, 告密者 becomes 密告者. The Vietnamese uses a word meaning 'spy' or 'detective' or 'informer'. Needless to say, there is no alliteration in the Chinese or Vietnamese versions, unlike the English with centaur and sneak. (A summary of this chapter can be found at Harry Potter Facts. Detailed notes on the chapter can be found at Harry Potter Lexicon) back Chapter 26 Back to Top
Achilles tendon rupture Achilles tendon rupture In case of Achilles tendon rupture, the Achilles tendon, which is the strongest tendon in the human body, tears. The Achilles tendon contributes to movements during which the foot is raised towards the knee, for example, pushing off the foot while walking or running. Achilles tendon rupture can cause different symptoms. Symptoms Achilles tendon rupture If the Achilles tendon tears, patients often feel a stinging pain in the heel. Sometimes they literally hear the tendon rupture with a loud popping sound. The Achilles tendon rupture is often accompanied by bumps and swellings at the base of the Achilles tendon. Affected persons are not able to tiptoe anymore. It may also entail weakness of the lower leg. Walking may be only possible with restrictions. Symptoms of Achilles tendon rupture in short: • stinging pain and sometimes popping sound while the tendon tears • tiptoeing is not possible • swelling/bumps at the base of the Achilles tendon • weakness of the affected lower leg • walking is only possible with restrictions Cause Achilles tendon rupture Often athletes suffer from an Achilles tendon rupture. Before the Achilles tendon tears, they may have suffered from pain in the heel or the area around the Achilles tendon. Normally, the Achilles tendon does only rupture after previous damage. Sports activities necessitating quick turnarounds like soccer, football or handball can increase the risk. Especially men at the age of 30-50 seem to be mostly affected. Achilles tendon rupture can occur at this age if sports activities have been resumed at the same level despite a long abstinence. Diagnostics Achilles tendon rupture In case of an assumed Achilles tendon rupture, a comprehensive orthopedic examination is carried out often accompanied by imaging procedures like ultrasound or MRI. If the orthopedic examination has not proven rupture of the Achilles tendon, an ultrasound examination can be conducted during which the foot can be moved. An MRI examination does also prove its existence and can help differentiate different ankle injuries. The best method to differentiate between different injuries is MRI. MRI enables us to visualize very different structures during one examination like muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and bones. If it is necessary, we do also apply a well-tolerated contrast agent to improve the visibility of certain structures. Therapy Achilles tendon rupture If the Achilles tendon rupture was not caused by sharp objects cutting through it, it can be treated conservatively or surgically. In case of conservative therapy, the foot is immobilized using cast, splint or orthesis for several weeks in changing positions. After that, physiotherapy and strengthening of the muscles of foot and leg follow. This therapy is suitable to persons who rarely perform sports activities and whose torn endings of the Achilles tendon touch each other in tiptoe position.
• Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month Why were the Nazis able to attempt the genocide of the Jewish people in the years 1939-1945?.How has the human rights position of the Jews improved since World War Two? Extracts from this document... Why were the Nazis able to attempt the genocide of the Jewish people in the years 1939-1945?. How has the human rights position of the Jews improved since World War Two? There are many reasons why the nazis were able to attempt genocide examples of this which I am going to talk about is the power of the Nazi state, control of the media, resistance movements, individuals such as Schindler, Warsaw Uprising. All of these factors helped the Nazis attempt genocide on the Jewish people. The power of the Nazi state grew immensely after Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933. Hitler used the Reichstag fire to get rid of some of his opposition, and in March 1933 just 2 month after he became chancellor he passed the enabling act which suspended the constitution for four years. Soon after he did this he got rid of all of his opposition which meant he had no one to get in his way of the running of the country, if he hadn't of done this the treatment that he gave the Jews may never of happened. This power was also reflected upon what Hitler was actually doing for the country which was reducing unemployment and increasing living space which meant people tended to ignore the sinister acts which Hitler had planned. ...read more. Another man involved with the Nazis that had something to do with the treatment of the Jews was a man called Oscar Schindler, this man profited from the Jews by using them as workforce and as you can imagine it wouldn't be very expensive labour, but this man also helped the Jews by giving them more calories than a factory would and by also saving hundreds of them by saying that he was going to build a factory to produce armaments or the Nazis and that the Jews on a list which he had drawn up would work for him, his excuse for taking these workers was that they were already trained and didn't want to start from scratch with a new workforce. There was other people who helped saved the Jews such as Cardinal Angelo Roncalli who successfully stopped the Bulgarian King not to be allowed Bulgarian Jews to be transported But even with men like this on there side the Jews still couldn't stop the killing as the Nazis were too powerful. The Warsaw Uprising is probably the most famous Jewish resistance, what happened was in April 1943, 2,000 armed SS troops entered the Warsaw ghetto to round up the remaining Jews, but there was a surprise awaiting the SS as 700 of the ZOB movement fought back with tanks, grenades and guns. ...read more. This happened and straight after there was fighting and there was an invasion on the new Jewish state but the Israelis won the war on January 6 1949.Since 1948 four more Arab - Israeli wars have been fought. Since the end of the war the German state has paid compensation to the Jewish survivors for their suffering and there is about 40,000 Jews living in Germany now. Anti-Semitism continued after the war though but in 1990 the East German government made an apology to the Jewish people. Unfortunately there is still racial attacks for instance in 1991 there were 2,074 racial attacks in Germany alone. After the war the treatment of Jews in the Soviet Union didn't get much better as after the the Jewish state of Israel was formed many Jews wanted to emigrate there but were not allowed by the communist government and a lot of Jews were locked up for protesting against this but after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 a large number of Jews have emigrated to Israel. In conclusion to this the rights for Jews did get better after the war but not to the extent in what you would of first expected as the treatment of them in Germany and the Soviet Union carried on from the war and although not to the extent of what it was, it was still bad enough to be classed as discrimination against the Jews. ?? ?? ?? ?? Shaun Kennedy ...read more. The above preview is unformatted text Found what you're looking for? • Start learning 29% faster today • 150,000+ documents available • Just £6.99 a month Not the one? Search for your essay title... • Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month See related essaysSee related essays Related AS and A Level International History, 1945-1991 essays 1. Rise Of the Nazis By this time in April 1920 Hitler was chief of propaganda, and Hitler put all his timer and hard work into the party. It was around this time that the party was renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) 2. Women and social change - To what extent did World War One effect womens ... Employers to made it clear that women were only there until the men returned from the war, and made no effort to tailor conditions to suit women. Difficult job requiring skill were split into smaller tasks, this was cheaper and avoided training temporary workers (women). 1. Explain how the human rights position of the jews has improved since world war ... The United Nations also helped to created positive attitudes towards the Jews by created a charter on June 26th 1945. The charter encouraged "respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion..." 2. How Significant were the Normandy landings in Defeating Germany in World War Two? useful to the significance of D-Day and the evidence above backs up my theory as a whole. 6. Why do you think sources I and J disagree about the defeat of Germany and the end of World War Two? When one looks at sources I and J, we can see 1. Free essay Why did the Nazis' treatment of the Jews change from The small amount of time taken to take Poland meant the Nazis had a lot of control on what they wanted to do to the Jews. With the larger amount of Jews the Nazis found that it was no longer practical to isolate them so they found it easier to contain them in order to create Lebensraum (living space) 2. The Prelude to the 1975 War and the Cairo Agreement. On February 17, a 3,000-man detachment of the army's predominantly Shia Twelfth Brigade took over the Israeli positions as the populace celebrated in the streets. Yet Israel's withdrawal gave it no respite from guerrilla attacks. On the contrary, the guerrilla campaign escalated into full-scale warfare, with most of the attacks occurring in the vicinity of Tyre. 1. The human heart. The public would be outraged at the human cost for the war, and the terrible conditions, which their soldiers were thrown into, without enough training. This ultimately turned the people against the war, creating anti-war views and eventually to an anti-war movement. 2. Why did the Nazis treatment of the Jews change between 1939-1945? Rations were little, with only a mere 184 calories a day. The Jewish suffered health problems because of poor hygiene. Diseases spread quickly, and dead were offered left on the streets because of lack of space inside. Seeing how many Jews they had under control the Nazis decided to use this for an advantage for the war. • Over 160,000 pieces of student written work • Annotated by experienced teachers • Ideas and feedback to improve your own work
• Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month Treaty of Versailles Extracts from this document... In 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, those who signed it had been referred to in Germany as the 'November Criminals', for agreeing to a treaty that was far too harsh: it made Germany accept all the blame for the war, stripped it from its land, colonies, entire navy and merchant navy, and limited it to a tiny 100,000 men and six battleships, with no tanks, submarines or aircrafts. The French Prime Minister however, was criticised by his own people for not making the Treaty harsh enough, and was soon voted off power. Yet meanwhile, in Great Britain, David Lloyd George receives a hero's welcome upon his return, for treating Germany fairly in the eyes of the British public. The Treaty of Versailles does not necessarily have to be viewed as a harsh treaty. The war guilt clause, for example, was particularly insulting for the German people, yet they had after all, encouraged Austria to declare war on Serbia after Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination. By sending them a 'blank cheque' and promising full support against a war with Russia and Serbia, Germany was the driving factor behind Austria's decision to declare war on Serbia. ...read more. a demilitarised zone. It was also these aggressive displays from Germany which made it understandable that they were denied a place in the League of Nations. It was justifiable, as Germany had shown that peaceful negotiations had not been her strong point. In addition, the denial of access into the League of Nations for Germany until it proved to be a peaceful nation provided incentive for Germany to settle disagreements in a non-violent manner. At the time of the signing of the Schlieffen Plan, the British public believed that the treaty fairly served justice. However, the German population, who believed they merely agreed to ceasefire rather than having lost the war, thought that the treaty was extremely harsh and unfair. Including this, they believed that the Treaty would be based on Wilson's fourteen points, which appealed to Germans much more than Lloyd George's or Clemenceau's ideas. The treaty had turned out to be very different than they had expected it to be. The War Guilt clause was a huge insult for the German people, and the clause which angered them the most. It was, to them, unfair. ...read more. However, if they are not granted entry into the League of Nations, there is no longer the option of peaceful negotiation, leading directly to the violence that the denial of access had originally been trying to avoid. In conclusion, I believe that neither the initial reaction of the German, British or French people adequately showed how just the Treaty exactly was. It was not as harsh as Germany believed, and although a lot of land had been lost and the military had been greatly cut down, they do not realise that if Clemenceau had his way, it may have been much harsher. However, the treaty was quite harsh; the immense loss of land, splitting Germany into two, and the loss of self determination can be seen as incredibly harsh acts. The treaty did not fail because it was too harsh, as the Locarno honeymoon period proved that Germany were able to live with and accept this Treaty. In summary, although the Treaty was harsh, its harshness, for the most part, had been justifiable, and Germany did indeed deserve to be punished, but not as much as the Treaty of Versailles stated it should. ...read more. The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE International relations 1900-1939 section. Found what you're looking for? • Start learning 29% faster today • 150,000+ documents available • Just £6.99 a month Not the one? Search for your essay title... • Join over 1.2 million students every month • Accelerate your learning by 29% • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month See related essaysSee related essays Related GCSE International relations 1900-1939 essays 1. Marked by a teacher Was The Treaty Of Versailles Justified? 5 star(s) Germany had a significantly greater population than Poland in almost every territory taken away from them, and the allies probably knew this. There is no greater way of creating animosity than taking masses of people from their country? The Allies were very ignorant in this case, ignoring the fact that 2. &quot;Was the treaty of Versailles fair?&quot; It could seem that, in their rage about having all the guilt on them, the Germans set out to make the treaty look much worse than it really was. Did the Big Three also feel cheated? Despite the whines heard from Germany about the brutality of the treaty, Clemenceau's wishes for revenge had only been halfway fulfilled. 1. To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles justifiable? Sir Horace Rumbold who was a diplomat wanted a harsh punishment for the Germans, as there was an existing stereotype of Germans and felt that a harsh treaty would teach the Germans a lesson. �I hope the new armistice terms will be really stiff.� This showed some of the contemporary attitudes to the Germans especially those in the foreign office. 2. Was the Treaty Of Versailles a Harsh Treaty? people in Germany believed that the treaty would be based on President Wilson's fourteen points which source A also talks about "For everyone still expected a peace settlement in accordance with Wilson's fourteen points" when he treaty was actually signed there was anger throughout Germany and the treaty became known • Over 160,000 pieces of student written work • Annotated by experienced teachers • Ideas and feedback to improve your own work
Do you have a friend who has vocal change issues? In India, more than 35% of adults are consuming different forms of tobacco (smoke forming and smokeless). More than 4,000 different types of chemicals have been found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Over 60 of these chemicals have been classified as carcinogens (cancer causing agents) by International Agency on Research in Cancer (IARC).Nearly 45% of all cancers among males and 17% among females in India and more than 80% of oral cancers are directly attributable to tobacco use. Smokers spend 25 percent more time in the hospital than nonsmokers, are twice as likely to die before age 65, and may lose up to 20 minutes of life for every cigarette they smoke. Smoking causes the cilia to stop working Tobacco apart from being a leading causative factor for cancer, also causes multiple ENT related diseases. The lining of the nose and sinuses is the same as the lining in the lung. There are cilia, or tiny hair-like structures, that clean the nose, sinuses of airborne particulate matter, bacteria, and mucus. Smoking causes the cilia to stop working, which predisposes the smoker to increased infections of sinuses.Normally, all that mucus travels to the back of your throat and you swallow it. When the cilia are damaged by smoking, the mucus backs up in the sinuses and bacteria start to multiply there. This can lead to a sinus infection. Any kind of smoke can irritate the throat tissues Passive smoking or secondhand smoke has been linked to snoring, respiratory infections, and ear infections in children. Smoking has been shown to decrease immune function, our bodies defense against fighting diseases. Even after completely stopping smoking, it can take the nose and sinuses several months to several years to get back to normal. Any kind of smoke can irritate the throat tissues, but inhaling cigarette smoke is particularly harmful as they contain more than acceptable levels of formaldehyde and acrolein. Smokers often experience persistent throat soreness Smoking frequently causes vocal changes, such as hoarseness and a raspy quality to the voice. Vocal changes associated with smoking occur because of swelling and thickening of the vocal cords. Smokers often experience persistent throat soreness and increased secretions, leading to frequent throat-clearing. During tobacco inhalation, the larger particles are mainly deposited on the laryngeal (voice box) mucosa during inspiration while fine and ultrafine particles deposit during expiration due to convoluted and narrow architecture of voice box. Higher deposition of cigarette smoke to this site predisposes it to a higher incidence (almost 3000 times) of cancer compared to other regions of the airway. Continuous exposure to tobacco smoke has been shown to induce pre-cancerous changes in the lining of mouth, throat eventually leading to full blown cancer. Cancer is the most serious throat condition that can develop due to smoking. You should visit your doctor as soon as possible in you experience any warning signs or symptoms that might indicate throat or laryngeal cancer, including persistent throat soreness, hoarseness or voice changes, growths or lumps in the throat or neck, bleeding from the nose, throat or coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing or a sensation that something is stuck in the throat. By Dr. G.V.K Chaitanya Rao MD, Dr. Rao’s ENT Super speciality Hospitals. Seema Bhoi has been contributing to the content industry through writing about brands, consulting rookies and providing content management service. She is the Co-Founder of Vibaantta Group & Meethi Lassi.
California Earthquake Alert: What Should You Do? Earthquake Alert Residents of California were warned this week that a swarm of earthquakes near the Salton Sea could mean “The Big One” is near. Seismologists have said that California is long overdue for a major earthquake along the San Andreas Fault. Based on our reader feedback, we know that we have a large number of readers from the state of California, so we wanted to help you by giving you a rundown on what you should be doing for earthquake preparedness. People who live in earthquake-prone areas must be aware of what they can do to prepare themselves, their families and their homes. While it can be worrisome for many, people may find themselves calmer about an earthquake if they’re prepared. For example, their homes will be as safe as possible, children will know where to go, and they can keep pets safe. Prepare Your Home for an Earthquake Many times, modern homes come already bolted to the foundation, making them as sturdy as possible. However, older homes may only be held in place by its own weight. Therefore, it may be best to purchase anchor bolts and earthquake brackets to keep the foundation and home from sliding or shaking. It’s also important to secure bookshelves and appliances to the walls, and consider flexible water/gas lines to prevent leaks and ruptures. Create An Earthquake Kit Emergency kits are available for purchase from a lot of different stores. However, it is possible for people to create one on their own. People should consider gathering together a first aid kit, enough water and non-perishable food for a few days, hygiene and sanitation items, clothing, household documents, contact information, and tools. Likewise, they should have a battery or hand-operated radio, comfort items (such as candy, coffee, snacks, and beverages), toys or games to keep occupied and more. Along with these articles, people should consider having an extra pair of eyeglasses and enough prescription medication on hand. If they have young children, they may require diapers, formula, and other baby needs. Household documents should include identification, bank information, and copies of insurance policies. It may also be helpful to have photographs of pets and family members, as well as enough cash or traveler’s checks to make it through in case the bank becomes damaged. Tools should include work gloves, duct tape, pliers, wrench and/or screwdriver, among others depending on the home. While nonperishable food is preferred, people will also need to consider utensils for eating, can openers, moist towelettes and one or more gallons of water for each individual in the home (as well as pets). We go in-depth more in this article on Earthquake Preparedness. What To Do With Pets If people have pets, they should prepare them for an earthquake, as well. This includes having at least two week’s worth of water and pet food, which should be rotated and thrown away as it becomes expired. Likewise, they’ll want to have medication and prescriptions for their pets, as well as a muzzle for dogs, in case you must be rescued. It may also be helpful to learn about pet CPR and first aid, microchips and keep ID tags current. Likewise, they should ensure their pet has all vaccinations and an up-to-date record. How To Get Drinking Water Sometimes, an earthquake is so bad that it takes weeks before rescuers can find and save everyone. If people are worried about not having enough water to drink safely, they can use water from the toilet tank (not the bowl), ice trays, pipes, and the hot-water tank. However, it’s also important to keep up to date on broken sewage or water lines because if incoming water gets contaminated, people can get sick from drinking it. To use the water in the home, turn on the highest-level faucet in the house. Only a small amount of water will come out, but then it is possible to get water from the lowest-level faucet. To use the hot-water tank for water, turn the gas and/or electricity off. Someone should open the drain from the bottom of the tank and turn the water-intake valve on. At the same time, someone should turn a hot-water faucet on to remove the water. It’s important not to turn on the electricity or gas when the water tank is empty. People may want to have water-cleaning tablets to ensure that the water is safe for drinking. Likewise, suspended particles should be allowed to fall to the bottom of the container first. If you are looking for an excellent water filter, we highly recommend the Alexapure Pro. Learn How To Shut Off Utilities People are allowed to turn the gas off themselves during or after an earthquake. However, they cannot turn it back on themselves. It can be shut off from the shutoff valve, usually near or on the gas meter. To turn the electricity off, find the main electric box. Those with circuit breakers can turn off the electrical switch while those with fuses must pull the small fuses and remove the one marked “main.” Have more questions? Leave a comment and we’ll be happy to provide some input. Stay safe, and stay prepared! Leave a comment Your email address will not be published.
