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Urban Sustainable Energy How a Metered Is Adapting and Why It Is Occurring Now
While renewable energy might be great for the surroundings, the ability grid must adjust to the transition to green sources of energy and grow a &ldquosmart” grid to handle variability of your diverse renewable power portfolio.
The smart grid is called the world wide web of things. Each &ldquothing” within the smart grid can be an appliance such as an air conditioning equipment, a controlling device as being a programmable thermostat or motor control center or power source like a solar cell. Alternative energy communicate realtime power generation information to utilities. Even though the theory of the smart grid has been in existence for over a decade, it is simply now transforming into a reality.
How Come the Smart Grid Now possible?
There are several explanations why the smart grid will be released en masse now although the technology has existed for any decade. The principal reasons pushing the smart grid include the economies of scale that now make a good grid affordable, the adoption of renewable energy since its cost per kilowatt comes down, and also the computing infrastructure forced to run smart grids now installed and operating.
Economies of ScaleNetworking the entire metered requires countless sensors. As wireless technology has exploded, the expense of individual wireless communication devices has come down low enough we can consider installing countless them throughout the power company along with appliances as a standard feature. Smart grid sensors use the same cheap communication components as cellular phones, often using similar batteries too. By leveraging the price savings yielded by the economies of scale for producing millions of mobile devices and PDAs monthly, smart grid infrastructure has become affordable enough to become practical and in practically exactly what uses greater than a sip of power.
Renewables Require a Smart GridRenewable energy demands tighter power company monitoring and immediate corrections to take care of. Solar technology production is greatest in the afternoon, when folks often utilize most power. However, it produces little power in the winter though people need energy to stay warm. Wind power peaks at sunrise and sunset, if you find relatively little demand. Adding more renewable energy to the power company multiplies the variability with the power source. When sustainable energy from local sources suddenly drops due to a thunderstorm blocking sunshine, the electricity grid must compensate by either pulling power from batteries or turning on gas main power plants.
For this reason Spain’s solar powered energy and wind power drive caused a horrific economic slump they discovered that for each megawatt of renewable energy installed in, that they had to install an identical capacity of natural gas or oil burning power generation which was then rarely used. Spain was required to build double the power plants with all the higher priced renewable power plants quite often.
The Us is not facing this debacle because it is shifting to gas. Alternative energy that are ideal for the surroundings are coming on line slowly over the grid, while the investors still obtain a return of investment since the gas main vegetation is still employed in some capacity all of the time. However, as more sustainable energy sources think about it line, more back power generators must be added and trapped in sync using the alternative energy supply. As well as a smart grid is inside your handle many small, personal renewable energy projects that supply nearly all of a person’s power but must alternate between accepting locally produced power and delivering power when renewable sources flunk.
Data AnalyticsThe smart grid generates massive numbers of information. Thanks to data analysis and knowledge reporting tools pioneered by the likes of Google, utilities have the ability to compare one utility customer’s date against their neighbors, directory of each person’s prior day’s usage and relate this to the day before’s temperature outside. More to the point, these details could be relayed on the user through utility websites or displayed on the house’s thermostat. Some consumers have signed up for emailed notices and warnings once they use more power than average or their pre-selected quota.
Other users have signed up for discount programs where these are notified of power system overloads and paid to make off devices and convey down their capability consumption. Some utility industry is receiving rewards for shifting power consumption to non-peak times like day and shortly before bedtime. Using affordable cloud-computing and knowledge analysis tools depending on those pioneered by Google, utilities now manage to record energy usage of shoppers minute by minute and reward those who lower their usage in the event the utility asks them to take action. Conservation is good for consumers and also the environment, but it ought to be balanced by consumers’ needs thorough data analysis helps companies and consumers reach a good balance before rolling blackouts hit.
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Reclaiming Your Language
This is a list of some of the new things in the reading.
1. tala-ak=straight, when used with hemkanga it means to speak straight, to speak the truth.
2. didatna=sometimes, reduplicated from dina twice.
3. nayensh=others
4. snapempema=trick, cheat, fool
5. hasiugis=1st noun of hasiuga
6. kiyis=1st noun of kiya-to lie, used twice in a different meaning
7. ka-ika=to behave strangely, foolishly
8. nanokdwati-about everything
9. gemgemli=quiet, calm
10. pelpelis=1st noun of pelpela
11. hemkangabli=reply, respond
12.katak=the truth
13. katak gi=to tell the truth
14. yoyalka=to be sorry, to feel bad
15. hak=a particle of emphasis. here can be translated as “just.” |
How political identity changes response to energy conservation feedback by 200%
Intervention Environment,
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time; reducing energy consumption is a key way to mitigate it. While many regions, like Scandinavia, have been quick to levy significant taxes on energy consumption, there has been a political gridlock surrounding such policies between “liberals” and “conservatives” in the United States. Many researchers have suggested nudges can help overcome this gridlock. In California, the energy provider OPOWER started sending a Home Energy Report (HER) to those in the upper percentile of energy consumption in their neighborhood, comparing their energy usage to their neighbors.
But how effective are such nudges at mitigating energy consumption? Dora L. Costa and Matthew E. Kahn argue that a nudge’s effectiveness depends on the individuals’ political ideology. Their data suggests that California’s HER policy was two to four more times more effective on liberals than it was on conservatives. The researchers argue that, consequently, policy makers should individualize nudges, based on their population’s political ideology, to maximize the nudge’s effectiveness at mitigating energy consumption.
Rating = 3/5 (Correlational research; unclear if participant privacy was respected)
The response to energy consumption feedback between political groups
Condition Results
Identified as Liberal
• 2.4% overall decrease in energy consumption
• 4-5% decrease in consumption if they did not previously purchase renewable energy or donate to environmental causes
• 45% less likely to read the report for less than 2 minutes
Identified as Conservative
• 1.7% overall decrease in energy consumption
• 1-2% decrease in consumption if they did not previously purchase renewable energy or donate to environmental causes
• 50% more likely to stop reading the report after 2 minutes
Key Concepts
Nudges: Interventions where behavioral architects change aspects of the choice architecture—as opposed to aspects of the choices themselves—to lead people to choose in a certain way.
Identity Economics: the branch of economics that focuses on how people’s identity—in this case, political identity—influences people’s choices.
Social Norms: Social norms are rules that rule how individuals ought to act in a society. Oftentimes, social norms and group identity are closely tied: belonging to a certain group comes with having to follow certain group-specific rules.
The Problem
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues today, and most experts agree that curbing energy consumption is key to mitigating its effects. Consequently, policy makers across the world need to act fast: we need policies that lower energy consumption. One successful method has been to increase taxes on energy consumption; for instance, Danish taxes on energy consumption constitute more than 50% of consumers’ electricity bill.
In the United States, however, political gridlock has prevented policy makers from implementing high energy tax. (In various polls, Democrats and Republicans differ between 20 and 30 points on whether they’re in favor of higher electricity taxes.) This begs the question: if the political differences between liberals and conservatives halted traditional legislation, would they also affect the impact of a nudge?
Many have turned to nudges as a low-cost alternative to traditional policy proposals like increased taxation. In a 2008 case, a large utility district started sending over-consuming citizens a HER report, which details how their electricity usage is above their neighbors’, and gives them tips on how to curb their electricity usage.
Who was included in the sample?
The researchers looked at 35,000 contiguous, single-family households who received an HER report, and at a control group of about 49,000 contiguous, single-family households who did not receive it. To be eligible, the household could not be in an apartment complex, and had to be between 250 and 99,998 square feet. They then looked at these households’ consumption data starting from January 2007 to October 2009, and matched it to the data provided by the HER report and the control data. (When either was unavailable, the household was discarded from analysis.)
How was political ideology assessed?
To test for political ideology, the researchers purchased household voter registration data from Aristotle, a political data and consulting firm. This allowed them to see a household’s political affiliation and donation patterns; in particular, the researchers were able to see whether i) a household’s votes were more liberal or conservative leaning, ii) whether the household donated to an environmental group, and iii) whether the household enrolled in the electricity company’s previous, voluntary renewable power program. They also looked at a survey, provided by the utility provider, of around 1,375 households’ attitudes towards the HER program.
Using these measures, the researchers claimed to estimate whether a household was liberal or conservative, what their attitudes towards the HER program were, and how much energy they consumed before and after the program was implemented.
Results and Application
All else being equal, the nudge was effective in both liberals and conservatives, to differing degrees. Liberals decreased their consumption by 2.4%; conservatives decreased their consumption by 1.7%. Controlling for income, home value, and renter status had no statistically significant effect. Living in a liberal neighborhood did have a statistically significant effect: both liberals and conservatives in such neighborhoods were more likely to reduce consumption after reading their HER.
Examining additional variables
When all else was not equal, the difference between liberals and conservatives heightened. For instance, among households who did not purchase renewable energy, and which did not donate to environmental causes, liberals’ energy consumption reduced by twice more than their conservative colleagues’ (4% to 5% vs. 1% to 2%, respectively.) Looking at various additional vectors, the researchers estimated that the nudge was two to four more times more effective on liberals than on conservatives. Additionally, conservatives were more likely to report negative attitudes towards the HER, and were much more likely to stop reading after two minutes than liberals.
Key takeaway
Overall, while the HER successfully nudged liberals and conservatives towards consuming less energy, it was more effective among liberals. Moreover, conservatives were much more likely to respond negatively to it. Thus, the researchers recommend that policymakers consider individualizing nudges based on household and neighborhood political make-up.
Climate & Energy Similar differences among political groups have been found in other areas of climate policy. For instance, conservatives are more likely to positively respond to “carbon offsets” rather than “carbon taxes.”
Health & Wellbeing Given the recent polarization surrounding topics like COVID-19 vaccines, understanding how different political groups respond to interventions might help increase vaccination rates.
Public Policy Nudges are increasingly used as an alternative to traditional policy interventions. However, this intervention suggests that nudges might need to be individuated among political lines to maximize effectiveness.
• While OPOWER’s initial intervention was successful at curbing energy consumption among liberals, it was less successful—and sometimes backfired—amongst conservatives.
• The data set’s size suggests that the participant set was diverse, but equity was not explicitly discussed.
• Their purchase of the data set makes it unclear whether privacy and consent were respected.
Room for improvement
Insufficient information/Not applicable
Does the intervention demonstrably improve the lives of those affected by it? The intervention looked at differences in effectiveness in another intervention—it did not itself change behavior.
Does the intervention respect the privacy (including the privacy of identity) of those it affects? While all data was reported anonymously, some data was purchased from a third party. Thus, it is unclear whether it was gathered in a way that respected people’s privacy.
Does the intervention have a plan to monitor the safety, effectiveness, and validity of the intervention? Various metrics were employed to estimate household energy expenditure and political ideology. However, no metrics were used to evaluate safety or validity.
Does the intervention abide by a reasonable degree of consent? While some data was explicitly gathered consensually, it is unclear whether the purchased data set procured participants’ consent.
Does the intervention respect the ability of those it affects to make their own decisions? Consumers were still able to choose how much energy to spend.
Does the intervention increase the number of choices available to those it affects? The number of choices stayed the same.
Does the intervention acknowledge the perspectives, interests, and preferences of everyone it affects, including traditionally marginalized groups? While the intervention discusses the nudge’s effects amongst political lines, it does not mention how this intersects among racial or ethnic lines as well.
Are the participants diverse? Given the size of the data set, it is plausible to assume that the participants were diverse.
Does the intervention help ensure a just, equitable distribution of welfare? While climate change is an equity issue, the fact that the nudge backfired on conservatives suggests that a more personalized intervention is necessary.
Related TDL Content
Holding the Line: Social Norms and Party-Line Voting:
We saw how a big motivation for California’s HER policy was that there was a large political gridlock between liberals and conservatives in the United States. We also saw how political identity affects the policy’s effectiveness at mitigating energy consumption. As it turns out, however, political identity’s effect on decision-making is partly responsible for the gridlock in the first place. In this article, Shi Shi Li provides a behavioral perspective on how political identity, and the social norms associated with that identity, lead members of congress to vote along party lines.
How Social Norms Complicate Behavioral Research:
In this study, we saw one way in which group identity complicates behavioral interventions. However, group identity also affects behavioral research, too. In this piece, John Lawrence documents some of the ways in which group identity—and the social norms that come with it— affect research in the behavioral sciences.
Costa, D., & Kahn, M. (2010). Energy Conservation “Nudges” and Environmentalist Ideology: Evidence from a Randomized Residential Electricity Field Experiment (No. w15939; p. w15939). National Bureau of Economic Research. |
Air transport is an important contributor to a globalized world. However, its contribution to human-induced CO2 emission is seen as a threat to sustainability. With the flying shame movement from Sweden (“flygskam”), airline emissions have gained focus in the sustainability debate. In all fairness, air traffic contributes only around 2% of global human-induced CO2 emissions.
On the other hand, air transport is the highest contributor to CO2 emissions among all transportation modes. In addition to CO2, air traffic also emits NOx emissions. And – different to other pollution sources – air traffic emissions happen at a height of approximately 12km where the atmosphere is especially sensitive to these emissions.
For sure, the coronavirus pandemic has not established the “flying shame debate”, but it has fostered the sensitivity for sustainability topics.
Even though hydrogen-based engine development is on its way, it is still far from standard application. Different from other emission sources, the CO2 footprint of airlines can be reduced and compensated but aircraft engines will not be fully CO2 neutral for at least the next decade to come.
In this light, one may ask whether a green airline is a realistic scenario?
This leads to a critical managerial situation: Even if airlines followed the calls from their sustainability-focused customers, they would not be able to cut CO2 emissions in the short term. Therefore, intense communication on green measures without significant tangible reduction efforts in the short term could lead to a loss of trust and the customer perception that airlines are just greenwashing.
To avoid negative customer perceptions, airlines need to admit their impact on the climate whilst proposing a long-term plan to reduce their CO2 and NOx footprint. Only if the perception is that airlines take their impact on the climate seriously, customers will honor their activity. In the future, promoting newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft alone might not be sufficient in the view of critical customers. Instead, airlines need a self-reflected, open, and realistic path to more sustainability encompassed with authentic measures. A communication that tries to emphasize the small overall impact of air traffic might rather lead to negative word of mouth, in the future. Moreover, communication on low-priced promotions in parallel to sustainability communication might destroy the trust of critical customers.
Despite its only 2% contribution to human-induced CO2, air traffic will be in the focus of critical customers more than ever. Only by properly managing sustainability concerns, airlines will be able to keep control of their sustainability perception and image in general. This new focus calls for close coordination of its marketing and sustainability initiatives to develop coherent communication approaches. |
The Power of Hate
When Pharaoh had a change of heart and decided to pursue the newly liberated Jewish people, the Torah relates how he prepared himself for that pursuit:
“He harnessed his chariot and took [or: persuaded] his people [to come] with him.”
Rashi makes the observation that Pharaoh harnessed his own chariot. Apparently, Rashi’s intention is to point out how unusual it was for a powerful monarch to harness his own chariot and not delegate the task to a servant!
Why would Pharaoh behave this way? And why would the Torah point out this anomaly?
At first blush, one is tempted to explain Pharaoh’s bizarre behavior by referring to the Torah’s statement that the heathen prophet Bilam saddled his own donkey on his way to curse the Jewish people. There too Rashi makes the observation that Bilam personally saddled his donkey and explains:
From here we can derive that hatred undermines the rules of normal behavior, for he saddled it himself. Said the Holy One Blessed is He, “Wicked one! Their Abraham had already preceded you as it says, ‘He woke up early in the morning and saddled his donkey.’”
Rashi interprets Bilam’s saddling of his donkey as a demonstration of his irrational hatred for the Jews and implies that Abraham's act of saddling his own donkey was evidence of Abraham’s irrational love for G‑d. Indeed, Rashi (Bereishis 22:3) applies the saying “love undermines normal behavior” to Abraham’s saddling of his own donkey.
The Difference Between Bilam and Pharaoh
Based on the foregoing it would seem that Pharaoh’s personal involvement in the harnessing of his chariot was also motivated by hatred, which can cause an otherwise normal person to behave irrationally.
However, if this is true one can ask why Rashi stresses, “from here [i.e., the story of Bilam] we can derive that hatred undermines the rules of normal behavior,” intimating that the earlier incident with Pharaoh does not convey that message. Why doesn’t Rashi cite Pharaoh’s unconventional behavior of harnessing his own chariot as an even earlier source for the lesson that the power of hatred can cause one to behave irrationally?
Moreover, the Midrash does, in fact, compare the hatred of Bilam, who personally saddled his donkey, to the hatred of Pharaoh, who harnessed his own chariot. Why does Rashi deviate from the Midrash in this regard?
The Rebbe (Likkutei Sichos, volume 28, p. 162) explains that there was a fundamental difference between Bilam’s behavior and that of Pharaoh. Bilam was consumed with an abiding and profound hatred for the Jewish people. Pharaoh, on the other hand, wanted to convince his people to join him in pursuit of the Jewish people to retrieve the wealth they took from the Egyptians. In other words, Pharaoh’s behavior was not irrational and was not motivated by hatred but by greed and the need to convince his subjects to follow him in the pursuit of the fleeing Jews.
The question can be raised: While this explains Rashi’s approach, what can we say with respect to the Midrash? Why does it impute the motive of hatred to Pharaoh and compare him to Bilam? Wasn’t Pharaoh motivated by greed and Bilam by hatred?
Two Dimensions of Hatred
The answer to this question seems to hinge on the different approaches of Rashi and the Midrash which are reflected in the way they view the text of the Torah and, by extension, the way we are to understand and interpret people’s motives.
Rashi follows the dimension of p’shat, the simple, straightforward and surface level of the Torah. When Rashi reads the text of how Pharaoh harnessed his own chariot he reads it in context. Right before this verse the Torah states,
Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart towards the people, and they said, “What have we done, that we have sent away Israel from serving us?”
In other words, they regretted having freed the Jews and thereby having lost the benefits of slavery.
Another “clue” that his harnessing of his own chariot was not an overt act of hatred is the way the Torah states, “He harnessed his chariot, and took the people with him.” This, Rashi explains, means Pharaoh convinced them to join him by promising them he would lead the charge and divide the spoils equally. Harnessing his own chariot was a calculated and rational gimmick.
The root of the word Midrash means to investigate and probe beneath the surface. It is in the Midrash that we dig deeper into the text and into human behavior.
Yes, it is true that Pharaoh was motivated by greed and the desire to get back his wealth and his slaves. But beneath the surface greed there lurked a deep-rooted hatred for the Jewish People.
Modern Day Forms of Anti-Semitism
In modern times two models—the Bilam and Pharaoh models—of anti-Semitism have emerged. There are some who do not hide their irrational hatred for the Jewish People; they state openly what violence they desire to do to us, may Hashem protect us from their designs! Tragically, we have seen too much of this evil in recent times. But there is an even more insidious form of antipathy to the Jewish people although it is often couched in other terms. While some state openly that they despise us, others hide behind neat clichés and euphemistic expressions. Some— the so-called intellectually elite such as many academics, journalists, political leaders, etc.—even sound as if they truly care for us; if we would only give up another part of the Land of Israel, they would love us! They charge us with all sorts of injustices even as they turn a blind eye to all of the injustices perpetrated against the Jewish People, as well as all the others in the world who suffer from the forces of evil.
We ought not be fooled by these fake excuses for their opposition to the Jewish People. Underneath their pronouncements lurks hatred, much like Pharaoh’s underlying motive for pursuing the Jewish people. While the p’shatdeclares that their opposition to us is based on other considerations, the Midrash reveals the truth of their hatred for us.
One may suggest that the more insidious a form of evil is, the harder it is to combat and neutralize it. Often the hater himself does not believe he is motivated by hatred. As we see in the current international climate, the greatest critics of Israel and the Jews bristle at the suggestion that they are motivated by anti-Semitism.
Now that we know who our enemy is, we must know how we can defeat both the overt and covert forms of anti-Semitism.
Abraham’s Legacy
The answer is provided in a better understanding of Rashi’s comments. Rashi cited G‑d’s response to Bilam that Abraham had preceded him with the unconventional saddling of his own donkey. The Rebbe (in the foregoing citation) suggests that Abraham’s unconventional devotion to G‑d not only neutralized the hatred of Bilam, but also empowered us to transform the curses of Bilam into blessings.
How can we apply the transformation of Bilam’s curses into blessings insofar as this hatred is concerned?
The Rebbe explains that Judaism encompasses two areas of service to G‑d: doing good and refraining from evil. Love is what motivates us to perform the “positive” or active Mitzvos, whereas our hatred and revulsion of evil endows us with the strength to resist it.
However, the two areas of service are themselves divided. There are two levels of love of G‑d and doing good and two levels of the parallel hatred for evil: a rational, measured and limited form of love and hate and an unlimited, supra-rational form. It was this supra-rational love of good and abhorrence of evil that Abraham bequeathed to us. This is the powerful force which enables us to transform Bilam’s hatred of the Jews and all that is holy to them into hatred of all that is evil.
Hidden Levels Emerging
We may take the Rebbe’s analysis of the transformation of Bilam’s hatred and apply it also to the hidden hatred of Pharaoh.
Pharaoh’s anti-Semitism is particularly insidious. The Pharaoh’s of this world must dig very deep into their psyche to discover the root cause of their antipathy to Jews.
When we transform this brand of evil, we can develop the ability to resist, neutralize and transform even the most insidious forms of evil.
The Rebbe often referred to the phenomenon in recent times whereby hidden forms of good and evil have surfaced in the world at large and within individuals. This phenomenon, the Rebbe stated, was a symptom of the Messianic Era. As the prophet Daniel predicted, everything will become clarified and crystallized in that Era. Hidden evils are now surfacing, which explains why so many people whom we thought of as civilized, reasonable and decent have turned against us.
When we consider the pervasive nature of this hatred throughout the world, where supposedly decent people have teamed up with the greatest of haters or given them tacit support, we cannot become intimidated. Instead, how can we find the strength to cope with this new situation?
In truth, we have already been given that strength. Our father Abraham’s unconventional love of G‑d has empowered us, his descendants, to unleash our heretofore hidden powers to neutralize and even transform that hidden evil. Although, Abraham’s power was always available to us, it has become most accessible in these last moments of exile. We are about to say our final goodbye to Galus and welcome Moshiach and the Final Redemption, when all forms of evil will be obliterated and transformed into good. |
If you are looking for an eco-friendly system that not only heats and cools your home or business but also improves the air quality at the same time, then HVAC may be the perfect option for you.
HVAC is an acronym that stands for “Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning”.
At its core, HVAC takes fresh air from outside a building, brings it inside, heats it up or cools it down depending on the occupant’s requirements, and then sends clean air around the building through a series of ducts.
Although it is a system that has been around for a while, it is becoming increasingly popular in homes as well as commercial buildings as the benefits of this system become more evident.
The main benefit of an HVAC system is that it does more than merely warming or cooling a building.
It is designed to provide controlled changes in temperature while simultaneously moving clean air around the building, improving the inside air quality.
In the past, buildings were constructed with plenty of points for ventilation. However, these days buildings are specifically designed to minimise any movement of air, in or out of a building.
Although this does make a space far more energy efficient (which is clearly a positive outcome), it also reduces the movement of air around a building.
This can have a detrimental effect on the home or workspace.
Stagnant air in a building encourages not only indoor moisture retention and excess humidity but also causes harmful viruses or allergens to stick around for longer and cause more health issues for those inside the building.
HVAC takes filtered outdoor air and continuously moves it around a building to prevent these issues, replacing the indoor air with clean, fresh air. |
Reference Note on Process Design
By Charles Holloway
1969 | Case No. OM11
Process design describes the efforts made by an organization to identify and establish the most efficient method of producing the valuable output which it offers for sale or use. In manufacturing situations, it extends from the design of an assembly department with two workers producing candy to the intricate dovetailing of the assembly operations in an auto plant. |
What is the duo-art?
The Duo-Art was the reproducing piano system produced by the Aeolian Corporation, and like the Ampico and Welte was designed to reproduce an actual performance by a pianist which had been recorded on special equipment, with the note intensity values being encoded in (essentially) four-bit binary code within Duo-Art rolls: four bits for the theme intensity and four bits for the accompaniment, with theme and accompaniment being assigned to bass and/or treble as require. Duo-Art rolls are of standard width and spool design but have additional coding in the margins. There were actually three main variants of the Duo-Art system, two of which were capable of being used as true reproducing pianos, with the third being essentially a pedal pianola with enhanced expression:
• The electric-only Duo-Art: this is designed to operate purely as a reproducing piano, though with some capability for playing non-reproducing rolls without expression.
• The Pedal-Electric Duo-Art (PEDA): this is a dual-purpose instrument capable of being configured either to operate electrically as a reproducing piano, or to be used as a conventional pedal-operated player piano. The PEDA makes for a very versatile and desirable instrument; it was however primarily a product of Aeolian in the UK and is virtually unknown in the USA where only the electric-only Duo-Art (and standard pedal-operated pianolas) were available.
• The pedal-only Duo-Art (Pedal Duo-Art often known as the half Duo-Art): this is very similar to a conventional pedal-operated pianola but instead of a standard expression box it has a single Duo-Art regulator as shown in the technical explanation below. This controls the accompaniment level (in other words, the non-theme notes forming the background to the music) while the theme is automatically picked out at the level controlled directly by the pedalling of the pianolist. It was arguably something of a ploy to create a market for the expensive Duo-Art rolls among people who could not afford a full electric or pedal-electric instrument.
The following sections explain how the Duo-Art system reads the notes from the roll and plays them at the level specified in the special coding in the roll margins.
How the Duo-Art works: introduction
The basic method of playing the notes is identical to that of the straightforward player piano as explained elsewhere on the website.
The Duo-Art system has a single expression box which supplies both halves of the player stack at two alternative levels of playing: "theme" (for bringing out the melody or foreground of the music) and "accompaniment" (background level of playing). The expression box has suction regulators for setting both of these levels, and a valve system for connecting either or both halves of the stack to the theme regulator (by default they are both driven from the accompaniment regulator).
The diagram above shows how both halves of the stack are connected to the single expression box, and the picture below shows the inside of a Pedal-Electric Duo-Art reproducing piano with the main components labelled.
How the duo-art expression box works
The key component of the Duo-Art system is the expression box which controls the playing of both the bass and treble halves of the player mechanism (the “stack”). It consists of two suction regulators (one for theme, one for accompaniment), each of which is operated by a lever which is pulled down via a control rod, with the movement being provided by "accordion pneumatics", one of which is visible in the lower part of the picture. The "accordion" pneumatic has four sections which can collapse in by differing amounts (1/6", 1/8", 1/4", 1/2") to give sixteen possible combinations. This gives sixteen basic levels of playing volume. In practice, various tricks, and other features of the Duo-Art system not explored here, were used to give even more subtlety.
The following sequence of diagrams explains how the expression box works; click on the left and right arrow buttons to move forward or backward through the sequence. The sequence is best viewed on a desktop or laptop PC as it is not optimised for small screens e.g. smartphones. [We are working on it!]
Here is a video explaining in detail how the various perforations control the theme and accompaniment suction and set the expression intensity to the sixteen different levels |
The Importance of installing a wood burner by a HETAS installer | Stoves World Ltd
By law once a wood burning stove has been installed, the stove needs to be checked and signed off by a local authority building control department, which can cost around £200. However, a qualified engineer can self-certify their work to ensure it meets all necessary regulations.
Many people think they can install a stove themselves, or with the help of a friend. A badly fitted stove can cause a chimney fire, as can burning the incorrect fuel, and cases have been known where this has caused many thousands of pounds worth of damage.
An even greater threat is Carbon Monoxide poisoning which can prove fatal, and so it is vitally important that homeowners buy their wood burner from a reputable dealer and insist it is installed by a HETAS registered engineer.
HETAS is the official body responsible for approving biomass and solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services- including the registration of competent installers and servicing companies. A HETAS or CE approved stove will also ensure that it is safe and fit for purpose.
Making sure your stove is installed correctly is vitally important for safety. Not only that, but, an installation which meets building regulations will also burn fuel more efficiently and cost less money to run (Bruce Allen, HETAS 2011).
A recent survey carried out by Broseley found that 70% of their distributors and installers frequently met customers who believe they could install a stove on their own, without professional help, this is an issue that the whole industry needs to face up to.
DIY stove installations have huge risks associated with it, this is why your home insurance or an estate agent if you were to sell the property, will ask for certification of any solid fuel appliance fitted in the same way as a gas installation.
One such risk is suffocation by poorly and self installed wood stoves from gases produced. The wood burning stove can lead to instant illness when installed poorly on chimneys without the chimney lining. When the chimney lining is missing it will lead to the accumulation of carbon monoxide. This will prevent the gas from the burning wood not moving out through the chimney, and it can flow inwards into the house. Therefore, when the DIY stove installation is poorly installed and is left to warm the house during the night, one will die from invisible and aroma less carbon monoxide poisoning, that happens without anyone noticing that they are suffocating.
Building Regulations
The installation of wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves (or any solid fuel appliance) is 'controlled' under Building Regulations-as is the relining or installation of flues and chimneys associated with such heat-producing appliances.
While this should mean that stove installation work is being carried out by a HETAS installer or an official sign-off certificate is provided by building control, the reality is that many stoves get put in un-checked.
Although qualifications are not mandatory, any person fitting a solid-fuel must be competent to do so- i.e. familiar with the correct procedures and associated regulatory requirements. It is recommended that stove fitters always undertake HETAS-approved training to ensure they have the correct skills and understand best practice for safe installation.
On-going maintenance
A stove is not a 'fit-and-forget' product. While the burner itself may need little maintenance, it is imperative that chimneys are swept at least twice per season. Approximately five or six deaths are reported to HETAS every year due to poorly-maintained appliances. Without cleaning, soot builds up in the flue and this can cause chimney fires. |
The Desertification of Spain's Drylands
The Guadalentín Valley in Murcia. If you've ever driven to Andalucía along Spain's east coast, chances are you've passed through it. Home to the towns of Lorca and Alhama de Murcia, it's an arid corridor making its way from the sea at Guadamar de Segura to the town of Puerto Lumbreras, backed by the stark massifs of the Sierra Espuña and Carrascoy. The Guadalentín River has been described as the wildest in Europe; bone-dry at one moment, it can fill up with a violent torrente when there's a rainstorm. Most of the time, it's a rambla. In the dry months, people even park their cars in its rocky bed at Puerto Lumbreras.
Since 2000 the Guadalentín Valley is reportedly Spain's driest area. An environmental report by Coordinadora de Agricultores y Ganaderos (COAG) analyzed annual rainfall and average temperatures in different zones, basing its findings on the LANG index, a 'thermopluviometer', which works out an area's aridity by dividing its annual rainfall (mm) by its mean annual temperature (C). According to LANG there are six categories of hydric performance, ranging from 'desert' to 'superhumid'.
Whereas the Guadalentín Valley once qualified as 'super-arid', it now qualifies as 'desert'. In the last sixteen years, the area received on average 78.4 litres of rainfall per m2. To put that in context, the national average is 622 litres. According to COAG, this means the valley is 'like Arizona or the Sahara Desert', and the agricultural productivity of the area could become endangered.
What is happening in Guadalentín is not unique. It's symptomatic of a wider pattern - called 'desertification' - affecting many parts of the peninsula. 'Desertification' is the degradation of dryland ecosystems by climate change and damaging human activities.
Scientist Jaime Martínez Valderrama, who works for the Almería-based Estación Experimental de Zonas Aridas, which has been developing a simulator-map of current trends, claims that over 20% of Spanish territory has been degraded to the point of desertification. This means that a fifth of the land mass has lost part or all of its potential for productivity. Two-thirds of Spanish terrain falls into the 'arid', 'semi-arid' or 'dry sub-humid' categories, and is therefore vulnerable to desertification. Murcia, Canarias and Comunitat Valenciana are the regions chiefly at risk, followed by Castilla La Mancha, Catalonia, Baleares, Madrid and Andalucía.
Dryland ecosystems cover nearly a half of the globe, including about 24% of Europe. Roughly a third of the planet's human populace lives in one. These ecosystems, defined by low rainfall combined with high levels of evaporation, are particularly vulnerable to the threat of climate change. Reduced precipitation in such an ecosystem can cause a failure in the production of crops, timber and other materials essential for human survival.
Degradation over a sustained period means the ecosystem loses the ability to regenerate itself, resulting in the permanent erosion of topsoil, earth and groundwater reserves. In poverty-affected areas, human populations are forced to move on from land which cannot sustain them towards more fertile areas, where the increased pressure on over-worked land can result in further unsustainable agricultural practices and degradation.
A chain effect. So, surely these areas need special protection or prevention measures?
Generally, dryland ecosystems are better suited to nomadic grazing and herding practices, as opposed to sedentary cultivation. Over the last century Spanish practice has shifted strongly towards the latter. Encouraged by subsidiaries from the PAC (Política Agrícola Común - an organ of the EU which has been establishing agrarian practice all over Europe since its inception in 1962), huge tracts of southern Spain have been turned over to a blanket cultivation of olivos and almendros. This has stunted biodiversity - an essential ingredient in a healthy ecosystem.
Forest fires, misuse of water resources and chemical fertilizers are other factors which contribute to desertification. Then there are the invernaderos, a feature of both Almerían and Murcian landscapes. These huge, sprawling greenhouses cover the slopes of the mountains, requiring immense movements of earth similar to those in a quarry, which has a debilitating erosional effect on the landscape. In 1996 Spain was one of 191 nations to sign an accord with the UN agreeing to combat desertification, and in 2008 the Spanish Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente hatched its own Programa de Acción Nacional Contra La Desertificación, prioritizing the 'prevention of degradation of lands' as well as 'the recuperation of lands already affected'. Until now there have been no plans to combat the ravaging consequences of the invernaderos as part of the Programa de Acción Nacional Para Combatir La Desertificación.
Another contributing factor to the current problem with land degradation was the early 1990s boom in 'especulación urbanistica', which led to the widespread conversion of arable land and fluvial vallies into urbanizaciones, carreteras and poligonos industriales. During this period, Spain held the dubious title of not only being the European nation with the lowest proportion of high value arable land, but the one with the highest rate of urbanizing such land.
The time has come, it seems, for better land use and management practises. On June 17, the United Nations celebrates its 2016 World Day to Combat Desertification. You can read about the measures it promotes at http://www.unccd.int/en/Pages/default.aspx
With climate change and increased temperatures set to exacerbate current problems, without a sensible, conservational approach to farming systems, the degradation of the Guadalentín Valley could easily extend to other areas.
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Biology
Undergraduate Course: Biology, Ecology and Environment 1 (BILG08017)
Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryBiology, Ecology and Environment 1 focuses on the interconnectedness of nature and offers valuable insights into the diversity, distribution and abundance of life on planet Earth. The course provides the foundations for understanding the complex relationships that form throughout our planet and provides a backdrop for appreciating our current global crises. We will also explore how, by understanding biology, ecology and the environment, we can begin to respond to some of these challenges.
Lectures and Practicals are divided into modules that reflect the "hierarchical structure of nature", demonstrating the organisation of life from the single individual to complete ecosystems and the importance of interactions at each level. The core factual material covers the following topics:
- Global Environments
(how climatic conditions are established on our planet)
- Organisms and Biology
(the astonishing number of ways in which organisms make a living)
- Population Ecology
(how individuals interact and populations change)
- Communities and Ecosystems
(how organisms, species and whole communities interact)
- The Changing Planet
(how the changes we humans are making affect those interactions)
However, the scope is much beyond just the core knowledge. The course aims to explore the nature of science, as an active field, using Ecological concepts as the basis of this exploration.
Students will develop a deeper understanding of science by engaging in activities where they are:
- generating new knowledge and understanding;
- honing their critical thinking skills;
- communicating scientific research; and
- developing data handling and interpretation skills.
These skills are practiced with hands-on practicals and a group research project (on a self-selected topic), which can involve field visits (e.g. a beaver estate in Perthshire). The in-course assessments reward both personal and group effort.
Course description The course aims to deliver on the concepts stated in the title: biology, ecology and the environment. However, a central aim is to instil in students a basic understanding and passion for science. The hope is to move students from a perspective where science is simply a collection of facts, to an understanding that science is an active and dynamic field of endeavour - where individuals, working collaboratively, explore and understand the world using hypothesis-driven scientific methods.
Throughout the course, in hands-on practicals and a course-long project, students will be generating and testing hypotheses to develop new knowledge, in essence acting as actual scientists. The project also allows students to develop and pursue their own ideas, and take ownership of the work that they are doing. Accurate scientific writing and communication skills will also be fostered through the assessments associated with these activities.
The content of the course covers the great breadth of ecological and biological concepts required for students to begin their understanding of the natural world.
Module 1: Global Environments
Ecosystem ecology addresses the interactions between organisms and their environment as an integrated system. In this module we introduce the ecosystem concept, and explore the state factors that influence ecosystem processes - particularly climate, soils, hydrology and nutrient cycles.
Module 2: The Living Planet: Organisms and Biology
The most basic unit in the ecology hierarchy is the individual organism. There is a huge diversity of ways that organisms can make a living on Planet Earth, from generating their own energy from non-biological sources, to being a top predator of other living organisms. In this module we will explore how individual organisms are able to grow, survive and reproduce, and look at how they interact with the physical environment.
Module 3: Population Ecology
The second level of the ecology hierarchy is the population. In this module we will explore how multiple individuals of the same species aggregate and interact, and how populations can change over time. Modelling of populations and how this can be used in real-world situations will also be discussed.
Module 4: Communities and Ecosystems
In this module we expand on the concept of species interactions. We consider how communities develop and interact with their environment to form self-sustaining ecosystems that change over time. In this module we will explore the concept of niches, trophic webs, and real-world applications of these and other concepts.
Module 5: The Changing Planet
Species and ecosystems have always had to adapt to change, but with rare exceptions natural changes have been either rare events, or geologically slow, providing ample opportunity for evolutionary responses. However, the rapidly expanding human population is dramatically altering almost every environment on earth, as well as the climate and ocean chemistry. This module examines the causes and effects of changes both natural and anthropogenic, focussing on the consequences for evolution, biodiversity and humanity. It concludes by looking to the future and how best we might minimise the impact of our species on the biosphere.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 33, Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 3, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 12, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Other Study Hours 14, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 131 )
Additional Information (Assessment) Group Investigative Project (30% of final mark for the course)
Practical Lab Reports and Assessments (20% of final mark for the course)
Weekly MCQ Tests (50% of final mark for the course)
Feedback The large components of written, assessed work are proceeded by unassessed (formative) assignments of a similar nature. Feedback on these formative assignments comes in the form of peer-evaluation. However, the act of providing the peer-assessment is the primary learning and reflective activity. Additional feedback for these assignments come from 1-to-1 feedback from a Junior Teaching Fellow (only available to students that have engaged with the peer-feedback exercise).
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
1. know and understand how individuals, populations and communities of organisms interact with each other and the physical environment, to explain why organisms occur where they do.
2. apply biological and ecological principles to investigate and/or solve real-world problems that we are facing.
3. exhibit critical thinking, develop hypotheses and engage in hypothesis-driven scientific investigations, and appreciate the exploratory nature of science.
4. accurately and competently represent and interpret data; and write and present information in a scientific manner.
5. explore biological or ecological topics of individual interest in a self-directed, but collaborative way.
Reading List
There is no single textbook that sufficiently covers all the material in this course, below are a few that contain valuable information to supplement lecture material:
Cain, ML, Bowman, WD and Hacker, SD (2011) Ecology. 2nd Ed. Sinauer Associates Inc.
Townsend, CR, Begon, M and Harper, JL (2008) Essential of Ecology. 3rd Ed. Blackwell Publishing.
Cotgreave, P and Forseth, I (2002) Introductory Ecology. 3rd Ed. Blackwell Science.
Skills related texts:
Knisely, K. (2013) A student handbook for writing in Biology. 4th Ed. Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Colegrave,N. and Ruxton,G.D. (2010) Experimental design for the life sciences. 3rd Ed. Oxford University Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Personal & Intellectual Autonomy
By pursuing the Independent Project in your own time, you will learn to synthesise your own ideas and present and/or defend them in a group environment. These projects also provide a key opportunity for creativity. There are several opportunities to engage in formative assessment (Practical 1 Lab Report and Project Outline Proposal), which allow you to take responsibility for your own learning through
Research & Enquiry
The formative assessments are designed to provide opportunities to develop critical judgement and assessment skills, which are essential for, not only scientists but, any member of the general public, particularly in an era where so much information is readily available. The Projects allow you to actually develop new knowledge and to place it within the broader context of society at large - tying in social, economic, cultural as well as ecological issues. The Practical Written Reports are crucial in providing you with an insight into the standards and methods utilised by the scientific community.
Personal Effectiveness
The ability to organise and summarise your thoughts and material in a flexible and accessible way are core features that are required for personal effectiveness. Planning, time management and reflection are central to this. By providing you with a time-table where key submission dates are highlighted, we are encouraging you to develop your effectiveness throughout this course - the onus is on you to manage these effectively. The group project aspect will provide the opportunity to develop skills in working with others, while encouraging participation and engagement with all members of the group. It will also develop skills in acknowledge and benefiting from the different skills or experience that other group members can provide. Self-test quizzes, available during the course, will allow you to assess your understanding of material as you go allowing you to effectively engage with the course content.
The Oral project presentations will not only provide an opportunity to develop oral communication skills, but, through the question-and-answer session, will be important for gaining and coping with immediate feedback, which may come from a different perspective. The use of peer-feedback will also develop your ability to critical communicate the strengths and weakness of others work, while accepting and reacting positively to critical evaluation of your own work.
Course organiserDr Patrick Walsh
Tel: (0131 6)50 5474
Course secretaryMs Karen Sutherland
Tel: (0131 6)51 3404
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No matter debugging any product, we must first understand its characteristics. As a kind of mechanical equipment widely used in the field of industrial automation, non-standard automation equipment has brought new business opportunities for industrial manufacturing industry with flexible customization, convenient operation and diversified functions. In the use of non-standard automation equipment in the process involves more is the debugging of equipment, some common debugging skills to share with you.
1. Understand product characteristics, including appearance, dimension, tolerance, structure, process, programming, etc.
2. Clean up the parts (including standard parts and non-standard processing parts), and select the most core parts, so as to start assembly and debugging from the core parts. During the assembly process, the accuracy of the parts installed should be checked and measured to ensure the horizontal, vertical, concentricity, fit and other issues.
3. For single cylinder push-pull or lifting part, it should be ensured that the pulling and pushing should be in place, and there should be no abnormal resistance.
4. The balance, perpendicularity and concentricity of the rotating part shall be ensured. In order to achieve the precision of swing arm and indexing.
5. Pin, slot. The places with pin holes and slots should be cleaned up, and appropriate pins should be selected for positioning. The best one-sided tight fitting of the pins is convenient for disassembly and assembly. The accuracy of the clamping slot should be controlled within 0.02 to ensure the accuracy during the secondary assembly, and should not be too large or too tight. If it is too large, there will be no precision; if it is too tight, it can not be assembled.
6、非标自动化设备送料部分依据产品而定，公差带为0.1左右，可以保证产品在料道中通过时畅通无阻。料道零部件入料方向和接口处需倒斜角以 0.2*30 度为标准，具体情况依据产品而定。料道内部需做抛光处理，可防止产品刮伤，刮花。
6. The feeding part of non-standard automatic equipment is determined according to the product, and the tolerance zone is about 0.1, which can ensure the smooth passage of products in the material channel. The feeding direction and interface of material passage parts should be inverted angle of 0.2 * 30 degrees, and the specific situation depends on the product. The internal part of the material channel should be polished to prevent the product from scratch and scratch.
7. Special attention should be paid to nuts and slide rails when assembling screw rods, slide rails and non-standard automation equipment. Do not slide out of the screw rods and slide rails, so as to avoid product scrapping or affecting precision caused by ball falling out. When assembling, ensure the parallelism, perpendicularity and concentricity of parts before assembling. In order to prevent unqualified parts from deformation of screw rod and slide rail during assembly.
8. Valve speed adjustment, valve speed should not affect the production efficiency under the premise of just the speed of product transport is the best state. If the valve speed is too fast, it will vibrate or shake the product; if it is too slow, the production efficiency will be reduced.
Only by mastering the debugging skills of non-standard automation equipment and using these skills reasonably and flexibly in the process of practical application can help you debug successfully quickly and make the equipment run stably. Only in this way can the production cost of the equipment be reduced and the economic benefits of the enterprise be improved. |
”Ave Maris Stella” by Guillaume Dufay
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Ave Maris Stella is composed by Guillaume Dufay. He was born in approximately 1398 and died in about 1474. He was known as the innovator of the 15th century during the renaissance. When he was younger he was brought up as a choirboy in the Cambrai cathedral. That is also where he spend majority of his time. In about 1420 he was ordained a priest. From then on he got a degree and was appointed to many important and influential positions in the church. He traveled to many different locations, writing songs for mass as he went. The fact that he was a priest and fine composer, made him valuable. Everyone wanted him to compose music for themselves and for special events. Guillaume was the innovator of that for many reasons.
He came up with a whole new way of style that people did not use back then. One style that he brought the musical era was the control of dissonance. He used dissonances properly and appropriately instead of randomly like most composers back then used. A second style was that he blended the voices in a way that they all work together to make the sound more complete and together, other composers had a part stand out. The third style was that he used the four main part voices in his most songs, the tenor, bass, alto and soprano, instead of using three, five, or even six. Finally, the fourth style he used was the repetitiveness of rhythmic patterns as a way to make the piece complete. People loved his pieces so much people caught on and started using his ideas for their own.
Ave Maris Stella is a popular hymn of an unknown origin. This hymn has been written by many composers from a-little before baroque to the present day.Some of the writings employ four different plainchant tunes for the Ave Maris Stella; the first three were written for solemnities, feasts, and memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary a fourth is an alternative to the memorial tone. These plainchant tones have been used as the cantus firmus for some polyphonic settings of the mass. Ave Maris Stella has been anthem of the Acadiana. The Acadians were highly devout, and had and still have a high degree of devotion to the Virgin Mary. This is evident in their anthem which instead of being written in French is written in Latin.It was adopted as the anthem of the Acadian people at the Second Acadian National Convention, held in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island in 1884. To this day, it remains a source of Acadian patriotism. The hymn was sung in its original version until French lyrics were finally composed in 1994.
Out of respect for the original hymn, the first verse in the Acadian national anthem remains in Latin.This song is a motet that was dated to at least the 9th century because it was kept in the Codex Sangallensis, a 9th century piece of music would now be at the Swiss Monastery in St. Gallen. The hymn is frequently attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux and sometimes has been attributed to King Robert they both were too late to have authored it. It can be found in ancient codices of the Divine Office for Vespers on Marian feasts. Today it is still in use in the Divine Office and in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. Twelfth century Cistercian mystic Bernard of Clairvaux passionately explored new symbols for the beauty of the Virgin Mary. He read her name, Maria, as maris stella (star of the sea). However, the luscious Latin of this hymn, from its opening “Ave” which echoes the greeting of the Angel Gabriel, through its series of petitions to Mary the mediatrix of sinners fits Bernard’s devotion to the Virgin. Similarly, by the dawn of the Renaissance, the Gregorian chant hymn Ave maris stella inhabited chantbooks throughout the churches and chapels of Europe.
When Guillaume Dufay set about to write his cycle of polyphonic Vespers hymns, he lavished loving care on the crafting of his Ave maris stella. As all of Dufay’s surviving hymns, Ave maris stella is set for three voices, with the well-known chant melody the obvious foundation. In this case, Dufay gives to the highest voice a melody based upon an embellishment of the chant. Despite the graceful passing tones with which he mediates the chant’s striking opening leap, and the relatively high level of embellishment that continues, the chant melody remains audible throughout. Dufay even subtly responds to its features: the plainchant melody ends two phrases with graceful melismas, and Dufay reflects them in a series of extended cadences.
Accompanying the elegant chant paraphrase are two lower voices, of which several different versions survive. Dufay wrote an intricate tenor voice, and it is possible to perform the hymn with an annotated middle voice singing parallel fourths beneath the melody at all times. In this case, the tenor provides much of the piece’s rhythmic drive and interest. However, there also exists a notated contratenor part. In the three-voiced “composed” version, this counter tenor voice lends even more spark to the setting, with quasi-imitation, voice crossings, and a greater level of syncopation. Yet another extant version provides Dufay’s melody with a completely different (and somewhat more bland) pair of lower voices. Church choirs, even the pope’s own singers, were performing and adapting Dufay’s hymn for decades.
