Split (1)

train · ~97.7M rows (showing the first 849k)

text stringlengths 144 682k
Does the use of social media contribute to addiction in Gambling ? According to a recent study, frequent usage of social networks cannot be the same as dependence. Researchers from Strathclyde University challenged over 100 people to find such social media applications as fast and reliably as possible on a virtual mobile screen, avoiding other apps ไทย คา สิ โน. The size and form of use and interaction of social media is vary by the participants. The goal of the exercise was to evaluate why social media users who registered the highest levels of usage were more likely to focus on apps through the mechanism known as ‘attention bias. Gambling addiction: Symptoms, triggers, and treatment The indication of findings It also evaluated whether this distortion was linked to results of proven social media involvement and ‘addiction’ interventions. The results indicated that people were not more interested in social media applications, such as a weather app เกมส์คาสิโน, but not in self-reporting or observable addiction levels. This was in accordance with other research that showed a careful bias with gambling and alcohol addictions. Competence Addictions Journal. The use of social media has been an omnipresent feature of the population with 3.8 billion users worldwide, said Dr David Robertson, a lecturer in psychology at Strathclyde and a research associate. Although study has shown that social media engagement has positive aspects such as social interaction and well-being, the emphasis has largely been on negative consequences of mental health associated with excessive use, for example elevated levels of depression and anxiety. There is also a widening argument on whether unhealthy amounts of social media use can become an addictive behaviour scientifically identified, though. We saw no proof of careful prejudice. People who updated and shared their social media account regularly were less likely than people who checked and post less often to be attracted to the social media app’s symbol. There would be much more study, both positive and negative, on the impact of social media use before definite results about the psychological influence of the relationship between these networks can be drawn. Our analysis shows that frequent use of social media already cannot necessarily fit into conventional systems of dependence. Why Bitcoin's Gambling Boom is Only Just Getting Started In the autumn of 2019, Evers, the Democrat, convened a special legislature on gun control casino online 1b2u. It introduced a law known as ‘red flag’ which would have required judges to take weapons away from individuals considered dangerous and a bill demanding an overview of almost all arms sales. Republicans who govern the Legislature declined to take any action. If the game is more or less clean at the highest level, in local and state leagues corruption cases emerge. The shortest format is seen as a major obstacle for his team to thrive spot and avoid “shady” behaviours in these ligaments. Betting promotes fixing matches. There can then be no adjustment here, and we should tighten up the rules. We’re going to check on it. Cricket is largely free of corruption. It is very prestigious Although the game remains cleaner at the highest level, in the local area cases of corruption are apparent
This blog post originally appeared on Adipocytes do more than simply store fat. They also play a role in metabolic diseases. Through better understanding of how adipose cells function and interact, researchers can develop new, targeted therapies for treating adipositas and diabetes. Our bodies and the bodies of all living organisms work like batteries: we get energy from food, light, or other sources and store it. When needed, we convert energy in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules, the primary energy-carriers, which are then recycled about 500 times a day, just like rechargeable batteries. We owe this discovery to the British scientist and later Nobel-laureate Peter Mitchell, who formulated the chemiosmotic theory in the early 1960s. At that time, many scientists rejected Mitchell’s theory. Today, however, it is universally accepted that ATP molecules transfer biological energy to the mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of the cells. These small cytoplasmatic organelles carry out metabolic processes that maintain the health of cells and tissues. Since Mitchell’s discovery, many scientists have investigated the processes that keep life going. However, many questions remain. For example, which role do mitochondria play exactly in the metabolism of adipose tissue, and do fat cells contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as adipositas and diabetes? Adipose tissue: a multitasker organ Much more than “fat-storing” cells: white adipocytes not only store fat, but they also produce hormones that regulate energy homeostasis, food intake, and tissue regeneration. Acting as an energy bank, storing and releasing energy is just one role of the highly dynamic adipose tissue. Adipocytes, mature fat cells, also produce and secrete hormones, which influence energy intake. Moreover, some adipocytes can convert chemical energy in heat. Adipocytes are not the only components of adipose tissue, which is also made of connective tissue and other cells such as preadipocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and stem cells. These cells work together to maintain adipocyte integrity and hormonal balance. Different types of adipose tissue perform different functions. In humans, three types of adipose depots exist, mainly found under the skin and inside the abdomen: white, brown, and beige or brite adipose tissue. White adipocytes are quite large spherical cells with few mitochondria and a single lipid droplet. They store excess calories in form of triglycerides to be used in case of energy shortage. White adipocyte tissue also has endocrine functions and releases hormones such as leptin, adiponectin, fatty acids, and TNF-? that regulate nutrient homeostasis, food intake, inflammation, cardiovascular activity, and tissue regeneration (Medina-Gómez, 2016). The main role of brown adipocytes is building a natural defense against hypothermia by burning fatty acids to maintain body temperature. Until the past decade, researchers thought brown adipose tissue was only active in infants and young children, and that it later transformed into white adipocyte tissue with aging. However, PET scans have identified biologically active brown adipocytes in various locations under the skin in the supraclavicular region and around blood vessels and solid organs in adults (Sacks and Symonds, 2013). Brown adipocytes are smaller than white ones, contain many mitochondria and several small lipid droplets. Scientists are investigating how beige/brite adipocytes develop and how they interact with other fat cells. In the resting phase, they resemble white adipocytes, but upon cold stimulation, they acquire a phenotype similar to that of brown adipocytes along with the thermogenic capacities of such cells (Sidossis and Kajimura, 2015). Different cells with different functions: white, beige and brown adipocytes look different and mirror their different tasks in the highly plastic adipose tissue. Even if they have specific characteristics, the different types of adipose tissue are complementary in their functions. They work together in a fine-tuned cooperation to maintain metabolic balance. But what happens when this balance becomes unstable? Recent studies have shown that when the protective function of brown adipose tissue against metabolic diseases is disrupted, diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and adipositas can result. Also, excess white adipose tissue increases the risk factor of heart diseases and heart failure. A complex network of interacting cells: white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue are made of adipocytes, connective tissue, immune cells and stem cells. Cells work with each other to ensure energy balance. Trying to identify the link between adipositas and insulin resistance “Adipose tissue contains many molecules that are involved in processes necessary for maintaining metabolic balance. This is why it plays a crucial role in the onset of metabolic diseases,” explains Melissa Olekson, scientific support specialist at PromoCell. Today obesity presents a global health epidemic. It is linked to high-mortality diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular pathologies. Every year, obesity becomes more widespread. Recent studies suggest that 18% of men and 21% of women globally will be classified as obese by 2025, with more than 300 million people suffering from obesity-associated type 2 diabetes (Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration, 2016). Based on this alarming forecast, researchers are striving to better characterize the molecular mechanisms that link adipose tissue with metabolic disorders. Obesity results when energy intake surpasses energy expenditure and also depends on the interaction of many factors including genetics, epigenetics, environment and lifestyle (Schwartz et al., 2017). This explains why, unlike most endocrine diseases, researchers still struggle to understand the underlying disease mechanisms. Despite decades of research and considerable investment, effective therapies are still lacking. Maintaining metabolic homeostasis: adipose tissue has a key role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Mediators such as leptin, adiponectin and fatty acids influence the function of many organ systems. (From Stern et al., 2017) In the case of “healthy” weight gain, white adipose tissue expands by changing the size of mature adipocytes and by recruiting and differentiating pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells. In “unhealthy” obesity, white adipose tissue is dysfunctional and cannot expand properly to store the excess energy. Fat is then deposited in tissues of the liver, muscles, heart, and other visceral organs, which leads to local inflammation. This so called “lipotoxicity” can then induce insulin resistance and increase the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Longo et al., 2019). When adipose tissue expands rapidly, it can cause cell death, hypoxia and mechanical stress. These signals promote macrophage infiltration that lead to an inflammatory response. In fact, when analyzing the adipose tissue in obese patients, researchers found that up to 40% of cells are macrophages (Weisberg et al., 2003). Chronic low-grade inflammation impairs the function of adipose tissue, hindering adipogenesis and reducing insulin sensitivity. The activation of the immune system in the organs involved in energy homeostasis creates the link between obesity and insulin resistance. A crucial component of preadipocyte media Ciglitazone is a synthetic agent belonging to the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic agents. It is an essential component in PromoCell Preadipocyte Differentiation Medium and is necessary for the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. Ciglitazone binds the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma, activating the transcription factor PPAR-gamma. This factor is involved in the regulation of adipogenesis and lipid storage and influences lipid metabolism and thermogenesis (Ma et al., 2018). Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondria influence the onset and progression of obesity and related pathologies. Damages to the mitochondrial respiratory chain compromise adipocyte differentiation (Cedikova et al., 2016). Based on this knowledge, scientists continue to seek deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for adipose tissue dysfunction. This will enable them to develop targeted treatments so that patients no longer suffer the negative metabolic consequences of obesity. Brown and beige adipocytes: potential targets for therapy Along with interventions targeted at improving adipose tissue health, brown adipose tissue and beige adipocytes show promise as therapeutic targets for adipositas. In fact, brown adipose tissue is central to energy homeostasis and to glucose homeostasis. Beige adipocytes reside among white adipocytes and can be activated in response to external stimuli such as cold temperatures, exercise and nutrition. During this “browning” process, beige adipocytes acquire brown adipose tissue characteristics, consuming energy by heat production. Alternatively, these stimuli could also induce transdifferentiation of white adipocytes into mature brown adipocytes. Hormones including prostaglandins, natriuretic peptide, BMP or VEGF regulate brown and beige adipocytes. These factors can increase energy expenditure and improve glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Emerging data support the creation of a “metabolic sink” for glucose and triglycerides, which would treat obesity by promoting the development of beige adipocytes (Sidossis and Kajimura, 2015). An alternative therapeutic approach could base on blocking regulators such as TGF-?, which hamper the function of brown and beige adipocytes in obese patients. In some studies, TGF-? neutralizing antibodies protect animals from obesity and insulin resistance (Yadav et al, 2011). Preadipocytes: peeking into the development of metabolic diseases To characterize molecular pathways of metabolic diseases and identify new treatment modalities, relevant in vitromodels are needed. “Preadipocytes offer a very useful cell model. They not only provide insights in key human signaling pathways, but also offer a platform to test possible treatments in vitro,” explains Olekson. Scientists can use preadipocytes to investigate physiological and pathological mechanisms controlling the function and differentiation of adipose tissue. “The techniques used in these studies include modification of gene expression and analysis of cell markers,” says Olekson. “Preadipocytes can also be used as a cell model for diabetes studies or for observing adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.” For example, researchers can compare preadipocytes from diabetic patients with preadipocytes from healthy donors to detect differences in intracellular processes, gene expression and cytokine release. Supporting customers and their projects: Melissa Olekson is a scientific support specialist, helping researchers to establish in vitro adipose-cell models for looking into molecular processes in metabolic diseases. By investigating interactions between healthy and immune cells, scientists gain insights in the chronic inflammatory processes underlying adipositas-associated type 2 diabetes. In a recent study, Kongsuphol and colleagues co-cultured adipose tissue with immune cells in a microfluidic-based in vitro model. As this allows the measurement of cytokines and provides data on inflammatory reactions and insulin sensitivity, this model could be used for screening diabetic drugs. Similar to these researchers, scientists around the globe are striving to understand the complexity of our “rechargeable batteries.” In their search for new methods to fight obesity, they seek insights in the extreme plasticity of adipose tissue. Contact Banksia for PromoCell Sales Enquiries Call Banksia on 1300 769 944, +617 3902 3000 or complete the below form. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published.
What are Terpenes? Posted by E1011 Labs on E1011 Labs provides a 101 in Terpenes for you. Terpenes are microscopic compounds that can carry a sensory punch. Have you ever breathed in the fresh smell of a flowering jasmine bush or taken in the sweet scent of a freshly mowed lawn on a summer day? Or how about the smell of a mojito? Almost every time you've stopped to enjoy an aroma, you could chalk it up to terpenes. The flora and fauna kingdoms are full of terpenes, and although they are generally found in plants, terpenes have become a buzzword in the hemp industry. Hemp plants are naturally high in terpenes, and different phenotypes will contain a variety of terpenes. These aromatic compounds serve an essential purpose for plants in the unforgiving realm of nature; terpenes can protect plants from possible threats, such as infections and even grazing animals. If terpenes can do all this (and more) in nature, how do they impact the human body? Studies indicate that terpenes could offer some personal health benefits. Naturally, these potential benefits can excite the public, and combined with a good marketing strategy it has become a popular angle for hemp companies to explore. The increased interest in the cannabis industry has driven more scientific research into how terpenes affect the human body and how our body’s systems respond to them. Before we get too stuck into what the research, let's take a look at terpenes in general. So, we have covered that terpenes are aromatic compounds, providing the earth with scents and smells. They are found mainly in herbs, plants, and flowers, but are also found in some animals. When you smell a scented candle or even the lemon-scented dish liquid, they are usually made with isolated terpenes to give these manufactured goods their odors. Most perfumes, cosmetics, and even some food goods have been made using isolated terpenes. In the natural kingdom, plants use terpenes to repel dangers (predators such as animals and insects), and other plants use terpenes to attract their relative pollinators. Some terpenes can also repair a plant after damage while others even improve their immune system (yes, plants do have one). What is the difference between Terpenes and Terpenoids? A living plant has terpenes, but when the plant dries and begins to 'cure,' these terpenes start to oxidize and are called terpenoids. What is the Difference between Terpenes and Cannabinoids? cbd and thc comparison of chemical compounds Terpenes are found in abundance in the plant kingdom, and Cannabis Sativa L. contains both cannabinoids and terpenes. Although both can be found in hemp plants, they are separate compounds that have entirely different functions. Phytocannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two of the mainstream market's most well-known cannabinoids. Most mammals, including humans, have receptors within the body that interact with these cannabinoids. And these receptors are a part of the endocannabinoid system - a system that is included in our anatomies. When a person uses cannabis, this very interaction influences the 'high' that is often associated with cannabis consumption. CBD is currently being researched for possible health benefits, and although the research does look promising, more scientific clinical trials need to occur. Many people use CBD to help boost their health by adding it to their daily wellness routine. Unfortunately, edible CBD like tinctures and capsules aren’t efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream, wasting most of the cannabinoid. Luckily, Elon by E1011 Labs offers a better, more efficient way. This state of the art CBD delivery system is designed to maximize bioavailability, making the CBD incredibly more effective. Additionally, their Stems contain the hemp whole flower instead of extracts, meaning the naturally occurring terpenes found within the hemp plant are included. With the Elon Starter Kit you can add the benefits of THC, CBD and terpenes into your life! Despite the two cannabinoids (THC and CBD) being far and away the most well-known, there are over 100 different cannabinoids found in the cannabis and hemp plants. A full-spectrum product, like the Elon Starter Kit, would include many other cannabinoids beyond CBD and THC. Although terpenes are mainly responsible for some plants' aromatic qualities, some terpenes do interact with the endocannabinoid system as well, in much the same way that cannabinoids do. However, there are key differences in how our bodies absorb, assimilate, and use these compounds. Can Terpenes Affect People? Some terpenes are bioactive compounds. If a substance is bioactive, then it means that it can have an influence or effect on the body. The exact details of this effect will depend on which terpene it is, the concentration, and how it is ingested (or how it is used). Terpenes have vibrant aromas and are essentially the backbone of aromatherapy, including essential oils. Many other alternative therapies use terpenes, as well. Some terpenes can influence your mood, providing relaxation, and ease stress. Regarding hemp and cannabis, there is a body of research suggesting that terpenes can impact the overall interaction of cannabis and the human body; this is known as 'the entourage effect.' This effect explains how terpenes, phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, and other naturally occurring compounds work together systematically and enhance each other’s effects. To encourage the entourage effect, e1011 labs fills each Stem with premium full-spectrum CBD flower. This beautifully sun-grown hemp combines CBD with natural terpenes to help increase overall wellness. A review in the Frontiers in Neurology reported how epileptic sufferers who took a full spectrum CBD extract experienced improved results compared to those who were given a CBD isolate dose. Full-spectrum CBD will contain the complete range of naturally occurring compounds, including terpenes. If we turn back to specific research on terpenes, some studies show the medicinal properties of certain individual terpenes’ medicinal properties. This study, published in Chemico-Biological Interactions, shows how terpenes have beneficial properties for the human body and have the potential to play an important role in alternative therapies and medicines. What Types of Terpenes should you Know? There is a sea of scents out there, and the natural world is teeming with different terpenes. However, research has focused on just a small percentage of terpenes. Here are some of the well-known terpenes: Pinene is a terpene that is abundant in the natural world. Pine needles, rosemary, and basil contain this terpene that offers their signature bright and fresh aroma. There are two different types of pinene: • a-pinene • b-pinene Both forms of pinene give off a refreshingly bright scent, and research suggests that pinene could support good health. A traditional Japanese therapy, Shirin-yoku (literally 'forest bathing') is based on taking walks in the forest and breathing in the forest scents. According to research, this ancient therapy could have both restorative and preventive properties. According to a study published in the Acta Salus Vitae, the fresh air in a healthy forest contains enough pinene to have therapeutic benefits. These proposed therapeutic benefits allow pinene to be a bronchodilator, which simply means it helps the lungs to have an increased amount of air. Pinene could also be anti-inflammatory and, when inhaled, could help to ward off infections and germs. Limonene is another common terpene found in abundance in the natural world. Many people will be able to recognize this terpene as it can be found in abundance in many manufactured goods. It gives off a citrus scent, and it is present in the rinds of most citrus fruits. Chemico-Biological Interactions published a study detailing limonene's therapeutic benefits: • antioxidant • anti-inflammatory • antiviral • antidiabetic Studies suggest that the limonene terpene has these effects because it can regulate some immune cells, helping them to offer protection from some disorders. Some of the other common terpenes include: • Myrcene (commonly found in lemongrass, hops, and thyme) • Linalool (found in abundance in lavender) • Beta-caryophyllene (widely found in peppercorns, cloves, and other herbs and vegetables) While more conclusive studies need to be performed, so far, the research is suggesting that terpenes could help prevent asthma and allergic reactions. There is so much more to learn about the natural world, and while we are only just discovering the tip, the proverbial iceberg looks promising. ← Older Post Newer Post → The Next Industry Standard
(Redirected from Rhizariae) Temporal range: Neoproterozoic - Recent Ammonia tepida (Foraminifera) Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota (unranked): Diaphoretickes Clade: TSAR Clade: SAR (unranked): Rhizaria Cavalier-Smith, 2002 The Rhizaria are a species-rich supergroup of mostly unicellular[1] eukaryotes.[2] Except for the Chlorarachniophytes and three species in the genus Paulinella in the phylum Cercozoa, they are all non-photosynthethic, but many foraminifera and radiolaria have a symbiotic relationship with unicellular algae.[3] A multicellular form, Guttulinopsis vulgaris, a cellular slime mold, has also been described.[4] This supergroup was proposed by Cavalier-Smith in 2002. Being described mainly from rDNA sequences, they vary considerably in form, having no clear morphological distinctive characters (synapomorphies), but for the most part they are amoeboids with filose, reticulose, or microtubule-supported pseudopods. The Rhizaria’s pseudopodial mineral skeleton network, which is made up of opal (SiO₂), celestite (SrSO₄), or calcite (CaCO₃), is what differentiates it from the amoebae. It can attain sizes of more than a centimeter with some species being able to form cylindrical colonies approximately 1 cm in diameter and greater than 1 m in length. They feed by capturing and engulfing prey within the extensions of their pseudopodial skeletons, and some even become homes for algae, which aid in boosting the total primary production of the ocean.[5] The three main groups of Rhizaria are:[6] A few other groups may be included in the Cercozoa, but some trees appear closer to the Foraminifera. These are the Phytomyxea and Ascetosporea, parasites of plants and animals, respectively, and the peculiar amoeba Gromia. The different groups of Rhizaria are considered close relatives based mainly on genetic similarities, and have been regarded as an extension of the Cercozoa. The name Rhizaria for the expanded group was introduced by Cavalier-Smith in 2002,[7] who also included the centrohelids and Apusozoa. Another order that appears to belong to this taxon is the Mikrocytida.[8] These are parasites of oysters. This includes the causative agent of Denman Island Disease, Mikrocytos mackini a small (2−3 μm diameter) amitochondriate protistan.[9] Evolutionary relationships Rhizaria are part of the Diaphoretickes (bikont) clade along with Archaeplastida, Alveolata, Cryptista, Haptista, and Halvaria. Historically, many rhizarians were considered animals because of their motility and heterotrophy. However, when a simple animal-plant dichotomy was superseded by a recognition of additional kingdoms, taxonomists generally placed Rhizarians in the kingdom Protista. When scientists began examining the evolutionary relationships among eukaryotes using molecular data, it became clear that the kingdom Protista was paraphyletic. Rhizaria appear to share a common ancestor with Stramenopiles and Alveolates forming part of the SAR (Stramenopiles+Alveolates+Rhizaria) super assemblage.[10] Rhizaria has been supported by molecular phylogenetic studies as a monophyletic group.[11] Biosynthesis of 24-isopropyl cholestane precursors in various rhizaria[12] suggests a relevant ecological role already during the Ediacaran. Phylogeny based on Bass et al. 2009,[13] Howe et al. 2011,[14] and Silar 2016.[15] In 2019, the Cercozoa were recognized as a basal Rhizaria group, as sister of the Retaria.[16] 1. ^ Christopher Taylor (2004). "Rhizaria" . Archived from the original on 2009-04-20. 2. ^ Nikolaev SI, Berney C, Fahrni JF, et al. (May 2004). "The twilight of Heliozoa and rise of Rhizaria, an emerging supergroup of amoeboid eukaryotes" . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101 (21): 8066–71. doi:10.1073/pnas.0308602101 . PMC 419558 . PMID 15148395 . 3. ^ Gast, Rebecca J.; Caron, David A. (2001-10-01). "Photosymbiotic associations in planktonic foraminifera and radiolaria". Hydrobiologia. 461 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1023/A:1012710909023 . ISSN 1573-5117 . S2CID 1387879 . 4. ^ Brown; et al. (2012). "Aggregative Multicellularity Evolved Independently in the Eukaryotic Supergroup Rhizaria" . Current Biology. 22 (12): 1123–1127. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.04.021 . PMID 22608512 . 5. ^ Caron, D. (2016). The rise of Rhizaria. Nature (London), 532(7600), 444–445. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature17892 6. ^ Moreira D, von der Heyden S, Bass D, López-García P, Chao E, Cavalier-Smith T (July 2007). "Global eukaryote phylogeny: Combined small- and large-subunit ribosomal DNA trees support monophyly of Rhizaria, Retaria and Excavata". Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 44 (1): 255–66. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.11.001 . PMID 17174576 . 7. ^ Cavalier-Smith, Thomas (2002). "The phagotrophic origin of eukaryotes and phylogenetic classification of Protozoa" . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 52 (2): 297–354. doi:10.1099/00207713-52-2-297 . ISSN 1466-5026 . PMID 11931142 . Retrieved 2007-06-08. 8. ^ Hartikainen, H; Stentiford, GD; Bateman, KS; Berney, C; Feist, SW; Longshaw, M; Okamura, B; Stone, D; Ward, G; Wood, C; Bass, D (2014). "Mikrocytids are a broadly distributed and divergent radiation of parasites in aquatic invertebrates" (PDF). Curr Biol. 24 (7): 807–12. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.02.033 . PMID 24656829 . S2CID 17180719 . 9. ^ Hine, Pm; Bower, Sm; Meyer, Gr; Cochennec-Laureau, N; Berthe, Fcj (2001). "Ultrastructure of Mikrocytos mackini, the cause of Denman Island disease in oysters Crassostrea spp. and Ostrea spp. in British Columbia, Canada" . Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 45: 215–227. doi:10.3354/dao045215 . ISSN 0177-5103 . 10. ^ Burki, F; Shalchian-Tabrizi, K; Minge, M; Skjaeveland, A; Nikolaev, SI; Jakobsen, KS; Pawlowski, J (2007). Butler, Geraldine (ed.). "Phylogenomics Reshuffles the Eukaryotic Supergroups" . PLoS ONE. 2 (8): e790–. Bibcode:2007PLoSO...2..790B . doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000790 . PMC 1949142 . PMID 17726520 . 11. ^ Burki, Fabien; Shalchian-Tabrizi, Kamran; Pawlowski, Jan (August 23, 2008). "Phylogenomics reveals a new 'megagroup' including most photosynthetic eukaryotes" . Biology Letters. 4 (4): 366–9. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2008.0224 . PMC 2610160 . PMID 18522922 . 12. ^ Hallmann, Christian; Stuhr, Marleen; Kucera, Michal; Zonneveld, Karin; Bobrovskiy, Ilya; Bowser, Samuel S.; Pawlowski, Jan; Deckker, Patrick De; Nowack, Eva C. M. (2019-03-04). "Putative sponge biomarkers in unicellular Rhizaria question an early rise of animals". Nature Ecology & Evolution. 3 (4): 577–581. doi:10.1038/s41559-019-0806-5 . ISSN 2397-334X . PMID 30833757 . S2CID 71148672 . 13. ^ Bass D, Chao EE, Nikolaev S, et al. (February 2009). "Phylogeny of Novel Naked Filose and Reticulose Cercozoa: Granofilosea cl. n. and Proteomyxidea Revised". Protist. 160 (1): 75–109. doi:10.1016/j.protis.2008.07.002 . PMID 18952499 . 14. ^ Howe; et al. (2011), "Novel Cultured Protists Identify Deep-branching Environmental DNA Clades of Cercozoa: New Genera Tremula, Micrometopion, Minimassisteria, Nudifila, Peregrinia", Protist, 162 (2): 332–372, doi:10.1016/j.protis.2010.10.002 , PMID 21295519 15. ^ Silar, Philippe (2016), "Protistes Eucaryotes: Origine, Evolution et Biologie des Microbes Eucaryotes" , HAL Archives-ouvertes: 1–462 16. ^ Irwin, Nicholas A.T.; Tikhonenkov, Denis V.; Hehenberger, Elisabeth; Mylnikov, Alexander P.; Burki, Fabien; Keeling, Patrick J. (2019-01-01). "Phylogenomics supports the monophyly of the Cercozoa". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 130: 416–423. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.09.004 . ISSN 1055-7903 . PMID 30318266 . External links Categories: Rhizaria \| Neoproterozoic first appearances \| Taxa named by Thomas Cavalier-Smith \| Infrakingdoms Information as of: 19.06.2021 08:55:06 CEST See also: Legal Notice & Privacy policy.