Marriage: the Perfect Ending to Pride and Prejudice Only available on StudyMode • Download(s) : 380 • Published : October 8, 1999 Open Document Text Preview Marriage: The Perfect Ending to Pride and Prejudice An individual often finds himself in a conflict with the rules of society. Occasionally, rebelling is the path to happiness. However, usually, the real path to happiness is through compromise. This is the case in the early nineteenth century England setting of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. In the novel, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a lively, independent woman, whose family's financial situation and whose strong mindedness suggest that she may never marry. Mr. Darcy, is a rigid and proper man, who falls in love with Elizabeth, despite their differences. By the end of the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy learn to compromise, and, in doing so, become truly happy. In marrying, they not only fulfill themselves as individual, but also affirm the principle values of society. As in many of her novels, this marriage at the end of the novel shows us Jane Austen's ideal view of marriage as a social institution. The novel Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen gives us the reader a very good idea of how she views marriage, as well as society. The theme of marriage is set in the very opening sentence of Pride and Prejudice; "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" (Austen, 1) As Norman Sherry points out, this is Austen's way of implying that 'a single man in possession of a good fortune' is automatically destined to be the object of desire for all unmarried women. The statement opens the subject of the romantic novel; courtship and marriage. The sentence also introduces the issue of what the reasons for marrying are. She implies here that many young women marry for money. The question the reader must ask himself is, does Jane Austen think this is moral? Sherry shows us that Austen was not particularly romantic. She reveals these sentiments through Charlotte remarks concerning her marriage to Mr. Collins. "I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collin's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state." (Austen, 95) Elizabeth, as Sherry points out, is not particularly romantic either, however unlike Charlotte, Elizabeth has a certain picture of an ideal marriage in her mind, and therefore would never marry for reasons other than love. We assume that since Elizabeth is the main character, this is how Jane Austen sees marriage. Since Elizabeth would not marry without love, we can also assume that Jane Austen sees what Charlotte does as immoral. Elizabeth also feels that marriages formed by passion alone are just as bad as marriages formed without love. Elizabeth reflects on her sister Lydia's marriage; "But how little permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger then their virtue, she could easily conjecture" (Austen, 232) We again see reasons besides love as the reason for marriage. Jane Austen is not very optimistic about marriage, in fact there are almost no happy marriages in the novel at all. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet, Lydia and Wickham, and Charlotte and Mr. Collins are examples of the ill-matched and unsuccessful marriages in Pride and Prejudice. The characters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice are not all miserable by the end of the novel. Happy marriages in Austen's novels do occur. Sherry illustrates this point. The right people eventually come together, for example, Elizabeth and Darcy, the hero and heroine. The development of the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is the most important proof of the whole overall theme of compromise. This relationship took work, it did not just occur. Elizabeth has to learn to control her prejudices. She forms her opinions very quickly and does not change them easily. Darcy has to learn... tracking img
Since childhood many of us have heard great stories about dragons, how powerful they are, magical, mysterious, they can be both friendly or terrible fows! Stories that still gives us inspiration and we continue to dream on as if we were flying on the backs of these great wyrms… and so in this post i will write about the most famous dragon in the Norse myths, the thirty-foot wingless earth-dragon Nidhogg! The great world tree, Yggdrasil, has its longer roots in the lowest worls of Niflheim and Helheim, on of those roots is at the great well Hvergelmir in Niflheim and all the rivers of the nine realms flow from its depths. Near the well lies the third root of the great world tree, so huge that goes over the boundaries of Niflheim and Helheim like a wall, as if it was a small mountain. Nidhogg the great wingless earth-dragon goes to and fro over the wall to gnaw at the great root. When Nidhogg is not sleeping or just in a watchful rest in the lowest root, he crosses the wall into Helheim and visits the shore of the dead. This specific place is where the sun never shines, or at least throughout the year it it is seldom seen in this shore, at last no one has ever been there in anytime that the sun could possible been seen, so the waters of Helheim’s ocean are very dark. Corpses and shed skins of serpents decorate the shore. Nidhogg comes down periodically in her task ( yes Nidhogg is female ) as carrion-remover and eats the corpses. It’s natural for many to be afraid of her because of her job, but like all natural things, there must be a cycle and a natural balance, and Nidhoog is an important part of a cycle. Nidhogg is the representation of the natural cycle when something dies and rots to feed other beings or the earth it self, nutrients and minerals of the dead will give life again. We are used to be disgusted when we see worms and insects that live by eating rotten things or the wastes of the body, we tend to clean that from our memories and from society and build a beautiful picture of the natural world, but we have to understand that theses creatures live in a natural cycle of life and nature, that is how nature works, for all the wastes of the world will be turned into rich soils that will give life, where plants will grow again to feed animals and animals will give birth to others and nourish them with the same fertile soil, and yet again those same animals will be the food of others and what is left behind, both skin, fur, bones or what comes from the body wastes, will be put into the earth again and the same cycle begins. This is what Nidhogg shows us, that this natural cycle of life led her to have a terrible fame because in the human society, these things we put aside, in shame, disgust, trying to ignore the existance of such things because we don’t understand how it works and it is actually a very magical part of nature, when death gives life. When someone sees Nidhogg by this shore, she is sometimes with her brood of serpent-children, among them are the famous Goin, Moin, Grafvollud, Ofnir and Svafnir. They are usualy at Nastrond, the Hall of Serpents, but they will not attack anyone outside the wall, by Hela’s orders, but they might come to you, so do not show any signs of fear, act as if they were human, be calm and courteous, be polite. It is interesting to see that the great world tree and a dragon at its base isn’t just a myth from the Norse cosmology, but also from other different cultures around the world. Often people ask why is Nidhogg gnaws the roots of the great tree, it is simple, the world tree cannot exist or perform all its natural functions without the natural cycle of nature, and Nidhogg once again performs the same important job as i have written before, she gnaws on the tree to remove the dead wood to stimulate the new growth, gnawing away the dying parts of the tree, so new branches and leaves might grow in the rest of the tree. This shows us that we must appreciate and give creadit to all of the creatures who do the same job in the natural world, for they too are a part of a great cycle in which we all take our place. Also we seem to forget the importance of those ( speaking of us humans ) whose job is cleaning up the environment and all the waste we leave behind, those whom society likes to hid. One response to “Nidhogg 1. Reblogged this on Moon of the Wolf and commented: Personally, I have never thought of Nidhogg as something I guess bad, like apparently other’s do. She sort of falls in a bit of the same sort of realm as Hela, at least to me. In today’s society we don’t like to think about death. We like to keep it hidden until we are forced to think about it when a loved one dies or our own life is ending. I took a forensics class back when I was in high school. One of the projects we did was study the decaying body of a dead baby pig. We had to get up close and personal with it, studying the maggots and bugs that started to feed off the dead flesh. These things no longer bother me. The only thing in regard to death that makes me uncomfortable is open casket funerals. The soul is no longer attached to that body, and it is chemically reserved, at least for the moment. It just feels…. unnatural to me. Death is actually kind of a big part of nature, but we try to project our modern human view on the natural world. Thinking death as something to be feared and sometimes hated, when it is something inevitable that can not be stopped. One day, I too will be put in the ground to become one with Earth once again. My personal plan (yes at 21 I have already started planning this) is to be made into a tree. They have biodegradable urns that have seeds placed in them of your choosing, and I want a Weeping Willow (my favorite tree). Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Skip to main content First Canadian Army and the Scheldt Estuary Campaign: September 13-November 6, 1944 By Mark Zuehlke Story continues below advertisement Douglas & McIntyre, 545 pages, $37.95 Mark Zuehlke is among Canada's leading historians, and his previous works on the Italian campaign of 1943 and the Normandy invasion of 1944 have proved quite popular. In Terrible Victory, Zuehlke turns his attention to the actions of First Canadian Army after the Normandy campaign. After the successes in Normandy in the summer of 1944, the Allied Forces prepared for the liberation of Belgium and the Netherlands and the repelling of the German forces back into Germany. As summer turned into fall, it appeared that the German army was beginning to weaken, perhaps even to a point where the invasion of Germany, and ultimately victory, might be achieved before Christmas. As U.S., British and Canadian troops moved across Europe, it was inevitable that food, ammunition and fuel would be required in ever-increasing amounts. At the same time, the momentum of the Allied Forces coming out of the Normandy region needed to be maintained. In order for the plan to succeed, adequate ports needed to be liberated and secured. Ports along the English Channel, such as Dieppe and Le Havre, were either too small for the quantity of goods needed or had been rendered largely ineffective by departing German forces. The Belgian port of Antwerp was the ideal and logical choice, due to its size and its capacity for larger convoy ships. But in order to take Antwerp, the surrounding region, known as the Scheldt Estuary, had to be secured. The Scheldt Estuary was strongly protected by the German army, which also appreciated the importance of Antwerp. Many artillery pieces protected the approaches from naval and aerial attack, and many of the soldiers defending this region were prepared to fight to the last man and to the last shell cartridge. General Dwight Eisenhower, the top Allied commander, made it clear to Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery that he wanted Antwerp under Allied control, a critical factor for reducing delay times for supplies reaching the advancing forces. Montgomery, whose span of control included First Canadian Army, felt that pressing toward the Ruhr Valley was of greater importance. Yet Montgomery's own experiences in North Africa in 1942 should have helped illuminate Eisenhower's aims for him. After all, overstretched supply lines had wreaked havoc on British and German armoured forces during battles in North Africa in 1942. Story continues below advertisement Montgomery chose to dispatch First Canadian Army to the region, purely as a secondary action, while British and American forces pushed on for Germany. It was not until the middle of October, 1944, that Montgomery (pressured not only by Eisenhower but also the Royal Navy and others) chose to make the Scheldt a key objective. Ultimately, planning to take it would require a joint effort with U.S. and British air forces, particularly once the decision was made to breach the region's perimeter dykes in order to flood the region and force the Germans out. A weakened First Canadian Army ended up attacking a German force that was not quite as weak as it was initially perceived to be. As the Canadians moved through this region, they faced numerous challenges due to losses suffered in Normandy. Reinforcements brought into the units had little or no training as infantry; in fact, in many cases, non-combat personnel such as cooks and clerks were being used to fill voids in regiments, their basic-training skills long forgotten. Canadian efforts would be deadly, bloody and exhaustive. With support from British forces and additional units from other nations, victory would finally be achieved - at a terrible price of nearly 13,000 officers and men killed, wounded or missing. Approximately half of these were Canadians. Terrible Victory does not focus strictly on the hostilities between those in command, although the personality conflicts between key planners such as Eisenhower and Montgomery, and Montgomery and First Canadian Army Commander Harry Crerar, are brought to life for the reader. Instead, Zuehlke examines the battle from the point of view of the Canadian and German sides, utilizing memoirs, regimental histories and personal papers of those who fought in the battle. He also explores the war diaries for each regiment, those key documents (written after the battle by an officer of a unit) that offer the closest thing to a blow-by-blow account of battles. It is from many of these war diary entries that Zuehlke is able to create a tale of the platoons, squadrons, companies and batteries, and ultimately tell the story of the men fighting this prolonged battle. In doing so, he has captured the successes and sacrifices of the soldiers on the ground, the leaders and the planners of this incredibly difficult mission. Story continues below advertisement Zuehlke is very effective in creating images of the efforts of the officers and soldiers of the many units that participated in this campaign. As with so many battles of the First and Second World Wars, every part of Canada was represented in the units that fought in this campaign, and Zuehlke covers them with as much detail and clarity as possible without overwhelming the reader. The text is further enhanced by several maps and 16 pages of photographs, including many by renowned military photographer Ken Bell. Major Michael Boire, a professor at the Royal Military College, comments in the preface that the story of the Scheldt Estuary has "little glory ... and [is]damned complicated and hard to tell." Zuehlke tells the story well, and his work is a welcome addition to Second World War literature on the subject. Lieutenant Steven Dieter is an associate air force historian. Report an error Discussion loading… ✨ Combined Shape Created with Sketch. Combined Shape Created with Sketch. Thank you! You are now subscribed to the newsletter at
Word Formation 2 TEST 1: Economic Situation in the US We earn our_______(LIVE) in America today in peaceful ______ (COMPETE) with people all across the Earth. Profound and _____ (POWER) forces are shaking and _____ (MAKE) our world, and the urgent question of our time is whether we can make change our friend and not our enemy. This new world has already _____ (RICH) the lives of millions of Americans who are able to _____ (COMPETITION) and win in it. But when most people are working harder for less, when others cannot work at all, when the cost of health care devastates families and threatens to _____ (BANK) our enterprises, great and small, when the fear of crime robs law abiding citizens of their _____ (FREE), and when millions of poor children cannot even imagine the lives we are calling them to lead, we have not made change our friend.—————————————————————————————————————————————————————– CORRECT ANSWER: livelihood (sinh kế)/competition (cuộc tranh đua)/powerful (mạnh mẽ)/making/enrich (làm giàu)/compete (tranh đua)/bankrupt (phá sản), freedom (sự tự do) Test 2 (Easier): Food Production In the not-too-distant past farm animals were able to live (0) NATURAL lives in what we would now term NATURE ‘free-range’ conditions. Such farming methods however, were not able to supply the rapidly growing (1) POPULATE of the world and the increasing demands on food (2) … In order to cope with this rising demand, factory CONSUME farming methods were introduced along with the (3) … DEVELOP of genetically engineered (4) … hormones, which GROW resulted in a massive increase in food (5) … PRODUCE However, these developments in the use of factory farming and drug (6) … have led to a widespread TREAT feeling that animals are being caused a lot of distress and that the quality of the food itself suffers as a consequence. Certainly, many people (7) … with the idea AGREE of keeping animals in one building for their entire (8) … EXIST and argue that more emphasis should be given to (9) … ALTERNATE farming methods. A growing number of people are choosing to eat organic food, supporting farmers who use free-range methods, a system which has proved to be both (10) … and more humane. ECONOMY CORRECT ANSWERS: population (dân số), consumption (sự tiêu thụ), development (sự phát triển), growth (sức lớn, sự lớn), production (sự sản xuất), treatment (liệu pháp điều trị), disagree, existence (sự xuất hiện/tồn tại), alternative (phương tiện khác), economical (tiết kiệm/CN) Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
A Defense of the Ancient Greek Pagan Religion In a previous post on the topic of mythos and logos, I discussed the evolution of ancient Greek thought from its origins in imaginative legends about gods to the development of reason, philosophy, and logic. Today, every educated human being knows about the contributions of Socrates, Plato, Euclid, and Pythagoras. But the ancient Greek religion appears to us as an embarrassment, something to be passed over in silence or laughed at. Indeed, it is difficult to read about the enormous plethora of Greek gods and goddesses and the ludicrous stories about their various activities without wondering how Greek civilization ever managed to accomplish the great things it accomplished while it was so mired in superstition. I am not going to defend ancient Greek superstition. But I will say this: Greek religion was much more than mere superstition — it was about devotion to a greater good. According to the German scholar Werner Jaeger,”Areté was the central ideal of all Greek culture.” (Paideia: The Ideal of Greek Culture, Vol. I, p. 15). The word areté means “excellence,” and although in early Greek history it referred primarily to the virtues of the warrior-hero, by the time of Homer areté referred more broadly to all types of excellence. Areté was rooted in the mythos of ancient Greece, in the epic poetry of Hesiod and Homer, with the more philosophical logos emerging later. This devotion of the Greeks to a greater good was powerful, even fanatical. Religion was so absolutely central to Greek life, that this ancient pre-industrial civilization spent enormous sums of money on temples, statues, and religious festivals, at a time when long hours of hard physical labor were necessary simply to keep from starving. However, at the same time, Greek religion was remarkably loose and liberal in it’s set of beliefs — there was not a single accepted doctrine, a written set of rules, or even a single sacred text, similar to the Torah, Bible, or Quran. The Greeks freely created a plethora of gods and stories about the gods and revised the stories as they wished. But the Greeks did insist upon the fundamental reality of a greater good and complete devotion to it. I will argue that this devotion was responsible for the enormous contributions of ancient Greece, and that a completely secular, rational Greece would not have accomplished nearly as much. In order to understand my defense of ancient Greek religion, I think it is important to recognize that there are different types of knowledge. There is knowledge of natural causation and knowledge of history; but there is also esthetic knowledge (knowledge of the beautiful); moral knowledge; and knowledge of the proper goals and ends of human life. Greek religion failed in understanding natural causation and history, but often succeeded in these latter forms of knowledge. Greek religion was never merely a set of statements about the origins and history of the universe and the operations of nature. Rather, Greek religion was characterized by a number of other qualities. Greek religion was experiential, symbolic, celebratory, practical, and teleological. Let’s look at each of these features more closely. Experiential. In order to understand Greek religion — or any religion, actually — one has to do more than simply absorb a set of statements of belief. One has to experience the presence of a greater good. The first picture above is of a 40-feet tall statue of the Greek goddess Athena in a life-size recreation of the ancient Greek Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee. The second picture is a depiction of the probable appearance of the statue of Zeus at the Temple of Zeus in the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, the site of the Olympic games. Contrary to popular belief, Greek statues were not all white, but often painted in vivid colors, and sometimes adorned with gold, ivory, and precious stones. The size and beauty of the temple statues was meant to convey grandeur, and that is precisely the effect that they had. The statue of Zeus at Olympia has been listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A Roman general who once saw the statue of Zeus declared that he “was moved to his soul, as if he had seen the god in person.” The Greek orator and philosopher Dio Chrysostom declared that a single glimpse of the statue of Zeus would make a man forget all his earthly troubles. Symbolic. When the Greeks created sculptures of their gods, they were not really aiming for an accurate depiction of what their gods “really” looked like. The gods were spirits or powers; the gods were responsible for creating forms, and could appear in any form they wished, but in themselves gods had no human form. Indeed, in one myth, Zeus was asked by a mortal to reveal his true form; but Zeus’s true form was a thunderbolt, so when Zeus appeared as a thunderbolt, he incinerated the unfortunate person. Rather than depict the gods “realistically,” Greek sculptors sought to depict the gods symbolically, as the most beautiful human forms imaginable, male or female. These are metaphorical or analogical depictions, using personification to represent the gods. I am not going to argue that all Greek religion was metaphorical — clearly, most Greeks believed in the gods as real, actual personalities. But there was a strong metaphorical aspect to Greek religious thought, and it is often difficult even for scholars to tell what parts of Greek religion were metaphorical and what parts were literal. For example, we know that the Greeks actually worshiped certain virtues and desired goods, such as “Peace,” “Victory,” “Love,” “Democracy,” “Health,” “Order,” and “Wealth.” The Greeks used personal forms to represent these virtues, and created statues, temples, and alters dedicated to them, but they did not see the virtues as literal personalities. Some of this symbolic representation of virtues survives to this day: the blindfolded Lady Justice, the statue of Freedom on the top of the U.S. Capitol building, and the Statue of Liberty are several personifications widely recognized in modern America. Some scholars have suggested that the main Greek gods began as personifications (i.e., “Zeus” was the personification of the sky) but that over time the gods came to be seen as full-fledged personalities. However, the lack of written records from the early periods in Greek history make it impossible to confirm or refute this claim. Celebratory. Religion is often seen as a strict and solemn affair, and although Greek religion had some of these aspects, there was a strong celebratory aspect to Greek religion. The Greeks not only wanted to thank the gods for life and food and drink and love, they wanted to demonstrate their thanks and celebrate through feasts, festivals, and holidays. Indeed, it is probably the case that the only time most Greeks ate meat was after a ritual sacrifice of cattle or other livestock at the altar of a god. (Greek Religion, ed. Daniel Ogden, p. 402) In ancient Athens, about half of the days in the calendar were devoted to religious festivals and each god or goddess often had more than one festival. The most famous religious festival was the festival devoted to Zeus, held every four years at the sanctuary of Olympia. The Greeks visited the temple of Zeus and prayed to their god — but also held games, celebrated the victors, and enjoyed feasts. The Greeks also held festivals devoted to the god Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. Drink, music, theater, and dancing played a central role in Dionysian festivals. Practical. When I was doing research on Greek religion, I came across a fascinating discussion on how the Greeks performed animal sacrifice. Allegedly, when the animals were slaughtered, the Greeks were obligated to share a portion of the animal with the gods by burning it on the altar. However, when the Greeks butchered the animal, they reserved all the meat for themselves and sacrificed only the bones, covered with a deceptive layer of fat, for the gods. It’s hard not to be somewhat amused by this. Why would the powerful, all-knowing gods be satisfied with the useless, inedible portions of an animal, while the Greeks kept the best parts for themselves? The Greeks even had a myth to justify this practice: allegedly Prometheus fooled Zeus into accepting the bones and fat, and from that original act, all future sacrifices were similarly justified. As devoted to the gods as