Guillaume Dufay influenced many generations of composers and had a great influence on the history of the development of music. This includes how some things are known and done today. His main changes in music were the use of third intervals, the new structure of staffs, and the path towards harmonies used today. He also introduced harmonies which then brought out the melodies in his pieces. Dufay also changed chants to harmonies, which then would make the music flow more smoothly than the complex rhythmic textures that most composers would use in that time period. Dufay wrote the rules and imitations for a cannon, which is a song or melody with two or more parts. Another thing Dufay did to change music history was that he was the first composer to have ever used a folk song in a mass. The things that Guillaume Dufay did and the music he wrote inspired people and changed the way people wrote and see music forever.
The texture of Ave Maris Stella is polyphonic, because the soprano, tenor, and contratenor faux bourdon work separately from each other giving it its contrary motion that goes along with the polyphonic texture. Dufay used both melismatic and syllabic declamation. On measure 20 it clearly shows syllabic declamation. There is on pitch per syllable. “Tans” is on a G note and “He” is on an E note. On measure 21 it shows melismatic declamation, “No” has multiple pitches.
Dufay uses paraphrasing and musica ficta in his piece, Ave Maris Stella. Paraphrasing is taking the original Cantus Firmus melody and adding new notes and rhythms to it. Dufay, unlike many earlier composers, put his paraphrasing in the supremes instead of the tenor. Part of the original Cantus Firmus is; D to A to B and back to A. And in the Soprano part, labeled by X’s, you can see where the original Cantus Firmus is. Dufay of course adds eight notes and dotted quarter notes to make it more interesting. Besides the paraphrasing he uses musica ficta. In measure 22, you can see a sharp (#) placed above the score. This means that putting a sharp is completely optional, but the composer, Dufay, found putting a sharp and making a harmonic minor and giving it a different tone, sounded much better.
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Education, Tutorials
Perfecting Exposure: How and When to Use a Light Meter
If you’re using a camera that was made this century, then it likely has a built-in reflective light meter. That means there’s no need for a handheld light meter, right? Not quite.
An in-camera reflective meter is a great tool. It’s especially good at measuring light coming from a distance, a backlight, a highly reflective subject, or for when an incident light meter can’t be used, such as during a live event. In almost all situations, however, an incident light meter will be more accurate. Many handheld light meters measure both incident and reflective light.
Reflective Meters vs. Incident Meters
As mentioned, there are times when an incident meter is just not feasible, which is why handheld meters often have the ability to measure both incident and reflective light. To understand when to use one measurement over the other, you need to know how each kind of light meter works, and why.
Reflective Meters
A reflective light meter, such as the one in your camera, measures the intensity of light reflecting off of a subject. The light hits your subject, bounces off of, and then is measured as it hits the reflective light meter. The measurement is taken from the position of your camera.
The problem is, a reflective light meter isn’t actually measuring the light falling on the subject, which requires it to interpret what it’s measuring. Reflective light meters assume that all subjects are of 18-percent reflectance, or have a mid-tone of neutral gray. As a result, the measurement can be affected by variations of color or tone in a scene.
Wait, what? I know, it all sounds so technical. Let me try and simplify. Let’s say you have a 1,000-watt light. An incident light meter, which we’ll discuss next, will measure the intensity of light that the 1,000-watt light emits. It doesn’t matter what the subject is, the location, or the time of day. An incident light meter measures the light falling on the subject, and will be the same no matter what, unless you change the intensity of the actual light.
Generic camera viewfinder view looking through lens with camera settings and focus area
Camera Viewfinder by THPStock
A reflective light meter, on the other hand, measures the intensity from that 1,000-watt light after it’s been reflected off of the subject. So, if the subject were holding a mirror, or wearing a highly reflective running jacket, the intensity of the light being measured would be much greater than if the subject was dressed as a cat-burglar wearing all black.
If a subject is more reflective, it will obviously reflect more light, making the light hitting the meter more intense. A reflective light meter will assume it’s a very bright scene, even if it isn’t. So, if you adjust your camera settings based off of the measurement from the reflective light meter, your image may be underexposed, because the meter “thought” the scene was much brighter than it actually was. In the same way, a subject that’s less reflective could result in an overexposed image.
The reflective meter has to make assumptions about what it’s looking at, and while it usually does a good enough job, the results are not always accurate. Most reflective meters have a few different modes to choose from, each measuring the reflected light slightly differently.
Spot Metering: A spot meter measures only the light in a small area of the frame, usually in the very center. The rest of the image isn’t accounted for and the readings are a reflection of the light intensity in that single, small area. You may want to use a spot meter when the subject is the brightest part of your image, such as a swan on a bright day, or a moon in the night sky.
Evaluative (or Matrix) Metering: Evaluative meters separate a frame into different sections and then perform a super nerdy algorithm to decide the correct exposure. Evaluative metering is a good go-to for a nice full-frame exposure, such as in landscape photography.
Center Weighted Metering: Center-weighted meters gather readings of light reflected throughout the whole frame, but put more importance on the center of the image. If you’re taking portraits, I’d suggest trying center-weighted metering. While it focuses on the center of the frame, it still accounts for the rest of the image.
A camera’s built-in light meter usually offers the ability to switch between the different modes, which can be optimized depending on the shooting situation and end goal.
Incident Meters
Hi end light meter isolated on white background.
High-End Light Meter by frenky362
An incident light meter has a little white ball on it called a lumisphere. The meter measures the amount of light that falls on the lumisphere, and is not influenced in any way by a subject’s reflectance. The measurement is taken where the subject is and measures the intensity of light falling on the subject.
This is a much more accurate way of measuring light, because it’s the actual light that is being measured. Subjects that are darker than neutral gray will be darker, while subjects that are lighter than neutral gray will be lighter. Incident light meters offer a consistent measurement that is not affected by the tone or color of a scene.
How to Use a Handheld Light Meter
After you turn your unit on, there will be a number of icons that represent the different measuring modes.
• Sun Icon: Ambient, non-strobe (flash) metering
• Lightning Bolt Icons: Strobe (flash) metering
• T Icon: Shutter speed
• F Icon: F-stop, or aperture
• ISO: What used to be referred to as film speed
• To navigate between the different modes, hold down the mode button and rotate the jog wheel. Once you release the mode button, the jog wheel will cycle through the specific setting you’ve selected.
To adjust the ISO, click the ISO button and rotate the jog wheel. The lumisphere can be raised or lowered by rotating the dial around it.
Related Post HMIs, LEDs, and More: A Guide to Film and Video Lighting Equipment
Measuring Ambient Light
Ambient light is any form of continuous light, such as the sun or hot lights.
Aperture Priority Mode
1. Make sure the lumisphere (the little white dome) is fully extended.
2. Select the F-stop mode and adjust to your desired setting.
3. Hold the light meter in front of your subject so that the lumisphere is saturated by the light you want to measure.
4. Click the measure button on the side of your light meter, and the correct shutter speed will be displayed.
5. Set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO on your camera to match the settings on your light meter.
6. Take your perfectly exposed photo or video!
Shutter Priority Mode
1. Make sure the lumisphere is fully extended.
2. Select the Shutter mode and adjust to your desired setting.
6. Transfer the settings to your camera and shoot.
Measuring in Strobe Mode
Photography Studio Lighting by THPStock
There are usually different strobe modes to choose from.
Cordless Strobe Mode: This mode works just like ambient mode, only the meter will detect when a flash has been triggered and take the selected measurement at that time, so you don’t have to click the meter button. While in this mode, the meter will take a new measurement each time a flash is triggered.
Corded Strobe Mode: This mode requires a sync cable to be connected from your camera or trigger to your light meter. When the photo is taken, a signal is sent through the cable telling the light meter to take a measurement. Again, there is no need to manually click the meter button.
Radio Mode: Radio mode allows you to use different channels for specific strobes or groups of strobes. This way, you can measure the different lights or groups individually.
Getting the Shot
Your camera’s built-in meter is great, and will often do the job on the fly. However, when you have a controlled situation and are looking for the best possible exposure, I would always suggest using a handheld light meter. It will always be more accurate.
Whichever meter you choose to use, it’s best to take multiple readings from your scene to get an average. This will help you avoid blowing out your highlights or losing too much detail in the shadows.
Top image: Photographers Taking Pictures in Studio by bluejeanimages |
The world is slowly shifting a lot of its activities to the online space. Most activities are happening online, which means that the use of computers continues to be a priority. Simple activities such as communicating and staying in touch with family and friends, shopping, paying utility bills, and banking become easy, fast, and convenient. While most of these benefits are great, operating online comes with several risks. Below are some of the most common tips on how to protect yourself online this 2020. Read on to discover what you can do to make things better for yourself and your business.
The Need For Online Security
Protecting one’s identity and integrity while transacting online is crucial in today’s world. Lately, the increased usage of online services has also led to increased cybercrimes and cyberbullying.
It is, therefore, important to find a lasting solution to problems. People need to understand that the reality of cybercrime is real and that the need to take the right steps to protect themselves is ever more needful today. It starts by understanding what these crimes are and how to protect yourself from them.
What is Cyber Crime?
Cybercrime is a computer-oriented crime that involves computers and networks. These occur either when the use of a computer facilitates the commissioning of a crime, or when it becomes a target of the crime. In most cases, these types of crimes threaten people’s financial wellbeing or their national security and privacy.
Cybercrimes are diverse and are motivated by different reasons. It could be for financial gain, personal or political mileage. The most common types of cybercrimes include internet and email fraud, identity fraud, financial or card data theft, corporate data sales, and ransomware attacks. Rarely are computer crimes committed without financial gain.
Identity Theft
This refers to the deliberate use of someone else’s identity, which is often motivated by potential financial gain or advantage, usually as a method of gaining a financial advantage or obtaining credit and other benefits owed to the person. This theft often leads to loss or serious disadvantages to the identity owner.
Online privacy is, unfortunately, not guaranteed. The moment you agree to use online services, you are at risk of cybercrimes. Below are some of the most common types of cybercrimes you ought to look out for.
Malware attacks
Malware attacks are some of the most common cyber-attacks happening in the modern world. This happens when a computer system or network suffers from some kind of virus or malware attack caused by an outsider. Cybercriminals can take advantage of any compromised computer and use it to access any data they need.
This annoying type of cybercrime focuses on spamming emails and other communication channels by sending messages en masse. It shows up as an unwanted email that keeps popping up. Usually, the phishing campaigns come with infected attachments that need a response. Falling prey to such schemes causes the criminals to access confidential data..
Ransomware attacks
Also known as ransomware, this is the kind of attack that prevents users from accessing their files unless one pays to gain access. It works by forcing users to pay for what they can access freely. One of the first creations of this kind of attack was back in the 1980s. Over time, the ransomware evolution is advanced. Current developers of such attacks demand payments through credit cards.
Stealing, leaking, or manipulating data, information, or intellectual property
Manipulation of data is the process of altering digital documents and other confidential data to change crucial information. On the other hand, the stealing of data is taking data that does not belong to you and holding it for purposes of gaining from it.
Hacking also affects online privacy. This is the unauthorized access to data in a network system or computer. People who do this explore potential weaknesses and breach defenses by exploiting weaknesses in computer systems or networks.
Never compromise security
for convenience, choose both!
Tips to protect yourself online in 2020 and beyond
It is clear that many cybercrimes exist today. However, this should not discourage users from benefiting from convenient online services. The possibilities that online presence creates surpass any challenges and security risks.
What’s more, it is possible to protect yourself online. All it takes is carefully applying suggested tips to achieve results. Consider the following tips for enhanced cybersecurity.
1. Create a strong password and unique password for every account
It is possible to prevent cybercrime by creating strong passwords. Make sure to master it and avoid making copies that other people can guess or replicate. Alternatively, use strong password managers to generate random strong passwords.
2. Enable two-factor authentication
It may seem like an obvious thing, but it is a crucial online privacy trick that works. Use settings that allow for password and security checks before allowing access. Always enable email authentication as a two-step factor technique.
3. Check a website’s SSL Certificate
Consider the site’s URL and only open those starting with Https. The S stands for security. The SSL certificate secures all data as it moves from the browser to the website’s server.
4. Don’t save financial information on shopping sites
Avoid saving financial information on random shopping sites. Doing this exposes you to risks as cybercriminals can easily gain access to your confidential information.
5. Keep your operating system and software up-to-date
Doing this simply ensures that you benefit from all improvements that come with the latest software updates. This can boost your computer or mobile device’s protection.
6. Be cautious of e-mail links and attachments; watch out for phishing scams
Treat every spammy email with caution. Never open suspicious attachments or click on links you are unsure about. Only open attachments that you expect from users that you know.
7. Read the website’s privacy policy
Understand the dos and don’t of the website you visit. Always contact companies directly in case of any suspicions.
8. Be cautious when accepting or agreeing to prompts
Not everything you get online is for you. Prevent cybercrime attacks by verifying that the prompts you click on are legit.
9. Be cautious where you’re logging in from
Don’t make a habit of logging into your email from any computer. You may never tell if there are tracking mechanisms put in place. Try as much as possible to log in from a personalized computer or your own mobile device.
10. Always think before you share something
Social networking sites can be major sources of insecurity, especially when you are unsure of whom you are talking to. While they make great socializing platforms, always pause before oversharing personal information. Cybercriminals tend to monitor everything that leads them to what they want.
Bottom line
Securing your privacy online is not a matter of choice. If you are to be successful and manage to prevent cybercrime, then consider applying all the measures that seal loopholes in your system. Keep track of all your private information, and eliminate all potential weaknesses.
In the end, managing cybersecurity may not be easy for everyone. This is where experts such as Teamstack come in. Teamstack is a cloud identity and access management platform that provides your workforce with secure, convenient access. It works with 500+ applications, greatly simplifying the entire process.
Your business size does not make you immune to cyber-attack. Preventing the escalation of any of the common attacks is your best bet at thriving in the online space as a business.
If you lack the know-how, then bringing in a team of experts is the best move. Consider taking a few crucial steps that enhance your online privacy and protect your organization’s integrity. |
You are currently viewing Christianity in Africa and how it all began…pt 1.
Christianity in Africa and how it all began…pt 1.
Ever wondered how Christianity came to be practiced around the African continent? Well we got you covered, here’s a little bit of history to brighten up your day.
According to the Wikipedia Christianity in Africa began in Egypt in the middle of the 1st century. By the end of the 2nd century it had reached the region around Carthage. Important Africans who influenced the early development of Christianity include TertullianPerpetuaFelicityClement of AlexandriaOrigen of AlexandriaCyprianAthanasius and Augustine of Hippo. In the 4th century the Aksumite empire was Christianized, the Nubian kingdoms of NobatiaMakuria and Alodia followed two centuries later.
How the Apostles, Apostolic & early church Fathers and Martyrs fulfilled “the Great Commission”…
Mark the Evangelist became the first bishop of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria in about the year 43.[7] At first the church in Alexandria was mainly Greek-speaking. By the end of the 2nd century the scriptures and liturgy had been translated into three local languages. Christianity in Sudan also spread in the early 1st century, and the Nubian churches, which were established in the sixth century within the kingdoms of NobatiaMakuria and Alodia were linked to those of Egypt.[8]
Christianity also grew in northwestern Africa (today known as the Maghreb). The churches there were linked to the Church of Rome and provided Pope Gelasius IPope Miltiades and Pope Victor I, all of them Christian Berbers like Saint Augustine and his mother Saint Monica.
The early 4th century in Egypt began with renewed persecution under the Emperor Diocletian. In the Ethiopian/Eritrean Kingdom of Aksum, King Ezana declared Christianity the official religion after having been converted by Frumentius, resulting in the foundation of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
In these first few centuries, African Christian leaders such as OrigenLactantiusAugustineTertullianMarius VictorinusPachomiusDidymus the BlindTiconiusCyprianAthanasius and Cyril (along with rivals ValentinusPlotinusArius and Donatus Magnus) influenced the Christian world outside Africa with responses to GnosticismArianismMontanismMarcionismPelagianism and Manichaeism, and the idea of the University (after the Library of Alexandria), understanding …f the Trinity, Vetus Latina translations, methods of exegesis and biblical interpretation.
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Home / Why farming matters
Why farming matters
2021-12-07 Staff Reporter
Why farming matters
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Hans Saisai
Farming is an endeavour that allows a person to be involved in the growing of crops or keeping domestic animals for the purpose of producing food and raw materials.
Over the course of time, farming has rapidly evolved to incorporate technological and scientific advancements to make it a sustainable undertaking that utilises resources such as land and water efficiently. These advancements have enabled the achievement of food security and significant revenues in many developed economies.
However, aspiring farmers need to keep key considerations in mind when deciding to become a farmer.
Before you embark on your farming venture there are critical questions that one must be able to answer in order to make the farming journey a success. The first and most important question is: Why do you want to farm? This question will easily help an aspiring farmer to have a purpose or objective as to why he/she wants to farm.
This question has to be followed by asking: What do you want to produce? This question helps a farmer understand that from the wide range of products available, he/she can focus on producing one or two with determination.
For example, if one wants to be a livestock or crop farmer, they must decide to either focus on the production of cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, pigs, or crops. If one opts to produce livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats), aspiring farmers should identify their product of choice (breeding stock, weaners, oxen, or steers) to produce from their cattle-farming venture.
Aspiring crop farmers on the other hand may decide to focus on growing agronomy crops such as maize, pearl millet, wheat, or sorghum for grain production or to produce vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbages, potatoes, etc.
The third question is whom are you producing for? This question helps you identify your potential target market, which will be the immediate consumers of your product. Furthermore, this helps you to properly plan your production to meet sufficient quantities demanded by your target market.
The fourth question is: What are your expectations? This question addresses the farmer‘s envisaged output from the farming operations in the form of revenue and profit. Farmers are also encouraged to keep records that they can use to assess their progress, costs, and incomes.
This will enable any farmer to answer this critical last question: Is farming a business? Once you decide to embark on a farming journey, it should always be noted that once money is invested, one should anticipate a return on investment, and this makes farming a business.
Starting a farm is a complicated endeavour because it encompasses a myriad of aspects. In no particular order, farmers must consider business planning, finding land, securing financing, marketing, production selection, production knowledge, securing equipment, developing or securing infrastructure, and their vision for their farm. Moreover, an aspiring farmer should be cognizant of their knowledge and experience levels. In the final analysis, addressing these questions may ease the planning process and enable farmers to set up sustainable and profitable farming businesses.
Hanks Saisai is Agribank’s Technical Advisor: Crops and Poultry
2021-12-07 Staff Reporter
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CV & Drive Axle
Your modern vehicle’s engine is a highly sophisticated piece of equipment. The days of your father’s gas-guzzler are long gone. Today, Federal Exhaust Emission and Fuel Economy regulations, demand that our vehicles be equipped with electronic engine control systems, to curb carbon emissions, and increase fuel efficiency. With technically advanced control systems taking the place of simple engine components, common maintenance services such as tune-ups, are also a thing of the past. Regular services (such as spark plug and filter replacements) are still required, as well as a computerized analysis of your vehicle’s control computer. Our factory-trained technicians are here to provide these basic services.
Here is a brief description of the most common axle design:
Drive/CV Axle:
Simply put, a drive axle is one that is driven by the engine. Typically found in modern front wheel drive vehicles, a drive axle is split between two half axles, with differential and universal joints between them. Each half axle is connected to the wheel by a third joint (the constant velocity (CV) joint), which allows the wheels to move freely. This joint allows the shaft to rotate, transmitting power at a constant speed, without a significant increase in friction and heat. CV joints are usually dependable, however, as is the case for all of your vehicle’s moving equipment, they do require regular inspection. An easy to tell if you need to see us for axle repair, is to go to a large, safe space (such as a parking lot), and slowly drive in tight circles. If you hear a clicking or cracking noise, you have a worn joint, and it must be repaired immediately.
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Animal abuse must stop
Jovanna Coronado, General Assignments Reporter
This month, Excalibur, a dog owned by an Ebola patient, was euthanized two days after his owner was put in quarantine. Many people posted pictures with their dogs on Facebook to protest Excalibur’s euthanization.
Excalibur isn’t the only victim of this horrible practice. Three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized every year. In 2007, 1,800 animal cruelty cases were reported. There are some owners who abandon their pets and or don’t meet their pets’ needs. For example, some animals have no shelter, food or water, and some are left chained without any of these things.
Dogs are like people, just smaller and with four legs. Every animal has a soul and a personality just like person and should be treated as such. Some people think that animals have no feelings, and it doesn’t matter how they are treated. Well, they are wrong. They can feel pain; they can be hurt just like people.
Other people love animals and care for them deeply. There are organizations that help abused and abandoned animals find a new home. There is the ASPCA, an organization that helps fight animal cruelty. They send animals to a vet if they have any medical problems and take care of them until they can be put up for adoption.
There are laws in place against animal abuse, but people still violate them and many of these offenses go unnoticed. Some animals are starved to death and the owners are never reported.
We can’t let this happen to all those innocent animals. We have to take a stand against animal abusers. There are lots of ways to help stop animal cruelty, such as volunteering at a local animal shelter or even becoming a vet someday.
With all these ways to help, I hope you do. |
Who is St. Patrick? Why Does He Have a Special Day? And Why Should You Never Iron a Four-Leaf Clover?
Sunday, March 14, 2021
What’s this all about?
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day!!! It’s almost here!!! This is the day that marks and commemorates the death, in 493AD, of Maewyn Succat, now known world-wide as St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Traditionally, it is considered a minor holiday. Certainly, never on the scale of Easter or Christmas. But most assuredly, it is a day for notice and celebration!!!
Well, here’s the story: around 400AD, when still a teenager, Maewyn was kidnapped and enslaved by Irish pirates invading his hometown on the west coast of Britain. Taken to Ireland, he was held captive for six years and forced to work as a sheep herder before miraculously escaping and wending his way back home! Maewyn believed the Lord protected and guided him safely home. In a dream, he was inspired by God to return to Ireland and preach the Gospel!!! He spent the next 15 years in a British monastery preparing for a life of missionary work. Upon ordination his name was changed to Patricius and in 433AD he returned to Ireland, the land of his captors, to embark on his missionary teachings. Ireland was mostly pagan at that time. For forty years, Patricius traveled across the land promoting Christianity and founding many, many churches. In his teachings, he would use a shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity. It is worth noting that for this reason, St. Patrick is usually depicted with the common three-leaf shamrock. But the rare four-leaf clover was regarded by the ancient Celts as a charm against evil spirits. And now, the two are often intertwined. Because of Maewyn Succat and his dedication to preach the Gospel, literacy in Ireland expanded; the Brehon Laws of Medieval Ireland were revised and codified; and Christianity spread across the land.
Stained glass of St. Patrick in Junction City, Ohio church. Note the shamrock in his hand. (photo by Nheyob/Wikimedia Commons)
Shamrock (National Library of Ireland on The Commons)
Four-leaf clover. (Cygnus921 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)
How did all the global celebratory ballyhoo begin?
To put it simply, because the Irish migrated!!! As the Irish began to explore and raid and colonize and flee oppression and famine, they took along their religion and customs. The earliest recorded IRISH PARADE was organized by Vicar Ricardo Artur and held, in 1601, in what is now St. Augustine, Florida, but at the time was a Spanish Colony. In 1737, Irishmen living in Boston gathered to honor the death of their homeland’s patron saint with a parade. And sometime in the 1760s, a group of Irishmen, serving in the British Army, began the yearly tradition of parading through the streets of New York City on St. Patrick’s Day. Today, the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, at 1.5 miles up Fifth Avenue, is considered the largest in the world!!! The shortest, at 98 feet, is in Hot Springs, Arkansas and draws 30,000 spectators!!! Since the 1600s, Dubliners in Ireland have faithfully celebrated the life and accomplishments of their patron saint. Additionally, St. Patrick’s Day is now celebrated with large parades world-wide. From Montreal to Tokyo to Oslo to Auckland and even to Montserrat in the British West Indies, the 17th of March is a day of festivity!!! And then there’s Chicago where they dye the Chicago River green!!! And Sydney where the Opera House is lit green for the holiday. But in Munich, an entire weekend is needed for the street food festival, parade, and Guinness Beer fest!!!
The 1907 St. Patrick Parade on Fifth Ave., New York. (United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ggbain.03218 from Wikimedia Commons)
St. Patrick’s Society Parade in Montréal, Québec, Canada mid 1800s. (collections.rom.on.ca Author James Duncan (1806-1881) public domain)
St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland (William Murphy Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)
The Chicago River turns green on St. Patrick’s Day. (Ryan Dickey Creative Commons Attribution 2.0) Generic
Sydney Opera House glows in shades of green for St. Patrick’s Day. (Kahunapule Michael Johnson Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)
In Munich, even the Haufbräuhaus is decked in green!!! (Romanist~dewiki Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International)
What’s the take-away here?
Wherever and however you choose to observe the accomplishments of St. Patrick, don’t forget to wear something green; maybe even dine on corned beef and cabbage; definitely drink some green beer…..
Fittingly, March 17th is National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day!!!! (Willis Lam Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)
Ahh…what would St. Patrick’s Day be without Green Beer!!! (SpaceAgeSage, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
…..but never, ever iron a four-leaf clover:
You don’t want to press your luck!!!! |
Introduction to Visual Studio
Visual Studio is a Integrated Development Environment(IDE) developed by Microsoft to develop GUI(Graphical User Interface), console, Web applications, web apps, mobile apps, cloud, and web services etc. With the help of this IDE, you can create managed code as well as native code. It uses the various platforms of Microsoft software development software like Windows store, Microsoft Silverlight, and Windows API etc. It is not a language specific IDE as you can use this to write code in C#, C++, VB(Visual Basic), Python, JavaScript, and many more languages. It provides support for 36 different programming languages. It is available for Windows as well as for macOS.
Evolution of Visual Studio: The first version of VS(Visual Studio) was released in 1997, named as Visual Studio 97 having version number 5.0. The latest version of Visual Studio is 15.0 which was released on March 7, 2017. It is also termed as Visual Studio 2017. The supported .Net Framework Versions in latest Visual Studio is 3.5 to 4.7. Java was supported in old versions of Visual Studio but in latest version doesn’t provide any support for Java language.
Visual Studio Editions
There are 3 editions of Microsoft Visual Studio as follows:
1. Community: It is a free version which is announced in 2014. All other editions are paid. This contains the features similar to Professional edition. Using this edition, any individual developer can develop their own free or paid apps like .Net applications, Web applications and many more. In an enterprise organization, this edition has some limitations. For example, if your organization have more than 250 PCs and having annual revenue greater than $1 Million(US Dollars) then you are not permitted to use this edition. In a non-enterprise organization, up to five users can use this edition. Its main purpose is to provide the Ecosystem(Access to thousands of extensions) and Languages(You can code in C#, VB, F#, C++, HTML, JavaScript, Python etc.) support.
2. Professional: It is the commercial edition of Visual Studio. It comes in Visual Studio 2010 and later versions. It provides the support for XML and XSLT editing and includes the tool like Server Explorer and integration with Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft provides a free trial of this edition and after trial period user has to pay to continue using it. Its main purpose is to provide Flexibility(Professional developer tools for building any application type), Productivity(Powerful features such as CodeLens improve your team’s productivity), Collaboration(Agile project planning tools, charts etc.) and Subscriber benefits like Microsoft software, plus Azure, Pluralsight etc.
3. Enterprise: It is an integrated, end to end solution for teams of any size with the demanding quality and scale needs. Microsoft provides a 90-days free trial of this edition and after trial period user has to pay to continue using it. The main benefit of this edition is that it is highly scalable and deliver the high-quality software.
Getting Started with Visual Studio 2017
• First, you have to download and install the Visual Studio. For that, you can refer to Downloading and Installing Visual Studio 2017. Don’t forget to select .NET core workload during installation of VS 2017. If you forget then you have to modify the installation.
• You can see a number of tool windows when you will open the Visual Studio and start writing your first program as follows:
1. Code Editor: Where the user will write code.
2. Output Window: Here the Visual Studio shows the outputs, compiler warnings, error messages and debugging information.
3. Solution Explorer: It shows the files on which the user is currently working.
4. Properties: It will give the additional information and context about the selected parts of the current project.
• A user can also add windows as per requirement by choosing them from View menu. In Visual Studio the tool windows are customizable as a user can add more windows, remove the existing open one or can move windows around to best suit.
• Various Menus in Visual Studio: A user can find a lot of menus on the top screen of Visual Studio as shown below
1. Create, Open and save projects commands are contained by File menu.
2. Searching, Modifying, Refactoring code commands are contained by the Edit menu.
3. View Menu is used to open the additional tool windows in Visual Studio.
4. Project menu is used to add some files and dependencies in the project.
5. To change the settings, add functionality to Visual Studio via extensions, and access various Visual Studio tools can be used by using Tools menu.
• The below menu is known as the toolbar which provide the quick access to the most frequently used commands. You can add and remove the commands by going to View → Customize
• Support for different programming languages in Visual Studio is added by using a special VSPackage which is known as Language Service.
• When you will install the Visual Studio then the functionality which is coded as VSPackage will be available as Service.
• Visual Studio IDE provides the three different types of services known as SVsSolution, SVsUIShell, and SVsShell.
• SVsSolution service is used to provide the functionality to enumerate solutions and projects in Visual Studio.
• SVsUIShell service is used to provide User Interface functionality like toolbars, tabs etc.
• SvsShell service is used to deal with the registration of VSPackages.
This article is attributed to GeeksforGeeks.org
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Define on Electroluminescence
Electroluminescence is a progression in which brightness is generated as a consequence of the electrons being thrilled either by transitory electric current or when exposed to a muscular electric meadow. In this electronic progression the brightness emitting equipment respond to the electric field applied by giving off photons producing a flame. They use incredibly negligible power and are broadly used as lights throughout darkness time, in vehicle apparatus panels and as display units. |
When is Lent 2020? Start and finish dates, why it's observed for 40 days and the meaning behind the fast
Tuesday, 25th February 2020, 11:18 am
Updated Tuesday, 25th February 2020, 11:18 am
Lent is an annual religious observance in the Christian calendar (Photo: Shutterstock)
Lent is an annual religious observance in the Christian calendar that takes place ahead of Easter - but what is the meaning behind the 40 day fasting period?
This is everything you need to know about Lent 2020, including what it signifies, when it begins and how long it lasts for.
What is Lent?
Lent is a period of reflection and preparation in the run up to Easter, with the dates it falls on changing each year.
Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days by observing their own 40 days of Lent.
The period is marked by fasting from food and festivities, with many people giving something up during Lent as a sign of sacrifice, and to test their self-discipline.
When does Lent 2020 begin?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on 26 February.
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, and sees priests gather ashes from the previous Palm Sunday, and rub them on their congregants’ foreheads.
This ash is a symbol of death, and is made from burning special crosses made out of palm wood, which were used in church services from the previous year's Palm Sunday.
What is Shrove Tuesday?
Shrove Tuesday, which will take place on 25 February this year, is the day before Ash Wednesday, and is marked by feasting and celebration.
Shrove Tuesday traditionally precedes the observance of the Lenten fast, and many people mark this day by making and eating pancakes, hence it being known by many as ‘Pancake Day’.
Traditionally, this day was associated with clearing your cupboards of foods such as sugar, fats and eggs, which was why pancakes were eaten on this day, to use up these foods before the Lent fasting season began.
How long does Lent last and when will it end in 2020?
Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter Sunday, but for some the Lenten fast does not include Sundays, so the six Sundays before Easter are omitted from the 40-day fasting period.
Lent ends approximately six weeks later on Holy Saturday, which is the day before Easter Sunday, but the day Lent finishes can vary for some.
For those following the 40-day tradition, Lent will end on Holy Saturday, which lands on 11 April this year.
However, for some Lent finishes on Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, which is on 9 April this year.
This year Easter Sunday takes place on Sunday 12 April 2020 (Photo: Shutterstock)
Holy Week 2020
Lent finishes with Holy Week, which leads up to Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday is a day in the Christian liturgical calendar which celebrates the 40-hour-long vigil that the followers of Jesus Christ held after his death and burial on Good Friday, and before his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
When is Easter Sunday 2020?
Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion, and is a celebration of his life.
This year Easter Sunday takes place on Sunday 12 April 2020.
Easter Monday takes place the day after Easter Sunday, which is Monday 13 April this year.
For those in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Easter Monday, also known to some as Bright Monday or Renewal Monday, is the beginning of Bright Week.
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3 Water Softening Methods Explained
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Hard water coming straight from underground sources usually has certain components (specifically calcium, magnesium and other metal cations) that cause limescale build-up in the pipes, which is harmful for plumbing. By softening the water, the components that make it “hard” are removed, so the water can go through the pipes without causing limescale.
There are several ways to soften water, and here are some of the most popular methods:
The main type of water softeners used to treat household water supplies are ion-exchange water softeners. These softeners have an ion-exchange tank that contains resin beads coated with potassium or sodium ions, which will replace the calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water. Ion-exchange water softeners can also remove certain types of iron that are in the water supply.
An ion-exchange water softener has to be ‘regenerated’ regularly to replace the used softening ions and flush out hardness ions. If the water has high chlorine levels, the resin beads in the softener can disintegrate and even break the filter in the tank. To combat this, the water softener should have 10% crosslink resin beads, which can tolerate chlorine better than the average beads that have 8% crosslink.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
The reverse osmosis method removes harmful hard water components by forcing the water through several filters that are fine enough to filter out all the hard water molecules.
This method may not be entirely safe for plumbing though, since the hard water in domestic RO systems will still pass through the water heater and hot water systems where it can lead to limescale build up in the pipelines. It would also take at least two gallons of hard water just to produce a gallon of softened water. Aside from removing the undesirable “hard” minerals, RO systems would remove all of the other nourishment and minerals from the water. It also needs to be back-washed and cleaned regularly.
Chelation is used to condition the hardness-causing ions in hard water so they would not combine with other chemicals to form limescale. This is a popular treatment method for commercial applications, such as in restaurants, laundromats and factories, and has become available for household use only recently.
This is different from most water softening methods because it does not remove the hardness ions in water. Chelation merely changes their charge to make them less reactive with the other chemicals present in hard water. Active ingredients in chelating agents (e.g. food-grade citric acid or polyphosphate) isolate magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese ions to prevent them from reacting with each other to form limescale.
When consumed, water conditioned through chelation could still provide the benefits that calcium and magnesium ions offer and no water will be wasted in the process. Maintenance is also negligible in chelation, which could save costs for maintenance and water softener repair.
Keep in mind that water softening should not be mistaken as a process that makes hard water potable. The water softened through any of these methods are not immediately guaranteed safe to drink. |
[ deym ]
/ deɪm /
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Origin of dame
1175–1225; Middle English <Old French <Latin domina, feminine of dominus lord, master
usage note for dame
Dame is sometimes perceived as insulting when used to refer generally to a woman, unless it is a woman of rank or advanced age.
How to use dame in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for dame (1 of 2)
/ (deɪm) /
(formerly) a woman of rank or dignity; lady
a nun who has taken the vows of her order, esp a Benedictine
archaic, mainly British a matronly or elderly woman
slang, mainly US and Canadian a woman
Also called: pantomime dame British the role of a comic old woman in a pantomime, usually played by a man
Word Origin for dame
C13: from Old French, from Latin domina lady, mistress of a household
British Dictionary definitions for dame (2 of 2)
/ (deɪm) /
noun (in Britain)
the title of a woman who has been awarded the Order of the British Empire or any of certain other orders of chivalry
the legal title of the wife or widow of a knight or baronet, placed before her nameDame Judith Compare Lady |
Brain Implants Help Physically Challenged
The ever-increasing risk of computers in everyone’s lives has generated an awareness of the need to address computing requirements for those who have or may develop physical limitations. The Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) requires any company with 15 or more employees to make reasonable attempts to accommodate the needs of physically challenged workers (Grube 98).
The phrase, “Monkey see, Money do” may need revised to “Monkey think, monkey do” after analyzing the latest research. Scientist implanted small chips in rhesus monkeys’ brains and then trained the animals to move a joystick with their hands and chase a red dot moving around a monitor screen.
The implants, which is the size of a small pea, recorded the signals sent from the motor cortex of the brain, which controls movement to the hands. These signals were analyzed and then translated to computer instructions that repeated the same movement.
In the next step, the joystick was disconnected. One monkey was able to repeat the cursor action merely by thinking about the joystick motion (Computers and Your Future).
The researches are hoping their work will help paralyzed individuals use their minds to control computers and other devices within the decade. Some humans already have a similar device implanted, but the newest hardware is smaller, has thinner wires, and uses fewer neurons for function. Applications could include allowing paralyzed individuals to read e-mail messages, browse the web, control remote robotic-devices, and move artificial limbs. The researches are hopeful that this technology will help physically challenged individuals better interact with their environments (Austin 17-25).
Chip implants may raise ethical questions, though, such as determining who will receive the first implant, how chips will be updated, whether insurance companies will cover the cost, the number of applications to include on each chip, and whether monitoring patients’ thoughts invades their privacy.
Works Cited
Austin, Hannah J. “How to Get Smart: Artificial Intelligence.” Genius Weekly News and
Report. May 2005: 17-25.
Computers and Your Future. Shelly Cashman Series. Course Technology. 5 Feb. 2006.
Grube, Charles. High-Tech Trends: Predicting the Future of Computers. New York:
Belfry Holdings, 2006. |
No Evidence for Presence of MCR-Producers in Fecal Flora of Healthy People, Primary-Care Patients
The extent of the occurrence of the plasmid-encoded colistin resistance genes mcr-1 and mcr-2 among humans is currently sparsely studied in Western Europe. Zurfluh, et al. (2017) sought to determine the occurrence of MCR-producing Enterobacteriaceae in fecal samples of healthy humans with high occupational exposure to food and primary care patients in Switzerland.
Stool samples from 1091 healthy individuals and fecal swabs from 53 primary care patients were screened for polymyxin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae using LB agar containing 4 mg/L colistin. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of colistin were determined for non-intrinsic colistin-resistant isolates. Isolates were screened by PCR for the presence of mcr-1 and mcr-2 genes.
The fecal carriage rate of colistin resistant (MIC value >2 mg/l) Enterobacteriaceae was 1.5% for healthy people and 3.8% for primary care patients. Isolates included Hafnia alvei (n = 9), Escherichia coli (n = 3), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 4), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1) and Raoultella ornithinolytica (n = 1). None of the isolates harbored the mcr-1 or mcr-2 genes.
The researchers say there is no evidence for the presence of MCR-producers in the fecal flora of healthy people or primary care patients. Therefore, the risk of transfer of mcr genes from animals, food or the environment to humans is likely to be low in Switzerland.
Zurfluh, K, et al. Screening for fecal carriage of MCR-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy humans and primary care patients. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control20176:28 |
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Chapter 4: Fibre connectors
Fibre connectors
As we saw in previous chapters, optical fibres transmit light signals. While copper cables simply need contact between metal pins to enable the conveyance of their electrical signals, fibre requires extremely precise alignment for optical communication to be possible. Therefore, connectors are integral to the process. There are many different types of connectors, each appropriate for a particular application.
The first thing to know about connectors is that they can be either single-fibre or multi-fibre, depending on how many fibres they group together. Single-fibre connectors are further separated into simplex and duplex versions. Simplex fibre connectors hold a lone fibre, while duplex fibre connectors hold a pair of fibres. Multiple-fibre connectors can hold up to 72 fibres together.
Physical Components
Next, fibre connectors are made up of the following:
• Ferrule: Thin, hollow structure that forms a tight grip on the glass fibre. They are usually made from ceramic, metal, or high-quality plastic. Ferrules are generally either 1.25 mm or 2.5 mm in diameter for single-fibre connectors.
• Connector Body: Plastic or metal structure that links the ferrule to the jacket and actually protects the extremity of the fibre.
• Coupling Mechanism: Part of the connector body that holds it in place when it gets attached to another device. This mechanism can be screw-type, bayonet-type, etc.
• Boot: Extension from the connector along the fibre which provides strain relief to the cable as well as rigidity to the entire apparatus.
• Heat Shrink: Sock-like plastic coating meant to provide added support or act as a canvas for serial numbers.
• Protective Cap: Plastic cover designed to protect the tip of the optical fibre, which is very sensitive to dust and even contact with human skin.
Connector Types and Applications
LC is one of the most popular connector types available. It was developed by Lucent Technologies and thus stands for Lucent Connector. It features a 1.25 mm ferrule. Its body is square and it uses a clip-like coupling mechanism. Due to their small form factor, these connectors are very popular in high-density applications such as datacoms and telecoms. Both simplex and duplex versions are available.
ST stands for a straight tip and was one of the first prominent fibre cable connectors. At 2.5 mm, its ferrule’s diameter is double that of the more modern LC connector’s. It boasts a cylindrical body shape and a twist-on/twist-off bayonet style mechanism. While ST connectors were formerly popular across a range of different employments, they are now used mostly in multimode applications such as LANs. ST connectors only come in simplex versions.
SC connectors, developed in Japan, are similar to LC connectors in that they house a single fibre, use a push-on/push-off mating mechanism and their shape is square. The main difference between the two is the diameter of the ferrule: at 2.5 mm wide, SC connectors are twice as thick as LC connectors. SC connectors are ideal for datacoms, telecoms, and fibre to the home (FTTH) applications such as point to point and passive optical networking. SC connectors are available in simplex and duplex models.
FC connectors are similar in appearance to ST connectors and have the same 2.5 mm ferrule diameter. However, their round body uses a screw-type fitment rather than a bayonet-style coupling mechanism. This feature increases its installation time compared to other connectors but makes it especially popular in high-vibration environments. FC connectors only come in simplex versions.
MPOs are multiple-fibre connectors and as such is different from the connectors previously discussed. They can hold up to 12 fibres in a single ferrule and use a push-on/push off coupling mechanism. Their ability to save space makes them popular in high-density applications such as datacentres.
End Faces
The end face of a fibre connector refers to the structure of the ferrule tip, which affects the precision and quality of the connection. The different types of end-faces evolved over time to reduce the amount of reflectance – or light lost by being reflected back down the core towards its source. Various end-faces have tried to compensate for this phenomenon, which stems from the existence of a minuscule air bubble between two connected ferrules.
Polish types:
• Flat: The first ferrule tips simply had a flat design, which did not try to circumvent the air bubble conundrum in any way. As a result, many imperfections gathered on the edge of the fibre which diminished the quality of the connection.
• Physical Contact (PC): Next, PC end-face polishing was introduced. This version featured a convex end-face so that physical contact occurs in the central core area.
• Ultra Physical Contact (UPC): UPC end-face polishes are essentially higher quality PC end finishes, as the name suggests. These allow for even less reflections back towards the light source.
• Angled Physical Contact (APC): Finally, APC end-face polish was developed. This version boasts the least amount of reflectance of all thanks to its innovative way of tackling the issue. The finish is similar to a UPC end-face, but with an 8° offset. Instead of light being reflected back down the core of the fibre from which it originated, the angled face pushes most rays back into the cladding.
June 14, 2018 |
Industrial Casters
Many manufacturing industries use equipment that can move loads up to 40,000 and sometimes even 50,000 pounds. Especially heavy-duty bins and dollies need wheels that can carry such extreme loads. These wheels are called industrial casters and are specially designed and made. They usually have a forged iron core and a plastic or rubber tire. Rubber is used when the factory floor is moist, since it provides grip and reduces noise. Phenolic resin is another material that works well for industrial casters, because it prevents oily substances from attaching to the wheel surface. Heavy-duty wheels also have to absorb shock, when extremely heavy loads get dropped onto the equipment. Industrial casters often go unnoticed, but they are an interesting and challenging area of engineering.
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Treatments for malaria
Travelling abroad? We take a look at the different medicines used to prevent and treat malaria
Mosquito sucking blood
Janos Csongor KerekesGetty Images
In this article you'll find information about the different medicines for preventing and treating malaria. Malaria is widespread in many tropical and subtropical countries and is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Malaria is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium. It's spread through the bite of an infected female mosquito.
Don't forget this is only a guide – talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you've any questions. You can also visit our travel section to see which malaria tablets are recommended for visiting different countries.
Preventing malaria
If you travel to a region where malaria is prevalent, you should take preventive medication against the parasite. Different medicines are recommended for different regions of the world and you should get specific advice from your GP, pharmacist or travel clinic. You should also take whatever steps you can to avoid being bitten by mosquitos while you are away. Preventive medicines available to travellers leaving the UK are listed below.
Treating malaria
The treatment of malaria involves using the same antimalarial agents that are used to prevent malaria. However, if you get malaria after taking a particular preventative medicine, then a different medicine will be used to treat the malaria.
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A vet's role in wildlife health and conservation
A vet's role in wildlife health and conservation
Vets don't just care for domestic animals, but also wild animals - free living and in captivity. Discover the range of opportunities you’ll have to broaden your knowledge, plus career paths you could explore.
In this session you'll learn about:
- Welfare of captive wildlife, using elephants as an example
- Experiences of wildlife care in the UK, Africa and Southeast Asia
- Wildlife rehabilitation, with an overview of a final year visit to RSPCA Eastwinch to see rehabilitation of seals, swans and hedgehogs as part of the final year elective rotation on zoo, wildlife and exotic animals
- Conservation and the role vets play helping endangered or threatened species such as primates, hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species
- Career paths in wild and exotic animals
Avatar to represent Lisa Yon
Lisa Yon |
HIV project
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to research and find possible solutions to a problem using a biological database.
Students will be able to read and understand amino acid sequences and alignments produced by Biology Workbench.
Students will be able to identify common mutation locations in HIV-1 envelope proteins and human CD4 proteins and make research/treatment recommendations based on this information.
Prior to this lesson
Immediately prior to this lesson the students spent two days becoming familiar with Biology Workbench for Students, and have already set up their own accounts. Prior to that, they spent a good deal of time learning about viruses in general, and specifically HIV, including history of the epidemic, lifecycle, transmission/prevention, and treatments. Earlier in the semester the students learned about DNA, protein synthesis, and restriction enzymes. For each of these topics the students learned what it is and how it is used in biotechnology. They also learned several lab skills that incorporate these topics.
Detailed lesson plan
5 computers hooked up to the Internet
Posterboard (can be provided by the students)
Day 1
Hand out instructions for the lesson (See Appendix B). Make sure all students have a copy of the Biology Workbench for Students instruction sheet (See Appendix A). Have the students find a partner to work with in the computer lab. Explain that their first job when they get into the computer lab will be to search for envelope glycoprotein from HIV-1 patients (stress that they should not use proteins from HIV-2 patients, since this is a very different strain that is often not lethal like HIV-1). Tell them that they will not have time to compare all of the proteins they find in a search, so they will need to decide which ones they should use (in the lab, if a group has trouble deciding which to use, suggest that they use location as a way of deciding). For instance, they may choose to use only protein from American patients, or they may choose to compare proteins from different parts of the world). Also tell them that they may want to do more than one alignment, based on the sequences they choose to use. Once they have found the proteins they want to work with, they should research question 1 using the skills they learned in the lesson prior where they were introduced to Biology Workbench.
The real beauty of this lesson is that the students get to work on their own to solve this problem, and they really could go in all different directions. It may seem that giving directions such as these may stifle that part of the lesson, but it really is necessary. Biology Workbench is a fairly complicated tool connected to several huge databases, which makes it difficult to find what you’re looking for even when you know exactly what it is. Without some direction I think the students would mostly waste a lot of time trying to figure out what to do first, and would have very little time to dig into the problem.
Move the class to the computer lab, and allow the students to use the rest of the period to begin their research. Circulate around the room to provide assistance with using Biology Workbench, but allow the students to conduct their own research, only offering advice when a particular pair of students seems to be completely stuck.
Again, this lesson is great in that it lets students really work on their own research. Often a teacher is tempted to guide the students along when they seem to struggle a little. In this lesson I think it’s really important that the students do spend a little time struggling with the problems. There may be a couple groups that do get completely stuck and have no idea where to go next, and these groups may need a little extra push in the right direction, but in general it’s better if they can figure it out on their own.