WASHINGTON, United States — US surgeons have successfully implanted a heart from a genetically modified pig in a human patient, a first of its kind procedure, the University of Maryland Medical School said Monday. The surgery took place Friday, and demonstrates for the first time that an animal heart can survive in a human without immediate rejection, the medical school said in a statement. The patient, David Bennett, had been deemed ineligible for human transplant. The 57-year-old Maryland resident is being carefully monitored to determine how the new organ performs. “It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice,” he said a day before the surgery. Bennett, who has spent the last several months bedridden on a life support machine, added: “I look forward to getting out of bed after I recover.” The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization for the surgery on New Year’s Eve, as a last ditch effort for a patient who was unsuitable for conventional transplant. “This was a breakthrough surgery and brings us one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis,” said Bartley Griffith, who surgically transplanted the pig heart. Bennett’s donor pig belonged to a herd that had undergone a genetic editing procedure to knock out a gene that produces a particular sugar, which would otherwise have triggered a strong immune response and led to organ rejection. The editing was performed by biotech firm Revivicor, which also supplied the pig used in a breakthrough kidney transplant on brain dead patient in New York in October. The donated organ was kept in a machine to preserve it ahead of surgery, and the team also used a new drug along with conventional anti-rejection drugs to suppress the immune system and prevent it rejecting the organ. It is an experimental compound made by Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals. To meet demand, doctors have long been interested in so-called xenotransplantation, or cross-species organ donation, with experiments tracing back to the 17th century. Early research focused on harvesting organs from primates — for example, a baboon heart was transplanted into a newborn known as “Baby Fae” in 1984, but she survived only 20 days. Today, pig heart valves are widely used in humans, and pig skin is grafted on human burn victims. Pigs make the ideal donors because of their size, their rapid growth and large litters, and the fact they are already raised as a food source.
Extrinsic Motivation: Off-grid Solar System Monitoring Solution This solar monitoring project was entered in The Hackaday Prize and didn’t make the semifinal cut, but it is worth featuring on the site because we think that it is pretty cool. The idea started all the way back in May of 2013 when [Michel] was planning to attempt to bring his house totally off the grid in an effort to become as independent from the local Utility company as possible. After a bit of calculating, he figured out that the solar cells on the roof could potentially provide about 80% of the power needed, which of course took into account the lack of sun during the winter months in his area. [Michel] posts a lot of the technical details on the Hackaday.io page and lists the components that were required to set up this system. At night, a lighting mechanism shows whether the building is being run off of the Photovoltaic (PV) System or if it is getting power from the grid. He states in the projects logs why it is important to monitor the solar cells and provides some amazing graphs of the data that was recorded through the energy-intelligence platform that he integrated into his home. An example can be seen posted below. A few quick specs of the project include the solar field being made of 16 solar modules providing 4300 Wp (Watts – peak) of electrical power. The system comes with a comprehensive remote control as well. We like this idea a lot. Now, would you install something like this up on your own home or office? Let us know in the comments. 19 thoughts on “Extrinsic Motivation: Off-grid Solar System Monitoring Solution 1. nice job! the graphs clearly shows what are the downsides of an off-grid pv islands. of course it depends on the local regulation whether one is allowed to feed back juice to the grid. but if you can have an on-grid setup, your spring-summer-fall overproduction can cover the missing energy during winter. the provider does billing on yearly basis, so nothing is lost. besides pv islands’ batteries tend to die sooner or later, say in 3-4 years. and they are not that cheap to throw them away, indeed, as they are hazardous waste. i’m lucky enough to have an on grid system, but the electrical provider will not allow me to connect the otherwise isolated S0 outputs of the counter to measure the power i fed back. so i also needed a solution to monitor how things are going. there were some ready to use solutions available by the inverter’s manufacturer, needles to say for big $$. then i found an rs422 board on ebay which connects to the inverters internal bus, and normally is used to daisychain multiple inverters to provide common management. it was like 30Eur or so. then i just needed an usb-to-rs422 dongle (also from ebay, never the less, it needed some soldering as it came with a wrong diode installed) and the all-rounder TP-Link MR3020 (16EUR where i live + TAX), installed a stripped down openwrt, and my monitoring solution was ready. Fronius has a pretty good documentation of their stuff, which also included the coms protocol on the rs422 bus, so as long the inverter produces something i can read several values from the bus (actual power, actual current, actual voltage [ac and dc], daily maximums). as i am lazy i didn’t wanted to build visualisation for the data i gather, i just send them off from the mr3020 to my emoncms.org feed. Thats odd isn’t it ? They don’t want you to know how much power they are getting from your installation? So I guess they don’t want to pay you properly HuH? 2. The standard lead acid batteries are far from expensive to dispose of. In fact, if you buy new batteries to replace the old ones, they’ll actually knock off the price since they can reprocess old batteries into new ones. 2. Looks nice for timing appliances and home automation Run the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, fridge, etc during low load times. The fridge can top off the cooling during dips and then coast for a while. A combined washer/dryer could get a load of laundry done any time after noon. Bitcoin mining to fill in the gaps …. 3. Just need to adjust loads. Afternoon where all the lost power is, you crank up the AC to cool the house way down so it can coast all night long. Someone mentioned that batteries don’t last long, I know guys with solar installs that have batteries that are 10 years old. If you buy garbage batteries they don’t last, you have to buy high end batteries and do the maintenance on them every 3 month as well as have an automatic watering system. And you don’t throw away old batteries, you take them to a metal scrap yard and sell them for their lead content. So he needs to install a smallish battery bank and start there to offset night loads. Problem is you cant top off batteries and ride through winter, not unless you have some very exotic batteries that can hold a charge for 1 year without power loss. 4. I have 12 Yingle cells on my roof, which can cover about 3000 peak. Minimum tends to be about 250 during the day – which still enough for our pcs, fridge and lighting. Luckily we live in an area where the grid buys from us at the same rate they sale, effectively being a battery. My only grumble is the inverter has a fancy wi-fi model and monitoring that requires you to send the data to their off-site website only to display it back to you Havnt found a way to get the data directly and dont have time to invest in that project. Which is a shame, as Id like to link it up to my LIFX bulbs to reflect usage. 1. How exactly am I being ripped of? They buy my energy back at the exact same rate their sale it to me :? Sure, I could probably shop around and buy cheaper PV’s, but paying a little extra to get the installation done for me and my power company (GreenChoice) to sort it all out is fine by me. They gota make money somehow. Their online monitoring software is good enough too – I get similar graphs to this, and can export the data easily enough. My concern was purely from a privacy standpoint. I dont see why the data needs to go to their computers and back to mine, rather then just straight to mine. It sends it though my own wi-fi network after all. Would it hurt them to put up some documentation and let me poke around with it? 5. I know I know this is hack a day and not product a day, but because there seemed to be some expressed interest in a simple solution https://www.egauge.net/ makes a really nice product, not super cheap, but in comparison to a 16 panel install, it is cheap. You can hook up multiple current transformers to the gauge and then write basic math formulas for displaying the information in near real time. Hook a couple up around the service mains, and then one up to one of the hot leads coming in from the solar array (as that will almost always be balanced you don’t need two) and and you can set up the formulas to show total house consumption, total array production, and then total array production sent out to grid if ever you are able to achieve that. With the extra inputs you can put it on things like your freezer, ac, heat pump, w/e 6. I would really like to read this project through and comment but the black background is unreadable for me . The layout is weird too on this blog site and I don’t think I can post without joining something and I have joined enough spam sites . so I’ll just express my disapointment and dislike here. Maybe someone will take it on board when they post their project . 1. My not-so-old, but probably as tired (holes in a retina ain’t fun) eyes see white-on-black better than other way around. Layout could use some work (most of the monitors sold now are landscape yet most of the internet insists on using only 25-30% of their width), but color scheme is fine. Leave a Reply to Ty Tower Cancel reply
Abstinence vs. Harm Reduction What is Abstinence? In its broadest definition, abstinence is the act of refraining from something, such as refraining from performing an action or refraining from the use of something. Various types of abstinence include abstinence from drugs, food, tobacco smoking, alcohol, sex, and caffeine. Abstinence in Addiction Treatment Abstinence is the most traditional form of addiction treatment. Abstinence-based addiction treatment rests on the idea that there is no “safe” amount of drinking or drug use for people in recovery because addiction is a chronic condition and relapse is always a possibility. What is Harm Reduction? There is no universally accepted definition of harm reduction because harm reductive interventions and policies reflect specific individual and community needs.1 Harm reduction can be described as the idea that the negative effects of certain health behaviors can be minimized without eliminating those behaviors. Why is Harm Reduction Important? Harm reduction is important because it is a means of providing support to those who need help without judgment, coercion, discrimination, or requiring that someone practice abstinence as a precondition of that support.2 Harm reduction includes therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies. Why is Harm Reduction Controversial? Harm reduction is controversial because, at first, it seems counterintuitive. Programs and facilities which provide sterile syringes to injection drug users seem to be facilitating such drug use, thereby enabling the use of illicit drugs. However, these facilities are reducing the risk of infection and spread of blood-borne disease from sharing needles, and these facilities can provide information on treatment options alongside safety practices. Principles of Harm Reduction Harm Reduction International summarizes the principles of harm reduction (as set forth by the National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC)) as:3 4 • Respect the rights of people who use drugs • Commit to evidence-based policies and practices • Commit to social justice and collaborating with networks of people who use drugs • Avoid stigma Goals of Harm Reduction The goals of harm reduction are to: • Keep people alive and encourage positive change in their lives • Reduce the harms of drug laws and policies • Offer alternatives to approaches that seek to prevent or end drug use Harm Reduction Strategies Harm Reduction Strategies Harm reduction strategies encompass a range of health and social services and practices. Needle Exchange Services Syringe Services Programs (also referred to as needle exchange programs and SSP) provide access to sterile needles, syringes, and injection equipment. These programs facilitate the safe disposal of used syringes and provide and link to other services and programs such as education about overdose prevention and safer injection practices, naloxone distribution and education, screening for STDs, viral hepatitis and HIV, and referrals to treatment programs.6 Safe Injection Sites Supervised consumption services (SCS) are designated sites where people can use pre-obtained drugs under the safety and support of trained personnel.9 These services primarily aim to reduce the acute risks of disease transmission through unhygienic injecting, prevent drug-related overdose deaths and connect high-risk drug users with addiction treatment and other health and social services.8 Drinking and Driving Laws Drinking and driving laws have been demonstrated to be effective by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).9 Administrative license suspension (ALS) laws allow law enforcement and driver licensing authorities to suspend a driver’s license if the driver fails or refuses to take a BAC test. Alcohol-impaired driving laws make it illegal to drive with a BAC at or above a specified level (depending on the state), and, for people under 21, to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their systems. Other deterrents such as sobriety checkpoints and high-visibility saturation patrols work to keep impaired drivers off the road. Free Condoms Condom distribution programs (CDPs) increase the availability and accessibility of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and STDs.10 CDPs target communities at greatest risk for HIV infection and venues frequented by persons at high risk for HIV and STDs. Statistics on Harm Reduction Programs Based on 30 years of research11, the CDC reports that SSPs are a cost-effective way to help people to stop using drugs – those struggling with drug use who attend an SSP are five times as likely to enter drug treatment and three times as likely to report a reduction in injection frequency as those who do not use this hard reduction program.12 SSPs are also associated with a 50% decline in the risk of HIV transmission. SCS has been used in Europe for more than 30 years and sites have cropped up in North America as a greater body of evidence emerges supporting the efficacy of SCS. For example, a Canadian study found that SCS contributed to 67% fewer ambulance calls for treating overdoses and decreased syringe borrowing from 37% in 1996 to just 2% in 2011.13 A meta-analysis of U.S. and international studies reveal that CDPs promoting the availability, acceptability, and accessibility of condoms show to be efficacious in increasing condom use behaviors, with odds ratios of 1.81 for increased condom use, 5.40 for increased condom acquisition/condom carrying, 1.43 for delaying sexual initiation/abstinence among youth, and 0.69 for reduced incidence of STIs.14 The NHTSA gives an effectiveness rating of 5/5 stars to the countermeasures of ALS, publicized sobriety checkpoints, and a minimum drinking age of 21 laws, meaning that they are demonstrated to be effective by several high-quality evaluations with consistent results. SSPs are associated with the decline in the risk of HIV SCS contributed fewer ambulance Abstinence Strategies 12 Step Programs As suggested by its name, a twelve-step program is a program that uses the Twelve Step approach, a set of twelve steps to recover from compulsive, out-of-control behavior and restore order and manageability to life.15 The Steps encourage the practice of honesty, humility, acceptance, courage, compassion, forgiveness, and self-discipline as pathways to positive behavioral change, emotional well-being, and spiritual growth. While the twelve steps reference religious aspects, the programs themselves are not religious. However, the twelve-step philosophy does involve spirituality (for instance, a higher power may be interpreted to be something other than a religious deity). Alcoholics Anonymous (established in 1935) brought the Twelve Step approach into public consciousness.16 The success of the approach led to its adoption for a number of addiction peer-support and self-help programs designed to drive behavioral change. Narcotics Anonymous (established in 1953) is one such example.17 Other Abstinence Programs There are many other abstinence programs besides XX Anonymous. SMART Recovery is a non-profit organization providing a mental health and educational program focused on changing human behavior to those who desire to achieve abstinence, free of charge. LifeRing defines the individual’s motivation and effort as the key to recovery and thus individuals are expected to develop their “Own Personal Recovery Program”. A “3-S” philosophy of Sobriety, Secularity, and Self-Help is used to expose participants to ideas that have worked for others and encourage participants to try those that appeal to them. Which is Better: Abstinence or Harm Reduction? One main criticism of abstinence as addiction treatment is that it is often based on faith, and not all individuals are comfortable with the idea of spirituality. Furthermore, programs with abstinence as a requirement for enrollment may choose to discharge people if they do not maintain their abstinence or if they do not have good meeting attendance. This method seems strict considering that relapse is often a part of the recovery process. One main criticism of harm reduction as addiction treatment is that it relies on individuals being honest with themselves and with their peers. For instance, lying about how much of a substance a person is consuming is one symptom of addiction. In addition, harm reduction methods do not prohibit illicit drug use and do not educate people on managing pain without drug use. A 2004 study on what drug users look for when they contact abstinence or harm reduction services found that nearly 57% sought help with abstinence from drug treatment. This prioritization of abstinence over harm reduction was consistent across treatment settings (e.g. prison, residential, community), gender, treatment type, and severity of dependence. However, one-size-fits-all therapy does not work well for everyone seeking help, and newer approaches are needed to help those who may not choose abstinence as a goal. In short, while abstinence is the only true way to stop the progression of the disease of addiction, harm reduction is a useful, valuable alternative for those who are not ready or willing to go completely abstinent. Sought help with abstinence from drug treatment Treatment for Substance Use Disorder Detox is generally the first stage in treating substance use disorder. Medical detox may be necessary if the substance of abuse is an opioid, benzodiazepine, or alcohol because the withdrawal symptoms from these substances can be life-threatening (let alone unpleasant and difficult to endure). There are various therapies available to treat substance use disorder, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management (CM), motivational interviewing (MI), dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT).25 In addition, medication-assisted therapy (MAT) is a harm reduction treatment model used for opiate and alcohol addiction because it helps reduce overdose deaths. Inpatient Programs Inpatient programs are available for individuals who have unsuccessfully tried other recovery options in the past, who have difficulty maintaining sobriety, or who have medical or psychological issues in addition to substance use disorder. These individuals may need an intensive, trigger-free environment to stay on track. Inpatient program facilities provide medical care and medications and support from staff and peers. Outpatient Programs Outpatient programs are available for those whose life circumstances are not conducive to inpatient programs, who have already completed inpatient programs, or who do not need the level of medical supervision provided in inpatient programs. The main benefit of outpatient programs is the low cost (especially compared to inpatient programs). 1. https://harmreduction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NHRC-PDF-Principles_Of_Harm_Reduction.pdf 2. https://www.hri.global/what-is-harm-reduction 3. https://www.cdc.gov/ssp/syringe-services-programs-faq.html 4. https://harmreduction.org/issues/supervised-consumption-services/ 5. https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/topics/pods/drug-consumption-rooms 6. https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/strategies.html 7. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/effective-interventions/prevent/condom-distribution-programs/index.html 8. https://www.cdc.gov/pwid/index.html 9. https://www.cdc.gov/ssp/docs/Syringe-Services-Program-Infographic_508.pdf 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5685449/ 11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3180557/ 12. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/812478_countermeasures-that-work-a-highway-safety-countermeasures-guide-.pdf 13. https://www.aa.org/pages/en_us/historical-data-the-birth-of-aa-and-its-growth-in-the-uscanada 14. https://www.na.org/?ID=aboutus 15. https://lifering.org/lifering-recovery-menu/ 16. https://www.summahealth.org/flourish/entries/2019/09/harm-reduction-vs-abstinence 17. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687630410001723229 Article Contents
Local green spaces, such as Urban Forest in Huntington Beach, are able to provide enriching nature experiences for the community with volunteer support. Photo by Katie Vo. Five ways to become a better environmentalist Missed out on climate strike week? Good news, it’s never too late to join the global movement. <a href="https://highschool.latimes.com/author/knvo105/" target="_self">Katie Vo</a> Katie Vo December 28, 2021 Howard Zinn once said: “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” This means that you have the power to create a cleaner, greener future — and you’re not alone. With West Coast wildfires occurring more frequently and the recent Huntington Beach oil spill, more people are searching for ways to protect the planet. Here are five ways to become a better environmentalist. Welcome to the global movement. 1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Ah yes, back to the basics. Reducing, reusing and recycling are such simple activities that we may sometimes forget the tremendous impact they can have. In fact, they’re so simple that even elementary school students learn the environmentally friendly alliteration. Let’s expand the three R’s even further. In addition to reducing energy and water consumption, consider reducing your consumption of animal products. At least three times a day we make the decision to have a meal or a snack and not all foods are created equal. Plant-based foods are not only much more nourishing for our health than their animal product counterparts, they’re more sustainable to cultivate. They emit far less greenhouse gas emissions and waste products than animals do. This doesn’t necessarily mean going vegan is the only solution to solve the planet, but incorporating more plants in your meals and phasing out animal products is a step towards being more environmentally conscious. Try swapping out cow milk for alternatives like almond or oat. Be mindful of single-use items and opt for reusable products when possible. Although they may be on the pricier side, they’ll last longer and you can’t put a price on the health of our planet. Fountain Valley High School is in the process of reimplementing the recycling program on campus. In the meantime, try up-cycling clothes. Donate the bags of unworn clothing items to a local thrift store and clean out that closet like you’ve been meaning to. 2. Reflect Ask yourself the following questions: How do my actions impact the environment? What does my daily routine look like in the context of a developed country? Do I know what my carbon footprint is? How am I showing up to the movement? Where should I go to learn more? Reflecting on questions, like these, ground us, helping us realize where we currently stand and how we want to progress moving forward. 3. Relearn If you’re a current high school student thinking of what science class to take in the future, try Oceanography, Marine Biology or Advanced Placement Environmental Science. If you’re looking for something richer, advocate for more topics with a focus on environmental racism, tree inequity and other intersectional topics. The climate crisis disproportionately impacts lower-income, marginalized and underserved communities more often than affluent neighborhoods or countries. Those that cause the least amount of environmental degradation contend with the brunt of the catastrophic consequences: natural disasters that lead to involuntary displacement, toxic waste pollution, poor health quality, limited sanitation services and the list stretches on. Take the initiative to educate yourself and take control of your learning. Solely relying on a textbook may not be enough. Read books and research articles. Listen to podcasts and climate scientists. Learn from indigenous teachings and the people that are most deeply connected to the planet. 4. Reach out There are a plethora of environmental organizations to get involved with and donate your dollar or time to. It will take a village to face the climate crisis, so it is important to find your community. Reach out to friends and family and have these important discussions. 5. Rest Facing the climate crisis may feel defeating at times. It’s important to take breaks. Take a nature walk to realign and remember the reason why you’re doing all of this. Rest, recharge and return to the work that lays ahead. While there are innumerable ways to help heal the planet, with this five step guide, being a better environmentalist never seemed simpler. Column: This winter, encourage eating Column: This winter, encourage eating B4L changes its look B4L changes its look
Don’t Delay, Start Composting Today Not only will you save money and improve your garden, but you’ll also make fewer trips to the transfer station, all while helping the environment. You can do it in your backyard, under your sink or in your garage. How can composting save you money? If you have a garden, you’ll buy less potting soil, fertilizer and other soil amendments. A compost pile that has recently been turned and shows both nearly-composed material as well as new kitchen scraps. Anytime is a good time to start a compost pile. The fall is an especially good time because it’s a time when people usually have the most compostable waste. You can continue to add compostable food waste throughout the winter. In the spring, your pile will be ready to rot. Compost (organic matter) is sometimes called “black gold” because it’s so beneficial to your garden. Composting is arguably the most environmentally friendly form of recycling. Most recycling processes are energy intensive, especially if your recyclable items are shipped out of state to a recycling facility. By composting, you’re helping keep our dump from filling up unnecessarily. For an average household, about 20 percent of waste is compostable. If you have a yard, garden and are cooking and eating at home frequently, you’ll have a higher percentage of compostable waste. If you live in an apartment without a yard, and eat out or don’t cook from scratch much, you’ll generate less compostable waste. What can you compost? Stale bread, carrot tops, egg shells, coffee grounds, leaves, herbaceous plant parts and grass clippings, to name a few things. You should refrain from composting meat, dairy, woody plant waste (this will take a long time to break down unless you chop it up), weed seeds, diseased plants and anything toxic. You can compost fish, but it takes some special considerations. a bucket of compostable items from the kitchen You don’t need a fancy bin for composting, but a bin or fenced area will help keep moose, dogs and other critters from rifling through your pile. It can also be a little more sightly. There are lots of designs for compost bins. Cost, convenience and the ability to easily turn your pile should be considered in your bin choice. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to manure – especially chicken manure or cow manure – to incorporate into your compost pile, your compost could provide most of the nutrients your garden needs to thrive. This is organic gardening at its finest. If not, you’ll still need to fertilize your garden in addition to adding compost to your garden. a large compost pile with peppers and amaranth and paper bags The other thing to know about composting is there are many ways to do it. Find a way that fits your personality and lifestyle. Here’s what goes into a compost pile in Southcentral Alaska. The Compost Heap: Basic Composting in Alaska will give you more detailed instructions on composting. I talk about the different ways you can compost, the advantages and disadvantages of each way, step-by-step instructions, and, finally, some dos and don’ts of composting. You can base your compost pile off of a recipe included in the publication or simply use a composting calculator. Composting is not rocket science, but if you understand the science behind what’s happening, you’ll end up with higher quality product for your garden while minimizing the amount of nitrogen lost to the air and soil, which is better for the environment and your garden. Previously published in the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer October 10, 2016. Leave a Reply
Army Worms Army Worm Infestation - 2021 Fall Armyworm Control in Pastures Dalton C. Ludwick, Holly Davis, Sonja L. Swiger, and David L. Kerns Extension Entomologists, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Recent rainfall events have been a major problem this summer. As a result of this rainfall, fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) are thriving across the northern, central and eastern portions of Texas. Below is some information on the biology of the pest, how to scout for them, and control options to mitigate damage. Biology and Damage There are two strains of fall armyworms (FAW): the corn strain and the grass strain. The corn strain usually appears in the spring and early summer and feeds on crops such as corn, sorghum, and cotton. The grass strain, which is the strain that infests hay fields and pastures, generally shows up after significant rain events from mid-July through fall. The corn strain is known for being resistant to pyrethroids, while the grass strain is susceptible to pyrethroids. FAW caterpillars survive and develop better in areas with fertilized or well-watered grasses which can lead to outbreak scenarios. Multiple generations can occur in a short time-period. FAW caterpillars live for two to four weeks depending on the temperature. Freshly emerged caterpillars will begin to feed on the leaves and make small transparent areas (windowpanes; Fig. 1) giving the grass a frosted appearance. As they grow and molt, the caterpillars will begin to consume the entire leaf. The larger the caterpillar, the more damage they cause. Smaller caterpillars are easier to control. During their last few days as a caterpillar, when they are 1-1.5” in length, they consume about 80% of all the leaf tissue they will consume in their lifetime. Identification and Scouting FAW caterpillars are primarily identifiable by two features. The head will have apparent white markings that form an upside down “Y” pattern (Fig. 2). The second feature is that the last couple segments of the caterpillar will have black bumps that form a square or rectangle. There are multiple methods that are available to scout for FAW caterpillars. The more common method is to get on your hands and knees and closely inspect the grass. During hot days, check the lower parts of the plant or soil surface where they may be hiding from the harsh temperatures. Sweep nets are a very good and easy to use tool for sampling for FAW in tall grass (Fig. 3). Another method is to run your hands across a 1-2 square foot area and knock the caterpillars to the soil surface. Then, simply inspect the soil for dislodged caterpillars. Regardless of the scouting method, take note of the size of the caterpillars. Smaller caterpillars (<1/2 inch) are less damaging. Larger caterpillar (>1/2 inch) should be treated soon to prevent greater damage. If using a sweep net, then treat at 2 or more caterpillars ½ inch or larger per sweep. If making visual inspections, then treat if you have 2 or more FAW caterpillars per square foot. If you are picking up larger numbers of small caterpillars, then treatment is also justified. Most of the time fields are either well below or well above threshold. Control Options If the grass is being used for hay and is near harvest, then harvest early to prevent extra feeding damage. However, be aware that the caterpillars may consume the cut hay, so this is not always a wise option. Insecticide applications should be made early in the morning or late in the evening if possible, to ensure caterpillars come into contact with insecticide. During hotter parts of the day, caterpillars may be out of the canopy and avoid maximum insecticide exposure. There are many insecticides that can be used to control FAW caterpillars. Pyrethroids are relatively cheap and readily available. These insecticides take roughly three days to achieve maximum effectiveness against small and large caterpillars. Pyrethroid insecticides tend to have a short residual period and can be washed off by rains. This lack of rain fast protection can be a problem with the recent weather and possible overlapping generations of fall armyworm caterpillars. Addition of a product like Dimilin (or generic products with diflubenzuron) can increase the residual control period to 10-12 days, eliminating caterpillars that emerge in that timeframe. Neither pyrethroids nor Dimilin will continue providing control if rain occurs though. Another fairly inexpensive option in Intrepid (or generic products with methoxyfenozide). This product will provide residual control for about 7 days, but it must be eaten to kill the caterpillar and is not rain fast. If rain is a continuous issue, the only truly rain fast options are products such as Prevathon, Vantacor, or Besiege. All of these products contain the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole, but Besiege also contains a pyrethroid. These products are absorbed by the leaf tissue and are rain fast upon drying. While these products are more expensive, they do provide excellent residual activity and will persist longer at the higher rate. For example, Prevathon at 14 fl-oz/ac will typically provide 14 days control, and a 20 fl-oz/ac rate will provide 20-21 days of control. For additional questions about FAW control, please reach out to your local County Extension Agent, IPM Agent, or Extension Entomologist. Always use an insecticide according to the label. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is not responsible for insecticide applications, damages, or other issues encountered. Figure 1. Window-paning by FAW caterpillars. Image by Holly Davis. Figure 2. FAW caterpillar with inverted "Y" pattern. Image by Pat Porter. Figure 2. FAW caterpillars in a sweep net. Image by Gus Lorenz, University of Arkansas. Keep Midland Beautiful, Inc 3500 N A St Ste 1500 • Midland, TX 79705 (432) 688-7745 main • (432) 688-7746 fax Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Relationships and Physical Contact with Children 1. General 2. Physical Contact 3. One to one Time Alone With Children 4. Intimate Care 5. Menstruation 6. Enuresis and Encopresis 1. General The home should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive. It should be an environment that supports a child’s physical, mental and emotional health, in line with the approach set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose. Suitable arrangements should be in place in all homes for matters relating to physical contact, intimate care, menstruation, enuresis, encopresis and other aspects of children's personal care. These arrangements should take into account the child’s gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans e.g. Placement Plan and Care Plan. 2. Physical Contact Staff must provide a level of care, including physical contact, which is designed to demonstrate warmth, respect, and positive regard for children. Physical contact should be given in a manner that is safe, protective and avoids the arousal of sexual expectations or feelings or which in any way reinforces sexual stereotypes. Whilst staff are actively encouraged to play with children, it is not acceptable to play fight or participate in overtly physical games or tests of strength with the children. 3. One to One Time Alone With Children Also see Lone Working Procedure Where a staff members daily work brings them into a one to one situation they should inform other staff why this is necessary and where this will be taking place. Where one to one work is delivered as part of a specialist service or direct work programme this should be identified in the Placement Plan. Managers will, where it is deemed necessary, ensure a risk assessment is carried out for the delivery of any piece of work that is consistent with the Placement Plan. Staff should always try to keep doors open unless this constitutes a breach of privacy for the child. In these instances it may be necessary to undertake a risk assessment of the situation. No volunteer working in the home should ever be in a one to one situation with a child. If an accident happens whilst in this situation as with any other situation make sure an accident report form is filled in and signed by all parties. If anything 'unusual' happens fill in an incident report form and make sure a witness signs it. Giving first aid or personal care (where deemed necessary on the Placement Plan), should be recorded on the relevant format. If any member of staff is uneasy about the behaviour of others who are putting himself or herself or the child at risk they must inform the manager of the home. Where a member of staff feels that the unease is centred on the registered manager they must report this to a manager outside of the line management of the home, or to the child's social worker. Any allegations, suspicions and/or disclosures of abuse should be reported as per Referring Safeguarding Concerns Procedure. 4. Intimate Care Children must be supported and encouraged to undertake bathing, showers and other intimate care of themselves without relying on staff. If a child need helps with intimate care, arrangements must emphasise the child’s dignity. Where necessary staff will be provided with specialist training and support. 5. Menstruation Young women should be supported and encouraged to keep their own supply of sanitary protection without having to request it from staff. There should also be adequate provision for the private disposal of used sanitary protection. 6. Enuresis and Encopresis If it is known or suspected that a child is likely to experience enuresis, encopresis or may be prone to smearing it should be discussed openly, with the child if possible, and strategies adopted for managing it. These strategies should be outlined in the child's Placement Plan. It may be appropriate to consult a Continence Nurse or other specialist, who will provide advice on the most appropriate strategy to adopt. In the absence of such advice, the following should be adopted: 1. Talk to the child in private, openly but sympathetically; 2. Do not treat it as the fault of the child, or apply any form of sanction; 3. Do not require the child to clear up; arrange for the child to be cleaned and remove then wash any soiled bedding and clothes; 4. Keep a record, either on a dedicated form or in the child's Daily Record; 5. Consider making arrangements for the child to have any supper in good time before retiring, and arranging for the child to use the toilet before retiring; also consider arranging for the child to be woken to use the toilet during the night; 6. Consider using mattresses or bedding that can withstand being soiled or wet.