the Greeks were, they were also practical; in a primitive society, meat was a rare and expensive commodity for most. Sacrifice was a symbolic act of devotion to the gods, but the Greeks were not prepared to go hungry by sacrificing half of their precious meat. And what of prayer to the gods? Clearly, the Greeks prayed to the gods and asked favors of them. But prayer never stopped or even slowed Greek achievements in art, architecture, athletics, philosophy, and mathematics. No Greek ever entered the Olympic games fat and out-of-shape, hoping that copious prayers and sacrifices to Zeus would help him win the games. No Greek ever believed that one did not have to train hard for war, that prayers to their deity would suffice to save their city from destruction at the hands of an enemy. Nor did the Greeks expect incompetent agriculture or engineering would be saved by prayer. The Greeks sought inspiration, strength, and assistance from the gods, but they did not believe that prayer would substitute for their personal shortcomings and neglect. Teleological (goal-oriented). In a previous essay, I discussed the role of teleology — explanation in terms of goals or purpose — in accounting for causation. Although modern science has largely dismissed teleological causation in favor of efficient causation, I argued that teleological, or goal-oriented, causation could have a significant role in understanding (1) the long-term development of the universe and (2) the behavior of life forms. In a teleological perspective, human beings are not merely the end result of chemical or atomic mechanisms — humans are able to partially transcend the parts they are made of and work toward certain goals or ends that they choose. We misunderstand Greek religion when we think of it as being merely a collection of primitive beliefs about natural causation that has been superseded by science. The gods were not merely causal agents of thunderstorms, earthquakes, and plagues. They were representations of areté , idealized forms of human perfection that inspired and guided the Greeks. In the pantheon of major Greek gods, only one (Poseidon) is associated solely with natural causation, being responsible for the seas and for earthquakes. Eight of the gods were associated primarily with human qualities, activities, and institutions — love, beauty, music, healing, music, war, hunting, wisdom, marriage, childbirth, travel, language, and the home. Three gods were associated with both natural causation and human qualities, Zeus being responsible for thunder and lightning, as well as law and justice. The Greeks also honored and worshiped mortal heroes, extraordinary persons who founded a city, overthrew a tyrant, or won a war. Inventors, poets, and athletes were worshiped as well, not because they had the powers of the gods, but because they were worthy of emulation and were sources of inspiration. (“Heroes and Hero Cults,” Greek Religion, ed. Daniel Ogden, pp. 100-14) At this point, you may well ask, can’t we devote ourselves to the goal of excellence by using reason? There is no need to read about myths and appeal to invisible superbeings that do not exist in order to pursue excellence. This argument is partly true, but it must be pointed out that reason in itself is an insufficient guide to what goods we should be devoted to. Esthetics, imagination, and faith provide us with goals that reason by itself can’t provide. Reason is a superb tool for thinking, but it is not an all-purpose tool. You can see the limitations of pure reason in modern, secular societies. People don’t really spend much time thinking about the greater goods they should pursue, so they fall into the trap of materialism. Religion is considered a private affair, so it is not taught in public schools, and philosophy is considered a waste of time. So people tend to borrow their life goals from their surrounding culture and peer groups; from advertisers on television and the Internet; and from movie stars and famous musicians. People end up worshiping money, technology, and celebrities; they know those things are “real” because they are material, tangible, and because their culture tells them these things are important. But this worship without religion is only a different form of irrationality and superstition. As “real” as material goods are, they only provide temporary satisfaction, and there is never an amount of money or a house big enough or a car fancy enough or a celebrity admirable enough to bring us lasting happiness. What the early Greeks understood is that reason in itself is a weak tool for directing the passions — only passions, rightly-ordered, can rule other passions. The Greeks also knew that excellence and beauty were real, even if the symbolic forms used to represent these realities were imprecise and imperfect. Finally, the Greeks understood that faith had causal potency — not in the sense that prayers could prevent an earthquake or a plague, but in the sense that attaining the heights of human achievement was possible only by total and unwavering commitment to a greater good, reinforced by ritual and habit. For the Greeks, reality was a work-in-progress: it didn’t consist merely of static “things” but of human possibilities and potential, the ability to be more than ourselves, to be greater than ourselves. However we want to symbolize it, devotion to a greater good is the first step to realizing that good. When we skip the first step, devotion, we shouldn’t be surprised when we fail to attain it. Religion as a Source of Evil – Part 2 In a previous post, I critically examined the claim of contemporary atheists that religion, and more broadly a lack of reason, has been a predominant cause of evil in history. In response, I argued that evil in religion was an expression of deeper causes rooted in human nature, so abolishing religion would not address the fundamental problem of evil. In addition, I argued that reason itself could not be a solution to evil because reason was too easily used as a tool of self-interest. However, even after accounting for the deeper causes of evil, there remained a difficult question: what good is religion if it does not actually make human beings better? This question faced one Christian pastor who was horrified by the easy accommodation of Christian churches in Germany to the Nazi party in the 1930s: Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer’s response to the tragic development of Christianity in Germany will be examined briefly here. Contrary to the claims of many atheists, the Christian churches in Germany were not exactly steadfast allies of the Nazis. Leading Nazis despised Christanity because of its alleged superstitions and it’s compassion for the weak, and in the long term Hitler wanted to abolish Christianity. However, Hitler knew he could not undertake too many battles at once and he did not want to cause division and turmoil in Germany while he needed national unity. On the other hand, the Christian churches, while opposed to a number of elements of Nazi doctrine, wanted to survive, and largely agreed with Hitler’s policy of restoring German greatness. So both sides struck a bargain, in which the Nazis permitted the continued existence of the churches as long as they did not challenge the secular authority of Hitler and the Nazis. Moreover, a “German Christian” movement arose which attempted to reconcile Christianity and Nazism. A number of leading Christians rebelled at this corrupt bargain, among them Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the founders of the anti-Nazi Confessing Church. Bonhoeffer initially attempted peaceful resistance to the Nazis, later fled to the United States, but then returned to Germany in 1939. Bomhoeffer made contacts with anti-Nazi resisters in German military intelligence, some of whom were involved in various assassination plots against Hitler. When this underground movement was discovered, Bonhoeffer, already imprisoned by the Nazis, was hanged in April 1945. In historical retrospect, Bonhoeffer is recognized as being one of the few Christian leaders in Germany who bravely resisted the Nazis and was willing to sacrifice his life for his Christian ideas. As such Bonhoeffer is an inspiration to many, but it’s impossible to recognize the other side of the Bonhoeffer phenomenon — the fact that he was a definite minority, that most German Christians went along with the Nazis willingly and even participated in some of the Nazis’ greatest crimes. This problem plagued Bonhoeffer’s conscience and provoked him to write a number of letters and essays espousing a newly reformed Christianity he called “religionless Christianity.” Fundamental to Bonhoeffer’s argument was a concept he adopted from Karl Barth, that of “religion as idolatry.” Idolatry, according to Barth and Bonhoeffer, occurs when human beings reject the “infinite qualitative distinction” between the absolute goodness of God and the flawed nature of man, and instead worship a god that is created in the image of man. Under idolatry, human beings worship themselves, their nations, their political parties, and their churches, claiming that these human organizations speak for God or are carrying out God’s will, even when the greatest of crimes are being committed. In his posthumously published Letters and Papers from Prison, Bonhoeffer noted, “. . .my fear and distrust of ‘religiosity’ have become greater than ever here. The fact that the Israelites never uttered the name of God always makes me think, and I can understand it better as I go on.” It is important to note that Bonhoeffer’s “religionless Christianity” was not a rejection of faith in God and Christ but a rejection of attempts to claim divine status for ordinary humans and human institutions. In Bonhoeffer’s view, we don’t need the institutions of religion, which are easily subverted and perverted for evil purposes. We simply need faith in God, worship, and prayer. The church itself is secondary and not nearly as important as the individual’s relationship to God. For Bonhoeffer, “religionless Christianity” was in part an attempt to make the best of a bad situation. With progress in the sciences and technology making the universe more understandable and life easier to endure, human beings no longer needed God to explain certain mysteries or to cope with suffering. According to Bonhoeffer, man was “grown up” and could solve many of his problems with technology. It was no use invoking a “God of the gaps” to account for the remaining problems of humankind, because science could well eventually solve many of those problems as well. What science and technology could not solve, however, was mankind itself and its tendency to evil, especially when acting in social organizations. The Nazis excelled with science and technology — they built cutting-edge weapons such as jets and rockets, and their extermination camps were highly efficient in murdering millions at the lowest possible cost. Man could conquer nature, but how was man to conquer himself? Christianity in Germany should have been able to address this problem, but the churches only sought self-preservation, and the worship of God was perverted into worship of the German nation and the Fuhrer. The core meaning of Christianity was lost. Only the shell of Christianity, in the form of the rituals and the churches, remained. What was the core meaning of Christianity? In Bonhoeffer’s view, Christianity was fundamentally about attaining a new life by existing for others and participating in the sufferings of Jesus. In Bonhoeffer’s words: “It is not the religious act that makes the Christian, but participation in the sufferings of God in the secular life. . . . The ‘religious act’ is always something partial; ‘faith’ is something whole, involving the whole of one’s life. Jesus calls men, not to a new religion, but to life.” Bonhoeffer’s view of the future of the Christian Church was quite radical. In his notes for a book he was writing while in prison, he wrote: The church is the church only when it exists for others. To make a start, it should give away all its property to those in need. The clergy must live solely on the free-will offerings of their congregations, or possibly engage in some secular calling. The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others. In particular, our own church will have to take the field against the vices of hubris, power-worship, envy, and humbug, as the roots of all evil. It will have to speak of moderation, purity, trust, loyalty, constancy, patience, discipline, humility, contentment, and modesty. It must not under-estimate the importance of human example (which has its origin in the humanity of Jesus and is so important in Paul’s teaching); it is not abstract argument, but example, that gives its word emphasis and power. Bonhoeffer’s views would probably appeal today to people who reject the label “Christian” and instead call themselves “followers of Jesus.” These people are unhappy with the narrow-mindedness of many Christian churches and their involvement in politics; many of these “followers of Jesus” do not even go to church. But they are drawn to Jesus’s teachings and the example of his love and self-sacrifice. As for myself, I find a lot of merit to Bonhoeffer’s view of “religionless Christianity.” But I also see several obstacles to its widespread adoption. For one, Bonhoeffer’s vision does not appeal to those outside the Christian faith. Bonhoeffer was fairly insistent that the Christian faith was not just another religion, but in fact a replacement for all religions. God revealed himself in Christ, and that was that. Second, the question of what God requires of us when we face particular political and social controversies is not going to be clear all the time, or even most of the time. People of legitimate and honest Christian conscience may find themselves on opposite sides when faced with questions of war, the duties of the citizen to their government, the proper economic policy, the justice of the laws, etc. At best, Christ provides general guidance, not specific guidance, and even good Christians may find themselves on different sides of an issue because of different views on the specifics of policy. Finally, the notion of living for others and suffering with Christ is a noble goal, but extremely difficult, if not impossible, for most people. We rightly honor Bonhoeffer for following Christ in martyrdom, but how many of us are really willing to become martyrs? Few, I bet. Still, even if we only emulate Christ partially and imperfectly, I suppose that is better than nothing, and considerably better than emulating the wrong person. Two Types of Religion Debates about religion in the West tend to center around the three monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, it is important to note that these three religions are not necessarily typical or representative of religion in general. In fact, there are many different types of religion, but for purposes of simplicity I would like to divide the religions of the world into two types: revealed religion and philosophical religion. These two categories are not exclusive, and many religions overlap both categories, but I think it is a useful conceptual divide. “Revealed religion” has been defined as a “religion based on the revelation by God to man of ideas that he would not have arrived at by his natural reason alone.” The three monotheistic religions all belong in this category, though there are philosophers and elements of philosophy in these religions as well. Most debates about religion and science, or religion and reason, assume that all religions are revealed religions. However, there is another type of religion: philosophical religion. Philosophical religion can be defined as a set of religious beliefs that are arrived at primarily through reason and dialogue among philosophers. The founders of philosophical religion put forth ideas on the basis that these ideas are human creations accessible to all and subject to discussion and debate like any other idea. These religions are found in the far east, and include Confucianism, Taoism, and Hinduism. However, there are also philosophical religions in the West, such as Platonism or Stoicism, and there have been numerous philosophers who have constructed philosophical interpretations of the three monotheistic religions as well. There are a number of crucial distinguishing characteristics that separate revealed religion from philosophical religion. Revealed religion originates in a single prophet, who claims to have direct communication with God. Even when historical research indicates multiple people playing a role in founding a revealed religion, as well as the borrowing of concepts from other religions, the tradition and practice of revealed religion generally insists upon the unique role of a prophet who is usually regarded as infallible or close to infallible — Moses, Jesus, or Muhammad. Revealed religion also insists on the existence of God, often defined as a personal, supreme being who has the qualities of omniscience and omnipotence. (It may seem obvious to many that all religions are about God, but that is not the case, as will be discussed below.) Faith is central to revealed religion. Rational argument and evidence may be used to convince others of the merits of a revealed religion, but ultimately there are too many fundamental beliefs in a revealed religion that are either non-demonstrable or contradictory to evidence from science, history, and archeology. Faith may be used positively, as an aid to making a decision in the absence of clear evidence, so that one does not sustain loss from despair and a paralysis of will; however, faith may also be used negatively, to deny or ignore findings from other fields of knowledge. The problems with revealed religion are widely known: these religions are prone to a high degree of superstition and many followers embrace anti-scientific attitudes when the conclusions of science refute or contradict the beliefs of revealed religion. (This is a tendency, not a rule — for example, many believers in revealed religion do not regard a literal interpretation of the Garden of Eden story as central to their beliefs, and they fully accept the theory of evolution.) Worse, revealed religions appear to be prone to intolerance, oppression of non-believers and heretics, and bloody religious wars. It seems most likely that this intolerance is the result of a belief system that sees a single prophet as having a unique, infallible relationship to God, with all other religions being in error because they lack this relationship. Philosophical religion, by contrast, emerges from a philosopher or philosophers engaging in dialogue. In the West, this role was played by philosophers in ancient Greece and Rome, before their views were eclipsed by the rise of the revealed religion of Christianity. In the East, philosophers were much more successful in establishing great religions. In China, Confucius established a system of beliefs about morals and righteous behavior that influenced an entire empire, while Lao Tzu proposed that a mysterious power known as the “Tao” was the source and driving force behind everything. In India, Hinduism originated as a diverse collection of beliefs by various philosophers, with some unifying themes, but no single creed. As might be expected, philosophical religions have tended to be more tolerant and cosmopolitan than revealed religions. Neither Greek nor Roman philosophers were inclined to kill each other over the finer points of Plato’s conception of God or the various schools of Stoicism, because no one ever claimed to have an infallible relationship with an omnipotent being. In China, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are not regarded as incompatible, and many Chinese subscribe to elements of two or all three belief systems. It is rare to ever see a religious war between adherents of philosophical religions. And although many people automatically equate religion with faith, there is usually little or no role for faith in philosophical religions. The role of God in philosophical religions is very different from the role of God in revealed religions. Most philosophers, in east and west, defined God in impersonal terms, or proposed a God that was not omnipotent, or regarded a Creator God as unimportant to their belief system. For example, Plato proposed that a secondary God known as a “demiurge” was responsible for creating the universe; the demiurge was not omnipotent, and was forced to create a less-than-perfect universe out of the imperfect materials he was given. The Stoics did not subscribe to a personal God and instead proposed that a divine fire pervaded the universe, acting on matter to bring all things into accordance with reason. Confucius, while not explicitly rejecting the possibility of God, did not discuss God in any detail, and had no role for divine powers in his teachings. The Tao of Lao Tzu is regarded as a mysterious power underlying all things, but it is certainly not a personal being. Finally, the concept of a Creator God is not central to Hinduism; in fact one of the six orthodox schools of Hinduism is explicitly atheistic, and has been for over two thousand years. There are many virtues to philosophical religion. While philosophical religion is not immune to the problem of incorrect conceptions and superstition, it does not resist reason and science, nor does it attempt to stamp out challenges to its claims to the same extent as revealed religions. Philosophical religion is largely tolerant and reasonable. However, there is also something arid and unsatisfying about many philosophical religions. The claims of philosophical religion are usually modest, and philosophical religion has cool reason on its side. But philosophical religion often does not have the emotional and imaginative content of revealed religion, and in these ways it is lacking. The emotional swings and imaginative leaps of revealed religion can be dangerous, but emotion and imagination are also essential to full knowledge and understanding (see here and here). One cannot properly assign values to things and develop the right course of action without the emotions of love, joy, fear, anger, and sadness. Without imagination, it is not possible to envision better ways of living. When confronted with mystery, a leap of faith may be justified, or even required. Abstractly, I have a great appreciation for philosophical religion, but in practice, I prefer Christianity. I have the greatest admiration for the love of Christ, and I believe in Christian love as a guide for living. At the same time, my Christianity is unorthodox and leavened with a generous amount of philosophy. I question various doctrinal points of Christianity, I believe in evolution, and I don’t believe in miracles that violate the physical laws that have been discovered by science. I think it would do the world good if revealed religions and philosophical religions recognized and borrowed each other’s virtues. Misunderstanding Manicheanism A lot of religions and philosophies are misunderstood to varying degrees, but if I had to pick one religion or philosophy as being the most misunderstood it would be Manicheanism. First propounded by the prophet Mani (or Manes) in Persia in the third century C.E., this religion viewed the universe as consisting of a battle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. God was good, but was not all-powerful, which is why there was evil in the world. Human beings and other material things were a mixture of the forces of light and forces of darkness; the task of human beings was to separate the light from the dark by shunning evil and doing good deeds. In modern day America, the term “Manichean” is used disparagingly, as a way of attacking those who see political or social conflict as being wars of good vs. evil. A Manichean view, it is argued or implied, depicts the self as purely good, opponents as demonic, and compromise as virtually impossible. A recent example of this is a column by George Will about the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Will describes Iran as being “frightening in its motives (measured by its rhetoric) and barbaric in its behavior,” and quotes author Kenneth Pollack, who notes that Manicheanism was a Persian (Iranian) religion that “conceived of the world as being divided into good and evil.” Of course, Manicheanism no longer has a significant presence in modern-day Iran, but you get the point — those Persians have always been simple-minded fanatics. Let’s correct this major misconception right now: Manicheanism does NOT identify any particular tribe, group, religion, or nation as being purely good or purely evil. Manicheanism sees good and evil as cosmological forces that are mixed in varying degrees in the material things we see all around us. Humanity, in this view, consists of forces of light (good) mixed with darkness ; the task of humanity is to seek and release this inner light, not to label other human beings as evil and do battle with them. If anything, Manicheanism was one of the most cosmopolitan and tolerant religions in history. Manicheanism aimed to be a universal religion and incorporated elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The most dedicated adherents of Manicheanism were required to adopt a life of nonviolence, including vegetarianism. For their trouble, Manicheans were persecuted and killed by the Christian, Buddhist, and Muslim societies in which they lived. The Manichean view of human beings as being a mixture of good and evil is really a mainstream view shared by virtually all religions. Alexander Solzhenitsyn has described this insight well: It was granted to me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience: how a human being becomes evil and how good. In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible, and I was therefore cruel. In the surfeit of power I was a murderer and an oppressor. In my most evil moments I was convinced that I was doing good, and I was well supplied with systematic arguments. It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. Even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained; and even in the best of all hearts, there remains a small corner of evil. Since then I have come to understand the truth of all the religions of the world: they struggle with the evil inside a human being (inside every human being). It is impossible to expel evil from the world in its entirety, but it is possible to constrict it within each person. This is what Manicheanism teaches: the battle between good and evil lies within all humans, not between purely good humans and purely evil humans.