Day 2
Return to the computer lab to continue working on the research they started yesterday. The students will probably have to spend the entire day working on question 1. Once again, circulate around the classroom and answer any specific questions about Biology Workbench. If any students do happen to get finished with question 1, they can begin working on question 2, but tell them that it will be introduced to the entire class tomorrow.
Another part of this lesson that really works well for the dichotomy of students that are in this biotech class is that students really get a chance to work at their own pace. For the students that do really well in science, they always have the opportunity to move on to the next stage in the project, even if the other students haven’t gotten to that stage yet. At the same time, student who don’t do as well in science aren’t forced to move on to a new problem when they still don’t understand or aren’t finished with the first problem.
Day 3
Tell the students that they should bring materials to work on their posters tomorrow in case they get done with their research. Introduce question 2. Remind the students that we learned earlier in the unit about people who have been repeatedly exposed to HIV, yet have not contracted the virus. A mutation of the CCR5 protein in human T-cells has been found that increases people’s resistance to HIV. It has been speculated that this may also be due to mutations in the CD4 protein that HIV binds to on the surface of T-cells. Their first job in researching question 2 will be to search for CD4 protein. Move to the computer lab and give the students the rest of the hour to work on their research. Make sure the students finish researching question 1 before they move on to question 2.
Spending a little time going over this question is probably necessary to help give the students some context for their research. In previous lessons, the students did already learn about these things, but some of them will probably need to be reminded. I also think that all of them could benefit from the context being given, so they can spend their time figuring out what they need to look for in their research.
Day 4
Some of the students may be finished with their research today, or may finish during the hour, so introduce the poster at the beginning of the hour. Go over the required elements of the poster (See Appendix B), and show them an example of a finished poster. Tell them that they will have tomorrow to work on their posters, but they will have to finish any work they don’t get done in class on their own time. The day after tomorrow they will be presenting their posters to the rest of the class, and will have to critique each other’s posters using guidelines set up by the teacher (See Appendix C). Hand out the scoring rubric so the students are aware of the elements on which they will be graded. Have the students spend the rest of the hour finishing up on their research in the computer lab. If any of the students are finished with their research they should begin working on their posters.
It’s very important to hand out guidelines for the students, both so that they know what to critique one another on, and so that they know what things are important for them to include on their posters. The only way for an assessment to be fair is if the students understand exactly what it is that you are assessing.
Day 5
The students should be pretty much finished with their research for the project, so they should spend the day working on their posters. If anyone still needs to work on the computers, leave the option open for them, but stress that today is the last day they will have to work in class. Also tell them that they need to make sure that the Conclusion part of their poster is well done, because they will be graded on the recommendations they make.
I actually debated whether or not I should include this day in my lesson. It probably isn’t necessary to give the students class time to work on their posters, but I decided that I would. First of all, I think I may get better quality work if the students get some time to work in class. Also, I wanted to make sure that all of the students had plenty of time to finish all of the research they need to do, and I’m sure that some teams will work faster than others. This extra day built into the lesson will give the slower teams a chance to finish their research. I also think that some of the students may realize that they need more printouts from Biology Workbench once they start putting their posters together. This day will give them a chance to go back and get any extra information they need.
Day 6
Have the students present their posters today. Take any volunteers who would like to go first, and tell them to leave time at the end of their presentation for questions from the class. Tell to the class that they need to make sure that they use this time to ask good questions to make sure they fully understand the research the team has done. They will each have to do a written critique of the other teams presentations, so they need to have a good understanding of their research in order to do a good job on those critiques. After each presentation is over and the class has finished asking questions, ask any remaining questions, but allow the students the opportunity to ask these questions first.
Having the students critique one another will insure that they are attentive to the other teams presentations. Since this project is so open, allowing the students to go off in several different directions, I think the students will really learn a lot from the other presentations in the classroom. Having critiques encourages the students to reflect on what they have learned through other presentations, and also gives all of them (both presenters and critiquers) some insight into how to make a better presentation. |
English 30 Poetry Assignment
Trackback each post here.
Novel Study Preflight Checklist
Read a Novel from the Reading List:
Tracback a “map” of your response here.
Suggestions for Approaching Poetry
2. Do pay attention to the title; it will often provide a helpful context for the poem and serve as an introduction to it.
3. As you read the poem for the first time, avoid becoming entangled in words or lines that you don’t understand. Instead give yourself a chance to take in the entire poem before attempting to resolve problems encountered along the way.
4. On a second reading, identify any words or passages that you don’t understand. Look up words or passages that you don’t know; these might include names, places, historical and mythical references, or anything else that is unfamiliar to you.
5. Read the poem aloud (or perhaps have a friend read it to you). You’ll probably discover that some puzzling passages suddenly fall into place when you hear them. You’ll find that nothing helps, though, if the poem is read in an artificial, exaggerated manner. Read in as natural a voice as possible, with slight pauses at line breaks. Silent reading is preferable to imposing a “te-tumpty-te-tum” reading of the poem.
6. Read the punctuation. Poems use punctuation marks – in addition to the space on the page – as signals for readers. Be especially careful not to assume that the end of a line marks the end of a sentence, unless it is concluded by punctuation.
7. Paraphrase the poem to determine whether you understand what happens in it. As you work through each line of the poem, a paraphrase will help you to see which words or passages need further attention.
8. Try to get a sense of who is speaking and what the setting or situation is. Don’t assume that the speaker is the author; often it is a created character.
9. Assume that each element in the poem has a purpose. Try to explain how the elements of the poem work together.
10. Be generous. Be willing to entertain perspectives, values, experiences, and subjects that you might not agree with or approve.
11. Try developing a coherent approach to the poem that helps you to shape a discussion of the text.
12. Don’t expect to produce a definitive reading. Many poems do not resolve all the ideas, issues, or tensions in them, and so it is not always possible to drive their meaning into an absolute corner. Your reading will explore rather than define the poem. Poems are not trophies to be studied and mounted. They’re usually ore elusive. And don’t be afraid that a close reading will damage the poem. Poems aren’t hurt when we analyze them; instead, they come alive as we experience them and put into words what we discover through them. |
Sodium is an essential mineral that helps maintain normal fluid balance and supports nerve and muscle function.
While you need some sodium to support these functions, eating too much sodium can be harmful.
As such, your doctor or dietitian may recommend that you follow a low sodium diet to reduce your risk of certain diseases or to manage a current condition.
This article explains the benefits of a low sodium diet, foods to eat and avoid, and provides a sample low sodium diet menu.
low sodium diet
What is a low sodium diet?
Sodium is an essential mineral involved in many important bodily functions, including fluid balance, maintaining blood pressure, muscle function, and nerve transmission (1).
Many foods like milk, meat, eggs, and most vegetables naturally contain sodium.
Sodium is also commonly added to foods — primarily in the form of sodium chloride or salt — to extend shelf life, enhance flavor, and improve texture and appearance, similar to phosphorus additives.
However, about 70% of the sodium that people consume comes from prepackaged and processed foods like chips, hot dogs, frozen meals, and fast food (2).
A low sodium diet limits these foods and others that are high in sodium.
Generally, a low sodium diet limits sodium to less than 2 grams (2,000 mg) per day (3).
For reference, people worldwide consume an average of 3.6–4 grams (3,600–4,000 mg) of sodium daily (3).
Benefits of a low sodium diet
Following a low sodium diet can offer several benefits.
May improve certain medical conditions
Sodium helps balance the amount of water in your body.
Your body’s ability to maintain normal fluid balance becomes compromised if you have diseases like chronic kidney disease or congestive heart failure.
These diseases cause your body to retain sodium and water, which leads to swelling in your legs and around organs such as the lungs.
This extra fluid — known as edema — can also increase blood pressure and strain your heart and kidneys.
Following a low sodium diet with chronic kidney disease or heart failure can make it easier for your body to balance the amount of water in your body by reducing edema and lowering blood pressure (4).
However, while many studies show that a low sodium diet can benefit those with heart failure, others have suggested that a more liberalized sodium intake of 2.5–3 grams (2,500–3,000 mg) may lead to better health outcomes (5, 6, 7).
May decrease cancer risk
A high sodium diet has been linked to stomach cancer.
A review of eleven studies found that a high sodium diet was significantly associated with stomach cancer compared with a low sodium diet (8).
Researchers believe that a high sodium diet increases the risk of stomach cancer by causing inflammation and damaging the cells that line the stomach (8, 9).
However, foods high in sodium such as processed meats also contain other compounds that have been linked to stomach cancer like nitrosamines (10).
Still, despite a strong correlation, it’s currently unknown whether a high sodium diet causes gastric cancer.
May improve diet quality
Sodium is abundant in foods like snack items, processed meats, and fast food.
These foods tend to also be high in unhealthy fats and calories and lack important nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
Conversely, foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats are naturally low in sodium but are packed with nutrients.
That said, eating a low sodium diet, by default, will encourage you to eat more healthy foods that are rich in nutrients but lack the unhealthy fats and excess calories that many foods high in sodium carry.
Low sodium diet foods
Sodium is naturally present in some foods and added to others during the manufacturing process.
Choose foods that are naturally low in sodium or contain limited amounts.
Foods to avoid
Here are foods that are high in sodium and should be avoided or limited on a low sodium diet:
• Processed meats: bacon, hot dogs, salami, pepperoni, lunch meats
• Snack foods: salted pretzels, chips, nuts, crackers, etc.
• Frozen meals: meat and pasta dishes, pizza, etc.
• Dairy: cottage cheese, buttermilk, salted butter
• Salted, canned products: soups, tuna, beans
• Baking mixes: pancake, brownie, and cake mixes
• Boxed meals: pasta and rice meals
• Pickled vegetables: olives, pickles, sauerkraut
• Sauces and condiments: ketchup, barbeque sauce, soy sauce, salad dressing, hot sauce
• Seasonings: salt, sea salt, kosher salt, onion salt, garlic salt, taco seasonings
• Beverages: regular vegetable juice, sports drinks, salty alcoholic drinks
Foods to eat
Here are foods that are low in sodium to add to your shopping list:
• Fruits: apples, bananas, grapes, kiwis, watermelon, etc.
• Vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, spinach, etc.
• Starchy vegetables: potatoes, corn, peas, and parsnip
• Grains and beans: dried beans, rice, oats, unsalted popcorn, quinoa, and pasta
• Meat and poultry: fresh beef, chicken, turkey, and pork
• Fish: cod, salmon, shrimp, tilapia, trout, etc.
• Eggs: whole eggs and egg whites
• Low-sodium soups: canned or homemade soups
• Dairy and plant-based milk: milk, yogurt, unsalted butter, swiss cheese, almond milk, and soy milk
• Unsalted nuts and seeds: almonds, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, etc.
• Condiments: vinaigrette dressings and low sodium ketchup
• Seasonings: sodium-free seasonings and herbs, such as basil, bay leaf, dill, nutmeg, paprika, parsley, sage, and thyme
• Beverages: water, coffee, tea, and low sodium vegetable juices
One-day sample low sodium diet menu
Here is a one-day sample low sodium diet menu that contains less than 2 grams (2,000 mg) of sodium:
Breakfast: scrambled eggs with peppers and spinach with whole wheat toast
Snack: Greek yogurt and blueberries
Lunch: homemade vegetable beef soup with a spinach side salad
Snack: apple slices and unsalted almonds
Dinner: salmon with roasted sweet potatoes and asparagus
Low sodium diet tips
Here are some tips to help make following a low sodium diet easier and more flavorful.
• Cook at home more often: Home-cooked meals tend to be much lower in sodium than restaurant meals.
• Experiment with herbs: Low sodium doesn’t have to mean tasteless — experiment with herbs and sodium-free seasonings like Mrs. Dash.
• Read labels: Foods marketed as “Low Sodium” contain less than 140 mg of sodium per serving. Beware of products marketed as “Reduced Sodium” or “Lower Sodium,” as they may still be high in sodium.
• Watch portions: The amount of sodium listed on a nutrition label shows the amount in one serving. So, if you consume more than one serving, you will get more sodium than what’s listed.
• Eat more fresh foods: Foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, most dairy products, and unprocessed meats are naturally low in sodium and high in potassium, which can help lower blood pressure.
The bottom line
A low sodium diet limits sodium to less than 2 grams (2,000 mg) per day.
Among other benefits, a low sodium diet can be helpful if you have certain medical conditions like chronic kidney disease or heart failure.
With the diet, it’s best to choose foods naturally low in sodium or foods that have minimal amounts of sodium added.
You can use herbs or sodium-free spices and seasonings to replace sodium for flavor.
Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD, LN
Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD, LN
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Prenylation Explained
Prenylation (also known as isoprenylation or lipidation) is the addition of hydrophobic molecules to a protein or chemical compound. It is usually assumed that prenyl groups (3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl) facilitate attachment to cell membranes, similar to lipid anchors like the GPI anchor, though direct evidence of this has not been observed. Prenyl groups have been shown to be important for protein–protein binding through specialized prenyl-binding domains.
Protein prenylation
Protein prenylation involves the transfer of either a farnesyl or a geranylgeranyl moiety to C-terminal cysteine(s) of the target protein. There are three enzymes that carry out prenylation in the cell, farnesyl transferase, Caax protease and geranylgeranyl transferase I.[1]
Farnesylation is a type of prenylation, a post-translational modification of proteins by which an isoprenyl group is added to a cysteine residue.[2] It is an important process to mediate protein–protein interactions and protein–membrane interactions.[3]
Prenylation sites
There are at least 3 types of sites that are recognized by prenylation enzymes. The CaaX motif is found at the COOH-terminus of proteins, such as lamins or ras. The motif consists of a cysteine (C), two aliphatic amino acids ("aa") and some other terminal amino acid ("X"). If the X position is serine, alanine, or methionine, the protein is farnesylated. For instance, in rhodopsin kinase the sequence is CVLS. If X is leucine, the protein is geranylgeranylated.[4] The second motif for prenylation is CXC, which, in the Ras-related protein Rab3A, leads to geranylgeranylation on both cysteine residues and methyl esterification. The third motif, CC, is also found in Rab proteins, where it appears to direct only geranylgeranylation but not carboxyl methylation. Carboxyl methylation only occurs on prenylated proteins.
Farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase I
Farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase I are very similar proteins. They consist of two subunits, the α-subunit, which is common to both enzymes, and the β-subunit, whose sequence identity is just 25%. These enzymes recognise the CaaX box at the C-terminus of the target protein. C is the cysteine that is prenylated, a is any aliphatic amino acid, and the identity of X determines which enzyme acts on the protein. Farnesyltransferase recognizes CaaX boxes where X = M, S, Q, A, or C, whereas geranylgeranyltransferase I recognizes CaaX boxes with X = L or E.
Rab geranylgeranyl transferase
Rab geranylgeranyltransferase, or geranylgeranyltransferase II, transfers (usually) two geranylgeranyl groups to the cysteine(s) at the C-terminus of Rab proteins. The C-terminus of Rab proteins varies in length and sequence and is referred to as hypervariable. Thus Rab proteins do not have a consensus sequence, such as the CAAX box, which the Rab geranylgeranyl transferase can recognize. The Rab proteins usually terminate in a CC or CXC motif. Instead, Rab proteins are bound by the Rab escort protein (REP) over a more conserved region of the Rab protein and then presented to the Rab geranylgeranyltransferase. Once Rab proteins are prenylated, the lipid anchor(s) ensure that Rabs are no longer soluble. REP, therefore, plays an important role in binding and solubilising the geranylgeranyl groups and delivers the Rab protein to the relevant cell membrane.
Note that, in the HMG-CoA reductase/mevalonate pathway, the precursors already contain a pyrophosphate group, and isoprenoids are produced with a pyrophosphate group. There is no known enzyme activity that can carry out the prenylation reaction with the isoprenoid alcohol. However, enzymatic activity for isoprenoid kinases capable converting isoprenoid alcohols to isoprenoid pyrophosphates have been shown.[5] In accordance with this, farnesol and geranylgeraniol have been shown to be able to rescue effects caused by statins or nitrogenous bisphosphonates, further supporting that alcohols can be involved in prenylation, likely via phosphorylation to the corresponding isoprenoid pyrophosphate.
Proteins that undergo prenylation include Ras, which plays a central role in the development of cancer. This suggests that inhibitors of prenylation enzymes (e.g., farnesyltransferase) may influence tumor growth. In the case of the K- and N-Ras forms of Ras, when cells are treated with FTIs, these forms of Ras can undergo alternate prenylation in the form of geranylgeranylation.[6] Recent work has shown that farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) also inhibit Rab geranylgeranyltransferase and that the success of such inhibitors in clinical trials may be as much due to effects on Rab prenylation as on Ras prenylation. Inhibitors of prenyltransferase enzymes display different specificity for the prenyltransferases, dependent upon the specific compound being utilized.
In addition to GTPases, the protein kinase GRK1 also known as rhodopsin kinase (RK) has been shown to undergo farnesylation and carboxyl methylation directed by the carboxyl terminal CVLS CaaX box sequence of the protein.[7] The functional consequence of these post-translational modifications have been shown to play a role in regulating the light-dependent phosphorylation of rhodopsin, a mechanism involved in light adaptation.[8]
FTIs can also be used to inhibit farnesylation in parasites such as trypanosoma brucei and malaria. Parasites seem to be more vulnerable to inhibition of farnesyltransferase than humans are. In some cases, this may be because they lack geranylgeranyltransferase I. Thus, it may be possible for the development of antiparasitic drugs to 'piggyback' on the development of FTIs for cancer research.
In addition, FTIs have shown some promise in treating a mouse model of progeria, and in May 2007 a phase II clinical trial using the FTI lonafarnib was started for children with progeria.[9]
Small molecules prenylation
Small molecules can also undergo prenylation, such as in the case of prenylflavonoids. Prenylation of a vitamin B2 derivative (flavin mononucleotide) was recently described.[11]
Longevity and cardiac effects
A 2012 study found that statin treatment increases lifespan and improves cardiac health in Drosophila by decreasing specific protein prenylation. The study concluded, "These data are the most direct evidence to date that decreased protein prenylation can increase cardiac health and lifespan in any metazoan species, and may explain the pleiotropic (non-cholesterol related) health effects of statins."[12]
A 2012 clinical trial explored the approach of inhibiting protein prenylation with some degree of success in the treatment of Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome, a multisystem disorder which causes failure to thrive and accelerated atherosclerosis leading to early death.[13] [14]
See also
Further reading
External links
Notes and References
1. P. J. Casey . M. C. Seabra . amp . Protein Prenyltransferases . 1996. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 271. 10. 5289–5292. 10.1074/jbc.271.10.5289. 8621375. free.
2. Maltese WA . December 1990 . Posttranslational modification of proteins by isoprenoids in mammalian cells . FASEB J . 4 . 15. 3319–28 . 10.1096/fasebj.4.15.2123808 . 2123808 . 17511637 .
3. G. Novelli . M. R. D'Apice . amp . Protein farnesylation and disease. 2012. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease. 35. 5. 917–926. 10.1007/s10545-011-9445-y . 22307208. 11555502 .
4. Marshall. C. J.. 1993-03-26. Protein prenylation: a mediator of protein-protein interactions. Science. 259. 5103. 1865–1866. 10.1126/science.8456312. 0036-8075. 8456312. 1993Sci...259.1865M.
5. G.. Dallner . E.. Phosphorylation of farnesol in rat liver microsomes: properties of farnesol kinase and farnesyl phosphate kinase.. 353. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 191–198. 2. Swiezewska . E.. Bentinger. 1998. 9606952 . M.. Grünler. Peterson . J.. 10.1006/abbi.1998.0611 .
6. Whyte . D. . Kirschmeier . P. . Hockenberry . T. . Nunez-Oliva . I. . James . L. . Catino . J. . Bishop . W. . Pai . J. . K- and N-Ras are geranylgeranylated in cells treated with farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 272 . 22 . 14459–14464 . 1997 . 9162087 . 10.1074/jbc.272.22.14459. free .
7. Isoprenylation of a Protein Kinase: Farnesylation / α-Carboxyl Methylation Required for Full Enzymatic Activity of Rhodopsin Kinase.. Inglese, J. . Glickman, J.F.. Lorenz, W. . Caron, M.G.. Lefkowitz, R.J.. J. Biol. Chem.. 1992 . 267. 3 . 1422–1425. 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)45960-1 . 1730692. free .
8. Isoprenylation in the Regulation of Signal Transduction by G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases. . Inglese, J. . Koch, W.J.. Caron, M.G.. Lefkowitz, R.J.. Nature. 1992 . 359. 6391 . 147–150 . 1522899. 10.1038/359147a0 . 1992Natur.359..147I . 4314755 .
9. Phase II trial of Lonafarnib (a farnesyltransferase inhibitor) for progeria.
10. Wall. MA. Coleman, DE . Lee, E . Iñiguez-Lluhi, JA . Posner, BA . Gilman, AG . Sprang, SR . The structure of the G protein heterotrimer Gi alpha 1 beta 1 gamma 2.. Cell. 15 December 1995. 83. 6. 1047–58. 8521505. 10.1016/0092-8674(95)90220-1. free.
11. 10.1038/nature14536 . 522 . Biochemistry: Unexpected role for vitamin B2 . Nature . 427–428 . 26083748 . Clarke . CF . Allan . CM . 2015. 7557 . 2015Natur.522..427C . free .
12. Spindler SR, Li R, Dhahbi JM, Yamakawa A, Mote P, Bodmer R, Ocorr K, Williams RT, Wang Y, Ablao KP . Statin treatment increases lifespan and improves cardiac health in Drosophila by decreasing specific protein prenylation . 2012. PLOS ONE. 7. 6. e39581. 10.1371/journal.pone.0039581. 22737247 . 3380867. 2012PLoSO...739581S . free .
13. Gordon LB, Kleinman ME, Miller DT, Neuberg DS, Giobbie-Hurder A, Gerhard-Herman M, Smoot LB, Gordon CM, Cleveland R, Snyder BD, Fligor B, Bishop WR, Statkevich P, Regen A, Sonis A, Riley S, Ploski C, Correia A, Quinn N, Ullrich NJ, Nazarian A, Liang MG, Huh SY, Schwartzman A, Kieran MW . 6. Clinical trial of a farnesyltransferase inhibitor in children with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. . 109 . 41 . 16666–71 . October 2012 . 23012407 . 3478615 . 10.1073/pnas.1202529109 . 2012PNAS..10916666G. free.
14. Young SG, Yang SH, Davies BS, Jung HJ, Fong LG . Targeting protein prenylation in progeria . Sci Transl Med . 5 . 171 . 171ps3 . February 2013 . 23390246 . 3725554 . 10.1126/scitranslmed.3005229 . |
New research published: Apostle Islands play key role in regional spread of American marten populations
Consider yourself fortunate if you’ve seen an American marten on the Apostle Islands. These small, fur-bearing mammals are hard to spot but fun to watch. The slender-bodied, state-endangered weasels are also the subject of ongoing research by scientists at the University of Wisconsin. Their work was the subject of a session at the 50th Anniversary Research Stewardship Symposium. It’s also the basis for a new scientific paper.
The researchers used DNA from hair samples to estimate how many animals are in the park and where their relatives live. They published the results of that work in late July, 2021. In it, they said they examined the unique genetic sequences of 483 individual martens, 43 of which inhabited the Apostle Islands.
“Our findings suggest that the Apostle Islands were naturally recolonized by progeny of translocated individuals and now act as a source back to the reintroduction sites on the mainland. We suggest that the Apostle Islands, given its protection from disturbance, complex forest structure, and reduced carnivore competition, will act as a potential refuge for marten along their trailing range boundary and a central node for regional recovery.”
The research, led by Matt Smith and Dr. Jon Pauli, found that many of the animals on the islands are related. Interestingly, one island marten was traced to a first-order relative 50 miles away on the mainland. First-order means sibling, parent or child.
Indirect gene flow between subpopulation pairs of American marten (Martes americana) within a regional recovery network: Apostle Islands (WI-AI), Chequamegon National Forest, Wisconsin, United States (WI-CF), Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin, United States (WI-NF), central Upper Michigan (MI-Central), eastern Upper Michigan (MI-Eastern), and western Upper Michigan (MI-Western).
Marten study map
Map and description above it are from the publication
American martens eat both plants and animals including voles; their diet varies by season. They live alone except during the mid-summer breeding season. Litters of 1 to 5 kits are born the following spring.
American martens were heavily trapped at the peak of the north American fur trade. Populations peaked in 1820 and fell off dramatically until the turn of the century. Their habitat includes northern parts of the midwest and northeastern United States as well as Canada and Alaska. It’s great to know that the Apostle Islands are a safe haven for these fascinating animals.
Read the published scientific paper here. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) |
Settlement (Croatia)
The territory of Croatia is divided by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics into small settlements, in Croatian naselje (singular; pl. naselja).[1] They indicate existing or former human settlement. Individual settlements are by and large referred to as selo (village), and are not necessarily incorporated places. Rather, the administrative units are cities (Croatian: grad, gradovi) and municipalities (Croatian: općina, općine), which are composed of one or more naselje. As of 2008, there are 6,749 naselja in Croatia.[2]
The Constitution of Croatia allows a naselje or a part thereof to form some form of local government.[3] This form of local government is typically used to subdivide the city settlements; a city usually includes an eponymous large settlement which in turn consists of several units named gradski kotar (city district), gradska četvrt (city district/borough) in the city of Zagreb, and/or mjesni odbor (local committee/board).
See also
1. "Notes on Methodology". Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
2. "2008 Statistical Information" (PDF). Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
3. "Mjesna, lokalna i područna (regionalna) samouprava". Ustav Republike Hrvatske (in Croatian). Croatian Parliament. Retrieved 2012-01-30. |
Perspective Drawing Exercises
Perspective Drawing Exercises
The following represents some perspective drawing exercises that aim to challenge your knowledge of perspective. It’s not just about copying the illustrations on this page but fully understanding the framework from which each illustration is derived.
I’ll be using both one point perspective and two point perspective in the exercises throughout.
Learn the rules of perspective and drawing becomes easier…and more fun too!
Simple Exercises
The Cube
The first thing any beginner can warm up with is a simple cube drawn in one point perspective. You may have seen this before but it’s an important first step to getting things right.
Can you draw it so it looks like a perfect cube?
one point perspective box
Make sure each of your vertical lines are parallel to each other. Also do this for all of your horizontally drawn lines. The only lines not parallel will be your perspective lines. These of course are angled back to the point.
The previous drawing is of a cube drawn in the one point perspective method of drawing. It’s a very important exercise for beginning artists. Make sure you can draw the cube properly in space!
Not to worry these drawing exercises will increase in difficulty.
Learn the 8 Positions
The following scenario will challenge you to understand how perspective cubes are drawn in various locations. Don’t underestimate the power of this particular exercise. In fact, do not attempt to draw buildings, interiors or anything else until you can do this part successfully.
8 perspective boxes complete (with horizon line)
Some of the key takeaways here have to do with the horizon line.
• When cubes are above the horizon line we can see its bottom
• When cubes are below the horizon line we can see its top
• When cubes are positioned on the horizon line we cannot see the top nor the bottom
Practice drawing perspective cubes and everything else becomes easier! The reason is simple: almost every object we represent on paper can be reduced to simple box-like objects or positioned in space according to a grid. And of course any grid on paper is really just a single perspective plane!
How about a 9th position? There is a 9th perspective position that places the object right on the vanishing point. In doing this there isn’t any perspective showing because viewers only see the front facing plane.
After drawing all of your boxes take a look. Do they look like cubes floating in space? Are they all the same size? Are the boxes level with each other? If not go back and modify your lines so things look realistic on paper.
Sketch Loosely First
Most artists will hand draw their perspective lines first. This allows the artist to feel out the space and explore the composition faster. It allows the ideas in an artist’s head to be placed on paper quickly and not be confined by tools such as rulers and vanishing points.
sketch then Ink perspective lines (step 1)
These hand drawn lines are far from perfect but allow for a quick exploration!
After getting some of the objects drawn on paper the vanishing point(s) locations can then be determined. Yes you can sketch first and place your points second. It’s easier to get the results you want this way.
Does this mean you shouldn’t use a ruler? No, using a ruler is a great idea.
sketch then Ink perspective lines (step 2)
Now the drawing is firmed up with specific vanishing points and ruler-drawn lines.
You should use a ruler…but the ruler comes later when you need to firm up your lines after you have gotten your initial perspective sketch out of your imagination and onto paper!
You can see in the example above how some of my hand drawn lines were not quite/correctly connecting to the vanishing points. That’s to be expected because it was just a quick sketch and I didn’t use a ruler at that stage of the drawing.
sketch then Ink perspective lines (step 3)
If inking your lines, you can easily erase the pencil sketched lines.
Advanced Exercises
In 1pt. And 2pt.
Try some of these perspective drawing practice exercises to challenge your understanding of the rules and techniques of perspective!
Finding Middles
Take a look at the rectangle below. Notice how it is divided up into quarter sections vertically? It’s easy to do and does not require any measuring. Simply connect opposite the corners of the outer rectangle (gray lines). That will locate the middle of the rectangle. From there we can draw in a vertical line. Now the rectangle has been split into halves. We can repeat this process on each half to end up with quarters. Notice the green drawn lines.
halving rectangle
Once you understand the technique of dividing spaces into equal halves you can perform this same operation on 3D objects and spaces.
The 2-point perspective cube below demonstrates this. See how the light gray “x” on each side was used to locate the “perspective middle” of each side.
Once the perspective middle has been located you can then connect the center of the “x” to the appropriate vanishing point!
Clever right?!!!!
Dividing Space
You can divide up a perspective plane or object into multiple sections that account for the diminishing size due to perspective.
Take a look at the series of images below to see how its done!
perspective spacing step 0
perspective spacing step 1
perspective spacing step 2
perspective spacing step 3
perspective spacing step 4
perspective spacing step 5
perspective spacing step 6
perspective spacing step 7
In the final drawing above notice how each section gets smaller as it visually recedes away from us. This is a core feature in any properly drawn perspective drawing.
Rather than guess at each diminishing section, you can let the previous technique of dividing up perspective space do the work for you!
Let’s look at an animation of the process in action….
Wedges & Pyramids
Not everything is a perfect box. Sooner or later you’ll have to draw something that is a wedge-shape or a pyramid form.
Keep your cool, this is quite easy provided we start with a box first. From the basic perspective box we’ll remove the sections needed to arrive at a wedge and a pyramid!
Check out the drawing steps below to see how this is done for a pair of pyramids:
Perspective Pyramid Exercise Step: 1
Perspective Pyramid Exercise Step: 2
Perspective Pyramid Exercise Step: 3
Perspective Pyramid Exercise Step: 4
Perspective Pyramid Exercise Step: 5
Perspective Pyramid Exercise Step: 6
Perspective Pyramid Exercise Step: 7
In the drawing demonstration above, notice how we are locating the perspective middle of each box. Then we can easily construct the pyramid.
How can we can create wedge-shaped objects like the following?
How did you do?
Here is the solution to the wedge drawing challenge:
Notice how in the solution we, once again, utilized boxes first!
Circles and Cylinders
How do we draw circles and cylinders in proper perspective?
The answer can get a bit technical but check out the following illustration which shows the geometry of mapping a circle onto a perspective plane:
The top section of the illustration above shows how a circle can be scribed inside of a square. That square can then be divided up into sections with a ruler. This is done flat with no perspective.
What’s cool about perspective drawing is that what is drawn flat / without perspective can also be accomplished in perspective. That’s what the bottom half of the illustration is showing!
Notice the 8 “touch points” from which to construct the circle in proper perspective. Note where the red and green lines intersect. The blue arrow is pointing out one of these intersections. Those red/green line intersections shown above give you 4 touch points. The other 4 touch points are on the perimeter of the square and shown as gray lines above.
Together, these 8 touch points give you some guidance and clarity as to how to construct the elliptical-esque shape.
Why elliptical-esque? Technically the ellipses drawn above are not true ellipses. They are modified to compensate for the effects of perspective: the back half of the ellipse is smaller than the front half.
This is why I constructed all of these complex intersecting lines and didn’t just draw a pair of simple ellipses!
Well there you have it, that’s the proper solution for drawing circles in a one-point perspective drawing.
I left out the two remaining vertical lines to turn this into a cylinder.
• Can you determine where to draw the remaining two lines?
• How could you accomplish this in two-point perspective?
Perspective Challenges
Want to really test your ability to draw objects in three dimensions? See if you can find solutions to the following perspective drawing practice exercises.
1. Draw a table in proper 1pt. perspective. Next, place a vase of flowers precisely in the center of the table.
2. If a window is at the end of a room and has four panes of glass separated by 2 crossbars how could you draw this in both 1pt. And 2pt. Perspective methods. Hint: 2pt. will be more of a corner view.
3. Draw a row of fence posts as they recede from our vision.
4. Make a drawing of a brick walkway. The bricks should get smaller as they recede from our vision.
5. Draw a picture of a train with various cars.
1. Thank you so much for your help! Your instructions are nicely sequential and detailed! I have struggled with some of these issues for quite some time and you made things so easy to understand!
1. John Morfis says:
Wonderful, thanks Barbara!
2. I am trying to finish a fantasy cityscape and want to put a circle or spiral circle on the angled side of the building.
I’m not sure one would call it ecliptical or what. For instance if a round clock was facing straight on as usual but one wanted more of a “side “ view how do you get there correctly perspective wise?
1. John Morfis says:
Hi Holly,
Anything circular becomes a modified ellipse. A good way to calculate things is to put the shape in simpler shapes like rectangles and use known intersections and key points such as with connecting corners, etc. Do this flat with no perspective first.
Then you can recreate the flat drawing in perspective starting with the basic shapes, known intersections and key points, only this time in perspective.
Go to section on circles and cylinders above. It’s drawn in one-point-perspective, but once you understand it the technique can be applied to two-point and three-point perspective as well.
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Home > CCG > Chapter 11 > Lesson 11.1.4 > Problem 11-62
For each triangle below, decide if it is similar to the triangle at right. If it is similar, justify your conclusion and complete the similarity statement . If the triangle is not similar, explain how you know. Assume that the diagrams are not drawn to scale.
Triangle, A, B, C, labeled as follows: side, A, B, 13, side, B, C, 10, side, A, C, 5, angle, A, 43 degrees, angle, B, 20 degrees.
1. Triangle, D, E, F, labeled as follows: angle D, 117 degrees, angle F, 43 degrees.
Find the measures of the unknown angles.
Does this prove they are similar?
1. Triangle, K, L, M, labeled as follows: side, K, L, 18, side, L, M, 9, side K, M, 23.4.
1. Triangle, X, Y, Z, labeled as follows: side, X, Y, 9, side, Y, Z, 4, side X, Z, 12.
Is there a zoom factor? |
Japanese Submarine Collides With Cargo Ship During Surfacing
There's an ongoing investigation to uncover the reasons behind the collision in the Pacific.
Japanese Submarine Collides With Cargo Ship During Surfacing
A Japanese Soryu Submarine Wikimedia Commons
A Japanese Soryu submarine collided with a commercial vessel as it was surfacing on Monday in the Pacific Ocean.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's submarine was damaged, and three of its crewmembers were injured, CNN reported.
It's still unclear what caused the accident as there were no reported sonar and periscope issues prior to the collision, outlined Kyodo News, which happened at approximately 10:55 AM local time off Cape Ashizuri in Kochi Prefecture, Japan.
What happened
The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force's Soryu submarine was carrying out routine training when it inadvertently hit the commercial ship Ocean Artemis, a cargo vessel registered in Hong Kong transporting iron ore, as it was surfacing.
Ocean Artemis spans a hefty 228 meters (750 feet) long, and weighs some 51,000 tons — so it's tough to imagine such a ship going unnoticed. By comparison, the diesel-electric Soryu submarine has a standard displacement of 2,950 tons and is just over 83 meters (275 feet) long.
The 5th Regional Coast Guard Headquarter in Japan is carrying out an investigation to uncover exactly what went wrong, and why, as well as sending its divers to check the cargo ship's hull wasn't badly damaged.
During the collision, the Soryu submarine suffered damage to its communications equipment, and fairwater planes — the wing-looking structures on its top tower.
Why such a collision could happen
The Coast Guard will be checking that proper surfacing procedures were carried out by the Soryu submarine's crew. Typically, sonar is used to detect other vessels in the vicinity, however, this can become trickier when the vessel is behind a submarine.
To ensure no collisions occur during surfacing, a submarine typically changes its position as it gradually rises to the surface, once near it, it then extends its periscope to look out for such vessels.
Some sources say, Kyodo News reported, that the Soryu's crew didn't detect the vessel through its sonar, and once it finally did, thanks to its periscope, it was unable to shift gear to move out of the way, and ended up scraping the hull of the ship. Other factors may have come into play, such as tidal currents, which can make using sonar trickier.
As investigations carry on, the real reason for the collision will be uncovered.
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The rise of containers has led to the microservices paradigm, where software is developed and deployed as fine-grained services. Multiple services work in tandem to deliver the expected functionality from the application.
There are many challenges involved in developing, deploying and managing microservices-based applications. Even though a container management platform like Kubernetes does the heavy lifting, developers and operators are expected to implement multiple techniques to manage microservices deployed in a production environment.
The challenges involved in deploying and managing microservices led to the evolution of a new application-centric network layer called the service mesh.
Read the entire article at Forbes
|
Environment Looking for love in all the wrong places
Looking for love in all the wrong places
Male funnel-web spiders have evolved to produce deadly venom to protect themselves against predators when they leave their webs to go looking for love.
Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast and The University of Queensland have found that the much maligned funnel-webs don’t actually mean to kill humans at all.
The university’s Associate Professor Volker Herzig said the discovery was made after researchers examined a peptide in the spiders’ venom called delta hexatoxin.
“It has always been a mystery for us why funnel-web spiders can cause human fatalities, as humans do not feature in their prey spectrum,” Dr Herzig said.
“Originally the delta hexatoxin evolved to kill insects but over time it was modified as a protective mechanism, particularly in the males that leave their burrows for longer periods to find a mate and thereby are more likely to encounter predators,” he said.
“Given that this lethal toxin binds to sodium channels (membrane proteins responsible for sending electrical signals through the body), the natural predator of funnel-web spiders and humans must share some similarity in the toxin-binding site of their respective sodium channels.”
The fact that the spiders’ venom is merely painful to non-primates but deadly to humans is just an unfortunate evolutionary accident.
Support Australia’s universities as they untangle the web of disinformation and set out the facts – sign the petition to #KeepItClever now. |
Rodion Kutsaiev / Getty Images
A Berry Seedless Future
It’s a berry good day for Pairwise, a company inching closer to making berries seedless through their work altering blackberries’ and black raspberries’ DNA.
How do they do it? Pairwise uses CRISPR gene-editing to remove or change the sequence of the genome so a specific trait doesn’t appear or a desired characteristic is more pronounced. Quite simply, it’s making changes to what’s already there versus adding new DNA.
In short: This is not creating GMOs. “Because gene editing creates variation that is already present in nature, the products can have a shorter and less complicated regulatory path than GMOs [genetically modified organisms] that involve inserting genes from other organisms into a crop genome,” said Pairwise CEO Tom Adams.
Why go seedless? Adams said Pairwise wanted to “get rid of seeds and bring the kind of properties into it that are in the other berries, so that we can expand the choices and give people more [options] for a healthy diet.”
One example of Pairwise’s gene editing work is changing the plants’ structure to get rid of thorns on bushes — making harvesting safer. Besides berries, Pairwise is working to make leafy greens less pungent and cherries pitless.
Hitting a grocery shelf near you. Be on the lookout sometime in the mid-2020s. |
The Lost Ancient Patrimony of the White Race
desecrationby David Sims
CULTURALLY AND SCIENTIFICALLY, the White race of ancient times was more advanced than anyone will ever know. Why? Because the Christians destroyed much of what White scientists, mathematicians, philosophers, and artists had learned or created.
The largest specific destruction event took place in Alexandria, Egypt, in the year 415.
Of the 123 plays that we know Sophocles to have written, only seven survive. They are celebrated tragedies, but we have no way of knowing that they are not the least of his works.
Until recently, I had the impression that a bunch of Christian rioters stormed into the Great Library and put the books to the torch there in its halls. I recently learned otherwise. What actually happened was the Christian rabble removed the books and used them as kindling, burning them to heat the city’s 4000 (the number is from Eutychius, a sixth century Christian leader in Constantinople) public bathhouses. The medieval Muslim writer, Ibn al-Kifti, wrote that it took six months to finish burning the Library’s books and scrolls.
[Here is just a very small sample of the destruction that befell philosophy, art, and science once Christianity gained power in Europe and dealt a death blow to our race’s Classical civilization (paraphrased from James McDonald)]:
During the reign of the Christian Emperor Theodosius I, the library at Alexandria was burned. For years bands of Christian monks had been sweeping down from their desert monasteries to destroy shrines and temples. They ransacked houses, destroying all non-Christian religious objects….
Bishop Theophilus of Alexandria personally directed the destruction of the temple to the god Serapis, reputedly the largest place of worship in the known world. The statue of the god was chopped up and burned, its head being carried through the town for public ridicule. The temple precinct, or Serapeum, also housed a scientific research institute (a “Museum” named after the nine Muses, from which originated the word itself) and the famous Library of Alexandria — two of the greatest academic buildings in human history. Both buildings were loathed by Christians, who hated scientific research and secular knowledge as much as they hated other people’s places of worship. Both Museum and Library were destroyed around this time, probably in the same violent incident in which the bishop destroyed the temple….
Aphrodite defaced
Aphrodite defaced
A huge treasure house of art depicting the indigenous gods of Europe was displayed at the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter. This collection, which should have been modern Europe’s inheritance from the ancient world, disappeared in Christian times. Countless other works of art from all over the known world were also lost under Christian rule. “Lost” is the conventional euphemism to cover anything from willful negligence to deliberate seeking out and destruction. Some classical art survived in the Eastern Empire, especially in Constantinople. But when the Western Christians besieged and took the city in 1204, they immediately set about pillaging these ancient treasures, and destroying those that they could not carry away. Nicetus, a contemporary Greek writer, listed some of the treasures: statues of Juno, of Paris and Venus, of Bellerophon, of Hercules, of Helen, of the Sphinxes, and many others. Some of these statues were huge: four horses had trouble dragging away the head of the statue of Juno. The statue of Hercules (by Lysimachus) was so large that in girth, the statue’s thumbs were equal to a man’s waist. Bronze work was broken up and melted down so that it could be transported more easily; marble work was simply vandalised….
Germanicus defaced
Germanicus defaced
We can often tell that Christians were responsible for vandalising statues first because they made a point of disfiguring the face (as Moslems vandals still do), and secondly because they would often carve crosses on the face, most commonly a cross in the middle of the forehead, to somehow Christianise the statue. Making crosses on foreheads is a common Christian practice. It is still done with water in the course of baptisms, with ash on Ash Wednesday, and with paint on the skulls of dead monks. It was previously done with a red hot branding iron on the foreheads of supposed heretics.
The end of progress in ancient mathematics is conventionally dated as 415, the year the philosopher Hypatia, a woman, was murdered by Christians in the same city, during the reign of the next bishop. The great tradition of learning at Alexandria came to an end in 517 when its world famous School of Philosophy was closed down. Elsewhere, rival Christian schools had to be eliminated too. In 489 the Emperor Zeno had closed the schools of Edessa. The end of ancient philosophy can be equated with the closing of the Academy and other philosophical Schools in Athens by the Christian Emperor Justinian in 529. Any possibility of intellectual opposition was now eliminated.
Philosophy was considered dangerous to Christianity. Philosophers were persecuted and their books burned. Such was the persecution that men of learning were driven to destroy their own libraries rather than risk a volume being seen by a Christian informer. The few intellectual Christians that there were had to be careful of offending the sensibilities of the less intellectual majority. The philosopher Boethius, for example, was killed by the pious Christian Ostrogoth Theodoric in the sixth century. He is reputed to have met his end by having a bowstring tightened around his temples until his eyes protruded from his head. His death marked the end of the classical tradition of learning….
Because of Christ-insanity, the White race basically had to start all over again, after a delay of about one thousand years. The remains of our ancient patrimony is not even a thousandth of what we might have had, if it were not for Christian fanaticism. Let us not repeat that mistake. History strongly suggests that a choice must be made between this religion and our race. Pick your side.
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1 January, 2016 3:53 pm
Christianity seems have been a way of softening up the white race for the advent of the Jews.
Arvin N. Prebost
Arvin N. Prebost
2 January, 2016 9:43 am
Hello, can you please give me the source of that quote from James McDonald?
The only James McDonald I can find is a Christian minister, but would he indeed say such a thing?
Hamill Legister
Hamill Legister
Reply to Arvin N. Prebost
2 January, 2016 1:43 pm
He writes for a site called The Bad News About Christianity. The piece that extract is from is quite long, and contains some interesting information (though it is pro-Jewish in places). Here’s a part of the first section: All religious traditions had been tolerated under the Roman Empire, although Christians suffered to some extent because of their sedition. They stated openly that they desired the destruction of the Empire, encouraged soldiers to desert, aparantly assassinated oponents, vandalised sacred monuments and statues, and tried to destroy the city of Rome by means of arson. As soon as the Empire became Christian, this toleration ceased. The only writings to be permitted were those supported by the line currently regarded as orthodox. By 326 Constantine had authorised the confiscation and destruction of anything… Read more »
Will Williams
Will Williams(@www)
2 January, 2016 6:14 pm
Thanks for the badnews link, H.L. Those stories there are what should be required study in Sunday Schools. This thought-provoking excerpt about explorer for Christ Christopher Columbus after his failed mission to convert native Taino on Island of Hispaniola:. — …By the time Columbus returned to Spain in 1496 he had not managed to convert a single Taino. Partly through wanton murder and partly through infectious diseases brought from Europe, the population of Hispaniola fell rapidly. In 1492, when Columbus planted his first cross, the Taino population of Hispaniola had probably been somewhere between 3 and 8 million. By the mid-sixteenth century the Tainos were extinct. Disease could have decimated the population but could not have extirpated it. Genocide such as this was the work of man and his Christian… Read more »
Arvin N. Prebost
Arvin N. Prebost
2 January, 2016 10:31 pm
Thanks, Hamill. I will investigate that link.
Thomas Plaster
Thomas Plaster
16 July, 2017 9:30 pm
I have come to believe that Christianity is a Trojan Horse of sorts to undermine White Germanics. It was invented by a jew; Saul of Tarsus. It gives jews an exalted place; God’s chosen people. When you read the old testament about what God wanted the Hebrews to do to the rest of the world, you can only shake your head. It needed the brute force of the political power of Rome to impose it on the Germanics. It also needed the same legal/political power to stamp out remaining Germanic worship (misnomered pagan/heathen); suggesting there was still a fair amount of desire for the “old” religion, whatever that was called. Then there is the illogic of it, at times. First, its old testament commandment claims no worship except to God.… Read more »
20 March, 2021 6:12 pm
And no mention of Julius Caesar contribution to the destruction of the library of Alexandria? |
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Try, Try, Try Again …
First , Edison’s statement is one of great optimism
Second, Edison is a phenomenal failure
Bottom Line:
Keep Everyone Close …
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
Mario Puzo The Godfather, Part II
Footnote from Often misattributed to Sun Tzu, it is actually spoken by the character Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Part II. The quote begins, “My father taught me many things here…he taught me in this room. He taught me…”
Ahhh, The Godfather … as Tom Hanks so memorably tells us in “You’ve Got Mail“:
… and the featured quote is simply more evidence of this.
Keeping our friends close is probably a no-brainer.
We need the support of those who we trust and draw energy from the closeness of intimacy. When you already consider someone an ally, shared moments only bring you closer to them, for the most part.
It’s easy to keep our friends close, because we seek that closeness. Facebook allows us to reconnect and stay in connection with friends from long ago and far away. This is a major part of the appeal of social media networking in general.
Keeping our enemies closer is somewhat more counter-intuitive.
We usually do not enjoy close contact with our enemies. We may respect them in some ways, but we do not like being around them. So why should we do so, based on advice from a fictional character in a movie?
1) Closeness can provide opportunities to learn about others and to develop more nuanced relationships. Interacting with others in proximity provides valuable lessons in the range and variety of behaviors and emotions which exist in every human.