The Sublime Engagement Lord Krishna "Duties [dharma] executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord." (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.2.8) Just as our ordinary material endeavors can bear fruits when executed properly, the performance of religious or pious acts can also lead to the acquisition of material benefits. Religious life is not all about punishing oneself for no reason. In the Vedic tradition, there are many different levels of religion, and on the material level, one can acquire great religious merit through the performance of sacrifices. Yet in the end, these material rewards, along with everything else in this creation, are only temporary. Therefore the aim of life should be to find a higher engagement which transcends the temporary nature of things. Radha Krishna Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has been so kind to us that He gave us not only one system of religion, but many varieties consisting of sub-religions in a sense. The analogy to dictionaries is appropriate in this regard. One may purchase a very large dictionary which is complete with definitions of all the words of a particular language, or one may buy a pocket dictionary; something compact which serves as a handy reference. Though both dictionaries contain vital information, the larger dictionary is superior due to its completeness. In a similar manner, Krishna originally passed down the Veda to Lord Brahma, the first created living entity. Veda means knowledge, so what was imparted into Lord Brahma’s heart was the essential knowledge required for all of mankind. As time went on, the Veda then became divided into different sections and henceforth became known as the Vedas. With the onset of the Kali Yuga, the age we currently live in, many new religions came about, each tailored for the specific time and circumstances of society. The Vedas tell us that the first stage of religious life begins when one seeks out the three rewards of material life: dharma, artha, and kama. Dharma is religiosity, artha is economic development, and kama is sense gratification. These things go hand in hand. One acts religiously in order that they may procure enough money to enjoy sense gratification at a satisfactory level. For those who strive for these material rewards, dharma takes a specific shape. As mentioned before, there are different sections of the Vedas, with one of them being the karma-kanda section. Karma is fruitive activity or work performed for a desired result. Karma also means that work which automatically has an associated material reaction. Just because we work hard for something, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t side effects. For example, we may work very hard to earn a nice living, but if we engage in sinful activity, we are bound to suffer the results. Lying, cheating, stealing, illicit connection with women, and so many other sinful activities go on all the time. In a similar manner, pious activities also take place. Engaging in this sort of life means that each one of our actions has a commensurate reaction, either good or bad. Satyanarayana Katha The karma-kanda section of the Vedas delineates specific sacrifices and religious functions that one can perform for the procurement of material rewards. For example, if one wants to ascend to the heavenly planets in the afterlife, they can engage in worshiping various demigods, or they can perform specific pujas and other sacrifices. Those in the householder stage of life, the grihastha ashrama, are urged to perform many such sacrifices for the benefit of their family. Today one of the most common pujas performed by the householders of the Hindu tradition is the Satyanarayana Katha. Usually performed once a month, this puja grants a husband and wife the boons of a prosperous family life and good health. In the classic Vedic system, such sacrifices are usually only performed by brahmanas. The priestly class of men, the brahmanas, have specific occupations they are allowed to take up. Yajana and yājana, the performance of sacrifices and the teaching of the performance of sacrifices to others are two of the main businesses of a brahmana. The definition of a brahmana is one who knows Brahman, the impersonal energy of God. Lord Krishna is the original form of God and He can be realized in three distinct ways. His first feature is that of Bhagavan, meaning one who possesses all fortunes. Bhagavan then expands Himself into the heart of every living entity. This expansion is known as the Supersoul, or Paramatma. The Paramatma then further expands into Brahman, which is the impersonal effulgence from which everything in the universe emanates. “Although the Supersoul appears to be divided, He is never divided. He is situated as one. Although He is the maintainer of every living entity, it is to be understood that He devours and develops all. He is the source of light in all luminous objects. He is beyond the darkness of matter and is unmanifested. He is knowledge, He is the object of knowledge, and He is the goal of knowledge. He is situated in everyone’s heart.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.17-18) Maharishi Valmiki Brahman is the source of all things material and spiritual, thus one who knows Brahman knows how the universe operates. Brahmanas also engage in studying the Vedas and teaching Vedic knowledge to others. During the Treta Yuga, the second time period of creation, many brahmanas took to living in the forest, since the peaceful surroundings were more conducive to the performance of sacrifices. At the same time, the Rakshasa class was ascending to power. Living entities can take many forms based on their material qualities and their karma. There are up to 8,400,000 varieties of species. Rakshasas are demons by nature who live off eating flesh. In the human race, meat eaters only eat the flesh of certain animals, but Rakshasas are so vile that they feast on human flesh as well. Aside from engaging in meat eating and intoxication, the most notable trait of Rakshasas is that they are devout atheists. Not to be confused with people who may be unaware of religion, Rakshasas are staunch believers in material life, taking their bodies to be the beginning and end of everything. Since they believe so strongly in adharma, or irreligion, they view the brahmanas, the saintly class of men, as their biggest threat. “By the powers gained through our performance of religious austerities, we are certainly capable of killing these Rakshasa demons. But at the same time we don’t want to waste our ascetic merits, which took such a long time to achieve, on these demons. Oh Raghava (Rama), these demons are always putting obstacles in the way, making it impossible for us to concentrate on our performance of austerity and penance. Thus we sages are being eaten away by the Rakshasas before we can even issue a curse on them.” (Sages of Dandaka forest speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 10.13-14) Lord Rama Feeling threatened by the brahmanas living in the forests, the Rakshasas took to harassing them. They would regularly disrupt the sacrifices of the sages, killing them and then feasting off their flesh. The brahmanas weren’t completely helpless though. All Vedic rituals revolve around sound vibrations; the recitation of sacred hymns and mantras. A brahmana is expert in reciting these mantras. The sages of the forests easily could have cast various spells and curses on the Rakshasas using these mantras. Yet from the above referenced quote, we can see that the brahmanas were hesitant to use these spells because it would mean that they would lose their accumulated religious merits. This is a key point to understand. Karma-kanda activities certainly bestow rewards, but they are temporary. In essence, the rewards have an expiration date on them. Even those acting completely in the mode of goodness, sattva-guna, are not guaranteed of eternal spiritual life. If one acts piously in this life, they ascend to a heavenly planet in the material world. But residence there is no permanent, and at the expiry of their accumulated merits, they fall back down to earth. “Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship Me indirectly. They take birth on the planet of Indra, where they enjoy godly delights. When they have thus enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only flickering happiness.” (Lord Krishna, Bg. 9.20-21) If a brahmana, or anyone else, acts on the material platform and acquires religious merits, those merits eventually expire. Sometimes the boons come immediately, while other times they bear fruit way into the future, maybe even in another life. Regardless of when they are received, all such rewards are only temporary. There’s a catch that goes along with this. If one acts impiously, then their accumulated religious merits diminish. It’s similar to the concept of a see-saw, with a person’s accumulated merits and demerits on opposite sides. This was the fact referenced by the brahmanas when speaking to Lord Rama. A brahmana is supposed to be non-violent. Casting a curse on someone is not considered a good thing, especially for a brahmana who is supposed to be very tolerant. If one does cast a curse, their religious merits diminish. The brahmanas didn’t want all their hard work to go to waste, so they petitioned Lord Rama to help them. At the time, Lord Krishna had incarnated on earth in human form as Lord Rama specifically to kill the Rakshasas and to protect His devotees. Lord Rama and His pastimes Lord Rama didn’t advent just to protect ordinary brahmanas. There is a difference between a brahmana and a Vaishnava, or devotee of Lord Vishnu or Krishna. These brahmanas that approached Lord Rama were all Vaishnavas, and their austerities were being disturbed. It was for this reason that Rama agreed to help them. Devotional service, or bhagavata-dharma, is the eternal occupation of man. The Vedas refer to religion as sanatana-dharma, which, in its purified form, really means bhagavata-dharma. There are nine distinct process of devotional service, and the performance of any one of them gives rewards that far exceed any of those given by the performance of karma-kanda. Bhagvata-dharma is also referred to as bhakti yoga, the linking of the soul with God in love. We have experience that it can take a while to garner love for someone else, while other times it can happen instantly. Bhakti yoga is so nice because it can deliver love at first sight to those who engage in it. Unlike material rewards that have a shelf-life, love for God lasts forever. It can never be diminished or checked. Lord Rama’s protection of the sages was proof of this fact. The Rakshasas tried to disrupt the loving service offered by the brahmanas. Yet in the end, God personally came to save the sages. Lord Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana would end up killing many Rakshasas, including their leader Ravana. God protects those who take up the sublime engagement of devotional service. That is His promise to us. Categories: protecting the saints Leave a Reply %d bloggers like this:
Technical and ethical barriers prevent human clones from being created 25 years after Dolly Schaf The 25 years that have passed since the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first viable clone of a mammal, is an exemplary lesson in how technology development tends to follow nonlinear and unpredictable paths. The most obvious element of this unpredictability has to do with the total absence of human clones in the world in 2021, though the ethical debates that followed Dolly’s announcement of her existence have been obsessing about this for a number of years. At the beginning of this century, the birth of the first cloned baby sometimes seemed just a matter of time, and some personalities with questionable reputations soon announced it. Such was the case of the American-Cypriot physiologist Panayiotis Zavos, 77, now professor emeritus at the University of Kentucky, and the French religious leader Claude Vorilhon, 74, known as Raël (the sect he founded mixes idiosyncratic interpretations of the Bible with the Belief in extraterrestrials); for reasons of common sense the reader will probably not want to know any more). Despite the bravery of Zavos and Raël, the ethical objections to the process added to the gigantic technical difficulties and eventually led to a world without genetically copied people. The main obstacle, which will most likely remain indefinitely, is that it takes hundreds of embryos and dozens of surrogate mothers for a single clone to be born. This means that large numbers of women are exposed to risky pregnancies that would ultimately produce babies with a high risk of disease and a shortened lifespan. What happens is that the DNA reprogramming process from the adult state to another “primitive” essential for cloning often works poorly and the cloned individual has a finite life expectancy. These problems have been greatly reduced when cloning animals such as pigs for veterinary purposes. In such cases, the issue is the mass production of animals with high commercial value. However, the process is still far from having a significant impact on the market, and copied animals have a significant disadvantage: low genetic variability, which makes them more susceptible to disease, among other things. For a long time there was talk of therapeutic cloning, a technique in which the cloned embryo is destroyed when it only has a few hundred cells and a few days to live. Then such cells with multivalent capabilities would be used to grow tissues and organs that are tailored for transplantation. Since they carry the same genetic material as the cloned individual, there is no risk of rejection. Also due to ethical issues (after all, it would be necessary to destroy a human embryo) and technical difficulties (there would still be a large number of egg cells to be obtained from donors), therapeutic cloning ultimately inspired another approach, which is much more widely used today. This involves the formation of so-called iPS cells (“induced pluripotent” in the English acronym). By activating certain key genes, the researchers learned how to return adult cells – obtained through a skin biopsy, for example – to a study very similar to the embryonic one with the same versatility or “pluripotency” – hence the name. The approach has yet to lead to treatments, but iPS cells have proven very useful for organ development studies and drug testing, among other things. The irony is that without the knowledge of adult DNA reprogramming that began to pile up thanks to working with various forms of cloning, it would have been much more difficult to reach iPS cells. From this point of view, the clones acted as leaders, not as ends in themselves. Posted on Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published.
Your body is telling you something. When your body is telling you that it is not well, either by the symptoms you are feeling or as a result of medical tests the physician is often turned to to prescribe something to make the symptoms go away or to make the test results line up. We frequently neglect to recognize the impact of stress on how our body functions. In the case of the endocrine system, “When the body is stressed, the hypothalamus signals the autonomic nervous system and the pituitary gland and the process is started to produce epinephrine and cortisol, sometimes called the “stress hormones.” Adrenal Glands (near kidneys) Stress signals from the hypothalamus cause the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol and the adrenal medulla to produce epinephrine. This starts the process that gives your body the energy to run from danger. When cortisol and epinephrine are released, the liver produces more glucose, a blood sugar that would give you the energy for “fight or flight” in an emergency. For most of you, if you don’t use all of that extra energy, the body is able to reabsorb the blood sugar, even if you’re stressed again and again. But for some people — especially people vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes — that extra blood sugar can mean diabetes. Who’s vulnerable? The obese and races more inclined to diabetes, such as Native Americans. Studies show that if you learn how to manage stress, you can control your blood sugar level, sometimes nearly as much as with medication.” (American Psychological Association, 2017) Psychotherapy is one of the ways that we can manage our stress, lower the levels of stress hormones in our system and regulate our endocrine system which will lead to better overall health. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Google photo Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s %d bloggers like this:
Amid long-standing and deepening tensions between Israel and Iran, some prominent Israelis with Persian roots have engaged in little-publicized contacts with Iran’s people and advocated for reviving the historic friendship between the two Mideast powers. These Israelis are part of the world’s only Persian diaspora community located in a country that Iran’s Islamist rulers have banned their citizens from contacting. They spoke about their barrier-breaking conversations with Iran’s people and hopes for reconciliation as part of VOA’s Persians of Israel documentary series that was filmed in 2017 and published online Friday. The Israelis featured in the series include veteran journalist Menashe Amir, who has been broadcasting to Iran in Farsi via radio and online for six decades; Rita, one of Israel’s most successful pop stars; Dorit Rabinyan, a novelist who has won international acclaim for writing about romances of young Persian women and a taboo-breaking Jewish-Muslim couple; and Dan Halutz, who led Israel’s military during two of its most challenging operations of the 2000s. The Persian Israeli community to which they belong numbers about 300,000, according to community members, out of a total Israeli population of 8.7 million. It began to form in the 1920s and ’30s, when small numbers of Iran’s minority Jews migrated to the British mandate of Palestine to fulfill a desire to live in the biblical homeland of the Jewish people. Israel’s creation in 1948 as a modern-day Jewish homeland drew many more Iranian Jews: 21,000 in the first three years, according to the Israeli government. Iran was among Israel’s early friends. It was the second Muslim-majority nation to recognize Israeli independence, doing so in 1950, after Turkey did the same in 1949. Iran and Israel were drawn together by a common goal — resisting the rise of Arab nationalists backed by the Soviet Union. The two nations also shared an alliance with the United States. As Israeli-Iranian ties deepened, another 35,000 Jews migrated from Iran to Israel from 1952 to 1971. In those years, Israel helped Iran to develop its agriculture and armed forces, while Iran helped Israel to meet its energy needs by exporting oil to the Jewish state. But Iran kept the relationship low-key, declining to open an embassy or station an ambassador in Israel. The Iranian-Israeli partnership unraveled quickly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought to power Islamist clerics hostile toward Israel. In the 1980s, Iran began arming Islamist militants such as the Lebanese group Hezbollah and encouraged them to attack Israel. While Iran’s Islamist constitution recognized Judaism as a minority religion, Iranian authorities also imposed restrictions on Jewish life. Such policies prompted tens of thousands more Iranian Jews to escape what they saw as an oppressive Islamist regime. Most of them migrated to the U.S., while 8,000 moved to Israel in the 1980s and several thousand more did the same in the 1990s and 2000s. The waves of Jewish migration from Iran have reduced its Jewish population to about 9,000 to 15,000, based on estimates in the U.S. State Department’s 2020 report on International Religious Freedom. There had been about 85,000 Jews in Iran when the Islamic Revolution began, according to Encyclopedia Iranica. Iranian leaders escalated their verbal threats toward Israel in recent decades, calling for its destruction or demise. They also alarmed Israel by pursuing what the International Atomic Energy Agency said was a nuclear weapons program until 2003. Israel, an undeclared nuclear-armed power, has accused Iran of covertly continuing that program and called it an existential threat that could prompt the Jewish state to take military action in self-defense. Tehran has denied ever trying to make nuclear bombs under cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran and Israel also have engaged in what some observers call a shadow war in the past few years. Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Iranian military sites in Syria; Israel has shot down what it said were two Iranian drones that entered its airspace; Israeli and Iranian-owned vessels in Mideast waters have been hit with explosions that each side blamed on the other; Iran blamed a major power outage at its Natanz nuclear site in April on alleged Israeli sabotage; and Iran saw its top nuclear scientist and a high-ranking al-Qaida operative assassinated in its territory in 2020 attacks attributed to Israel by Iranian officials and Western media respectively. That shadow war escalated last month when the Iran-funded and armed Palestinian militant group Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip indiscriminately fired thousands of rockets into Israel, which carried out hundreds of retaliatory air strikes targeting Hamas militants, weapons, tunnels and other infrastructure. The fighting lasted 11 days until Egypt brokered a cease-fire. Iran’s government, which long has maligned Israel as a perceived enemy of the Persian nation, also adopted a law last year authorizing tougher penalties and prison sentences for Iranians found to have engaged in “non-accidental” contact with Israelis. Amir, the Israeli broadcaster, said he and his Iran-based listeners who called in to his programs in recent decades have defied Tehran’s efforts to block dialogue between Israelis and Iranians. Amir also has brought visiting Iranian Muslims based in the West to Israel’s Holocaust remembrance center Yad Vashem to educate them about the 20th century genocide perpetrated by Nazi Germany and combat Iranian leaders’ efforts to deny or minimize it. Israeli pop star Rita said her first Farsi-language album released in 2012, All My Joys, inspired her to become a cultural ambassador to Iranians who had reached out to her online and in person to share their love for her music. Rabinyan, the Israeli author, said she unexpectedly developed an Iranian readership after discovering that her debut novel, Persian Brides, was translated into Farsi and published in Iran without her knowledge. She expressed hope that those readers will hear her desire for peace. Former Israeli military chief Halutz, who visited pre-revolution Iran on a pilot training course in 1972, said he did not anticipate an Israel-Iran peace agreement anytime soon. But he said a dialogue between moderate people on both sides would be a good way to start the process. This article originated in VOA’s Persian Service. ваше мнение:
Exposition Art Blog: Igael Tumarkin Igael Tumarkin Igael Tumarkin ( 1933 – 2021) was an Israeli painter and sculptor "Renowned Israeli artist Igael Tumarkin is internationally recognized for his public sculptures, paintings, and prints, as well as his divisive political views. A winner of the Israel Prize, Tumarkin was widely known for his anti-war politics, disdain for religion, and protest against West Bank settlements. His most famous sculpture, Monument to the Holocaust and Revival (1975), located in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, has been an integral site of political speech, including by performance artist Ariel Bronz. Born in Germany, Tumarkin immigrated to Israel as a child. As a young artist, he studied under sculptor Rudolf Lehmann and worked at Bertolt Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble. His prints and paintings combine aspects of Abstract Expressionism, Dada, and Pop art. Tumarkin represented Israel at the Venice, São Paulo, and Tokyo biennials. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art staged a major retrospective in 1992."(.artsy.net)Tumarkin was also an art theoretician and stage designer. In the 1950s, Tumarkin worked in East Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris. Upon his return to Israel in 1961, he became a driving force behind the break from the charismatic monopoly of lyric abstraction there. Tumarkin created assemblages of found objects, generally with violent expressionist undertones and decidedly unlyrical color. His determination to "be different" influenced his younger Israeli colleagues. The furor generated around Tumarkin's works, such as the old pair of trousers stuck to one of his pictures, intensified the mystique surrounding him. No comments:
Understanding Speech in Interactive Narratives ... - MIT Media Lab 51 downloads 118 Views 685KB Size Report Understanding Speech in Interactive Narratives with Crowdsourced Data. Jeff Orkin and Deb Roy. MIT Media Lab. 75 Amherst St. Cambridge, MA 02139. { jorkin ... Understanding Speech in Interactive Narratives with Crowdsourced Data Jeff Orkin and Deb Roy MIT Media Lab 75 Amherst St. Cambridge, MA 02139 {jorkin, dkroy}@media.mit.edu Abstract Speech recognition failures and limited vocabulary coverage pose challenges for speech interaction with characters in games. We describe an end-to-end system for automating characters from a large corpus of recorded human game logs, and demonstrate that inferring utterance meaning through a combination of plan recognition and surface text similarity compensates for recognition and understanding failures significantly better than relying on surface similarity alone. Figure 1: Intelligent interface compensates for misrecognition. In today's world of speech-enabled technologies (e.g. Siri, Watson, Kinect), characters in games are begging for us to talk to them. Yet, understanding spoken natural language remains a challenge. The most robust speech recognition solutions, trained on enormous corpora, running on the cloud, can be hampered by background noise, microphone quality, speaking volume, speaking styles, or other factors. Even with perfect recognition, characters may find words or phrases unfamiliar or ambiguous. Non-player characters (NPCs) require adequate coverage of all utterances they might be expected to understand. Thus, understanding language is subject to the same authoring bottleneck that plagues generation of behavior and dialogue. In the age of big data, where it is increasingly easy to record, store, and process data from players interacting online, we can revisit this problem. We describe a system that leverages a corpus of thousands of recorded human interactions to not only address the coverage problem, but to also compensate for speech recognition failure by exploiting narrative context. Speech is understood by mapping player input to an utterance in our corpus -- a two-step process. Like a search engine, the system first retrieves a list of relevant utterances from the corpus, semantically similar to the input, possibly expressed with different words. Next, the single best match must be selected from the retrieved list. Here we focus on the first step, and leave the second step to the player. We present an intelligent interface that dynamically populates a list of dialogue options based on speech input, and allows the player to select what s/he is actually trying to say. Including a human in the selection process allows us to measure the quality of our search results, in terms of the rank of the selected utterance, and the frequency of aborting, when the player can find no satisfactory option. We have integrated this interface into The Restaurant Game (TRG), and observed human customers interacting with waitress NPCs. TRG is a long-term project working toward data-driven NPCs who understand and generate language by exploiting a large corpus of human demonstrations. We have previously described automating NPC-NPC interactions with statistical models (Orkin & Roy 2009). This paper describes and evaluates an end-toend system for automating human-NPC interactions from annotated data, with integrated speech recognition. We present results from an experiment comparing three different means of retrieving and filtering dialogue options, and find that combining text surface similarity with plan recognition is 18% more likely to find a relevant dialogue option than relying on surface similarity alone, and can often provide relevant options even in the event of complete speech recognition failure. Findings suggest that leveraging contextual knowledge provided by recorded Copyright © 2012, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved. demonstrations to compensate for language understanding failures can significantly improve the viability of speech interaction in interactive narratives. Collective A.I. for Interactive Narratives Collective A.I. refers to an end-to-end process for recording online games, discovering patterns in data, and automating data-driven NPCs. The intelligent interface supporting speech input relies on the same machinery that drives NPC behavior. We give an overview of the process, followed by a description of how the system supports human interaction. More details about data collection, annotation, and pattern discovery are available in previous publications (Orkin & Roy 2007; 2010). To date we have recorded 10,027 logs, and annotated 1,000 logs. This study evaluates humans interacting with an NPC driven by a 100 game subset of the annotated logs. Crowdsourced Data Collection TRG anonymously pairs humans online as customers and waitresses in a restaurant (using Torque 3D for Windows and OSX). Players can converse via typed text, and interact with 47 types of objects in the 3D environment through a point-and-click interface. Games generate text-based logs of time-coded actions, state changes, and utterances. Data Interpretation by Humans While powerful algorithms exist for learning patterns from data, we choose to rely on human interpretation. Our motivation for recording humans online is to capture the nuance and variety of behavior and language, subtleties that wash away statistically due to sparse data. By employing humans to interpret data, we can capture valid examples of interaction that may have only been observed in few games, or even only once. We hire non-experts online to interpret and generate abstract representations of data. Annotators use browserbased tools (AS3/Flex) to view game logs as timelines of nodes representing actions and utterances, and tag them with four varieties of meta-data: events, event hierarchies, causal chains, and references. Annotators draw boxes around sequences of nodes to tag events, and draw bigger boxes around multiple events to tag event hierarchies. Events may contain actions and utterances, arbitrarily intermixed. We have 31 low-level events (e.g. GET_SEATED, ORDER, PAY_BILL), grouped into five higher-level events (e.g. BEGIN_DINING, CONCLUDE_DINING, FULFILL_ORDER). A domain expert defines the list of event labels, and provides examples for annotators. Based on a ten game subset, we found substantial agreement between event annotations of an expert