Bouncing back from disasters relies more on pre-planning than concrete and steel. Disasters happen – from floods to fires to earthquakes, natural and unnatural catastrophes have always and will always strike cities. That these extreme events take place is less important than how well cities are able to withstand and bounce back from these inevitable and unfortunate events. A disaster-free city is a fantasy. More realistic and more desirable is a city that's resilient in the face of disaster. This pragmatism is spreading to cities across the world as officials try to figure out what they can do to reduce the impact of disasters and to help their cities make it through to the other side. It's becoming increasingly important as cities grow and urbanization rates rise, as a new report [PDF] from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction outlines. But when it comes to building resiliency in a city, there isn't actually much concrete-and-steel building happening. Of the cities analyzed for this report, five common activities were observed: 1. Taking disaster risk reduction into account in new urban planning regulations, plans and development activities; 2. Establishing councils/committees/disaster management structures dedicated to disaster risk reduction; 3. Constructing hazard-resistant infrastructure or improving existing facilities; 4. Establishing education/awareness/training programmes; 5. Organizing multi-stakeholder dialogues. Only one of those activities, number 3, involves actually building anything. So it's not so much levees and emergency shelters that are aiding recovery as it is the sort of pre-planning for disasters that can help reduce their impact. Being resilient in the face of a disaster relies on planning efforts that reduce the amount of people living in disaster-prone areas, training people to react to disasters safely, and basically growing a city in a way that puts fewer people at risk. Physical infrastructure is surely important, but the report points out that preparing for these inevitable-even-if-rare events is most crucial for making sure a city is not completely debilitated by a disaster. This pie chart breaks it down visually: Source: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Most of that pie focuses on institutional guidelines and frameworks and planning efforts. The three pieces of the pie that partially include actual physical building – infrastructure, reconstruction, schools and hospitals – only make up about one-sixth of the picture. The report notes that cities in developing countries still have insufficient infrastructure to deal with large-scale catastrophes, but the overwhelming message is that bouncing back from disasters has more to do with strategy before the event than the physical structures that may or may not survive through it. Top image: Water from Hurricane Isaac floods a highway near New Orleans August 31. Credit: Sean Gardner / Reuters About the Author Most Popular 1. Rescue crews and observers on top of the rubble from a collapsed building that fell in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. A Brigade of Architects and Engineers Rushed to Assess Earthquake Damage in Mexico City La Casa del Arquitecto became the headquarters for highly skilled urbanists looking to help and determine why some buildings suffered more spectacularly than others. 2. Stuff A Minimalist Poster of All the Subway Systems in the World Celebrate your love for heavy-rail commuter systems by putting every single one of them on your wall. 3. Equity What the New Urban Anchors Owe Their Cities 4. Transportation Why Are Little Kids in Japan So Independent? In Japan, small children take the subway and run errands alone, no parent in sight. The reason why has more to do with social trust than self-reliance. 5. A LimeBike is pictured next to a Capital Bikeshare dock. Bike Share, Unplanned
Friday, 3 March 2017 Cameroon Opinion - Whatever Happened To Cameroon's Reunification? One of the challenges facing my parents’ generation was the reunification of our native country of Cameroon following its breakup at the end of the First World War. When Germany was vanquished at the end of that war, Cameroon, one of its African colonies, was seized and partitioned by France and Great Britain, two of the wartime allies. Mandated by the League of Nations in 1922, Cameroon was divided into three regions, East Cameroon, Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons. The mandate decreed that France preside over East Cameroon, while Britain, already an established colonial power over Nigeria, would govern Southern Cameroons—the area whose population today identify themselves as “Anglophones” —and Northern Cameroons, as integral parts of Nigeria. That 1922 Division, which tore apart Cameroonian families, friends and tribes, stirred up sentiments for reunification from all sides of the divide. But so strong were the voices for reunification in Southern Cameroons that, in February 1961, following a plebiscite (in which the two British-controlled regions of Cameroon would each choose either to be fully integrated into Nigeria or to merge with the newly independent East Cameroon), Southern Cameroons voted overwhelmingly to reunite with East Cameroon. Having triumphed over the plebiscite, John Ngu Foncha, Southern Cameroons Prime Minister at the time—and its colossus for the reunification campaign—then met with El Haji Amadou Ahidjo, East Cameroon’s president, at the Foumban Conference in July, where they agreed to form what became known as the Federal Republic of Cameroon. The FRC, like modern day Canada, was envisioned, based on its colonial experiences with France and Britain, to be one country but with two separate government systems. (At the end of the conference, the minority English-speaking Southern Cameroons and the majority French-speaking East Cameroon each had their own separate government within the Federation.) One of the hallmarks of the FRC’s Constitution was that Southern Cameroons, which was renamed “West Cameroon” following the Conference, was guaranteed to retain its inherited British institutions in education, judiciary, and legislature. President Ahidjo’s East Cameroon majority, his strong-arm tactics at the July Conference, and having led East Cameroon to independence in January 1960, were all factors that propelled him into the presidency of this new Federation. Considering the raging civil wars that were ripping apart several African countries in the 1960s following their independence, reuniting their old country—as President Ahidjo and Prime Minister Foncha did almost 40 years after it was sliced into parts—was hailed in many quarters as a masterstroke. The New York Times, in an article dated January 30, 1970, lauded the impact of these two leaders’ effort at nation building. In the article “Cameroon Young but Mature”, they stated, “While neighboring countries—Nigeria and the Congo—have been wracked by regional and tribal strife, the Cameroon has become a model for African unity.” The Times further singled out Ahidjo for high praise, saying, “The Cameroonian chiefly responsible for pulling the federation together and playing down tribal frictions is Ahmadou Ahidjo, a calm northerner who as President has gained strong southern support.” Today, however, the reunification experiment, whose bilingualism was once touted as a “hidden asset in Cameroon’s trade growth”, is in ruins. Anglophones are aghast at what they see as their marginalization within the country. They also allege that Cameroon’s central government is pursuing assimilationist policies that target Anglophone institutions, citing, for example, French-trained Cameroonian bureaucrats being posted to their region to run schools, cities, colleges and the judiciary. I was in middle school in the fall of 1982, when the current president of Cameroon, Paul Biya, came to power. He promised, during a much-heralded visit to the Anglophone region, that he’d find a way to bridge the chasm that had emerged over this issue during his predecessor’s reign. But just two years into his presidency, Biya’s orders to arrest and imprison Gorgi Dinga, an Anglophone human rights lawyer following Dinga’s publication of “The New Social Order”, an indictment of Biya’s government over the Anglophone issue, sent chilling signals to the Anglophone people. However, with the lifting of press censorship in the 90s, Anglophones are now Biya’s most rabid critics within the country. They’ve also borne the brunt of his reprisals, including the 1992 siege of Bamenda—a city noted as Anglophones’ arsenal of democracy. Cameroon Opinion - Whatever Happened To Cameroon's Reunification? Today’s so-called “Anglophone Problem” dates back to 1972. In that year, Amadou Ahidjo surreptitiously called for a referendum that abolished the Federation, replacing it with the “United Republic of Cameroon”, a strong, central system of government in which Ahidjo wielded enormous presidential powers. Anglophones felt conned and betrayed by Ahidjo’s action. The referendum fueled their rage, which was made worse in 1984, when the subsequent government of President Paul Biya—oblivious to the Anglophones’ long quest to remain separate in a federation—imposed educational reforms that many felt undermined their institutions. No comments: Post a Comment Contact Form Email * Message *
Static Images 1f Represent yourself as a dbnlet 2a Using the dot drawing technique described in Chapter 8 of the DBN book, manually position exactly 50 dots on your page that look as though they are randomly placed, but still form a cohesive recognizable image that is non-typographic and non-symbolic 4a Reinterpret one of your previous pieces as a surrealist image. Include the name of the previous assignment in your comments. 4b Create a dynamic composition of two contrasting elements (i.e. color, shape quality, movement, etc.) 4c Gather visual elements from at least three of your previous assignments, and create a 'welded image'. 5a Using real sinusoidals, generate a shape with primarily convex properties 7b Create a generally smooth gradation of white to black, from left to right using only a 100 percent black pen. 9a Emphasize the difference between your early 100 by 100 display area and the now larger 200 by 200 display area with a statically motivated graphic. Link to movies
Ag soil erosion not contributing to climate change, but not helping, either Soil erosion due to agriculture is not a net contributor to global climate change, according to researchers at UC Davis, Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and the University of Exeter, England. Previous estimates of carbon emissions from soil erosion had run as high as 13 percent of global emissions. Erosion does not release significant amounts or carbon to the atmosphere, the researchers found. On the other hand, neither does it represent a significant ‘sink’ removing carbon from the atmosphere, and erosion is still a Bad Thing because of its other environmental impacts. Erosion, it seems, brings subsoil to the surface and sends it downhill. On the way it picks up organic material (ie, carbon) but then gets caught up in hollows and reburied. So the process acts as a sort of carbon conveyor belt. The researchers estimate that erosion captures the equivalent of about 1.5 percent of fossil-fuel carbon emissions. The team managed to measure how soils move around using cesium-137, an isotope that was scattered around the landscape as a result of nuclear weapons testing decades ago. They could then estimate how much carbon should be in the soil and work out how much had been lost or gained as a result of erosion. The results are published in the Oct. 26 issue of Science. One response to “Ag soil erosion not contributing to climate change, but not helping, either 1. To whom it may concern, Yes, erosion does not contribute to climate change! But one thing you have to know, is that, the causes of erosion comeÂ¥s from the climate change. As we have it here in Brazil, more than 70% of emission of gases comes from deflorestation and forest burning through agriculture. which directly affect the soil erosion in one way or the other. When a Forert is cleared this open ways for the next rains that are coming. When the rains meet the soil whthout vegetation cover, this will cause a run-off of soil nutrientes to another side, which may make this oil poor in nutrientes,together with this the inicial soil erosion.These we have observed in Biome Cerrado (savannah) and Biome Amazonas. We know the havoc that the soil erosion is causing. This may not contribute to climate change,but the climate change contribute to soil erosion. What happened to carbons released by the threas that inicially covered the area when one area is clear and this result in erosion? Sure, these threas root captured some carbons in the atmosphere and store them in the soil, in the same area they these sientists studied. Leave a Reply
Geotechnical Engineering Drones and Natural Disasters Typically surveying natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and landslides involves putting boots on the ground and using tools like measuring tape or GPS to take stock of how the area has been affected. As you might imagine this takes a significant amount of time, is potentially dangerous, and costs a lot to pursue. Pile Driver Sensors When piles are driven into soil to provide foundational support for structures, vibrations are caused that can create cracks in deep foundations for nearby structures, like bridges. Traditionally, these vibrations are measured by ground surface sensors, but the length needed to travel from deep underground in order to reach the sensors is telling only part of the story. Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and Seismic Risk Mitigation Each year, 75 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States goes to landfills. This amount of waste would fill in just one year the entire Manhattan in New York City to a height of 70 m or 210 ft! Modern landfills are sophisticated facilities designed to protect public health and the environment by containing the municipal solid waste. Many of these landfills are so large that they exceed the size of the Hoover Dam! Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos Measuring Response and Performance for Levee Systems and Dams Professor Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos became interested in levee systems when her PhD advisor at UC Berkeley offered her the opportunity to join an investigation of New Orleans levees after Hurricane Katrina hit. Subscribe to RSS - Geotechnical Engineering Go to top
Saturday, November 04, 2006 Stone Soup Every year I have taught in my own classroom, I do a unit on Stone Soup. For those unfamiliar, Stone Soup is a classic tale about three hungry soldiers coming home from war. As they make the arduous journey home, they come upon a village and ask the peasants for food and a place to sleep. The villagers are quite concerned about having to share with the soldiers and after hiding all their food, explain they have little enough for themselves. The clever soldiers declare they will help everyone by making stone soup. Upon filling a pot with water and stones and starting a fire ablaze, the soldiers say, "Oh, this soup is good, but it would be much better with a bit of salt and pepper..." Many other ingredients are added in the same way. Each time, the villagers bring vegetables and other soup ingredients to make the soup better. In the end, the peasants and the soldiers have a wonderful feast together. The soldiers are treated as honored guests rather than a pesky imposition. Lesson plans always encourage the teacher to explain how the soldiers tricked the villagers into sharing. I love the story. We always do activities surrounding the story. We define vocabulary words and explore measurement using cups, teaspoons, etc. And, of course, we talk about the underlying moral of the story. We review the importance of sharing. We talk about how the soup is like our classroom... It is better because each of us bring a unique and important ingredient to our group. We talk about sharing ourselves with each other. We even talk about fear and hoarding, and how these things hinder prosperity. Always during the course of the unit, we make stone soup. It is usually very tasty, but this year it was particularly delicious. I think I enjoyed it more because this year, one of my students taught me a poignant lesson. We began the lesson by defining some important vocabulary words. One of our words was soldiers. Before we look up the definitions, I ask that the students give me a definition in their own words. A student I will call Elliot raised his hand, sat up straight and tall, and declared, "Soldiers are people who work together..." At this point he stammered a little and lost his confidence. I deal with that a lot when a student has a learning challenge. They aren't confident in their abilities and their knowledge. So, I said, "Yes... Go on..." He began again, "Soldiers are people who work together to kill other people." I'm sure the look on my face was unreadable. For just a moment, it felt as if the world had stopped in the classroom. I quickly regained my composure and said, "Elliot, some people would probably have a problem with your definition, but you are absolutely right. In fact, your words are so important to me, I'm going to write them down to keep for myself. I may write something on my blog to share with everyone." I'm not political. I always vote, but I really don't like to vote. I have never actually felt as if I was endorsing a candidate I fully believed in. In fact, in local elections, sometimes I don't even know the candidates for whom I'm casting a ballot. It's actually a little embarrassing. Perhaps I should be more informed. Sometimes, I really exert the effort to educate myself, but here, they always throw in a strange one... "Vote for the New Coroner." How on earth am I supposed to know who would make the very best coroner? Some things shouldn't be a vote. A committee of persons educated in such matters should be handling that bit of hiring. Still, when elections come around, I go vote. I cast my ballot. I wear the little sticker all day. I do the deal. When my girls were young, I took them with me. I talked about the importance of living in a democratic country. I sang on high about voting and how we live in a wonderful country in which we are allowed to vote. Other people in the world don't have that right. Then somehow my right to vote, ties in with the ugly fact that people died so that I could live in a free country. People died so that I might stumble into the booth and vote for a coroner that I don't know and hope I don't need for a long time... People died... "Soldiers are people who work together to kill other people..." People got mad about a king in England taxing them. Money is a powerful motivator. People were outraged that their feelings weren't being considered. They dumped some tea into a harbor and set about fighting for their rights. It was a revolution... Soldiers worked together to kill other people... People died... Southerners later developed the nasty habit of buying and selling other people based on skin color.... These people were required to work on plantations and weren't treated well in some cases. It was a travesty. It was wrong. The south still hasn't fully recovered in many respects. Other people knew it was wrong, but I can tell you for a fact that in the south, we don't like to be told what to do. In the south, we said, "Forget you... We don't have to be a part of your silly country... We'll make our own country." Some people here still think they are in that separate country... It was a civil war. Soldiers worked together to kill other people... People died... America became a land of prosperity... Our economics affect other countries. In America, individuals have a right to pursue happiness. We began to be a beacon of light for those without hope... We had such a gift, this freedom... We had such a wonderful thing... Democracy... It seemed only right we should share our gift with the world. Surely, all people have a right to be free. Other wars were fought on this premise. America must be the champion for the weak, the oppressed, the down-trodden... People worked together to kill other people all over the world... In other countries... Sometimes for causes that were gallantly noble. People died... As I type this, people are working together to kill other people. People are dying... Why? I don't think anyone really can give a sufficient answer. Some people try to tie this war to "my freedom"... "Soldiers are dying for your freedom," they say... The bad guys crashed planes into our towers. They attacked our country. The "evil-doers" are trying to interfere with "our way of life". North Korea is getting nukes. We can have nukes, but other people shouldn't have them. Other people are crazy. We're in danger. SOLDIERS ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK TOGETHER TO KILL OTHER PEOPLE. People are dying... A red flyer showed up in my box a couple of weeks ago. The flyer asked people to wear red on Fridays as a sign of support to our troops overseas. I support our troops. I come from a family of military men and women. I know first hand the sacrifices they make. However, I also don't like to be told what to do and when to do it. I didn't like the idea that someone might think if I don't wear red on Fridays, I don't support my troops. However, rather than keeping these ideas to myself, I spouted them off to my dear friend, Billy. He probably shook his head and said to himself, "That crazy Maxwell... She has a screw loose." That's just his way. I later learned by accident that the flyer actually came from Billy. I felt terrible. I don't know his personal family situation. But, I know that people are dying. And, I know that I care very much whether that has affected my friend in any way at all. If it is important to him, it is important to me. I'll wear red on Fridays. But, now it has taken on more meaning for me. "Soldiers are people who work together to kill other people." People are dying... People have died... In the larger scheme of things, I don't understand it. And, I'm really sad about that today. I'm really sad that I can't see the value in a war that no longer has anything to do with my right to get into a booth and vote for a coroner I don't know. I'm sad that I can't even buy into the fact that this war has anything to do with the towers that fell. There's even a country song out that tried to convince me that is the reason we are at war. I'm sad that as a society, we largely don't value each other's individual beliefs and differences. I'm sad that there aren't any easy answers. But, I know for sure that whatever the question, love is the answer... You see... that is what Stone Soup is all about... LOVE... The villagers were afraid... They were afraid there wouldn't be enough for themselves. They were afraid that by sharing what they had, they wouldn't have enough... Interestingly, sharing doesn't work that way. When people share, each one walks away better for the experience. Even when one person sets out to take advantage of another, lessons can be learned that better the future of everyone involved. The soldiers tricked the villagers into sharing... The soldiers tricked the villagers into loving. Love is a verb, an action word. Perhaps if we can each add a bit of our true selves to the soup of life, we could really make a delicious soup. Maybe soldiers could evolve from being "people who work together to kill other people" into "people who work together to trick people into loving each other"... I'm sure in some instances, that is exactly what our troops may be doing. I'm wearing red for those soldiers on Fridays... I'm hoping that in my little way, I can trick people into loving each other. "Many thanks to you," the people said, "for we shall never go hungry now that you have taught us how to make soup from stones!"
Credit portal How to get the correlation coefficient Pearson correlation is used to look at correlation between series. but being time series the correlation is looked at across different lags -- the cross-correlation function . The cross-correlation is impacted by dependence within-series, so in many cases the within-series dependence should be removed first. So to use this correlation, rather than smoothing the series, it's actually more common (because it's meaningful) to look at dependence between residuals - the rough part that's left over after a suitable model is found for the variables. You probably want to begin with some basic resources on time series models before delving into trying to figure out whether a Pearson correlation across (presumably) nonstationary, smoothed series is interpretable. In particular, you'll probably want to look into the phenomenon here. [In time series this is sometimes called spurious correlation. though the Wikipedia article on spurious correlation takes a narrow view on the use of the term in a way that would seem to exclude this use of the term.] e.g. see some discussions sjo/papers/LisbonPaper.pdf (the opening quote of Yule, in a paper presented in 1925 but published the following year, summarizes the problem quite well) (this shows that you can even get the problem between stationary series; hence the tendency to prewhiten) The classic reference of Yule, (1926) [1] mentioned above. You may also find the discussion here useful, as well as the discussion here Using Pearson correlation in a meaningful way between time series is difficult and sometimes surprisingly subtle. I looked up spurious correlation, but I don't care if my A series is the cause of my B series or vice versa. I only want to know if you can learn something about series A by looking at what series B is doing (or vice versa). In other words - do they have an correlation. Take note of my previous comment about the narrow use of the term spurious correlation in the Wikipedia article. The point about spurious correlation is that series can appear correlated, but the correlation itself is not meaningful. Consider two people tossing two distinct coins counting number of heads so far minus number of tails so far as the value of their series. (So if person 1 tosses $\text$ they have 3-1 = 2 for the value at the 4th time step, and their series goes $1, 0, 1, 2. $.) Obviously there's no connection whatever between the two series. Clearly neither can tell you the first thing about the other! But look at the sort of correlations you get between pairs of coins: If I didn't tell you what those were, and you took any pair of those series by themselves, those would be impressive correlations would they not? But they're all meaningless. Utterly spurious. None of the three pairs are really any more positively or negatively related to each other than any of the others -- its just cumulated noise. The spuriousness isn't just about prediction, the whole notion of of considering association between series without taking account of the within-series dependence is misplaced. All you have here is within-series dependence. There's no actual cross-series relation whatever. Once you deal properly with the issue that makes these series auto-dependent - they're all integrated (Bernoulli random walks ), so you need to difference them - the "apparent" association disappears (the largest absolute cross-series correlation of the three is 0.048). What that tells you is the truth -- the apparent association is a mere illusion caused by the dependence within-series. Your question asked "how to use Pearson correlation correctly with time series" -- so please understand: if there's within-series dependence and you don't deal with it first, you won't be using it correctly. Further, smoothing won't reduce the problem of serial dependence; quite the opposite -- it makes it even worse! Here are the correlations after smoothing (default loess smooth - of series vs index - performed in R): They all got further from 0. They're all still nothing but meaningless noise. though now it's smoothed, cumulated noise. [1]: Yule, G.U. (1926) "Why do we Sometimes get Nonsense-Correlations between Time-Series?" J.Roy.Stat.Soc.. 89. 1. pp. 1-63 Category: Forex Similar articles:
September 12, 2017 Sexual orientation from facial images This is hardly surprising, as there is an obvious evolutionary advantage for people being able to "read faces" not only for sexuality but also for various cognitive, moral, and personality traits (see, e.g., heroes and villains, wizards and simpletons are often portrayed stereotypically in art). Description: We show that faces contain much more information about sexual orientation than can be perceived and interpreted by the human brain. We used deep neural networks to extract features from 35,326 facial images. These features were entered into a logistic regression aimed at classifying sexual orientation. Given a single facial image, a classifier could correctly distinguish between gay and heterosexual men in 81% of cases, and in 74% of cases for women. Human judges achieved much lower accuracy: 61% for men and 54% for women. The accuracy of the algorithm increased to 91% and 83%, respectively, given five facial images per person. Facial features employed by the classifier included both fixed (e.g., nose shape) and transient facial features (e.g., grooming style). Consistent with the prenatal hormone theory of sexual orientation, gay men and women tended to have gender-atypical facial morphology, expression, and grooming styles. Prediction models aimed at gender alone allowed for detecting gay males with 57% accuracy and gay females with 58% accuracy. Those findings advance our understanding of the origins of sexual orientation and the limits of human perception. Additionally, given that companies and governments are increasingly using computer vision algorithms to detect people’s intimate traits, our findings expose a threat to the privacy and safety of gay men and women. August 07, 2017 Minoans and Mycenaeans It is great to finally see the first data from the most ancient Greeks (Mycenaeans) and also the Cretan Minoans: • Ancestrally. both Mycenaeans and Minoans were basically Mediterranean, well outside the variation of most Europeans and Near Easterners and >75% from early European-Anatolian farmers. • Phenotypically, they were dark-haired/eyed • They weren't pure Mediterraneans, but also partly "West_Asian". Bronze Age people from S.W. Anatolia were even more "West_Asian". • Mycenaeans also had some "Ancient North Eurasian" ancestry, which may have come from either the north or east of Greece. • Two Minoans and a Mycenaean were haplogroup J2, one Minoan was G. • One high-status Mycenaean female from Messenia was not different from the other three Mycenaeans. Modern Greeks from Greece are more "northern", more "European", and less "Mediterranean" than the Mycenaeans. Bust, Fst-wise Modern Greeks (and assorted neighbors) are still fairly close to Mycenaeans, more so than other people from Europe and the Middle East: Nature (2017) doi:10.1038/nature23310 Genetic origins of the Minoans and Mycenaeans The origins of the Bronze Age Minoan and Mycenaean cultures have puzzled archaeologists for more than a century. We have assembled genome-wide data from 19 ancient individuals, including Minoans from Crete, Mycenaeans from mainland Greece, and their eastern neighbours from southwestern Anatolia. Here we show that Minoans and Mycenaeans were genetically similar, having at least three-quarters of their ancestry from the first Neolithic farmers of western Anatolia and the Aegean1, 2, and most of the remainder from ancient populations related to those of the Caucasus3 and Iran4, 5. However, the Mycenaeans differed from Minoans in deriving additional ancestry from an ultimate source related to the hunter–gatherers of eastern Europe and Siberia6, 7, 8, introduced via a proximal source related to the inhabitants of either the Eurasian steppe1, 6, 9 or Armenia4, 9. Modern Greeks resemble the Mycenaeans, but with some additional dilution of the Early Neolithic ancestry. Our results support the idea of continuity but not isolation in the history of populations of the Aegean, before and after the time of its earliest civilizations. July 04, 2017 Deepest Neandertal mtDNA split (Denisovans, (Neandertals, Modern Humans)) June 08, 2017 Out of North Africa I had previously called Irhoud 1 "The Father of Mankind" and proposed a "two deserts" theory of human evolution whereby our species originated in North Africa, and was pumped out of it to both the Middle East (and especially Arabia, the 2nd desert) and Sub-Saharan Africa during periods of Saharan aridity. This Out-of-North Africa theory (together with the secondary Out-of-Arabia expansion ~70kya) is responsible for the spread of Homo sapiens around the world. April 21, 2017 Younger Dryas comet impact encoded in Göbekli Tepe? Fascinating if true. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 17, No 1, (2017), pp. 233-250 Martin B. Sweatman* and Dimitrios Tsikritsis Link (pdf) March 03, 2017 Incipient Mongoloids (or elusive Denisovans) 105-125kya in China? The authors claim that these archaic humans from China show parallels to both modern eastern Eurasians (Mongoloids) and to Neandertals. The relationship with the Neandertals makes them prime candidates for the elusive Denisovans who were a sister group to Neandertals but are morphologically unknown (since all we've got is a genome, teeth, and a pinky). The relationship with Mongoloids suggest an appearance of Mongoloid morphology pre-dating the transition to sapiens, and brings to mind past claims about incipient Caucasoid morphology in Neandertals. Did aspects of modern Eurasian morphology originate in pre-sapiens archaic Eurasians? Hopefully someone's studying DNA from these crania as we speak. Science 03 Mar 2017: Vol. 355, Issue 6328, pp. 969-972 DOI: 10.1126/science.aal2482 Late Pleistocene archaic human crania from Xuchang, China Zhan-Yang Li et al. February 25, 2017 Analytical thinking does not decrease religious belief January 18, 2017 Microagressions, debunked Perspectives on Psychological Science Vol 12, Issue 1, 2017 Microaggressions Strong Claims, Inadequate Evidence Scott O. Lilienfeld Dysgenic trend in educational attainment in Iceland PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.1612113114 Selection against variants in the genome associated with educational attainment Augustine Kong et al. January 01, 2017 Happy New Year 2017 August 06, 2016 China's Great Flood and the rise of the Xia dynasty From a related story: Massive flood may have led to China's earliest empire: Many cultures trace their origins to the hazy horizon where history meets legend. In China's case, that blurry line occurs sometime between 2200 B.C.E. and 2000 B.C.E., when a legendary hero named Yu tamed Yellow River flooding and earned a mandate to become the founding emperor of the Xia dynasty, the country's first. That’s the story according to texts written long after the fact, and many Chinese believe their civilization started with emperor Yu. But archaeologists have been unable to find convincing evidence for either the flood or the Xia dynasty itself. The massive flood “provides us with a tantalizing hint that the Xia dynasty might really have existed," says David Cohen, an archaeologist and co-author at National Taiwan University in Taipei. The devastating flood could have inundated settlements even a thousand or more kilometers downstream, he says, and created chaos from which a new political order emerged. This sequence of events neatly fits the legend of Yu controlling the flooding by dredging channels to confine the Yellow River and its tributaries. This feat, the ancient texts say, allowed him to claim a mandate as the first emperor of the Xia dynasty. The timing is curiously coincidental. Around 1900 B.C.E., Cohen says, Chinese society was transitioning from the Neolithic to the Bronze age. The date also correlates with what is called the Erlitou culture, which is known from palace buildings and bronze smelting workshops discovered near Zhengzhou, about 2500 kilometers downstream from Jishi Gorge. Many scholars have argued that Erlitou is a manifestation of the elusive Xia dynasty, but a link is not firmly established. Science 05 Aug 2016: Vol. 353, Issue 6299, pp. 579-582 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf0842 Qinglong Wu
A window represents the final destination where the application's rendered output gets displayed to the user. It has a title, size and a position. Window can cover the entirety of the user's screen (fullscreen mode) or just part of it (windowed mode). In Banshee a window is represented using the RenderWindow class. Render window Primary window When we initialized the application by calling Application::startUp in a previous chapter a primary window was created for us by default. You can access this window through Application::getPrimaryWindow(). SPtr<RenderWindow> primaryWindow = gApplication().getPrimaryWindow(); gApplication() is just a shortcut for Application::instance() we used earlier. Creating windows You can also create your own windows by filling out the RENDER_WINDOW_DESC structure and calling RenderWindow::create(). desc.videoMode = VideoMode(1280, 720); desc.fullscreen = false; desc.title = "Helper window". // Creates a new non-fullscreen window with size 1280x720, at the center of the screen SPtr<RenderWindow> newWindow = RenderWindow::create(desc); Destroying windows You can destroy a window by calling RenderWindow::destroy(). Do not destroy the primary window, as it will result in undefined behaviour. Manipulating windows Window size can be changed by calling RenderWindow::resize(). newWindow->resize(1920, 1080); And they can be moved by calling RenderWindow::move(). Movement is not relevant for windows in fullscreen mode. newWindow->move(0, 0); // Move to top right of the screen If you wish to switch from windowed to fullscreen mode call RenderWindow::setFullscreen(). newWindow->setFullscreen(VideoMode(1920, 1080)); And if you wish to switch from fullscreen to windowed call RenderWindow::setWindowed(). newWindow->setWindowed(1280, 720); Window properties You can access current properties of the window, like its size and position, by calling RenderWindow::getProperties, which returns a RenderWindowProperties object. For example let's print out current window's size: auto& props = newWindow->getProperties(); gDebug().logDebug(toString(props.getWidth()) + " x " + toString(props.getHeight())); Window events Sometimes you might want to be notified if the user resizes the window externally, in which case use the RenderWindow::onResized event. void notifyResized() gDebug().logDebug("Window was resized."); RenderWindow::onResized is an example of an event. They are explained later in the event manual. Video modes During window creation and calls to RenderWindow::setFullscreen we have seen the use of the VideoMode class. This class allows you to specify the resolution of the window, along with an optional refresh rate and output monitor (in case of multi-monitor setups, to choose on which monitor to show the window). You can create your own VideoMode with custom parameters (as we did so far), or you can query for all video modes supported by the user's GPU by calling RenderAPI::getVideoModeInfo(). This will return a VideoModeInfo object that contains information about all available monitors, their supported resolutions and refresh rates. An example on how to use the video mode enumeration to set a window to fullscreen mode using the user's desktop resolution of the primary monitor: VideoModeInfo videoModeInfo = RenderAPI::getVideoModeInfo(); VideoOutputInfo primaryMonitorInfo = videoModeInfo.getOutputInfo(0); // 0th monitor is always primary An example to make a window fullscreen on a secondary monitor if one is available: VideoModeInfo videoModeInfo = RenderAPI::getVideoModeInfo(); UINT32 numOutputs = videoModeInfo.getNumOutputs(); if(numOutputs > 1) VideoOutputInfo secondaryMonitorInfo = videoModeInfo.getOutputInfo(1); And an example how to enumerate and print all available resolutions on the primary monitor: VideoModeInfo videoModeInfo = RenderAPI::getVideoModeInfo(); VideoOutputInfo primaryMonitorInfo = videoModeInfo.getOutputInfo(0); UINT32 numVideoModes = primaryMonitorInfo.getNumVideoModes(); for (UINT32 i = 0; i < numVideoModes; i++) const VideoMode& curVideoMode = primaryMonitorInfo.getVideoMode(i); String videoModeString = toString(curVideoMode.getWidth()) + " x " + toString(curVideoMode.getHeight()) + " at " + toString(curVideoMode.getRefreshRate()) + "Hz";
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 Reversibility: Dollo's 'law' in development and evolution We recently posted on reports of the re-evolution of traits that had long been lost in evolutionary time. This seemed to violate Dollo's "law" that evolution was a one-way train that couldn't back up. When there are people in a population with or without a particular trait, say, eye color, and their children have a different version, we are not perplexed. Contingencies of gene expression or genotype or alleles (genetic variants) in the population can make this happen. Darwin tried to fit his idea of inheritance with these ideas, mainly by hand-waving. Now armed with concepts like multi-gene control and recessiveness of alleles, we have no problem understanding how these things happen. But there are reasons to think that true reversibility of complex traits can't often happen over evolutionary time. The basis of the argument is that too many genetic changes are required for a complex trait to be constructed and if the trait is 'erased' by mutation (and that is supported in the face of selection), then over time too many other genetic changes (mutations, gene duplications, other uses of genes, etc.) will make it impossible to back-track. From this point of view, the 'new' version of the trait is physically similar to the old, or to that in a widely distant species, but is due to selection for the same trait that happens to pick up different genes and alleles to get the job done. But if a pathway has been conserved because it's used for other things in the organism, it may be that simple genetic changes can reactivate that pathway in a context in which it was active long ago. There has been a similar kind of no-going-back dogma, a kind of Dollo's "law" in developmental genetics. Stem cells can differentiate into anything, but once that happens, the differentiated cells simply cannot go back to being stem cells. We now know that this is not accurate. Even a small number of genetic changes in experimental systems can restore various stem-cell states. This can happen even if the cell being manipulated is highly differentiated. Is this as surprising or inexplicable as reversals in evolution? The answer is that it is far less surprising, as a generality. With some few notable exceptions, all the cells in your body have the same genome. This means that while each cell is of a particular type largely because it uses a specific set, but not all, of the genes in the genome. There are, so to speak, 'blood' genes, 'stomach' genes, and so on. Gene expression is based on the physical packaging of chromosome regions and the presence of proteins specific to the cell type, that bind to DNA in regions near to, and that cause the expression of the specifically used genes. But since with few exceptions all the genes still exist in all cells, if one changed these regulatory traits (packaging and so on of DNA, presence of regulatory proteins), one could make the cell do something else. There may be too many changes in expression needed to make a stomach cell into a lung or muscle cell on its own, but we're looking at cells from the outside, and cells can be engineered to redifferentiate or dedifferentiate by experimentally imposing required sets of change. And in a sense it's why in some instances it only takes about 4 genes being manipulated to bring cells back to a very primitive stem cell type of state. Evolution is different, because once a species is committed to a particular direction, its genes themselves as well as their usage have changed, by virtue of mutation and frequency change induced by chance or natural selection. Thus, spiders and grasshoppers no longer have the same genes so that only the expression pattern would need to be changed to let spiders hop or grasshoppers spin webs. That is why evolution rarely truly reverses. Sometimes only a few changes would be needed, if basic pathways still exist but have been mutationally inactivated. On the other hand, most traits have many paths and most genes have many uses, so that there can be many different paths by which some absent trait--or its likeness!--can reappear. Natural selection and chance could activate some suitable set of genes to make this happen, and how likely it is depends on what environmental constraints are. And since many developmental genes are highly conserved over long time periods, there can easily be similarities in the genetic basis of reappearance. We know that some traits, such as complete vs incomplete metamorphosis in some species of amphibians (i.e., whether or not they go through a larval stage), or the pattern of ocelli (middle eyes) in insects, have re-evolved. And we know that some genes from mammals can induce similar effects even in insects, by replacing or over activating their corresponding insect gene. So, reversals are of many types due to many causes. How likely they are, and how genetically they are brought about, are statistical and context-specific questions. But there are no real mysteries about whether or not they are possible. No comments:
Saturday, December 4, 2010 Biggest Loser: entertainment education in the form of reality TV Dominating the health agenda, obesity has represented one of the United States’ priority health and behavior risk campaigns over the past several years. Whether or not the reality TV show Biggest Loser was designed to be a form of entertainment education, the fact is that it is acting as a platform to raise awareness about obesity. On the Biggest Loser, obese contestants compete to see who can lose the most weight in a given time period. Cameras follow contestants as they learn better eating habits, how to exercise and how to overcome emotional undercurrents of their eating behaviors. The show provides viewers with education about obesity and how to combat it, creating an entertainment education (E-E) program. As defined by Singhal and Rogers, E-E is a “strategy used to disseminate ideas to bring about behavioral and social change.”(1) The Biggest Loser gives the audience positive and negative role models, which illustrate behaviors that contribute to a healthy or unhealthy lifestyles. Viewers are able to identify their own behaviors, actions, and emotions as represented by the “characters” on the show and thus analyze how their own habits compare to the healthy/unhealthy models. Reality TV shows are wildly popular in the United States, as well as in the global TV market, as we discussed in class on Thursday. In a highly competitive, commercial TV market, reality shows enable social awareness campaigns to reach a vast audience. E-E brings these messages to people in a way that they may not recognize them as such, in part because entertainment is such a prevalent part of people’s daily lives. “Not only does the public consume more entertainment, it is becoming a more integral part of people’s shopping, traveling, eating, driving, exercising, and working experiences,” Singhal and Rogers write. “By adding the luster of entertainment to the relatively “duller” fields of health promotion, education, and development, E-E fits in well with the contemporary global trend to entertainmentization.”(2) In class we also discussed whether the nature of this program is truly altruistic in providing health information for the sake of health, or if it is another profit-driven program. Either way, the popular TV program is educating a nation, and a world with its international adaptations, that is increasingly obese. 1. Singhal, A. & Rogers, E.M. (2002) “A Theoretical Agenda for Entertainment Education.” Communalization Theory. 12(2): 117-135. 2. Ibid. 1. What is especially interesting about the Biggest Loser related to E-E campaigns, I think, is the enormous amount of viewer response to the program. Besides exercise gear and equipment, cookbooks, and DVDs, there is also a Biggest Loser Club in which members can track their own progress in dieting and weight loss. Although I do not entirely agree with the show's methods, one cannot deny the proactive "learning" effect it has produced among audiences. 2. I really enjoyed their presentation on the Biggest Loser. What was really interesting is not only how the show is a form of edutainment because of the health awareness it provides, but the connection between brands and this awareness. The group focused a large portion of their analysis on how companies spend large amounts of money to 'advertise' in the show. So not only are you learning that making a yogurt smoothie is a healthy alternative to an ice cream sandwich, but you are being sold on buying "Yoplait" yogurt smoothie mix in the process. The question then becomes, is this truly edutainment or just the shows shameless money-making way of framing advertisements as edutainment? 3. There's a lot of discussion of whether reality shows like the biggest loser and Big brother cause psychological consequences. Some groups touched upon this topic in class, but I was wondering what other people through about the issue. Reality shows always seemed like a gladiator spectacle, only instead of killing the opponents, we're entertained by their emotional torture. Why do we like watching people go through disturbing situations that disrupt their lives? Can we really say we've moved beyond Roman entertainment? 4. I think reality shows like The Biggest Loser and Big Brother play into a side of us that likes to see people, who are nothing like us, at their most human. We love to cheer on a struggling underdog to lose weight (plus society has some pretty hostile biases against anyone not resembling a toothpick), and we love to see catty fights because we know we'd 'never' do that. I think in both shows it gives the audience an inflated sense that we're so much better than they are. Honestly though, people have always been weird about observing others' pain--just look at a history of public executions or the gossipy nature of high society that could easily destroy someone's livelihood 200 years ago.
Thursday, 9 May 2013 CALCULUS !! Backbone of Higher Mathematics In day to day life we are often interested in the extent to which a change in one quantity aects a change in another related quantity. This is called a rate of change. For example, if you own a motor car you might be interested in how much a change in the amount of fuel used aects how far you have traveled This rate of change is called fuel consumption. If your car has high fuel consumption then a large change in the amount of fuel in your tank is accompanied by a small change in the distance you have traveled Sprinters are interested in how a change in time is related to a change in their position. This rate of change is called velocity. Other rates of change may not have special names like fuel consumption or velocity, but are nonetheless important. Thus in layman’s language Calculus is the mathematical study of change,[1] in the same way that geometry is the study of shape and algebra is the study of operations and their application to solving equations. Origins of Calculus- The discovery of calculus is often attributed to two men, Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, who independently developed its foundations. Although they both were instrumental in its creation, they thought of the fundamental concepts in very different ways. While Newton considered variables changing with time, Leibniz thought of the variables x and y as ranging over sequences of infinitely close values. He introduced dx and dy as differences between successive values of these sequences. Leibniz knew that dy/dx gives the tangent but he did not use it as a defining property. On the other hand, Newton used quantities x' and y', which were finite quantities, to compute the tangent. Of course neither Leibniz nor Newton thought in terms of functions, but both always thought in terms of graphs. For Newton the calculus was geometrical while Leibniz took it towards analysis. The development of Calculus can roughly be described along a timeline which goes through three periods: Anticipation, Development, and Rigorization. In the Anticipation stage techniques were being used by mathematicians that involved infinite processes to find areas under curves or maximize certain quantities. In the Development stage Newton and Leibniz created the foundations of Calculus and brought all of these techniques together under the umbrella of the derivative and integral. However, their methods were not always logically sound, and it took mathematicians a long time during the Rigorization stage to justify them and put Calculus on a sound mathematical foundation. Applications of Calculus- You can look at differential calculus as the mathematics of motion and change. Integral calculus covers the accumulation of quantities, such as areas under a curve. The two ideas work inversely together. Calculus is deeply integrated in every branch of the physical sciences, such as physics and biology. It is found in computer science, statistics, and engineering; in economics, business, and medicine. Modern developments such as architecture, aviation, and other technologies all make use of what calculus can offer. Finding the Slope of a Curve Calculus can give us a generalized method of finding the slope of a curve. The slope of a line is fairly elementary, using some basic algebra it can be found. Although when we are dealing with a curve it is a different story. Calculus allows us to find out how steeply a curve will tilt at any given time. This can be very useful in any area of study. Calculating the Area of Any Shape Although we do have standard methods to calculate the area of some shapes, calculus allows us to do much more. Trying to find the area on a shape like this would be very difficult if it wasn't for calculus. Calculating Complicated X-intercepts Without an idea like the Intermediate Value Theorem it would be exceptionally hard to find or even know that a root existed in some functions. Using Newton’s Method you can also calculate an irrational root to any degree of accuracy, something your calculator would not be able to tell you if it wasn't for calculus. Visualizing Graphs Using calculus you can practically graph any function or equation you would like. In fact you can find out the maximum and minimum values, where it increases and decreases and much more without even graphing a point, all using calculus. Finding the Average of a Function A function can represent many things. One example is the path of an airplane. Using calculus you can calculate its average cruising altitude, velocity and acceleration. Same goes for a car, bus, or anything else that moves along a path. Now what would you do without a speedometer on your car? Calculating Optimal Values By using the optimization of functions in just a few steps you can answer very practical and useful questions such as: “You have square piece of cardboard, with sides 1 meter in length. Using that piece of card board, you can make a box, what are the dimensions of a box containing the maximal volume?” These types of problems are a wonderful result of what calculus can do for us. - Ishan Arora ( Childhood friend ) No comments: Post a Comment
The Dangers of Antibiotics By Vicki Santillano, DivineCaroline In the 1930s, a discovery was made that changed the medical world and our entire lives as a result. Sulfa drugs were unleashed as successful combatants against harmful bacteria, and the following decade, penicillin was developed to do the same. With these power antibiotics at their disposal, doctors were able to treat illnesses that had previously confounded them. Fast-forward to many years later, when antibiotics of all kinds are now the go-to prescription for just about every illness. At this point, our reliance on them is more like abuse. Antibiotics are used all too commonly–most egregiously, for diseases they can’t even treat–and that’s resulting in their overall ineffectiveness. Not only does such frequent pill popping cause relatively unknown side effects, but it can become deadly on a global level if it continues unabated. What They’re Really Good For Antibiotics have prevented countless deaths since their creation, but even too much of a good thing can have disastrous results. The worst part is that most people, including some in the medical industry, aren’t fully aware of the problem. In March 2009, pharmacies around the U.S. gave away free antibiotics to promote health in cash-strapped times. Luckily, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stepped in and advised people against treating antibiotics like all-purpose medicine or, even worse, taking them like multivitamins. Therein lies the biggest problem with antibiotics overuse–people think of them as wonder drugs that can heal anything. But they’re effective only against bacteria, so if someone has an ear infection, tuberculosis, or other bacterial infection, an antibiotic prescription makes sense. Antibiotics don’t have any effect on viral illnesses, which include colds and flu. Unfortunately, this fact has been lost in a sea of misinformation. A survey that Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network conducted from 1998 to 1999 found that 32 percent of the population believed antibiotics should be taken for colds. Over half of those surveyed were unaware of any potential risks associated with them. But consumers aren’t the only ones perpetuating the myth–in 2001, over 31 percent of antibiotic prescriptions were for colds or sore throats. A Newly Discovered Side Effect Taking antibiotics isn’t always an easy process, especially for those especially sensitive to medication. Feeling nauseated or actually throwing up is fairly common when someone’s taking the pills, as are diarrhea and skin issues. Kidney stone development, an increased reaction to sunlight, and blood clot formations are much rarer but can occur, depending on the type of antibiotic prescribed. But a recent study suggests that there are even more dangerous side effects to worry about. The study, sponsored by the CDC and published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, targeted a group of pregnant women. Researchers found that those with babies who had birth defects had a higher incidence of taking two types of antibiotics (sulfa drugs and nitrofurantoins) for urinary tract infections than mothers with unaffected babies did. The mothers taking sulfa drugs tended to have babies with weak hearts and brain illnesses, as well as smaller-than-average arms and legs. Nitrofurantoins were linked to heart issues and cleft palates. When Medicine Gets Deadly Even if the really serious side effects are isolated to small parts of the population, antibiotics’ increasing ineffectiveness is a problem that impacts all of us. Antibiotics work by flushing out all bacteria–including the good kind that keeps us healthy, which is another big problem–out of our systems to get rid of the infection. But when they don’t eradicate all of the bad kind, it results in hyper-resistant bacteria that require a stronger form of antibiotics. These superbugs leave scientists scrambling to create new and more potent treatments, but the overuse of antibiotics leaves them with very little to work with anymore. Now there are a multitude of bacterial strains that no existing antibiotic can treat. It’s such a widespread problem that Dr. Perry Hookman, a gastroenterologist who teaches at the University of Miami, called it a “global threat” in an interview with The New York Times. Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile, is an example of this issue. The rates of C. difficile, once confined mostly to hospitals and other health care facilities, have risen drastically this decade, and the strain’s deadlier than ever. It’s actually brought on in part by antibiotic use–the drugs kill off the beneficial bacteria in our guts, making way for C. difficile to take root. Even after treatment–which is another round of antibiotics–some patients continue showing symptoms. An estimated 20 percent of affected people will get sick all over again later. The Global Implications The indiscriminate use of antibiotics extends beyond humans–they’re even used to treat and prevent diseases in animals. So even if we use antibiotics wisely, there’s a chance we’ll still be overexposed if we consume animal products. The best course of action is education. People need to learn not only about what antibiotics can and can’t do, but about alternative treatments as well. If we keep abusing antibiotics, eventually we’ll be out of solutions for all bacterial infections, and then a cold or a sore throat will be the least of our worries. This doesn’t mean that antibiotics don’t have their place in medicine; in some cases, their improvement to our well-being has been immeasurable. But in order to keep it that way, we need to understand and respect their limits. As the old saying goes, everything in moderation–even when it’s something as helpful as medicine. Andrea A. Andrea A.3 years ago if you look at the has Anti and biotic..which means..anti would you take pills that say anti life?? noo thanks..i do fine without them i use natural antibiotics that dont destroy good bacteria and its natural not synthetic.face it our bodies do not know what to do with synthetic natural.i will not put crap in my body. Robert O. Robert O6 years ago King Jack Past Member 7 years ago This is Tracy Schaal Tracy Schaal7 years ago Didn't know they killed the good bacteria along with the bad! thanks for educating me! :o) Janice D. Janice D7 years ago Antibiotics (note the anti in front) deplete the body's immune system making it extremely hard to fight any infection after use. They do certainly kill the good along with the bad. They should only be taken if and when absolutely necessary and followed with probiotics. Gigi Viloria Gigi Viloria7 years ago Daiva G. Daiva G7 years ago yes, i agree, oregano oil, GSE, garlic, etc, are much better. Also it is very important to take probiotics after. My favorite brand is "Rainbow light" and store, u can use discount code MEK779 Eileen Conrod Eileen Conrod7 years ago I think the natural way is better,thats why God put the plants on earth for us to use .I believe synthetic antibiotics cause lots of problems to the immune system . GreenseasKat C. kathryn cook7 years ago grt post ty Linda J. Linda J7 years ago I like vitamin c and garlic...lots of tea also
One example of a common identity theft scam is "phishing." In a phishing scam, identity thieves pose as representatives of legitimate businesses or government agencies and send out e-mails designed to trick unsuspecting individuals into divulging personal information. Oftentimes, these e-mails inform the recipients that there is some problem with their account and directs them to an official looking website where they are asked to enter information such as a Social Security number or credit card number in order to fix the problem.