2) Keeping everyone in your world close breaks down the myth that friends are close and others are not. We live in a world of change and yesterday’s enemy is sometimes tomorrow’s valued ally.
3) Doing so challenges the traditional perception of what an enemy is. While I think it simplistic to say things like “A stranger is just a friend you have not yet met”, we do have to acknowledge how getting to know someone changes your perceptions of that person, often in positive ways.
After all, getting to know people who are different from you is a basic tool in fighting stereotyping, prejudice, bias, and discrimination, isn’t it?
Trying to make room for everyone in the Heartland ….
Feeling That Good Kind of Pain …
“There are no gains without pains.”
Be relieved that I used a graphic to illustrate this and not a picture of me exercising. Some gains are not worth the pain;).
Well, this is a fairly well-known saying, partly due to its paraphrased adoption by a commercial interest not named here. I have heard folks at the gym and on the running circuit repeat this with a somewhat reverent tone too many times to count.
They have “drank the Kool-aid” about the idea of needing to experience pain to do something.
In my past life as a therapist, I know that this dictum holds true. When we have emotional or psychological issues, but resist experiencing the associated pain, we cannot grow past those issues. “Stuffing” our feelings usually only leads to continued pain, no resolution of issues or problems, and sometimes we are completely overwhelmed by what we are seeking to avoid.
At work, we are often subjected to situations where honest and sharp emotional responses are in order, but not allowed.
Change often involves pain, in the form of grieving the loss of what was known and the fear and excitement of embracing the new. Relationships at work, especially those which involve a power differential, create a unique type of pain. Shattered expectations for advancement, promotion, salary increases, and even just basic job security, generate multiple emotional responses.
I was told as a young manager to “Leave your feelings at home.” I was expected to work and perform, without displaying any of the emotions which make me fully human. I was also expected to instill this idea in those I managed.
After a little more experience, I have come to the point where I believe we do ourselves a great disservice by not adopting the “pain for gain” idea in the workplace. No, I am not talking about the pain of the masses for the gain of the few. I had something a little more egalitarian in mind.
1) We want everyone to be engaged, but we do not want to “mess with” emotional responses.
Then we wonder why the enthusiasm for a new initiative or change is less than ideal. If we expect people to display the more positive emotions at work, we have to be prepared for them to have the less positive ones as well.
Emotions are windows through which we display our personalities. Asking people to only show the positive parts does not support honest communication or conflict resolution.
How can we as leaders become more comfortable with a fuller display of emotions at work?
2) We expect emotional responses to be proper to the occasion, as determined by us and our perceptions of the situation.
We may be excited by a pending change, because we already know or hope that it will benefit us personally. We do not always consider how that same change appears to others.
Our perceptions do create our realities, but our realities are not other’s realities … and neither’s realities are the truth.
How can we recognize when we in our leadership role are placing our “realities” on others?
3) We respond poorly to emotional displays and attempt to control or even “outlaw” them.
People, as a general rule, are uncomfortable with painful emotions, in themselves and even more so in others. When we uncomfortable, one immediate response is to stifle what makes us uncomfortable. The reality that this does not address the underlying issues becomes secondary to not feeling pain or discomfort.
How do we as leaders become more comfortable with our own and other’s emotions?
As leaders, we may communicate the attitude that I was taught, that emotions have no place in the workplace. Maybe we need to communicate a different message.
As managers, we need to use our communication and collaboration skills to make the workplace flow smoothly and effectively.
A dammed-up river does not flow, but sometimes the dam bursts.
Let’s put more energy into helping the river flow than into plans for damage control.
Trying to get into the flow in the Heartland ….
Four Ways My Thinking Has “Evolved” …
DISCLAIMER: NOT a political post.
Recently, President Obama has described his publicly stated views on a particular issue thusly: the president described his thought process as an “evolution” that led him to this decision.
… and the resulting flap has included some criticism of him for having “evolving” views. Something about that word, apparently.
Well, isn’t our thinking supposed to evolve?
I used to think that …
… a lot of sizzling bacon, a small mountain of scrambled eggs, and half a loaf of toast dripping with home-churned butter and strawberry jam was a great way to start the day. I still drool at the mere thought, but my thinking has changed.
… a great night out involved massive amounts of alcohol, music that would literally vibrate my bones, and something involving petty crime, destruction of property, or at least invasion of someone’s privacy. My thinking has evolved.
… women were targets, somewhat interchangeable, and obviously subservient and inferior to us guys in many ways, and much in need of protection. Yeah, my thinking has definitely evolved on this score as well.
… anyone who did not look, think, and act like me was viewed as suspect, treated gingerly, if at all, and probably not as “real” as I was …
By now, I hope you get my point and can fill in the rest of that last example. My thinking has evolved over the years and I’ll bet yours has as well.
The Point:
We can argue about our positions, our beliefs, and our values.
We can argue about directions, about decisions, and about trends.
We can even argue about whether the weather is good or bad each day.
… We should not be arguing about whether someone’s thinking has evolved.
Evolved thinking is what sets us apart from other animals who keep doing the same things over and over … and I’m not talking about growing longer tails.
As leaders in our organizations and our social groups, we model behavior emulated by others and which sets the tone for what happens and what does not happen.
Perceptions matter and we should never forget that perceptions are not reality, but our current view of reality. Things change, realities change, and our perceptions should change as well.
I would hope that everyone’s thinking evolves over time, by revisiting old beliefs, incorporating new knowledge, and always striving to engage in more critical thinking about the important issues of our days.
Hmmm … upon reflection, I guess this is a little political, but it is not meant as partisan. I’m talking to and about everyone:)
Trying hard not to be a “caveman” in the Twenty-First century in the Heartland …
3 Thoughts about Why “Doing It” is Overrated …
No, not THAT “Doing It” … I mean the general notion of experiencing something and drawing lessons from it.
Yesterday, I posed the following question while blogging about bags:
In a world of constant and fast-paced change, how valuable is experience?
My personal response is that experience is incredibly valuable … as long as we consider our experience using the following filters:
Consider the environment and situation in which your experience occurred. All other things being equal, old experience is less valuable than recent experience ~ things change and what was valid “then” may or may not still be useful.
Yes, ultimate truths do exist, but we tend to treat cultural and temporary knowledge as eternal, which they ain’t.
Are the experiences we have providing the same lessons? If they are, why do we need to keep learning the same thing?
I am a big believer in making new mistakes on a regular basis. When I make the same mistakes, I am either not paying attention or I am resisting learning the lesson.
What about you? New mistakes or old?
We learn from both positive and negative experiences, so both have usefulness. However, over a period of time, we should be getting better at critically and creatively evaluating our actions and making better decisions.
I take great satisfaction in applying “lessons learned” earlier in my life to the present.
I have no greater regrets than when I do not do this.
So, pay attention to the quality of your experiences, the transferability of your learning, and how things work out for you each time:)
Finally, a thought from someone who seems like an old friend …
Tom Bodett, who is keeping the light on for ya:)
Looking for that friendly and always-on light in the Heartland …. |
Uploaded by Hanife M
JSJ illumination
As a body is gradually heated above room temperature, it begins to radiate energy in the surrounding
medium in the form of electromagnetic waves of various wavelengths. The nature of this radiant energy
depends on the temperature of the hot body.
The usual method of producing artificial light consists in raising a solid body or vapour to incandescence
by applying heat to it. It is found that as body is gradually heated above room temperature, it begins to radiate
energy in the surrounding medium in the form of electromagnetic waves of various wavelengths. The nature of
this radiant energy depends on the temperature of the hot body. Thus, when the temperature is low, the
radiated energy is in the form of heat waves only, but when a certain temperature is reached, light waves are
also radiated out in addition to heat waves and the body becomes luminous. Further increase in the
temperature produces an increase in the amount of both kinds of radiations but the colour of light or visual
radiations change from bright red to orange, to yellow and finally, if the temperature is high enough, to white.
As the temperature is increased, the wavelength of visible radiation goes on becoming shorter. It should be
noted that heat waves are identical to light waves except that they are of longer wavelength and hence produce
no impression on retina. Obviously, from the point of view of light emission, heat energy represents wasted
Radiant efficiency of the luminous source is defined as the ratio of “energy radiated in the form of light”
to “total energy radiated out of the hot body” and it depends on the temperature of the source. As the
temperature is increased beyond that at which the light waves were first given off, the Radiant efficiency
increases, because the light energy will increase in greater proportion than the total radiated energy. When
emitted light becomes white, i.e. it includes all the visible wavelengths, from extreme red to extreme violate,
then a further increase in temperature produces radiations which are of wavelengths smaller than that of
violate radiations. Such radiations are invisible and are known as ultra violate-radiations. It is found that
maximum radiant efficiency would occur at about 62000 C and even then the value of this maximum efficiency
would be 20%. Since this temperature is far above the highest that has yet been obtained in practice, it is
obvious that the actual efficiency of all artificial sources of light i. e. those depending on temperature
incandescence, is low.
Light is thus a part of radiant energy that propagates as a wave motion through ether, approx velocity
being 3x10 m/sec. The wavelengths which can produce sensation of sight have a range from 4x10
7.5x10 cm. For expressing wavelength of light, another unit called Angstrom Unit (1 A.U. = 10 cm= 10
cm to
m) is
used. Thus the visible radiation lies between 4000 AU to 7500 AU. Typically a wavelength of 6000 AU produce
yellow colour and 4000 AU produces violate colour.
For a wave motion we have
JSJ 2013
Page 1
plane. In radians, plane angle is the ratio
point. In steradian, solid angle is the ratio
. It can also be defined as the angle subtended at the
centre of the sphere by a part of its surface having an area equal to (radius) 2.
The solid angle subtended by a point at the center by whole of the spherical surface in all directions in
space =
Relationship between plane angle (θ) and solid angle (ω) is given by ω=2π (1-cos )
c) Luminous flux is the light energy radiated out per second from the body in the form of luminous light
waves. It is thus the rate of energy radiation in the form of light. It is energy per second (and hence
comparable to Power). Its unit is lumen. Approximate relation between lumen and electric unit of power
i.e. watt is given as:
1 lumen=0.0016 watt (approx) or 1 watt=625 lumen (approx)
d) Lumen is defined as the luminous flux emitted in a unit solid angle by a source of one candle power. i. e.
Lumen=candle power x solid angle= cp x ω.
e) Luminous intensity (I) or Candle-power of a point source in a given direction is the luminous flux
(number of lumens) radiated out per unit solid angle. In other words, it is solid angular flux density of a
source in a specified direction. Its unit is Candela (cd) or lumens per steradian. A source of one candela
emits one lumen per steradian. Hence total flux emitted by it all-round is 4πx1=4π lumen.
An ordinary 60-watt lamp as used for domestic lighting, when viewed from the floor, havs a luminous
intensity of about 70- candle power, while a search light viewed from above the beam may have a
luminous intensity of as much as a million candle power.
Mean spherical candle-power (MSCP): Generally, the luminous intensity or candle power of a source is
different in different directions. The average candle-power of a source is the average value of its candle
power in all the directions. Obviously, it is given by flux (in lumen) emitted in all directions in all planes
divided by 4π. This average candle-power is also known as mean spherical candle-power (MSCP).
JSJ 2013
Page 2
Mean Hemispherical candle-power (MHSCP): It is given by the total flux emitted in a hemisphere
(usually the lower one) divided by the solid angle subtended at the point source by the hemisphere.
g) Illumination (E) or Illuminance: When the luminous flux falls on a surface, it is said to be illuminated.
Illumination is the luminous flux received by a surface per unit area. Its unit is Lux or metre-candle or
lumens per m2.
Imagine a sphere of radius of one meter around a point source of one candela. This flux falls normally on
the curved surface of the sphere which is 4π m2.Obviously, illumination at every point on the inner
surface of this sphere is
Also, Illumination=
. But ω
is the distance between the area and the point
where solid angle is formed.
Drawing Hall
Jewellery Work 700-800
Note: For industrial lighting, ask for the specific requirements from the consultants/ users.
h) Brightness of a surface is defined as the luminous intensity per unit projected area of the surface in the
given direction. Unit of brightness is Lambert.
i) Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a measure of the effect of light on the perceived color of objects. A low
CRI indicates that some colors may appear unnatural when illuminated by the lamp.
j) Specific output or efficiency of a lamp is the ratio of luminous flux to the power intake. Its unit is lumens
per watt (lm/w).
JSJ 2013
Page 3
Type of light source
Incandescent bulb
Fluorescent Lamp
Mercury Vapour Lamp
Sodium Vapour Lamp (Low
Pressure or LPSV)
Sodium Vapour Lamp (High
Pressure or HPSV)
Metal Hallide
Best LED
Typical Luminous Efficiency (lm/W)
JSJ 2013
Page 4
Lamps and Their Working Principle
I) Sodium Vapour Lamps:
Sodium vapour has the highest theoretical luminous efficiency and gives monochromatic orange-yellow light.
The monochromatic light makes objects look grey, on account of which these lamps are used for street and
highway lighting.
The lamp consists of a discharge tube having special composition of glass to withstand the high temperature of
the electric discharge. The discharge tube is surrounded by an outer tube as shown in fig. For heating the
cathode a transformer is included. Sodium below 600C is in solid state. For starting the lamp the electric
discharge is allowed to take place in neon gas. The temperature inside the discharge tube rises and vaporizes
sodium. Operating temperature is around 3000C. It takes about 10 minutes for the sodium vapour to displace
the red colour of the neon by its own yellow colour. The lamp takes around half an hour to reach full output. A
choke is provided for stabilizing the electric discharge and a capacitor for power factor improvement. Although
the theoretical efficiency is 475 lumens/watt, the practical light output is around 40-50 lumen/watt.
HPSV lamps are used for lighting of public thoroughfares, storage yards, open-air work sites, process plants,
interiors with high ceiling heights, etc.
JSJ 2013
Page 5
II) Mercury Vapour Lamps:
It is similar to construction of the sodium vapour lamp. The electrodes are tungsten coils containing an
electron emitting material, which may be small piece of thorium or an oxide mixture. Argon is introduced to help
start the lamp. The electric discharge first takes place through argon and this vaporizes the mercury drops inside
the discharge tube. The electron emitting material supplies electrons to maintain the arc.
The space between two bulbs is filled with an inert gas. The pressure inside the discharge tube may
range from one to ten atmospheres in lamps used for lighting purposes, as at these pressures the radiation is in
visible spectrum. Although the theoretical efficiency is 298 lumens/watt, the practical light output is around 2030 lumen/watt. (The ordinary tungsten filament or incandescent bulb has practical efficiency of 10-20
lumens/watt as against theoretical efficiency of 143 lumens/watt)
HPMV Lamps are used for lighting of secondary roads, car parking areas, parks and gardens, factory
sheds, etc.
JSJ 2013
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III) Fluorescent Lamps:
In the mercury vapour lamp considerable amount of radiation is in ultra-violate range. By coating the
inside of the tube by phosphor, this ultra violate radiation is converted in visible light. Phosphors have definite
characteristic colours, but when mixed together, they produce a large variety of colours. These phosphors are
stable compounds and give a high output throughout the life of the lamps. The colours of fluorescence produced
by various phosphors are given below:
Zinc Silicate
Calcium tungstate
Cadmium Borate
Calcium Halo Phosphate
Magnesium tungstate.
White of various shades
Bluish white
Tungsten cathode Preheated Type Fluorescent lamp: In these types, the electrons are produced by
thermionic emission. Lower starting and operating voltages are adequate. A transient voltage of 300-600 V,
applied by the starter, initiates the arc stream. The cathodes, which are coated with emitting materials, lose a
little bit of this material every time the lamp is started. The constant impact of electrons on the cathode also
dislodges some of the emitting material. Finally so little of the materials remain that it is not possible to emit any
electrons and the lamp becomes dead. Therefore this type of lamp is unsuitable for frequent starting.
The efficiency is dependent on the mercury vapour pressure (and hence temperature) inside the tube.
For efficient light production, these types of lamps are not used below a temperature of 100C surrounding.
Fluorescent lamps produce flicker or stroboscopic effect, since on 50 Hz supply; they are extinguished
100 times a second. Single lamps cannot be operated without flicker. Flicker correction can be applied to pairs of
lamps. Radio interference is another effect produced by fluorescent lamps and has to be removed by suitable
filter circuits.
Starters of automatic starting switches care of two types i) thermal type, and ii) glow discharge type.
The thermal starter has a heater coil which heats a bimetallic strip. The heater coil remains energized to keep
the bimetallic switch open throughout the operation of lamp. It, therefore, consumes a small amount of power.
Choke or ballast
1.condenser for radio
2.bimetallic switch
3.heater coil
Thermal starter
P.f. capacitor
JSJ 2013
Page 7
When the supply is switched on, the contacts of the bimetallic switch are closed and the current passes
through the electrodes and heat them. But after an interval of few seconds, the heater coil heats up the bimetal
strip and the bimetallic switch contacts open. This starts a high voltage transient across the electrode due to the
presence of choke or ballast in the circuit. An arc is struck between the electrodes, due to the high voltage
transient. The high frequency radio interference is bypassed through the filter circuit provided by the radio
interference suppression condenser.
The glow starter is enclosed in a glass bulb filled with neon or argon gas. One of the electrodes is a
bimetallic strip.
When the normal voltage is applied to the lamp, a glow discharge takes place across the glow switch and
a small amount of current flows through the electrodes. The bimetallic strip expands due to the heating effect of
current in the glow discharge. The expansion of bimetallic strip causes the electrodes touch each other (???) and
the electrodes get pre-heated due to the flow of appreciable amount of current. Meanwhile the bimetal cools,
the glow switch opens and the resultant high voltage transient starts the arc discharge through the tube. If the
lamp does not strike, the foregoing cycle is repeated. The switch cannot glow after the lamp has started
operating, as the available electrical potential is not high enough to establish the glow discharge. Thus the
starter consumes no power during the normal lamp operation.
A course in Electrical Power by Soni, Gupta, Bhatnagar
A Text book of Electrical Technology by B. L. Theraja, A. K. Theraja
Utilisation of Electrical Energy by E. Openshaw Taylor
Note: Refer above books for numerical based on illumination design.
JSJ 2013
Page 8
Design of Lighting Schemes and Layouts
A well designed lighting scheme is one which
Provides adequate illumination
Avoids glare and hard shadows
Provides sufficiently uniform distribution of light all over the working plane.
Following two factors are important for lighting design:
i) Utilization factor or Coefficient of Utilization: it is the ratio of the lumens actually received by a particular
surface to the total lumens emitted by a luminous source. It is an indication of the effect of the lighting
equipment and the interior combined in producing horizontal illuminance. For example UF of 0.3 means that the
lumen reaching horizontal plane is 30% of the lumens of the lamp operated bare under standard conditions.
The value of this factor varies widely and depends on the following factors:
Type of lighting system, whether direct, indirect etc
The type and mounting height of fittings
The colour and surface of walls and ceiling
To some extent the shape and dimensions of the room.
ii) Depreciation factor/ Maintenance factor: It is the ratio of illuminance halfway through a cleaning cycle, to
what the illuminance would be if the installation was clean. This factor allows for the fact that the effective
candle power of all lamps or luminous sources deteriorates due to blackening and/ or accumulation of dust or
dirt on the globes and reflectors etc. Similarly walls and ceilings also do not reflect as much light as when they
are clean.
Taking into consideration the utilization and depreciation or maintenance factors, the expression for gross
lumens required is:
Total lumens
The illumination in a drawing office 30 m x 10 m is to have a value of 250 lux and is to be provided by a
number of 300-Watts filament lamps. If the coefficient of utilization is 0.4 and depreciation factor is 0.9,
determine the number of lamps required. The luminous efficiency of each lamp is 14 lm/W.
Solution: Given E= 250 lm/sqm, A=30x10= 300 sq m, D.F. = 0.9, U.F. = 0.4.
Total lumens
Flux emitted per lamp = 300x14= 4200 lm. ∴ Number of lamps required = 208333/4200 = 50.
JSJ 2013
Page 9
Explain construction and working of sodium vapour lamp.
Explain various factors related to illumination.
Write a short note on Polar Curves.
Define following terms: Lumen, Candle power, MHCP, MSCP, Luminous flux, depreciation factor,
Maintenance factor, Coefficient of utilization.
(1 M each)
Derive relationship between plane angle & solid angle.
With the help of a neat sketch, explain the working principle of mercury vapour lamp and compare the
same with the other light sources.
Explain working principle of fluorescent lamps.
Which type of lighting fittings is used for a section having hazardous chemicals in a factory?
Give a list of different types of lamps available in market and discuss their luminous efficacy (lm/W) (5M)
1. A playground of 10 meters x 45 meters size is to be illuminated by 10 lamps of 1000 W each. The
luminous efficiency of each lamp is 20 lumens/ watt. Allowing a depreciation factor of 0.75 and
utilization of 0.45, determine the illumination on ground.
2. Design a suitable lighting scheme for a factory 120 m x 40 m with a height of 7 met. Illumination
required is 60 lux. State the number, location and mounting height of 40 W fluorescent tubes giving 45
lumens/ Watt. Assume depreciation factor of 1.2, utilization factor of 0.5)
3. A hall measuring 15 m x 30 m is illuminated by 20 lamps of 500 Watts each. The luminous efficiency of
each lamp is 15 lumens/ watt. Allowing a depreciation factor of 0.7 and coefficient of utilization of 0.5,
determine the illumination on floor.
4. A hall measuring 40 m x 16 m is illuminated by certain number of tube light fixtures of 80 W each. The
illumination efficiency of each fixture is 80 lumens/ W. Allow depreciation factor of 0.65 and coefficient
of utilization of 0.75. Determine the total number of fixtures required to achieve an average illumination
of 175 lux on the floor.
5. A hall of 50 m x 30 m is illuminated by indirect lighting. An average illumination of 150 lumens/ sqm is to
be provided on a horizontal plane parallel to the floor and 0.75 m above it. The walls and ceilings are
brightly painted. Design a suitable scheme of illumination using filament lamps. Coefficient of utilization
is 0.35 and depreciation factor is 0.9.
If instead of indirect lighting, 80 W fluorescent lamps are used, what would be the saving in power
6. The flux emitted by a lamp in all the directions is 800 lumens. Calculate MSCP.
7. A lamp having a uniform CP of 200 in all directions is provided with a reflector which directs 60 % of
total light uniformly on a circular area of 10 m diameter. The lamp is hung 6 m above the area. Calculate
the illumination (i) at the center (ii) at the edge of the surface; with and without reflector.
Determine also the average illumination over the area without reflector.
8. A room 12x 8 m is to have indirect lighting giving illumination of 80 lux on the working plane 70 cm
above floor. Coefficient of utilization is assumed to be 0.5 and depreciation factor is 0.8. Find out the
number of lamps and their ratings. Lamp efficiency may be taken as 15 lumens per watt.
JSJ 2013
Page 10 |
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Rare British coins
There are a variety of coin rarities in the British currency, particularly during the Medieval Ages. Learn about the Rare old British coins in the coin market, English coin rarities online
While there may be plenty of rare old British coins, not many of them are valuable in terms of market price.
Examples of expensive and famous rare UK coins are the Florin, Rose Ryal, and the British fifty shillings. The 1933 British penny, on the other hand, is famed as the great British numismatic rarity of the 20th century.
The following is a rare coins list featuring the English rarities earlier mentioned plus more.
Crown of the Rose
Henry VIII Gold Crown of the Rose coin
An extremely rare old British gold coin is the Crown of the Rose first introduced in 1526 during the rule of Henry VIII. This early English coin was valued at four shillings (a unit of currency in Britain) weighing 3.5 grams.
The Crown of the Rose was minted in the attempt of Henry VIII to compete with the then famous ecu au soleil French gold currency. In addition, English gold coins were also finding their way to the Continent and outside the territories of England causing a shortage in coins. To address the problem, the king ordered to produce coins with lighter weight and lower gold standard (than of other countries) to prevent it from being used in outside trades.
The minting of the Crown of the Rose gold coin was not a success. Within a few months in circulation, it was replaced by the Crown of the Double-Rose which became very popular during its time.
Rose Ryal: Rare British coins
Rose Ryal gold coin
Rose Ryal gold coin – during the reign of King James I
The Rose Ryal is another British coin rarity. This gold coin was issued during the reign of King James I and was circulated between 1604 and 1625. There are two main designs of the Rose Ryal, the first coinage bears a small shield over a Tudor Rose on the reverse and on the obverse shows the enthroned king with a portcullis (castle gate) beneath. It had the inscription that meant “James by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland”.
In the second coinage, Rose Ryal reverse side featured a larger shield with the legend XXX above it and by the rim are roses, lions, and lis. The obverse was a similar version of the first coinage.
In early 2009, a James I Rose Ryal graded by Numismatic Guaranty at AU-55 had a coin price guide value of $18,000 to $22,000.
British fifty shillings coin
British 50 shillings gold coin
British 50 shillings gold coin
Another very rare English coin is the gold British Fifty Shillings which had only been minted once. It is believed to have not entered circulation and was only a coin pattern to test dies. Researches also state that the fifty shillings were minted together with the Broad coins, forerunner of the gold coin Guinea.
The obverse of the fifty-shilling coin features English political leader Oliver Cromwell with the legend that says OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO HIB &c PRO which means “Oliver, by the grace of God Protector of the Republic of England, Scotland, Ireland, etc”.
On the reverse side is a crowned shield that bears the England Commonwealth arms with the legend PAX QVAERITUR BELLO 1656 that literally means “Peace is sought through war”. The edge of the gold coin has the inscription that means “A protector of the letters, the letters are a garland and a safeguard of the coinage”.
Only eleven specimens of the British Fifty shillings are known to exist that they belong to the list of rarest British coins. The British fifty shilling coin prices may reach about £15,000 to £20,000.
English Farthings coins
Henry V Calais Farthings coin
Henry V Calais Farthings coin
Farthings are English coins first introduced in the Medieval Period. They were worth one quarter of a penny and 1/960 of a pound sterling (the British currency). First British farthings were in circulation from around the 13th century until the 1960s.
Most of the farthings produced are very rare today. The early silver farthings, for example, were too small that they were not easily stored. Because of their size too, they are not easily detected by most coin metal detectors.
As the smallest denomination, the silver farthing coin were useful to common people but were hardly used by the wealthy and powerful. While there were small sizes of farthings, there were also some larger issues. The latter, however, were not often used by the public as they contain low fineness of silver. People would prefer smaller coins with finer silver than the bigger issues of low silver standard.
Exceptional rarities are Richard III farthings and Henry V Calais farthings but are not very valuable in terms of market price.
Rare British coins Florin
1344 Edward II “Double Leopard” gold coin
1344 Edward II “Double Leopard” gold coin
In attempting to add a gold coin in the English currency to help with international trade, the English parliament petitioned King Edward III for the innovation of British coinage. Thus, in 1344, the first gold coin of British coin history was produced. It was named Florin which is derived from the then popular gold coins from Florence, Italy.
Also referred to as the Double Leopard, the coin features on the obverse the king seated on the throne, holding an orb and a scepter, with two heraldic leopards beside him. On the reverse side is the Royal Cross within a quatrefoil (a symbol of a flower with four petals used in the royal coat of arms) with a leopard in each space between the arches of the “flower petal”.
The face value of the coin was much higher than the value of its gold content that merchants would often refuse to use the Florin in trade. With only few months in circulation, the first English gold coin was replaced with the coin called Noble.
The British gold Florin is among the classic numismatic rarities with only three examples known to exist at present. A specimen of this rare gold coin was sold for £460,000 at a 2006 auction.
Spur Royal or Spur Ryal
Spur Ryal gold coins
Spur Ryal gold coins
An exceedingly rare English gold coin is the Spur Ryal or Spur Royal, first issued during the reign of King James I. It was an improved version of the Rose Noble coinage by Kings Edward IV and Henry VII.
This British coin rarity got its name from its first issue reverse side design – the image of the sun and a rose that resemble a spur or a spiked wheel. Other icons found on the reverse were a lion and a crown surrounded by the legend that means “This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous”.
The obverse bears the image of the king in a ship, holding a sword and shield. The inscription reads IACOBUS DG MAG BRIT FRANT ET HIB REX which means “James by the grace of God King of Great Britain”.
Rare 1933 British penny
1933 British Penny coin
1933 British Penny coin
There were reportedly only seven 1933 British pennies minted, only six are known left to exist today, making it the great British numismatic rarity of the 20th century. Although there are quite a number of English coins known to be rare, the 1933 penny is one of the most famous rare gold coins in numismatics.
The British 1933 penny was never produced for circulation. In fact, because of the enough supply of pennies in 1933, there was no need to produce more. However, the mint received requests from the King to mint 1933 coins to be placed under the foundation stones of buildings erected in the said year.
True enough, three specimens were reported to had been placed under the foundation stones of the University of London Building in Bloomsbury, the Church of St. Cross, Middleton, and the St. Mary’s Chruch in Hawksworth.
The St. Cross Church specimen was stolen by thieves in 1970 and until now its whereabouts is still unknown.
Currently, one specimen of the 1933 British penny remains at the stone foundation of the University of London, two are housed at the British Museum and the Royal Mint Museum, and the three others are possessed by private collectors. The rare old British 1933 penny would be priced at least £40,000 today. |
3 ways to remove spaces between words / numbers in Excel cells
3 quick ways to remove extra spaces between words or delete all spaces from Excel cells. You can use trim formula, Excel Find & replace or special Excel add-in to clean up cells' content.
When you paste data from an external source to an Excel spreadsheet (plain text reports, numbers from web pages, etc.), you are likely to get extra spaces along with important data. There can be leading and trailing spaces, several blanks between words and thousand separators for numbers.
Consequently, your table looks disorderly and becomes difficult to use. It may be a challenge to find a customer in the Name column since you search for "John Doe" which has no excess spaces between the names while the way it looks in your table is "John Doe". Or numbers can't be summed up, and again extra blanks are the ones to blame.
In this article you'll find how to clean up your data.
Trim blanks between words to 1, remove trailing / leading spaces
For example, you have a table with 2 columns. In the column Name, the first cell contains "John Doe" written correctly without excess spaces. All other cells have extra blanks between the first and the last names. At the same time these cells have irrelevant blanks before and after the full names known as leading and trailing spaces. The second column is called Length and shows the number of symbols in each name:
Excel table with leading and trailing spaces, spaces between words
Use the Trim formula to remove extra spaces
Excel has the Trim formula to use for deleting extra spaces from text. Below you can find the steps showing how to use this option:
1. Add the helper column to the end of your data. You can name it "Trim".
2. In the first cell of the helper column (C2), enter the formula to trim excess spaces =TRIM(A2)
3. Copy the formula across the other cells in the column. Feel free to use some tips from Enter the same formula into all selected cells at a time.
4. Replace the original column with the one that has the cleaned data. Select all cells in the helper column and press Ctrl + C to copy data to clipboard.
Now pick the first cell in the original column and press Shift + F10 or the menu button menu keyboard button. Then just press V.
Replace the original column with the one that has the extra spaces removed
5. Remove the helper column.
That's it! We deleted all excess blanks with the help of the formula trim(). Unfortunately, it's a bit time-consuming, especially if your spreadsheet is rather big.
Remove spaces between words to 1, remove leading and trailing spaces
Note. If after using the formula you still see extra spaces (the last cell on the screenshot), please have a look at If the TRIM function doesn't work.
Using Find & Replace to remove extra spaces between words
This option needs fewer steps, but allows only deleting excess spaces between words. Leading and trailing spaces will also be trimmed to 1, but will not be removed.
1. Select one or several columns with the data to delete spaces between words.
2. Press Ctrl + H to get the "Find and Replace" dialog box.
3. Press the Space bar twice in the Find What field and once in Replace With
4. Click on the "Replace all" button, and then press Ok to close Excel confirmation dialog.
Use Excel Find & Replace to remove extra spaces between words
5. Repeat step 4 until you see the message "We couldn't find anything to replace." :)
3 clicks to neat data with Trim Spaces tool
If you often import data to Excel from external sources and spend much time polishing up your tables, check out our Text tools for Excel.
The Trim Spaces add-in will clean data imported from the web or any other external source. It removes leading and trailing spaces, excess blanks between words, non-breaking spaces, line breaks, non-printing symbols and other unwanted characters. Also, there is an option to convert words to UPPER, lower or Proper Case. And if you need to change text numbers back to the number format and delete apostrophes, this will not be a problem either.
To remove all extra spaces in your worksheet, including excess paces between words, this is what you need to do:
1. Download and install a trial version of Ultimate Suite for Excel.
2. Select the range in your table where you want to remove excess spaces. For new tables, I usually press Ctrl + A to process all columns in a go.
3. Go to Ablebits Data tab and click on the Trim Spaces icon.
Click on the Trim Spaces icon to run the tool.
4. The add-in's pane will open on the left side of your worksheet. Just select the needed checkboxes, click the Trim button and enjoy your perfectly cleaned table.
All extra spaces are trimmed.
Isn't it faster than with the two previous tips? If you always deal with data processing, this tool will save you hours of precious time.
Remove all spaces between numbers
Suppose, you have a workbook with numbers where the digits (thousands, millions, billions) are separated with spaces. Thus Excel sees numbers as text and no math operation can be performed.
Excel cells with numbers where the digits are separated with spaces
The easiest way to get rid of excess spaces is using the standard Excel Find & Replace option:
• Press Ctrl + Space to select all cells in a column.
• Press Ctrl + H to open the "Find & Replace" dialog box.
• Press Space bar in the Find What field and make sure the "Replace with" field is empty.
• Click on the "Replace all" button, and then press Ok. Voila! All spaces are removed.
Remove all spaces between numbers
Using formula to remove all spaces
You may need to delete all blanks, like in a formula chain. To do this, you can create a helper column and enter the formula: =SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")
Here A1 is the first cell of the column with numbers or words where all spaces must be deleted.
Then follow the steps from the part using formula to remove extra spaces between words to 1
Using formula to remove all spaces between numbers
Video: how to remove spaces in Excel
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Rainscreen Systems: A Building’s First Line of Defense Against the Elements
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Rain, snow and strong winds are some of the factors that may cause potential damage to a wall’s structure. Since most walls are constructed from porous materials, such as cement or wood, it is easier for water, moisture or humidity to permeate and stay inside. This makes the wall more vulnerable to mold and mildew formation, which may eventually lead to wall rotting or damage.
A rainscreen wall system acts as a weather-resistive barrier, keeping liquid away from a building’s exterior walls during extreme weather conditions. It is installed either during construction or as an overlay to an existing wall. Rainscreen panels are usually made from aluminum, zinc, copper, stainless steel or similar materials that repel water. They also come in various colors and finishes, allowing architects and building engineers to integrate both form and aesthetic requirements during design planning.
QC Facades, a leading provider of custom engineering solutions, agrees that while the main purpose of rainscreen installations is to keep a structure protected from the elements, they can also be customized to suit a project’s structural design and aesthetics.
How do rainscreens work?
A typical rainscreen panel has three (3) basic parts:
1. Exterior Cladding – the outer panel or veneer that is made from non-porous material
2. Ventilated/Drainage Cavity – allows air to circulate and drains water, drying the interior of the panel in case moisture or water seeps through the cladding
3. Air/Water Barrier – water-resistive barrier that acts as the last protective layer before the wall structure
skyscrapers in the city
When water from wind-driven rain touches the outer surface of the rainscreen, it should bounce off. In case water or moisture reaches the interior of the cladding, the ventilated/drainage cavity protects it by promoting air flow and draining excess liquid. This cavity, which has vents on both the top and the bottom, is part of a type of rainscreen system called a drained and vented system. There are also two other types of rainscreen systems, the vented system, which has a cavity with an opening at the bottom only, and the pressure equalized/moderated system, which has compartmentalized cavities. The water-resistive barrier or air barrier is the cladding’s last line of defense, keeping water residue or condensation from penetrating and coming in contact with the building’s wall.
Some rainscreens are also built with a layer of thermal insulation that allows heat to flow in and out of the structure. This insulated layer is built between the cavity and the air barrier.
Do all buildings need a rainscreen system?
The application of rainscreen cladding is ideal for structures located in areas where heavy rain or snow are experienced, though almost any structure can benefit from a rainscreen system simply for its effective water-management capability.
Apart from water-intrusion prevention and removal, rainscreens also keep walls well-ventilated, cushion high-pressure winds and protect against ultraviolet rays, making them a useful addition to any structure. Bottom line is, installing a rainscreen system will make a wall stronger compared to an ordinary wall and that can also mean less repair costs due to wall rot, breaks and cracks.
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The Schools Quadrangle, 1613-24
The Schools Quadrangle, 1613-24
Image 1. Schools Quadrangle in the present day, taken from within.
Image 2. Schematic representation of the typical late medieval and early modern university curriculum. Credits: Nermeen Hilton (third-year student, Balliol College, Oxford, February 2018).
Images 3-7. Schools Quadrangle, Bodleian Library, 1613-24. 3: Plan of the Quadrangle, indicating the location of the individual 'schools' 4: west facade: entrance to the Divinity School. 5: north facade: exit toward Clarendon Building, Sheldonian Theatre, Old Ashmolean, Broad Street. 6: east facade: Tower of the Five Orders, exit toward Catte Street. 7: south facade, exit toward Radcliffe Square. Source: all images from panoramic view.
Image 2. From the late medieval period well into the seventeenth century, universities across Europe adopted a more or less uniform curriculum. At its pinnacle were one or more of the three higher faculties: theology, law and medicine. Below these was the fourth faculty, designated as ‘arts’ or ‘philosophy’, which was regarded as propaedeutic (that is, preparatory) to the study of the higher disciplines. As its ambiguous names suggest, this fourth faculty was divided between the three philosophies and the seven liberal arts, which were further divided into the trivium and the quadrivium.
Image 3. Nowhere is the resilience of this curriculum more palpably manifest that in the Schools Quadrangle of Oxford University, built between 1613 and 1624. Within the quadrangle, every one of these disciplines is inscribed over a doorway to one of the ‘schools’ as the chambers set aside for lectures and disputations in the named disciplines were called. The three higher faculties and the three philosophies all have ‘schools’ of their own. The quadrivium occupies three schools rather than four, because arithmetic and geometry are housed together. The trivium, on the other hand, occupies four schools rather than three, because separate housing is provided for Latin and Greek grammar. Only one discipline is listed which is not in this age-old scheme: history, which shares a school with grammar.
These slight anomalies are all suggestive of the intellectual values of Oxford and many other European universities during the early seventeenth century.
Expansion of the trivium. During the sixteenth century, Renaissance humanism had vastly increased the emphasis placed on a thorough mastery of Greek as well as Latin grammar, and the Biblicism of the Reformation had enhanced the emphasis on Hebrew. As a consequence, grammar effectively outgrew a single lecture room within the Schools Quadrangle and was assigned two: one for Greek and Hebrew and a second for Latin. Yet humanism also focused unprecedented academic attention on history, which was squeezed into the same lecture room as Latin grammar.
Constriction of the quadrivium. These additions to the trivium were accommodated, in effect, by reducing the space devoted to the quadrivium. While the 'superior' mathematical disciplines of music and astronomy maintained schools of their own, the two 'inferior' mathematical disciplines, arithmetic and geometry, were forced to share. Alone of the quadrivial subjects, music was demoted to the ground floor: the Laudian statutes stipulated a termly music lecture in comparison with bi-weekly lectures in the other quadrivium subjects, so this must have been the least frequented school in the quadrangle. These compromises are indiciative of the relatively marginal place of the quadrivium within the structure of received learning founded. Quantitative methods were marginal to Aristotle's conception of scientific knowledge, and of little use for higher study in law or theology. The primary utility of mathematics within the established curriculum was in providing the astrological element of contemporary medical practice. Outside the university, however, the enormous practical utility of mathematics was rapidly becoming apparent; and its theoretical utility to natural philosophy would become dramatically apparent during the course of the seventeenth century.
The three philosophies and the three higher disciplines. The most elegant aspect of this arrangement, however, is the placement of the three philosophies and the three higher disciplines. Theology, is placed opposite the main entrance to the quadrangle, locating it as the ultimate destination of learning: a doctorate in Divinity took eleven years to achieve, versus only seven for Law and Medicine. The incomparable grandeur of the Divinity School likewise marks it out as the highest of the higher faculties. The other higher faculties flank it on either side: medicine to the left, law on the right. This arrangement is partly practical: the southerly orientation of the Schola Medicinae benefits from the better natural illumination needed for anatomical dissections. But it may also beintended to indicate the superiority of law (which governs the collective body politic) to medicine (which heals the individual physical body). Both law and medicine are elevated to the first floor of the quadrangle, and these two disciplines alone have staircases of their own, preventing advanced students from mingling with their juniors. Below them are the philosophies which provide preparation for higher study: natural philosophy is most indispensible for medicine, moral philosophy for law. The third philosophy, metaphysics, cannot be located under the Divinity School, and is less satisfactorily placed at the opposite side of the quadrangle.
Credits: Nermeen Hilton (Image 2) and Howard Hotson (February 2018) |
World Wide Web inventor calls for digital bill of rights
By Casey Frye, CCNN Writer
digital bill of rights
Can you imagine a world without the internet? No Facebook…
The early world of the internet was just a bunch of complicated codes that only the finest of geeks could understand. Then, when computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, those codes were translated into a fun browser, and the internet grew into the phenomenon it is today. In honor of the Web’s 25th birthday, Berners-Lee is proposing a digital bill of rights to keep the internet open to everyone.
Um, hey, isn’t the internet already accessible to anyone with a connection? While this may be mostly true now, it may not be the case for long. Throughout the years, large internet companies have been bragging about their plans to charge customers for internet access. Basically, if you don’t pay up, you’re disconnected from the internet. These plans go against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and their “Open Internet” rules, which state that customers should be free to decide what they want to access, share, and create on the internet. But, here’s the problem…
Internet providers such as AT&T, Time Warner Cable, and others don’t fall under the FCC classification of an “enhanced utility”, which prevents companies from restricting their service. Instead, they are considered to be “information service providers”. This separate classification gives them the ability to place restrictions on internet access as they please!
This is where Berners-Lee’s proposal comes into play. A digital bill of rights would effectively prevent these companies from taking internet access away from the public because they don’t pay for it. His campaign, Web at 25, and other similar movements such as Web We Want, are pushing for unlimited access to the internet, and also freedom from government snooping. Not only is it what the Web was intended for, the world as we know it depends on open access.
With the way things are now, it seems like internet companies are trying to control the internet and make a ton of money. Unless some sort of digital bill of rights is here to nip it in the bud, we don’t know how much content will be taken away from us.
Featured image courtesy of Steven Nichols on Flickr. Image of social network bill of rights courtesy of redtimmy on Flickr. |
Is my ankle broken?
Only in the UK, more than 1.5 million people attend A&E each year with ankle injuries. It is the most commonly injured body part during sport activities. Many people will ask themselves, how do I know if the ankle is broken (fractured) or just sprained? There is the saying that if you can move it, then it isn’t broken, but that is not always the case.
Basic ankle anatomy
A broken ankle is an injury to the bones whereas a sprain is an injury to the ligaments (the connectors between bones).
The ankle joint owes its movement to a hinge created by the bones and its connecting ligaments. To be precise, the movement in the ankle is a combination of motion in two main joints. The true ankle joint or tibiotalar is responsible for the up and down motion, and the subtalar joint or talocalcaneal is responsible for the side-to-side motion. The true ankle joint is where the vast majority of fractures take place. This joint is formed by the tibia (shin bone) and the fibula (the other bone in the lower leg) which together articulate with the talus (ankle bone).
The normal anatomy of these bones creates a tight assembly that resembles a mortise and allows for smooth movement. The main ligaments are localised in each side of the leg. On the inside they link the tibia to the talus, on the outside they link the fibula to the talus and the tibia to the fibula.
What are the signs of a fractured ankle?
Any of the three bones that make up the ankle joint can break but the most commonly broken ones are the tibia and the fibula at each side of the ankle. These two bones can be easily felt on everyone’s ankle as they create the bumps that jut out from the inside and outside of the ankle.
A broken ankle can happen as a result of a fall while walking, during sports or after a more severe trauma as in a car accident.
Some of the signs and symptoms (complaints) of a broken ankle will include: Immediate pain (although pain can be masked in diabetic patients), swelling, bruising, tenderness to touch especially of the bony bumps, inability to bear weight (with pain when attempting to do so), and deformity (in the instance that the fracture creates a dislocation and moves the bones out of place).
Every ankle fracture is different just like every patient is different and no single ankle fracture will present in the same way. There are instances when an ankle fracture does not clearly show any of these signs or symptoms
What to do if an ankle fracture is suspected?
Because of the variable presentation that accompanies ankle fractures, every injury to the ankle should be examined by a medical professional. There is a fine line that separates an ankle fracture from a sprain when it comes to symptoms. A severe sprain can often look like a fractured ankle and a minor fracture can present like a sprain.
If you have sustained an injury to your ankle with swelling, pain and/or bruising you should see a doctor or orthopaedic surgeon who will rule out a fracture or any other major injuries.
Until you have done so, the ankle can be splinted for comfort and if you have crutches you should use them to avoid putting weight on the injured leg.
How is the fracture ruled out in clinic?
At your arrival to the clinic, your doctor will take a complete history of your injury. I am interested in knowing what happened for the ankle to break and whether previous injuries were sustained to this ankle. I will ask for your current symptoms or complaints to treat them in the best way possible but also to prevent any complications from the fracture. A radiograph (X-ray) is the ideal next step to rule out a fracture or find the location of the break. Occasionally advanced imaging like MRI or CT scan can be necessary.
The type of treatment will depend highly on the result of the X-ray and there are some fractures that are treated with surgery whereas others can heal in a boot or ankle brace. |
Galapagos Lava Gull
Galapagos Lava Gull
The rarest gull on Earth
Information about Galapagos Lava Gull
The Galápagos Lava Gull is found nowhere else on Earth except these wonderful islands. There are estimated to be fewer than 300 breeding pairs left, making this the rarest gull in the world.
The Galápagos Lava gull is a striking and unmistakable sight - it’s the only all-dark colored gull in the world, and it also has a distinctive heavy bill. They vary from nearly black to shades of dark grey and have small fringes of white on the edges of wings and tail.
The Lava Gulls can mainly be found on the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal and Genovesa. They breed all year round and lay eggs in nests that they build on the ground, often using vegetation close to the coast for shelter. The expert guide on your Galápagos cruise will identify this rare species for you, as well as providing more information on its lifecycle and vulnerable status.
Like gulls everywhere, Lava Gulls are quite opportunistic feeders and will take what they can, when they can find it. One delicacy they seem to prize are the placentas of Sea Lions that have recently given birth, and on Genovesa they have been seen taking advantage of the food dropped by Frigate birds who hassle the Blue-Footed Boobies for an easy meal.
Like many ground-nesting species, the Lava Gull is most endangered from introduced non-native species like feral cats and rats that attack and eat adults and/or young hatchlings. The Galápagos National Park has several non-native species control programs in place, and this has helped to stabilize the population thanks to its success. Nevertheless, because of the small numbers of Lava Gulls and because they are found nowhere else, this species is at risk and being carefully monitored.
Interesting facts about Galapagos Lava Gull
Their name comes from the fact that the color of their feathers resembles that of lava rocks
The Lava Gull is fairly common in the bays around Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.
Lava gulls can often be seen scavenging for scraps near to fishing boats.
Unlike other gull species, Lava Gulls are solitary nesters.
Pictures of Galapagos Lava Gull
Galapagos Lava Gull
Galapagos Lava Gull
Galapagos Lava Gull
Highlights where the Galapagos Lava Gull can be seen
A walk on Bartholomew
A walk on Bartholomew
Chinese Hat
Chinese Hat
Chinese Hat ("Sombrero Chino" to locals) is an islet set just a short distance off the southeastern coast of Santiago. The small channel between Chinese Hat and mainland Santiago is fairly deep yet sheltered and the water here is a glistening turquoise.
The islet gets its name because if you approach from the north you will see that this small volcanic cone does indeed look like the traditional bamboo or rice hat. Viewed from above on a satellite image, however, you will see that this islet is actually more of an oval shape.