and five novice annotators (mean kappa 0.81). Arrows from one node to another tag causal chains (forward) and references (backward). Causal chains explain that the customer asking for steak caused the waitress to bring back a steak from the kitchen. A reference explains that a waitress who asks “How was your lobster?” is referring to the previously served lobster. Annotators do not require specialized skills, aside from English fluency. We hired people from the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and the U.S. via oDesk.com. Seven people completed annotation of 1,000 logs in 415 hours total, for about $3,000. We manually spot checked tags for quality, iterating on corrections with annotators. Work was spread over two months, but seven people working 40 hours/week could complete 415 hours of work in 1.5 weeks. Once logs have been annotated, we extract all unique utterances included in events, and have humans cluster them semantically by dragging utterances that serve the same purpose into folders. An annotator might drag “Hi” and “Hello” into one folder, and “I’m ready for the bill” and “Check please” into another folder. Prior to clustering, we collapse variables based on a hand-crafted, domainspecific ontology (e.g. “Can I have steak?” and “Can I have salmon?” merge into “Can I have [FOOD]?”). Manually grouping utterances can be accomplished with minimal training or specialized knowledge, and allows for flexible, fine-grained groupings. We are clustering inhouse, but plan to outsource this in the future. Automatic Pattern Discovery We learn a dictionary of discreet sequences, representing events, from the annotations. This process first requires actions and utterances from the text-based logs to be transformed into discreet tokens, stored in an Action Lexicon (AL) and Dialogue Library (DL). We generate the AL by recording every unique action in the entire corpus of 10,027 logs. Actions are contextsensitive and role-dependent, stored with pre- and postconditions based on observed state changes (e.g. ). Our AL has 10,198 unique actions. We refer to indices into the AL as Action IDs (ACTIDs). The DL stores unique utterances as sequences of key words -- any word observed in at least 25 games. We prune non-keys from the previously clustered utterances, and refer to resulting key word strings as signatures. A folder of signatures is a signature set, given a unique ID (SSID). Using the AL and DL, we compile logs into discreet sequences of time-coded ACTID and SSIDs. Fluidly intermixing physical and dialogue actions as a common currency is inspired by the concept of speech acts (Austin1962). Time codes associate annotations with tokens in compiled logs, allowing extraction of each unique event pattern. Low-level events are stored in the Event Dictionary (ED) as sequences of ACTIDs and SSIDs. Higher-level events are stored as sequences of event start points. Our 100 game subset includes 135 Figure 2: Revising the Plan Recognizer’s inferred event hierarchy: before (left) and after (right) observing “can I get a menu?” patterns for high-level events, and 1,161 for low-level events, composed of 1,051 unique ACTIDs, and 406 SSIDs representing 1,552 unique utterances. The compiled logs and ED are stored in the Event Log Index (ELI), along with a lookup table indicating the start points of events within log files. The table maps specific event patterns to instances within logs, allowing an NPC to efficiently find logs that match observation sequences at runtime. The ELI also stores associated meta-data, such as references and causal chains. Data-Driven Episodic Planning NPCs are driven by an Episodic Planner, which selects actions and utterances through a process that combines plan recognition (Kautz & Allen 1986) with case-based planning (CBP) (Hammond 1990). Cases refer to entire recorded episodes, in the form of annotated logs, indexed by events within. The NPC observes actions and utterances, infers an event hierarchy, proposes games with similar event histories, and critiques proposals until one is found with a valid next action. For each NPC that exists in the world, an associated agent is running on an AI server (Java), networked with the game engine. As the game engine logs players’ actions, resulting state changes, and utterances to a file, the engine broadcasts the same data over the network. The agent uses the AL and DL to process incoming data into discreet observations – ACTIDs and SSIDs. Agents process all observations through the same channel, regardless of whether they are associated with another player or the agent itself. Based on these observations, the agent makes decisions about what to do next, which are transmitted to the NPC in the game engine for execution. The agent tries to understand each new observation within the context of what it has observed previously, using the Plan Recognizer (PR) to infer how new information extends the event hierarchy recognized so far. The PR maintains a hierarchy of token sequences representing events, some of which may be incomplete. A sequence is complete if it exactly matches a pattern in the ED. The agent strives to complete incomplete sequences. A new observation may (in order of preference): extend an incomplete sequence, extend a subsequence of an incomplete sequence, start a new sequence, or extend a complete sequence. We refer to each potentially modified sequence as a candidate. The PR iterates over candidates, and enters an exhaustive, recursive process of trying to apply and validate each. A candidate is applied by truly extending the candidate’s corresponding sequence in the hierarchy, or inserting a new sequence into the hierarchy. Possible event labels for a candidate are determined by matching patterns in the ED. Based on the possible labels, the PR tries to use the candidate event to extend, or insert a new, higher-level parent event. Labels are non-committal, and may be disambiguated as new information arrives (figure 2). Each level of the modified hierarchy is validated by matching patterns in the ED. If the entire structure is validated for a candidate, the process is complete -- the observation has been recognized, and the modified structure of the hierarchy persists. Otherwise, the modification is reversed, and the process continues until a candidate is validated, or the observation is discarded as unrecognizable. Once an observation has been recognized, the agent selects the next action by either advancing the current plan, or searching for a new plan. A plan is a compiled log, and the agent continues following the same plan as long as new observations continue to match the next token in the log, and are validated by the PR. If the observation does not match the next token, or is unrecognizable, the plan is invalidated and the agent re-plans. Planning begins by iterating over a set of prioritized interaction goals. Goals employ a variety of strategies to propose plans that will move the interaction forward coherently. Using the ELI, goals retrieve proposals – pointers into logs that begin after a particular sequence of tokens, or at the start of a specified type of event. G_RespondToSequence finds logs that contain the most recently extended sequence, and points to the subsequent token. G_ExtendStructure finds logs with events that could extend an incomplete higher-level event. G_CompleteCausalChain finds logs with events that could complete an initiated, but unresolved, causal chain (e.g. SERVE_FOOD or SERVE_DRINK if open orders exist). We have implemented eight goals. For each goal, the agent iterates over the proposals, and re-runs the PR, treating the proposed next action as an imagined observation. Proposals with next actions that cannot be recognized are rejected. Remaining proposals must be validated by a set of critic processes. Planning is complete when a proposal is found that is approved by all critics, or when all goals have been evaluated, and no valid proposal has been found. In the case of failure, the agent repeats the process, iterating the focus of attention backward in time to respond to earlier observations. Critic processes ensure future actions maintain coherence, with respect to past observations. We have implemented nine critics. C_Reference leverages metadata to invalidate utterances that refer to events which have not been observed (e.g. do not say “How’s your steak?” if steak was never served). C_ResourceConflict prevents beginning an event that requires a resource already in use (e.g. the waitress cannot serve beer if her hands are full with steak). C_InvalidAction prevents repeatedly trying to execute an action that the game engine reports has failed. Critics are domain independent, with the exception of C_Domain, which can invalidate a proposal based on domain-specific validation functions stored in the Domain Knowledge Manager. Each event type may optionally have procedural preconditions which constrain when that type of event may be initiated or extended. Domain-specific knowledge may be necessary for two reasons: (1) sparse data (e.g. we do not have examples of serving every combination of food, so we encode domain knowledge to ensure we serve entrees before desserts), and (2) discrepancies between NPC and human behavior. Our corpus captures examples of human behavior that we do not want NPCs to execute. Programmatically restricting these behaviors allows them to remain in the corpus for recognition, without risk of execution. Human Interaction The interface for human interaction re-uses the previously described planner. When a human controls a player, there is still an associated agent running in the background on the AI server. This agent runs the PR, but does not perform action selection. When the human interacts in the game world, physical actions are broadcast as usual, but human utterances are flagged for further processing by the human's agent, and are ignored by the NPC's agent. Human utterances originate from the text output of the Windows speech recognizer, running with a language model generated from our corpus. The human's agent is responsible for selecting a list of dialogue options from the corpus, semantically similar to the flagged human utterance. The agent begins by pruning non-key words from the utterance. Next, the agent retrieves a list of SSIDs from the DL for all signature sets that include an utterance containing the key words. The PR generates candidate sequences for all SSIDs that can be recognized as the next action. The agent then iterates over the candidates, applies each, and retrieves proposed plans from the ELI (which point to the SSIDs as the next action). C: Can I get table for one? W: Sure right this way W: would you like a drink to start? C: can I get some water please W: ok W: would you like more time or are you ready to order? C: can I have a menu? Humansaid: said:“can “canI Ihave haveaamenu menuplease?” please?” Human SpeechRec Recheard: heard:“banana “banananine nineyep” yep” Speech DialogueOptions: Options: Dialogue “canican icani ihave haveaacobb cobbsalad saladplease” please” ••“can “yesnectarine nectarinetarts tartssound soundgood goodfor fordesert” desert” ••“yes • “maybe I should just start with thesoup” soup” • “maybe I should just start with the “canI Ihave haveanother anotherwater, water,please?” please?” ••“can “canI Ihave haveaamenu?” menu?” ••“can “I'llhave havethe thelobster lobsterand andcheesecake” cheesecake” ••“I'll • “and with that somespaghetti” spaghetti” • “and with that some “Mayi iplease pleasehave havethe theFilet Filetplease?” please?” ••“May “I'llhave havethe... the...uh uhseafood seafoodI Imean, mean,salmon” salmon” ••“I'll “mayi iget getthe thesoup soupof ofthe theday dayplease” please” ••“may Humansaid: said:“I’ll “I’llhave havegrilled grilledsalmon” salmon” Human W: our specials tonight are salmon, SpeechRec Recheard: heard:“of “ofgrilled grilledsalmon” salmon” Speech a vegtable soup, and a nectarine tart DialogueOptions: Options: Dialogue C: ill have grilled salmon • “may i get the grilled salmon ofthe theday dayplease” please” • “may i get the grilled salmon of please “yesthe thegrilled grilledsalmon” salmon” ••“yes Actualtranscript transcriptexcerpt excerptand and Actual dialogueoptions optionsfrom from dialogue human customer customer with with human waitress NPC. NPC. waitress Selected utterance utterancein in bold. bold. Selected “agrilled grilledsalmon salmonplease” please” ••“a “illhave havegrilled grilledsalmon salmonplease” please” ••“ill • “and with that some grilledsalmon” salmon” • “and with that some grilled “canhave havegrilled grilledsalmon salmonand andsoup” soup” ••“can • “Ill start with the grilled salmon” • “Ill start with the grilled salmon” “beerypie piebeer beerand andgrilled grilledsalmon” salmon” ••“beery thinkgrilled grilledsalmon salmonsounds soundslovely” lovely” ••“I“Ithink “cani ihave havesome somegrilled grilledsalmon?” salmon?” ••“can Figure 3: Top 10 dialogue options found for speech inputs. Finally, the agent runs the critique process, but rather than stopping at the first approved proposal, the agent continues critiquing, collecting a list of all approved proposals. If this process fails to generate at least five proposals (possibly zero if speech recognition fails), the agent uses context to compensate for failure to understand. The agent falls back to action selection driven by interaction goals, like an NPC, as described in the last section. All proposals from all goals are collected that are not rejected by critics. The agent now has a list of proposals for utterances deemed valid by the PR and critics. This list is sorted by the count of overlapping words with recognized human input (if any), and the top five utterances are sent to the game engine, for display to the player as dialogue options (figure 3, shows top 10). The human can repeatedly click MORE to retrieve the next five options, or CANCEL to abort if none of the options are satisfactory. When the human selects a dialogue option for execution, the selected utterance is broadcast as an ordinary unflagged utterance, for processing by agents through ordinary channels. Evaluation Our evaluation quantifies how different utterance retrieval methods respond to speech recognition failures and limited coverage. We observed 15 people (with no previous exposure to TRG) playing as a customer, using speech to interact with an NPC waitress. We divided subjects into three groups of five, each playing under one of three conditions for populating the list of dialogue options: (1) text+context, (2) text-only, (3) context-only. Text+context refers to the system described previously, which selects SSIDs based on key words from speech input, and falls back to interaction goals to compensate for failure to find valid proposals. Text-only presents a sorted list of all utterances in the corpus that match any of the words in the speech input, without using the plan recognizer or critics for filtering. Context-only completely ignores human input, and only relies on the inferred event hierarchy and interaction goals to select the Actual dialogue paths taken by five human customers (C) with waitress NPCs (W). (Semantically similar utterances clustered into SSIDs labeled with exemplars for clarity). mean selection rank % of opts flagged relevant % of interactions aborted # of plan rec. failures # of speech rec. failures text+context text-only 4.95 2.11 38.53 45.22 26.00 0 13 44.00 2 10 context-only 6.76 23.48 32.00 0 5 Table 1: Comparing 3 methods for populating dialogue options. Text+context performs better than context-only, validating that the words are important in this scenario, but context can compensate for failure to understand words. For any speech input, figure 5 plots the likelihood that the subject’s selected option will be rank N or less. Textonly delivers the highest likelihood of providing the desired selection at rank five or less, and plateaus shortly thereafter. If the spoken words are recognized correctly, and a similar utterance exists in the corpus, text-only is most likely to provide a desirable option near the top of the list. For each method, the remaining likelihood in the space above the plateau represents the likelihood of aborting. The conditions leveraging context have a higher likelihood of providing a desirable option later in the list, rather than no satisfactory options at all, leading to fewer aborted interactions. Figure 4: SSIDs observed in 1st 10 inputs of 5 text+context runs. list of relevant utterances. Subjects were told to have dinner, and took ~10 minutes to play from entering, through getting seated, having a meal, paying the bill, and departing. Each time the subject spoke to the waitress, s/he was asked to flag as relevant all dialogue options that had the same meaning as what s/he was trying to say. We recorded these flags, the rank in the list of the subject’s actual selection, and a count of aborted interactions when no option was selected. Results and Discussion The number of speech inputs varies per game. We look at the first 10 in each game, 50 total per condition, for a fair comparison. Table 1 reports that text-only yields the highest percentage of relevant options (total for 50 inputs), and the lowest mean rank of the selected option (closest to the top of the list). However, this is not the whole story. When the speech recognizer fails completely, text-only has no other means of selecting utterances, giving the subject only a failure message, and CANCEL. In the text-only condition, subjects aborted 18% more often than text+context (44% vs. 26%, despite similar numbers of recognition failures), due to dissatisfaction with options, or lack of any options. Also, there were two instances where text-only allowed the subject to select an utterance that the plan recognizer could not understand in the current context(due to sparse data), while this never happens in the other conditions where options are filtered by critics. Figure 5: Likelihood of selecting dialogue option rank N or less. Related Work Combining crowdsourced content creation, CBP, and speech distinguishes our system from previous interactive narrative systems (Riedl & Young 2003; Cavazza et al. 2002; Magerko 2005). Façade accepts typed text input, employing hand-crafted templates to map text to dialogue acts (Mateas & Stern 2004), and compensates for understanding failure with two cleverly designed, selfabsorbed NPCs, who can move the narrative forward, ignoring the player when necessary. In an effort to support speech input while playing as the main character, who the story cannot progress without, our system proposes contextually appropriate alternatives for unrecognized input by mining data from previous players. The surprising variability of spontaneous word choice in applications has been documented by Furnas et al. (1987), finding that two people favor the same word < 20% of the time. Inspired by the success of the How May I Help You system (Gorin et al. 1997) in coping with varied input by leveraging data from 10,000 customer service calls, TRG was designed to collect examples of restaurant interaction. Other crowdsourcing efforts have collected text-based commonsense data and stories (Singh et al. 2002; Li et al. 2012, Swanson & Gordon 2010), but not at the granularity of actions and utterances required for moment-to-moment interaction with humans. Hand-crafted representations of situations have enabled inferences required to understand stories (Schank & Abelson 1977); supported plan recognition to improve speech understanding (Gorniak & Roy 2005; Fleischman & Hovy 2006); and powered NPC collaboration and dialogue generation (Hanson & Rich 2010). Learning event hierarchies from annotated logs captures variety and nuance that hand-crafted models are likely to miss. CBP has been applied to simulation and strategy games (Fasciano 1996; Ortanon et al. 2007). We focus on planning for collaboration with humans. EM-ONE (Singh 2005) employed CBP to model social interaction in a collaborative task. Cases were hand-crafted for one prescribed interaction between NPCs, rather than crowdsourced for interaction with humans. Corpus-based approaches have been applied to automating chat bots, dialogue generation, and inferring a player’s affective state (Huang et al. 2007; Lin & Walker 2011; McQuiggan & Lester 2006). Our work differs in using a data-driven system for both understanding and generation of behavior and dialogue for an embodied NPC, playing a role in a narrative collaboratively with a human. Conclusion and Future Work We have evaluated speech interaction with an NPC, and demonstrated that exploiting crowdsourced data and inferred context can compensate for recognition and understanding failures. Future work will focus on scaling up, generalizing, and selecting the single best dialogue option. Migrating all 1,000 annotated logs should decrease text+context’s 26% likelihood of aborting, at the risk of introducing new challenges searching and critiquing in real-time. We will evaluate generalization with existing data sets from a virtual sci-fi film set, and a human-robot interaction. Automatic selection of the best option may be able to leverage utterance likelihoods, and data from previous human selections. Acknowledgements This research is supported by a grant from the SingaporeMIT GAMBIT Game Lab. References Austin, J.L. 1962. How to Do Things with Words. Oxford U. Press. Cavazza, M., et al. 2002. Interacting with Virtual Characters in Interactive Storytelling. In Proc. of AAMAS. Fasciano, M. 1996. Real-time Case-based Reasoning in a Complex World. Technical Report TR-96-05. U. of Chicago Fleischman, M. and Hovy, E. 2006. Taking Advantage of the Situation: Non-Linguistic Context for Natural Language Interfaces to Interactive Virtual Environments. In Proc. of IUI. Furnas, G., et al. 1987. The Vocabulary Problem in HumanSystem Communications. Communications of the ACM, 30. Gorin, A., et al. 1997. How may I help you? Speech Communication, 23(1-2). Gorniak, P., and Roy, D. 2005. Probabilistic Grounding of Situated Speech using Plan Recognition and Reference Resolution. In Proc. of ICMI. Hammond, K.F. 1990. Case Based Planning: A Framework for Planning from Experience. Cognitive Science, 14(3). Hanson, P. and Rich, C. 2010. A Non-Modal Approach to Integrating Dialogue and Action. In Proc. of AIIDE. Huang, J. et al. 2007. Extracting Chatbot Knowledge from Online Discussion Forums. In Proc. of IJCAI. Kautz, H. and Allen, J. 1986. Generalized Plan Recognition. In Proc. of Natl. Conf. on AI. Li, B. et al. 2012. Learning Sociocultural Knowledge via Crowdsourced Examples. In Proc. of HCOMP. Lin, G. and Walker, M. 2011. All the World’s a Stage: Learning Character Models from Film. In Proc. of AIIDE. Magerko, B. 2005. Story Representation and the Interactive Drama. In Proc. of AIIDE. Mateas, M., and Stern, A. 2004. Natural Language Understanding in Façade: Surface-text Processing. In Proc. of TIDSE. McQuiggan, S., and Lester, J. 2006. Learning Empathy: A Datadriven Framework for Modeling Empathetic Companion Agents. In Proc. of AAMAS. Orkin, J. and Roy, D. 2007. The Restaurant Game: Learning social behavior and language from thousands of players online. Journal of Game Development, 3(1). Orkin, J. and Roy, D. 2009. Automatic Learning and Generation of Social Behavior from Collective Human Gameplay. In Proc. of AAMAS. Orkin, J., Smith, T., and Roy, D. 2010. Behavior Compilation for AI in Games. In Proc. of AIIDE. Ortanon, S., et al. 2007. Case-based Planning and Execution for Real-time Strategy Games. In Proc. of ICCBR. Riedl, M. and Young, R.M. 2003. Character-Focused Narrative Planning for Execution in Virtual Worlds. In Proc. of ICVS. Schank, R., and Abelson, R. 1977. Scripts, Plans, Goals, and Understanding. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Singh, P., et al. 2002. Open Mind Common Sense: Knowledge Acquisition from the General Public. In Proc. of ODBASE. Singh, P. 2005. EM-ONE: An Architecture for Reflective Commonsense Thinking. Ph.D. dissertation. MIT. Swanson, R., and Gordon, A. 2010. A Data-Driven Case-Based Reasoning Approach to Interactive Storytelling. In Proc. of ICIDS.
Looking To Rent or Purchase A Chamber? Autoimmune Diseases Deviant Immune Systems There are about 100 conditions classified as autoimmune diseases and they affect about 7% of the American population according to the NIH. An autoimmune disease (AD) occurs when the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues as if they were foreign invaders. With Multiple Sclerosis, the immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerves. With Rheumatoid Arthritis, the immune system attacks the linings of joints, usually in the hands and feet. With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the immune system attacks the lining of the intestinal tract. There are many potential causes and triggers for autoimmune diseases ranging from environmental toxicity to genetic malfunction. Lyme Disease and PANDAS are examples of Autoimmune Diseases that stem from bacterial infections that become chronic within tissues. Any part of the body can be attacked by an overactive immune system, creating a chronic inflammatory condition. Because there are so many autoimmune diseases that can affect every part of the body, symptoms vary in type and intensity. While some may cause only minimal discomfort, others can be life-altering for the patient. Some ADs, like Type 1 Diabetes, cause constant symptoms while others, like Psoriasis come and go in “flare ups.” Common symptoms of many ADs include swelling of affected tissue, fever, pain, brain fog and fatigue. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may be a very helpful therapy in combating the symptoms of autoimmune diseases by primarily fighting the chronic inflammation caused by the overactive immune system. ADs associated with infection may be treated with HBOT because the pressure and oxygen can reach deep into tissues and kill off the invading bacteria. Long-term treatments may decrease the intensity of flare ups as well as prolong the amount of time between the flare ups. Flooding the body with oxygen may reduce inflammation, decrease pain and support the immune system. Some patients have seen their Autoimmune Disorders go into remission after adding HBOT to their regimens. Many patients also report improved mental clarity, sleep, overall wellbeing, digestion and pain levels. Autoimmune Diseases and Hyperbarics: Studies, Articles and Videos Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy attenuates disease severity in lupus-prone autoimmune (NZB x NZW) F1 mice Shao-Yuan Chen 1, Yen-Chen Chen, Jehng-Kang Wang, Hsiao-Ping Hsu, Pey-Shen Ho, Yi-Chyan Chen, Huey-Kang SytwuAffiliations expand The effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO(2)) therapy on the immune system are reported including potential changes to the CD4/CD8 ratio and a decreased proliferation of lymphocytes during exposure. The immunosuppressive effect of HBO(2) had been suggested to be applicable for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases. (NZB x NZW) F1 hybrid mice, the unique lupus-prone mice, have been used for elucidating the pathogenesis of SLE. To investigate the effect of HBO(2) on NZB/W F1 lupus-prone mice, 32 female mice were divided into four groups. Three groups of mice were treated with HBO(2) (2.5 atm abs (ATA) for 90 min daily over 2 weeks) starting at (A) 3 months, (B) 6 months, or (C) 8 months of age, while the remaining group (D) served as control. Animals were followed until 11 months of age. Experimental parameters included life span, proteinuria, peripheral lymphocytes, anti-dsDNA antibody titers, and renal histopathology. HBO(2) treatment resulted in increased survival, decreased proteinuria, alterations in lymphocyte-subset redistribution, reduced anti-dsDNA antibody titers, and amelioration of immune-complex deposition in groups A and B. Our data demonstrated that HBO(2) therapy attenuated disease severity in NZB/W F1 mice. HBO(2) treatment may be of use in the clinical treatment of lupus patients and would benefit from further study. To Read Full Study, Click Here
After completing this article, readers should be able to: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in a child, whether through the mouth/nose or through the anus, is not a rare event. GIB varies from life-threatening variceal bleeding that requires urgent endoscopy to minor occult bleeding due to milk protein intolerance that is treated with dietary interventions. A systematic approach to the initial response and diagnosis will almost always result in finding the cause of the bleeding and an appropriate treatment. In this article we review the presentation, causes, investigations, and treatments of upper GIB (UGIB) and lower GIB (LGIB). (Table 1) The first and most important assessment is whether a child is hemodynamically unstable or is at risk for becoming unstable. If stable, investigations and planned interventions can occur without excessive time pressure. If the child is not hemodynamically stable, then the child must be stabilized. Initial measures include ensuring an... You do not currently have access to this content.
International Animal Day 2010 The Society invites the public to adopt a pet on International Animal Day Monday, the 4th of October 2010, will be celebrated around the world as International Animal Day. Its goal is to make the public aware of the importance and the beauty of the animal world, and to respect the way animals enrich our lives, and the different roles that they fill. This tradition began in 1931 in Italy, when ecologists at a special conference warned about various species of animals that were in danger of extinction. Since then this day has become the day of all animals and of the people who love and respect them, and in different countries around the world the day is celebrated in different ways, while it is devoid of any connection to nationality, religion, belief, or political ideology. In honor of International Animal Day 2010, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Israel is inviting the general public to adopt a dog or a cat. The Society treats, rescues and assists animals in distress every day of the year, so that for us every day is animal day. We hope that the day will come when people will take responsibility for animals and the environment in a personal way and a collective way at the same time, and that they will treat them with respect and we will not need special days to remind us of what should be self evident.
What's new here? Posts tagged ‘Comet ISON’ Comet ISON Orbit Paper Model Comet ISON is coming, and still seems to be intact. There are still fears that it may break up on its close orbit around the sun but for now it is visible in the predawn sky, allegedly with binoculars. Your viewing experience may vary. To better visualize Comet ISON or to create a nifty school project NASA has made available a paper model that you can construct that shows the orbit with dates of Comet ISON. A simple box showing the sun and the orbits of Mercury, Venus and the Earth along with an insert that shows the location of the comet on any particular day. The downloadable PDF also has helpful information about the comet beyond just the model and includes assembly instructions. You will need heavy cardstock paper to make a structurally sound paper model along with a color printer. PDF’s, of course, require a copy of Abobe Reader. But you knew that!