Glia River Internment Camp Butte, Arizona Zenimura Field In the Fall of 1942, 13,368 Japanese-Americans were incarcerated at Gila River, Arizona. Buildings were designed with double roofs to help ventilate the extreme and intense desert heat. Sheets were shredded and used to stuff the floor cracks due to the harsh wind storms and the clouds of dust that would enter the rooms. On the exterior of the housing units, reflective white sheet rock was also used to reduce the searing heat. Kenichi Zenimura, Captain, Coach, Manager of the Fresno Athletic Club, recruits players from the camp to help build his third and final baseball diamond. In 1920, he built the Japanese ballpark located next to the City dump in Fresno, California. In 1941, at the Fresno Assembly Center, he designed and built a ball field. Players and volunteers from block 39 and mostly block 28, help construct America’s finest internment baseball diamond, located at the Butte, Arizona desert camp. A water line located in the laundry room of block 28 was extended almost three hundred feet outside of the barbed wire fence of the camp compound to water the Bermuda grass planted in the outfield. A irrigation ditch was diverted from the main canal to water the castor bean shrubs that would grow to over eight feet surrounding the outfield of the ballpark. Large clods and pebbles were screened out of the rocky infield and used in the dugout and stands area of the diamond to cut down on the dust. Every other ‘4x6’ wooden pole to anchor the barbed wire fence and surplus wood from the lumber yard became part of the backstop and grandstand for seating. Huge sections of cement padding material was draped over the dugouts and backstops for shade and reinforcement. Flour was used to chalk the foul lines of the field and special sections were marked in the stands for exclusive seating. Collection cans were at each entrance leading to the stadium for admission and a hat was past around during the game to offset equipment costs. What was once sagebrush and desert sand had now been transformed into a magnificent, ‘Zenimura Field.’ Once the field was complete, Zenimura organized three divisions and 32 teams. The camp high school team was undefeated, even playing the state champions of Tucson, and wining 11-10 in extra innings. The ‘A’ division men’s squad even traveled to Heart Mountain Wyoming and Amache, Colorado for a baseball road trip. In a major ‘A’ league game, 4,000 to 6,000 fans would line up all around the field to cheer on their favorite team. One man even had his private zoo collection of desert critters on display. For Japanese-Americans interned during World War II, playing, watching and supporting baseball behind barbed wire brought a sense of normalcy, created a social and positive atmosphere, fostered the skill level year round for the athletes and helped maintain their self-esteem despite the harsh conditions of desert life and unconstitutional incarceration. In Zenimura’s world, life brought a desert...and he built a “Diamond in the Rough.” Return to NBRP Home Page
What is preventive dentistry? Is prevention possible? Yes. With modern dentistry and constant new developments, it is possible to prevent or considerably reduce dental disease. Can everybody benefit from preventive dentistry? Yes. Preventive dentistry will benefit anyone with some of their own teeth. People who don’t have any teeth can also benefit because conditions such as mouth cancer and denture stomatitis can be identified and treated during regular visits to the dentist. It is excellent for children and young people, but it is never too late to start. It includes endodontics, crowns, fixed and semi-fixed bridgework and operative procedures for the restoration and replacement of teeth” whether supported by natural abutments or implants. Conservative restoration of the tooth and root canal treatment are two main cores performed as part of Conservative Dentistry. It aims to recover the functions of teeth and enhance the general health and welfare of the patient.
Related to masking: Sound masking 1. Physiology The concealment or screening of one sensory process or sensation by another. 2. A piece of theatrical scenery used to conceal a part of the stage from the audience. 1. the act or practice of masking 2. (Psychology) psychol the process by which a stimulus (usually visual or auditory) is obscured by the presence of another almost simultaneous stimulus (ˈmæs kɪŋ, ˈmɑ skɪŋ) 2. obscuring or blocking one sensory process by another. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun1.masking - the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of itmasking - the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it; "the cover concealed their guns from enemy aircraft" concealing, hiding, concealment - the activity of keeping something secret 2.masking - the blocking of one sensation resulting from the presence of another sensation; "he studied auditory masking by pure tones" aesthesis, esthesis, sensation, sense datum, sense experience, sense impression - an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation; "a sensation of touch" 3.masking - scenery used to block the audience's view of parts of the stage that should not be seenmasking - scenery used to block the audience's view of parts of the stage that should not be seen References in classic literature ? So Brydon, before him, took him in; with every fact of him now, in the higher light, hard and acute - his planted stillness, his vivid truth, his grizzled bent head and white masking hands, his queer actuality of evening-dress, of dangling double eye-glass, of gleaming silk lappet and white linen, of pearl button and gold watch-guard and polished shoe. 77] The portraits of actors and other theatrical celebrities range from Elizabeth, from the melodramatic costumes and faces of the contemporaries of Shakespeare, to the conventional costumes, the rotund expression, of the age of the Georges, masking a power of imaginative impersonation probably unknown in Shakespeare's day. Thus it is always with those in the high places, ever temporising with their natural desires, ever masking their ordinariness under a show of disinterest. There 's precious little masking nowadays; wish there was a little more sometimes," added Tom, thinking of several blooming damsels whose beseeching eyes had begged him not to leave them to wither on the parent stem. Audiologists avoid this error by expert use of masking. In the preface to Masks and Masking the authors observe that their first efforts to write a book on masks came to involve "researching the entire history of medieval theatre, festivity, pageantry, and folk custom" (xi).
Thursday, 23 June 2016 The Extraordinary Gift of the Mind:Part-4 Continued from Part-3 13. Learning The Mind can form new structures and new programs via interactions with its environment. Learning is a result of action and perception engraving new structures in the Mind. Learning results in new knowledge, and also affects subsequent actions and perceptions. Learning happens all the time, conscious/deliberate or unconscious/automatic. Better learning takes place if a particular experience is repeated frequently, because repetition strengthens the mental structures. Impermanence ensures that less frequent exposures erase the impressions and knowledge formed, if any (aka Forgetting). All experiences result in some kind of learning, however, novel experiences cause more learning, obviously. When there are no structures, everything will tend to form a structure, and that becomes the base. When a baby is born, all his experiences are novel and an immense amount of learning happens, most of which is automatic. So now we can appreciate why it is necessary to learn things at an young age that cause positive outcomes. The experiences gained in childhood form a foundation, and that can result in anything from a sage to a criminal [1]. The auto-learning fades with time, everything gets old and eventually learning almost halts in old age. We have discussed learning before on the topic of programs. The kind of learning we are going to discuss here will be deliberate learning, and that’s what I mean by this term henceforth. Auto-learning is not fool-proof, it sometimes causes false/partial knowledge and forms beliefs. At some point one must step in and intervene in the process, make it more conscious and more aligned to one’s path. When we learn deliberately, we can ensure that the knowledge we gain will be of some use, and will result in happiness and freedom rather than suffering. There is a choice in what one can deliberately learn. This is important because you do not want to waste your time in learning useless things. Learning takes resources and time, so it must be optimized. We will leave aside the question of learning skills that are related to mere survival, so choose anything that you are interested in and that which facilitates your journey, not hinder it. So what is there to learn? Simply speaking, learn that which you lack. For example, if you suffer from a short attention span, it’s the thing you lack and there is your opportunity to learn it, improve it. Learning starts with attention, as we have already seen. So that needs to be sharpened before one can start learning something non-trivial. I recommend making a list of your shortcomings that are causing hindrances on your path and tackle them one or many at a time, whatever works. Prioritizing helps to weed out things that are less important. For example learning to dance or to play an instrument (can take years) should be of a lower priority than learning to control your anger or fear. The former will only amuse you while the latter will liberate you from suffering. Similarly, learning a dead foreign language is less useful for your survival than learning a programming language. Learning depends on interest and if you are not interested in something (even if you know you lack it), then you will not pay attention to it and learning will not happen. Secondly, learning involves repetition, it takes time, and it is necessary to devote time. Not having time for self-improvement means that there will be no improvement. A teacher or books are very helpful, however the information gained from them needs to be converted into experience in order for the learning to take place, else you merely become a storage medium for information. Intellectual storage of information does not change one's behaviours or abilities. Journey towards the Self is mostly a process of unlearning rather than learning. It is a deductive process. Knowledge acquisition causes dimming of the light of the Self, unlearning or destroying knowledge results in unveiling of the Self. So why learn? What happens is - learning provides tools to complete the partial knowledge and to weed out beliefs and unwanted programming, which helps in the unveiling. The whole mega-structure of the knowledge is then pushed aside and the Self shines brightly, un-occluded by the Mind. There is no going back from here. Now you can freely switch from the Self or the Mind or the body into each other without losing your marbles. This is freedom, this is Liberation. You could simply destroy all knowledge (if it is at all possible), but then you’d simply become pure Presence again. The Experiencing never stops, so the Fundamental Process kicks in again, knowledge builds up quickly, and you are back to the square one. Moreover now you have destroyed the valuable knowledge and skills gained so far, which could have easily unveiled the Self and settled you into equanimity. In effect, you have totally ruined the process of self-discovery [2]. Not fun. The overcoming of the knowledge must be done using knowledge, this is the trick [3]. 14. Logic and reasoning Being essentially algorithmic, the Mind naturally has the ability to perform logical operations and can process inputs in a rational manner. Performing logical tasks involve clearly defining meanings, rules and assumptions, premises and propositions, hypotheses and theories, defining the relations between entities, and drawing valid, verifiable, falsifiable and consistent conclusions [4]. It is debatable if everyone has perfect logical ability built in, but everyone generally can “see” the logic when explained. This shouldn’t be a surprise because understanding (as discussed before) is based on logic and reasoning. The Mind has a natural tendency to understand, given its primary task is creation of knowledge and understanding. Rational thinking is one of the greatest achievements of human mind. All mathematics and sciences are a result of it. Sound logic is the foundation of mathematics and sciences. There should be no doubt that logic is of utmost importance in the study of the Self too. Without logic and reasoning, we are destined to be lost in the never-never land of the Self and the Mind. Logic is like a bright torch that shows us the way. Adopt logic and discard the illogical. That said, logic and reasoning has some limitations (because the Mind is limited), and mere logic cannot provide you any knowledge. As we have seen before, and I’m not tired of repeating it again and again, knowledge only comes from experience. What logical ability can do is, it helps us to organize the knowledge and provide clear and consistent understanding of the matter under scrutiny, that’s all it does. But that’s of immense importance, because without understanding, there is really no value of knowledge. Once there is an experience, it is organized into structures called knowledge by the Fundamental Process, which being evolutionary in nature, produces algorithmic structures. So logic is embedded into the fabric of the Mind. Its no surprise that electronic logic circuits can perform the same logical tasks that we can, they are essentially the same. The physical world is also a product of the Fundamental Process, and is very well organized with clear rules. We study these rules under Physics, and again, not surprisingly, the physical rules are logical and algorithmic (mathematical) in nature, just like the Mind (especially the rules of macro world, a statistical result of probabilistic micro world). So that answers the age old questions like – Why human minds are capable of logical reasoning? And why does physical world conform so nicely with mathematical models? Well, they are essentially the same ! Fractals : Purely mathematical structures that look like physical ones. The Mind does a good job of creating understanding using its built in logic, but when the knowledge is partial, it tends to make errors and forms beliefs instead, that totally fail the test of validity and consistency. Sometimes the survival related programs get hold of it all and produce a totally illogical result, however, it is only apparently so. Mind never makes a mistake, it does perfectly the thing that must be done. So if it thinks that it is more important to preserve itself (or the body), it produces perfectly logical results that are consistent with the survival issue it is facing. For example, buying a lottery ticket is an irrational act, borderline stupidity, given the odds of winning. So why do people buy the tickets? Mind, being logical like a computer, should instantly spit out the result that the odds are negligible, and should abort that act, but it doesn’t do that, if left to itself. What the Mind is doing here is answering the question – “Do you want money or not, a million of it?”, instead of answering the question – “What are the odds of winning here and should I go and work hard to earn instead?”. The logical answer to the question (first one) is of course yes, and so the act follows. The person thinks that what he is doing is optimal, when in fact, his mind is in grip of a survival program, of which he is totally unaware of. Another example that is more social than mathematical is as follows. Many people (usually young ones) prefer to marry a beautiful person instead of a compatible person. Sounds like an illogical decision. Yes, it is, but that is not because the Mind is not working logically, it is because the Mind is processing a survival instinct (aka program), and it is doing it logically, it can’t do it in any other way. What happens is that, physical beauty, being an indicator of good genetic makeup free from diseases and flaws, an indicator of perfect health, is being perceived as a good chance of reproduction and eventual survival of the offspring. This program, as you can guess, is deeply buried in the Mind. It is a result of millions of years of experience with what works best. Beauty is a reflection of perfection in our minds. Therefore it is perfectly logical for the Mind to go for it. Of course, it may not result in a happy married life, because that was not the concern of the Mind, it gave a 100% weightage to survival. Ah, so where is the trouble then? The trouble is that one is not engaging his logical ability consciously, and the programs in the Mind get a free reign. Again, we see the importance of being conscious and aware. Mere logical ability is of not much use, it has to be aligned with your goals, your path. A perfectly logical decision is not a guarantee of perfect happiness or freedom. Once you define your goals clearly, and impress them on the Mind, the Mind, like a good servant provides you with a consistent and logical answer. Garbage in = garbage out, even if your Mind is a perfect computer. ― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Man is a rational animal, is an old saying, but we hardly see the rationality in the world around us. We see the world is in a mess that makes no sense. Even those who apply logic very strictly, such as military organizations, or corporations, end up causing great harm. The reason is – logic here is in the service of ignorance. The same logical processes when applied for positive goals would make the world a wonderful place to live in. This provides an answer to the age old dilemma – whether science (a product of logic) is a boon or a curse. So we need a meta-logic over the plain logic to decide what is good. It is the logic of the Self, if you will, which is greater happiness and freedom. When initialized with these parameters, the Mind produces right answers. "Nothing is more dangerous than strict logic—which is not quite sure of its premises." ~Woods Hutchinson, A.M., M.D. (1862–1930), Civilization and Health, "Chapter I: The Diseases of Civilization," 1914 What happens if one does not use logic in his path towards knowledge? The results are often fatal, one regresses in his path instead of progressing. Yes, the goal is now perfectly logical, but may be you are using no logic to reach there. For example, some people, while they correctly set the goal for greater knowledge, fall into the trap of rituals, believing that the rituals or magic sounds etc are going to bring them knowledge. It is a case of failure to apply logic. One must understand, first and foremost, what knowledge is needed exactly. Then what ways are possible to get it, what experiences will provide it, and what reasonable experiments can be arranged to get that experience. The results, when analysed and seen logically should be consistent and verifiable, else your process does not work. It may feel good for a while, but soon you will lapse into suffering. People do not do it, simply because it is too much work. It is a hard task to learn to think logically and clearly, to learn the skill of Critical Thinking and to apply it in one’s practice. It is easy to believe in a ritual and perform it mindlessly [5]. It is a must that one sharpens the skill of logical and rational thinking, seeing clearly its benefits and its limitations. Build up a meta-logic to govern the goal-less process of pure logic, and give it a direction that is aligned with your path. Question everything and put everything under the strict regime of logic. Draw your conclusions and test them, then test them again. Find errors and correct them, till you reach a solid place. Stand on the solidity, and reach out to the unknown again from there, rinse and repeat, and you are then assured of reaching your goal. There is no other way, there is no magic, there is just hard work, experiment-conclude-learn-repeat. This is a hard science. If you are serious about it, learn the basics of knowledge acquisition, that is, deliberate, conscious, logical organization of experiences [6]. I can assure you that your progress will be superfast. Once the premise is set, new statements can be derived from it via logical operations. For example, one can say if a certain statement is true or false, or in other words, if it is logically consistent. No matter how you look at it, or arrive at it, it will hold (or will not hold, if false). This is the logical Truth. It is undeniable given the premise. There is no other truth that I know of. Isn’t it "true" if it is my experience? No, it is just an experience, a premise, if you state something based on that, then you can evaluate that statement in terms of true or false. It is absurd to call an experience as true or false, it just is, it forms the basis from which true or false statements can be derived. ― Voltaire The funny thing is that one can set any premise – e.g. one based on experience, or imaginary, or impossible, and then can built up any number of true and false statements about it. For example, when a number system is defined, and the operations on it are defined, then one can derive the entire arithmetic from it. You can define an imaginary system, and can still derive totally meaningful true statements. These need not correspond to any of human experiences. The whole mathematics is nothing but such statements, some based in experience and most not. For example, a 5 dimensional space can be defined and perfectly true statements can be made about it, but such as space is not in one’s experience. Experience form the foundation of true statements, they are not truth themselves. If you need to know how consistent an experience is (in other words, is it true or not), then the consistency must be evaluated from some other premise, not the experience itself. If you try to do that, you will end up with absurdity or infinitely self-referential statements that go nowhere, make no sense, and are beyond logic. For example the famous statement – Let S be a statement such that, S = “This statement is false”. Now it is impossible to conclude if S is really false, because if it is true then it is false and vice versa. It is referring to itself. What are some other things that refer to themselves? That will be a good question to ponder on if you need to kill some time. If you define something that never changes as the truth, then everything that changes becomes false, that is - not consistent with your definition. Some wise men define the Self as the only truth, because it is the only thing that doesn’t change, it is outside the Experiencing, the latter is just another name for the change. At some point the notion of truth loses its value, and things must be experienced as they are. The Presence does not care about truths, nor does the Self. Experiencing is not concerned with generating “true experiences”, there is no such condition there, it does whatever comes out of necessity, which is seen as the Fundamental Process by the Mind. The Mind is concerned with the truth, because it needs to organize knowledge consistently. An inconsistent structure, is no structure, it falls before it is formed. Whatever the Experiencing does outside the limited scope of the Mind, is the great unknowable, and no true or false statements can be made about that, no questions can be asked, because it never becomes an experience. Reality is a term that is often used as a synonym for the truth. So the generally asked question is – What is real? What is the reality? It should be clear by now from above discussion. It is not a very useful question. Define something real and it becomes that, then go on adding things that you want to call real to your concept of reality. Does it make any sense? It means the number of realities can be equal to current human population. What does it do? Well, if it does do anything for you then go ahead, create your own reality, it seems that is in fashion these days. In my experience, all it does is form beliefs. Beliefs that are now wearing the mask of knowledge. I’ve learned not to ask such questions, and take the experiences as they are, if they are useful, use them. Arguing about the reality is a waste of time. “Reality is frequently inaccurate.” ― Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe [1] Parents please take notice, babies are not there for fun. Bringing up a child is the most responsible thing that a parent is ever going to do in his life. Period. People do not know the immensity of it all. Fortunately it is not compulsory to reproduce and a sane person will not do so if he has chosen a superfast lane on the road to freedom. So the obvious question is – Will it stop you from achieving your goal if you choose to have a family and kids? Not necessarily, but perhaps it will delay it. Oops... I already got babies, now what? Don’t be so serious. If you are on the right path you will know what to do. (More on that later). Right now, I’m very thankful to all those who are taking great pains to keep the human species alive. [2] This explains why suicide is not a shortcut to liberation. It cuts short the process and is like pressing a reset button. Ancient sages have labelled suicide as the greatest sin one can commit, greater than murdering other humans and animals (Does killing for food and self-defense make these actions not a sin? It is debatable, remember there are always consequences.) So I’m sorry to say there is no free lunch. Stay alive and continue with your practice. [3] And this is the purpose of the Mind, and having a human experience in a physical body. If you insist on finding a purpose for it all, here is the answer. But I’m sure this answer does not satisfy, it brings up more questions. Perhaps there is something wrong in the question itself. Try not to think about everything as necessarily having a purpose. More on that later. [4] Going into details of what logic is, is beyond my pay grade. So I recommend good books (they will be heavy). Internet is a good option for a quick glance, e.g. [5] I’m not against rituals and this is only an example. Those who know what a ritual is, will understand its significance, because it can be very useful, but only if you know what it is, and are not merely performing it like a robot. [6] The Scientific Method is one such possibility. . Note that there are no absolute truths in Science, only derived logical Truths, that are derived from theories or models. If someone tells you that a thing is true according to science, then probably he has no idea what science is. Can there be other methods of investigation? Can there be more refined and better methods? No comments: Post a Comment
Which countries became at least half urban the fastest? It's been a few years since the majority of the world's population shifted to cities. But, of course, this urban majority didn't all happen at once. A new report out from the Asian Development Bank has a special chapter on "Green Urbanization in Asia." While there's a lot of interesting information there, one chart stood out. As you can see below, this chart tracks the time it has taken for the populations of various parts of the world to go from roughly 10 percent urban to 50 percent urban. Not every place on this chart has actually crossed the threshold; not yet, anyway. Asia and the Pacific region, for example, won't reach an urban majority until 2025. For those places that haven't yet made it, they will soon. (The original chart had some inaccurate bar lengths and dates, but we've gone in and fixed those mistakes.) Source: Asian Development Bank, Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012, modified by The Atlantic Cities. Below, we've ranked each of the countries and regions in this chart by how quickly they've passed the 50 percent mark, and included the year it happened or will. Country Time to Urban Majority Year Bhutan 55 years 2035 Laos 60 years 2030 China 61 years 2011 Indonesia 65 years 2015 Vietnam 90 years 2020 Asia and the Pacific 95 years 2025 North America 105 years 1930 Europe 150 years 1950 Latin America and the Caribbean 210 years 1960 Photo credit: Bobby Yip/Reuters About the Author Most Popular 2. Stuff A Minimalist Poster of All the Subway Systems in the World 3. Equity What the New Urban Anchors Owe Their Cities 4. Transportation Why Are Little Kids in Japan So Independent? Bike Share, Unplanned
Best Management Practices to Consider Rain Garden A rain garden (or bioretention area) is essentially a vegetated sand filter, and is designed so it quickly dries after rain events. They are a depression in the landscape (usually 3 to 9 inches deep), to which runoff is directed to be stored and infiltrate into the soil. A typical rain garden will not have ponded water for more than 12 hours. Rain gardens are typically planted with a combination of native trees, shrubs and perennials and then mulched. These devices are nothing new and date back hundreds of years. Cisterns are tanks that range in size and are used to capture and store rainwater primarily coming off roofs. The cistern is part of a larger system, consisting of gutter diversions, outlet lines, and often a pump. Rainwater captured in cisterns can be used for irrigation, flushing toilets, and washing your car.