Along the cost of both Chinese Hat and the opposite Santiago shore you are likely to see Galápagos Sea Lions and Galápagos Penguins, either basking in the sun or seeking shade to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Overhead you might catch a glimpse of the magnificent Galápagos Hawk.
Our trips to spot the Galapagos Lava Gull
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Sex + Relationships
Genderqueer: Questioning Your Gender Identity In College
When you leave the office to go to the restroom, you head to the ladies’ room. For most people, it’s something we don’t really think about. From birth, our gender has (in a lot of ways) established a core part of our identity. Society likes to tie our biological parts with our habits, likes, and dislikes: Girls wear pink and play with dolls; boys wear blue and play with cars. Women love to shop for designer shoes and men are obsessed with all things sports. But for some people, the lines between male and female are not so defined, and the societal definitions can be restricting.
If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit into society’s definition of “male” or “female,” you’re not alone. We spoke to Robin Parry, an education and outreach community developer at QMUNITY, a queer resource center in British Columbia; and Andrew Rabasse, the founder and coordinator for the genderqueer Vancouver community group at QMUNITY.
What does “genderqueer” mean?
While we are all born with a biological sex, gender refers to characteristics and behaviors that define us as either masculine or feminine in society. These could be things like wearing makeup as a feminine characteristic or acting tough as a masculine trait.
“Gender expression is how one outwardly manifests gender, by means such as name and pronoun choice, style of dress, voice modulation,” Parry says. “How one expresses gender might not necessarily reflect one’s actual gender identity.”
Some people describe sexuality as fluid, and gender can be, too. The line between genders is a blurry one for people who feel they do not fit squarely in the feminine or masculine box. Some people feel their gender is the opposite of the biological sex they were born as (transgendered), some describe themselves as “genderless” (otherwise known as pangender), some have described feeling like a combination of both genders (referred to as “two-spirit” or bi-gender), while others move between genders.
Typically, society leans toward the gender and sexual binary, which is the understanding that males are masculine, females are feminine, males are sexually attracted to females, and females are sexually attracted to males. But the world often isn’t that polarizing. When understanding genderqueer people, remember that gender is separate from sexuality; a genderqueer person may be straight, gay, bisexual, or asexual, or he or she may have a different view of his or her sexuality.
“Sexual orientation is defined by feelings of attraction, rather than behaviour,” Parry says. “Gender identity is one’s internal and psychological sense of oneself as male, female, both, in between, or neither.”
In other words, who a person is sexually attracted to has no relation to their gender identity.
According to the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey performed by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, 22 percent of the 7,500 respondents strongly identified with the term “genderqueer.”
When asked, “What is your current gender?” 61 percent of males-assigned-at-birth identified as “part-time/other” (with the other options being “male” and “female”), compared to 39 percent of females-assigned-at-birth who answered the same.
Although these statistics provide some insight into how a number of people identify when it comes to gender, according to Parry and Rabasse, there is a lack of reliable statistics on people who identify as genderqueer.
This could be due to a number of factors:
• They may not have realized that there are gender identities beyond the gender binary. “Some folk who might identify as genderqueer are just now getting an opportunity to explore their gender, or have not yet had that opportunity,” says Parry.
• Some people use different terms to describe their gender identity. Besides genderqueer, there is also gender outlaw, gender-variant, gender f*ck, gender non-conformist, and omnigender.
• Some may not be comfortable disclosing their gender identity to a stranger, even through an anonymous survey.
While some people have known all their lives that they do not fit society’s gender system, others don’t know until later in their lives, according to Parry.
What if you feel like you don’t fit the gender binary?
Because of new experiences, a new sense of independence, and classes that encourage more critical thinking, college is a time of experimentation and self-discovery.
“Individuals may question their gender identity at any time in their life, and college is often a time where this questioning occurs openly because people may have more freedom to explore than they had in their lives previously,” Rabasse says.
He stresses that only you can decide your gender identity on your own time. “It is important to reflect on who you really are in order to gain the awareness it takes to become conscious of your gender identity,” Rabasse says. “Do not feel pressured to identify as one gender or another; just identify as however you feel fits you, whatever that might be.”
Genderqueer Resources
If you are questioning your gender, it is something that only you can define–but you don’t have to figure it out without help. There are many resources available for more information and communities of people who have decided they do not fit the gender binary.
Rabasse also suggests campus websites (check to see if your school has queer groups or information), sexual health clinics, and local LGBT community centers. Check out social networking sites like Facebook for any genderqueer groups.
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Python vs Perl | What are the differences?
In the Digital world, students worry about Python vs Perl. We are trying to find the difference between Python vs Perl.
Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language uses for text processing, similar to Perl. There are some of the essential differences between Python vs Perl. Perl is a high-level interpreter, a general-purpose tool for changing the text file into a distinct form.
our experts share views and opinions on the technologies we use in conducting our work by comparing them to each other.
Python vs Perl What are the differences
Python vs Perl What are the differences
Below in this blog, we discuss the Python vs. Perl | What are the differences both programming languages:
Python vs Perl comparison
It is a programming language of general purpose-designs and developed by Guido Van Rossum. The term Python comes from the favorite television series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” by Guido Van Rossum. Whether you are new to programming in other languages doesn’t matter. Python is both easy to understand and easy to write.
Python programmers referred to as Pythonists. So, aspiring Pythonists, let’s dive into a sea of learning and learn the core features of Python language programming.
Perl is a language that generally operates in the same spaces as Python, Ruby, and PHP. By Larry Wall, it was developed in 1987. It was first designed for text processing, like obtaining the necessary data from a designated text file and for changing the text file into a distinct form.
In short, for any other programming language that you can do with Perl, you can do just about everything. Perl is a lot alike to C syntactically and is simple for the users who know C, C++programming languages.
Features of Programming Language Python vs Perl
• Readability: Python has a syntax that is simple and elegant. Readability helps avoid a large number of lines of code, and you write fewer code than other programming languages like C, Java, or C++.
• Free and open-source: Python is available free of charge on almost all common Operating Systems. By default, whether you use Mac OS, Windows or another Unix-based operating system such as Linux or Ubuntu, you have a Python interpreter in your Operating System.
• Interpreter: Python is a language interpreter in which the interpreter reads the code line by line. Programming languages such as C, C++, where the compiler compiles the code first and only executes the code.
• General Purpose: One can use Python for something. Python used for Web Development, Game Production, Data Analysis, Web Scraping Data, GUI application design, System Administration tasks, and many more.
See also How to Solve Java Programming Problems in Assignment
• Single and Double Quotes: We may use single or double quotations, either. In most cases, both single and double quotes function the same way. The main difference is that material view literally inside single quotes, which is not the case with double-quotes.
• Using Semicolons: It is necessary to terminate a Perl statement with a semicolon unless it is the final statement in a row. The Semicolon is optional in this situation.
• Scalar Variables: Scalar variables are the regular, ordinary variables that all programming languages support. A variable that is scalar can hold one value at a time. The value can be a number or a series.
• Array Variables: Arrays described as commanded value collections. A zero-based index used to view individual values. The names of arrays in Perl followed by the character ‘@.’
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Uses Of both programming Language Python and Perl
A wide range of applications built with Python. These are the following:
• Web Applications: If you want the next big thing in social networking or e-commerce portal to be created and developed, you can use Python. Python used to create the biggest web applications and websites.
• Game Development: Gambling will no longer be a fantasy. Games such as BattleField 2 and BattleField Heroes use Python for controls on logic and servers.
• Data Analysis: Python is there to help you if you want to make a Movie recommendation engine or visualize the data.
• Education: Python is good for people who don’t know anything about programming and getting start with programming. Python’s syntax is simple and straightforward, just like you’d write in Standard English.
• System Administration: Python used to simplify system administrator operations such as installing servers, retrieving copies, renaming all files in a folder, etc.
See also Get The Best Java Assignment Help From Java Programming Experts
Perl used in various functions and applications. These are the following:
• CGI scripts associated with words.
• Writing large projects in Perl. Some examples include Slash, Bugzilla, etc. • Perl used as a web development feature.
• Perl is used as a language for documentation and for a functional extension.
• One of Perl language’s core features and applications is text processing and string analysis.
Which is better, Perl or Python?
I used both Perl and Python. Perl from 2004-2007 and Python from the beginning of 2009. All languages are nice and malleable to work with. I would abstain from making any comments on the OOP model of PERL since my understanding is most likely out-of-date now.
Library-wise Python vs Perl also has a great number of libraries added by users. PERL certainly had an advantage in this regard in the early days of Python-you could find almost everything in their library repository CPAN, but I’m not sure if this advantage remains any more; I don’t think so.
Python is fairly constraining – in the sense that in implementing anything, it does not offer the same amount of freedom as PERL (note I said ‘same amount’ – there is still some freedom to do things). Yet I also see this as the strength of Python-by clamping down the parts of the language which could lead to anarchy without which we can exist, I think it allows for a smooth and clean language.
Key Differences Between Perl vs Python
These are the following key difference Python vs Perl:
1. Perl, we can say “Practical Extraction and Report Language,” but on the other hand, Python is not officially name after the famous artist of his time, “Monty Python.”
See also Benefits of getting online R Programming Assignment Help service
2. In 1987 Larry Wall invented Perl, and in 1989 Guido van Rossum created Python.
3. First, there’s only one way to do it, so if there’s another way, it’s going to replace the current one.
4. Perl considered for text processing, which helps to report while Python is now a common-purpose language and uses in many fields.
Do I need to go deeper with Python, or learn Perl?
Mostly, this is a matter of opinion, but I would personally stick to Python. Currently, it is much more in demand, and there are a lot of exciting things being done with it. At any given company, you are generally more likely to run into python, especially amongst startups. Besides, becoming an expert in a specific language is a good thing. What can’t Perl do, Python? Most certainly none. If you want to learn a new language, it’s more advantageous for you to learn one that is significantly different from your comfort zone. Any pure functional language, lower-level language or another area of expertise is more worth investing your time in.
As you have seen above we have given some of the significant differences between Python vs Perl. Both Python and Perl are good on their regard as per the applications they target, Python is a bit better over Perl as a first option for a beginner due to its easy and clean to understand code, on the other hand, Perl exceeds Python when it comes to string manipulation operations. I hope the given pieces of information are enough for you to decide which one is better for you to learn first. We have also given some of the features and where both programming languages can be implemented.
If you are looking for the Python programming assignment help or Python Homework help. our experts are available to provide you with the best Python Programming help which will increase your academic records.
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Natural rates of aging are fixed, study suggests
A man and girl sitting together.
A man and young girl. Aging rates are fixed, a new study suggests. (Image credit: Laura Olivas via Getty Images)
No matter how hard you try, it might be difficult to slow down aging, a depressing new study suggests.
Across a range of primate species, including humans, aging rates are mostly determined by biological factors, not environmental ones.
What's more, the rate of aging is mostly consistent within a primate group.
For each primate population, the researchers determined that the "rate of aging seems to be about the same within that group," said Shripad Tuljapurkar, a professor of biology and population studies at Stanford University who helped review the study but was not otherwise involved in it. "That's a pretty significant finding."
Still, it may one day be possible for humans to slow down biological aging with medicine, he said.
Related: 8 tips for healthy aging
Humans live longer today than we ever have. Since 1950, world life expectancy has increased by nearly 30 years, from 45 to 72 today, with the oldest humans living for more than 115 years. Researchers who study aging have increasingly sought to determine how far this upward trend can go, coming to opposing conclusions about whether the human lifespan has a limit, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Science. Life-extension research has also become a booming industry, with companies such as Google-backed Calico investing billions of dollars in research to extend human life. But so far, all of that research has focused on mortality data from humans only.
"In general, people have not been very successful at finding anything that they can say that applies across species," Tuljapurkar told Live Science.
The new study, by contrast, looked at aging in multiple species. An international team of 40 researchers examined mortality data from 39 populations of seven genuses of primates, including several species of great apes and monkeys, two lemur species and humans. The animal data came from both wild-animal studies and zoos. Seven sources of human data came from the Human Mortality Database and other historical archives, spanning a wide range of time periods, from England between 1600 and 1725 to Ukraine in 1933. Two came from relatively recent studies of hunter-gatherer groups. All of the human data was meant to represent a "natural" environment not influenced by recent public health advancements.
First, the researchers looked at two measures — life expectancy as well as lifespan equality, the "shape" of the death curve across a lifespan. They found that for each genus, there was a fixed ratio between the two measures, despite wide variation in the environments for different populations.
The researchers then used a mathematical equation, called the Siler mortality function, to calculate how different factors influenced the risk of mortality over a primate's lifetime. Some parameters represented the risk of infant mortality, which starts out high and drops rapidly; another represented constant mortality risk regardless of age (like from fatal falls or accidents); and another represented mortality risk that increases with age, or the rate of aging.
Almost all the parameters varied widely from population to population. In different populations, factors like different predators, diseases, and surroundings influence infant mortality and the risk of non-biological causes of death, like accidents. But the parameters that determined the rate of aging barely varied within each individual group of primates, including humans. And when the researchers tried changing each individual factor in their equation, they found that only one made a notable impact on the ratio they calculated between life expectancy and lifespan equality for each genus.
"It turns out that the only parameter that seems to matter a lot is this rate of aging," Tuljapurkar said. Changing the "rate of aging" variable seemed to transform the mortality patterns of one type of primate into that of another, while changing other parameters had very little impact. In other words, the rate of aging was the main factor that determined the lifespan of primates in different genuses, and only changing that rate would substantially change their mortality patterns.
Many mortality factors are largely determined by environmental risks — for instance, spontaneous events, such as fatal accidents, are mostly not related to age. But mortality risk related to age is thought to be biologically determined, and the new research supports that theory.
The biological factors that govern aging are complex, and many researchers study biological aging at different scales, from chemical bonds that deteriorate as we age to increasing genetic mutations to cells failing to repair damage. But just because these processes govern aging does not necessarily mean that humans' rate of aging will always be fixed, Tuljapurkar said.
Though he agrees with the majority of the study's findings, he pointed out a limitation: The study used humans who had not benefited from modern medicine. So the study couldn't say whether modern medicine might change humans' rate of aging. Humans are living longer than ever, and whether that's partly because of decreases in biological aging is still unknown. Tuljapurkar said it's possible modern medicine has already effectively changed the human rate of aging by developing treatments for diseases like heart disease and cancer.
"We're getting better and more sophisticated at analyzing some of these causes of death at advanced stages," Tuljapurkar said. "I think that that means we are changing the rate of aging."
Regardless, Tuljapurkar said the study, which he described as well done, could serve as a baseline for future studies on public health and disease interventions. Comparing data like this to, for instance, mortality data from after we developed effective treatments for certain cancers, such as prostate and breast cancer, could tell us if those interventions have slowed our rate of aging. "Those are the things that I think are interesting questions that are worth thinking about," he said.
The study was published June 16 in the journal Nature Communications.
Originally published on Live Science.
Rebecca Sohn
Rebecca Sohn
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Identifying Fractions Worksheets
Pilot children through our printable identifying fractions worksheets so they can identify the parts of fractions and mixed numbers magna cum laude! Watch the math enchanters in grade 3 and grade 4 glide through our pdf exercises and perfect their art of identifying numerators and denominators, writing fractions using their parts, identifying a whole number and fraction that make up a mixed number, and forming mixed numbers combining their parts. Be on the ball by solving our free identifying fractions worksheets!
Halves, Thirds, and Fourths Worksheets
Introduce kindergarten to grade 3 kids to simple proper fractions like halves, thirds, and quarters using partitioned shapes, fraction strips, and several hands-on exercises in this assortment of pdf worksheets!
(14 Worksheets)
Identifying Numerators and Denominators
A fraction has two parts: the numerator and denominator. Instruct 3rd grade children to study the fractions and label the top number as the numerator and the bottom number as the denominator.
• printable 1
• printable 2
• printable 3
Writing Fractions
Learn the fact that a numerator represents the number of parts out of a whole and a denominator represents the total number of parts a whole is divided into, and frame fractions using the indicated parts.
• practice 1
• practice 2
• practice 3
Numerators and Denominators | MCQ
Which of these fractions has 5 as the numerator: 1/2, 4/5, 5/8, or 3/4? The answer is 5/8. Our multiple-choice questions give 3rd grade and 4th grade kids' skills to identify fraction parts a thorough assessment.
• worksheet 1
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• worksheet 3
Identifying the Parts of Mixed Numbers
Let your practice explode into excitement with these printable identifying fractions worksheets for grade 4, wherein you're tasked with identifying the whole number and fraction that make up each mixed number.
• exercise 1
• exercise 2
• exercise 3
Writing Mixed Numbers
Get children delightedly hammering away at these pdf worksheets and writing mixed numbers using their parts in a jiffy! Combine the given whole number and fraction and write down the mixed number formed.
• pdf 1
• pdf 2
• pdf 3
Fraction Models Worksheets
With shapes visuals, tape diagrams, real-life objects, and more, fraction models are indeed the best resources to help beginners form a mental picture of fractions as equal parts of a whole. Dive in with a click!
(39 Worksheets) |
How The Soybean Is Helping The Healthcare Industry In Weight Loss
soybean helping healthcare industry weightloss soy weight loss
The soybean plant is a legume famous for its edible bean which is consumed in a variety of ways, including in the form of soya chunks, soy milk, tofu, soy sauce, tempeh, and soybean oil. Soybean is widely used as a meat substitute but is also known for its nutritive properties and high protein content. Apart from being high in protein, soybean also contains calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin B-6, and Vitamin C, and is low in cholesterol.
The health benefits of soybean included improvement in heart health, digestion, bone health, diabetes control, and blood circulation, along with relief from menopausal symptoms and sleep disorders. However, the role of soybean in promoting weight loss has emerged as a significant factor driving the demand for soybean. According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 billion adults around the world are overweight, with millions being obese. Weight loss is essential for those who are obese or over the recommended BMI, so as to avoid health complications such as cardiovascular diseases, heart conditions, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and even some cancers.
How Soybean Is Helping The Healthcare Industry In Weight Loss
Weight loss is a major segment of the healthcare industry that plays an important role in preventive health maintenance and in managing other health complications. Soybean is becoming a popular choice in the healthcare industry to promote weight loss, especially in the form of soybean oil, which is among the most highly consumed vegetable oils in the world. Based on the soybean oil price forecast the production of soybean oil in the current year is expected to increase by approximately 3.7 percent, as compared to the previous year. Nearly 89 percent of the soybean produced at a global level is used for crushing, with 18 percent of the soybean after crushing being used for oil, and 82 percent used for soybean meal.
● Improved Metabolism
Metabolism is directly proportional to the amount of calories that are burnt during day-to-day activities. An improved and faster metabolism helps in rapidly losing extra weight. Soybeans are a major source of proteins and help in boosting metabolism and overall good health. Soybean proteins also aid in the repair of damaged cells in the body.
● Feel Fuller Longer
In order to reduce weight, it’s necessary to modify or reduce the diet as well. Soybeans and related products have been known to act as an appetite suppressant and reduce chances of overeating as consuming soybean-based products help consumers feel fuller for a longer period of time. Feeling fuller after a meal also reduces the cravings for unhealthy snacks that often contribute to weight gain.
● Better Blood Sugar Levels
Since soy proteins have a low glycemic index, their consumption won’t result in a rapid rise of blood sugar levels, preventing over secretion of insulin in the body. Extra insulin production risks converting any extra sugar in the bloodstream into body fat. Foods that help maintain steady blood sugar levels and insulin secretion levels, such as soy products, help prevent fat gain and also reduce hunger cravings.
● Low In Calories And High In Nutrients
Many crash diets and weight loss regimes make use of food and beverage items that are not necessarily healthy for the human body in the long-term but do cause short-term weight loss. With a growing number of people, of all age groups including children, gaining weight and becoming obese, it’s necessary to consume foods that are low in calories yet also high in nutrients, such as soybean. The health benefits of soybean, along with the nutrients and vitamins present in it and the low-calorie value makes soybean an ideal food choice for those looking to lose weight.
● Suitable For All Dietary Preferences
Modern lifestyles have resulted in a greater prevalence of dietary preference, with more people becoming vegetarian and vegan. For the healthcare industry, soybean is an excellent alternative to fish and meat proteins for vegetarians and vegans, offering in some cases an even better source of protein and way to maintain a weight loss encouraging diet. In emerging countries or countries farther inland where fish are not as easily available, soybean product is a great substitute.
Enjoy The Joy Of Soy!
The popularity and demand for soybean products, whether in the form of soya chunks, tofu, soy milk or soybean oil, is growing at a steady pace, driven by a more health-conscious consumer base. Soybean is full of nutrients and helps in boosting heart health, bone health, digestion and more. Apart from the general health benefits of soybean products, soybean is helping the healthcare industry in weight loss as it promotes weight loss in various ways. Soybean products are full of protein, have a low glycemic index and cause consumers to feel satiated for longer by suppressing the appetite. As the prevalence of obesity and weight gain increases worldwide, soybean is a useful and natural superfood for losing weight.
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Function Calls
Functions are packets of statements that can be used repeatedly. They can accept any number of inputs and can return any number of outputs.
The name of a function must be a valid identifier. If a function name is the same as a variable name, the variable name takes precedence. Similarly, if a user-defined function and built-in function have the same name, the user-defined function takes precedence.
Inputs are passed to a function using ()’s. They are separated by ,’s.
my_function(input1, input2, …, inputN)
If a function can be called without inputs, the ()’s are optional.
Inputs can be any valid expression.
sqrt(1+b/3*5^2) % assuming b is a valid variable
If the number of inputs passed to a function does not match the number expected by that function, an error occurs.
If a function returns a single value, this return value can be used in other expressions.
It can also be assigned to a variable.
output = sqrt(1)
If a function returns multiple values, each return value must be assigned to a distinct variable. The output variables are grouped using [ ]’s and separated by ,’s (or optionally spaces).
[out1, out2] = f(in1, in2)
function [len,first] = info(x)
len = length(x);
first = x(1);
[a,b] = info([4,8,2,9])
Unlike single return function calls, multi-return function calls cannot be directly combined with other operators.
If a function returns more outputs than are assigned, the remainder is ignored. If a function returns fewer outputs than are assigned, an error occurs.
Each function has its own rules as to what constitutes valid inputs. OML language supports an alternate function syntax. String arguments can be passed to a function without using ()’s and by using spaces instead of commas to separate them. These two calls are equivalent:
myfunc hello goodbye
OML language has many built-in functions that are directly callable. These will be cataloged in a separate document. You can also define you own functions (see Function Definitions). |
*Sniffs* Ah, a piquant yet impertinent bouquet
*Sniffs* Ah, a piquant yet impertinent bouquet Artyom_Anikeev / getty images
Oh sure, you say now that you miss traveling. But just wait until the next time you’re back at the airport, with all the noise, the waiting, the weird chairs … and of course, the burning of jet fuel dragging the planet ever closer to ecological collapse. Flying from here to the east coast produces one metric ton of carbon dioxide — five tons if you go to Asia — and knowing that we’re contributing to the death of the only Earth we have is just one of the many stresses of taking a flight.
The Port of Seattle would like to do something about that.
Last month the Port held a special study session to discuss the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which can reduce lifetime carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to traditional jet fuel. But “can” isn’t the same as “will.” Is this stuff for real? Dirty-fuel companies sure would like you to think so.
Companies like Shell and BP have declared SAF to be “the future of energy,” which if you heard that coming out of the mouth of a character in a Batman movie you’d be like “oh, there’s the villain.” And here’s the thing to keep in mind about this technology: SAF isn’t pollution-free. It still produces emissions.
The difference is that the fuel isn’t pulled out of the ground, like fossil fuel; it’s (sometimes) made out of plants, which absorb carbon from the atmosphere. That’s how fuel companies can get away with saying that SAF reduces emissions over its lifespan. Carbon gets sucked up by plants, plants are turned into fuel, fuel is burned in airplanes, and then the airplanes spit carbon back into the air, where it becomes a problem for someone else.
Still, it’s better than burning up dinosaurs, or at least the Port hopes so. SAF is already manufactured in Washington by companies like REG — but for now, it’s more lucrative for those companies to send it all to California and British Columbia than use it here. That could soon change thanks to the passage of a clean fuels standard during the just-finished legislative session. The Port says that new regulations will allow them to offer incentives to SAF producers to keep the stuff local, like a delicious artisanal kombucha.
“Washington state is poised to become a leader in fighting against climate change and creating green collar jobs,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Fred Felleman in a statement.
If they can pull it off, the Port is in an excellent position to expand SAF use in the Pacific Northwest. They already have the infrastructure, with giant fuel storage tanks and transportation systems that don’t need any retrofitting to use SAF. They have a study identifying ways to make more SAF in the PNW. They already have relationships with fuel producers, airlines, and other airports. And they have a head start on making SAF cheaper to use, with a 2017 study into ways that airports can make the switch without having to pay for it.
So that all seems quite promising. But at this point, it’s not even a promise — it’s not even a specific proposal. The Port says they’re committed to reducing emissions; they say that they’re in position to do so. Now we just need them to, you know, actually do it. |
CPSC 170 Program 4: Big Integers
Due Friday, April 11 2008
The Java primitive type int uses a 32-bit two's complement representation, which allows it to represent values in the range -231 to 231-1 (-2147483648 to 2147483647). A programmer who needs to represent a larger number might use a long instead; with 64 bits this extends the range to -263 to 263-1 (-9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807). But what if the integers in a program can grow larger than that? This may seem unlikely to you, but you experienenced numbers this big back in week five of CS120 when you were asked to represent your age in seconds. Even more dramatic - In week eight of cs120, we hit a ceiling with our factorial function 15! (extending from an int to a long gets us up to 20!). In situations like this it's useful to have a way to represent arbitrarily large integers. Their manipulation will not be nearly as efficient as that of regular integers, but at least it will be possible to work with them in some form.
Your assignment is to write two classes:
The BigInt ADT and Implementation
The BigIntADT interface is given below:
public interface BigIntADT
// Gives the number of digits in the BigInt
public int length();
// Returns a BigInt representing the sum of the
// current BigInt and int2
public BigIntADT add(BigIntADT int2);
// Returns a BigInt representing the product of the
// current BigInt and int2
public BigIntADT mult(BigIntADT int2);
// Returns a BigInt representing the the current BigInt
// raised to the int2 power
public BigIntADT power(BigIntADT int2);
// Returns a BigInt representing the factorial of int
public BigIntADT factorial(BigIntADT int)
// Returns true if the current BigInt is the same as
// int2, false otherwise
public boolean equals(BigIntADT int2);
// Returns a string representation of the current BigInt
public String toString();
// Returns an iterator that provides the digits of the current
// BigInt, one at a time.
public Iterator iterator();
You should write a LinkedBigInt class that uses a linked list to implement this interface. Some helpful advice:
The EvalBigInts Class
This is a program reads from a file containing multiple postfix expressions (delimited by a newline). Each postfix expression is itself space delimited. This program should represent the integers in the expression as BigInts, and uses stack evaluation to evaluate the expression. The expression may contain any non-negative integers but should contain only the operators +, *, ! and e (for exponent, so postfix 2 3 e = 23= 8).
Code for a stack evaluator is in the text and last week's lab; yours will be similar, but your use of bigints will require some modifications. |
From - English Wiki
Revision as of 15:22, 3 March 2014 by Al (Talk | contribs)
Community Network Mark Up Language (CNML) is a project that aims to define an open ISO standard and scalable for describing mesh clouds, though it's not limited to this kind of networks and nowadays it's being used also in point to point infrastructure networks.
CNML is a specification based on XML, which makes it easily extendible and readable for humans besides of computers. It includes some ideas from other implementations and previous concepts like nodeXchange and SNDX.[1]
Some advantages of using CNML is that it allows to uncouple different functionalities independently of the web application used to show the data, reducing dependence from it and its internal tables of the database.
Be careful!
Please, take into account that the process of generating CNML for big zones (like the whole World, the root zone) takes a long time and a lot of machine resources (cpu, mem, access to db...) and it can take down completely our machines if done several times in a short time. We ask you to use in case you want to play with CNML files and do other things related to development.
Apart from that, you can take advantage that snpservices generates every 30 minutes the CNML file of the World zone and places it at the following url:
Our machines will appreciate if you downloaded this file directly and don't make them generate it again.
Alexander Klosch (German roots) began the CNML project in 2006 during the Wizards of OS 4 international event, in Berlin. In that moment, a community of people interested in developing such standard appeared, with participants from all over Europe like hivenetworks, Wifidog,, B.A.T.M.A.N, OpenWRT and FreiFunk.[2]
How does Community Network Mark Up Language look like?
In the wiki we can find a draft:
<hardware capabilty>
<siftware services>
<devices> cpu, memory, storage, devices, radio level etc. </devices>
<mapping> gps, name </mapping>
<network environment>
<content sharing>
<node information>
<owner of device>
<scale of interest to the network>
<personal keyring>(hold private, only given volountary)
Even if the specification is not finished, it's a while that allows to export zones and nodes to the CNML format from the website. Apart from that, the user can specify how detailed wants the file: nodes only, zones only and detailed nodes (including hardware, etc...): allows to export zones to CNML format through its website CNML format, more and less detailed
Real examples of CNML files (they were exported from the website):
CNML file (zones only) CNML file (zones and nodes) CNML file with zones and nodes detailed
1. SNDX: Haciendo un XML-DTD para el intercambio de bases de datos de redes entre servidores
2. CNML Roadmap,
External links
Personal tools |
Dark Star
15 April 2014
Although still mysterious, dark matter is five times more plentiful than regular matter in the universe. It affects the formation and clustering of galaxies, as well as the motion of stars through their galaxy. So it is tempting to wonder what effect dark matter might have on the formation and evolution of stars themselves. The problem is we can’t be sure without an understanding of type of dark matter which exists. That hasn’t stopped some astronomers from speculating, however.
HR diagram showing low mass stars (left) with dark matter being brighter than expected. Iocco, et al
One idea is that dark matter could accumulate in the core of stars.1 Given the current estimated density of dark matter around stars like the Sun, this wouldn’t have a significant effect, but if the density were about 200 times more dense, and if dark matter is a type known as asymmetric dark matter (ADM) then it could affect the brightness of stars, particularly those sun-sized or smaller.
One of the ideas about dark matter is that it is likely made up of some yet-unknown type of particles (WIMPs). Just as regular matter particles have corresponding anti-matter particles, dark matter particles could also have anti-matter siblings. Asymmetric dark matter is a hypothetical type of dark matter where there is an asymmetry between regular dark matter and anti-dark matter. This would mean that the two types wouldn’t annihilate each other very effectively, so the type of gamma ray signal some astronomers have looked for (and might have found) wouldn’t be very strong.
But such ADM would interact with the nuclear reactions inside the core of a star. As a result of these interactions, fusion would occur more efficiently, and therefore the star would produce more light and heat than expected. For large stars, this extra boost would be small compared to the pure matter rate, but for smaller stars (particularly red dwarf stars) this extra boost could be significant. As a result, small stars could be brighter and hotter than expected.2
We think dark matter would have a higher density around the core of a galaxy. So the density of dark matter in that region might be high enough to have a measurable impact on stellar fusion. If that’s the case, then we should be able to observe red dwarf stars near galactic center that are hotter and brighter than their mass predicts. Observing such red dwarf stars in our own galactic core would be difficult because of all the gas and dust in that region, but perhaps such an effect could be observed in other galaxies.
Just to be clear, this is still pretty speculative. Dark matter remains a big mystery, and it might not be ADM. But it is good to develop these types of models to determine what effects there might be. That way if we start seeing these effects they can lead us to the correct model.
1. Lopes, Ilidio, and Joseph Silk. “A particle dark matter footprint on the first generation of stars.” The Astrophysical Journal 786.1 (2014): 25. ↩︎
2. Iocco, Fabio, et al. “Main sequence stars with asymmetric dark matter.” Physical Review Letters 108.6 (2012): 061301. ↩︎ |
This thought occurred to me after reading the following question and top answer: How to refute the idea that Buddhism might be actually "too extreme"?
The questioner thinks the logical conclusion of Buddhism is to abandon all worldly goods, including the family, resulting in the elimination of the human race.
Let's say if this is the appropriate thing to do, and everybody in the world does that, then the world, in 100 years or 200 years, will not have human beings any more (because if no marriage and no children, then there will be no new life on earth, while the existing people pass away). I can't say that it will be "good" if on earth, there is no more human beings, but lions, wolves, foxes, rabbits, and other animals remain on earth.
The answerer stated this is taking Buddhism to the extreme, and rather Buddhism is to avoid extremes and to take the middle path.
Did Buddha teach "self-sacrifice"? No, he taught middle-way: by looking after ourselves we look after others, by looking after others we look after ourselves.
However, this is exactly what Aristotle said in his definition of virtue. He defines virtue as the mean between extremes.
His constant phrase is, "… is the Middle state between …". His psychology of the soul and its virtues is based on the golden mean between the extremes
Is there any essential difference between Aristotle's definition of virtue and what Buddhism teaches? It seems there is only a difference in details, how specifically Buddhism teaches to seek the middle way, but the overarching principle is the same. Or are there extremes in Buddhism's teaching?
• That Wikipedia page is a peculiar mish mash of not clearly connected ideas. For example, as far as I'm aware, Aristotle never used the word "golden" in the context of the mean. It certainly doesn't show up in one of the more popular translations of Nichomachean Ethics. Given that the page has that simple thing wrong, along with the general ramming together of things unconnected, I'd hesitate to trust it on very much.
– tkp
Feb 4 '15 at 16:58
• I've read the Nichomachean Ethics. The page's description is accurate as far as my question is concerned.
– yters
Feb 16 '15 at 18:21
• just out of interest, where in NE is the adjective "golden" used in the context of the mean?
– tkp
Feb 16 '15 at 18:43
• It's not used it NE as far as I know.
– yters
Mar 6 '15 at 17:38
Yes the ancient Greeks did have "nothing in excess" as part of their cultural heritage.
Buddhists might agree with some of the other 'wise' sayings on the page linked above, especially for example, "You should not desire the impossible".
But the ethics are not the same. Greek ethics are typically about being a good citizen, for example:
• A "middle way" between cowardice and recklessness, so, being prudent and brave as a soldier
• Being a just (justice) member of the jury
• Being a political hero; etc.
The Greeks are into aesthetics too: they talk about "the beautiful".
You would do yourself a disservice to assume that, having read Aristotle, you have a handle on Buddhist Dhamma too.
Some essential differences include that they don't have the same goal, nor the same method/mechanism, not at all the same logic, nor the same experimental proof, nor the same practitioners.
Or are there extremes in Buddhism's teaching?
Yes, I think there are many; so many that I cannot hope to pick "the best" example, so let me instead pick one example more-or-less at random.
The Itivuttaka starts with, "This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "Abandon one quality, monks, and I guarantee you non-return. Which one quality? Abandon greed as the one quality, and I guarantee you non-return.""
In several ways, this is an "extreme":
• It's said by "the Blessed One"
• It's "abandon" one quality, not "see if you can't try to live without it quite a lot of the time"
• It's "I guarantee you", not "I'm pretty sure"
• It's "greed", not "thinking about it"
• It's "non-return", not "not too much of a return"
I'm not sure of the definition of the "middle way" you quoted (not sure whether it's a good definition: maybe you're quoting out of context).
Some more canonical definitions of the Buddhist "middle way" are as follows:
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion:
"There are these two extremes that are not to be indulged in by one who has gone forth. Which two? That which is devoted to sensual pleasure with reference to sensual objects: base, vulgar, common, ignoble, unprofitable; and that which is devoted to self-affliction: painful, ignoble, unprofitable. Avoiding both of these extremes, the middle way realized by the Tathagata — producing vision, producing knowledge — leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding.
"And what is the middle way realized by the Tathagata that — producing vision, producing knowledge — leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding? Precisely this Noble Eightfold Path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is the middle way realized by the Tathagata that — producing vision, producing knowledge — leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding.
Cutting Off the Causes of Suffering:
The Buddha calls this path the middle way (majjhima patipada). It is the middle way because it steers clear of two extremes, two misguided attempts to gain release from suffering. One is the extreme of indulgence in sense pleasures, the attempt to extinguish dissatisfaction by gratifying desire. This approach gives pleasure, but the enjoyment won is gross, transitory, and devoid of deep contentment. The Buddha recognized that sensual desire can exercise a tight grip over the minds of human beings, and he was keenly aware of how ardently attached people become to the pleasures of the senses. But he also knew that this pleasure is far inferior to the happiness that arises from renunciation, and therefore he repeatedly taught that the way to the Ultimate eventually requires the relinquishment of sensual desire. Thus the Buddha describes the indulgence in sense pleasures as "low, common, worldly, ignoble, not leading to the goal."
The other extreme is the practice of self-mortification, the attempt to gain liberation by afflicting the body. This approach may stem from a genuine aspiration for deliverance, but it works within the compass of a wrong assumption that renders the energy expended barren of results. The error is taking the body to be the cause of bondage, when the real source of trouble lies in the mind — the mind obsessed by greed, aversion, and delusion. To rid the mind of these defilements the affliction of the body is not only useless but self-defeating, for it is the impairment of a necessary instrument. Thus the Buddha describes this second extreme as "painful, ignoble, not leading to the goal."[2]
Aloof from these two extreme approaches is the Noble Eightfold Path, called the middle way, not in the sense that it effects a compromise between the extremes, but in the sense that it transcends them both by avoiding the errors that each involves. The path avoids the extreme of sense indulgence by its recognition of the futility of desire and its stress on renunciation. Desire and sensuality, far from being means to happiness, are springs of suffering to be abandoned as the requisite of deliverance. But the practice of renunciation does not entail the tormenting of the body. It consists in mental training, and for this the body must be fit, a sturdy support for the inward work. Thus the body is to be looked after well, kept in good health, while the mental faculties are trained to generate the liberating wisdom. That is the middle way, the Noble Eightfold Path, which "gives rise to vision, gives rise to knowledge, and leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana."
paṭipadā: Road, path, way; the means of reaching a goal or destination. The "Middle way" (majjhima-paṭipadā) taught by the Buddha; the path of practice described in the fourth noble truth (dukkhanirodhagāminī-paṭīpadā).
Wikipedia adds that "In Mahayana Buddhism, the Middle Way refers to the insight into emptiness that transcends opposite statements about existence." Wikipedia's footnote to this sentence references the Kaccayanagotta Sutta.
Archie Bahm's Philosophy of the Buddha takes a different approach. Here's a blog article that covers this.
A key paragraph from the article (itself a quote from Bahm):
His historical [...] insight, that happiness can be found only in the middle way, appears to agree with other [...] Golden Mean philosophies in advising avoidance of extremes. [...] however, Gotama’s insight focused upon one kind of mean, one which, if achieved, would automatically resolve the difficulties relative to all other pairs of extremes: his middle way is a way between desiring too much and desiring too much stopping of such desiring.
So pain is caused by our tendency to desire, and this tendency can attach to anything, including attempts to overcome desire! So desire often wins not because it resits us, but because it corrupts our attempts from within.
This may explain Buddhism's iconoclastic tendencies. If desire is the problem, and Buddhism can become an object of desire, then to this extent, Buddhism itself must be fought. This may also explain attitudes towards the self...
The Middle Way navigates between this tendency, and since the opposite of desire (wanting things to be other than the way they are) is acceptance of all -- including our failures to accept -- The Middle Way can be equated with acceptance. The key is to grok what "Middle" implies. Thinking of backing off an extreme when you catch yourself clinging to one pole of a duality (desire/no-desire, spiritual/material, religious/profane, philosophical/worldly) is a good way to think of The Middle Way/Acceptance.
And of course, it's all about your INNER attitude and not surface acts.
This differs from the way I understood Aristotle and other "Golden Mean" philosophers.
As much as I love Plato/Socrates, I have never acquired taste for Aristotle. It's difficult to judge Aristotle's perspective based on one sentence which is not even a quote.
I have read that Aristotle's ethics is considered "virtue ethics", which supposedly means he thought the right action to come from a set of "virtues" a person needs to develop, the moderation being one of them.
If this accurately describes Aristotle's position, then Buddhist ethic is different, perhaps being closer to what's known as Consequentialism or Teleological ethics, that is ethics based on results, not on "virtues" predefined upfront.
In other words, in Buddhism the middle way is a characteristic of the path, not its method. Buddha did not teach us to do all things half-way, but rather to pay attention to all factors and all effects of an action, not just the primary one. When one does this, the factors necessarily have to be balanced against each other, which usually results in a best compromise solution, which is what's referred to as "the middle way".
While Aristotle seems to define his golden mean as the middle between the extremes, which seems a bit simplistic, although I will give a benefit of doubt to a brilliant guy whose doctrine I did not have a chance to study.
Let's not forget that Buddhism goes far beyond ethics. While most ethical theories assume person's value system to be static, Buddhism sets one on a path of personal transformation, which involves development of what in modern discourse can be called "emotional intelligence" as well as reevaluation of one's preconceptions, all the way to the most fundamental ones like e.g. "entity". This can be seen as an extreme in Buddhist teaching, extreme commitment to go all the way until Enlightenment, not holding back any valuables that ego is made of.
• Aristotle was a student of Plato; IMO they would both agree with, "be a good person in order to have a good life". Saying "the middle between the extremes" would be simplistic; instead I expect they'd agree with "in proper proportion". IMO he didn't like to try to predefine it, saying that 'right' is rather what well-educated gentlemen would agree it is. And something of an aesthetic judgement, equating 'the good' with 'the beautiful'. You could try to say more about what Buddhism (unlike Aristotleianism) is, but they might have little in common, except that they were both men.
– ChrisW
Oct 25 '14 at 3:23
• Somehow I happen to like Robert Pirsig's opinion that Aristotle took Plato's teaching and turned it upside down. Plato would indeed start with "the good" as an ideal principle and leave the embodiment up to an individual, while Aristotle's heresy would be to reify "the right" as something objective that can be discovered through study. These are two different perspectives. And the Buddha's is third, to look at consequences, because (as was later shown by Madhyamikas) the acts in and of themselves are not inherently good or bad.
– Andrei Volkov
Oct 25 '14 at 16:52
• I like Pirsig's book: including his "monkey trap" description of attachment, "value rigidity". Phaedrus' contempt of Aristotle is risible, his eventual catatonia I find sad. Phaedrus disliked Aristotle for making analytic/academic lists: I fear the same could be said against Buddhism. Instead of such analysis it's tempting to pursue a monad like "ἀρετή", as Phaedrus did; but one result of that was semi-inscrutable, i.e. "the way that can be named is not the eternal way..."; let's acknowledge that the Buddha did a good job at naming his way, in detail: his doctrine is not very "like Aristotle".
– ChrisW
Oct 25 '14 at 23:17
A difference between Aristoles definition of virtue as the middle between two extreme attitudes (Ethic. Nic. II,1) and Buddhas teaching the middle way between indulgence and asceticism (First teaching at Sarnath):
Aristotle speaks about Ethics, Buddha recommends a way of personal life. The ethics of Aristotle aims at virtues necessary for living in a polity and participating in public affairs. The way of live recommended by Buddha aims at improving the personal situation of individuals by a radical change of view.
But from a more general point of view both the definition of Aristotle and the advice of Buddha recommend avoiding the extremes: Look out for the middle course in between Scylla and Charybdis. However, this advice is not far from what everyday common sense of the parent generation teaches the young generation from time immemorial.
Later on, Buddha used the principle of the middle way as a heuristics to deal with more general philosophical alternatives. But to the best of my knowledge, he did not apply it to ethics. That's specific to Aristotle.
• IMO, to contrast ethics with personal life is a characteristically western approach. Why is the West so bent on seeking objective laws, I suppose it's a Christian bias? Ethics in its broad sense is a question of right action, "what should I do?", "what would be the right thing to do?", "what principle should I base my choices on?". In this sense Buddhism is all about ethics.
– Andrei Volkov
Oct 25 '14 at 16:16
• @andrei: Yes, ethics deals with questions of right action and right attitude. Ethics presupposes at least two persons: You and me. Because the subject of ethics are principles as well as rules for living together. In my opinion, early Buddhism instead has a strong focus on acquiring knowledge, teaching how things "really" are and how I can improve my personal life. - In Europe speculating and pondering about general rules of natural phaenomena is already the subject of Ionian philosophers of nature like Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes, who lived long before the period of christianity.
– Jo Wehler
Oct 25 '14 at 18:45
The words are indeed an expression of middle path. Just cause Aristotle wasn't a Buddhist doesn't change that. Do not however, mistake them to be equivalent.
Your Answer
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Navajo Indian Tools
A Navajo woman teaches a young girl how to use a drop spindle to spin yarn.
... Coral Coolahan/iStock/Getty Images
Known for their patterned blankets and rugs and silver jewelry, the Navajo across centuries have used certain tools that enable them to create their arts. As farmers, they have also used particular tools to work the soil, and in the past, Navajo men used similar tools for both fighting and hunting.
1 Arts and Handcrafts
Navajo women use drop spindles to spin sheep's fleece into yarn and looms to weave the yarn into fabric for rugs and blankets. Modern-day weavers might use shears to remove sheep's fleece and "hand carders" to prepare the fleece fibers for spinning. Navajo silversmiths use hammers to pound silver into desired shapes. The Navajo are also known for their pottery, but they make these objects by hand.
2 Farming Implements
The hoe and the rake are typical tools any farmer might use, and the Navajo used these implements to break up the soil to prepare it for planting squash, corn and beans and to loosen soil that had been planted to aid in irrigation.
3 Hunters' and Warriors' Tools
Navajo men used bows and arrows both for hunting and battle. They also used spears as weapons, and the points, or tips, of both spears and arrows were made of stone. They also made stone knives, axes and saws.
Betsy Beacom is a writer and editor with experience in education, marketing, Internet content, social media, the performing and visual arts, literature and more. She holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in literature, has taught English at Yale University and has more than 20 years' experience writing and editing. |
ERS Statement: a core outcome set for clinical trials evaluating the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations
Plain English Summary
Sachin Ananth1
1West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third most common cause of death in the world. COPD exacerbations or flare-ups are when a patient’s symptoms get worse. This often leads to a short-term increase in medication use. Over 1 in 3 people with COPD suffer from exacerbations every year. Also, a severe exacerbation can cause a patient’s symptoms to be worse for the rest of their lives.
Treatment of COPD exacerbations has not changed for many years, and it could be improved. One of the reasons for this is that it is difficult to compare different treatments for COPD exacerbations. Treatments are tested in clinical trials, but the way they are tested can vary. One common difference between clinical trials are their outcomes, which is how the trial assesses if the treatment works. Outcomes need to be tested the same way in all trials. However, this does not happen. For example, one trial of a drug may use death as the most important outcome, but another trial of the same drug may use going into hospital as its most important outcome. Therefore, it will be difficult to compare both trials, even though they are testing the same drug. Some trials may seem to use the same outcome, but they may use different definitions of this outcome. For example, one trial may define “improvement” of an exacerbation based on the patient’s symptoms, but another trial may define it based on their blood results. Not being able to compare clinical trials has meant that it is difficult to find new treatments for COPD exacerbations.
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) set up a group of doctors and COPD patients from around the world to solve this problem. The group, known as a task force, aimed to create a list of core outcomes. Core outcomes are a clearly defined list of results that are important to patients, doctors and researchers. They should be included in all clinical trials of COPD treatments. This will make it easier to compare different clinical trials in the future. The task force also created guidance about how to test each of these core outcomes.
First, the task force collected a list of all the different outcomes reported in previous COPD exacerbation clinical trials. Then, over 1,000 doctors and COPD patients from around the world completed a survey about which outcomes they think are most important. The task force then held two meetings to discuss the outcomes which scored highest in this survey. In the first meeting, the task force voted on the outcomes that the survey participants had recommended. If more than 7 out of every 10 people in the task force thought that an outcome was critically important, this outcome would be added to the final list of core outcomes. During the second meeting, the task force decided how each outcome should be defined and measured. This decision was based on previous studies, and the amount of time and resources needed for each definition. If more than 7 in every 10 people on the task force agreed on a definition for an outcome, then the task force would “strongly” recommend its use. If less than 7 in 10 people on the task force agreed on a definition, then the task force could recommend this definition, with a note that further research is needed to refine it.