Tekstil ve Moda Glossary of Textile Terms and Definitions, T - Textile Dictionary Letter T Tackspun Fabric: A material made from a polymer film with a backing substrate. The film is melted by a roller to which it adheres, drawing up a fibrous pile. Tactel Brand: A du pont brand of filament nylon fiber. Taffeta: A plain weave, tightly woven smooth crisp fabric with a characteristic rustle. Made from silk or man-made filament yarns. Taffeta: A lustrous, medium weight, plain weave fabric with a slight ribbed appearance in the filling (crosswise) direction, and usually with a sheen on its surface. For formal wear, taffeta is a favorite choice. It provides a crisp hand, with lots of body. Silk taffeta gives the ultimate rustle, but other fibers are also good choices. Tag wool: The first clip from a sheep not shorn as a lamb. Tahband: A kind of girdle or belt. Takauchiya: A kind pyjama (q.v.). Abu'i-fazl describes it in the ain-i-akbati as "a coat without lining, of the indian form. Formerly it had slits in the skirt, and was tied on the left side; his majesty has ordered it to be made with a round skirt and to be tied on the right side." Tanis: tie-cords or strings used to fasten or tighten a garment when worn. Tape (textile): A woven narrow fabric, generally plain-weave, used in non-loadbearing applications and the reinforcing of fabrics to resist wear and deformation. (2) a long narrow flat structure with textile-like properties made from thermoplastic polymer, paper, or other appropriate material. Tape Yarn: A yarn which comprises a tape with a large width-to-thickness ratio, and which has an apparent width not exceeding an agreed limit (e.g., 5mm or 8mm). Note: such yarns are usually of paper or are formed by slitting a wide film of (usually) polyethylene or polypropylene polymer into individual tapes, with hot-stretching either before or after slitting to induce high longitudinal strength. The draw ratio in hot-stretching is kept low enough to avoid excessive longitudinal fibrillation. The tape yarn so produced is suitable for weaving. Tape, oriented: A tape made by extruding a thermoplastic polymer, usually a polyolefin, in the form of a sheet or film, slitting the sheet into tapes and hot-stretching to induce molecular orientation and hence high longitudinal strength. Taper: To decrease width gradually and bring it to an end point. Taper Line Gratings: Transparent plates containing lines more widely spaced at one end than the other. By selecting the appropriate taper line grating and placing it parallel to a set of threads in a woven fabric, it is possible to ascertain the number of threads per unit length (cm or inch) as a result of a star form created. These gratings can also be used to determine the number of courses per unit length in weft-knitted fabrics, or the number of dents per unit length in a reed. Tapestry: A closely woven figured fabric of compound structure in which a pattern is developed by the use of coloured yarns in the warp or in the weft or both. A fine binder warp and weft may be incorporated. It normally used for upholstery. Note: originally the term was applied to furnishing fabrics in which the design was produced by means of coloured threads inserted by hand as required. Modern tapestry fabrics are woven on jacquard looms, coloured yarns being used to produce the desired pattern. There are various fabric structures in which two or more warps and wefts of different materials may be used. The face of the fabric is usually of uniform texture, the design being developed in various colours, but in some tapestry fabrics figures of the brocade type formed by floating some of the threads are also to be found. Tartan: Refers to the kinds of plaid patterns traditionally worn by scottish highlanders. Each design was associated with a specific family or "clan". The term is generally used to today in reference to any plaid design similar to these scottish designs. Taslan: A du pont trademark for a method of bulking and texturizing yarn using compressed air. Tasteless: The basques of early 17th century doublets. Tattersall: A simple overcheck design, usually a thin check of one or 2 colors on a contrasting color ground. Tear: The ratio of top to noil produced in combing. Tearing Strength (fabric): The resistance to the force that is required to start or to continue a tear in a fabric when tested under prescribed conditions appropriate to the fabric. Tear Strength: The force necessary to tear a fabric, measured by the force necessary to start or continue a tear in a fabric. Expressed in pounds or in grams, the most commonly used method for determining the tear strength is the elmendorf tear test procedure. Teazle; teazel; teasel: The dried seed-head of the plant dipsacus fullonum (fullers thistle) used to raise a pile or nap on certain fabrics. The machine used for this purpose is known as a teazle gig. Teentah Topi: A topi (q.v.) Consisting of three different pieces, stitched together. Teflon: A water repellent, stain resistant finish applied to fabric. Trademark of du pont co. Temple Marking: A disturbance of the weave adjacent to the edge of a fabric and caused by a poorly adjusted temple. Temporary Set: The process of conferring temporary stability of form upon fibres, yarns, or fabrics, usually by means of successive heating and cooling in moist or dry conditions. Tenacity: See breaking stress. Tencel Brand: Brand of lyocell cellulosic fiber. Tensile Strength (breaking stregth): The strength shown by a fiber, yarn, or fabric to resist breaking under pressure. It is the actual number of pounds of resistance that a fabric will give before the material is broken on the testing machine. Tensile Strength: The breaking strength (q.v.) per unit area of the cross-section of a textile material. Note: The use of this term as a synonym for "breaking strength" is incorrect. Tensile Test: A test in which the resistance of a material to stretching in one direction is measured. Tension Control Weave: A type of decorative weave, characterized by a puckered effect which occurs because the tension in the warp yarns is intentionally varied before the filling yarns are placed in the fabric. Terry: A fabric with uncut loops on one or both sides. May be woven or knit. Used for toweling, robes. Knit versions such as french terry have loops on one side and are sometimes brushed to produce a fleece. Terry Cloth: A typical uncut pile weave fabric. This fabric is formed by using two sets of warp yarns. One set of warp yarns is under very little tension; when the filling yarns are packed into place, these loose yarns are pushed backward along with the filling yarns, and loops are formed. The cloth has uncut loops on both sides of the fabric. Typical uses include towels, robes, and apparel. Terry Velour: A pile weave cotton fabric with an uncut pile on one side and a cut pile on the reverse side. Terry velour is valued for its soft, luxurious hand. Typical uses include towels, robes, and apparel. Tex: The basic unit of the tex system (q.v.) and that is equal to one gram per kilometre. Note: The multiple and submultiples recommended for use are the following: Kilograms per kilometre.......................kilotex (ktex), Milligrams per kilometre......................millitex (mtex), Decigrams per kilometre......................decitex (dtex), Tex: The basic unit of the tex system. Tex is a recognized si unit: See also count, hank, lea (cotton), flax yarn bundle. Tex system: A system of expressing linear density (mass per unit length) of fibres, filaments, slivers, and yarns, or other linear textile material. The basic unit is the tex, which is the mass in grams of one kilometre of the product. Multiples and sub-multiples recommended for use in preference to other possible combinations are: kilogram per kilometre, designated kilotex (ktex); decigram per kilometre, designated decitex (dtex);and milligram per kilometre, designated millitex (mtex). Tex system: The direct decimal system based on metric units that has been adopted by ISO as a universal system for designating the linear density of fibres, filaments, slivers and yarns. Textile (n): Any item manufactured from natural or man-made fibres or filaments, e.g. yarns, threads, cords, ropes, braids, lace, embroidery, nets and fabrics made by weaving, knitting, braiding, felting, bonding and tufting. Textile: Originally a woven fabric but the term is now applied to fibres, filaments, or yarns, natural man-made, and products obtained from them. Note: for example, threads, cords, ropes, braids, lace, embroidery, nets, and fabrics made by weaving, knitting, felting, bonding, and tufting are textiles. Used as an adjective, descriptive of fibrous or filamentous manufactures and of the raw materials, processes, machines, buildings, and personnel used in the organizations connected with, and the technology of, their manufacture. Textile Film: A man-made textile material in film form within which molecular orientation is predominantly in the longitudinal direction. Note: polymer films for non-textile use are commonly unoriented or bi-axially oriented, but uni-axial orientation is present in some cases. Textile Glass (fibre) (generic name): The name used to describe glass fibres that are suitable for textile applications. Textured Yarn: A continuous-filament yam that has been processed to introduce durable crimps, coils, loops or other fine distortions along the lengths of the filaments. Note 1: The main texturing procedures which are usually applied to continuous-filament yarns made from or containing thermoplastic fibres, are: (a) the yarn is highly twisted, heat-set and untwisted either as a process of three separate stages (now obsolescent) or as a continuous process (false-twist texturing). In an infrequently used alternative method, two yarns are continuously folded together, heat-set, then separated by unfolding; (b) the yam is injected into a heated stuffer box either by feed rollers or through a plasticizing jet of hot fluid (invariably air or steam). The jet process is sometimes known as jet texturing, hot-air jet texturing, or steam-jet texturing; (c) the yam is plasticized by passage through a jet of hot fluid and is impacted on to a cooling surface (impact texturing); (d) the heated yam is passed over a knife-edge (edge crimping), (now obsolete); (e) the heated yarn is passed between a pair of gear wheels or through some similar device (gear crimping); (f) the yam is knitted into a fabric that is heat-set and then unravelled (knit-deknit texturing); (g) the yam is over-fed through a turbulent air stream (air-texturing, air-jet texturing), so that entangled loops are formed in the filaments; (h) the yarn is composed of bicomponent fibres and is subjected to a hot and/or wet process whereby differential shrinkage occurs. Note 2: procedures (a) and (d) in note i above gives yams of a generally high-stretch character. This is frequently reduced by re-heating the yam in a state where it is only partly relaxed from the fully extended condition, thus producing a stabilized yarn with the bulkiness little reduced but with a much reduced retractive power. Note 3: The procedure (g) may also be applied to fibres which are not thermoplastic. Texturizing: A process performed on specialized machinery which create bulk, stretch to the yarn, and therefore creates new aesthetics to the finished fabric. Textured Yarn: A yarn that has been so processed as to introduce durable crimps (q.v.), coils, loops or other fine distortions along the length of the fibres or filaments. Note: a) the main texturing processes usually applied to continuous-filament yarns made from or containing thermoplastic fibres, are as follows: 1. The yarn is highly twisted, heat-set and untwisted, either as a continuous process (false twisting) or as a three-stage process. 2. The yarn is passed through a heated "stuffer box" (stuffer box crimping). 3. The heated yarn is passed over a knife edge (edge crimping). 4. The heated yarn is passed between a pair of geared wheels or some similar device (gear crimping). 5. The yarn is knitted into a fabric, heat-set and unravelled (knit-deknit). 6. Loops are formed in individual filaments by over-feeding into a turbulent airstream (air-textured). 7. Bicomponent fibres (q.v.) are differentially shrunk. B) processes (1) and (3) above produce yarns of a generally high stretch character. This stretch character is frequently reduced by reheating the yarn in a state where it is only partly relaxed from the fully extended condition, thus producing a yarn with the bulkiness little reduced but with a much reduced retractive power. C) fabrics that contain textured yarns have increased bulk, opacity, and moisture absorbency and improved thermal insulation properties with a warmer handle (q.v.); some textured yarns also confer extensible or "stretch" properties on fabrics made from them. Thermal Fabric: A knit or woven fabric constructed so as to trap warm air between the yarns. Often in a waffle or honeycomb texture. Used for blankets. Underwear. Thermally Bonded Nonwoven Fabric: Textile fabric composed of a web or batt of fibres containing heat-sensitive material, bonded by the application of heat, with or without pressure. The heat-sensitive materials may be in the form of fibres, bicomponent fibres or powders. Thermal insulation: The ability of a fabric to retain heat. Thermoplastic: Deformable by applied heat and pressure without any accompanying chemical change. The deformation is reversible. Thermoplastic Textile: A textile that is deformable (but not changed chemically) by the application of heat and pressure. Note: The salient feature is that the deformation can be repeated. Thermoregulation: The ability to maintain a constant temperature independent of dynamic (changing) environmental conditions. Thick & Thin: A fabric with a mottled appearance, made from a filament yarn with varying thickness. Thickener: A substance used to increase the viscosity of a print paste or other fluid, in order to control its flow properties. Natural polymers (starch, alginates, etc.,), Chemical modifications thereof, synthetic polymers, emulsions, foams and clays can be used. Thread: The result of twisting together in one or more operations two or more single, folded, or cabled yarns (2) a product as defined in (1) intended particularly for sewing purposes. (known also as Sewing Thread.) (3) a component of silk yarn. It is the product of winding together without twist a number of baves. A three-thread silk yarn is the result of folding three such products together (4) a textile yam in general. Thread Count: Is the number of warp and weft yarns in one square-inch of a fabric (warp yarn x weft yarn per sq. Inch). Thread Count: The number of ends and picks per inch in a woven cloth; the number of wales and courses per inch in a knit fabric. See "count of cloth". Thick Place: A prominent band (q.v.) in which there is an increase in the pick density of a woven fabric or in the stitch density of a knitted fabric, compared with that of the normal fabric. Thin Place: A prominent band (q.v.) in which there is a decrease in the pick density of a woven fabric or in the stitch density of a knitted fabric, compared with that of the normal fabric. Thread: The result of twisting together, in one or more operations, two or more single, folded or cabled yarns (see under yarn). B) a product as defined in (a) above and intended primarily for sewing purposes and known as a sewing thread. C) a component of silk yarn, and that is the product of winding together, without twist, a number of baves (q.v.), e.g. a 3-thread silk yarn is the result of folding three such products together. Note: 1. The term "thread" is frequently used to describe single yarns. 2. The term "thread" is also used in such expressions as "threads per unit length", irrespective of their nature. Threads Per Square Centimetre: The sum of the number of warps threads per centimetre and the number of weft threads per centimetre in a woven fabric. Threads Per Unit Length (woven fabrics): The number of warp threads (ends) or the number of weft threads (picks) in a specified length of fabric. Note: a) the unit of length is usually taken as the centimetre, but with fabrics that have less than 10 threads per centimetre, it is advisable to use a unit length of 1 decimetre (10 cm). B) with fabrics that have more than 10 threads per centimetre, the actual count may be taken over 2 cm, 3 cm or 5 cm and the result given by calculation in threads per centimetre. C) counting may be done at the following stages of manufacture: 1. Finished, the count is taken when no further processing in the piece is prescribed. In all cases, the condition of the, fabric at the time the count was taken should be noted. 2. In the loom, the position of the count should be agreed on. It is usually taken between the fell of the fabric and the take-up roller, with the fabric under weaving tension. 3. Loomstate: The count is taken after the fabric has been removed from the loom and relaxed from weaving tension, but before it is subjected to any further treatment that may modify its dimensions. Throw: A term, of germanic and anglo-saxon origin, used especially in the silk and man-made fibre industries to describe the twisting or folding of continuous-filament yams. Note. The term throwster was traditionally used to describe an individual or company specifically involved with these twisting processes, but, in more recent times, the title has also been inherited by those who manufacture textured yarns by the false-twist method. Thrum: A waste length of warp (yarn) or of fabric, or both, formed during the preparation of a loom for weaving. Note: a) a thrum may be formed as follows: 1. During the adjustment of a loom at the commencement of the weaving of the warp. When the loom is correctly adjusted, the portion of the warp that contains picks inserted for testing the adjustment of the loom mechanism is cut off. 2. During warp replenishment in a loom. The old warp is twisted or knotted to the new warp and, if the new warp is drawn through by weaving, the point in the woven fabric at which the twisted or knitted warp ends occur is called a "through" because the fabric is cut through to remove the thrum containing the imperfect fabric formed by the twisted or knotted warp ends. 3. During loom operations away from the loom. In the above cases, a thrum consists of portions of the old and the new warp ends twisted or knotted together. B) a thrum may also be: 1. A length of warp ends cut from the warp for the purpose of: (i) evaluating the percentage of applied size; (ii) repairing end-breakages in the warp concerned; 2. Any loose end(s) of warp; 3. A bundle of coarse yarns tied together by twine for use in making a mop. Tick Weave: Fabric with a small allover pattern or texture, often using 2 contrasting colors. Ticking: A general term for a strong, tightly woven fabric most often used for mattress and box spring covers but also for workwear and other apparel. Often found in a pattern of narrow stripes on either side of a wider stripe. They are commonly dark warp stripes on a white ground. Ticking: Compactly woven cotton cloth used for containers, covers for mattresses and pillows, sportswear (hickory stripes), institution fabric, and work clothes. It is striped cloth, usually white background with blue or brown stripes in the motif. Ticking: A tightly woven, very durable fabric, usually made of cotton, and used for covering mattresses, box springs, pillows, and work clothes. The fabric can be made by using a plain, satin, or twill weave construction. Tight End: A warp thread or part of a warp thread that has less crimp in the fabric than have the adjacent normal ends. Note: this may be owing to weaving under greater tension or to abnormal stretching of the yarn during some process prior to weaving. It may be caused by excess moisture, e.g. during winding, and consequent contraction during finishing. Tight Pick: A weft thread or part of a weft thread that has less crimp than have the adjacent normal picks. Note: this may be owing to a weft yarn having been inserted under greater tension than that imposed on the other weft yarns, or to the relaxation of a weft yarn subsequent to insertion, or to abnormal stretching of a yarn during some process prior to weaving. It may also be caused by the presence of excess moisture, e.g. during winding, and consequent contraction during finishing. (see also shiner). Tie Dyed: A hand method of dyeing that involves gathering small portions of the fabric and tying them tightly before dyeing. The tied areas resist penetration of the dye, resulting in irregular patterns. Also refers to similar designs created by machine methods. Tiki: A round piece; generally tacked on to a garment. Tinsel Yarn: A textile yarn or thread, combined, coated, or covered with a shiny substance, often metallic (e.g., Aluminium, occasionally gold or silver), to produce a glittering or sparkling effect. Tippet: From the 16th century onwards it meant a short shoulder cape. Tippy Wool: Wool in which the tip portions of the fibres have been so damaged by weathering during growth as to have markedly different dyeing properties. Tissue Faille: A lightweight, plain weave, filament yarn fabric characterized by a narrow crosswise rib. Used for blouses and dresses. Tone on Tone: A fabric with a pattern consisting of 2 or more shades of the same color. 2. Piece dyed dobbies in which the dobby effect takes on a different tone by virtue of the weave, light reflection or types of yarn used. Top: Sliver that forms the starting material for the worsted and certain other drawing systems, usually obtained by the process of combing, and characterized by the following properties: (a) the absence of fibres so short as to be uncontrolled in the preferred system of drawing; (b) a substantially parallel formation of the fibres; (c) a substantially homogeneous distribution throughout the sliver of fibres from each length-group present. Note 1: tops are usually produced by carding and combing, or by preparing and combing on worsted machinery, but recent years have seen the introduction of top-making by the cutting or controlled breaking of continuous-filament tows of man-made fibres, and the assembly of the resultant staple fibres into sliver in a single machine. Note 2: The advent of man-made fibres has meant the introduction of staple-fibre top into the flax, jute, spun silk, and other drawing systems. (2) the form or package in which sliver is delivered, e.g., Ball top or bump top. Top Dyed: A fiber dyeing method in which dye in applied to combed fibers in an untwisted or loosely twisted rope form (called top or sliver ). Sometimes dye is applied or printed on the fiber at regular intervals to give a melange effect. Top dyeing results in good colorfastness. Topham Box: A device for twisting and winding a wet-spun continuous-filament yarn so as to produce a cake Torchon Lace: An inexpensive, sturdy, machine made lace using thick threads in simple designs on a mesh ground. Often with scalloped edges. Also called beggar's lace. Tow (flax or hemp): Any substantially clean fibre of less than scutched length. Tow (man-made fibres): An assemblage of a large number of substantially parallel filaments with little or no twist. Tow, Machine: Tow produced by a hackling machine. Tow, straw: Flax straw in tossed and broken condition, resulting from threshing a flax crop too poor for normal processing Tow: A large bundle of continuous manufactured filament fibers, such as polyester, as they are extruded from the spinerette, and before they have been cut into staple fibers. Tower: High female headdress fashionable in the late 17th and early 18th century. Tow-to-top: A process in which heavy continuous-filament yam, having no twist and a substantially parallel alignment of the filaments, is cut or broken into staple and drafted into a sliver as a continuous process. It is characteristic of the process that the tow does not lose its form, although the filaments are broken down into short lengths, but is only attenuated in the drafting process. Tram: A silk weft yarn comprising two or more threads run together and then twisted with 2 or 4 turns/cm. Transfer Printing: Any process by which a design is transferred from paper to another substrate. Several techniques have been used, viz melt-transfer, film-release, and wet-transfer, but vapour transfer (sublimation transfer) is the most important. Selected disperse dyes transfer in vapour form to thermoplastic fibres when the printed paper and fabric are brought into close contact in a transfer press at 170-220 C. Trapunto: A form of quilting in which a design is stitched through 2 layers of fabric. The lower layer is than slit and batting or fiberfill is inserted to raise the design to a high relief. Trash (cotton): A loose term embracing, in its widest sense, the non-fibrous foreign matter present in bales of raw cotton other than abnormal items, such as stone, timber, pieces of old iron, etc. Note 1: normal whole seeds, either ginned or un-ginned, are frequently excluded from this category but broken portions of them and also whole or broken undeveloped seeds are usually regarded as trash. Note2, the main component of trash is chaff and dirt in the form of soil or sand. Trend: Fashion is not static, they are constantly moving, their movement has a definite direction. The direction in which fashion moves is called fashion trend. Triacetate (fibre) (generic name): A term used to describe fibres of cellulose ethanoate (cellulose acetate) wherein at least 92% of the hydroxyl groups of the original cellulose are ethanoylated (acetylated). Triacetate: A manufactured fiber, which like acetate, is made by modifying cellulose. However, even more acetate groups have been added to create this fiber. Triacetate is less absorbent and less sensitive to high temperatures than acetate. It can be hand or machine washed and tumble dried, with relatively good wrinkle recovery. Tricorne: From french late 18th century term for hat with turned up brim and having three corners. Tricot: A common warp knit fabric with thin wales on the face and crosswise ribs on the back. Generally made of synthetic yarns such as polyester, nylon, acetate or rayon. Tricot Knit: A warp knit fabric in which the fabric is formed by interlooping adjacent parallel yarns. The warp beam holds thousands of yards of yarns in a parallel arrangement, and these yarns are fed into the knitting area simultaneously. Sufficient yarns to produce the final fabric width and length are on the beam. Tricot knits are frequently used in women's lingerie items such as slips, bras, panties, and nightgowns. Tricotine: A woven fabric with a distinct steep double twill line. Used for trousers dresses, women's sportswear. Trim: To cut off the ragged edges below the seam line to prevent the garment from being bulky and to give the seam a neat finish. Tristimulus values: The amounts of three defined primaries (usually blue, red and green) required to be mixed additively to match the colour of the object, under defined conditions. Trivinyl (fibre) (generic name): A term used to describe fibres made from a synthetic terpolymer of cyanoethene (acrylonitrile), a chlorinated vinyl monomer and a third vinyl monomer, none of which represents as much as 50% of the total mass. Tropical: A general term for crisp lightweight suiting fabrics. They often use fine or high twist yarns for a porous construction. May be a variety of fibers and weaves. Primarily used for warm weather suits. Trousses: In the 17th century the upper hose which did not hang down, but fitted the thighs tightly. They are a survival of the 16th century grgues, preserved in the ceremonial costume of knights of the king's order and in pages' costumes. True Hemp: See hemp, true. Tubular: A knit fabric made on a circular knitting machine and shipped without being slit to open width form. Tuck Stitch: A knit stitch that results in open spaces at regular intervals on the fabric by having some needles hold more than one loop at a time. Tukma: Small, button-like boss used in conjunction with a ghundi (q.v.) Or loop, for fastening. Tulle: A soft, fine, transparent net originally made of silk but now made of synthetics. Usually has a hexagonal mesh. Used in evening wear and bridal veils. Tulle: A lightweight, extremely fine, machine-made netting, usually with a hexagon shaped mesh effect. End-uses include dance costumes and veils. Tussah: Silk fabric made from the strong, coarse, uneven, light brown color silk produced by wild, uncultivated silkworms. Tussah Silk: A coarse silk produced by a wild silkworm. There are three main types: antheraea mylitta (largely indian), antheraea pernyi (largely chinese), and antheraea yama-mai (largely japanese). It is brown in colour and is usually spun, since most cocoons cannot be reeled. Note: The spelling 'tussah', although considered erroneous by etymologists, is in common usage in the textile industry for the name given to fibres and filaments. Tussore: A fabric woven from the coarse wild silk called tussah. Note: The spelling 'tussore', although considered erroneous by etymologists, is in common usage in the textile industry for the name given to fabrics. Twaddell: A scale used for the measurement of the specific gravity of liquids by hydrometry. The following formula expresses the relationship between specific gravity (sg), and degrees twaddell (tw), for liquids heavier than water. Tweed: Originally a coarse, heavy-weight, rough-surfaced wool fabric for outerwear, woven in southern scotland. The term is now applied to fabrics made in a wide range of weights and qualities from woollen-spun yams in a variety of weave effects and colour-and-weave effects. Twill: A general term for a woven fabric made with a twill weave, a basic weave characterized by diagonal lines on the face of the fabric. Twill: a) a weave that repeats on three or more ends and picks and produces diagonal lines on the face of the fabric. b) a fabric that has the above weave. Note:1. The diagonal lines produced on the surface of the fabric by a twill weave are often referred to as the twill in such phrases as "a prominent twill", "a broken twill", "unwanted twill". 2. Unwanted twill may arise as a defect in satin fabrics, the intensity of the unwanted twill depending on the fabric structure, the weave and the number of ends (q.v.) per dent (q.v.) in the reed. Twill Weave: A fundamental weave characterized by diagonal lines, usually at a 45 degree angle. In a warp-faced twill, the warp yarns produce the diagonal effect. It is one of the three basic weaves, the others being plain and satin. All weaves, either simple, elaborate or complex, are derived from these three weaves. Twill is the most common weave for bottom-weight uniform fabrics. Twist: The spiral disposition of the component (s) of a yarn and that is usually the result of relative rotation of the extremities of the yarn (s). B) the number of turns per unit length of yarn, e.g. turns per metre. Note:twist designation:1. Twist in single yarns, s twist, z twist.2. Twist in folded yarns, zs twist, sz twist, zz twist -on-twist (q.v.), Ss twist -on-twist (q.v.). 3. Twist in cabled yarns, zsz twist (formerly "cabled twist"), zzs twist (formerly "hawser twist"). The first symbol designates the direction of twist in a single yarn, the second symbol designates the direction of twist in the folding operation, and the third symbol the direction of twist in the cabling operation. Twist: A term that applies to the number of turns and the direction that two yarns are turned during the manufacturing process. The yarn twist brings the fibers close together and makes them compact. It helps the fibers adhere to one another, increasing yarn strength. The direction and amount of yarn twist helps determine appearance, performance, durability of both yarns and the subsequent fabric or textile product. Single yarns may be twisted to the right (s twist) or to the left (z twist). Generally, woolen and worsted yarns are s-twist, while cotton and flax yarns are typically z-twist. Twist is generally expressed as turns per inch (tpi), turns per meter (tpm), or turns per centimeter (tpc). Twist: The condition of a yarn or similar structure when the component elements have a helical disposition such as results, for instance, from relative rotation of the yarn ends. For all practical purposes twist is measured in turns, but for purely theoretical work its measurement in radians (the si unit) often leads to much simpler mathematical expressions. Twist Angle: The angle between the path of a yarn element and the yarn axis. Twist Direction: Twist is described as 's' or 'z' according to which of these letters has its centre inclined in the same direction as the surface elements of a given twisted yarn. Twist Factor; Twist Multiplier: In a yarn, the product of twist level and the square root of the linear density. Note: where units of specific length are in use, the corresponding factor is the quotient of the twist level and the square root of the count. Twist Factor ''twist multiplier'': A measure of the "twist hardness" of a single yarn, determined by the multiplication of the turns per unit length by the square root of the linear density of the tex system. Twist Level: The amount of twist per unit length of a yarn. Note: with the exception of false-twisting, the length is normally assumed to be that in the twisted form but, when necessary, ambiguity can be avoided by stating, for example, turns per twisted metre or turns per untwisted metre. Twist Liveliness: The tendency of a yam to twist or untwist spontaneously. Note 1: examples of effects which may be caused by twist liveliness include snarling of yarns during processing and spirality in knitted fabrics. Twist Liveliness: The effect caused by unbalanced torsional forces in any yarn, and of sufficient magnitude to give rise to difficulties in processing or defects in the resulting fabric. Note: examples of this are snarling (see snarl) in processing and spirality (q.v.) in knitted fabric. Twist Multiplier; twist factor: In a yarn, the product of twist level and the square root of the linear density. Twistless Spinning: A system of yarn formation that relies on the use of a permanent or temporary adhesive to bond fibres together. Note: where a temporary adhesive is used it is removed during fabric finishing, and the yarn (and fabric) strength is then obtained through lateral pressure produced by the interlacings in the fabric. A similar fabric construction can be achieved by using wrap spun yarns which have been produced with a soluble binder. Twistless yarn: A yarn prepared without twist in order to obtain special properties, e.g., Increased softness and dyeability. Twitt: Descriptive of an irregular yarn or stubbing in which local concentrations of twist have accentuated the irregular appearance. 1 yorum: Very well explained Drawn textured yarn
Japanese Traditions: Daruma Amazon.com: Daruma Doll Paper-Mache 3.75" Tall: Home & Kitchen Have you ever come across the above figurine and wondered why or why not it typically has one eye on it or no eyes? This figure, called a daruma (dah-rue-mah), is used when hoping to achieve a goal, or in making a wish. The daruma is modeled after the founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhiharma, but obtained its current form from the Temple of Daruma in the Japanese city of Takasaki. Legend claims that the temple used the daruma as a good luck charm to ward off evil spirits. The charms are said to be good for one year. The figure is made in a round shape so it will always return to its upright position. This characteristic is meant to symbolize the ability to overcome any challenge, adversity, or misfortune. The figurine usually is made from paper mache. The color red is thought to come from Buddhism, but also to have some association to overcoming sickness. Red is also associated with luck. Eyes are typically painted onto the figure once you have a goal in mind. It is thought to signify keeping your eye or focus on a single goal. The second eye is drawn on once the goal has been obtained. It signifies being enlightened to the goal. In Japan, the daruma has traditionally been brought back to the temple where it was purchased at the end of the year and is then burned. This tradition occurs after New Year’s Day.