Designing Interface Animation December 19, 2016 This is a sample chapter from Val Head’s new book Designing Interface Animation: Meaningful Motion for User Experience. 2016 Rosenfeld Media. Chapter 3: Modern Principles of Interactive Animation Designing Interface AnimationThe classic principles of animation teach us so much about creating natural and pleasing animation, but they fall short in guiding us in one particular area: interactive animations. It’s not their fault, of course, because they were written for a different era of animation when interaction wasn’t a thing to consider. Designing interactive animation—which interface animations often are—requires approaching animation just a little differently and working with a different set of rules for behavior. The way your animations behave during an interaction affects how your users perceive them just as much as how they look. The core of what the 12 principles cover still applies to your work, but you also have to consider the interactive context of your work. Your work won’t just be watched in the classic definition of animation—like feature films and cartoons—it will be interacted with, too. And that means you have to consider factors beyond the classic principles—or any other motion graphics techniques—when designing quality interface animations. This chapter covers the principles of interactive animation: the factors that ensure that animations work with the expectations that come with interaction, not against them. Sponsor Advertisement Continue Reading… Interactive animation is judged both on how it behaves or responds as well as how it looks. The following principles of interactive animation are guidelines for designing animations that will always work with your users and never get in their way. Have a Known Purpose The very first rule of interface animation is that all interface animations must have a purpose for being there. The purpose of a particular animation might be drawn from the UX issue it’s intended to help solve, such as, to draw the user’s eye to the change in the item’s status. An animation’s purpose can be as simple as to communicate the mood and personality of your brand. The only purpose I’d say isn’t allowed is delight all on its own. Delight isn’t something that can be created by animation alone. An animation that you add solely to increase delight usually does exactly the opposite from the user’s perspective. All UI animations need to have a defined purpose tied to a design outcome. (Part II of this book covers how to identify an animation’s purpose in detail.) If it can’t be justified in terms of a design goal, it’s probably not worth having there at all. Don’t Create Obstacles Animation shouldn’t get in the way of your user accomplishing the task at hand. Of course, you would never intentionally make it more difficult for your users to complete a given task, but it’s easy to get carried away while designing something beautiful. Unfortunately, what you might end up with instead is actually a beautiful obstacle. If at any time your user finds herself waiting unnecessarily for an animation to finish before she can make her next move, there’s a problem. Loaders and instances where data is being fetched or processed are exempt from this rule, of course. There are times when waiting can’t be avoided. This rule applies to interactions that can reasonably expect a near immediate response. Animations should never belabor these interactions unnecessarily. Avoid Animation That Becomes an Obstacle Square’s former site has a fitting example of unintentionally creating obstacles with animation (see Figure 3.1). The main navigation is housed in a full-screen modal, which in itself isn’t necessarily a problem. But this modal also has a multistep animated transition that plays out each time it is opened. A dark blue overlay fades in, the lighter blue navigation container stretches out from the middle, and then the list of navigation options slide-fades into view. (You can see it in action in this video.) That three-step transition takes slightly less than a full second, which doesn’t sound like much. But when you realize that every time a user wants to access the main navigation, he’ll have to wait through that transition before making a selection—then suddenly navigating through this site becomes a very time-consuming task. The trouble is that the transition adds time to something that will be accessed often, and the effect used actually makes the task take noticeably longer. Navigation isn’t a task that should be slowed down since it’s used so frequently. The showy entrance also provides unnecessary emphasis to the navigation opening. Accessing the main navigation should be quick and easy. There’s nothing wrong with the way the animation is designed. It’s well done, but a poor match for the content and task at hand. If this same entrance animation were used for something that was accessed more occasionally, like modal windows or a product detail view, it wouldn’t be an issue. The showy entrance would help reinforce the importance of the modal message, and the fact that it would only be seen occasionally would help make the content it introduces feel important. Figure 3.1—Square’s former main menu design Square's former main menu design This three-stage transition to access the main navigation is an example of animation becoming an obstacle in an interface. (The site has since been updated with a redesigned navigation that is much less cumbersome for users.) What to Aim for: Animation That Stays Out of the Way Navigation is a great place to employ animation if it’s done in a way that fits the task of navigating a site. For example, the Nixon Watches site has a large amount of navigation and a lot of animation (see Figure 3.2). However, they’ve used it in a way that doesn’t create obstacles or get in your way as a user. Figure 3.2—Nixon’s site has a highly animated navigation that avoids creating obstacles by being well-timed and responsive to user input. Nixon’s site has a highly animated navigation that avoids creating obstacles by being well-timed and responsive to user input. Check out this video for a closer look. Each time you access the navigation, the submenu quickly slides down into place from the top of the screen. It gets out of your way, easily sliding back up to the top of the screen when you’re done with it as well. Even the entrance of new submenus when you select a different top-level menu item is animated with the same snappy slide-in movement. Despite all the animation that’s happening, it’s not creating an obstacle between you and the task you are trying to complete. When you’re animating something as critical as navigation, you want the animations you design to be more like the ones on Nixon Watches’ menu—animations that pair well with the content at hand and don’t make users wait for them. The animation gets quickly to the point, without extra flourish or taking unnecessary amounts of time. Keep Animations Flexible Sometimes animation and interaction find themselves at odds. Animation is generally linear in nature—it has a specific set of states or frames to play through from start to end, and some amount of time must pass for that to happen. Interaction, on the other hand,  is nonlinear. Users can click, scroll, swipe, or otherwise offer other sorts of input at any time. Even when an animation is only a fraction of a second long, it’s still possible for some input to occur during that time. And that’s where things can get tricky. Good interface animations need to be flexible and always feel responsive to a user’s input—even if the animation is currently animating. Think of it like a conversation. The best conversations are ones where you feel as if the other person is listening to you and responding to what you’ve said. If they’re nonresponsive or don’t seem to be paying attention, you’re less likely to trust their responses or continue conversing with them. The same goes for interfaces. If a user starts to realize her input is being skipped or ignored, trust is lost, and the quality of her experience starts to degrade. An animation that ignores input while it is active is a blocking animation, which means that it blocks the user from using it for its intended task while it’s animating. An animation that responds to input even while it’s actively animating is nonblocking. You should always aim to create nonblocking animation unless there is a compelling reason not to do so, because blocking behavior can make the interface feel broken or slow when it doesn’t respond as expected. The difference between blocking and nonblocking animation is easier to show than describe, so let’s look at an example of each. The Bad: Blocking Animation Once you see blocking animation in action, you’ll start noticing it everywhere. It’s quite common on the Web, despite its negative impact on the overall user experience. While their site does many things right, Mammoth Booth’s navigation is a good example of blocking animation (see Figure 3.3). When you select a page from their main navigation, say the FAQ page, the between page transition starts behind the scenes. If you click on a different page, Gallery, for example, before the FAQ page has finished transitioning in, your second click is ignored. The page that transitions into view isn’t the Gallery page, even though that’s the one you’re expecting, because it’s the last navigation item you clicked. Instead, you see the FAQ page, which was the first one you clicked, and the only one of your clicks that the site responded to. All other input was ignored once that page transition was initiated. That’s blocking animation in action. Figure 3.3—The Mammoth Booth site’s blocking animation behavior: it loads the FAQ page because no user input is accepted during the page transitions. The Mammoth Booth site's blocking animation behavior: it loads the FAQ page because no user input is accepted during the page transitions. See it in action in the video version. Sometimes, menu items or buttons are visually disabled while page transitions or other transitions are occurring, in order to reduce logic complexity. But this isn’t actually a better solution. It does prevent the possibility of the user realizing his input is being ignored, but it also exaggerates the blocking behavior of the animation and doesn’t solve the core issue. The best solution is to design and build your interface animations so they are interruptible and don’t block input—build them to both accept and respond to user input, no matter where in their animated action they currently are. Interruptible animations are nonblocking animations. In Mammoth Booth’s case, only small changes would be necessary for the animation to be interruptible and nonblocking. The transition to the FAQ page could have been stopped when the Gallery link was clicked and then started the transition to the Gallery page instead. Or, even better, the page transition could have adapted to its new destination of the Gallery page mid-transition. With either solution, you would have gotten the response you expected, and the experience would have been much improved. What to Aim for: Nonblocking Animation Stripe Checkout has a good example of nonblocking animation in its checkout ow (see Figure 3.4). When you check the Remember me everywhere box, some additional information and a form field fold down into place. When you uncheck the box, they fold right back up out of sight. If you change your mind and deselect the box before the fold-down animation completes, it interrupts itself mid-animation and moves directly into folding back up, reversing its direction in an instant when you change your selection. It doesn’t matter how fast or how many times you check and uncheck that box, the animation is working with you and responding to your input the whole way through. It’s a well-executed nonblocking animation. You never have to wait for it to finish, and it can be interrupted at any time. This nonblocking animation behavior is what you want to aim for in all the animated interactions you design. It may require a little more programming or design logic on your end, but the benefit to your users will be tenfold. The fact that the animation responds to their input, no matter when they give it, makes the interaction the kind of conversation that they want to continue. It builds trust by always appearing to be listening to them and by never making users feel like they’re being ignored. Figure 3.4—Stripe Checkout’s form animation always responds to user input, even when it’s mid-animation. Stripe Checkout's form animation always responds to user input, even when it's mid-animation. Its nonblocking behavior means it will always respond to user input, no matter what. See the slow-motion video version for a closer look. All animated interactions should be nonblocking by default. Be Quick, Be Readable: Timing The classic principles’ definition of timing still applies to your work with interactive animation, but your timing decisions exist in a very specific and very different context than the sort of animation the principle was written for. Most people using or interacting with the animations in interfaces are trying to get something done. Whether they’re in the midst of completing a specific task or looking for some specific information, they’re on their way to some end goal that’s important to them. Your audience isn’t sitting back and watching your animations tell a long-form story like the ones the classic principles were written for. You need to take your user’s task-based mindset into consideration when deciding on the timing for your animation work as one additional factor on top of the other timing factors to consider. Often, designers take the context of an interface to mean that all interface animations should always be lightning fast to stay out of the way. Or they look for one specific small number, like 0.30s for example, to use as the duration for all or any interface animations, as a golden rule that can’t ever be deviated from. Both those generalizations oversimplify the problem and won’t result in high-quality animation. Good timing is more an art than a science. Thinking in terms of guidelines, as opposed to hard-and-fast rules, will serve you much better in your design work. A Good Range for Interface Animations Instead of having one set duration for all your interface animations, aim to keep them within the range of 200ms–500ms (see Figure 3.5). Small UI transitions that involve smaller elements or small amounts of change tend to be on the lower end in the 200ms to 350ms range. Larger motion that covers a lot of ground or motion that uses complex bounce transitions usually ends up on the higher end of this range, around 400ms to 500ms. There can always be exceptions, of course, but if you stick within this range, you’ll be off to a good start. Figure 3.5—Timing windows for UI animations Timing windows for UI animations The numbers of this range are largely based on research from the Nielsen Norman Group and the Model Human Processor. In their article on the three important limits for response times, [1] the Nielsen Norman Group states that 0.1 seconds, or 100ms, is perceived as instant, and 1 second is considered the upper limit of a user’s ow of thought. Together, these outline a range of 0.1s to 1s for feedback, animated or otherwise, to feel connected to a specific user action or input. From this research, we can conclude that animations should all be more than 0.1s (100ms) to be perceived at all. Additionally, the Model Human Processor, [2] a methodology of formal Human-Computer Interaction, states that on average it takes a human 230ms to visually perceive something. This is where the start of the suggested range comes from. An animation with a duration of 200ms will be just within range to be perceived by the average person. Any shorter than that, and you risk it not being visually perceived at all, which would defeat the purpose of animating it in the first place. The Nielsen Norman Group’s response limits article suggests that 1s is the upper limit for animation durations within interfaces. They do note that at 1s, the user will already notice the delay, but still realize the response is connected to the previous action. That’s why it’s the upper limit. You likely won’t have lost your users entirely, but they’re not going to be happy about how long things are taking. You don’t want your interface animations to be perceived as slow or annoying, so that’s why the suggested upper limit for interface animation durations is 500ms, or 0.5s. More Complex Easing Needs More Time to Be Readable It’s generally easy to notice that large motions or animating big changes need longer durations. Moving a modal box across the screen as it exits from view will obviously need more time to complete its action than a button’s background color animating to show its active state. In the same way, animation that uses complex easing also tends to need longer durations to be readable. The direction changes found in bounce or elastic easing present more visual information to parse, and that takes more time to be read or understood (see Figure 3.6). It may only need 20ms–30ms more, but that can make all the difference between an animation that looks broken and one that looks like it bounces. Figure 3.6—Visually parsing the more complex motion that will result from the easeInBounce will likely require more time than the more simplistic easeInQuad curve. (Both these curves and their associated code can be found on Readability should be your standard for judging the timing of your interface animations, instead of one single duration that’s used for all animation. Stop reducing the duration of an animation for the sake of speed as soon as you hit the point where it no longer communicates what it’s supposed to. If you can no longer tell what the motion is supposed to be, its duration has been made too short. Interface animations should be as fast as they can be while still being readable. Focus on How the Animation Feels to Interact With Keeping with the metaphor of good interactions being a lot like good conversations, interface animations’ timing should always feel good to interact with. The only way to judge this is to try the animation out for yourself. Or even better, have others try it, too. It’s often difficult to judge the timing of your own animation objectively, so an outside opinion can be very helpful. If an animation feels right, even though it has a duration of 600ms, which is technically outside of the recommended range, go with your gut—or your user research—over the numbers. Designing animations that feel right is more important than following guidelines to a T. Your users will notice how the animations in your interface feel, not any specific numbers of the durations or other factors. They aren’t counting the milliseconds. The more animation experience you gain, the better your timing instincts will become. You’ll start picking durations that feel right sooner and develop your own rules of thumb for animating. Timing is more of an art than a science. The more you do it, the better you’ll be at it. That’s just one more reason why prototyping and practice is so important for designing interface animations. Try looking for animations around the Web whose timing feels right to you and then record their timing. You’ll start to notice a specific range, maybe 300ms–600ms or similar, that feels right to you, and you can use that as your starting point in your own work. Performance Matters Performance is not mentioned at all in the classic principles. It’s not something that classic animators had to consider in the same sense that we do, so it never came up. There’s no need to consider how the host technology might impact the experience of your animations when they are all prerendered frames on film. On the Web, however, performance is hugely important. Animations that are slow and sluggish to interact with won’t have a positive impact on the user experience, no matter how well they are designed. Poor performance negates even the most carefully considered experience. That’s why it is so important to consider performance early and often throughout your animation design process. Sometimes, you intentionally push the limits of your technology, but other times, performance issues come up when you least expect it. There are other books out there that cover this topic in great technical detail—like Lara Hogan’s Designing for Performance—but here is a short list of considerations to help you make the most performant design decisions you can while you’re designing and planning your animation efforts. Animate the Most Efficient Properties Whether you are animating in CSS or JavaScript, you’re affecting specific properties of the element you’re animating. Browsers can animate some properties more efficiently than others, based on how many steps need to happen behind the scenes to update said property. Browsers are particularly efficient at animating opacity, scale, rotation, and position—when done with transforms. See this article from Paul Irish and Paul Lewis for the details on why these are the most performant properties to animate. [3] Conveniently, these are also the most common properties that designers want to animate. There aren’t many animated effects that can’t be pulled off with this list, even though it’s short. Stick to these properties to set your animations up for the best performance results from the start. If you find yourself needing to animate a property outside of this list, check to find out how much of an additional impact it might have on performance. To get the best performance out of CSS animations, stick to these properties: • Opacity • Scale • Rotation • Position—when done with transforms Use the Tools That Fit What You Need One of the biggest advantages of the current Web animation landscape is the range of tools we have at our disposal. We can use CSS animations and transitions to add just a dash of interface animation to our work, or go all out with WebGL to create a full 3D experience, all within our browser. Having this huge range of options is wonderful, but it also means you need to be cognizant of what you’re using to get the job done. Loading in the full weight of a robust JavaScript animation library is overkill if you’re only animating a few small elements here and there. That extra overhead will have an impact on performance. Try to match the complexity of the technology you choose to the complexity of your animation needs to avoid unnecessary performance strain. For small amounts of animation on the Web, stick to CSS solutions since it’s the lightest option out there. As your animations grow in complexity and the need for deeper logic, move to JavaScript solutions that can accomplish what you need. Always keep an eye on how much you are loading in versus what you’re actually using. If you’re only employing 10% of your chosen animation library in your work, that’s a good time to look for a lighter more efficient solution or maybe even create a custom solution that only does exactly what you require. Use Offsets to Lighten the Load of Animating Many Things Offsets—the concept of having a series of similar movements execute one slightly after the other, creating a wave-like pattern—are a long-held motion graphics trick for creating more interesting and organic motion. Employing this trick of the trade can also be smart for performance. Animating a large number of objects at once can put a strain on the browser’s rendering abilities. Adding delays to offset these animations in time, so they no longer all start at the same time, can impact the rendering performance positively. It’s a happy coincidence that this motion graphics trick can benefit performance, too. Perceived Performance: Animation Can Make Your Interface Feel Faster This is the other side of the performance coin, if you will. Making sure that what you design will be performant in the browser is the most common focus of performance conversations, but perceived performance is another aspect of performance where animation can have an impact on your users. Animation alone can’t make your interface faster, but it can help ll in unavoidable gaps and create the perception that things are happening faster. Or at the very least, it can reassure users that something is, in fact, happening behind the scenes. Discussions of performance are often centered around the goal of attaining 60 frames per second for any animation on-screen. This can be a helpful benchmark for testing and other data-centric investigation, but it’s not a goal your audience will notice specifically. In fact, they don’t care at all what the fps is, as long as nothing looks broken and things feel like they’re working well. Perceived performance is harder to measure because it is less concrete than fps, but it is often the best benchmark to use, because the difference between 50fps and 60fps may not be perceivable to your audiences in the context of your project or the task at hand. That wraps up the principles of interactive animation. It’s a short list, but an important one. When you combine these with an appreciation for the classic animation principles, you’ll be creating interface animation that is both beautiful and pleasant to interact with. That combination will make your animation work stand out. Staying on Point To design animation that is as pleasant to interact with as it is beautiful, remember: • Have a known purpose for every animation in your interface. • Don’t create obstacles with animation. • Keep animations flexible and nonblocking. • Focus on readability above duration. • Animate the most performant CSS properties to set yourself up for good performance from the start. Discount for UXmatters Readers—Buy Designing Interface Animation from Rosenfeld Media, using the discount code uxmattersdia, and save 20% off the retail price. [1] Response Times: The 3 Important Limits [2] Model Human Processor [3] High Performance Animations, by Paul Irish and Paul Lewis Web-Animation Design Consultant Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Val HeadVal is a design and Web animation consultant with a talent for inspiring both other designers and developers to explore the power of animation. She is the author of the new Rosenfeld Media book Designing Interface Animation: Meaningful Motion for User Experience, CSS Animations: A Pocket Guide, and the CSS Animation course on She shares her passion for Web animation as the co-host of the Motion and Meaning podcast and the curator of the UI Animation Newsletter. A proud supporter of the Web community, she co-founded the Web Design Day conference and co-runs Pittsburgh’s Girl Develop It chapter. Val leads workshops on motion design for the Web at companies and conferences around the world and loves every minute of it. Read More Other Articles on Sample Chapters New on UXmatters