The core outcomes that the task force recommended are listed in Box 1. The task force recommended that all future trials will use these outcomes. This will make it easier for doctors to understand the results of the trials, and to compare different trials.
If you want to learn more about this piece of research, you can read the full paper by clicking here.
Core Outcome Set for Clinical Trials Evaluating the Management of COPD Exacerbations. Outcomes strongly recommended by the task force are highlighted with a *
• Death from any cause*
• Death from a COPD exacerbation
Treatment success
Need for a higher level of care
• Need for hospital admission for the presenting exacerbation
• Need for admission to the intensive care unit for the exacerbation
Levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood (arterial blood gases)
Outcomes reported by patients
• Breathlessness
• Health-related quality of life (how a patient rates their current physical health)
• Effect on activities of daily living (such as dressing and moving around the house)
• Worsening of symptoms after the initial treatment
Future Impact
• Disease progression (permanent change in the patient’s COPD severity after the exacerbation resolves)
• Future exacerbations
• Future hospital admissions
• Serious adverse events of treatments*
• Development of resistant bacteria
• Development of pneumonia*
Treatment adherence*
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The legacy of religious racism in U.S. Indian law
• Author:
• Updated:
On Aug. 6, 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland, two high-level U.S. government officials testified before the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). One was Ralph Boyd, Jr., U. S. Assistant Attorney for Civil Rights. The other was Mr. Lorne Craner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. In addition to many other questions about race relations in the United States, the two U.S. representatives were also asked about some general principles of federal Indian law and specifically about the Western Shoshone people.
One question that the Committee asked the United States was "What is the United States position with respect to its 1863 treaty with the Western Shoshone Indians?" To answer this question, the U.S. representatives turned to the 1823 U.S. Supreme Court decision Johnson v. McIntosh. The U.S. representatives said the Johnson decision held that "as a result of European discovery, the Native Americans had a right to occupancy and possession." But "tribal rights to complete sovereignty were necessarily diminished by the principle that discovery gave exclusive title to those who made it."
What the U.S. officials did not tell the CERD is that the Johnson ruling is premised on a principle of religious racism. They did not tell the CERD the Johnson decision is based on a religiously racist viewpoint that white Christians are superior to heathen Indians. The U.S. officials failed to mention that the Johnson ruling contains the premise that the first "Christian people" (the Court's emphasis) to "discover" lands "inhabited by "natives, who were heathens" (the Court's language) have the right to assert "ultimate dominion" over the heathens.
In other words, there was a cloaked message in the United States' reply to the Committee's question: "We don't have institutionalized racial discrimination against American Indians in the United States. However, we do interpret the treaties we have made with them, such as the Western Shoshone treaty, on the basis of a religiously and racially biased Supreme Court ruling from the early 19th century." How would such a direct admission have sounded to the Committee established to work toward the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination? Instead of such candor, the U.S. officials carefully chose "European discovery" to characterize the Johnson decision.
By referring to "European discovery," the U.S. officials hid from the Committee the fact that in 1823 the Supreme Court made the doctrine of "Christian discovery" the Supreme Law of the Land in the United States. The Doctrine of Christian Discovery assumes that American Indian nations and people are racially and religiously inferior, and that the United States has the divine right to forever control and economically profit from our respective ancestral homelands.
Justice Joseph Story was on the Supreme Court when the Johnson decision was handed down. Story later very well summed up the religiously racist nature of the claim to a Right of Christian Discovery when he wrote, "As infidels, heathens, and savages, they [the Indians] were not allowed to possess the prerogatives belonging to completely sovereign, independent nations." Henry Wheaton, in The Elements of International Law (1836), explained the doctrine of discovery as follows: "The heathen nations of the other quarters of the globe were the lawful spoil and prey of their civilized conquerors." This attitude is embedded in the principle of ultimate Christian dominion found in the Johnson ruling.
The Right of Christian Discovery comes directly from the Old Testament of the Bible and is based on the story of the "covenant" between the deity of the Old Testament and the so-called "chosen people." The covenant was based on land. The land "promised" to the Hebrews by the Old Testament deity was already inhabited by the Canaanites, whom the Hebrews were commanded to dispossess. Eventually, this biblical story was transferred to the Americas. As the British international law scholar Henry Sumner Maine put the matter: "In North America, where the discoverers or new colonists were chiefly English, the Indians inhabiting that continent were compared almost universally to the Canaanites of the Old Testament."
Eventually, the story of the divine covenant between the Old Testament deity and the "chosen people" became part of the cultural and linguistic fabric of the United States. It is this biblical perspective that the U.S. Supreme Court inserted into the Johnson decision 180 years ago. The one difference is that the Court referred to the Covenant Tradition in terms of a distinction between "Christian people" and "heathens." The Supreme Court drew on the Right of Christian Discovery found in Vatican papal bulls of the fifteenth century and in English charters, all of which were premised on the view that all non-Christian lands throughout the world were destined to be taken over by Christians.
The historian B. A. Hinsdale said that the Right of Discovery was only valid with regard to lands "not possessed of any Christian prince, nor inhabited by Christian people." Of this religious principle, Hinsdale said: "Such was the origin of the Right of Discovery, the criterion to which the nations that divided the New World appealed in territorial controversies, and the ultimate ground of title throughout the United States."
That the United States relied on the Johnson decision to explain to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination how the U.S. interprets the 1863 Ruby Valley treaty clearly demonstrates one thing. It demonstrates just how fundamentally important the Johnson ruling continues to be to the United States of America and to the entire structure of U.S. Indian law.
Without Johnson, the U.S. has nothing to justify its colonial hold on our nations and peoples. Even now in the 21st century, the Johnson ruling ? and the Old Testament Covenant Tradition ? serves as the legal and political framework within which the United States interprets our fundamental right of self-determination as well as all Indian treaties.
By the time the U. N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination convenes again this summer, we ought to be prepared to challenge the Right of Christian Discovery in U.S. Indian law. We must call the United States to account before the world community for using the Johnson decision to undermine the political and legal rights of our respective nations and peoples. We need to powerfully challenge and ultimately liberate ourselves from the legacy of religious racism embodied in the Johnson ruling. |
Being excellent at writing code is not enough and we say it because as the software industry becomes integrated with business, the expectations from developers evolve.
Software developers must indubitably have tech skills, but there is another popular set of abilities that is gaining momentum: soft skills. Soft skills are a key part of the toolbox as a software developer. Technical know-how is one way of measuring how good a developer is, but soft skills are really the ones that help them receive the stamp of approval from the industry.
To start, let’s talk about what exactly soft skills are. There are so many concepts that define this topic, to make it clear let’s say that soft skills enable you to communicate and interact with other people. And to do so in a meaningful and harmonious way, this includes things like communication, empathy, patience, and more. Soft skills are the difference between adequate software developers and ideal ones. In the software industry, there are not limited technical abilities and specialist knowledge.
Many soft skills can come naturally as software developers spend most of their life refining them informally, but it is important to clear that some of them need to be worked at the same time as technical skills.
The most commonly soft skills sought needed for working in computer programming:
• Communication skills
• Problem solving
• Teamwork/collaboration
• Research
• Creativity
Is a usual suspect in most soft skills lists, not only for developers – but for any profession. But in software development, communication is crucial. Keep in mind that communication is a two-way road.
It is important that the software development team is a good listener. Listening to your colleagues, customers, or users will make all the difference. When you listen, you are getting an unfair advantage compared to those who only talk. You get to learn things, expand your horizons, and broaden your worldview. It also helps you rank tasks and to comprehend in the most effective way what the client or user wants
Equally as important are the verbal and non-verbal skills. Verbal skills are key to fostering relationships that are collaborative and respectful, and, ultimately, productive. This also applies to written communication.
Problem solving
Finding a suitable solution for issues can be accomplished by following essential steps.
Problem solving does not just require analytical, creative and critical skills, but a particular mindset; those who can approach a problem with a cool and level head will often reach a solution more efficiently than those who cannot.
If a software development team/ member is able to:
1.- Define the problem
2.- Generate alternative solutions
3.- Evaluate and select an alternative
4.- Implement and follow up on the solution
We can ensure that it doesn’t matter whether the problem is, being a problem solver will give the person a specific skill needed to solve any kind of troubles in the best and most organized way.
Working in a team towards a common goal requires the intuition and interpersonal acumen to know when to be a leader and when to be a listener.
Good team players are perceptive, as well as receptive to the needs and responsibilities of others.
Teamwork skills are the qualities and abilities that allow developers to work well with others during conversations, projects, meetings or other collaborations. Having teamwork skills is dependent on the ability to communicate well, actively listen and be responsible and honest.
In a nutshell, research skills help us find answers to questions. Research skills are the ability to search for, find, collect, analyse, interpret and evaluate information that is relevant to the subject being studied.
Being a good researcher implies:
1. Keep an eye on the topic
2. Data collection
3. Analysis of information from different sources
4. Develop new ways to execute activities
5. Identify what customers want
6. Get better at what they do
7. Keep up with changing technologies
Creativity is the ability to think about a task or a problem in a new or different way, or the ability to use the imagination to generate new ideas. Creativity enables you to solve complex problems or find interesting ways to approach tasks.
A software development team that is creative, is able to look at things from a unique perspective. The team or the developer can find patterns and make connections to find opportunities. There is some risk involved with being creative, but they can show you are self-motivated to try things that have not been done before.
Making connections, asking questions, making observations, networking and experimenting are several kinds of creative skills that can be practiced to become more creative in the workplace. Used in combination, they can be effective in helping the team think differently about a problem or a task. |
Face Mask Use Necessary to Prevent a Second COVID-19 Wave
Study shows lockdowns alone aren't enough to stem the virus in the longterm.
Face masks have become a recurring point of conversation across the globe over the past few months.
As a number of nations have gone under strict or semi-lockdowns, with face masks becoming a regular part of our day to day lives, new research suggests we may need to wear them in much higher numbers, and for a much longer period of time than expected.
A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A from the universities of Cambridge and Greenwich explains that in order to stop a second wave of COVID-19 to hit, the widespread use of face masks will have to be used.
Lockdowns alone won't stop the second wave of COVID-19
The researchers of the study state that lockdowns alone won't be able to block a resurgence of the virus, let alone what effects these may have on economies worldwide.
The study points out that even homemade masks that are roughly 50% effective can dramatically reduce the spread of the virus if enough people wear them, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Richard Stutt of Cambridge University said "Our analyses support the immediate and universal adoption of face masks by the public."
He continued "If widespread face mask use by the public is combined with physical distancing and some lockdown, it may offer an acceptable way of managing the pandemic and re-opening economic activity long before there is a working vaccine."
As the coronavirus is transmitted by infectious people through airborne droplets, mainly through talking, coughing, or sneezing, wearing face masks makes sense.
The study also found that if people wore masks when in public, it was twice as effective at lowering the transmission rate than if people start wearing masks only after they start showing symptoms.
The biggest finding, however, was that if 100% of the population wore masks, as well as on/off lockdown scenarios were still taking place, the prevention of a second wave would be successful.
Professor John Colvin, co-author of the study and professor at Greenwich University explained "There is a common perception that wearing a face mask means you consider others a danger. In fact, by wearing a mask you are primarily protecting others from yourself."
"Cultural and even political issues may stop people wearing face masks, so the message needs to be clear: my mask protects you, your mask protects me," he continued.
He ended by saying "The most effective way to restart daily life is to encourage everyone to wear some kind of mask whenever they are in public."
So, go out and buy or make your best face mask and wear it all the time, encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to do so too, and perhaps we'll have a better chance at preventing a second wave.
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Dowry System In Saudi Arabia
Dowry System In Saudi Arabia
Author: Subhashini.S, SASTRA, School of Law.
Dowry means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly by one party to a marriage to another party to the marriage. It is usually the bride’s family giving dowry to the groom. But in the case of Arab people it is the opposite. The groom has to pay a big sum of money demanded by the bride’s family after which the marriage is said to happen. This is a religious practice which is still being followed by many Arab people. However Arab people in general are not accountable to law for either offering or accepting dowry. It is a common social practice in which women feel privileged to be offered.
Dowry- The Purpose
In Saudi, generally the bride’s family checks the status of the groom and the capability of him spending for the dowry process before that thy don’t get into the contract of marriage. The dowry system is a tradition which is being followed for a long period. The average dowry for a Saudi women is around is SR40000 – SR50000. The countries highest dowry up to date is SR100000. The dowry is generally given in cash but if the bride’s family insist upon any other kind other than cash then it’s also provided by the groom; mainly gold.
Many of the bride’s family are trying to stop this tradition by not asking for dowry but to keep some part of their tradition, they ask for a very limited amount of SR100 or lesser than that or doing of an event so that the dowry is accounted. One of of the major example is that, where a bride’s father asked for a dinner and he also gifted the newly married couple a villa as he said he didn’t want the newly married to be in debt when the couple started their life). One of the strange dowry requests came from a Saudi girl who asked the man who proposed to her to bring 300 spiny-tailed lizards. She also asked him to bring them on his own without anyone’s help. The groom managed to bring 100 lizards during three months. The girl said the aim of this request was to test how much the groom was attached to her. Apparently, the groom had a phobia from lizards but he overcame it to meet her demand. So, in the present era many of the bride’s father are trying to stop this tradition of not getting dowry of but due to the social pressurization they are forced to collect but even if they do they ask for a very minimal amount from them just for the sake of getting dowry.
Dowry in India Vs Saudi
In India the dowry system is quite opposite. The bride has to give dowry for the groom’s family and this is also a tradition which is being followed for generations together. The common thing between both the countries in this issue is that both want to stop getting dowry from the other party to the marriage but, since it’s being followed for generations the receiver of the dowry asks for something else other than money. Some people are still asking money as dowry in various places in India but there are Acts which is formed by the legislator to protect the bride and her family from being harassed. The government has formed a law which basically protects the bride and her family, it’s the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961.
The original text of the Dowry Prohibition Act was widely judged to be ineffective in curbing the practice of dowry. Moreover, specific forms of violence against women continued to be linked to a failure to meet dowry demands. As a result, the legislation underwent subsequent amendment.
Amendments to the original Dowry Prohibition Act also established minimum and maximum punishments for giving and receiving dowry and created a penalty for demanding dowry or advertising offers of money or property in connection with a marriage. The Indian Penal Code was also modified in 1983 to establish specific crimes of dowry-related cruelty, dowry death, and abetment of suicide. These enactments punished violence against women by their husbands or their relatives when proof of dowry demands or dowry harassment could be shown. But in the case of Saudi Arabia there are no such laws which are prevailing in order to protect the interest of the groom.
An important point which is to be noted in the Saudi dowry system is that in case if the bride is a widow then the rule under the tradition is that the dowry amount should be less than SR10000 in case if she is going to remarry.
The people in the Saudi are trying to bring a change in the system of dowry and they are also trying to abolish the system. Many of the Saudi family are changing the way of getting dowry which is a drastic change which the people are looking forward. So, the system of dowry is not wrong but asking too much money will amount to a serious problem which results in many Saudi men are marrying women from different countries and not from their own due to the excess of dowry demanded.
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Louisiana governor pardons plaintiff in landmark Supreme Court racial segregation case
·2-min read
By Kathleen Flynn
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters -Louisiana's governor on Wednesday posthumously pardoned Homer Plessy, the plaintiff in the landmark 1896 U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine and laid the legal foundation for decades of racial segregation.
Governor John Bel Edwards, who signed the pardon at a ceremony in New Orleans near the spot where Plessy was arrested in 1892 for riding a whites-only train car, traced a line from the historic case to racial inequities in U.S. society today.
"The stroke of my pen on this pardon, while momentous, it doesn't erase generations of pain and discrimination," Bel Edwards said. "We can all acknowledge we have a long ways to go, but this pardon is a step in the right direction."
The official act follows a state board's unanimous decision in November to recommend a pardon of Plessy, who deliberately sat in a whites-only rail car to test a Jim Crow-era law aimed at marginalizing him and other Black citizens after the Civil War.
Plessy, a shoemaker who was active in a civil rights group, was immediately arrested. His case was heard in Louisiana by Judge John Howard Ferguson, who ruled against Plessy, setting off a chain of events that led to the 1896 Supreme Court case.
Descendants of the Plessy and Ferguson families were at the event. Plessy, who was 30 years old at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty in 1897 following the Supreme Court ruling and paid a $25 fine. He died in 1925.
"I feel like my feet are not touching the ground today because the ancestors are carrying me," said Keith Plessy, a first cousin three times removed from Plessy. "Homer Plessy will have his way today."
In the Plessy vs. Ferguson case, the Supreme Court judges ruled that separate public facilities could be provided to different racial groups as long as they were of equal quality.
The ruling provided the legal basis for segregating schools and other public facilities and held until the Supreme Court's decision in a 1954 case known as Brown v. Board of Education, which started the process of ending racial segregation.
Governor Bel Edwards and other speakers at the event said the pardon highlighted the importance of acknowledging and educating the public about past injustices rather than promoting a sanitized version of history.
In some U.S. school districts, conservatives have sought to ban teaching of concepts from critical race theory, an academic framework that examines how racism has shaped American society.
"We cannot undo the wrongs of the past but we can and should acknowledge them and learn from them," said Phoebe Ferguson, a descendant of Judge Ferguson.
(reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Cynthia Osterman)
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Astronomers Catch Stellar “Intruder” Redhanded – Chaotic Streams of Dust and Gas
Z CMa Protoplanetary Disk
Scientists have made the first comprehensive multi-wavelength observational study of an intruder object disturbing the protoplanetary disk—or birthplace of planets—surrounding the Z Canis Majoris star (Z CMa) in the constellation Canis Major. This composite image includes data from the Subaru Telescope, Jansky Very Large Array, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, revealing in detail the perturbations, including long streams of material, made in Z CMa’s protoplanetary disk by the intruding object. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF), NAOJ
Scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) made a rare detection of a likely stellar flyby event in the Z Canis Majoris (Z CMa) star system. An intruder—not bound to the system—object came in close proximity to and interacted with the environment surrounding the binary protostar, causing the formation of chaotic, stretched-out streams of dust and gas in the disk surrounding it.
While such intruder-based flyby events have previously been witnessed with some regularity in computer simulations of star formation, few convincing direct observations have ever been made, and until now, the events have remained largely theoretical.
Scientists have captured an intruder object disrupting the protoplanetary disk—birthplace of planets—in Z Canis Majors (Z CMa), a star in the Canis Majoris constellation. This artist’s impression shows the perturber leaving the star system, pulling a long stream of gas from the protoplanetary disk along with it. Observational data from the Subaru Telescope, Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array suggest the intruder object was responsible for the creation of these gaseous streams, and its “visit” may have other as yet unknown impacts on the growth and development of planets in the star system. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF)
“Observational evidence of flyby events is difficult to obtain because these events happen fast and it is difficult to capture them in action. What we have done with our ALMA Band 6 and VLA observations is equivalent to capturing lightning striking a tree,” said Ruobing Dong, an astronomer at the University of Victoria in Canada and the principal investigator on the new study. “This discovery shows that close encounters between young stars harboring disks do happen in real life, and they are not just theoretical situations seen in computer simulations. Prior observational studies had seen flybys, but hadn’t been able to collect the comprehensive evidence we were able to obtain of the event at Z CMa.”
Perturbations, or disturbances, like those at Z CMa aren’t typically caused by intruders, but rather by sibling stars growing up together in space. Hau-Yu Baobab Liu, an astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Academia Sinica in Taiwan and a co-author on the paper, said, “Most often, stars do not form in isolation. The twins, or even triplets or quadruplets, born together may be gravitationally attracted and, as a result, closely approach each other. During these moments, some material on the stars’ protoplanetary disks may be stripped off to form extended gas streams that provide clues to astronomers about the history of past stellar encounters.”
For the first time, scientists have captured an intruder object “breaking and entering” into a developing star system. Combining scattered light observations (H-band) from the Subaru Telescope (top right) with dust continuum emission observations from the VLA (Ka-band, 2nd image right) and ALMA’s Band 6 receiver (3rd image right), and the 13CO line (bottom right), scientists were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of just how much disruption this intruder caused, including the development of long streams of gas stretching far out from the protoplanetary disk surrounding Z Canis Majoris, a star in the Canis Majoris constellation. Just what consequences these disruptions will have on the birth of planets in the star system is yet to be seen. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF), NAOJ
Nicolás Cuello, an astrophysicist and Marie Curie Fellow at Université Grenoble Alpes in France and a co-author on the paper added that in the case of Z CMa, it was the morphology, or structure, of these streams that helped scientists to identify and pinpoint the intruder. “When a stellar encounter occurs, it causes changes in disk morphology—spirals, warps, shadows, etc.—that could be considered as flyby fingerprints. In this case, by looking very carefully at Z CMa’s disk, we revealed the presence of several flyby fingerprints.”
These fingerprints not only helped scientists to identify the intruder but also led them to consider what these interactions might mean for the future of Z CMa and the baby planets being born in the system, a process that so far has remained a mystery to scientists. “What we now know with this new research is that flyby events do occur in nature and that they have major impacts on the gaseous circumstellar disks, which are the birth cradles of planets, surrounding baby stars,” said Cuello. “Flyby events can dramatically perturb the circumstellar disks around participant stars, as we’ve seen with the production of long streamers around Z CMa.”
Multi-Wavelength Z CMa
As stars grow up, they often interact with their sibling stars—stars growing up near to them in space—but have rarely been observed interacting with outside, or intruder, objects. Scientists have now made observations of an intruder object disturbing the protoplanetary disk around Z Canis Majoris, a star in the Canis Major constellation, which could have major implications for the development of baby planets. Perturbations, including long streams of gas, were observed in detail by the Subaru Telescope in the H-band, the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array in the Ka-band, and using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array’s Band 6 receiver. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF), NAOJ
Liu added, “These perturbers not only cause gaseous streams but may also impact the thermal history of the involved host stars, like Z CMa. This can lead to such violent events as accretion outbursts, and also impact the development of the overall star system in ways that we haven’t yet observed or defined.”
Dong said that studying the evolution and growth of young star systems throughout the galaxy helps scientists to better understand our own Solar System’s origin. “Studying these types of events gives a window into the past, including what might have happened in the early development of our own Solar System, critical evidence of which is long since gone. Watching these events take place in a newly forming star system provides us with the information needed to say, ‘Ah-ha! This is what may have happened to our own Solar System long ago.’ Right now, VLA and ALMA have given us the first evidence to solve this mystery, and the next generations of these technologies will open windows on the Universe that we have yet only dreamed of.”
Recently, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) received approval for its Central Development Laboratory (CDL) to develop a multi-million dollar upgrade to ALMA’s Band 6 receiver, and the Observatory’s next-generation VLA (ngVLA) received strong support from the astronomical community in the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. Technological advancements for both telescopes will lead to better observations, and a potentially significant increase in the discovery of difficult-to-see objects, like Z CMa’s stellar intruder. Both projects are funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF). “These observations highlight the synergy that can come from a newer instrument working in concert with a more seasoned one, and how good a workhorse the ALMA Band 6 receiver is,” said Dr. Joe Pesce, astrophysicist and ALMA Program Director at the NSF. “I look forward to the even-better results the upgraded ALMA Band 6 receiver will enable.”
Reference: “A likely flyby of binary protostar Z CMa caught in action” 13 January, Nature Astronomy.
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MIM (Metal Injection Molding)
MIM (Metal Injection Molding)
MIM (Metal Injection Molding) :
MIM (Metal Injection Molding) is a metalworking process in which finely-powdered metal is mixed with binder material to create a “feedstock” that is then shaped and solidified using injection molding.
Plus, MIM is be used across different industries including your cell phone.
Introduction of MIM:
• After molding, the part undergoes conditioning operations to remove the binder (rebinding) and densify the powders. Finished products are small components used in many industries and applications.
• MIM has used to manufacture millions of parts for medical device including powered device drive chains, end effectors, connectors, and other applications. for over 20 years.
Process of MIM:
1st step: Very fine metal powders are combined with thermoplastic and wax binders in a precise recipe. A proprietary compounding process creates a homogenous pelletized feedstock that can be injection molded just like plastic. This achieves ultra-high density and close tolerances over high-production runs.
2nd Step: Unlike standard powder metallurgy, which can achieve only 80-90% of theoretical density, MIM results in 95-100%. This means we can achieve close tolerances and reduce costs by producing small, complex parts over high production runs.
3rd Step: The feedstock is heated and injected into a mold cavity under high pressure. This enables us to produce extremely complex shapes and allows for shorter cycle times.
4th Step: Once molded, the component is referred to as a “green” part. Its geometry is identical to the finished piece but is about 20% larger to allow for shrinkage during the final sintering phase.
5th Step: Binder removal (rebinding) involves a controlled process to remove most of the binders and prepare the part for the final step – sintering.
6th Step: Once rebinding is complete, the component is referred to as “brown.”
7th Step: The brown part is held together by a small amount of the binder, and is very fragile.
8th Step: Sintering eliminates the remaining binder and gives the part its final geometry and strength.
9th Step: During sintering, the part is subjected to temperatures near the melting point of the material.
Advantage of MIM:
Metal Injection Molding have excellent strength, hardened and welded and heat treated like any other wrought material.
The advantage 2H1U:
• High-Precision
• High-production rate
• Unlimited
More Information: www.paoyuebrands.com
Additional Resource:
寶鎰工業股份有限公司創立於1980年，公司位於台灣台南。自成立以來發展穩定且持續成長，也由於產品的應用廣泛及其功能的便捷性受到顧客的支持與愛顧，早己是國際間知名的專業粉末冶金生產製商提。 自創業至今，歷經數十年之努力經營，寶鎰展現了雄厚的研發能力，產品已成功 跨足汽機車、消費性電子、電動工具、工業、辦公事務設備、家電、航太科技與綠能等領域. 公司除了擁有完善的設備製造能力，產品的安全性也朝向ISO及國際的規範，並外銷至中東、東南亞、中南美洲及歐洲等全球。同時成立實驗室和客戶的反饋，秉持著二十四小時回覆的理念，為客戶提供最好的服務。 Pao Yue was established in 1980 as a small plant in Taiwan Tainan city. With rapid growth, the company successfully became an international professional powder metallurgy manufacturer. Today, we are a pioneer in powder metallurgy globally and We offer a “one-stop” end to end solution for our customers. On top of our diverse equipment manufacturing abilities, our products are driven towards ISO and international regulations and export globally covering countries such as Middle East, South East Asia, Central and South America and Europe. With tens of thousands parts sold worldwide, our leading market share is reflected on our drive for customer service; top of the line laboratories and 24 hours after service.
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michelangelus - Fotolia
Major I/O virtualization vendors and technologies explained
Technologies that virtualize I/O components offer a number of additional capabilities, such as direct memory access remapping and network queuing for each VM.
IT administrators can turn to I/O virtualization to optimize resources and improve VM performance. There are several...
approaches to virtualizing I/O components in the market, including Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O, AMD-Vi, Intel Virtualization Technology for Connectivity and Single Root I/O Virtualization.
As of 2019, virtualization has moved beyond the processor -- and even the GPU -- and expanded into other areas of the physical computer, such as the supporting chipset. The chipset is basically one or more chips dedicated to supporting tasks such as memory management and I/O management, including handling disk and network I/O. The chipset handles the many ports involved, such as the USB, Ethernet and serial-attached SCSI.
I/O virtualization enables admins to provision those assets to various VM workloads in a more measured and organized manner rather than simply having a bunch of VMs compete for things like disk or network access. For example, virtualization enables features such as disk I/O reservations and limits, ensuring that adequate I/O is always available to a VM, or preventing VMs from monopolizing all of the available I/O, avoiding noisy neighbor performance problems.
Intel VT-d and AMD-Vi
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (Intel VT-d) and AMD-Vi are similar technologies that create an input/output memory management unit (IOMMU), also referred to as Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) pass-through. Collectively, the IOMMU adds hardware support to isolate and provision devices in the system other than processors and GPUs -- enabling a hypervisor to isolate a device so it can only be accessed by the VM or workload it has been assigned.
Intel VT-d and AMD-Vi provide four capabilities: they provision I/O devices to VMs; handle direct memory access remapping, enabling data to move directly between an I/O device and VM memory; interrupt remapping, enabling the system to route and prioritize I/O interrupts from devices used by VMs; and add reliability features, such as reporting and logging events that might affect memory or VM isolation. A system might support Intel VT-d or AMD-Vi even though the processor might not use Intel Virtualization Technology or AMD Virtualization -- a rare situation in 2019 -- but the IOMMU-related features won't be available.
Intel VT-c
Intel Virtualization Technology for Connectivity (Intel VT-c) is another set of I/O virtualization technologies intended to improve network performance in virtualized systems. There are basically two elements to VT-c. Virtual Machine Device Queues supports network queuing for each VM. The goal is to boost hypervisor performance by offloading the need to sort incoming network traffic. At the same time, separate queuing enables the system to reserve or limit network usage between VMs.
Virtual Machine Direct Connect is based on Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) technology and is used to virtualize the physical network ports into multiple virtual network ports and then map those virtual network ports to VMs. Intel VT-c requires hardware support from network interfaces, drivers and hypervisors.
SR-IOV is an established PCI Special Interest Group standard designed to enable admins to share PCI devices -- devices that might use a computer's PCI Express (PCIe) bus, such as graphics or network adapter cards -- using virtualization. SR-IOV enables admins to virtualize a physical PCIe device into multiple virtual resources that can then be provisioned to VMs.
Other technologies also rely on SR-IOV, such as Intel VT-c. For example, a quad-port network interface card (NIC) supported by SR-IOV can be virtualized into 256 virtual NIC (vNIC) ports for a -- theoretical -- total of 1,024 vNIC ports. SR-IOV requires BIOS/firmware support, as well as support from the hypervisor and the underlying hardware.
New computer capabilities often start as software. If those capabilities prove important and put significant demand on the system, certain functions might be implemented in hardware, often reducing or even eliminating driver or software layer requirements.
Extensions thus extend the computing platform, adding performance that is critical for often-used operations. There are many extensions, such as Single Instruction, Multiple Data Extensions 2 for streaming media tasks and Advanced Vector Extensions for floating point-intensive calculations. Virtualization is just another area where various extensions enable hardware to handle functions -- at hardware speeds -- to boost performance and support the maximum number of VMs possible.
Dig Deeper on Server hardware and virtualization |
What is Advaita Vedanta? – Advaita For Dummies
You may have already heard that advaita talks about oneness, the oneness of the existence that exists without a second; it says that this oneness is your true nature! But this is not a theory and not something that is meant to be just intellectually understood. This oneness is realized in one’s living experience which not only transforms you but also liberates you from all psychological bondages.
I will give you a short introduction on Advaita Vedanta but will also let you know about some pitfalls that one can encounter if certain things are not understood. Before Advaita Vedanta is taught, the disciple is expected to develop four-fold qualifications called sadhana chatushtaya. I will also quickly go over them in this post.
Adhi Shankara
First, advaita (non-duality) doesn’t really have a contradiction with dvaita (duality). And there was a reason why various dvaita (dual)) schools emerged after Shankara’s time. What is usually described as advaita philosophy or the non-dual oneness is the fruit of the spiritual path. What is described as dvaita philosophy (the duality of God and devotee) is actually a path. In the beginning of bhakti, there is duality; but it always ends with non-dual oneness.
In Advaita Vedanta, bhakti or devotion is considered as one of the means to purify oneself and develop sadhana chatushtaya or four-fold qualifications. But the problem with Advaita Vedanta is usually this: people directly go for the theory or the higher teachings in Vedanta without developing these four-fold qualifications. It is developing the four-fold qualifications that takes the most part of a person’s journey.
This mere intellectual understanding sometimes results in pure arrogance with absolutely no transformation. When you tell someone that sounds like “You are God”, it is very likely that it will be misunderstood; the person may also forget his duties and become very careless; because from the perspective of Advaita, nothing really matters. But in practical life; everything matters. Even after realizing the truth in your experience, you still have to play the role in the real world. You would certainly live like a water drop on a lotus leaf, but the world still sees you as an individual bound to the obligations of the society.
Advaita and Dvaita
People like Ramanuja and Madhva who came after Shankara addressed the above mentioned problem. If you see the traditions in the world which see God and devotee as separate, you will notice that they all promise a place after death where they can live in God’s presence. We often hear vivid descriptions of vaikunta, paradise or heaven. This was just used as a trick or a social tool. To the general public, it was this teaching which was appropriate: develop loving devotion to God and surrender to him; after death, you can live with him forever. This was like tricking a child. By saying this, they can lure them into showing devotion. This in turns purifies the mind. According to the tradition, even if liberation is not possible for a person in this life, the spiritual development that he went through is carried forward to the next birth.
There have been many places in the world where people were quite primitive and completely lacked any moral sense or obligation towards society. Just imagine a vast peninsula which has no empire, no state, no kings and no public laws. 5th century Saudi Arabia is one of them. Many people, as a reaction to how things have turned out in the name of Islam and how Muhammad’s life was described in Hadiths written down many decades after his death, have come to a conclusion that Muhammad was a power hungry warlord, who was just after power, women and sex. But that will contradict many things in Islam itself.
Even the critics of Muhammad agree that Muhammad was a genius. Also, historians suggest that he was not illiterate as it is believed by Muslims. Muhammad also played tricks; he made compromises too. The idea of eternal hell was actually a social tool developed by Plato, a disciple of Socrates; it is not there in old Testament of Bible. Muhammad used this concept to discipline the people of Arabia. He was against female infanticide and many other social problems. Most importantly, Muhammad asserted that surrender or submission to one supreme God is the true form of worship. There was no concept of religion those days, even though people had various beliefs. People only had a concept called ‘deen’ which meant ‘the way of life”. Muhammad asserted that Islam or surrender to God is the right way of life or deen.
Islam stands on five pillars which basically is: oneness of God and submission to God; 5 prayers a day which has different postures just like yoga, a way to convey submission and also to focus one’s attention; fasting for a whole month with an attitude of devotion and love; going on a sacred pilgrimage where various devotees from different races and places gather as a symbol of equality and charity to the poor. But Muslims later became too sensitive towards their faith; even though Muhammad improved the status quo of Arabia as per historians, he couldn’t improve it completely in his lifetime. So, only Sufi tradition preserved the original teachings more clearly, which the mainstream Islam rejects as heresy.
Jesus also insisted that love towards God and love towards human beings are his two commandments.
So the bottomline is devotion is one of the ways to purify oneself. And a personal God or a personification is required for it; this divine has to be one and not many, so that one can surrender to it. It is the same as prapanna as described in Gita.
Apart from devotion, karma yoga, or doing one’s duties without attachment to the fruits of actions, also purifies the mind and develops the four-fold qualifications. Karma yoga is about focusing on the action rather than the result, on the present rather than the future; it teaches to develop love towards one’s actions and do the actions with focus and involvement, not with a mind that is daydreaming about the results. Pure Karma yoga produces states of flow quite effortlessly. Other sitting meditations and kundalini yoga also comes under karma yoga.
Four-Fold Qualifications – Sadhana Chatushtaya
So now you may ask; what are the fourfold qualifications that one should develop?
1. Shad-Sampat
Out of those four, let us just see one for now, which is Shad-Sampat or six virtues. So this one among the fourfold qualifications is further divided into six:
Sama: calmness of the mind;
Dama: gaining control over the mind and senses.
Uparati: The tendency to naturally drop certain conditioned behaviors and habits; for example, you may lose interest in certain habits.
Titiksha – forbearance. Not getting too excited in pleasure and ability to withstand suffering.
Sraddha – trust; This is a trust in spiritual path and see it as a working method; this trust naturally develops once you start feeling some changes in your mind and experience.
Samadhana: Resolving all the internal conflicts so that you gain the ability to focus.
The most practical way to go for is to first slowly develop these six virtues; don’t give any deadline. The practice has to be taken slowly and gradually so that you also live your social life in the meantime. For example, a person who starts with can first work on forbearance or titiksha. This means that whenever you go through suffering, you should go through it willingly since there is no choice and try to bear the suffering without getting too distressed about it. You can also develop shraddha, or a faith that you would be able to grow spiritually as the time goes by.
Focused attention meditation that involves focusing on an object (like dhyana or shamata) can bring calmness to the mind and develop sama. It will also slowly develop dama or self-control. That is essentially about bringing the wandering mind under control without letting the mind distracted by sense objects. Uparati is something that would happen naturally when other virtues are developed. Samadhana is something you develop last.
2) Vairagya – Non-attachment
The next thing in four-fold qualifications that I am going to explain is vairagya or non-attachment. Many people mistake that non-attachment is renouncing one’s possessions. But one can lead a normal worldly life and still develop non-attachment,. This is usually symbolized as a metaphor: one lives like the lotus leaf in water; even though the leaf resides in water, it doesn’t get wet or the water doesn’t stick to it. Vairagya also refers to a certain state of mind; To understand that we have to learn about a concept called ‘hedonic treadmill”.
Hedonic treadmill theory is a psychological theory that states that regardless of the objective outcomes of lives such as success and failure, the experience of life always returns to a base-level happiness. Happiness never increases as time goes by; the base level happiness always remains the same but it keeps us in the hedonic treadmill, chasing for objective outcomes without actually reaching anywhere. This base-level happiness is a limited happiness and one is not satisfied with it. It is only self-realization or the realization of the truth about one’s own nature which can make the limited level of happiness to blossom fully, giving an individual the absolute sense of fulfillment and liberation. When one realizes that running on this hedonic treadmill is fruitless and is not interested in the objective outcomes, he has developed vairagya.
Now one may ask, if one chooses to not to be interested in the objective outcomes, won’t he stop working or performing? No; this will increase the performance. Because it will actually make the karma yoga to mature. Since you are not interested in objective outcomes, you can be fully devoted to action, while doing your obligatory duties. As I said, flow states are very normal when one is in karma yoga; so actions actually give a sense of enjoyment at this point.
3. MumuksutvaDesire for liberation
Now you know that self-realization and the liberation that happens because of it while living is the only thing which will give you the absolute fulfilment. So, your concern shifts automatically from worldly desire to the desire for liberation. Your calm mind, non-attachment and the desire for liberation will make you more focused on the practice and also make you qualified to understand what Viveka is. It might have taken a few decades to reach up to this point. But there are exceptions, like people who get vairagya and mumuksutva in a very early age in life.
4. Viveka – Discrimination of the observer and observed.
One need to realize something that is self-evident. You know the existence of anything because you are conscious of it. You know that a tree you see exists because it is a perception perceived by the consciousness. Consciousness is what that knows everything; that knows that this world exists. So, existence of anything is only known by the existence of consciousness. You are also aware of your own thoughts, emotions, subtle mental movements and mood changes as they float as the contents of your consciousness. When you see everything from a totally subjective perspective, you will see that this world itself appears as a perception in your consciousness; it is as if everything is happening within consciousness.
It takes a great deal of objectivity to understand and develop viveka. Usually a human being is too attached to the concept of ‘me’ or ‘self, which gives him a sense of separation from the world. But when you develop non-attachment, it will be very easy to see this concept of little ‘me’ as an object of consciousness, which only appears to exist because the thoughts flow in the mind in a high speed. Just like a fan which is running in a high speed creates an illusion that there is a circle, the thoughts when moving fast gives a continuity and creates the illusion of self.
But if you take a step back from your thoughts and just observe what they do, sometimes they may slow down and you may be able to silence your mind for a few seconds. In that few seconds, you would just exist as consciousness simply perceiving sense perceptions. You can now see that you are actually consciousness itself, and that the thoughts, emotions, body and everything you perceive in consciousness is not you; But consciousness, which is the true Self, is now identified with the body, mind and many other concepts like one’s beliefs, one’s nationality, one’s religion etc. It mistakes a selective part of what is observed as self. This idea of mistaking the body and mind as one’s self is avidya or root ignorance, which is considered as the root cause of all suffering.
Since it is because of consciousness that the world is perceived, consciousness is seen more real than what appears on the consciousness. This consciousness or the pure awareness has no attributes and gives space for the life experience to occur and the perceptions to exist. Whether you are sleeping, dreaming or in a waking state, it is consciousness which pervades all these three!
With this understanding you can inquire everything that happens in your consciousness and see that it is not you; because you as the pure awareness that observes a thought or emotion should be separate from what is observed.
Since you can observe the thought, the thought is not you. This discrimination or clear identification of the observer or the pure awareness (the real you) and the objects of observation (thoughts, emotions, perceptions etc) is viveka.
Now this may raise a question. Doesn’t Vedanta say that everything is one and there is no two? Doesn’t the discrimination of observer vs observed promote duality? No.. Actually, this discrimination is necessary to remove the attachments and the selective identification of consciousness with body, mind and certain mental concepts related to the egoic self (my beliefs, my religion, my country etc).
The concept of oneness doesn’t have to be promoted as a teaching, belief or a philosophy. This is the reason some traditions do not talk about oneness or the absolute Brahman that exists without a second. It may actually confuse people at the earlier stages. Brahman is the same as your real self. Upanishads say prajnanam Brahman, which means consciousness is Brahman.
You can imagine your consciousness as a screen and everything that is observed in consciousness as moving pictures on the screen, In a sense, the screen and the pictures are different; but the pictures do not have any independent existence on their own, So the picture part is called as maya and the screen part is brahman. But you need to understand that the screen can exist without picture. The pictures are just modifications of the same reality. You may see thousand men marching in a screen but the screen is one. But until or unless this oneness of Brahman becomes living experience, theoretical understanding of what is Brahman is of no use. When the final realization dawns, both observer and the observed is realized as one and the same; this is Advaita. If you want to really understand oneness, it has to start with developing sadhana chatushtaya first.
The final stage of Vedantic path involves to be completely established as a witness or awareness; It is called as shakshibhava or nididhyasana. This is the same as mindfulness in Buddhism. It requires just being a witness and passive observer of everything that passes by in consciousness. You just let the mind happens by itself; you neither give force to the thoughts, emotions and subtle movements of mind nor suppress them. You simply let anything arise and pass away in your conscious experience. Your focus is more on silent gaps between thoughts and mental movements. these gaps keep increasing until the observer and observed converges and all the distinctions disappear,
There are many other things taught in Advaita like karma and creation of the universe. But they are not really much important, Understanding karma helps, but many things can be learnt in the later stage. The only thing one can focus on as a starting point is to work on purifying one’s mind.
I have explained more about Sadhana chatushtaya here:
An article that you may be interested in: Pappankulam – A Village of Brahmins and Four Vedas
You can read my book “The Truth About Spiritual Enlightenment: Bridging Science, Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta” to learn more.
Also read: Buddhism and Vedanta are the Same – A Detailed Comparison
Shanmugam P’s answer to What’s the essence of non-duality?
Author: Shanmugam P
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The Day the Sun Rose from the West.
August 6th 1945 - The 393d Bombardment Squadron B-29 Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, took off from North Field airbase on Tinian for the primary target, Hiroshima, and with Kokura and Nagasaki as mission alternatives. The Enola Gay was accompanied by two other B-29s. The Great Artiste, commanded by Major Charles W. Sweeney, carried instrumentation, and a then-nameless aircraft later called Necessary Evil commanded by Captain George Marquardt, served as the photography aircraft
After leaving Tinian the aircraft made their way separately to Iwo Jima where they rendezvoused at 8,010 ft and set course for Japan. The aircraft arrived over the target in clear visibility at 32,333 ft. Parsons, who was in command of the mission, armed the bomb during the flight to minimize the risks during takeoff. His assistant, Second Lieutenant Morris Jeppson, removed the safety devices 30 minutes before reaching the target area.
About an hour before the bombing, Japanese early warning radar detected the approach of some American aircraft headed for the southern part of Japan. An alert was given and radio broadcasting stopped in many cities, among them Hiroshima. At nearly 08:00, the radar operator in Hiroshima determined that the number of planes coming in was very small—probably not more than three—and the air raid alert was lifted. To conserve fuel and aircraft, the Japanese had decided not to intercept small formations.
The normal radio broadcast warning was given to the people that it might be advisable to go to air-raid shelters if B-29s were actually sighted. However a reconnaissance mission was assumed because at 07:31 the first B29 to fly over Hiroshima at 32,000 feet had been the weather observation aircraft Straight Flush that sent a Morse code message to the Enola Gay indicating that the weather was good over the primary target. Because it then turned out to sea, the 'all clear' was sounded in the city.
At 08:09 Colonel Tibbets started his bomb run and handed control over to his bombardier.
The release at 08:15 (Hiroshima time) went as planned, and "Little Boy", a gun-type fission weapon with 140 lbs of uranium-235, took 43 seconds to fall from the aircraft flying at 31,060 feet to the predetermined detonation height about 1,968 feet above the city. The Enola Gay traveled 11.5 miles before it felt the shock waves from the blast.
Bob Caron, the tail gunner was the only crew member to see the fireball. Even wearing the goggles, he thought he was blinded. The plane raced away, while the shockwave from the explosion raced toward them at 1,100 feet per second. When the shockwave hit, it felt like a near-miss from flak. The mushroom cloud boiled up, 45,000 feet high, three miles above them, and it was still rising. They flew away, shocked and horrified at the sight below. The city had completely disappeared under a blanket of smoke and fire. They radioed back to headquarters that the primary target had been bombed visually with good results.
The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima was visible for an hour and a half as they flew southward back to Tinian.
The Tokyo control operator of the Japan Broadcasting Corporation noticed that the Hiroshima station had gone off the air. He tried to re-establish his program by using another telephone line, but it too had failed. About 20 minutes later the Tokyo railroad telegraph center realized that the main line telegraph had stopped working just north of Hiroshima. From some small railway stops within 9.9 mi of the city came unofficial and confused reports of a terrible explosion in Hiroshima. All these reports were transmitted to the headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff.
Military bases repeatedly tried to call the Army Control Station in Hiroshima. The complete silence from that city puzzled the General Staff; they knew that no large enemy raid had occurred and that no sizable store of explosives was in Hiroshima at that time. A young officer was instructed to fly immediately to Hiroshima, to land, survey the damage, and return to Tokyo with reliable information for the staff. It was felt that nothing serious had taken place and that the explosion was just a rumor.
The staff officer went to the airport and took off for the southwest. After flying for about three hours, while still nearly 99 miles from Hiroshima, he and his pilot saw a great cloud of smoke from the bomb. In the bright afternoon, the remains of Hiroshima were burning.
Their plane soon reached the area where Hiroshima once stood, and the Staff officer began to circle the area in disbelief of the view outside his cockpit window. Hiroshima was simply gone.
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What is the first species of living being on Earth?
A curious reader asked us what was the first species of living being to appear on Earth. Thank you for this fascinating question.
By responding, we will travel back in time to the infinity of the past! The first living beings appeared more than 3.8 billion years ago.
first species on Earth
Pixabay photo
It is such a distant past. We (the human species) have existed for about 3 million years, so it is difficult for us to know exactly what the first species was like.
Still, we have a little idea:
The first living beings appeared very surely at the bottom of the oceans.
Life and its primordial components appeared near hydrothermal vents: chimneys through which gases escape from the bottom of the oceans and meet salt water.
This encounter allows quick and easy chemical reactions, some of which are still part of our metabolism (reactions that are found in our cells).
This primitive life could not move away from the hydrothermal sources because they are an inexhaustible source of energy (primitive food).
To make it go away, he had to create, among other things, a membrane that is like a suitcase to fit inside and store energy.
The details of this release are still little known to researchers. To know more, they are trying to recreate life, but they are also looking for clues, on Earth and in the oceans.
The most ancient fossils
It has been established that the oldest fossils come from bacteria that lived more than 3.4 billion years ago.
In fact, these fossils, the stromatolites, are mineral structures of limestone that were formed by colonies of bacteria.
Bacteria are very simple, a single cell where everything is mixed up inside. On the contrary, in the cells of our body, there are many arrangements to separate the activities of information storage, protein manufacture or “digestion”.
Bacteria dominated life on Earth for 1.5 billion years before more complex organisms appeared. It is not known if these bacteria were the first, the only ones, or how they lived.
The most recent ancestor of all known living beings
Fortunately, thanks to Darwin, who discovered that all living things are related, and thanks to Rosalind Franklin, Watson and Crick who photographed DNA, we can read the genes of all living things that now exist on Earth.
Thus we can compare the genes between species and play the game of differences, but also the game of comparisons.
This allows us to better understand who was the most recent ancestor of all known species.