Color meanings and the art of using color Where do color meanings come from? What do colors symbolize? Red is the color of fire and blood. It is associated with excitement, energy, passion and sexuality. It can symbolize desire, power, speed and strength. On the other hand, it stands for aggression, danger, violence and war. Many of us consider red as a color of love, but in fact it is more related to the excitement of falling in love and awaking passion for the other person. Red is also a color of Christmas, bringing joy, warmth and safety. Moreover, it is widely used in flags and signs as it is associated with pride. Red is intense and it steals attention from other colors. It provokes emotions and calls to action or becomes a warning. Remember that red will will most likely bring pieces of text or images to the foreground. Yellow is a color associated with sun. It symbolizes optimism, energy, joy, happiness and friendship. It might also stand for intellect. On the contrary, yellow can indicate jealousy, betrayal, illness and danger. It is strongly associated with food, often evoking cheerful feelings. When advertising long-lasting goods, yellow will not be the best choice. It is a very unstable and spontaneous color. Men often consider it as “childish”, so any products such as cars, watches or smartphones should not be advertised with yellow. Too much of yellow in a design can be truly overwhelming. At the same time, yellow in a combination with black will create a high contrast and indicate possible danger. Orange is a secondary color that combines two primary colors: red and yellow. It stands for energy, happiness and the joy of live. Moreover, it is associated with great enthusiasm, encouragement, determination and stimulation. It is a color of creativity! Orange gives a strong sensation of heat, but it does not have the aggressiveness of red. It stimulates appetite and is widely used in the healthy foods industry. Orange can be highly effective in promoting toys as well. Blue is cool and calming primary color that stands for intelligence, openness, spirituality and creativity. Blue is popular among large concerns, hospitals and airlines, since it symbolizes wisdom, trust, loyalty and strength. It is relaxing and prevents from chaos. Using blue will help you to promote products related to cleanliness, air and sky, water and sea, and consciousness development. Stereotypically, blue is considered as a masculine color, so many male toddlers will wear blueish clothing and play with blue toys. Remember that food should not be advertised with the use of blue, since it lowers the appetite. On the other hand, blue can make a huge impact when combined with warm colors like red and yellow. In general, green is the color of nature and environment that combines the power of blue and yellow. It is associated with growth, health, renewal, youth, harmony, freshness and fertility. On the other hand, it can symbolize safety in a metaphorical and physical way. For some people, it is strongly associated with money. Green is the most restful color for our eyes. It is widely used to advertise healthy foods, drugs, medical services and environmental organizations all over the world. Dark green products may seem more traditional and classic, while light green goods are seen as more trendy and modern. Purple has the stability of blue and the energy of red, two primary colors. It is associated with royalty, nobility, ceremony, mystery, transgression and spirituality. It also symbolizes both wisdom and enlightenment, it is a strong indicator of imagination. Children prefer purple over other colors, although it is considered as a bit artificial. In fact, it is pretty rare in nature. Purple will be a good choice when promoting feminine products, goods associated to rest and sleep or toys for kids. Purple is magical and unique, so it is recommended not to overuse it. ▪️Brown . ▪️Black . ▪️Gold, silver, bronze and other metallics. A few things that can have an impact on the meaning of colors. ▪️Cultural differences— ▪️Shades and tones— ▪️Color combinations— What do colors mean and represent?/ Color meanings and the art of using color symbolism/ Leave a Reply Back to top button
For human being who may wish to lose weight, plant-based diets could be the finest solution many thanks to the means in which they influence metabolism. You are watching: Average weight loss on plant-based diet Share top top PinterestImage credit: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images That is the takeaway native a recent study released in the JAMA Network Open. According come the research study results, switching to a low fat, plant-based diet could an increase the body metabolism enough to burn overfill weight and fat — even without vigorous exercise. Researchers v the medical professionals Committee because that Responsible medication (PCRM) partnered v Dr. Kitt Petersen and also Dr. Gerald Shulman that Yale University. Together, they carried out a 16-week trial where participants in the treatment group embraced a low fat, vegetable diet. The study team hoped to find the full affect of a low fat, vegetable diet. Could it improve metabolism, mitigate visceral fat, and assist in far-ranging weight loss? Initially, 3,115 civilization responded to the flyers dispersed by the research team. The these, 244 met the criteria for participation in the study. Eligible study participants had actually overweight, with body mass indexes ranging between 28 and 40, and also were aged 25–75. Researchers randomly separation the study participants right into two groups. The first group followed a 4-month-long low fat, vegetables diet, eat fruits, vegetables, pulses, and grains in offer sizes comparable to what lock ordinarily spend at mealtimes. The second group, functioning as the manage group, go not adjust their diet habits. Members that both teams curbed their day-to-day alcohol consumption for the expression of the study. Women might drink a solitary alcoholic beverage daily, while men could have increase to two drinks per day. Neither group began an exercise routine or deviated from any kind of existing physical actions during the 16-week trial. Researchers took dimensions at the beginning and end the the trial. By the end of the study, the plant-based diet team averaged one 18.7% boost in your after-meal calorie burn. They additionally saw an median weight lose of around 14 pounds (lb). Additionally, the vegetable diet group experienced a diminish in insulin resistance and also a palliation in body fat. Crucially, this group saw a significant loss the visceral fat, the more detrimental kind of fat that gets stored roughly the interior organs. By contrast, the control group knowledgeable no far-reaching loss of weight or reduction in human body fat. After ~ comparing the two groups, it to be clear to researcher that the low fat, vegan diet had actually a measurable affect on the weight and health of the intervention group. Lead study writer Dr. Hana Kahleova, manager of clinical research at the PCRM, considers the results “groundbreaking because that the 160 million american struggling v overweight and obesity.” She adds, “Over the course of years and decades, burning more calories after ~ every meal deserve to make a far-reaching difference in load management.” These findings are constant with a variety of previous research studies that have displayed plant-based diets to be linked with reduced excess human body fat. As reviewed recently by Rami S. Najjar and also Rafaela G. Feresin in Nutrient: “Plant-based diets can reduce body fat <…> cumulatively lead to lessened calorie intake and increased power expenditure.” It is precious noting that the PCRM and Yale university researchers concentrated on people without a background of diabetes. The swimming pool of participants likewise skewed heavily toward one gender, with females constituting 86% of all participants. Additional research might be necessary for those currently experiencing related health issues, or through a more balanced group of participants. See more: Best Over The Counter Meds For Acid Reflux Disease (Gerd), Access To This Page Has Been Denied Still, there is sufficient existing research study to imply that no matter a person’s existing diabetes status, their wellness outcomes can improve through following a diet greatly consisting of fruits and vegetables. At least one participant in the clinical study decided to make a permanent change to his lifestyle. Sam T., who shed 34 lb throughout the 4-month study, ongoing with the plant-based diet. He got to his score weight and began partaking in half-marathons and marathons.
Spotted Owls Summary 1097 Words5 Pages Summary: Environmentalists and biologists are struggling to decide what needs to be done for the spotted owls, which were listed as a threatened species back in 1990. Another owl, the barred owl, has posed a recent threat on these threatened spotted owls. Both the barred owls and the spotted owls are native species to the Pacific Northwest, however, because the barred owl seems better suited for the environment, they are posing an even greater threat for the already threatened spotted owls. Do to loss of habitat from foresting, the spotted owl began to greatly suffer. The barred owl on the other hand, is good at everything. They are able to adapt quicker than the spotted owl, and are thriving because of that. The big debate is what to do to…show more content… I think the author holds a bit of bias in this article. It seems as though he believes nothing should be done. He starts off his article by saying “nothing’s worked” and listing a few examples. By this being the first thing the reader reads, the views may be shifted towards believing nothing can work. This falls to the side of letting natural selection run its course. Whenever the author talks about the opposing side, he quickly counteracts with why that wouldn’t work. He also strongly mentions how human interaction is one of the key points in why we have this problem in the first place. Unanswered Questions: In what ways are the barred owls taking over? The spotted owls are threatened due to loss of habitat, and the habitat that they have is being taken over by barred owls. But what specifically is the cause of this? Is there not enough food for both owls in this habitat? Not enough shelter? Are there any other suggested methods to fixing this problem? The two discussed were: killing the barred owls to give the spotted owls a better chance at survival and leaving things to natural selection. Its hard to believe that those are the only two methods that were thought of between a collection of biologists and More about Spotted Owls Summary Open Document
How Data Classification Can Reduce Security and Compliance Risk in Higher Ed In a previous post about IT priorities in higher education, we mentioned that information security is the biggest concern for the second consecutive year, according to the annual Top IT Issues report from Educause. That’s because higher education has become a prime target for cybercrime. In fact, a report from Trend Micro found that education was second to healthcare and ahead of government, retail and finance among the most-breached industries. Not only do school networks house the personally identifiable information of students, staff and alumni, but they store valuable research and intellectual property and can often provide access to other organizations. At the same time, colleges and universities are subject to increasingly stringent and complex regulatory compliance requirements. Schools are expected to provide access to services such as banking, healthcare and IT, and process credit card payments. As a result, they must comply with regulations related to these industries, in addition to regulations that are specific to higher education. Colleges and universities can use data classification to reduce the risk of breaches and compliance violations. Data classification is the organization of data into categories to make that data easier to prioritize, locate, access, use and manage. A documented policy for data classification explains each category, the criteria for classifying data in each category, who is responsible for managing each category (data stewardship), how data in each category must be stored and protected, the risk and consequences of a breach for each category, and what regulatory requirements, if any, apply to each category. Data classification allows schools to manage and control access to data more efficiently and transparently. This is very important, for example, during the admissions process, when data is constantly being sent back and forth between students, admissions teams, faculty, advisers and other personnel. Data classification also makes it easier to generate reports and respond to an audit. There are five general steps for creating a data classification policy for higher education. 1) Determine why data classification is needed and what federal, state and/or industry requirements, laws, regulations, etc. must be addressed. Because data stewardship is typically decentralized in higher education, more direction is required than in an organization in which data is centrally collected and managed. 2) Determine the roles of all involved in data classification. This is not just an IT function. There will be many data stewards, and many people who will make decisions about data identity, usage, security and ownership. 3) Determine data classification levels. “Restricted,” “sensitive,” “official use only,” “public,” “private” and “institutional” are commonly used classification levels in higher education. Some regulatory bodies and states may have defined levels that schools should use. 4) Determine the process for classifying data. What procedures will be followed and tools used to classify data? The first step is to establish an initial project team that creates procedures for a handful of data categories. This team will then train others who will be responsible for managing data. 5) Determine how data classification will impact other security functions. How will your data classification policy affect access controls, physical security, risk and change management, the need for encryption, and security training? Protecting data and meeting compliance standards aren’t just about deploying and properly configuring the best security tools or hiring an all-star security team. Data classification can help you determine which data needs the most protection so you can plan your security and compliance strategy.
Pediatric Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Kids are more than just our patients; they’re our priority. Putting children first shapes how we think about care, create plans for treatment and support families every step of the way. Lean on us during this journey to help provide peace of mind and alleviate fears. Signs and Symptoms of Pediatric Cancer Cancer is not common in children so signs and symptoms of cancer may be difficult to detect. Consult your pediatrician if you notice any of the following with your child: • Unusual lump or bump • Ongoing pain • Bruising easily • Unexplained weight loss These symptoms may be linked to other health issues and are not always a sign of cancer. If your child’s pediatrician believes cancer may be causing these symptoms, there are diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause. Pediatric Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Depending on your child’s symptoms, one or more of the following diagnostic procedures may be performed to help our team confirm or rule out a cancer diagnosis: Blood tests: Your pediatric oncologist may order a blood test to look for signs of infections or toxins within the blood. Running blood tests can also help rule out any other conditions or causes that present the same symptoms. Our team will collect a blood sample from a vein in the arm. This blood sample will then be tested to get a better look at overall health. Bone marrow biopsy: Bone marrow is a soft tissue that lives at the center of large bones and makes blood cells. A bone marrow biopsy is performed to understand if your child’s body is producing enough blood cells and can also be used to diagnose cancers such as leukemia or other blood disorders. Lumbar puncture: This procedure, also known as a spinal tap, uses a needle placed between vertebral bones in the lower back to remove cerebrospinal fluid for testing. This test can be used to help rule out infections around the brain and spinal cord, as well as to detect brain tumors or leukemia. X-rays: This imaging test uses radiation that goes through the body to take images of bones and other parts of the body. X-rays are painless and imaging tests that can help detect cancer in bones and organs. CT scan: A computerized tomography scan (CT scan) is an x-ray that can view a specific part of the body from various angles. This scan combines the images to get a comprehensive picture of a tumor’s location, shape and size. Your child will lie on a table that slides into the CT scan machine. Once in the machine, x-ray images are taken and sent to a computer where pediatric oncologists can better detect and diagnose the tumors. CT scans use a low dose of radiation. MRI: An MRI is a non-invasive imaging test used to show detailed images of internal organs and can help detect how far cancer has spread. Your pediatric oncologist may order this test to get a better understanding where the cancer is within the body. Understanding the location of the cancer and if it has spread will help the pediatric oncologist create a personalized treatment plan specific to your child. This type of imaging uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create the images. MRIs are radiation-free and completely safe. Your child will lie on a table that slides into the MRI tube. While this test is painless, the MRI tube does make loud noises as the magnetic and radio waves create the image. Our team of experts will be close by to make sure your child is safe and comfortable throughout the duration of this imaging test. Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to take images of internal organs. While an ultrasound does not use radiation, they do use sound that travels and bounces off denser surfaces. The image that is produced is called a sonogram. Tumor biopsy: A pediatric oncologist may request a tumor biopsy if the tissue in question is abnormal. This test will determine if the tissue is healthy or abnormal. Your child will likely have the biopsy under general anesthesia and it will be performed by a trained pediatric surgeon. The biopsy sample will be sent to the pathology laboratory and will be evaluated by a pathologist. Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can be unnerving for both you and your child. Once your child has been diagnosed, we work with you to create a treatment plan that is customized to their condition and needs. The team at Banner Children’s is here to provide tailored care and support throughout this journey. Through our care, we create hope for kids and their families. We help turn fear into the courage to take on tough challenges, together.
See how the Vietnam War, Cold War diplomacy, and the Watergate scandal defined Richard Nixon's presidency NARRATOR: Richard Nixon – the 37th president of the United States – made groundbreaking achievements in foreign policy that helped ease Cold War tensions with China and the Soviet Union. But his accomplishments were overshadowed by the political scandal known as Watergate, which forced him to resign in disgrace. Born and raised in southern California, Nixon earned scholarships to Harvard and Yale but stayed close to home to attend Whittier College. He then earned a degree from Duke University Law School before returning to Whittier to practice law. He also pursued his interest in theater by joining the Whittier Community Players. He [AM1]met his future wife, Pat, when they were cast in the same play. Nixon’s political career began with his election to Congress in 1946. Two years later he was assigned to the House Un-American Activities Committee, which was investigating suspected communist connections among politicians and celebrities. Nixon played a leading role in the investigation of Alger Hiss, a former State Department official accused of spying for the Soviet Union. The Hiss case made Nixon nationally famous as an opponent of communism. In 1950 Nixon was elected to the Senate. Two years later the Republicans chose him as Dwight D. Eisenhower’s vice presidential running mate. Their ticket won easily and was reelected in 1956. In 1960 Nixon attempted to succeed Eisenhower as president but narrowly lost the election to John F. Kennedy. He also lost his 1962 bid for governor of California. Disillusioned, Nixon retired from politics for a few years to practice law. Encouragement from conservative Republicans led Nixon to reenter politics. And in 1968 he again won the party’s nomination for president. He benefited from turmoil among the Democrats, who were struggling with the country’s growing involvement in the Vietnam War. Nixon narrowly defeated Vice President Hubert Humphrey to take the White House. As president, Nixon focused much of his energy on foreign affairs. Aiming to achieve what he called “peace with honor” in the Vietnam War, Nixon began a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops in 1969. But about the same time he resumed the bombing of North Vietnam, which had been halted the year before. Nixon also expanded the war into Cambodia and Laos, inciting widespread protests in the United States. The last U.S. ground troops finally left Vietnam after a peace agreement was signed in 1973. Nixon’s most significant achievement in foreign affairs may have been the reestablishment of direct relations with China. The United States had broken off relations with China in 1949, when communists took control of the country. In 1972 Nixon made a state visit to China, the first by a U.S. president. Later that year Nixon continued his efforts to reduce Cold War tensions by visiting the Soviet Union. There he signed a number of treaties, the most important of which limited the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Nixon won reelection in 1972 in one of the largest landslide victories in the history of U.S. presidential elections. But his second term would be dominated by scandal. Before the election, burglars had broken into the Democratic Party’s headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Investigations showed that the burglars were connected to Nixon’s reelection campaign and that the president and his aides had tried to hide their involvement. Even as the case against him was building, Nixon famously defended himself against charges of wrongdoing. RICHARD NIXON: I have never profited–never profited–from public service. I've earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that I could say that in my years of public life, that I welcome this kind of examination, because people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I am not a crook. NARRATOR: But soon the release of taped White House conversations clearly implicated President Nixon in the cover-up. Faced with near-certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 8th, 1974. A month later he was pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford. In retirement Nixon had some success in rehabilitating his public reputation. He earned a role as an elder statesman and a foreign-policy expert. After his death in 1994, two decades removed from Watergate, Nixon was remembered not only for the scandal but also for his achievements in diplomacy.
A local historian is calling for Devon women and men executed for witchcraft to be pardoned - particularly as Exeter is regarded as having possibly been the epicentre of witchcraft in England. The city was apparently the first place where a 'witch' was sentenced to death and also the last. Between 1285 and 1943, 299 people were lawfully executed in Exeter, the most prolific era being the second half of the 18th century. Many of these individuals were believed to possess 'familiar spirits' or demons in the shape of small animals, like rats and toads, which unleashed their evil powers to waste both livestock and humans on the witches' behalf. Exeter historian Dr Todd Gray says both women and men were hanged for practising the 'dark arts' and that they should all be pardoned to recognise the miscarriages of justice. He said: "Most of Devon’s legal cases involving witchcraft were ones of slander, generally in which one woman complained that another had called her a witch, generally as part of a string of abusive words. "The other instance was when the state prosecuted both women and men as witches. A pardon should also be given to those men who were persecuted for witchcraft. "Dozens of Devonians were labelled as witches in the 16th and 17th centuries. One Elizabethan woman complained that the association followed her from village to village and that her life had been blighted by it. "She was called a witch only because her mother-in-law had been before her. Mark Stoyle’s excellent book tells the story of those in Exeter who suffered and it's only a part of a much bigger history of persecution." He added: "One of the distressing aspects of the executions of the three Bideford women at Exeter in 1682 is that the judge himself did not believe in the allegations. It is not possible to know in how many other instances the charges of witchcraft were merely a means used to persecute individuals. "It was alleged in Exeter in 1682 that a mob of local people demanded the women were executed. The judge was, it is believed, forced to respond to public opinion. Mobs have all but disappeared in modern life and I suppose our equivalent are internet trolls?" A woodcut illustration from a book published in 1579 of a witch feeding her familiars with blood. Evidence has revealed that between the accession of Elizabeth I in 1558 and the accession of Charles II in 1660, more than 20 local women and men were accused of being 'witches' or 'sorcerers', and denounced to the magistrates. The last people in England to be executed for witchcraft and tried and hanged in Heavitree, Exeter. Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards and Mary Trembles, the so-called Bideford witches, were hanged in August 1682. Records show Lloyd was accused of 'having discourse or familiarity' with the devil and 'having used some magical art, sorcery or witchcraft'. Edwards and Trembles, who both lived with her, were also arrested before all three were executed. Historians say the women were convicted on hearsay evidence, which included one of them being accused of turning into a magpie. Lloyd was arrested first after she was accused of communicating with the devil and using witchcraft to cause a woman to fall ill. Local constables in Bideford then held Trembles and Edwards – who lived with Lloyd and begged for food with her. The three women were hanged a month later. A plaque at Exeter’s Rougemont Castle commemorates the 1682 Bideford witch trial They died just as the 17th century witch-hunts came to an end, and were the last three people hanged in England for witchcraft. But writers at the time said they were the victims of 'hatred and ignorance' and were targeted because they were old and suffered dementia. Rougemont Castle, the ancient Bardic Seat of Exeter, is home to a remembrance plaque to the witches. Witches go to the noose in Channel 4's 'Secrets of the Dead' Witches go to the noose Documents revealing the case of what is believed to be the only Devon man to be tried and hanged as a witch reveal his name as Richard Wilkyns. A labourer, he was accused of having murdered a man and a woman, causing three people to become desperately ill and killing a horse, a cow and 10 pigs through the same dark means. Having been found guilty by Exeter jurors, Wilkyns was sentenced to be hanged and promptly executed in Magdalen Street for witchcraft on July 12, 1610. An entry of his death still survives in the burial register of St Sidwell’s. The trial is recorded among old papers in the Devon Record Office at Sowton not only shows that he was certainly the first person to have been executed for witchcraft in Devon, but also that he is the only man. The deep roots of witch-belief in the city were published in a book by Professor Mark Stoyle, Witchcraft in Exeter: 1558-1660. Sourced from centuries-old court records, manuscript chronicles and registers of births, marriages and deaths, it charts the progress of each case of alleged 'witchcraft' from accusation to ultimate sentence. More Devon Live stories:
Why Is Fatigue A Symptom Of Depression And Anxiety? The Science-Backed Answer Quora Quora . This question originally appeared on Quora. Answer by Will Wister. How do you become depressed? What are the steps involved? First, a problem presents itself in your life, whether it's real or imagined. Your body in response to that problem produces stress hormones. Stress hormones cause your brain to work overtime on the problem at hand. That's fine at first, but your brain can only take so much of stress. Once your brain is exhausted from repeated instances of stress, you can experience depression. Various types of stress are linked to depression: • Even positive events, such as getting married or beginning a new job, can be stressful and may lead to an episode of major depression. • Stress -- whether chronic, such as taking care of a parent with Alzheimer's, or acute, such as losing a job or the death of a loved one -- can lead to major depression in susceptible people. Both types of stress lead to overactivity of the body's stress-response mechanism. • Sustained or chronic stress, in particular, leads to elevated hormones such as cortisol, the "stress hormone," and reduced serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, which has been linked to depression.[1] You can actually model this stress by looking at rats: • Rats repeatedly exposed to the stress hormone corticosterone show more depression-like behavior and greater signs of anxiety. • Kalynchuk cites evidence that repeated stress in lab animals reduces neurogenesis--the birth of new brain cells--in the hippocampus, leading to depressive symptoms. She notes, though: "It's not clear whether a decrease in neurogenesis can cause depression or is a by-product of depression. • Minor postulates that chronic stress hormone trips a neurological circuit breaker by causing receptors in the hippocampus and amygdala to block glucose intake, sparing these regions from neurotoxic overexcitement. • "Stress is when you're anxious and fatigued," says Minor. "Anxiety causes energy production, but in fatigue your energy is down, a compensatory shift." [2] As the excerpts say, depression is a compensatory mechanism to handle repeated bouts of stress - stress in the sense of stress hormones being produced in response to problems or perceived problems in your life. Fatigue is part of that compensatory mechanism. Whatever is bothering you or has been stressing you out, depression tells you that you need to take a break from fighting it. You need to relax to compensate for your prior period of stress. You need to rest. You need to get sad as the likelihood of a successful battle vs. the problem in your life has decreased. You may also need to get numb or lose interest in things in general[3] - which is also your body's way of telling you to focus less energy on whatever is bothering you so that you can take a break and regroup. When you begin to think of depression as your body taking a break from fighting problems with which it's so far been unsuccessful, it makes sense that things like sadness, numbness and fatigue are symptoms. [1] http://www.webmd.com/depression/... [2] http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan05... [3] http://www.webmd.com/depression/... More from Quora Join the Discussion
Scott Pruitt is a CO2 Truther EPA chief Scott Pruitt says carbon dioxide is not a primary contributor to global warming. Joshua Roberts/REUTERS Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, says carbon emissions aren't to blame for the greenhouse effect. On Thursday, during an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Pruitt insisted that CO2 emission are not the primary cause of global warming. "I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there's tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact, so no, I would not agree that it's a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," Pruitt said. The EPA chief added that there is need for additional research and information—and more debate—before anyone is allowed to point fingers at this suspect greenhouse gas. In the same interview, Pruitt called the Paris Agreement a bad deal. All 174 countries and the European Union that are part of the agreement are required to adhere to a framework to reduce greenhouse emissions by 2020, and limit global warming below 2 degree Celsius and as close to 1.5 degree Celsius as possible. After China, the U.S. is the top emitter of greenhouse gases. Pruitt's words certainly don't match up with the EPA's official stance. The agency's website provides an evidence-based overview that more than suggests the earth's temperature is rising and wreaking havoc on the entire ecosystem and causing damage to human health. The EPA's website says "Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas that is contributing to recent climate change." The EPA website cites an exhaustive report published a year ago by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international body for assessing the science related to global warming. The panel was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Association and the United Nations. They're tasked with conducting scientific research and analysis that helps world leaders draw up policies for environmental protection. The government panel has declared that "scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal." CO2 is part of the natural carbon cycle and is emitted through plants and animals. It's released through other processes such as volcanic eruption and gas exchanged between the ocean and atmosphere. However, scientists say the primary cause of excess greenhouse gasses is human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels. Researchers have compiled together records on climate for the last thousand to millions of years. Data on everything from tree rings and glacier lengths to pollen counts and the volume of sediment on the ocean floor, have been studied and restudied before arriving at the conclusion that humans are causing irreparable damage to the planet we inhabit. Scientists (and the EPA) say the climate change that occurred before the Industrial Revolution is a result of natural phenomena, such as the volcanic eruptions and solar energy. However, the climate change we've seen in recent decades can't be explained by this alone. According to NASA, the earth is getting hotter. The warmest years on record have been in the last 35 years with 15 of 16 hottest since 2001. NASA reports that 2015 was the first year the global average temperature was 1 degree Celsius higher than the average between 1880 and 1899. At the same time, we're seeing more weather extremes. In the U.S., the number of record high temperature events have been increasing since 1950 while the record low temperatures are decreasing. The oceans are also getting significantly warmer, and these waters are where as much as 90 percent of global warming goes, scientists say. The problem with warmer water is it contains less oxygen. Plants, fish and other organisms need oxygen to survive. Should warming continue, it will cause an increasing number of "oxygen minimum zones," where any living organism will struggle to survive. Research also finds the global sea level has risen nearly 7 inches in the last century. However, the rate of this increase is nearly double in the last decade. All of this evidence is just the tip of the melting iceberg. And it didn't take long for others to respond with outrage to Pruitt's comments. In a statement Gina McCarthy, the EPA's most recent administrator, said that science should always be about empirical evidence, not beliefs. "When it comes to climate change, the evidence is robust and overwhelmingly clear that the cost of inaction is unacceptably high. Preventing the greatest consequences of climate change is imperative to the health and well-being of all of us who call Earth home." While attorney general of Oklahoma, Pruitt questioned human involvement in climate change. Pruitt, who was sworn in as head of the EPA two weeks ago, shares many of the beliefs of President Trump. During his meeting with reporters from the New York Times in November, Trump called climate change "a very complex subject." He said he has "an open mind" when it comes to environmental issues. However, like Pruitt, he's not completely sure how much humans are to blame for the warming of the earth.