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 Foxiness of a Fox...Lionness of a Lion I forgot which class it was but someone brought up the point that medieval people didn't just use animal symbolism to emphasize negative qualities of a person but also used "dignified" animals as someone's counterpart in the natural world. In a passage from The Prince, Machiavelli writes that "[t]o have as a teacher a half-beast, half-man means nothing other than that a prince needs to know how to use both natures; and the one without the other is not lasting." (XVIII) He goes on to encourage princes to participate in their beastly nature because it is out of necessity. Of all the animals, "he should pick the fox and the lion, because the lion does not defend itself from snares and the fox does not defend itself from wolves. So one needs to be a fox to recognize snares and a lion to frighten the wolves." Machiavelli takes two predatory animals, combines their qualities to create a set of desirable traits for a prince. I thought I'd post this because I saw a few themes we discussed in class floating around in this passage. First, Machiavelli doesn't tell his reader (Lorenzo d'Medici) to refrain from being the animal, but says that it is required of him (as a ruler) to become the animal when necessity arises. He emphasizes this by drawing from the qualities from two animals. The fox represents cunning while the lion symbolizes ferocity. These two animals are then juxtaposed with the wolf, which represents chaos, calamity, and disorder in this context. He advises the young prince, simply being a lion will not help defend oneself from wolves, "the one who has known best how to use the fox has come out the best." This pitting of the fox against the wolf (and vice versa) reminded me of Renard the Fox. Although in class, I don't think we quite knew whether to classify Renard as good or bad but Machiavelli would praise the cunning, deceit, and boldness of Renard. This animosity between the fox and the wolf appears in Machiavelli's work-though I doubt that he was writing with the tales in mind. Some cute pictures I stumbled upon... Ysengrin ensnared by Renard's trap. Ysengrin weeping.. AND I just love the expression on Renard's face. 1 comment: 1. Very nice observation about Machiavelli's use of animal imagery. Yes, it is very likely that he was thinking of the ways in which animals were used in stories like Renard. It is very Machiavellian of him, of course, to use animals as examples of ways in which the Prince should behave that in other contexts were considered less than desirable role models. I don't think Machiavelli means this comparison with the Prince to be particularly "good", however. This is wholly in keeping with his provocative suggestions about how the Prince should rather be feared than loved: whereas other writers might be inclined to suggest that one should avoid such "bestial" characteristics as cunning and ferocity, Machiavelli is suggesting that the Prince should "become the beast"--not the usual medieval advice!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 The History of the Snowman In occidental cultures and the northern hemisphere, snowmen are considered a symbol of Christmas and winter for many, and they often appear on Christmas cards. The construction of snowmem dates back to at least the Middle Ages, when in Europe every new snowfall would have townsfolk making snowmen on the streets (according to old diaries and chronicles) and has always been an activity of children, however, many adults participate in making snowmen too. It is nearly impossible to build a snowman out of any type of snow other than packing snow. Packing snow is formed when regular powder snow comes near its melting point and becomes moist and compactible. This allows for the construction of large balls of snow by simply rolling a ball of snow until it grows the desired size. Attempting to make a snowman out of powdered snow is extremely difficult since it will not stick to itself. And if packing snow is not rolled into snowballs before it freezes, it will form an unusable denser form of powdered snow called crust. Thus the best time to build a snowman is usually in the next warmest afternoon directly following a snowfall with a sufficient amount of snow. The common trend is to then dress the snowman, usually with rocks, wood sticks, and vegetables. Carrots are often used for the nose, as are coal for eyes. Some like to dress their snowmen in clothing (scarves, jackets, hats). Dressing a snowman in clothing insulates the snowman by keeping out the heat, which means a longer life for the snowman. However, some may prefer not to risk leaving supplies out doors where they could easily be stolen if someone were so maliciously inclined. Also, snowmen usually melt quite quickly on a hot day, which could cause clothing to become stuck under melting ice if not removed promptly. There are variations to these standard forms. These other types range from snow columns to elaborate snow sculptures (similar to ice sculptures). Now, how about some snowman jokes! What happened when the snowgirl fell out with the snowboy ? She gave him the cold shoulder ! What do snowmen wear on their heads ? Ice caps ! What do snowmen eat for lunch ? Icebergers ! Where do snowmen go to dance? Snowballs ! How do snowmen travel around ? By iceicle ! What sort of ball doesn't bounce ? A snowball ! You wake up wet ! What do you get if cross a snowman and a shark ? Frost bite ! How do you call an Eskimo cow ? An Eskimoo ! When you stop laughing, here's a poem that won't melt: Meanwhile, Here In Haiku Begin with a duration of gray. One dearest memory. Body tapestry called tattoos. A needle or hay stack. A cool breeze. Night's occasional motionlessness. Wind that ruffles leaves. The data found in a street sign. Dust or ashes. Ditches or graves. A newspaper full of fish scales. Flooded basements. Spiders in an attic. Or maybe try heaven without description. A paddle but no canoe. A canary but no coal mine. Splashes of bright colors. Textures that resemble wool. White oleanders. Yellow roses. A dark suit and a tie. A ringing phone . Anything that could be called habitual. Or just death that knows not how loud it knocks. Poem first published at: Visit my ezine: and music blog: Copyright 2007 by Maurice Oliver. All Rights Reserved. No comments:
Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Excess Packaging Recycling Excess PackagingConscientious consumers can easily minimize their household’s waste and carbon footprint by reducing, reusing and recycling excess packaging through creative and resourceful measures. The environmental impact of waste begins in the supply chain, continues through the consumer’s home and ends hundreds of years later when plastics breakdown. To reduce the environmental impact of consumer goods, manufacturers have been turning to lifecycle analysis programs to develop beneficial packaging and shipping materials. These include reusable and recyclable glass containers, corrugated cardboard, which is ideal for recycling, and lightweight plastic designed to minimize transportation-related fossil fuel emissions. Recycling Excess Packaging Any household can minimize waste by choosing food items and food storage containers that are compatible with the reduce-reuse-recycle principal. Reusable grocery bags and cloth produce sacs are ideal for minimizing unnecessary waste and trash. While plastic grocery bags can be recycled, lightweight produce bags are more likely to be thrown in the trash. Cloth sacs can also be used to transport bakery bread as an alternative to plastic sleeves and disposable bags. Avoiding prepackaged produce items and salad mixes is another way to reduce waste from foam trays, plastic wrap, plastic bags and supplemental packaging. Purchasing economic family size containers rather than individual servings is one of the easiest ways to reduce packaging consumption and overall waste. Large quantities of dry goods can also be purchased from bulk bins and transported in reusable sacs to reduce unnecessary packaging and prevent waste. Many plastic, glass and metal containers can be reused or re-purposed before they are recycled. Plastic containers, glass jars and tin cans can be turned into garden pots or used to store and organize items. Glass jelly jars can be turned into creative drinking glasses or used to store dry goods, spices and herbs. Glass jars and food storage containers are among the best choices because they are reusable, recyclable and non-leaching unlike tin cans. The hormone Bisphenol A also known as BPA is associated with plastics as well as the protective lining used inside metal cans. Studies show 90% of canned goods contained measurable levels of BPA, which leach from the plastic lining. Although plastic wrap has a smaller environmental impact compared to tin foil, it has been named as a source of BPA. If possible, reuse tin foil that has not been soiled or cover dishes with a plate instead. Wax paper, freezer paper and waxed bags are all eco-friendly alternatives for storing foods without risking exposure to toxins. With a few simple steps anyone can reduce their household’s waste and carbon footprint. There are lots of other ways in which consumers can help with recycling excess packaging, and some are quite imaginative. Share any tips you have in the comments below. Leave a Reply
A website revolving around the social and economical injustices brought about by Globalization. Also, questioning if Globalization does in fact exist or just a progression from 18th Century imperialism? Monday, August 09, 2004 Are National cultures still important? 1,502 words ‘National Cultures are still very important’ Evaluate this view of the globalization of culture’ I will begin this essay by defining ‘national culture’ and the ‘globalisation of culture’ to develop an understanding of this contemporary debate. Then give these concepts over to three theories: Inter Nationalist, Globalist and Transformationalist to help explore this discourse further, using explanations and evidence. During this process, I’ll evaluate each theory and use it to summarise on whether or not ‘national culture is still very important‘. "Culture" can be defined as "shared meanings, values and practices" of a society (Woodward, 2004, p.22) or more specifically "beliefs, behaviour, language, and entire way of life of a particular group of people at a particular time" (Encarta Encyclopaedia, 2002 ). It as an awkward concept to apply to a nation, since it depends on the perception of the individual and geography. Someone that lives in the centre or the periphery of a multi-cultural city, such as London, will consider the culture of his or her nation as very different to someone that lives in a more rural and traditionalist area, such as South West England. The concept "Globalisation (of culture)" is also fairly subjective. Is it a process of stretched social relations? Whereby the interaction between people has become borderless and because of that, culture has become globalised?. Bollywood on British television and the popularity of Asian cuisine in the West is an example of this? Or is it an intensification of flows? Where the transactions of cultural exchanges between communities has stepped up a gear in recent years? The amount of TV receivers has almost doubled from 1985 to 1997 (from 748 per million to 1,396), is this a microcosm of cultural globalisation? (Mackay, H. 2004a, pg50) If any of this is actually happening, whether it is good or bad, new or old and to what extent is all open to debate, as the following conflicting theories highlight. These two concepts "National culture" and "Globalisation" are what many commentators are suggesting as confrontational. Is the National Culture in control of itself and the onslaught of global structures? Or is it an inevitability that Global culture will reign over the traditional and homogenous national identities? Or maybe the debate is a lot more complex to put into simple terminologies. A school of thought that believes national culture does in fact have the autonomy and sustainability to maintain itself comes from Inter nationalists. They believe ‘National cultures are still very important’ and that globalisation is an exaggeration and at worst, a myth. Their explanation is that any global cultural flow is dependant on the nation-state and national culture is as prominent now as it ever was. Evidence used to support this theory can be in the shape of the BBC (a public service broadcasting network and a traditional national institute), who is statistically proven to be more popular than the archetypal global trans- national company, BSkyB, owned by Rupert Murdoch. 44% of British citizens opted to watch the BBC in the mid 1990‘s, compared to only 4.9% who watched Sky. (Mackay, H. 2004b, pg. 66-69). Does this prove national culture is still more prevalent and important? Also, the fact the 1990 Broadcasting Act in the UK has the power to penalise satellite services (Mackay, H. 2004c, pg. 69), that India rejected MTV Europe for more "domestically produced material" (Mackay, H., 2004d, pg. 67) and that the Iranian state even banned satellite dishes within its borders (Mackay, H. 2004e, pg. 63) will be widely celebrated by Inter nationalists, interpreting these examples as the nation controlling the global. However, some could say the Inter nationalists are ignoring the affects globalisation has had on national culture, despite it’s continued existence. Many may argue that the example of BBC being more popular than their global competitors lacks comprehensiveness. For example, it doesn’t take into account any recent changes in the way the BBC broadcasts (becoming more global, i.e. the coverage of the Iraq war) or that the BBC may have become a global institute in itself, what with the World Service and its satellite services. Are these all facets of how globalisation has hijacked national culture and cultural products? A Second theory that antithesis’s the claim ‘National culture is still very important’ comes from what is known as Globalist. An ideology based around the belief that a phenomena is happening which is recent and highly significant and that the agency of the nation has been dramatically altered by global structures that encompasses culture. Also, economic globalisation has had an impact on national cultures, with free trade agreements providing easier access for cultural products to cross borders. This general assumption of globalisation is split into two and termed Positive and Pessimistic. A Positive Globalist, by definition, will interpret cultural globalisation as a way in which individuals have the opportunities to experience a diversification of cultures rather than a homogenous monoculture. In the example of Television, they’ll celebrate such initiatives as the Peacock Report which allows agents to choose what we view on Television rather than "decisions being made about what we can watch by the cultural elitists who control the BBC". (Mackay, H. 2004f pg56). Pessimistic Globalists, although in agreement that globalisation is at play, argue that the affect is far from benevolent. The Frankfurt School of Sociology coined the phrase ‘Cultural Imperialism’ (Mackay, H. 2004g, pg 65), a term designed to highlight the homogenisation of global cultural differences and the one-way cultural flows of globalisation, usually the "west over the rest". When "five major Western news agencies are responsible for 80% of the worlds news" (pg61), it will be the pessimistic globalists who will be quick to point out an imbalance and that globalisation is polarizing the world into winners and losers. Despite the persuasive argument put forward by the Globalists, the evidence used, such as the liberalisation of UK media by the Peacock Report for more choice and global interpenetration, does lack empirical adequacy. Just because globalisation may have more access to national media doesn’t mean it is experiencing increased popularity, otherwise why do people still prefer the BBC over Sky?. Also, the western news agencies owning the majority of news outlets still overlooks the fact the nation-state has the power to outlaw various cultural products and national citizens can reject foreign cultures through consumer choice. A Third and final theory comes from Transformationalists, who take a more cautious approach than the objectivity of the Internationalists (National over Global) and the Globalists (Global over National). They believe in two-way cultural flows involving both the national and the global in a form of negotiation that can ultimately transform national culture. Also, the whole general notion of globalisation over national culture is too complex, they would be the group that will question: Do we assume that what is under threat is "an outdated homogeneity of national culture, in an era in which nations are characterized instead, by cultural hybridity" (Mackay, H. 2004h, p75)? In other words, as well as asking if globalisation exists, should we also be asking if national culture is what we presume it to be? More profoundly, they believe that any affect globalisation has on the importance of national culture involves anthropological study. For example, it is one thing for globalisation to impose itself on national borders, but it is another thing for national citizens to retrieve it in order to give it its significance. As Matterlart and Schiller theorized, "…viewing Western capitalist television entails the inculcation of Western values" (Mackay, H. 2004i, p75)). This, put simply, means that individual agents have to ‘decode’ the messages that global cultures offer in order for it to be a phenomena. The impact of globalisation isn’t so much in its dominance, but in the strength of negotiation between the individual agent and the structure of globalization. This suggests that the importance of national culture is measurable to the peoples desire to remain nationalist. It is very hard to find any incomprehensiveness or incoherence towards the Transformationalist theory since they make very few claims. However, it can be said by some to suffer from empirical inadequacy. For example, the link between an individual watching western television programs and the endangerment of national culture isn’t backed with any evidence. However, their core belief in that "the actual significance [of cultural globalisation] is difficult to measure" (Kelly, B. 2004, pg31) should enjoy popularity among social scientists, since it creates scope for further study and acknowledges the complexity of what national culture is as well as globalisation as a concept. In Evaluation, in contrasting the three theories of globalisation and the explanations they use, it is clear that whether "National culture is still very important" or not is ambiguous in the contemporary context of ‘globalisation’. The Internationalist approach, suggesting national culture is more prevalent over global culture does seem to explain the popularity of the BBC well, despite its recent changes. And their claim that the contemporary world is experiencing a continuity of national sovereignty and national cultures rather than a complete revolution by globalisation, as globalists would argue, does hold more weight. Although overall, I tend to agree with Transformationalists in their claim that the national culture is still important, but to what extent is difficult to conceive. This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?
Thursday, October 04, 2007 Sputnik - Analogue Native? 50 years ago today! Now, I really don't remember this because I was only three years old, but I bet this little beasty was made up of early transistors and didn't have a digital bone in it's body. I would love to see the circuit diagram of this 'bleeping machine'. I'll bet it had a bi-stable mulivibrator, modulating transformer and a big valve! Launch date: 4 October 1957 Mission: First man-made satellite to orbit the Earth In 1957, Sputnik 1 became the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. The world looked on with awe as the space age began. Sputnik was a triumph of technology. It sent back information about the atmosphere at the edge of space - and of course, it showed that man was capable of sending a spacecraft into orbit. Yet Sputnik was never intended to be a scientific mission. The United States had already announced their plans to launch the first satellite. The Soviet Union wanted to show the world that their space technology was the best in the world. Sputnik's radio broadcast at a frequency that amateur radio fans could tune into - just to make sure the whole world was talking about the little craft. Sputnik's transmissions were monitored all around the world. The craft itself was less than a metre across. However, the booster rocket that launched it also reached orbit, and this was easily visible from the Earth. The satellite's batteries lasted about three weeks. The craft itself remained in orbit for nearly six months, and completed 1400 orbits of the Earth. The fact that the Soviet Union launched a craft that repeatedly flew over America did much to spur on the American space programme. The word 'Sputnik' originally meant 'fellow traveller'. However, thanks to this little spacecraft, 'Sputnik' has come to mean 'satellite' in modern Russian. Now this link is brilliant, it tells the story of and launch of Sputnik 1 Click HERE! No comments:
Oxygen is less accessible at higher altitudes, and this can cause a cluster of symptoms called altitude sickness. People living at or visiting high altitudes must learn to breathe more efficiently to avoid altitude sickness. The chronic lack of oxygen at high altitudes can lead to serious, life-threatening illnesses such as pulmonary edema and loss of consciousness. If you're traveling to high altitudes for the first time, take several days to make your trip. This gives your body time to gradually acclimate to the decreased available oxygen. Altitude and Oxygen It's a popular misconception that there is less oxygen available in the air at higher altitudes. Instead, the air pressure is substantially lower, meaning air particles are farther apart. The result: The same amount of oxygen is in the air, but it is less accessible. Short-Term Effects The decreased availability of oxygen at higher altitudes can quickly lead to hypoxia, which occurs when the body has insufficient access to oxygen. Your lungs must work harder, and this can result in a variety of physical ailments. Symptoms of hypoxia include difficulty concentrating, headaches, dizziness, difficulty walking, decreased energy and confusion. In severe cases, hypoxia can cause hemorrhaging in the lungs as well as fluid around the brain. To compensate for decreased available oxygen at higher elevations, you must breathe faster. Some people respond to hypoxia by hyperventilating. Hyperventilation makes oxygen less accessible because people take short, rapid, ineffective breaths. People who learn to breathe slightly faster while taking efficient breaths, however, are less likely to develop hypoxia. When people live at high elevations their entire lives, they may naturally learn this breathing style. Long-Term Effects When the body adapts to higher altitudes -- either after a period of acclimation or as a result of living at high elevations -- there are several changes to respiration. First, the lungs become larger, which enables them to take in more oxygen. The body also produces more red blood cells and capillaries, enabling the lungs to more efficiently oxygenate the blood. Staying at high altitudes after you develop altitude sickness, however, will not cause this effect. More efficient oxygen intake is a product of long-term exposure to high elevations, and altitude sickness prevents your body from efficiently adapting to higher altitudes. About the Author Photo Credits • Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
Funding for this site is provided by readers like you. From the simple to the complex Function by Level of Organization HelpLinked Module: Anatomical Diversity of NeuronsLinked Module: Cortex and Its LayersLinked Module: Gallery of Neurons Linked Module: Cortical Layers, Types of Cells, etc.Linked Module: The NeuronLinked Module: Tutorial 3: Types of Neurons The 1001 Faces of the Neuron Brodmann Areas The Variety and Structural Complexity of Neurons Neurons are highly specialized cells that have accentuated the basic characteristics of other cells, which include transmembrane potential, the ability to form extensions of its cytoplasm, and so on. The extensions of neurons have also become specialized, so that the ion channels and receptors in dendrite membranes are different from those in axon membranes. In addition, every neuron has its own unique shape, its own unique position in the nervous system, and its own unique connections to other neurons or to receptor (sensory) cells or effector (muscle or gland) cells. This great variability (there are over 200 different kinds of neurons) means that some neurons deviate from the standard basic morphology. For example, some axons may form synapses directly with another neuron’s cell body, or even with its axon. Neuronal cell bodies also vary widely both in size (small, medium, large, and giant) and in shape (star-shaped, fusiform, conical, polyhedral, spherical, pyramidal). The geometry of a neuron’s dendrites and axon also vary tremdously with its role in the neural circuit. Lien : NeuroMorpho.Org (follow this link to go to NeuroMorpho.Org and it's thousands of digitally reconstructed neurons) Neurons can also be classified into various categories, depending on what criteria are used. For example: Functional classification: Morphological classification based on the number of extensions from the cell body: • sensory neurons that receive sensory signals from sensory organs and send them via short axons to the central nervous system • pseudo-unipolar neurons with a short extension that quickly divides into two branches, one of which functions as a dendrite, the other as an axon • motor neurons that conduct motor commands from the cortex to the spinal cord or from the spinal cord to the muscles • multipolar neurons that have short dendrites emanating from the cell body and one long axon • interneurons that interconnect various neurons within the brain or the spinal cord • bipolar neurons that have two main extensions of similar lengths Linked Module: A Theory of Cortical Neuron-Astrocyte InteractionLinked Module: Tutorial 4: Shapes and Roles of Glial Cells Fewer Glial Cells Than You Might Think? Astrocytes, like most glial cells, were long considered essential for their role in supporting and maintaining nerve tissue. But more and more evidence indicates that astrocytes may actually play a far more important role in neural communication. For instance, it has long been known that astrocytes supply glucose needed for nerve activity. Through the astrocytes’ end feet, which are apposed to the walls of the capillaries in the brain, glucose can enter the astrocytes, which partially metabolize it, then send it on to the neurons. More intense synaptic activity, it even seems, promotes a better supply of glucose by activating this astrocytic metabolisis. It is also known that astrocytes are connected with each other via “gap junctions” through which they can pass various metabolites. It is through these junctions that astrocytes evacuate to the capillaries the excess extracellular potassium generated by intense neuronal activity. But what is being discovered more and more is that this network of intercommunicating astrocytes forms a veritable syncytium–in other words, it behaves like a single, unitary entity. For example, through this network, the regulatory effects of waves of calcium ions might be propagated to large numbers of synapses simultaneously. The astrocytic extensions surrounding the synapses might thus exert a broader control over the concentration of ions and the volume of water in the synaptic gaps. The network of astrocytes would thus constitute a non-synaptic transmission system superimposed on the neuronal system to play a major role in modulating neuronal activities. Presentations \| Credits \| Contact \| Copyleft
claculate tax, C/C++ Programming claculate 5% tax >10000 sal Posted Date: 1/28/2013 8:25:55 AM \| Location : USA Related Discussions:- claculate tax, Assignment Help, Ask Question on claculate tax, Get Answer, Expert's Help, claculate tax Discussions Write discussion on claculate tax Your posts are moderated Related Questions In the Byteland country a string "s" is said to super ascii string if and only if count of each charecter in the string is equal to its ascci value in the byteland country ascii co how are metric numer change the number of metric write a program that adds all numbers from 1 to 200 Explain about the Variables in c language? The Variable is an identifier that is used to represent some specified kind of information within a designated portion of the program find the greater of the two variables, without using conditional loops or ternary operators? Flash my terminal vx670 Project Description: Have VeriFone software need it to communicate with the vx670 through com port 1 it is not talking I'm not sure why have all the r

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