In English, this common ancestor is called “LUCA”, after Last Universal Common Ancestor.
What is found identically in all living species?
We have learned that living beings are grouped into three main groups: bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes.
Archaea are similar to bacteria, they have been confused with bacteria for a long time, however their way of functioning is very different, we will talk about this a little later.
As for eukaryotes, they are all living beings whose cells have nuclei. We know that the first groups to appear are bacteria and archaea.
Eukaryotes appeared later, one or two billion years ago, and also have an eventful history.
But let’s go back to our first beings: bacteria and archaea!
Taking the game of comparisons one step further, we can describe everyone’s common ancestor.
Therefore the ancestor of bacteria and archaea, as a single cell already capable of reproduction, feeding like plants (of chemical compounds), loving hot water without oxygen, and with a membrane (remember, the membrane is like a suitcase to be transported).
This cell is capable of using the same energy as our cells and also contains genes.
It is good that at that time the Earth is dominated by the sea, dotted with a few volcanic islands.
Volcanic activity, very important, makes life in the water hell. The air is dense, cloudy and without oxygen.
One or more ancestors?
Except that bacteria and archaea do not have the same membranes! So, perhaps, LUCA had a simple membrane that was later modified.
But how can you be sure? How can you not consider several common ancestors, a “population” of cells with many different membranes (or bags), most of which would have died out to leave room only for bacteria and archaea.
The mystery surrounding the membranes is not the only one. Other characteristics are profoundly different between archaea and bacteria.
However, they share essential elements that suggest that their ancestors lived close to each other at one time or another.
In general, it is difficult to reconstruct the stages between the appearance of life and the appearance of cells, bacteria and archaea.
What was the diversity of these first living beings? How did they leave the hydrothermal vents?
I read in an article that at this stage of life, the dependencies and interactions between living beings were very important in number and intimacy. They could easily copy parts of their neighbors’ genetic information and create chimeras or hybrids (a mixture of two beings).
So, if you want to follow in the footsteps of the first living beings, you must know that you have to know not only about biology, but especially about chemistry.
To go further:
Among the first components of living beings, shared by almost all organisms, are found
• Energy in the form of ATP
• The Krebs cycle, which produces energy, ATP, from organic molecules (it is a sequence of chemical reactions), can also be reversed to produce organic molecules of ATP, RNA and DNA
The differences can be found, among others, in :
• Membranes capable of chemosis to store energy (like a hydraulic dam, but here we do not store water on one side but water with different electrical charges).
• The way to copy the DNA.
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View Full Version : Linking ethnicity and biology
21-05-11, 17:11
Hi all
I am french, and came by accident hier. Also I do not speak that well english so please correct me or pardon me for the errors.
I'd just like to say that, after reading some posts in this section, it seems to me you generally tend to make confusions between what is biologically determined, and what is of cultural origin. This is a confusion from a sociological point of view. You may be genetically black, but between blacks born in Africa, the Usa, Eu, or in Brasil, there are of course big differences. So biological proximity is overridden by the cultural conditions. Or, just as opposite, some people they are genetically really similar will have very different cultures. Inside a society the son of the king may have the same body as the peasant, he won't behave the same way at all.
From a more biological point of view, you also seem to forget that our apparence is a priori not at all to be linked with all of our genetic background. Only a small portion of our genes does have a role in it. So a french and a vietnamese may look very different but have much in common. You cannot judge a priori genetic proximity by the visual similarities. This said, since people they live in the same place also mix more their dna than with foreigners, high correlations between appearance and genetic proximity may often be the case. But this is not a biological requisite.
So, maybe you already thought of it, and I just misunderstood. If not, I hope you tend to be convinced :) Have a good day !
23-05-11, 18:43
Although it's important to avoid falling into that fallacy, I don't think that it is endemic here. Which analyses bother you most? Most talk about genetics that I have seen here involve correlating haplogroups (and occasionally autosomal comparisons) with the historical spread of peoples, which seems reasonable to me. If you're arguing that we should divorce haplogroups from ethnicity more than we are, I'm not sure I agree... often, haplogroups will date to important historical expansions of certain ethnic groups and archaeological findings, allowing us to understand the spread of people better. I suppose we should avoid saying things like, "My Y-DNA haplogroup is R1b-M153, therefore I am Basque." But someone could still say, "My Y-DNA haplogroup is R1b-M153, which has a current and historical correlation with the Basque peoples, therefore my patrilineal ancestors were likely Basque."
05-06-11, 00:19
DNA links between personality traits and facial features
And French ethnicity
Are two topics around mine I just picked up. This seems to link personality and ethnicity to biology. Maybe there is just a misunderstanding: I got nothing against genetic correlations they prove there was somewhere for some well-defined historic reasons some migrations or meltings. I totally agree with the goal of understanding the spread of the people. But you came yourself to the dangerous point: "My Y-DNA haplogroup is R1b-M153, therefore I am Basque." The above-mentionned topics wear this state of mind as I first read them. Because what I call ethnicity is not my genetic background, but my believes, my "way of thinking", and all those behaviours that I follow everyday without ever thinking of them. But this may just be a misunderstanding: I may have not read deep enough to make sure no such fallacy (linking behaviours and believes to biology, then) was made.
Whatever, thanks for your reply ! I made this message without any intention to stay in this forum, so you might just have ignored it. |
10 Things You Don’t Know about Thanksgiving
Celebrating Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is primarily about the great food on our tables and thanking Lord Almighty for the same. For almost everyone celebrating this wonderful festival it might seem to be rather familiar but it also needs to be understood that like every other festival in the world the traditions of this festival, which have been passed down generations, have changed time and again in order to fit in with the milieu where the festival is being celebrated. This day is also known as Turkey Day and there is a significant possibility that all its beliefs and traditions have undergone a complete change in order to fit the needs of the present era.
Thanksgiving was not always about heavy eating
The first thing that one notices about Thanksgiving is the huge amount of food involved. The basic idea is that on this day the whole family gets together and all the relatives cook together. There are delicacies like turkey wings and a few drinks here and there. However, Thanksgiving did not start off as such. In fact, food was not part of the festivities till the seventeenth century. Till this time the festival was more rooted in religion and people were meant to reflect on their own lives on this day. There was also the small matter of fasting!
Sarah Joseph Hale invented the modern Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, as we know, was invented by a lady named Sarah Joseph Hale during the nineteenth century. She was a book editor and wrote ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’. She came across a book, which had a passage that described a fantastic meal its writer had following a fantastic harvest. This included four huge turkeys that were shared with Native Americans of the Wampanoag Tribe. The passage inspired her enough to fill magazines with recipes for pumpkin pie and stuffed turkey that were to be used for traditional festivities. It needs to be noted that nowhere in the passage was the traditional Thanksgiving food mentioned. She also wrote several editorials where she mentioned how important it was to recognize the day. Her writings acted as an inspiration for many decorated stories as well as paintings on the subject of the first Thanksgiving meal. For five years she also sent petitions to Abraham Lincoln to mark it as a federal holiday. It was in 1863 that the first official Thanksgiving proclamation was announced by Lincoln thus making it an official holiday.
The Turkey: An American Story
Even as Hale’s efforts to make the holiday official came to public attention, homemakers around the U.S. started to come up with their recipes for the holiday and the original story behind the same also became somewhat fabricated. Incidentally, in all her efforts to promote the festival Hale made no comment about pilgrims. In the book ‘The Turkey: An American Story’ it is said that she – in one of her editorials – uses the words pilgrim’s fathers to describe the people who helped put together the meal. That is the closest one comes to the word pilgrim. However, other magazines and editorials hooked on to the word and started to use it to cook up a story. It became a legend when it became a part of school textbooks.
There is no historic evidence of the first Thanksgiving
Historians do not have much knowledge about the first official Thanksgiving. The one passage that Hale read is the only one of its kind considering the violent history between the settlers and the indigenous population. One of the major reasons that the story gained so much popularity was the considerable migration of British, European, and Irish people who needed to be conveyed the peaceful history of their new home. In that sense, the story was more about maintaining proper public relations rather than being a historic anecdote.
An Unthanksgiving Day is celebrated by Native Americans at Alcatraz
With greater popularity of the story of pilgrims sharing their meal with the Native Americans, people started to view the history of the U.S. in a different light and this affected the indigenous people in a bad way. During November 1969 several Indians occupied Alcatraz Island. They wanted to reclaim that area for their own people and also get federal funding that would allow them to build a university and a cultural complex. By the next Thanksgiving Day the movement drew hundreds of supporters. The movement went on for 19 months before electrical power and food supplies ran out. Majority of the protesters left the movement and the final 15 people were evicted by force. Ever since, Native Americans celebrate the Sunrise Gathering, also known as Unthanksgiving Day, to mark the original protest and efforts to reclaim their heritage.
Truman was not the first to grant the Presidential Turkey pardon
President George HW Bush was the first President to have granted pardon to a turkey that had been sent to him for the Thanksgiving dinner to be celebrated at the White House. The incident happened in 1989. He vowed that the said bird will not be killed for his family’s dinner. Instead, he allowed it to live as long as it could at a farm located nearby. Ever since, all such turkeys are sent to petting zoos and farms. However, they do not live long as commercially-reared turkeys are not capable of dealing with sickness and disease.
All Turkeys do not gobble
It is common to see before and during Thanksgiving that kids make turkeys from construction paper and paste them on their fridges. They also write the word gobble on these turkeys using word bubbles. However, in actuality, only male turkeys use the gobble sound. This sound is used in order to proclaim supremacy and claim territories. It also attracts the hens and is used as a reflex sound.
You don’t feel sleepy because of Thanksgiving Turkey
Quite often people go to sleep after consuming a whole heap of turkey meat accompanied by wine. In such cases, it is common for people to blame the tryptophan in the turkey. However, it needs to be understood that in such cases the concerned individual’s health and the alcohol are the major reasons for the individual falling asleep. Even though purified tryptophan can put one to sleep, as per National Geographic, the tryptophan in turkey is not strong enough to do so. Under normal circumstances, you need to consume the protein on empty stomach for it to induce sleep. Even in that case, before the tryptophan has any effect the amino acids contained in the protein could reach the brain. In fact, when compared to soybeans or beef, turkey does not have much tryptophan.
Thanksgiving invented TV dinners
Not everyone in the U.S. is able to have a grand Thanksgiving dinner that can lead to cardiac arrests. There are a lot of people who feel happy with a frozen meal comprising turkey and other delicacies – one that can be roasted before the festivities commence. This rather common American meal has its origins in Thanksgiving as well. Gourmet Magazine states that during the 1950s a company named C.A. Swanson & Sons – dealing in frozen foods – had 260 tons of turkey in the reserve. It was then that a salesman came up with a brilliant idea. At that time Pan Am Airlines had been testing a foil tray to serve meals to their passengers. The salesman borrowed one such tray, froze the meat along with other dishes, and thus was born the concept of a TV Brand Frozen Dinner. The first such dinner was sold in 1954 at 98 cents and it was made up of turkey, peas, cornbread stuffing, and sweet potatoes. In 1960, a dessert was added to the mix.
Libby’s Pumpkin Pies Does Not Have Pumpkin
One cannot imagine a Thanksgiving Dinner sans dessert, and pumpkin pie seems to be one of the most-preferred desserts of this festival. When it comes to pumpkin pie Libby’s of Nestle seems to rule the roost. Their basic ingredient is however not pumpkin but a special strain named The Select Dickinson. It is more of a squash than a pumpkin. It has a tanned exterior and an orange flesh that is meant to be in tune with the festival. It is sweeter than actual pumpkin and is more meaty and filling. The whip topping, which so many people like, is not made using cream in reality.
Also Know:
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Portugal Station
From Naval History Archive
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Portugal Station
Ensign of the Royal Navy animated.gif
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
TypeNaval Station
RoleConvoy Protection
Evacuation Force
Part ofRoyal Navy
Garrison/HQLisbon Dockyard
Kingdom of Portugal
FirstAdmiral of the Blue: Sir George Cranfield Berkeley
LastVice-Admiral of the White: Sir George Martin
The Portugal Station was a naval station of the British Royal Navy responsible for the coast of the Kingdom of Portugal first formed in 1810. It initially replaced the earlier Lisbon Station but it was renamed backed to the previous name in 1815.
Command of the station on the Coast of Portugal was vested in an Admiral or Vice-Admiral styled as the Commander-in-Chief, Portugal.
In 1808, Admiral Vandeput was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton as Commander-in-Chief of the Lisbon Station and was charged with preparation of Lisbon harbor for the planned invasion the Iberian Peninsula later in the year. The Lisbon Squadron was also involved with the evacuation of Sir John Moore's army stuck in Galacia [1] following the Battle of Corunna. In 1810 The Lisbon Station was renamed the Portugal Station, and Admiral Cotton was relieved of command by Admiral Sir George Cranfield Berkeley when it was next involved in improving coastal defences until 1812, when Admiral Berkeley retired his command. He was then replaced by Vice-Admiral Sir George Martin who commanded the station until 1814.[2] In 1815 the Portugal Station was renamed back to its original name the Lisbon Station.
In Command
Commander-in-Chief, Portugal
1. Napier, William Francis Patrick (1873). History of the war in the Peninsula and the south of France, from the year 1807 to the year 1814. New York : D. & J. Sadlier. p. 121.
2. Winfield, Rif (2005). British warships of the age of sail : 1793–1815. London: Chatham. p. 64. ISBN 1861762461.
• Clarke, James Stanier; McArthur, John (2010). The Naval Chronicle: Volume 30, July–December 1813, Containing a General and Biographical History of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom with a Variety of Original Papers on Nautical Subjects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108018692.
• Rodger, N.A.M. (2004), The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815. New York and London: W.W. Norton and Company. ISBN 9780393060508. |
Keyword Analysis & Research: newsom recall map
Keyword Analysis
Keyword Research: People who searched newsom recall map also searched
Frequently Asked Questions
Which California governor was recalled?
Gray Davis, the 37th governor of California, was the second governor in American history to be recalled by voters. The shortest tenure was that of Milton Latham, who served only five days before being elected by the legislature to fill a vacant United States Senate seat.
Can Texas governor be recalled?
No, the State of Texas does not allow voters to recall their Governor. Within the United States, only eighteen states and the District of Columbia allow for the recall of state officials. Most of these states do not require specific grounds for recall, and the recall is performed through election.
What is a governor recall?
Recalling Governors: An Overview. A recall election, also known as recall referendum or representative recall, allows citizens to remove and replace a public official before the end of a term of office. Recall has been used most frequently at the local level. The National Conference of State Legislatures...
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Welcome to Niseko About Niseko
Niseko is charming town
surrounded and blessed by nature
with living history and culture.
Niseko's Origin
Niseko is well known for the winter sports enthusiasts that gather on Mt. Niseko Annupuri, called simply Annupuri in Japanese. But what does the word "annupuri" even mean, or better, is it even Japanese?
The name has its origin in the language spoken by the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido. In Ainu, the word nupuri means mountain and in combination with Niseko An- Niseko Annupuri means “mountain with a sheer cliff and a river running around it”.
Despite being written with Japanese kanji characters, most place names in Hokkaido derive from the Ainu language. Even in Niseko, the Japanese settlers first recorded names for all locations with kanji but changed them to the katakana script later on to reflect their Ainu origins.
The Renaming of Niseko Town
In 1963, the Niseko-Annupuri area was designated as the Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park. At that time Niseko Town was still called Kaributo Town and the town’s train station was called Kaributo Station. Because of Niseko-Annupuri’s recent designation as a Quasi-National Park, the people of Niseko Town made efforts to rename their train station to “Niseko Station” using the Japanese katakana script. However, according to the national railway company's policies, the katakana script was not applicable for station names.
Since the national railway company stood firm with their policies and renaming the station seemed to be a fruitless effort, the people of Kaributo changed their approach. They instead swung all focus towards renaming the town instead, and in 1964 Kaributo Town was reborn as Niseko Town.
The Niseko Town Song
The Niseko Town Song was established in November 1972.
Town asked their citizens to write the lyrics for the official town song, and from 65 entries, Mr. Mori Kikuzo's entry was chosen. Based on his lyrics, composer Komabayashi Shoichi composed the music.
• 1
aogu wa niseko annupuri
iwaonupuri no yamakai ya mā ini
takayama no hana saki kaoru
shizen no naka ni chichihaha chi chi wa wa ga
taku hirakishi machiyo furusatoyo
nisekoyo nisekoyo ā niseko
• 2
Yōtei nozomu shiribe no
rekishi totomoni nobishi machi
harukaka ni tōi mukashi yori
heiwa o aisu atsuki chi ni
fūsetsu kotae shi furusatoyo
nisekoyo nisekoyo ā niseko
• 3
haku yuki haeru kōgen ni
tatsu wa sukī no yukikemuri
yobu wa niseko no yu no kemuri
yutakana machi o iku hagukumite
ashita o mezasu furusatoyo
nisekoyo nisekoyo ā niseko
Basic Information Niseko Town
Terrain and Climate
Niseko Town (42°52'N, 140°48'E) is located in the western part of central Hokkaido, near the center of Shiribeshi Subprefecture.
It lies amongst gently undulating hills in the basin between two majestic mountains: the 1,898m high Mt. Yotei of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park to the east, and the 1,309m high Mt. Niseko-Annupuri of the Quasi-National Park to the north.
Through Niseko Town flows the Shiribetsu River, a river that later branches into tributaries of Konbu, Niseko Anbetsu, and Makkari. The area has an inland climate with an average temperature of 6.3°C, and in winter snow can accumulate to a depth of up to 200cm!
Industry and Culture
Niseko is home to around 150 farmer households. Our farmers cultivate about 2,000 hectares of land with an annual production of just under three billion yen. Famous for their quality and taste, main crops include potatoes, melons, asparagus rice, tomatoes, and lily bulbs.
The town also applies Niseko-distinctive characteristics to promote agriculture by improving profits, furthering environmentally-friendly clean agriculture practices, and supporting direct-farm sales. As a result of these efforts, Niseko’s agricultural industry is experiencing a period of revitalization!
Niseko Town is home to both a national park and a quasi-national park. It is a year-round tourist resort blessed with a scenic countryside reflecting the beauty of all four seasons.
Summer lets visitors try outdoor sports like hiking, canoeing, and rafting. Winter invites you to experience Niseko’s world-famous powder snow at Niseko’s large ski resorts. Stay at one of Niseko’s many hotels or B&Bs, and see for yourself the personal touch each accommodation has to offer.
Or how about a day trip to Niseko? Relax and ease your mind at one of Niseko’s hot springs, all varying in their mineral properties.
Located at the foot of Mt. Yotei is the Arishima district.
The Arishima district consists mainly of farmland bought by the father of the famous early-twentieth-century author Takeo Arishima, who later inherited the land.
Later in Takeo’s life, he renounced all his legal rights to the land and presented it to his tenants so that they could use it freely as their own. Long after Takeo Arishima died in 1923, his legacy and ideal of mutual aid still lives on in Niseko today.
In 1977, to celebrate his 100th birthday, the Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum was built on his farm's original site. The museum plays a central role in putting local culture on display and is well received by all visitors.
Agricultural Products
Food nourished by fertile Hokkaido soil!
Agricultural products in Niseko benefit from exceptional climate conditions, as well as our local farmers' wisdom and experience.
Niseko's climate is relatively mild, but the temperature difference between day and night is significant. These two attributes allow crops to grow gently and gives them a rich and distinctive taste. Since vegetables are staples eaten on a daily basis, we want them to be 100% safe to eat and delicious at the same time.
We promise Niseko's vegetables meet these standards and they always will!
Niseko's main crops are potatoes, rice, melon, asparagus, tomatoes, lily roots, pumpkins, and beans, with other crops being cultivated in smaller quantities. Vegetables are sold at the farmer's market at the Niseko View Plaza. But you can taste them everywhere in Niseko, as most restaurants in Niseko use Niseko-produced vegetables as their main ingredients!
We also sell Niseko's delicious-low-protein rice under the brand name of Toku Okimai.
In the past, Hokkaido’s rice had a negative reputation because Hokkaido’s climate was deemed unfit for rice cultivation. Now, it is renowned all over Japan for its delicious taste and texture. Don’t miss out on it!
Winter Sports
Niseko’s Pride: Powder Snow of the Best Quality
The town used public funds to install the first ski lifts on Mt. Moiwa in 1962, which at the time were just simple rope tow lifts. The rising popularity for ski tourism resulted in a demand for new ski resorts, which led to the opening of Moiwa Ski Resort in 1966, Niseko Annupuri Ski Resort in 1972, and Niseko Higashiyama Ski Resort in 1982. All over Japan and overseas, the three ski resorts are well known for their high-quality powder snow.
Arishima Takeo and Arishima Farm
Takeo Arishima
Takeo Arishima is a famous early 20th century author. He often centered the plot of his novels on Hokkaido's towns, including Niseko (formerly Kaributo) and Iwanai. After the publication of works like "Cain's Descendants" and "Born Troubles," his position as a well-known writer was set.
Together with other writers, Takeo Arishima joined the 1873-established Shirakaba Movement, which included other writers such as Naoya Shiga, Minoru Mushakoji, Ikuma Kuma Arishima, and Satomi Toran.
He was known first and foremost as a humanist writer and became the most prominent author of the Shirakaba Movement. His masterpieces include the novel "A Certain Woman", "Constellation," the fairy tale "Ichibun no Grapes", and the critique "Love Takes Freely".
• Oyako No Saka
• Iyateru Shrine
• Takeo Arishima in front of the farm office
Arishima Farm
Worried about his children's future, Takeo Arishima’s father Takeshi Arishima leased land in Niseko under the National Landfill Law. On his newly owned land he built the large Arishima farm. Takeo inherited the farmland after his father’s death.
At the time of his inheritance, peasants working on farmlands had to give up 30 to 40% of the harvest. Furthermore, peasants were forced to live an impoverished life in servitude to their landowners. Takeo soon felt guilty for being the sole owner of the property. For years he wrote about humanist ideas in his novels, and now he sought after the chance to turn his fiction into reality!
1922, he gathered the peasants at the Iyateru Shrine and declared the renunciation of all his rights to own the farmland. The farmland was then jointly managed by peasants until the farmland reforms after the second world war. Takeo’s act of renunciation was something unheard of at the time and echoed through society.
Industry and History
Oji Power Station
Have you ever heard of the Oji Seishi Shiribetsugawa Power Station No.1?
It is an old power plant located two kilometers upstream the Shiribetsu River from the Niseko Train Station. Though being out of service, the plant is a beloved secret sight-seeing spot. The plot of the well-known novel “Sisters” by Niseko-affected writer Fumi Nishiyanagi revolves around the plant. Later, the station was even featured in NHK’s TV-drama adaptation of the novel.
This facility was constructed in 1873 by Oji Seishi Co., Ltd., to secure a power supply for its newly built paper mill in Tomakomai City. The company made two power plants in Niseko. The first plant lies, as mentioned above, upstream from the Niseko Train Station while the second is located downstream. The electricity generated from both plants was originally sent to Tomakomai, but as of April 2010 all electricity is transmitted to the Marunouchi Building in front of Tokyo Station.
SL Turntable
Until 1967, a Niseko-express locomotive by the name of C62 ran on the JR Hakodate Main Line. The C62 and its sister locomotive C63 were kept at a railway museum in Otaru after being retired, but in 1988 a revival project for limited operations began, allowing both the C62 and C63 to be called back to service. Niseko Town requested the locomotives to stop at the Niseko Train Station from the beginning of the project. Unfortunately, the request was denied since the Niseko Station lacked a turntable to change the locomotives’ direction. Therefore, a turntable from the Shintoku Town was relocated, and the locomotives could finally access Niseko Station in 1990. The turntable stopped operating in 1995 when the C62 ended its service. Now, it is quietly observing the mainline from afar while a new generation of trains run on it.
Icing experiment on a Mitsubishi A6M
In 1943, Prof. Ukichiro Nakatani of Hokkaido University’s Low-Temperature Research Institute led the installation of the Niseko Summit Observatory on the top of Mt. Niseko Annupuri.
The observatory’s main goal was to study the causes of icing accidents on military aircraft and find ways to prevent airplane crashes. The research took place at two different facilities on Mt. Niseko Annupuri. One small observatory was set at the 8th station, and an icing laboratory was set up at the summit of the mountain. Researching the aircraft icing phenomenon involved a Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” aircraft, which was carried by hand to the top of the mountain.
Together with hundreds of Kaributa villagers (modern day Niseko Town), the research institute members carried the Mitsubishi A6M and their research materials 1,300m up to the summit. It was an arduous task taking four days to complete.
To this day, a pedestal believed to have held up the Mitsubishi A6M can be found at the summit. Even an electricity transmission cable used to power the fighter plane’s propeller can still be seen on the mountain. The fighter plane was abandoned on the valley floor after the war, but it was recovered in 2004 and is now displayed at Kutchan Fudokan.
Kutchan Fudokan
Soga Hokuei Ring Circle (Stone Circle)
The Soga Hokuei Ring Circle is a designated cultural property of Niseko Town and is located between Mt. Niseko Annupuri and Mt. Yotei. The circle is estimated to be a grave built by indigenous people about 3,000 years ago.
Kaributo Shrine
The Kaributo Shrine was built in 1873. Every year from August 24 to 25, the annual festival Kaributo Jinjasai is held. Niseko townspeople in their yakudoshi (critical year, usually age 25 and 42 for men and 19 and 33 for women) carry glittering, decorated floats called mikoshi. Another attraction is the Akasaka Yakko group, a group of face-painted performers who throw spears while singing and performing.
Both the floats and Niseko Akasaka Yakko are intangible cultural heritages of Niseko Town and shouldn’t be missed.
Akasaka Nui
北海道ニセコ町 公式HP
• 道の駅ニセコビュープラザ
• ニセコ湯めぐりパス
• ニセココレクション |
How to Prepare for a Winter Storm
Winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, ice, snow, high winds, or a combination of all of these conditions. This edition of the People’s Powerline is designed to help you properly prepare for a winter storm and know how to protect yourself before, during, and after one. Planning and preparing can make a big difference in safety and resiliency in the wake of a winter storm. The ability to maintain or quickly recover following a winter storm requires a focus on preparedness, advanced planning, and knowing what to do in the event of a winter storm. Winter storms can cause power outages that last for days. Be better prepared this winter, and learn more on our Outages page.
Stock emergency supplies, and install battery-powered or battery backed-up carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.
Identify a place nearby where you can safely warm up should you lose heat in your home.
Prepare an outage kit that includes a battery-powered radio, flashlight with fresh batteries, a portable power bank for your mobile phone, and bottled water.
Keep a stock of canned food in your cupboard, along with a manual can opener.
Program PEC’s outage reporting numbers in your cell phone if you must report an outage: (877) 272-1500 or (580) 272-1500 --local Ada area. Also, let us know the numbers you will be calling us from in order to expedite your outage restoration.
Stay indoors and off the roads. If you must drive, keep emergency supplies in your car. Allow line workers to restore your power uninterrupted.
Close off rooms to consolidate and retain heat.
Dress in layers, and pile a few extra blankets and sweaters together so you can find them easily if the heat goes off.
Never use a generator, camp stove, charcoal grill, or gasoline or propane heater indoors, as these items can start accidental fires, cause electric shock, and/or cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Stay away from fallen or sagging power lines. They could be dangerous even if the power is out.
After/Be Safe
Only drive if necessary. Remove snow and ice from your tailpipe before starting your car, and check regularly if idling. Clean all snow and ice from your car before driving.
Dress in warm clothing, stay dry, prevent prolonged exposure to cold and wind, and avoid overexertion clearing/shoveling snow. Overexertion can lead to a medical emergency.
Monitor local news and alerts for emergency information and instructions. |
From SourceWatch
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Censorship is the use of state power or public body or individual to control freedom of expression. Censorship 'criminalizes' some actions or the communication (and suggested communications) of actions. In a modern sense censorship consists of any attempt to suppress information, points of view, or method of expression such as art, or profanity. The purpose of censorship is to maintain the status quo, to control the development of a society, or to stifle dissent among a subject people.
See also:
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Friday, September 11, 2015
Big Data A to Z: A glossary of Big Data terminology
This is almost a complete glossary of Big Data terminology widely used today. Let us know if you would like to add any big data terminology missing in this list.
ACID test
A process of searching, gathering and presenting data
Artificial Intelligence
Developing intelligence machines and software that are capable of perceiving the environment and take corresponding action when required and even learn from those actions.
Automatic identification and capture (AIDC)
Avro is a data serialization system that allows for encoding the schema of Hadoop files. It is adept at parsing data and performing remote procedure calls
Behavioral analytics
Big Data Scientist
Someone who is able to develop the algorithms to make sense out of big data.
Business Intelligence (BI)
Call Detail Record (CDR) analysis
Cassandra is a distributed and Open Source database. Designed to handle large amounts of distributed data across commodity servers while providing a highly available service. It is a NoSQL solution that was initially developed by Facebook. It is structured in the form of key-value.
Cell phone data
Clickstream Analytics
Classification analysis
A systematic process for obtaining important and relevant information about data, also meta data called; data about data.
Cloud computing
A distributed computing system over a network used for storing data off-premises
Clustering analysis
The process of identifying objects that are similar to each other and cluster them in order to understand the differences as well as the similarities within the data.
Cold data storage
Storing old data that is hardly used on low-power servers. Retrieving the data will take longer
Comparative analysis
It ensures a step-by-step procedure of comparisons and calculations to detect patterns within very large data sets.
Chukwa is a Hadoop subproject devoted to large-scale log collection and analysis. Chukwa is built on top of the Hadoop distributed filesystem (HDFS) and MapReduce framework and inherits Hadoop’s scalability and robustness. Chukwa also includes a flexible and powerful toolkit for displaying monitoring and analyzing results, in order to make the best use of this collected data.
Columnar database or column-oriented database
Two ways you may compare your keys is by implementing the interface or by implementing the RawComparator interface. In the former approach, you will compare (deserialized) objects, but in the latter approach, you will compare the keys using their corresponding raw bytes.
Complex event processing (CEP)
Cross-channel analytics
Data access
The act or method of viewing or retrieving stored data.
A graphical representation of the analyses performed by the algorithms
Data aggregation
Data architecture and design
Database administrator (DBA)
Database as a service (DaaS)
Database management system (DBMS)
Data center
Data cleansing
Data collection
Any process that captures any type of data.
Data custodian
Data-directed decision making
Using data to support making crucial decisions.
Data exhaust
Data feed
Data governance
Data integration
Data integrity
Data mart
Data migration
Data mining
The process of deriving patterns or knowledge from large data sets.
Data model, data modeling
Data point
An individual item on a graph or a chart.
Data profiling
Data quality
Data replication
The process of sharing information to ensure consistency between redundant sources.
Data repository
The location of permanently stored data.
Data science
Data scientist
A practitioner of data science.
Data security
The practice of protecting data from destruction or unauthorized access.
Data set
A collection of data, typically in tabular form.
Data source
Data steward
A person responsible for data stored in a data field.
Data structure
A specific way of storing and organizing data.
Data visualization
Data warehouse
Demographic data
Data relating to the characteristics of a human population.
Deep Thunder
Distributed cache
Distributed object
Distributed processing
Distributed File System
Systems that offer simplified, highly available access to storing, analysing and processing data
Document Store Databases
A document-oriented database that is especially designed to store, manage and retrieve documents, also known as semi structured data.
Document management
An open source search engine built on Apache Lucene.
Event analytics
Shows the series of steps that led to an action.
One million terabytes, or 1 billion gigabytes of information.
External data
Data that exists outside of a system.
Extract, transform, and load (ETL)
Exploratory analysis
Finding patterns within data without standard procedures or methods. It is a means of discovering the data and to find the data sets main characteristics.
The automatic switching to another computer or node should one fail.
Grid computing
Graph Databases
Hama is a distributed computing framework based on Bulk Synchronous Parallel computing techniques for massive scientific computations e.g., matrix, graph and network algorithms. It’s a Top Level Project under the Apache Software Foundation.
HCatalog is a centralized metadata management and sharing service for Apache Hadoop. It allows for a unified view of all data in Hadoop clusters and allows diverse tools, including Pig and Hive, to process any data elements without needing to know physically where in the cluster the data is stored.
HDFS (Hadoop Distributed File System)
HDFS (Hadoop Distributed File System) the storage layer of Hadoop, is a distributed, scalable, Java-based file system adept at storing large volumes of unstructured.
Hue (Hadoop User Experience) is an open source web-based interface for making it easier to use Apache Hadoop. It features a file browser for HDFS, an Oozie Application for creating workflows and coordinators, a job designer/browser for MapReduce, a Hive and Impala UI, a Shell, a collection of Hadoop API and more.
Impala (By Cloudera) provides fast, interactive SQL queries directly on your Apache Hadoop data stored in HDFS or HBase using the same metadata, SQL syntax (Hive SQL), ODBC driver and user interface (Hue Beeswax) as Apache Hive. This provides a familiar and unified platform for batch-oriented or real-time queries.
In-database analytics
The integration of data analytics into the data warehouse.
In-memory database
Any database system that relies on memory for data storage.
In-memory data grid (IMDG)
Internet of Things
Ordinary devices that are connected to the internet at any time any where via sensors
Kafka (developed by LinkedIn) is a distributed publish-subscribe messaging system that offers a solution capable of handling all data flow activity and processing these data on a consumer website. This type of data (page views, searches, and other user actions) are a key ingredient in the current social web.
Key Value Stores
Key value stores allow the application to store its data in a schema-less way. The data could be stored in a datatype of a programming language or an object. Because of this, there is no need for a fixed data model.
KeyValue Databases
They store data with a primary key, a uniquely identifiable record, which makes easy and fast to look up. The data stored in a KeyValue is normally some kind of primitive of the programming language.
Linked data
Load balancing
Location analytics
Location data
Data that describes a geographic location.
Log file
Machine-generated data
Machine2Machine data
Two or more machines that are communicating with each other
Machine learning
Data about data; gives information about what the data is about.
MongoDB is a NoSQL database oriented to documents, developed under the open source concept. It saves data structures in JSON documents with a dynamic scheme (called MongoDB BSON format), making the integration of the data in certain applications more easily and quickly.
MPP database
A database optimized to work in a massively parallel processing environment.
Multi-Dimensional Databases
A database optimized for data online analytical processing (OLAP) applications and for data warehousing.
MultiValue Databases
They are a type of NoSQL and multidimensional databases that understand 3 dimensional data directly. They are primarily giant strings that are perfect for manipulating HTML and XML strings directly
Network analysis
Viewing relationships among the nodes in terms of the network or graph theory, meaning analysing connections between nodes in a network and the strength of the ties.
An elegant, well-defined database system that is easier to learn and better than SQL. It is even newer than NoSQL
NoSQL (commonly interpreted as “not only SQL“) is a broad class of database management systems identified by non-adherence to the widely used relational database management system model. NoSQL databases are not built primarily on tables, and generally do not use SQL for data manipulation.
Object Databases
They store data in the form of objects, as used by object-oriented programming. They are different from relational or graph databases and most of them offer a query language that allows object to be found with a declarative programming approach.
Object-based Image Analysis
Analysing digital images can be performed with data from individual pixels, whereas object-based image analysis uses data from a selection of related pixels, called objects or image objects.
Online analytical processing (OLAP)
Online transactional processing (OLTP)
Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA)
Operational data store (ODS)
Parallel data analysis
Parallel method invocation (PMI)
Allows programming code to call multiple functions in parallel.
Parallel processing
The ability to execute multiple tasks at the same time.
Parallel query
Pattern recognition
Pentaho offers a suite of open source Business Intelligence (BI) products called Pentaho Business Analytics providing data integration, OLAP services, reporting, dashboarding, data mining and ETL capabilities
One million gigabytes or 1,024 terabytes.
Predictive analytics
Predictive modeling
Public data
Public information or data sets that were created with public funding
Asking for information to answer a certain question
Query analysis
Combining several data sets to find a certain person within anonymized data
Real-time data
Data that is created, processed, stored, analysed and visualized within milliseconds
Recommendation engine
Reference data
Risk analysis
Root-cause analysis
Routing analysis
Finding the optimized routing using many different variables for a certain means of transport in order to decrease fuel costs and increase efficiency.
Search data
Aggregated data about search terms used over time.
Semi-structured data
Sentiment analysis
Spatial analysis
It refers to analysing spatial data such geographic data or topological data to identify and understand patterns and regularities within data distributed in geographic space.
A programming language for retrieving data from a relational database
Storm is a system of real-time distributed computing, open source and free, born into Twitter. Storm makes it easy to reliably process unstructured data flows in the field of real-time processing, which made Hadoop for batch processing.
Software as a service (SaaS)
Any means of storing data persistently.
Structured data
Data that is organized by a predetermined structure.
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Text analytics
Transactional data
Unstructured data
All that available data will create a lot of value for organizations, societies and consumers. Big data means big business and every industry will reap the benefits from big data.
The amount of data, ranging from megabytes to brontobytes
WebHDFS Apache Hadoop
Weather data
XML Databases
XML Databases allow data to be stored in XML format. XML databases are often linked to document-oriented databases. The data stored in an XML database can be queried, exported and serialized into any format needed.
ZooKeeper is a software project of the Apache Software Foundation, a service that provides centralized configuration and open code name registration for large distributed systems. ZooKeeper is a subproject of Hadoop.
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Pros and cons of parliamentary government -
Pros and cons of parliamentary government - with you
Hard on the grounds that the currency auction has become the largest outlet for corruption in Iraq and the government wanted to address it in addition to the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund. Therefore, the rise in the price of the dollar has led to an increase in the prices of these goods, and the citizen has paid the price for corruption and mismanagement, and he is the one who is punished because of those policies. It provides the products that the citizen needs at subsidized prices, which contributes to protecting the citizen from the greed of merchants, and at the same time creates a kind of competition in the market that necessarily leads to lowering the prices of products in the market. It will also give messages of reassurance to the citizen that he will not leave an opportunity for the greedy merchants. As for industry, it is non-existent. Therefore, these decisions do more harm than good, calling on the government to "conduct a comprehensive evaluation. pros and cons of parliamentary government
Pros and cons of parliamentary government Video
Parliamentary vs. Presidential Democracy Explained
Belgium also has independence-minded Walloon politicians that may be emboldened by a win for Scottish nationalists. Check out the Independence Index. In a click wales article in June ofMike Hedges pros and cons of parliamentary government that there were structural and technical issues that need to be addressed before any referendum on independence. That is why colonised areas are never wealthy themselves. Historically, Plaid Cymru has been accused of having an ambiguous position on full Welsh independence. Yes, money spent on things like HS2 and the Olympic Games in is counted as money spent on Wales. Denmark is a monarchy. Meanwhile in Wales, a lack of investment results in low demand which is used to justify a lack of investment.
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During the first twenty years of the Welsh Assembly subsequently renamed the Senedd Cymruthe powers of the Welsh government have increased. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The Catch argument is that the UK Government is only meeting demand. It seems to me that there are a number of split points on the issue of Independence, devolution and more. They shed a LOT! We think that Wales can. But you could make that argument about Scotland or any region or even any collection of seats you fancy of England. parlizmentary
Disadvantages Of Online Voting
Who can forget the national euphoria when we won that first Grand Slam after 27 years, inor when Gareth Bale and his team took us to the semi-finals of the Euros in France in ? Why not find out more about pros and cons of parliamentary government Yes Cymru movement. Brexit pros and cons. Why would 3 million of those 70 million people, who live in an under-developed economic backwater, keep you up at night?
The late 13th Century saw a series of unsuccessful revolts against English rule, and from to learn more here, Owain Glyndwr waged a war of independence against England, reclaiming the title Prince of Wales for a time. This is reflected in the city's accommodation, some of which is up to years … These include powers over health, education, and some economic matters.
You are giving yet another reason to stay attached pros and cons of parliamentary government the English system which obviously is not working for Wales. This is why Scotland has been able to command so much attention over the past ten years. Unfortunately, the UK Government has made it completely clear that they have no intention of investing in our prosperity. The comparison with regions of England is a false one. We heard a lot during the campaign about how the EU Commission is unelected and undemocratic. The question is, can we afford not to be independent?]
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3. Excuse, that I interfere, would like to offer other decision.
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If you are one of those people who seem to attract mosquitoes, you will know what it is like to scratch yourself raw or break out in huge lumps that drive you insane with itching. It may be getting cooler now, but it is still warm enough during the day for mosquitoes, and they function ‘best’ at around 26 degrees, become lethargic at around 15 degrees and cannot function below 10 degrees.
Mosquitoes are said to be the deadliest creatures to humans on our planet, with more than 1 million deaths a year attributed to the diseases they carry. Climate change is causing warmer winters in many places, and thus fewer of the hard frosts that cut down mosquito populations.
There are several options said to keep them at bay, one being plug-in devices, and you plug these right into electrical sockets, with the chemicals they expel said to be safe to use, even safe enough even around children, pregnant women, and pets, but reputedly only work close to the device. I personally have always shied away from them because of the risk of fire, and I don’t like the idea of leaving one plugged in and leaving it while the house is empty.
There are also plug-in devices on the market that use high pitched ultrasonic sounds, and even apps for phones. Some are supposed to emit dragonfly sounds to scare mosquitoes away – and as dragonflies are mosquito predators, theoretically the sound of one approaching is a mosquito repellent. In other cases, the sound is supposed to imitate a male mosquito's mating call, but there's no evidence to show that female mosquitoes with fertilized eggs will leave an area where there are mating males. But they are safe, whether they work or not is up to you to judge.
Citronella candles are also said to work, but seemingly only in the immediate area of the candle, and in fact contrary to popular opinion, the scent isn't toxic or irritating to mosquitoes. The smell masks human odours so that mosquitoes don't actually detect the presence of you, the potential host.
Wristbands? Whether emitting sonic sounds or chemical repellents, maybe they will at best protect your wrist only, with the rest of your body being left exposed.
Mosquitoes and many other types of insects apparently loathe the smell of essential oils. They will supposedly stay away if you place an oil diffuser in a good spot on your deck or porch, so this is another option to try. As is baby oil rubbed into your skin apparently – but neither of these options are guaranteed.
The deterrent that seems to be most effective is anything with DEET in it, with many bug repellents containing it, a chemical that people worry could be harmful to health or cause cancer, possibly because it is a synthetic chemical, but research shows these fears are unfounded and that DEET is safe when used properly. It interferes with the mosquitoes’ ability to smell, and they use their sense of smell to detect the carbon dioxide in our breath and the bacteria on our skin. DEET is able to interrupt this process by producing a smell that drives insects away, and makes your skin taste bad to them too.
According to one manufacturer, 7% DEET sprays last for up to two hours, while 98% DEET sprays protect you for ten hours. DEET is considered to be a safe insect repellent, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DEET will not build up in your system; however, there are still reservations surrounding it, as it is toxic if swallowed and isn’t recommended for babies under 2 months old, and not recommended for toddlers either, as they are prone to putting their hands in their mouths and might accidentally ingest it.
True sufferers will say nothing is worse than getting into bed, and hearing that tell-tale high-pitched ‘eeep’ whizzing round the room, so I guess for them, anything is worth a try! |
Kunene Region, Namibia, Africa
The ostrich flock in flowers. Undoubtedly they use them as protective coverage. The bird’s massive bodies are mostly covered by the foliage, revealing their long necks. The dazzling yellow of the flowers adds much beauty.
copyright Anette Mossbacher, 8 June, 2021
Buy a license or print
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Exposure time: 1/1250s
• ISO: 800
• Focal Length: 378.8mm
The original photograph has the following dimensions: 6000 by 4000 pixels (WxH).
Thanks for sharing!
The ostrich flock in flowers because they use them as protective coverage. They are all alert, looking in all directions to see if there’s any incoming danger. The bird’s massive bodies are mostly covered by the foliage, revealing their long necks are sticking out. The dazzling yellow of the flowers adds much beauty to the environment. As well as making the flowers pop.
Ostriches are flightless birds. However, as incredible runners, they make that up for being flightless. Their sturdy legs, thighs, and feet bring them to speeds over 70 km/h. During their fast dashes, they hold out their small wings on either side. That helps them with body balance.
The ostrich flock is in flowers because that is one of their diet staples. They also eat leaves and roots. However, they are not entirely vegetarian! They will even eat small bugs, insects, lizards, and other little animals. They share a habitat with other grazers such as zebras, wildebeest, and other antelopes or elephants. Since the grazers’ footsteps draw out the insects and bugs for the ostriches, they have a mutually beneficial relationship. Ostriches can spot predators coming and will alert the grazers.
The ostrich, Struthio camelus, is in the category least concern on the IUCN red list.
For more animal photographs like ‘Ostrich Flock In Flowers,’ explore our African wildlife portfolio. All our nature photos you can license also purchase as photographic prints.
1 comment for Ostrich Flock In Flowers
1. Jacques
Wonder what they’re talking about haha
• Anette Mossbacher
😀 chatting about the weather in Africa. Thank you, Jacques.
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Physical Therapy Guide to Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty)
The knee is the joint in the body that is most frequently replaced. You should visit your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist before deciding to have knee replacement surgery. Total knee replacement surgery is typically performed when a person suffers from one of the following conditions:
• Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, other bone diseases, or a fracture that has not responded to more conservative treatment options
• Knee pain or leg alignment issues that make walking or performing daily activities difficult, despite more conservative treatment options
Physical therapists are movement experts who use hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement to improve people's quality of life. For an evaluation, you can contact a physical therapist directly.
What is a Total Knee Replacement (TKR)?
The arthritic parts of the bones at the knee joint (the tibia, also known as the shin bone; the femur, or thigh bone; and the patella, or kneecap) are removed and replaced with artificial parts in a total knee replacement (TKR), also known as total knee arthroplasty. These components include a metal cap at the femur's end and a cemented metal piece in the tibia with a plastic cap to allow the surfaces to move freely. The back part of the kneecap can also be replaced with a smooth plastic surface if necessary.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
The physical therapist is an important member of the healthcare team that assists people who have had a total knee replacement in regaining movement and function and returning to daily activities. Your physical therapist can assist you in preparing for and recovering from surgery, as well as developing an individualized treatment plan to get you moving again safely and effectively.
Before Surgery
The better your physical condition is before TKR surgery, the better your outcomes will be (especially in the short term). According to a recent study, even one visit with a physical therapist before surgery can help to reduce the need for post-surgery short-term care, such as a stay in a skilled nursing facility or a home health physical therapy program.
Your physical therapist may suggest the following before surgery:
• Teach you exercises to strengthen and stretch the knee joint and its surrounding muscles.
• Demonstrate how you'll walk with assistance after your operation, and get ready to use a walker or other assistive device.
• Remove loose accent rugs that could cause you to “catch” your leg when maneuvering with an assistive device, or strategically place a chair so that you can sit instead of squatting to get something out of a low cabinet. Before you have TKR surgery, it is always easier to make these changes.
Before surgery, you should make the following long-term adjustments:
• Smoking cessation. As you schedule and plan for your surgery, ask your doctor for help or advice on quitting smoking. Being tobacco-free will help you heal more quickly after surgery.
• I'm trying to lose weight. Losing weight can help you recover faster, improve your function, and improve your overall results after surgery.
Immediately Following Surgery
Depending on your condition, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery or even go home the same day. If you have other medical problems, such as diabetes or heart disease, you may need to spend a few days in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility before returning home. A physical therapist will do the following while you are in the hospital:
• Educate you on how to control swelling in the knee area and help the incision heal by using ice, elevating your leg, and wearing compression wraps or stockings.
• Teach you relaxation breathing exercises and demonstrate how to get in and out of bed and a chair safely.
• Show you how to use a walker or crutches to walk and how to get into and out of a car.
• Assist you in continuing to perform the flexibility and strengthening exercises you learned before surgery.
As You Begin to Recover
The first two weeks of recovery are spent managing pain, reducing swelling, healing the incision, resuming normal walking, and beginning exercise. Your physical therapist will tailor your range-of-motion exercises, progressive muscle-strengthening exercises, body awareness, and balance training, functional training, and activity-specific training after those two weeks to address your specific goals and get you back to the activities you enjoy!
Range-of-motion exercises. Swelling and pain can make it difficult to move your knee. Your physical therapist can teach you safe and effective exercises to help you regain the range of motion in your knee so you can get back to doing the things you love.