Who doesn't know that thrumming, repetitive thinking that plays on an endless loop in our brains? It can start with anything—a grouchy look from someone at the gym, a dumb mistake made at work, a breakup with a spouse, a breakdown in the dry-cleaning line—and somehow spiral into everything that's wrong with you and wrong with the world. Such ingrained negative-thought patterns can be destructive and need to be broken. Elisha Goldstein, author of Uncovering Happiness, says that we often fail, despite best efforts, at breaking the cycle because we don't see the full picture. Goldstein has studied what is known as the depression loop—a cycle of negative thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviors—that can essentially trap you in a permanent bad mood. But beyond just occurring with depression, this pattern can also show up when you're feeling anxious, ashamed or even full of self-doubt. "These loops happen automatically—we're not consciously stepping into that spiral. We find ourselves there out of habit," Goldstein says. Research shows that our brains are actually conditioned to remember these bad-mood loops, which typically have four stages. The good news is that by changing our behaviors, we can, in effect, rewire our brains. This is where mapping the four parts of the negative-thought cycle can come in handy. Once you know what they are, you can find different ways of responding to the cues. Goldstein walks patients through a four-step mapping exercise. It starts with writing down the negative thoughts; and then, the physical sensations that accompany them. Next, patients note any emotions that arise. Finally, they take note of the behaviors that follow. In Goldstein's experience, it's identifying sensations (step two) that trips people up the most. We're so stuck in our heads that we aren't always aware of how our emotions feel in our bodies. As soon as he starts suggesting examples of what his patients may be feeling—heaviness for depression, chest constriction for anxiety—they start to get the picture. If you're having trouble identifying your cues, he suggests starting with the behaviors you know aren't great. Even if you're not aware of what thoughts you're trying to avoid, Goldstein says we're usually familiar with our bad habits—like sleeping, eating or drinking too much. If you take stock of how you're feeling physically, or what thought occurred just before you dove head-first into a gin and tonic, you can work backward to fill in the missing pieces. While you probably won't be able to avoid these downward spirals completely, Goldstein says mapping out the loops you find yourself in can at least help you get back on track more quickly. You can start the exercise below and save to your profile. (Press Submit to save your responses. To view or edit them, please refresh the page.) Next Story
You are here: Sri Lanka is a true amalgam of different people and customs in every sense of the word, with a distinct, vibrant culture that encompasses everything from ancient religious practices to the rapid modernisation seen in Colombo and other cities as they move on from the devastation of a civil war. Trying to get to grips with the cultural makeup of the country would require an encyclopaedia’s worth of reading, but if you’re looking for a crash course we’re here to help. With that said, we at Orbzii would only encourage visitors to this wonderous land to delve deeper into anything about Sri Lanka culture that they find interesting, whether it be the centuries old engineering marvels or the unforgettable and moreish cuisine that’s been influenced by everyone from the Chinese to the Portuguese to the Moorish. If you want to get to grips with local culture but are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of how much there is to learn, then read ahead for our quick guide to the cultures and traditions of Sri Lanka. Experts believe that Sri Lanka has been inhabited for over a hundred thousand years, and there are numerous notable examples of ancient Sri Lankan societies that were incredibly advanced for their time – especially when it comes to construction and urban planning. This means important historical and archaeological sites are dotted all over the country, with everything from ornate cave paintings to ancient fortresses open to tourists who want to learn about the diverse and unique history of Sri Lanka. The bloody recent history of the country also plays a huge impact in many people’s lives, although the issues caused by it are becoming less and less prevalent as they move on from the civil war that devastated Sri Lanka for years. cave artwork at sri lanka's cultural triangle Learning about this before you go, or even while you’re there, will only help you to enjoy your stay in the island nation more as you contextualise and empathise with the people who lived through real pain and horror. buddha statue in mihintale in sri lanka Sri Lanka is a majority Buddhist country, although Hindus and Muslims make up large minorities. Regardless of their faith, the Sri Lankans are a devout people, with a 2008 Gallup poll confirming that 99% of the population consider their faith an important part of their daily life. The official religion of the country is Theravada Buddhism, the oldest existing school of Buddhism. In fact, Sri Lanka has been Buddhist longer than any other country on earth. The most important thing to remember when visiting any holy sites is to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers that extend well past your knees. Don’t worry if you get too excited about the weather and forget to pack something suitable for temple-viewing – most of the larger, more aesthetically interesting ones will have people outside selling appropriate clothing so you can enjoy your visit without upsetting worshipers. While Buddhists make up the vast majority of Sri Lankans, Hinduism is a large enough force in the country that it would do any visitor well to be aware of this ancient belief system. Widely practiced by the Tamil minority and concentrated in the North and Central areas of the country, many sects of the religion have in turn been influenced by Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan thought, giving Hinduism and the country a unique symbiosis. With such a diverse range of cultures and people calling Sri Lanka home, it makes sense that they have multiple official languages. Sinhala is the most widely spoken, named for the Sinhalese majority. Tamil is spoken by about a quarter of the population too, so remains vital to the Sri Lankan cultural stew. The legacy of colonialism means that English is also widely spoken by many Sri Lankans, especially in the urbanised areas of the country that have been modernising rapidly in the past few decades, although only Sinhala and Tamil are technically official languages. With that said, you’ll often find road and shop signs in all three sign with different languages in sri lanka Aside from this triplet, there are plenty of other languages spoken in the linguistic hodgepodge that is Sri Lanka, including Sri Lankan Malay, Sri Lankan Portuguese creole, and dozens of other dialects that would only be intelligible to locals. With all that said, there’s not much a smile, patience, and Google Translate can’t help you with. artist making traditional print in sri lanka Art, Music, and Books Sri Lanka’s art scene is heavily influenced by numerous factorsespecially when it comes to the contemporary artists, sculptors, and painters the country is producingThe cave paintings that have adorned numerous cultural and historical places of interest for millennia are mostly informed by Buddhism and Hinduism, whereas more recent work has hints of colonial influences, as well as tackling the subject of the recent war. Colombo is home to numerous galleries and other art spaces, so you can learn almost everything there is to know about Sri Lankan art in the capital. There are also many artisans and craft-people working with traditional methods like clay pottery throughout the country, and if you get the chance to visit more rural areas you’re sure to find some astoundingly insightful and beautiful pieces, from woven fabrics to whittled artefacts. Music and dance in Sri Lanka is heavily influenced by religion, colonialism, and the legacy of slaves who were brought over primarily by the Portuguese. Drums and repetitive beats play a large role in the making of music here thanks to their hypnotic, meditative quality. String instruments modelled off those from the sub-continent also play a big part. In more modern times genres like rap and rock have also grabbed a foothold in the musical culture of the country, as has Bollywood-inspired music. Sri Lanka has a recorded written history of several millennia that was heavily influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism. Nowadays there are celebrated Sri Lankan authors who write in English, Sinhala, and Tamil, with stories covering a wide range of topics that match the sea of change the country has been going through. Short stories and poetry are the preferred forms for most celebrated Sri Lankan literature, but there’s plenty of other kinds of work that gives a real insight into Sri Lanka culture and daily life for the locals, including ancient fables and folk tales that are usually passed on by word of mouth. Animals and Other Symbols Perhaps because it’s home to so many astoundingly beautiful species, birds are often seen as having a special symbolic place in Sri Lanka culture. Peacocks are especially vaunted, but birds in general usually have religious and cultural importance because of their ability to fly and their relation to religion. The national bird is the Sri Lankan junglefowl; endemic to the region, its colourful plumage has inspired plenty of artists throughout the country’s long history. The flag of Sri Lanka has a lion on it to represent the Sinhalese majority, and lions (along with elephants and the grizzled giant squirrel) are unofficially considered the national animal of the country by many. sri lankan stamp with junglefowl symbol Thanks to its splendorous nature Sri Lanka also has an official National Tree (Ceylon Ironwood – important to the Buddhist majority), National Flower (the iconic Blue Water Lily, again heavily linked with Buddhism), and National Butterfly (the endemic Sri Lankan Birdwing). Despite cricket being the most popular sport in the country, Volleyball is the National Sport, although many believe Elle – a kind of slow-pitch softball – is more culturally relevant. various traditional sri lankan dishes Food and Drink You can learn a lot about a country by eating your way through it, and there aren’t many tastier propositions than doing so in Sri Lanka. The largest influences on the cuisine are South India, but because of its status as a trading hub and colonial history there’s plenty of other places that have influenced how food is made here. Moreover, highly trained Sri Lankan chefs are returning to the country and producing fusion food that’s reshaping the boundaries of the cuisine. Basically, if you love big flavours, variety, and a colourful plate that’s full of healthy vegetables alongside luxurious, filling dishes, then you’re in luck. Rice, coconut, and palm trees are all vital parts of the food culture here, as are the spices that grow naturally on the island like cinnamon and cardamom. Tea also plays a massive part in socialising and eating, so if you love a cuppa you’re in the right country. The local alcohol is named arrack and derived from palm sap – but when you’re trying it make sure to be careful as it’s often home-brewed and the strength can vary quite a lot. Ready to uncover more of Sri Lanka? Take a look at our guide to the island’s best beaches and bays Has reading about the cultures and traditions of Sri Lanka got you excited to explore this wonderful country? Download the Orbzii app today to Dream, Plan, and Book your Indian Ocean getaway!
January 27, 2021 Wildlife of RER: Banded Palm Civet Meet the Banded Palm Civet (Hemigalus derbyanus), one of six Viverridae species recorded in Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER). Also known as the Banded Civet, it’s native to Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and the Sundaic region such as Sumatra and Kalimantan islands. Indonesians called this species Musang Belang. Belang means stripes due to several white and dark bands along its back. Its scientific name comes from the Greek word Hemi that means ‘half’ and gale that means ‘weasel’ because of of how they look. Banded Palm Civet is a rare species of civet that can be found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, including in the Riau Ecosystem Restoration (RER) conservation area. Banded Palm Civet, a rare civet species found in Southeast Asian tropical forests, including our own RER conservation area. During our last biodiversity survey of the mammal species of the Kampar Peninsula, the team identified the Banded Civet as being relatively abundant in the RER forest. The Banded Palm Civet is a carnivore, eating everything from rodents, small reptiles and insects, to ants and crustaceans. Even though their diet is based on meat, they can sometimes also be found eating plants and fruits. Their retractable claws and powerful feet allow them to be good climbers, and long tapered snouts assist in their feeding habits. The Civet is a nocturnal animal and partly arboreal. They usually forage on the forest floor during the night and sleep in their nests in holes or in trees during the day. They are also known to hunt for prey in trees and near streams or watery ecosystems. They are solitary animals who are also territorial, marking their territorry using scent. They are secretive and can be ferocious, hissing, spitting, and even attacking when faced with an invader. Physical Characteristics The Banded Civet is about the size of a domestic cat with a long and slender body. They can measure up to 53cm, not including their tail, and weigh from 1-3 kg. Banded Palm Civet - habitat loss and deforestation pose a big threat to this nocturnal animal Due to their secretive behaviour and low reproduction success in captivity, little information is available regarding their mating habits. From the few banded civets observed in captivity, they usually give birth to one or two litters, which weigh about 125 grams. These litters usually open their eyes after 8 to 12 days and nurse for about 70 days before eating solid food. In general, viverrids have two litters per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The gestation period ranges from 32 to 64 days among all of the species of this family. Very little is known regarding the lifespan of the Banded Civet in the wild. Conservation Status The Banded Palm Civet is listed under Appendix II of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Even though they are not necessarily threatened with extinction, its trade must be controlled. In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species they are also listed as Near Threatened (NT). In the wild, the Banded Palm Civet’s main threat is habitat loss and deforestation which makes it hard for them to find food, as well as access to trees and place to hide from predators. Hunting is also a threat because of the growing interest in them as pets. RER has been working to protect these fascinating animals because they are essential in our efforts to restore and conserve more than 150,000 hectares of ecologically important peat swamp forest in the Kampar Peninsula and Padang Island in Riau Province, Sumatra. Subscribe to our restoration news
polyshrink tutorial cuore 05 Polyshrink heart tutorial with embossing 01 Very simple tutorial to create a heart-shaped embellishment using the embossing technique on the polyshrink. Polyshrink (or simply shrink) is a sheet of heat shrinking plastic material. With heat it shrinks by 50% while maintaining the previously cropped shape. The new shape will be thicker and stronger. It can be decorated and colored with quick-drying colors such as alcohol based indelibles. polyshrink cuore 01 Draw the desired shape on a sheet, in this case a simple heart. Place our polyshrink sheet and trace the shape. This will help us in cropping. If you have clipping masks, of course you are facilitated. polyshrink tutorial cuore 02 Cut out the shape (scissors or paper or cardboard cutter are fine) shrink tutorial cuore 03 To facilitate the attachment of the color, slightly scratch the surface with an abrasive block or very fine sandpaper. polyshrink tutorial cuore 04 Now we can color it and decorate it. In this case we have created shades with colored chalks (chalk) polyshrink tutorial cuore 05 With the embosser (hot air blower for embossing) carefully warm the heart by holding it gently so as not to move it. It will first start to crumple, then slowly it will shrink and thicken, returning to its original shape. polyshrink tutorial cuore 06 Our heart is ready .. here is an embellishment to use as a pendant, for album covers or whatever you want. However, we can add effects with embossing powders. polveri embossing cuore 07 We dab the heart with an embossing ink. embossing powder cuore 08 We pour the relief powder. Here we will use the transparent nacrè. shrink tutorial embossing cuore 09 We remove the excess dust and heat again with the embosser to dissolve it. shrink tutorial embossing cuore 10 our heart is done. Compared to the dust-free version, the heart is more shiny, and still maintains the nuanced effect that we have given with the chalks. Hello to the next 😉 Where can I find the scrapbooking materials used in the polyshrink tutorial? Find the shrink sheets HERE Share if you liked the tutorial 😉 Comments are closed.
Sleep and Memory senior citizen couple Many of us are looking for memory improvement tips to help keep us organized and focused. Having a good memory is beneficial at home and in the workplace as so much of day to day life involves learning, storing, and remembering important information. Whether you want to improve your short term memory and your ability to remember dates, names, and places, or you are looking to strengthen your long term memory, there are simple things you can do each and every day to help. Follow along as we review some popular memory improvement tips. 8 Memory Improvement Tips for a Better Memory Having a good memory is important for many different reasons. Not only does it make us feel more confident and knowledgeable, but it also helps us navigate all of our daily responsibilities more effectively. If you are trying to improve your memory, here are 8 things you can try: 1. Pay Attention. Many times our memories are impaired because we are not concentrating enough on the moment. If you really want to remember something, stop all the other things you are doing to focus. 2. Avoid Information Overload. Do you have a lot of different things going on at once. The stress resulting from too much information often impairs our memories. Try to reduce the amount of information you are trying to remember and focus on what’s most important. 3. Write It Down. If you want to make your memory stronger, write down things that are important for you to remember. The very act of writing helps to solidify memory, and knowing that you have important information documented makes you feel more confident in your ability to remember. 4. Repeat It. Remember when you used flash cards to memorize facts for a math test or history exam? The power of repetition is a proven memory booster. If you really want to remember something, don’t forget to repeat the information multiple times to enhance your memory. 5. Get Moving. Physical activity in the form of aerobic exercise is very beneficial to your memory. For example, a study at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for Brain Health found that physical fitness plays a key role in “staying mentally sharp” and this includes increased blood flow in the brain. Lead researcher Dr. Dee Wyly concludes: “This research shows the tremendous benefit of aerobic exercise on a person’s memory.” 6. Eat a Nutritious and Balanced Diet. While there is not a magic super pill that will make your memory perfect, eating healthy and nutritious foods is an important part of maintaining and sharpening your bodily functioning and this includes your memory. 7. Make Sleep a Priority. Harvard sleep researchers show that sleep affects your memory in various ways. It is thought, for example, that your brainwaves during different sleep stages are linked to different kinds of memory. Slow-wave sleep is thought to play a key role in helping you retain information you recently learned. REM sleep is thought to affect your procedural memory, or your ability to remember how to do things. Getting plenty of high quality sleep is an essential part of maintaining and improving your memory. 8. Use Your Memory. Do things that require you to use your memory regularly. This is easy to do if you engage in hobbies, learn a new language, visit a museum, follow certain issues in the news, and participate in many different types of games and other engaging activities. Participating in things that make you think and use your brain is a key part of keeping your mind and memory sharp. Other things that sometimes impair a person’s memory include alcohol usage and certain medications. The hormonal changes that happen during menopause have also been associated with memory changes. Some women also notice similar memory changes during pregnancy. Health conditions including the after effects of mini-strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of dementia may all notably impact a person’s memory. Changes in memory are a normal part of the aging process. However, if you are concerned about your memory, it is always advisable to talk with a qualified medical professional for additional guidance and an evaluation. For more information on sleep hygiene and the connection between sleep and your health, follow our sleep blog or speak to the experts at Sleep Outfitters mattress stores. Copyright © 2021 Sleep Outfitters. All rights reserved.
Pet owners across the country have been warned as an eye infection caused by parasitic worms could risk spreading from Europe to the UK. Known as oriental eye worm or Thelazia callipaeda the infection is caused by fruit flies which land on the skin and leave behind infected larvae. Three cases among dogs have been reported in the UK but it is understood that the animals had been imported from abroad. One had come from Romania while the other two had been in Europe with their owners. All three recovered fully following a treatment of drugs and eye washes. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania Italy Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, , Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Belgium and Serbia all have reported locally transmitted cases. Symptoms of the infection can include corneal ulceration, which can lead to blindness if untreated and mild conjunctivitis (pink eye). The flies tend to be found in areas of oak woodland during warmer months
The remains of fishing equipment on the seabed off Punta de la Mona / ideal Experts support ban on recreational fishing at Punta de la Mona A team of zoologists from the University of Granada have said they are in favour of the restrictions that the regional government wants to put in place to aid the repopulation of an area that has lost species The seabed and cliffs of Punta de la Mona are considered Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) but activities such as recreational fishing are still permitted. However, experts have warned of the danger to the ecosystem and say that valuable corals have broken off or become trapped by nets and fishing lines. Environmental organisations and zoologists from the University of Granada (UGR) have started projects to repopulate the colonies, but they fear that this is not enough and have asked the Andalusian government to do more to protect the area. At the end of October last year, a draft proposal regulating various activities in Punta de La Mona was published in the Junta de Andalucía’s official bulletin, which, if successful, will prohibit recreational fishing, despite protests among the local fishing community. The Zoology department of the UGR has defended the proposal by saying, "Having a natural area in a good state of conservation should be a source of pride and would give prestige to our coastline, as well as benefiting fishing resources and biodiversity." Recreational or sport fishing and anchors from boats damage the biodiversity of the Punta de la Mona cliffs, which are located between Almuñécar and La Herradura in Granada province. The experts warn that if the deterioration continues it will become very difficult for the ecosystems to recover. The enclave is one of the few areas of the Andalusian coastline where the rocky seabed is 50 metres deep, which allows the presence of endangered corals such as the candelabra coral, or 'Dendrophyllia ramea', together with the 'ferruginous limpet' and other endangered species. Spearfishing is another activity that takes place in the area, but is controversial with some arguing that it has a positive effect on conservation. However, according to the UGR experts, it has led to the virtual disappearance of large predators, such as groupers, which include sea bass, from the coast of Granada. They also denounce poaching, which leads to fish being sold at lower prices, causing unfair competition for professional fishermen. The Zoology department has also proposed monitoring the impact of diving in the area. Other protected areas Along with Punta de la Mona, three other special conservation areas exist on the Granada coast: the cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo, the cliffs and seabed of Tesorillo-Salobreña, the cliffs and seabed of Calahonda-Castell de Ferro and the Peñones de San Cristóbal. All of them add up to some 16 kilometres of the total 70 kilometres of Granada's coast, which means that they account for approximately 22 per cent of the coastline. However, currently only Maro-Cerro Gordo has a management plan in force which regulates activities such as fishing and diving.