Strengthening exercises. Even if you don't need a walker or crutches anymore, weakness in the thigh and lower leg muscles may require you to walk with a cane. Your physical therapist can help you choose the right strengthening exercises for you.
Body awareness and balance training. Specialized training exercises enable your muscles to "learn" how to respond to changes in your environment, such as uneven sidewalks or rocky terrain. Your physical therapist may add agility exercises (such as turning and changing direction while walking, or making quick stops and starts) and balance board activities that challenge your balance and knee control once you can put your full weight on your knee without pain. Your treatment plan will be determined by the physical therapist's examination of your knee, your goals, and your level of activity, and overall health.
Functional training. Your physical therapist may begin to add activities that you were doing before your knee pain started to limit you once you can walk freely without pain. These could include actions performed in the community, such as crossing a busy street or boarding and disembarking from an escalator. Your treatment plan will be determined by the physical therapist's examination of your knee, your goals, and your level of activity, and overall health.
Returning to leisure or sports activities takes a different amount of time for each person; your physical therapist will be able to give you an estimate based on your specific condition.
Activity-specific training. Depending on the demands placed on your knee by your job or the sports you participate in, you may require additional rehabilitation that is tailored to your job activities (such as climbing a ladder) or sports activities (such as swinging a golf club). Your physical therapist can create an individualized rehabilitation plan for you that takes into account all of these factors.
Can This Injury or Condition Be Prevented?
If you have knee pain, working with a physical therapist to improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles that support and move the knee may help you avoid surgery. This training may even enable you to avoid surgery entirely. Participating in a physical therapist-designed exercise program can be one of your best defenses against knee injury. Additionally, staying physically active in moderately intense physical activities and maintaining a healthy weight through proper nutrition may help to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee worsening.
What Kind of Physical Therapist Do I Need?
Although all physical therapists are trained and experienced to treat people who have a TKR, you may want to consider:
• A physical therapist who has worked with people who have orthopedic, or musculoskeletal, issues.
• A physical therapist who is a board-certified clinical specialist or has completed a residency or fellowship in orthopedic physical therapy, giving them advanced knowledge, experience, and skills that may apply to your condition.
When looking for a physical therapist, keep the following in mind:
• Seek advice from family and friends, as well as other healthcare professionals.
• When making an appointment with a physical therapy clinic, inquire about the physical therapist's experience with TKR patients.
Prepare to describe your symptoms in as much detail as possible during your first visit with the physical therapist, as well as what makes them worse.
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When We Add Up Each Part of the Puzzle, They’re All Lies
Wherein we again look small — at the parts of the pieces — to try and find a larger pattern
“…Many things have a plurality of parts and are not merely a complete aggregate but instead some kind of a whole beyond its parts…”
— Aristotle
Fibonacci Digit Sum
Submitted by: Roger Bell_West
Given an input $N, generate the first $N numbers for which the sum of their digits is a Fibonacci number.
f(20)=[0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 21, 23, 26, 30, 32, 35, 41, 44]
On the Subject of Number Theory
The land of Number Theory is such a weird and unstable place. Unwilling or unable to leave well enough alone, its adherents look for new footholds by alighting from one known position to another, spanning uncharted distances in the process, hoping to construct a bridge between distant lands and trying not to fall off the edge of the world.
In other words, a quite common approach to new discovery is to take two seemingly unrelated ideas and then slam them together to see if some new type of connection can be inferred from the collision. In this it shares certain aspects with experimental particle physics and college-student breakfast food choices after an all-night bender.
The cross-product mashups entertained can sometimes on the surface seem ridiculous, but its important to keep our eye on the ball: we’re ultimately looking for deeper truths in the mathematics that connects all things, so there will be connections everywhere we look — some obvious, some not. It’s finding these hidden parallels and symmetries that become the purview of Number Theory. And if we don’t look, we’ll surely never find them.
So, you know… anything goes. You never know what you might find out there when by definition you can’t see it. In this scenario we have two fairly mainstream ideas: summing the individual digits of a number and the venerable Fibonacci sequence. On the face of it I can see no obvious connection between the two.
The definition of the sequence requested is not exactly new; it has an entry in the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, albeit without a large number of accompanying references and commentary.
A028840Numbers k such that sum of digits of k is a Fibonacci number.
As mentioned, there isn’t a whole lot listed to flush out our knowledge on the subject. But no matter: I wasn’t there to look up an algorithm anyway, and we’re only checking now after the fact, because I got curious.
So let’s go back in time.
It seems to construct the sequence we’ll need a couple of bits of logic: a function that sums digits and a function that can tell us whether or not a number is a Fibonacci number. The first can be a straightforward examination of the digits composing a number, but the second sounds more complicated, as we’re dealing with an infinite sequence.
It turns out that isn’t though: on further consideration we find a twelve digit number can only maximally sum to 108, so we really aren’t talking about very many Fibonacci numbers at all. Eleven, to be exact, for any value up to (and including) one trillion. If we fill every digit in our candidate with a 9 we really can’t sum any higher, and so this sets an upper bound.
So how do we get our list?
As we’re working with so few Fibonaccis, perhaps we could make a list from all the numbers that can be assembled from every integer partition of each of the 11 Fibonacci numbers. You know, an active, constructive approach. For example, for the number 5, we have the partitions
4 + 1
3 + 2
3 + 1 + 1
2 + 2 + 1
2 + 1 + 1 + 1
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
which in turn can be arranged to yield the numbers
5, 41, 14, 32, 23, 311, 131, 113, 221, 212, 122, 2111, 1211, 1121, 1112, and 11111.
Not bad so far. But then again it’s early days. The 7 partitions of 5 yield 16 values. By the time we get to 8 we have 128 values. We seem to be exponentially expanding.
The problem with this approach is that we create far more numbers in a sparse pattern than we need for the limited portion of the sequence we can conclude to be complete. Using the same method we used above to place a upper bound on the highest Fibonacci number required — by filling the available digits with 9s — when we create the sequence up to 999 the maximum sum can only be 18, and the maximum Fibonacci number we will be able to sum to will have to be 13. For the Fibonacci number 13, however, we create such numbers as 1231231, which is quite a bit more than 1000.
In fact for the number 13, we construct over 3000 extra values. And it only gets worse from there.
The actual combinatorics involve a convoluted path: taking what is known as the multiset permutations for every set of integer partitions with a maximum value of 9 per part in each, summed over the Fibonacci numbers up to some maximum value. This is of course a whole crazy discussion in itself, but going down that particular rabbit-hole of unexpected byways turns out to yield a very simple result: 2n-1 numbers generated for each value n. Or ok, very close to this, as after a point we are no longer allowed multi-digit partitions: 12, for instance, can’t be broken down into 10 + 2 or just kept as 12. So 8 has 128 numbers that can constructed, and 13 has about 4076, not 4096. And 35 should have around 34,359,738,368, but I haven’t been able compute the exact number to check. In any case we will need to work with these values to construct all sequence elements up to a million or so. Even tossing out candidates that are obviously over our upper limit it’s still a lot of numbers to process. Furthermore, this strategy computes to a limit, when what we’ve been asked for is a number of values. We have no idea what limit to pick to compute our theoretical 1 million elements.
Yea thats not going to work very well at all.
Alternately we could start incrementing up from 1 and evaluating each candidate, until we’ve gathered enough numbers. With a pair of functions to sum the digits and to check whether or not the given value is a Fibonacci we should be good to go. Which is pretty much where we started before our little excursion.
We have, as stated, two functions are required, to sum the digits and then check the result against a list of Fibonacci numbers. To sum the digits we use substr to examine each digit in turn and add them to a running tally. For the Fibonacci numbers we could just hard-code them in and refer to that, but instead we’re going to make no assumptions and use a state variable to construct the sequence to as many values as we need and keep the results around between subroutine calls. If we are asked to evaluate a number greater than the largest so far created, we simply make more until we have enough. Once each number is created it is also immediately added to a parallel lookup hash for easy random access to the individual elements in the sequence. It’s all rather a moot point of course, as this method can quickly compute the first 1,000,000 terms in the sequence (the 1,000,000th is 13380892), and the largest Fibonacci required for this is 54. But then again it’s self-adapting to whatever we throw at it and again, it’s always good to not make assumptions.
For those curious after our previous foray into a constructive solution, there are, in the end, 84645 values in the sequence less than 1 million. The largest is 1,000,000 itself, as this adds up to 1, or F1.
use warnings;
use strict;
use utf8;
use feature ":5.26";
use feature qw(signatures);
no warnings 'experimental::signatures';
my $N = shift // 1000;
my $candidate;
my @out = (0);
while ( ++$candidate ) {
push @out, $candidate if is_fib( digisum($candidate) );
last if @out == $N;
local $" = ', ';
say "@out";
sub digisum ( $num ) {
my $sum;
$sum += substr $num, $_-1, 1 for (1..length $num);
return $sum;
sub is_fib ( $num ) {
state @fibs = ( 0, 1 );
state %fhash = map { $_ => undef } @fibs;
while ( $fibs[-1]+$fibs[-2] <= $num ) {
my $next = $fibs[-1]+$fibs[-2];
push @fibs, $next;
$fhash{$next} = undef;
return 1 if exists $fhash{$num};
return 0;
0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 21, 23, 26, 30, 32, 35, 41, 44, 49, 50, 53, 58, 62, 67, 71, 76, 80, 85, 94, 100, 101, 102, 104, 107, 110, 111, 113, 116, 120, 122, 125, 131, 134, 139, 140, 143, 148, 152
raku solution
The Raku solution shares many similarities, but also has a few remarkable differences. First off we can draw values from our hash lookup from a lazily-defined list, that will automatically make new values of the sequence whenever we need to. How cool is that? The digit summing step is so simplified using the method chain .comb.sum that I just went ahead and inlined it into a combined grep filter, working on another lazy list of potential candidates. The array slice postscript ultimately defines how many elements we need to create; the lazy evaluation continues until we have enough.
Logically it serves the same purpose as as an incrementing value in an infinite loop with an escape condition, but, you know, this is much cooler.
unit sub MAIN ( $N = 25 ) ;
sub is_fib ( $num ) {
state @fibs = (0, 1, 1, * + * ... *);
state %fh;
state $n = 0;
while @fibs[$n] < $num {
%fh{ @fibs[++$n] } = 1;
return %fh{$num}:exists
?? 1
!! 0
my @out = (0, | grep { is_fib( $_.comb.sum ) }, (0..*) )[0..$N-1];
say @out;
The Weekly Challenge – Perl and Raku
|
:mod:`utime` -- time related functions ====================================== .. module:: utime :synopsis: time related functions |see_cpython_module| :mod:`python:time`. The ``utime`` module provides functions for getting the current time and date, measuring time intervals, and for delays. **Time Epoch**: Unix port uses standard for POSIX systems epoch of 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. However, embedded ports use epoch of 2000-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. **Maintaining actual calendar date/time**: This requires a Real Time Clock (RTC). On systems with underlying OS (including some RTOS), an RTC may be implicit. Setting and maintaining actual calendar time is responsibility of OS/RTOS and is done outside of MicroPython, it just uses OS API to query date/time. On baremetal ports however system time depends on ``machine.RTC()`` object. The current calendar time may be set using ``machine.RTC().datetime(tuple)`` function, and maintained by following means: * By a backup battery (which may be an additional, optional component for a particular board). * Using networked time protocol (requires setup by a port/user). * Set manually by a user on each power-up (many boards then maintain RTC time across hard resets, though some may require setting it again in such case). If actual calendar time is not maintained with a system/MicroPython RTC, functions below which require reference to current absolute time may behave not as expected. Functions --------- .. function:: localtime([secs]) Convert a time expressed in seconds since the Epoch (see above) into an 8-tuple which contains: (year, month, mday, hour, minute, second, weekday, yearday) If secs is not provided or None, then the current time from the RTC is used. * year includes the century (for example 2014). * month is 1-12 * mday is 1-31 * hour is 0-23 * minute is 0-59 * second is 0-59 * weekday is 0-6 for Mon-Sun * yearday is 1-366 .. function:: mktime() This is inverse function of localtime. It's argument is a full 8-tuple which expresses a time as per localtime. It returns an integer which is the number of seconds since Jan 1, 2000. .. function:: sleep(seconds) Sleep for the given number of seconds. Some boards may accept *seconds* as a floating-point number to sleep for a fractional number of seconds. Note that other boards may not accept a floating-point argument, for compatibility with them use `sleep_ms()` and `sleep_us()` functions. .. function:: sleep_ms(ms) Delay for given number of milliseconds, should be positive or 0. .. function:: sleep_us(us) Delay for given number of microseconds, should be positive or 0. .. function:: ticks_ms() Returns an increasing millisecond counter with an arbitrary reference point, that wraps around after some value. The wrap-around value is not explicitly exposed, but we will refer to it as *TICKS_MAX* to simplify discussion. Period of the values is *TICKS_PERIOD = TICKS_MAX + 1*. *TICKS_PERIOD* is guaranteed to be a power of two, but otherwise may differ from port to port. The same period value is used for all of `ticks_ms()`, `ticks_us()`, `ticks_cpu()` functions (for simplicity). Thus, these functions will return a value in range [*0* .. *TICKS_MAX*], inclusive, total *TICKS_PERIOD* values. Note that only non-negative values are used. For the most part, you should treat values returned by these functions as opaque. The only operations available for them are `ticks_diff()` and `ticks_add()` functions described below. Note: Performing standard mathematical operations (+, -) or relational operators (<, <=, >, >=) directly on these value will lead to invalid result. Performing mathematical operations and then passing their results as arguments to `ticks_diff()` or `ticks_add()` will also lead to invalid results from the latter functions. .. function:: ticks_us() Just like `ticks_ms()` above, but in microseconds. .. function:: ticks_cpu() Similar to `ticks_ms()` and `ticks_us()`, but with the highest possible resolution in the system. This is usually CPU clocks, and that's why the function is named that way. But it doesn't have to be a CPU clock, some other timing source available in a system (e.g. high-resolution timer) can be used instead. The exact timing unit (resolution) of this function is not specified on ``utime`` module level, but documentation for a specific port may provide more specific information. This function is intended for very fine benchmarking or very tight real-time loops. Avoid using it in portable code. Availability: Not every port implements this function. .. function:: ticks_add(ticks, delta) Offset ticks value by a given number, which can be either positive or negative. Given a *ticks* value, this function allows to calculate ticks value *delta* ticks before or after it, following modular-arithmetic definition of tick values (see `ticks_ms()` above). *ticks* parameter must be a direct result of call to `ticks_ms()`, `ticks_us()`, or `ticks_cpu()` functions (or from previous call to `ticks_add()`). However, *delta* can be an arbitrary integer number or numeric expression. `ticks_add()` is useful for calculating deadlines for events/tasks. (Note: you must use `ticks_diff()` function to work with deadlines.) Examples:: # Find out what ticks value there was 100ms ago print(ticks_add(time.ticks_ms(), -100)) # Calculate deadline for operation and test for it deadline = ticks_add(time.ticks_ms(), 200) while ticks_diff(deadline, time.ticks_ms()) > 0: do_a_little_of_something() # Find out TICKS_MAX used by this port print(ticks_add(0, -1)) .. function:: ticks_diff(ticks1, ticks2) Measure ticks difference between values returned from `ticks_ms()`, `ticks_us()`, or `ticks_cpu()` functions, as a signed value which may wrap around. The argument order is the same as for subtraction operator, ``ticks_diff(ticks1, ticks2)`` has the same meaning as ``ticks1 - ticks2``. However, values returned by `ticks_ms()`, etc. functions may wrap around, so directly using subtraction on them will produce incorrect result. That is why `ticks_diff()` is needed, it implements modular (or more specifically, ring) arithmetics to produce correct result even for wrap-around values (as long as they not too distant inbetween, see below). The function returns **signed** value in the range [*-TICKS_PERIOD/2* .. *TICKS_PERIOD/2-1*] (that's a typical range definition for two's-complement signed binary integers). If the result is negative, it means that *ticks1* occurred earlier in time than *ticks2*. Otherwise, it means that *ticks1* occurred after *ticks2*. This holds **only** if *ticks1* and *ticks2* are apart from each other for no more than *TICKS_PERIOD/2-1* ticks. If that does not hold, incorrect result will be returned. Specifically, if two tick values are apart for *TICKS_PERIOD/2-1* ticks, that value will be returned by the function. However, if *TICKS_PERIOD/2* of real-time ticks has passed between them, the function will return *-TICKS_PERIOD/2* instead, i.e. result value will wrap around to the negative range of possible values. Informal rationale of the constraints above: Suppose you are locked in a room with no means to monitor passing of time except a standard 12-notch clock. Then if you look at dial-plate now, and don't look again for another 13 hours (e.g., if you fall for a long sleep), then once you finally look again, it may seem to you that only 1 hour has passed. To avoid this mistake, just look at the clock regularly. Your application should do the same. "Too long sleep" metaphor also maps directly to application behavior: don't let your application run any single task for too long. Run tasks in steps, and do time-keeping inbetween. `ticks_diff()` is designed to accommodate various usage patterns, among them: * Polling with timeout. In this case, the order of events is known, and you will deal only with positive results of `ticks_diff()`:: # Wait for GPIO pin to be asserted, but at most 500us start = time.ticks_us() while pin.value() == 0: if time.ticks_diff(time.ticks_us(), start) > 500: raise TimeoutError * Scheduling events. In this case, `ticks_diff()` result may be negative if an event is overdue:: # This code snippet is not optimized now = time.ticks_ms() scheduled_time = task.scheduled_time() if ticks_diff(scheduled_time, now) > 0: print("Too early, let's nap") sleep_ms(ticks_diff(scheduled_time, now)) task.run() elif ticks_diff(scheduled_time, now) == 0: print("Right at time!") task.run() elif ticks_diff(scheduled_time, now) < 0: print("Oops, running late, tell task to run faster!") task.run(run_faster=true) Note: Do not pass `time()` values to `ticks_diff()`, you should use normal mathematical operations on them. But note that `time()` may (and will) also overflow. This is known as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem . .. function:: time() Returns the number of seconds, as an integer, since the Epoch, assuming that underlying RTC is set and maintained as described above. If an RTC is not set, this function returns number of seconds since a port-specific reference point in time (for embedded boards without a battery-backed RTC, usually since power up or reset). If you want to develop portable MicroPython application, you should not rely on this function to provide higher than second precision. If you need higher precision, use `ticks_ms()` and `ticks_us()` functions, if you need calendar time, `localtime()` without an argument is a better choice. .. admonition:: Difference to CPython :class: attention In CPython, this function returns number of seconds since Unix epoch, 1970-01-01 00:00 UTC, as a floating-point, usually having microsecond precision. With MicroPython, only Unix port uses the same Epoch, and if floating-point precision allows, returns sub-second precision. Embedded hardware usually doesn't have floating-point precision to represent both long time ranges and subsecond precision, so they use integer value with second precision. Some embedded hardware also lacks battery-powered RTC, so returns number of seconds since last power-up or from other relative, hardware-specific point (e.g. reset). |
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Who was the God of Cornelius?
Updated on January 29, 2012
The God of Cornelius
Who was the God of Cornelius (Acts 10)?
I was fortunate to witness a discussion or you can call it an argument between two Christians that had different views. One of them believes that God would not judge people based on their religion but on their deeds so, in his view, one can make heaven if one did good deeds while the other person believes that anyone without Jesus as his or her lord and personal savior will never make heaven.
The former said his stand is because he has observed that some people of other religion do good deeds than they, Christians, so it is unreasonable that God would condemn such people simply because they were not Christians. The later used the story of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10 to support his claim that no matter how good one can be one will not make heaven except one accepts Jesus. He said, in his words, that Cornelius was a good man but God said he was ignorant of something which is Jesus. That was why God told him to invite Peter to teach him.
We know that God did not say that Cornelius was ignorant however we cannot certainly say why God requested that Peter speak to Cornelius. I listened to them and I made no contribution not just because I know that people have different interpretation of the bible but also I thought deeper about that subject that is why I asked, who is the God of Cornelius?
Acts 10 started like this, “there was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always…” from the story it was clear that the man, Cornelius, was not a Jew and as such he did not hold the Jewish belief nor can we say that he prayed to the Jewish God. The story also made it clear that Cornelius was not a disciple of Jesus so we cannot call him a Christian. The only thing we can certainly say is that he feared God as it was written and he prayed daily. It simply means that he prayed to the God he knew how to pray to and communicate with. It is likely that he prayed to the God of his own people which they knew by other names and reached through other religious paths different from the Jewish religious system.
Then how and why did he receive a message from the God that is same God of Peter (The God Jews since Jesus was said to be sent by the Jewish God)? How come he prayed to another God while he got an answer from the Jewish God? Is there a connection between the God he prayed to and the Jewish God?
We may not really know why the Angel of God instructed him to call for Peter but we know that the angel appeared to him while he still held his belief which was different from that of the Jews. No wonder peter acknowledged that God does not respect person but works with anyone that fears him in any nation.
The question some people may ask is, did Cornelius need to receive Jesus to be completely saved or he needed to receive the Holy Spirit, like he did, so that he could have the powers of the Holy Spirit? Can it be that Cornelius needed to be saved through Jesus Christ and some people can claim that salvation is only through Jesus but even before Jesus came, David had the knowledge of salvation as he sang in his Psalms.
We may not know the answer but we know that Cornelius was not a Jew yet his supplications and alms were welcome by his God who happened to also be the God of Peter. That is one of the mysteries which the mortal do not really know about the God and the path to God yet many people insist and claim to know and have full knowledge of God. They claim to understand God and his ways that they condemn others of different religious views and doctrines.
Some people can claim that Cornelius was a good man that did not know the true God, just as the Christian said in his argument. We may not know if such view is correct but we know from the story of Cornelius that God did not allow the efforts and prayers of a good man to be in vain. Doctrines, religious system, creeds, laws, and religious differences did not stop God from communicating with Cornelius.
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The Pembrokeshire historian journal of the Pembrokeshire Local History Society. | No. 2 | 1966 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales
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PEMBROKESHIRE AND THE WOOLLEN INDUSTRY by J. GERAINT JENKINS, M.A., F.S.A. The art of converting raw wool into cloth is one that may be traced back to prehistoric times, and the Greeks and the Romans carried the weaving of woollen cloths to remarkably high standards. Un- doubtedly, the methods of woollen manufacturing were well known to the inhabitants of Britain in pre-Roman times, but until the close of the middle ages, the processes were essentially domestic and the inhabitants of Pembrokeshire, in common with other districts of Britain, spun and wove the wool from their own sheep. They provided themselves with knitwear and blankets, cloth and flannel, but those commodities were hardly ever commodities of trade, for as Giraldus Cambrensis noted: the Welsh 'were a people with wide experience of woollen manufacturing, but who paid no attention to industry or commerce'. The coarse 'brychan' that they manufactured contributed to the economic self-sufficiency of the rural neighbourhood and the industry, though widely distributed throughout Wales, made no con- tribution to the export trade until the fourteenth century. Before that period, the surplus of raw wool, described as 'coarse and of little value,' was exported; indeed in the early years of the fourteenth century, a large proportion of the exports of Pembrokeshire, consisted of raw wool, which was sent directly to the cloth manufacturing districts of Flanders. The production of raw wool in the middle ages was largely in the hands of the Cistercian monks and the fourteen abbeys of the Order in Wales, maintained vast flocks of sheep. The extent of the export trade in raw wool is difficult to estimate, but in the early fourteenth century, it was decreed that all the wool in England and Wales should be exported through certain selected towns. In 1326 Haverfordwest was declared a staple town, but in 1353 Carmarthen became the sole staple for Welsh wool. Between 1354 and 1361, the average amount of wool exported through Carmarthen was 550 sacks per year, which was the equivalent to about 130,000 fleeces weighing some 1800 hundred- weighti). It was soon realised, however, that Carmarthen was not ideally situated to be the main exporting port of Wales and the merchants were allowed to take their wool to any English staple town; some of them even making the long overland journey to Lynne. In any case, by the beginning of the fifteenth century, very little Welsh wool was being exported, for a large proportion of it was absorbed by the growing cloth manufacturing industry of the country. Customs accounts show that appreciable quantities of cloth were exported from Welsh seaports, particularly those of south-west Wales. Most cargoes went to Bristol and the cloth was re-exported to the European continent, especially to Gascony, Brittany, Portugal and even Icelandi?‘. I. Lloyd, J. t. (editor): A History ot Carmarthenshire Vol. II, 989 p.Jll 2. Lewis, E. A.: 'A Contribution to the Commercial History of Medieval Wales Y Cymmrodor Vol. XXIV. 1913, pp.96 et seq. |
Institutional causes of white collar crimes
The term white collar crime pertains to any illegal action performed by an employee or an officer individual during the conduct of his job. This specific type of behavior was coined by Sutherland (1940) to describe a criminal behavior that has strong sociological background. White collar crimes are categorically called crimes because it violates the sociological norm that is acceptable to the wide public or the society.
It may be different from the rest of the crimes that are considered detestable such as murder and swindling but these types of crimes are also punishable by law and are not well acceptable once performed or observed by the public eye. It should be interesting to note that until today, some schools of thought consider white collar crimes as separate from the legal crimes that we know of, while other schools of thought perceive white collar crimes as detestable as murder and its parallel illegal activities.
Some major examples of white collar crimes include the inhibition of trade of a certain product or item to specific consumers, as well as wrongful or misguiding application of patents to particular inventions and unreasonable practices in employment. The fraudulent implementation of bogus brands of specific items on the market is also considered a white collar crime. Performance of a white collar crime is also punishable by law, just like the regular types of crimes (US Department of Justice, 1989).
There are three main causes of white collar crimes. The first institutional cause of white collar crime is to acquire profit, property or any type of benefit through an illegal means. The root cause of such approach to acquire money through the fastest and simplest way generally stems from the financial status of the perpetrator. It has been commonly observed that white collar crimes that have been committed in order to acquire profit originate from individuals who are experiencing extreme poverty and hardship in their personal lives.
There are particular individuals in third world countries who would intentionally trick a system or an office in order to amass more profit than what is normally expected, and all these actions are based on their dire need to generate an income to feel their starving families. Another reason for an individual to perform a white collar crime in order to acquire property is greed, wherein an individual aims to gather as much property as he can, even ignoring that there are certain boundaries that exist between ownership and property rights.
The second cause of white collar crime is to evade the release of funds in the form of payment or in the form of loss of income through sales or services rendered. Such unlawful actions include misrepresentation of assets and liabilities in government documents that are filed during the annual income tax filing. Another example would be portrayed in the deductions that will be implemented in an employee, based on the employee’s base salary.
In the office system of the individual’s company is not careful and meticulous enough in checking the information that the employee has entered in the document, this employee may has less deductions in his salary, of which he intentionally misguided the system in order to receive a bigger net salary. Another example of a white collar crime involving providing an invoice for a inflated number of services, when only a couple of services were delivered to the client.
Such trickery should be constantly checked in order to prevent further repetition by the perpetrator. A third cause of white collar crime is the need to take the lead in the business or in an individual’s personal status. This type of white collar crime is strongly associated with the concept of self-confidence and pride, wherein an individual would perform almost anything it takes in order for him to come out as the winner in the competition among his peers.
Competition may happen among individuals of different economic status, from the simple clerk to the rich multinational tycoons in the commercial business world. There may be trickery involved in order to attain such status and this has already been considered as a form of white collar crime.
Sutherland EH (1940): White collar criminality. S. Amer. Sociol. Rev. 1:10-15. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (1989): White collar crime: A report to the Public. (Washington, D. C. : Department of Justice). |
Prepare Agriculture for the Next COVID-19
The recession that’s sweeping the globe is the worst crisis since the Great Depression. In just six months, a decade of progress made in poverty reduction was wiped out, with up to 115 million people slipping into extreme poverty. The ranks of the hungry are swelling, as the pandemic exacerbates inequality; nearly 130 million people could become chronically undernourished. Food systems, which directly employ 1.3 billion people, are about to lose more than 451 million jobs.
The food and agriculture sector have fared relatively well through the crisis, with the global supply chains holding up. Investment flows on wheat, maize, rice and soybean futures remain unaffected. Global food stocks for staple food are at an all-time high. Prices are likely to stay stable, if at higher levels.
But it’s not enough to slog along at the bottom of the recession in a U-shaped recovery. There will be more COVID-19s to come, and this is a rare opportunity to build resilience to manage risks. There are four accelerators: data (and big data), technology, innovation and the right complements (governance, institutions and human capital). Data, innovation and technology can transform the agri-food system; the complements can ensure the transformation is inclusive.
If donor countries spend an additional $14 billion annually between now and 2030 (twice as much as what they are spending now on food and nutrition aid), 500 million people could escape hunger. An additional investment of $25-$36 billion annually for the next decade could end hunger. Such investments would fund a mix of low-cost and high-impact interventions directly related to the four accelerators: agricultural R&D, agricultural extension services, digital agricultural information systems, small-scale irrigation expansion in Africa, female literacy training and scaling up of existing social protection programs and trade.
But investments alone aren’t enough. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. And food markets continue to face plenty of uncertainties, including weak growth prospects, unstable energy and currency markets, a resurgence of African swine fever and a catastrophic locust outbreak in Africa and Asia. Even though the number of countries curtailing exports of agricultural goods has come down from 22 to nil since April, trade tensions persist. Restrictions on movement continues to cause farm labor shortages and impede producers’ access to markets. Food processing facilities are running at lower capacity.
Over 120 countries and territories have limited access to their ports, leaving 300,000 seafarers stranded at sea. It poses risks to lives and global trade, especially in places like Argentina, Colombia, Peru and North African countries that rely on food imports. A dramatic drop in demand for high-value commodities will result in greater food losses and imperil livelihoods and food security of countless people.
We need to build resilience now, while making investments. Three interrelated actions can achieve this.
First, use trade to boost farmers’ productivity and income. Trade can increase producers’ access to markets. Exports can mitigate revenue losses. Imports can ramp up food availability to stabilize food prices locally, regionally and globally. Boosting trade among African countries is especially important, as many of them rely on commodity exports and food imports. To reduce non-tariff trade barriers, African countries have to improve food safety across the continent’s value chain — it’s the best way to prevent governments from imposing blanket import restrictions. The removal of non-tariff barriers will tremendously benefit Africa, because the region can make up for the slumping export demand from elsewhere, like Europe.
Second, link value chain infrastructure initiatives to financial systems. It’s obvious that improving infrastructure — better access to markets and airports; dry and cold storage facilities to prevent food loss — will facilitate trade and increase farmers’ ability to cope with price variability and other uncertainties. What is less obvious is the need to ensure that they are linked to financial systems to increase producers’ incomes and guarantee long-term returns for investors. Electronic warehouse receipts, for example, can allow producers to get paid for their deposits.
Third, use technology wisely. Robotics and big data were already being integrated into agriculture to keep pace with the demand for food. And the pandemic has accelerated the automation of agriculture. If anyone can take advantage of these precious resources most efficiently, it’s the smallholders. For example, no one needs innovative precision farming like smallholders do. Technology can be a force for development if governments make the effort to ensure that everyone benefits from it. This means making technology affordable and investing in institutions and human capital to minimize inequality. For instance, digital agriculture can help develop inclusive value chains to create living-wage jobs in rural areas, empowering women and young people, who have borne the brunt of the pandemic’s economic impact.
The International Monetary Fund warns of a “long, uneven and highly uncertain” recovery ahead. Through international cooperation, countries must find the needed resources. And they must implement policies to increase competitiveness, efficiency and reduction of food losses. These actions can move us toward a recovery that prepares us for the next shock.
This article originally appeared in Gaftaworld‘s November 2020 issue.
(Photo by Abbas Vanaee on Unsplash) |
Ideas for Active Play
These ideas are not intended to form a curriculum for physical education, so anyone who came here for that must not use these good ideas to do harm.
Sometimes a mom doesn't have ideas for what to do for or with a child who needs much more movement than was expected, or how to direct rowdy play toward something fun and not irritating for one participant. That's the purpose of this collection.
Physicality, commentary and lists of large-muscle activities
One day I had recommended that kids needed to play with strength and power (to a mom who was confused by rough play in young children). She responded:
I was never encouraged to play with strength and power growing up I was encouraged to be meek, quiet and sedentary. So, I feel a little out of my depth hence what may seem like a silly question.
Several people had ideas:
Sandra Dodd:
Lava monster (not touching the ground, on swingsets/playground equipment, or furniture), or any monster/chase/tag/catch games.
Pam Sorooshian:
Shark - my kids called this "shark," not lava monster. That's southern california vs new mexico.
If it is winter where you live and you need this kind of game to be played indoors, put rows of sheets of paper across a room or throughout the house just far enough apart that it is a little hard to get from one to another without touching the ground.
My kids play both! If you have a patterned floor, one color (or special patterned tile) can be the safe spot and the other color can be the lava/shark/monster.
We have played this game at airports. They play it at the grocery store when it isn't busy.
Another idea...
jumping and stomping on bubble wrap!
—Andrea Q
Rippy Dusseldorp wrote:
Obstacle courses. There's lots on youtube like this one:
The children might enjoy watching a few different ones together on youtube and designing their own.
Note from Sandra: Without the adults holding up nets and stuff, that would have been called "Follow the Leader," when I was a kid. One kid would go in and up and over and through things with the other kids following.
Molly wrote:
My son loved to whack at trees with bats, axes (we had several acres), pushing over small trees with his hands, etc.
Whacking at rotting tree stumps.
He and a friend would sometimes tie a very large stuffed animal up and throw it over a branch and whack at it with sticks – looked gruesome but they loved it.
My son loved turning over a cardboard box and stabbing it repeatedly with a butter knife.
Throwing raw or hard boiled eggs at trees (helps to have a big yard with lots of trees!).
Throwing water balloons at trees, house, etc.
Thumbtacking blown up balloons to a piece of wood and throwing darts at them—like in the carnivals.
Any kind of bouncing— trampolines at home or at a facility.
Setting up an obstacle course in your house or yard. Hide plastic easter eggs inside or outside to find (with or without treats inside them).
Set up a scavenger hunt with clues to each next step (can be drawn instead of written).
The Whack the Gopher games they have at some children’s places—there is a home version in the stores I think.
Throwing rocks into a river or lake. Learning to skip rocks – might need to be a lot older – I still can’t do it!
Going to the beach, digging in the sand.
Swimming or playing in water.
Making and whacking piñatas.
My son’s all time favorite was every year on his birthday, his dad would dress up in rain gear and let all the kids chase him with water balloons, squirt guns and sometimes a hose, while he was the screaming, yelling, moving target. They loved it so much!
Good luck! You will have lots of fun!
Molly Davis
The exchange before this was saved:
I'd like to keep this and link it from /physicality if it's okay.
What name should I put on it?
I’m honored! You can use ‘Molly Davis’. Sure brought back wonderful memories of my almost 24 year old! Thanks!
Physicality—when kids need more activity
/games/ leads to a page on other kinds of games,
but has a copy of a 16th century painting called "Childrens' Games" and a link to a closeup.
Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Playing Nest |
What’s the Difference Between a Pecan and a Walnut?
So what are the differences? They do share the same family of trees but they have different shells and tastes.
The simplest way to remember which one is which is that pecans are a darker color and have a smoother exterior than walnuts. Pecans have a sweeter taste than walnuts but walnuts are more buttery.
When it comes to nutritional information, they are very similar but there are some differences that may make an impact depending on your dietary needs and goals.
In this article, we’ll be taking you through these differences between walnuts and pecans as well as showing their similarities.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a better understanding of how they can work in various recipes and when to substitute them with each other.
Pecan vs Walnut
Both walnuts and pecans come from the Junlandacea or the walnut family. With more than 50 species of this family around the globe, the majority of them are found in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in North and Central America and Europe.
Interestingly, however, pecans are native to Mexico and South American whereas walnuts have their origins in both Americas, Asia and Europe.
There is a major difference in the trees that you find pecans and walnuts. A pecan tree is more likely to grow a lot more than walnut trees.
Walnut trees grow an average of 70 to 80ft tall whereas pecan trees have an average height between 70 and 100 feet and can ever be taller. It’s not unusual to see pecan trees double in height during their prime growth.
Walnut Tree Leaves vs Pecan Tree Leaves
On the outside, both pecan and walnut trees look very similar and the major difference to know which one is which is looking at the leaves.
Both trees have an alternate arrangement which means that they become more scattered as you look upwards compared to trees that have leaves opposite each other.
The shapes are also distinctive as pecan tree leaves are sickle shaped whereas walnut tree leaves have a lance-like appearance that is wider at their base and tipped at the top.
You’re more like to find more leaves on a pecan tree compared to a walnut tree which is another major indicator.
What is a pecan nut?
Pecans are nuts that grow on pecan trees and have a distinctive shell.
One of the most popular varieties of nuts available, they are often consumed as a snack by themselves but can also be incorporated into a wide range of sweet and savory dishes across various cuisines, adding a distinctive flavor and a smooth and crunchy texture to your food.
Although they are often referred to as culinary nuts, pecans are not actually nuts. A true nut will only consist of a hard shell and soft, edible seed.
With pecans, there is a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to growing and preparing them for sale. They are technically a fruit because they have a pit much like a peach, but do not have a juicy flesh.
The outer husk dries and cracks which then exposes this pit and the pit is what is considered a nut.
What do pecans look like?
Although pecans and walnuts may look similar on the outside, once they are cracked, the differences in appearance are abundantly clear.
The pecan shell is a light brown shade that is long and smooth with a pointed tip where they were connected to the stem and the other end is rounded. The edible pit inside the shell is a lot darker than the shell and has a consistent shape.
Pecans tend to have wrinkles and ridges but these are more uniform in appearance and less random in the way that walnuts are. You’ll usually see one thin ridge down the middle which divides the two halves and each half will have their own single indentation.
What do pecans taste like?
The taste of pecans is sweet and chewy. They are usually dryer than walnuts because there isn’t as much oil in them but as they warm, the taste becomes richer and more suited for savory consumption.
This quality is what makes pecans so versatile for both sweet and savory dishes. You can use them in fruit and sweet potatoes if you’re wanting to add some extra flavor and texture in your savory meal or wanting that extra crunch in pecan pie.
Types of Pecans
There are actually 500 different types of pecans that produce nuts that have their differences in flavor, color, size and texture.
Which variation you get depends on where you purchase your pecans from. If you purchase pecans from a commercial company, you’re more likely to come across fewer kinds of pecans and they are not differentiated clearly in the packaging as they are very similar.
Large manufacturers grow pecans in a way that has a thinner shell to make it easier to crack for consumers. Wild grown pecans, however, have a thicker shell that will require more force to open.
How to Harvest Pecans
Harvesting pecans is not actually as difficult as it may seem. Make sure that you have the space so you can forage properly.
Simply look on the ground around the pecan tree and pick up the nuts. You’ll know that they are fully ripe when the husk splits open and the shell and seed drops onto the ground.
If you can see a lot of nuts on the ground, there are probably even more in the tree ready to drop. You can shake the tree lightly and see if any more fall out.
Make sure you are inspecting each pecan you pick up and check for wormholes. If a worm has managed to get through the shell then the pecan will be inedible and will have to be discarded. The same goes for pecans that have other holes and cracks as you want to be as safe as possible.
Pecans have a great advantage in that they have a long shelf life and can be frozen for up to 2 years meaning that there is no rush to finish them, especially if you have harvested a lot of them.
What is a walnut?
Like pecans, walnuts are an edible nut that are grown in walnut trees. You can have whole and opened walnuts.
You can eat them raw as a quick snack or cook them in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. They are known for their healthy nutritional content and are often viewed as one of the healthiest foods to include in a balanced diet.
Another similarity between walnuts and pecans is that walnuts are not true nuts because of the very same reason.
They are technically a drupe like fruit because of the outer husk that coats the shell and edible seed within. When a walnut has fully ripened, the husk will harden and crack open to reveal the shell.
What do walnuts look like?
Walnuts are rounder and bumpier than pecans because they have a clear ridge that goes through the middle. The shell has a wrinkly and matured appearance.
The walnut itself looks a lot like a brain rather than a pecan thanks to the bumpy and irregular surface.
It can then be broken into smaller pieces easily once the shell has been cracked open. Surprisingly, walnut flesh is a lot lighter than pecans.
When you crack the shell, there is a papery textured skin that separates the uneven surface and grooves of the walnut. A lot of people don’t like to eat the skin because they don’t like the texture but it can be eaten.
For those who wish to remove the skin, it can be a bit tricky to remove and can cause more breakages in the nut.
What do walnuts taste like?
Walnuts do not have as sweet a taste as pecans and are quite bitter and buttery in taste and texture. They have a slight crunch and an earthy bite whilst also providing that signature nutty flavor.
You’ll often see walnuts in recipes where a natural sweetener is required and are often found in granola, muffins and ice cream to name a few.
You can also use walnuts in a variety of savory dishes as well making it just as versatile as pecans.
Types of Walnuts
Unlike pecans, there are not as many kinds of walnuts as there are only two common varieties. The first is the Persian walnut which is also known as the English walnut and the second is the Black walnut.
The most popular of the two is Persian and English walnuts as their shells are not as difficult to crack. Their flavor is not as strong as Black walnuts.
On the other hand, for those who want that strong walnut taste, Black walnuts are the best option for you. Walnuts can be found and harvested around the world making them extremely accessible and popular.
They are native to Europe and Asia but states such as California and Arizona have proven to be ideal places for walnut trees to grow, especially Black walnuts.
How to Eat Walnuts
Like pecans, walnuts can be eaten in a variety of ways. The easiest way being that you can eat them raw as a healthy snack throughout the day.
You can even toast them or make a walnut butter or spread if you prefer. Always make sure you remove them from their shells before consuming or cooking. You will find that English walnuts can be cracked by hand but Black walnuts will require a sturdy nutcracker to pry the shell open.
Because of its hearty content, walnuts can be used in savory and sweet recipes and provide a thick and meaty texture to any dish.
You also have the option to use them as an ingredient or topping depending on what texture you want to give your dish. Whether you want a crunchy or chewy texture, you’ll still get that nutty flavor that compliments the majority of ingredients.
If you’re making a savory dish, it’s always advised to toast the walnut first so it is fresh and warm along with the rest of the meal. For those who have extra walnuts to use, you can make it into a sauce as it can be toasted and then pureed to create a creamy consistency.
If you’re not wanting to incorporate actual walnuts into your dishes, you can use walnut oil which will provide a hint of nutty flavor without having to spend time deshelling and cooking the walnuts before adding them. Like pecans, you can store walnuts in the freezer to preserve them for up to one year.
Nutrition Content
As mentioned earlier in the guide, pecans and walnuts have a very similar nutritional makeup because of how closely related they are.
Both are rich sources of healthy fats whilst also being low in carbohydrates and have a variety of minerals and vitamins. In this section, we’ll be delving into the specifics of the nutritional content for both.
Nutritional Content of Pecans
Pecans are very good for no matter what kind of diet that you are on.
Whether you are on the keto diet or just like to track your carb intake, you’re probably wanting to look at the nutritional content of pecans before you begin to incorporate them regularly in your diet.
The advantages of pecans are that they have a low carbohydrate count, low sugar content with a high amount of fiber which is ideal for your digestive system and metabolism.
They also have a decent amount of protein as well as healthy fats and essential vitamins and minerals.
Fat Content
If you plan on eating an entire cup of pecans in one sitting, then you’re going to fulfil your fat intake for the day.
As with anything, you need to monitor how much you are wanting to consume in a single sitting to avoid going over the recommended daily intake.
Equally, another important aspect is that you are aware of the fats that are found in pecans as not every fat is a negative factor.
You’ll find that pecans are high in monounsaturated fats, also known as MUFAs. These are among the healthiest types of fat that you could include in your diet and have an array of benefits including improvements to blood sugar levels, blood pressure levels and balanced cholesterol levels.
Vitamin Content
Both pecans and walnuts have a high B vitamin content with pecans outperforming in thiamine which is known as vitamin B1.
Thiamine is a highly beneficial vitamin as it can help convert your food into energy which is great for those who want to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
It helps to sustain and increase your metabolism as more energy will be transported to your cells.
Mineral Content
When it comes to the mineral content, walnuts have more benefits than pecans in the majority of cases. Pecans contain a lot of zinc which is ideal for maintaining your immune system’s health as well as other benefits.
They also contain manganese which is a trace mineral and essential for your health. You only need a small amount of it but it will help your brain and nervous systems to function properly.
Walnuts also contain manganese but pecans contain more.
Nutritional Content of Walnuts
Like pecans, walnuts also contain a variety of essential vitamins and minerals that are essential for your diet, especially if you lead an active lifestyle.
An easy health fact to know is that walnuts have many benefits for the brain while they look like little brains. They are full of healthy fats that bring the same benefits as pecans as well as vitamins that can help to reduce any inflammation and minor damage to your brain tissue.
Walnuts also have a higher amount of protein than pecans but do have less fiber content. Both nuts help to satisfy your hunger whilst also increasing your satiety.
Fat Content
Walnuts have a high content of polyunsaturated fats which are known as PUFAs whereas pecans have a high MUFA content. PUFAs include omega fatty acids which are extremely important.
Walnuts are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids as they help to reduce any inflammation and can help to improve heart disease and diabete conditions.
They also contain omega 6 fatty acids but have the perfect balance between the two. If the balance between omegas 3 and 6 is off then it can contribute to inflammation but walnuts are a fantastic plant based source of the two.
Vitamin Content
As mentioned before, both walnuts and pecans are full of essential vitamins and minerals. When it comes to walnuts, they are a great source of vitamins A, E, K and B.
In particular, walnuts are a fantastic source of vitamin B6 which can help your metabolism to function correctly as well as crucial to creating new red blood cells and neurotransmitters.
Mineral Content
With the exception of zinc and manganese, walnuts outperform pecans when it comes to the other minerals. They are a better source of calcium, iron and potassium meaning that they will provide a healthy maintenance of your bones and blood.
They also contain magnesium, phosphorus and copper which are essential and can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Copper specifically is ideal because it helps to absorb iron and plays a major role in red blood cell production as well as helping to maintain your bones, connective tissue and major organs, keeping your body in optimum health.
How do you toast pecans?
Toasting pecans is great because it brings out a richer flavor which will compliment any dish or can be eaten as a snack by themselves.
You can choose whether to add in a bit of extra fat such as melted coconut oil and then add some seasoning that is going to compliment the recipe you are making.
If you’re making a savory meal then curry blend or paprika are some popular choices and for sweet treats, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg are fantastic choices that compliment the pecans and work with a variety of different dishes.
To toast the pecans, spread them across a baking sheet that has been covered in parchment paper and then cook them for around 8 to 10 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. Make sure you shake and turn them at least once to avoid them from burning on one side and having one uncooked side.
If you don’t want to use your oven, a faster option is toasting your pecans in a pan over a medium heat for around 5 minutes. You will have to make sure you are stirring the pecans constantly to prevent them from burning.
Are pecans keto friendly?
Pecans are extremely keto friendly and are actually one of the most keto friendly nuts available. With only 20 grams of fat and 4 grams of carbohydrates in a one ounce serving,
Because they have a similar nutritional makeup, walnuts are also very keto friendly as well with the same amount of carbohydrates but a lower amount of fats with 18 grams per ounce serving.
If you’re wanting to start eating nuts for snacks as part of a balanced diet then both pecans and walnuts are great options.
Can dogs eat walnuts?
English walnuts are usually safe for dogs whereas Black walnuts can be toxic as well as the hulls so bear this in mind if you find your dog raiding your food.
However, if your dog has a little bit of walnut that has been mixed in with other foods then it shouldn’t pose a problem and there is probably no reason to panic.
If there is a walnut tree in your garden or nearby then make sure you keep an eye out for your dog in case then run off and start hunting for the nuts. This can prove to be harmful if they end up consuming the hulls and shells.
Another dangerous aspect to dogs is that walnuts that have been penetrated by worms and are now rancid can be fatal if a lot are consumed.
When it comes to pecans, dogs should be completely avoided because they contain aflatoxin which can cause long term liver damage in dogs.
If they end up eating a tiny piece by accident then nothing will probably happen but if given as a regular treat is going to do a lot more harm than good.
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