Mammalian nose mimicking AI powered “electronic-nose” to help consumers determine meat freshness. The artificial nose will help identify whether a meat is fit for consumption more accurately than a “Best Before” label could. This technology developed by scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) will reduce wastage of food which is still fit for consumption thereby save the environment. The electronic-nose has two components: • Coloured barcode • AI based barcode reader in the form of a smart phone app. Red arrows showing the barcodes attached to the underside of the PVC film packaging material. The barcode changes colour upon reactions with gases emitted by the decaying meat The barcode ‘reader’ in the form of a smart phone app, powered by AI, has been trained to recognise and predict meat freshness. The barcode will be attached to the inner side of the meat package. As the meat decays it releases certain gases. Upon reacting with the gases released by the meat the barcode will change colour. Using AI the barcode reader will interpret the combinations of colours on the barcode to analyze the freshness of the meat. As claimed by the team within 30 seconds the e-nose can predict the freshness of the meat. In order to make the e-nose system portable the team has integrated the barcode reader in the form of a smart phone app. The barcodes are biodegradable and non-toxic hence can be safely used in food packages. Scientists have been constantly trying to develop artificial scent screening system also known as electronic nose. However few e-noses have made to the commercial level. The e-noses developed in the past have failed mainly due to sensing and scent fingerprint recognition problems. They could not precisely identify and determine the odour which was a great disadvantage. These problems have arisen in the previous e-nose approaches because of lack of robust cross-reactive sensing and scent fingerprint recognition. The NTU team has developed a quick, automatic, accurate, portable, real-time artificial scent screening system or electronic nose (e-nose). NTU team’s e-nose has overcome the problems of its predecessors. Their e-nose could be used to sniff the freshness of packaged food items just like we human beings sniff food to check its fitness for consumption. The team’s ground breaking work has been published in the journal Advanced Materials. The NTU team developed e-nose functions similar to a mammalian nose: • Functioning of the mammalian nose: In case of a mammalian nose gases produced by rotting meat bind to the receptors in the nose. This generates signals which get transmitted to the brain. After receiving the signal the brain arranges the response in the form of a pattern. This allows the mammal to identify the odour and understand whether the meat is rotting or fresh. • Functioning of the e-nose: Imitating the mammalian nose mechanism the e-nose has been developed by the team. In case of the e-nose the barcode has 20 bars which function as the nose receptor. The chitosan (natural sugar) made bars, each loaded with a specific dye, are embedded on a cellulose derivative. The gases produced by the decaying meat react with the dye in the bar which changes the colour of the dye. Depending on the concentration and type of gases emitted by the meat a unique combination of colour is produced in the barcode. This colour combination acts as the “scent fingerprint” for the condition of the meat. Then the AI based barcode indicator will interpret the unique colour combination to predict the freshness of the meat. The team has demonstrated how the barcode component of the e-nose works. The first bar, for example, contains a weakly acidic yellow dye. As the meat decays it produces nitrogen containing compounds called biomanines. Upon exposure to the bioamines the yellow dye reacts with the compounds. The colour of the dye changes from yellow to blue due to the reaction. Overtime as the meat rots further there is an increase in production of bioamines. The higher concentration of bioamines further intensifies the colour. The rest of the bars in the barcode function similarly. Using an international standard the research team developed a classification system to define meat freshness. The three classifications for meat freshness was: fresh, less fresh and spoiled. Plenty of food items which are fit for consumption are discarded unknowingly. People can save money by using this mammalian nose mimicking e-nose to determine whether the meat is fit for consumption irrespective of what is mentioned on Best Before labels. The NTU team tested the effectiveness of their e-nose on commercially available beef, chicken and fish packages. In one such experimental study the team continuously monitored the freshness of fish packed with commonly used transparent PVC films over five days. The study fish was stored at 4°C during the five day time period. The team monitored the freshness of the fish, without touching the fish, using their ingenious barcode attached to the inner surface of the PVC film. The barcode measured the ammonia and two other bioamines released by the fish over time. The team clicked images of the barcode at different intervals over the study period. The barcode reader developed by the research team is based on deep convolutional neural networks, a type of AI algorithm. With the help of the images of different barcodes the team trained the AI powered barcode to interpret the “scent fingerprint” patterns which would be used to analyze and predict the freshness of the meat. The team observed their novel e-nose was capable of monitoring the freshness of the meat with 98.5% accuracy. The team’s proof of concept e-nose system has been tested successfully in real life scenarios. Their e-nose has overcome the hurdle of previously developed e-nose systems which used bulky wiring system to collect electrical signals. According to the team the portable artificial olfactory system which yields results in a short time can easily be integrated in food packaging materials. Being biodegradable and non toxic the novel barcode can safely be used in all parts of the food supply chain system to monitor freshness of packaged food items. The team has filed a patent for this portable artificial olfactory system for measuring food freshness in real-time. In order to extend this novel technology to other types of perishables the team is working with a Singapore agribusiness company. By further developing this e-nose to recognise the types of gases which are produced by other perishable food items as they start to decay this technology will have a wider application in food quality control. This non-destructive, fast, automated, accurate and real-time robust food freshness monitoring technology will help consumers save money and the environment by reducing food wastage. The AI powered e-nose will enable consumers and stake holders in the food supply chain to monitor food freshness. • Lingling Guo, Ting Wang, Zhonghua Wu, Jianwu Wang, Ming Wang, Zequn Cui, Shaobo Ji, Jianfei Cai, Chuanlai Xu, Xiaodong Chen. Portable Food‐Freshness Prediction Platform Based on Colorimetric Barcode Combinatorics and Deep Convolutional Neural Networks. Advanced Materials, 2020; 32 (45): 2004805 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202004805 Available from: After having completed her postgraduation in Biotechnology from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata Sudhriti is currently a blogger. She writes articles, especially in the field of biotechnology, medical and wellness, in a clear and simple manner in order to connect with a wide spectrum of readers. • SN Banerjee, Chartered Engineer, F - 6032., December 9, 2020 @ 12:58 pm Reply A great article. This device may possibly replace the job of a sniffer dog for an ivestigation. However, God, the all mighty, felt the need and invented the device while creating the world. • maimuk, December 12, 2020 @ 5:17 am Reply Very Interesting how Bio Chemistry , Electronics and A.I. have come together to partially mimic the natural Nose !!! It has such a good practical Application of monitoring the freshness of food. Sensory organs are sophisticated masterpieces of nature. That is why humans have often tried to copy them. Be it cameras or microphones – there are technical objects that have always been based on natural models such as the eye or the ear. For a long time, however, no artificial sense of smell has featured in the technical repertoire. The sense of smell, also called olfactory sense, is a chemical sense and it functions in a very complex way. It is located in the nose and consists of several million olfactory cells that are found in around 400 different types of receptors. In addition to the application mentioned above Electronic Noses could be used to detect explosives or drugs for airport security or smart fire monitor modules could be used to detect fire for catastrophe prevention. eNose could be used to diagnose a broad range of diseases. It has long been known that some diseases affect not only internal organs or the metabolism, but also change the composition of exhaled air. Diabetes patients, for example, exhale relatively high amounts of volatile organic substances such as acetone. Equipped with an easy-to-use odour sensor, the eNose could be used to determine blood sugar levels and thus monitor the diabetes settings. I would encourage the Author to write more such articles where Technology has such wide spread practical applications. • D Dalal, December 13, 2020 @ 5:15 pm Reply A very useful tool indeed…it would be great if some organisation undertakes to market this in our country. Government can regulate the market for the benefit of public health Leave a Reply
What were the main ideas of John Locke? Is being selfless good? Being selfless helps us identify and connect with others and that in and of itself is rewarding. It helps squash our egos because we are not acting out of pride or for a desire to be noticed. Selflessness helps us act from our heart and soul instead of our ego, tapping into our true desired feelings. Is selfishness innate or learned? So modern life is a compromise between those two influences. But what’s interesting about the human brain is that selfishness appears to be learned behavior, not instinctive. Are humans innately greedy? The jury is still out on whether we are fundamentally generous or greedy and whether these tendencies are shaped by our genes or environment. Some evidence points to humans being innately cooperative. It seems that human nature supports both prosocial and selfish traits. What is the opposite of altruism? altruism, selflessness(noun) the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others. Antonyms: self-concern, egoism, egocentrism, self-interest, self-centeredness. Is altruism selfish or selfless? In an extreme case, altruism may become a synonym of selflessness, which is the opposite of selfishness. The word “altruism” was coined by the French philosopher Auguste Comte in French, as altruisme, for an antonym of egoism. Are humans naturally selfish? Psychological egoism is the view that humans are always motivated by self-interest and selfishness, even in what seem to be acts of altruism. What is an altruistic act? Altruism is when we act to promote someone else’s welfare, even at a risk or cost to ourselves. This does not mean that humans are more altruistic than selfish; instead, evidence suggests we have deeply ingrained tendencies to act in either direction. What are the two sources of our ideas according to John Locke? According to Locke there are two and only two sources for all the ideas we have. The first is sensation, and the second is reflection. In sensation, much as the name suggests, we simply turn our senses toward the world and passively receive information in the form of sights, sounds, smells, and touch. What is a simple idea according to Locke? How has John Locke influenced our government? Can a selfish person be moral? Selfish people don’t care what they have to do get money. They have no ethics, morals, or standards. Their main focus is only what’s in it for them. Although selfish individuals may at times appear to profit, it’s only in the short term and not sustainable. Is being selfish bad? Selfishness doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be good to be a little selfish to take care of your emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Many people who focus entirely on give, give, give end up overwhelmed, fatigued, and stressed. What is the true nature of humans? Human nature is a concept that denotes the fundamental dispositions and characteristics—including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting—that humans are said to have naturally. The term is often used to denote the essence of humankind, or what it ‘means’ to be human. What are morals and virtues? • Morality – the function of applying ethical principles (technically you don’t have ethical behavior, your have moral behavior) • Virtue – thought or behavior guided by high moral standards. What is positive selfishness? Jen: But, Positive Selfishness does not always mean “doing something.” Positive Selfishness is also a mindset. It means setting limits and boundaries when needed. It also means saying “NO!” at times, in order to preserve much-needed energy and take care of oneself as an also urgent necessity. Where does knowledge come from John Locke? For Locke, all knowledge comes exclusively through experience. He argues that at birth the mind is a tabula rasa, or blank slate, that humans fill with ideas as they experience the world through the five senses. Who said humans are naturally selfish? Why did Locke write the Two Treatises of Government? The Treatises were written with this specific aim–to defend the Glorious Revolution. Locke also sought to refute the pro-Absolutist theories of Sir Robert Filmer, which he and his Whig associates felt were getting far too popular. Is self interest a bad thing? Self-interest is not necessarily evil, though it can lead people to act in morally reprehensible ways. The love of self, and the consequent development of self-interest, is one aspect of a creature who is also a social, and hence moral, being.
“Cacao is a universe. Cacao with water is a gift from Mexico to the world, a national pride.” These are the words of Magdalena Araceli Díaz Ordaz Terrones, a dental surgeon who offers a workshop about the origins of cacao. Does this sound amazing to you? Let’s meet Magdalena and find out what inspired her to begin this work, and what the workshop is all about: YT: When and why did you decide to begin this work? M: As a volunteer in various museums and in my social work at DIF Capullos in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, one day I asked the children, “where do you think chocolate comes from?” Some of the answers were, “from cows, from Gansitos (pastries), from Hershey.” In the face of this, I began to imagine and design a work based on the movement of practical knowledge, linking to art, tradition, and healthy nutrition in a meaningful, sensitive, and transcendent way, which would awaken their creativity. YT: What is the workshop’s content? M: It is a look, through art, at the history of cacao as a contribution from Mexico to the world, experiencing through our senses the simple transformation of cacao into chocolate in appropriate proportions, making it healthy and nutritious. YT: Who can participate in the workshop? M: It is directed at adults and children from the age of 6, to all levels of school, work, or the general public. My philosophy is to do one free workshop for every paid one, in order to reach people, schools, museums, and companies who are committed to carry out social work with those who have limited resources, where they also learn something different, based on knowledge about our culture and healthy nutrition. At the end of the intellectual and nutritional segments, Magdalena shares the most sensual part of the workshop: converting cacao into chocolate. Participants have the chance to see the mysterious inside of a freshly opened cacao pod, and then to peel and roast some dried cacao seeds. The aromas which are released when the seeds are roasted will astonish and delight you. Then some cinnamon sticks are roasted, and then the participants grind the cinnamon, cacao seeds, and (optionally) some nuts. These ingredients are mixed and kneaded by the participants, creating a sensory experience of sight, sound, smell, touch, and, finally, taste. YT: What meaning does the creation of chocolate have? M: The transformation of cacao into chocolate is an experience of life, an awareness to our children of respect for our cultural heritage. It is an act of friendship, of love, of gratitude to our land, to our ancestors. YT: What is the cost of the workshop? M: The fee is 3700 pesos plus tax for each conference-workshop. Limited space (everyone participates). Duration: three hours for adolescents and adults, maximum 20 participants. Two hours for children, maximum 10 children under 10. Contact: [email protected] You can also visit a cacao plantation in Yucatán, on the Puuc Route. Information: www.ecomuseodelcacao.com Esta entrada también está disponible en: ES
Home > Help > How Do You Find Burial Records? Search Death Records (United States) How Do You Find Burial Records? burial record You can find burial records through a variety of online archives, most of which are free to use. Finding a burial record starts by discovering what cemetery someone is buried in. If don't know the cemetery, you can find someone's burial record through local funeral homes, or by searching through newspaper obituaries. Finding Burial Records Most family history researchers find burial records through online archives. Most of these archives are free. You can run a burial records search here on Interment.net, and comb through tens of thousands of cemeteries worldwide. You may have to searc for variations of someone's name. Names on tombstones are often difficult to read after 150 to 200 years of weather. Many old documents were handwritten, and the penmanship of those times can be difficult to transcribe. Check Local Funeral Homes If online archives don't have the record you're looking for, many genealogists will simply cold-call every funeral home in a local area to see if they handled a service. Funeral homes keep records, and some can go back over 100 years. This only works if you know what city or county a person was interred in. If you don't what city or county a person was interred in, there's a good chance he or she was buried in the same area where they died. Families will often bury a loved one in the same city where most of the family was buried. If You Don't Know What City They Died In You'll have to expand your search at the state-level, if you don't know what city someone died in. Most states permit people to request death certificates as opposed to birth certificates. These certificates will indicate the place of death. You can also use the Social Security Death Index (link here) which will indicate the place of death. The SSDI, however, only contains names of people who died while receiving Social Security benefits. Newspaper Obituaries Often Give You the Cemetery Newspaper obituaries usually indicate the name of the cemetery where burial is taking place, or the name of the funeral home. Looking up old newspapers involves using online newapaper archives. GenealogyBank offers the largest archive. Ancestry, Newspapers, and NewspaperArchive offer smaller, but useful offerings. Check with City Hall and County Courts It's very common for cities and counties to own cemeteries for their own residents. If someone died without any next of kin, the city or county becomes responsible for administering their estate and either burying or cremating their remains. Larger cities task this responsibility to a "Public Administrator". This office sometimes falls under the oversight of a Coroner. Did Someone Donate Their Body to Science? This happens more and more in recent years. When someone donates their body to science, they donate it to a specific organization or college. Surviving family members then arrange with the organization to receive the remains. If there is no surviving family, the hospital or coroner is supposed to check the national donor registry to see if that person is on it. The registry is not accessible to the public. When that organization is finished with their remains, the remains get transferred back to the surviving family. If there is no next of kin, the remains are transferred to the Public Administrator in that city or county, and final disposition is made. Finding Very Old Burial Records To find older burial records, from 150 to 200 years ago, will require much more work. Many paper records from those times have been lost to fire and floods over the decades. If you know the city or county where someone died, try contacting the local historical society, or genealogical society in that area. These societies know where all of archived records are from 150 years ago and back. cemetery records Clear Digital Media, Inc. What makes us Different? Single-sourced, not crowd-sourced
Hydra. Hydra are solitary polyps in the Cnidaria phylum, the same phylum as sea jellies, sea anemones and corals; hydra are almost the only cnidarians that have managed to invade freshwater. (Well, okay, there's a little medusa of temperate lakes called Craspedacusta.) Hydra are not parasites, they are little predators. Such little predators, it's true, that you may not even notice them until they catch enough baby brine shrimp to turn pinkish. Like many small translucent invertebrates, they take on the colors of their most recent meal. The kind of fishkeeper who jumps to conclusions can become quite convinced that the hydra came in somehow with the dried brine shrimp cysts, but you'll quickly realize that is impossible for these creatures that are limited to fresh water. In fact, to eliminate hydra from daphnia or moina cultures, the only dependable technique is to let the substrate dry out completely. The daphnids will regenerate from their resting cysts, but the hydra will be gone until they are re-introduced. Hydra are strictly carnivores. Flake feed and other detritus don't tempt them at all, but they do ingest the ciliates and other minute organisms that uneaten flakes support. A 10x magnifier may show you their basal disc, attached to the tank glass. On a good day, at 10x I can just make out the cnidoblasts, which contain the unique nematocysts, closely dotted along the tentacles. These discharge stinging barbs into the hydra's minute prey. Hydra have been known to get into a culture of Moina (miniature Daphnia) here at my place and cause the population to crash, and they are definitely dis-commended in fry tanks. Yet anti-Hydra measures will be very stressful to fish fry. I don't know how dangerous they'd be to baby guppies, but they can certainly catch and eat gourami fry. In turn, some grown gouramis will eat hydra, which seems like rough justice, doesn't it? But hydra don't transmit any diseases to fish. None. Hydra multiply by budding off polyps and have amazing powers of regeneration, hence their scientific name. The original Hydra of Antiquity was a pre-Hellenic multi-headed water-dwelling snake god that was already ancient when Hercules battled it as one of his Labors. At each sucessful stroke of Hercules' sword, two heads grew where one had been. (The resourceful Hercules took a flaming torch and swiftly cauterized each cut in turn, which saved his ass.) Most hydra species are colorless, like the patriotic Hydra americana. Green hydra, Hydra viridis, contain symbiotic single-cell algae, Chlorella, which thrive within vacuoles in the hydras' cells and give them a bright lime-green color. Though other Chlorella species take up residence inside freshwater protozoa and sponges in chilly lakes or turn the Spotted Salamander's egg masses green, H. viridis is probably the closest you'll come to witnessing a freshwater version of the symbiotic zooxanthellae that reefkeepers nurture in the tissues of their Tridachna clams. In bright light the algae derive CO2, which they need for photosynthesis, from the constant output of cellular respiration, and they scavenge the ammonia that's another cellular by-product. In exchange the algae give off oxygen. The hydra are too primitive to organize any respiration more ambitious than the cellular respiration of each individual cell, but in a way the symbiotic algae function as a substitute for a green hydra lung. Hydra can be controlled, if you must, with Formalin or with Clout or Fluke-Tabs, at low dosages that won't stress grown fishes. If you have no fish in the aquarium, sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) or "Campden tablets"are being used to counter hydra by Killifish pro Tim Addis http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Killifish/Killifish%20Website/Tips.htm "Campden tablets" are better known for removing extra chlorine from drinking water or eliminating unwanted bacteria and yeasts in brewing and winemaking, rendering tannin extracts more soluble, etc. I'm just reporting here, as I've never personally gone on a hydra-exterminating campaign. Other hydra "remedies" I've seen suggested included ammonium nitrate, limewater, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, even electrocution! Easy does it! Though copper-containing medications are more credible, it's hard to control the toxicity of copper in freshwater, and I've also been reading somewhere that copper doesn't actually kill hydra, it merely makes them retract into a little nub, so that we don't notice them. Yet in this retracted state they aren't able to extend their feeding tentacles, so they are temporarily being starved. Frankly, assuming your planted aquarium hasn't been poisoned with medications recently, I think that if you went over your finer-leaved plants leaf by leaf with a magnifier you'd often find multitudes of hydra, leading a blameless existence. I. Sinclair describes his modestly successful attempts at eradicating hydra at http://www.xenotoca.clara.net/hydra.htm Perhaps you'll agree that he exaggerates, for sake of a better tale, the dangers hydra pose. The pros at theKrib.com offer lots of hydra postings, with the widest imaginable array of anti-Hydra measures (maybe a sign that nothing really works). Beautiful pix of hydras by Jan Parmentier are at the Microscopy-UK website. In the 1740s Abraham Tremblay was collecting Hydra and other plankton from the garden ponds of Sorgvliet, near The Hague, to instruct his aristocratic pupils, and was cultivating them in glass jars, the direct precursors of glass aquaria. A 1744 engraving of Tremblay's hydra jar, and another one depicting Hercules and the Hydra as painted on a Greek vase, accompany some pretty advanced molecular biology at the website where Robert Fischer is "Exploring the diploblastic freshwater polyp Hydra".
6 Main Classes Of Enzymes And Their Functions This was incorporated into the Bible of Kralice. Blahoslav was born in Přerov, Moravia. He studied theory under Listenius and Hermann Finck at University of Wittenberg from 1544. At Wittenberg he became acquainted with Martin Luther, and he was also acquainted with Philipp Melanchthon. In effect many buildings were suffused with gasoline and burned in order to flush out Jews from their hiding places. Some Jews managed to escape or to conceal themselves in the sewer system. By the time that the Soviet Red Army entered Lwów on July 26, 1944, only a few hundred Jews remained in the city. Lieutenant (later Captain) D’Arcy Snell- A vicious, pompous and war-loving officer, Snell treats the war as a marvellous sport and his men as expendable examples of the lower classes who must be kept in their place. This mechanism is a common source of new genes in prokaryotes, sometimes thought to contribute more to genetic variation than gene duplication. It is a common means of spreading antibiotic resistance, virulence, and adaptive metabolic functions. Collectively, these railroads operate approximately 80 trains per day through the crossing. The CN line was formerly the main line of the Gulf Mobile & Ohio and its predecessor Alton Railroad and currently carries Metra Heritage Corridor commuter trains and Amtrak passenger trains to St. Louis. Most parylenes are passivation thin films or coatings. This means they protect the device or part from environmental stresses such as water, chemical attack, or applied field. This is an important property however many applications have the need to bond other materials to parylene, bond parylene-to-parylene, or even immobilize catalysts or enzymes to the parylene surface.
Name Inka Origin, meaning, pronunciation & popularity of the name Inka Inka is a ♀ girl’s name. What is the origin of the name Inka? In Frisian, the name Inka is a short form of names beginning with “Ing-“, which derived from the Germanic God IIngwio or Yngvi. In Hungarian, Inka is a variant of Ilona, Iluska or Ilonka, which are short forms of the Greek name Helena. What does the name Inka mean? Inka means “Goddess” or “ancestor”. Deriving from Helena, Inka means “torch”, “beautiful”, “light”, “bright” and “shining”. Pronunciation of Inka Variants of the name Inka Parents who like the name Inka also like Lina Nora Thea Ina Ella Leni Eva Emma Anni Clara Kira Juna Lotte Martha Alexa Fia Isa Alma Elena Popularity of the name Inka The name Inka is ranked #5963 overall. Find more beautiful first names! babyname app androidbabyname app iPhone Interesting reads The most popular baby names
Is SB 1383 Mandatory? Californian flag and American flag Californian and American Flags Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) is California’s short-lived climate pollutant reduction law. The bill was enacted September 2019 to lower emissions of short-lived pollutants such as methane by 40%, relative to 2013 levels, no later than 2030. To achieve this objective, Californian food generators are being required to reduce their organic waste contributions. California Landfill Methane Rule SB 1383 limits the amount of organic decomposing material in landfills so that California’s total greenhouse gas emissions will decrease. Decomposing organic wastes, including foods, discharge so called “landfill gases” (LFG). LFGs are a combination of different greenhouse gases that are produced as organic wastes rot and break down. In a sense, Senate Bill 1383 addresses food security and regional emissions reductions all at once. A fraction of food that would normally be disposed of in landfills or composts, must now be made available for human consumption. Some Californian households and businesses will have to initiate food recovery programs and or strengthen existing food recovery strategies. Who Does SB 1383 Apply To? SB 1383 requires specific food businesses to donate the maximum possible amount of edible food to food recovery organizations and for recycling. The law assumes two tiers for different kinds of edible food generators. “Tier One” includes supermarkets, grocery stores, food service providers and wholesale food vendors. Restaurants, hotels, health facilities, certain education agencies and large venues and events are all considered “Tier Two”. Both tiers of food generators must donate as much food as they possibly can to food recovery organizations. Organizations and services that participate in SB 1383 are obligated to maintain records of the food being donated and the frequency of donations. Who Passed SB 1383? Edmund Brown Jr passed SB 1383 September 2016. Brown received his law degree from Yale and served as Governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. By signing the bill into law, he established official methane emissions reduction targets that apply to most food generators across in the state. Senate Bill 1383 California Senate Bill 1383 went into effect January 1, 2022. By regulating organic waste disposal, California is expected to decrease its total greenhouse gas output while feeding hungry citizens at the same time. Organics may be recycled by composting and mulching. Some organic materials are converted into biogas, a renewable energy source, through a process known as aerobic digestion. One thought on “Is SB 1383 Mandatory? 1. Each jurisdiction must also procure a certain amount of organic waste product. For instance, LA MUST purchase a certain amount of, say, biogas per year. Seems like a fairly airtight bill. Good work on this. Keep it up! Leave a Reply
Let’s get started with the basics of what a CFD is. In your typical stock market, shares are bought and sold between people or banks/investment companies based on the simple principle that value will increase over time. A bank might buy assets from a manufacturer using money from its customers, then sell them to someone else at a higher price. Choosing to own portions In this example, it can be seen that many different investors choose to own portions of the company’s ownership either directly or indirectly through other means such as mutual funds, where smaller shareholders’ interests are combined into larger blocks for greater buying power. The customer base is diversified, making for an efficient marketplace since each investor does not have to worry about losing too much value in the case of a company going down due to bad management or financial mismanagement. CFDs provide liquidity They provide liquidity and make it easier for companies to tap into new markets as these investors can be spread across different geographical locations and industries, making them ideal sources of finance. In return, they expect some form of reward from their investment which can come from dividends paid out by the company or growth in share prices caused by the success of their investment. This process is often short-changed in a CFD market, with a dealer swapping cash flows between its clients rather than owning the asset itself. The difference between what you pay and receive is your fee for using their service and any other costs incurred such as commission and interest if using margin. Instead of selling your shares in a company, you close the position by buying back the CFD, which is far simpler than it sounds. Minor contract A minor contract between two parties on where they believe a security’s price will go up or down, leading to an obligation to buy or sell, has been around for centuries, with some form of derivatives being traded as early as ancient Greece. An agreement between two people on how much wheat would be exchanged at a later date was made before civilization even began, so it’s safe to assume that such concepts were not well understood at this time. Allowing the sale of something that does not exist seems like nothing more than gambling but works out quite efficiently in a free market. Without people willing to take the risk that the price will not go up or down, then there would be no one around to buy and sell shares which would eventually lead to shortages and surpluses in an efficient market such as we see today where goods are bought and sold at their correct price point. Anyone who has ever used leverage has done so purely to increase their returns rather than change their exposure to financial risk by buying more stock than they could afford through normal means. It’s no different from conventional investing since you take advantage of falling prices by borrowing money with your broker acting as your bank, which charges interest on top of what they hope is an exaggerated commission for using them. After all, they make the spread, which is why brokers are willing to pay their customers to trade. The problem lies in the fact that this premium you receive may only be valid for a few seconds or minutes before it disappears and becomes negative. Such an ebb and flow of buy and sell orders happens at lightning speed on exchanges worldwide. If you were forced to cover your position immediately, then not only would you lose out on any gains but also have to chip away at that debt by paying back your broker with interest together with fees and commissions. It can quickly add up to a large amount of money depending on where your stop loss was set. 1 2 3 9 April 25th, 2022 CFD guide for dummies Let’s get started with the basics of what a CFD is. In your typical stock market, shares are bought and […] March 16th, 2022 How to use the Elliott Wave Theory in ETF trading? The Elliott Wave Theory is a sensational trading tool used for all markets. Traders familiar with Elliott Wave or who […] February 10th, 2022 Buying and Selling Cryptocurrencies Via an Australian Exchange Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual tokens that use cryptography to secure their transactions and control new units. Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, […] February 7th, 2022 What is the HODL strategy, and how to use it? We all know that cryptocurrencies are highly volatile. But there is a strategy we can use to limit the downside […] January 27th, 2022 Swing trading in forex What is swing trading? Swing trading is a form of active trading where the trader only keeps an open position […] January 12th, 2022 Advantages & disadvantages of CFDs What are CFDs? CFD stands for contract for difference. A CFD is a financial instrument that allows you to […] December 23rd, 2021 Why is it essential for stock traders to have a healthy mindset? Some would argue that making money is the most critical aspect of a successful career. Others would say a healthy […] December 8th, 2021 How to start trading stocks: Beginners guide Before you even begin to think about trading stocks, there are some things that you must first consider to avoid […] November 10th, 2021 What Are Advanced Forex Trading Concepts? You can trade forex using algorithms or some other advanced concepts. Forex might seem easy when you start, but it’s […] November 2nd, 2021 All about options trading Options are contracts that give the buyer (taker) the right to sell or buy securities at predetermined prices before or […]
Product Idea \| Microbuilding Animals The LEGO Group has produced a vast variety of minifigure-scale animals, but now and then, a LEGO fan wants something that hasn't been produced yet--or that has been out of production for so long that acquiring one at any reasonable cost is impossible. This set would give a few dozen examples of how to build a recognizable animal using a minimum amount of standard LEGO parts. The set itself would only need a hundred or so of these tiny, basic parts, and should complement the Master Building Academy microbuild kit nicely. The photos show a half-dozen examples that I've designed to fill gaps in my own LEGO creature collection. Above: Rabbit and squirrel, 4 pieces each (including base for display). Octopus, 6 pieces. The standard LEGO octopus represents a giant specimen; many species are only a few feet across at most. Stingray, 3 pieces. Ferret, 6 pieces. Turtles, 4 pieces each. Opens in a new window
8 Creation of Trace Records 12.083GPPSubscriber and equipment traceTS 8.1 General As has already been stated, the sequence of events for the creation of a trace record is as follows: 1) Trace is activated for a particular IMSI or IMEI. 2) The subscriber undertakes such action as to cause an invoking event to start. 3) The compilation of a trace record commences in the NEF as described in the Trace Type and under the control of the traceRecord attribute recordCriteria. This allows trace records to be produced at times other than when the invoking event ends, e.g. after a specific event has occurred. 4) If a further invoking event occurs trace data related to this event is collected in the same trace record. 5) All invoking events end or the recordCriteria attribute is satisfied, (see 3) above). 6) The record is forwarded to the OSF or local filestore (depending on priority). In certain circumstances it may be undesirable for the invoking event to have to end before the record is forwarded to the OSF or local filestore. Examples of these circumstances may be: 1) The operator requires to know a subscriber’s whereabouts at the moment he starts making a call. 2) The operator requires to know when a handover occurs, as soon as it occurs. 3) The buffer in the NEF may be too full to contain any more trace record data. This is resolved through the use of the attribute recordCriteria in the traceControl object. When this attribute is set to anything other than noCriteria, records are forwarded to either the filestore or the OSF as soon as the specified criteria is satisfied. 8.2 Trace Record Control 8.2.1 General The trace record collection and generation processes are controlled by the traceControl managed object class. There shall be one, and only one, instance of this object class for each NEF that supports the trace function. This object carries out the following functions: 1) to cause the data to be collected in the NEF as defined by the Trace Type; 2) to define the criteria by which records are generated; 3) to generate the trace record notifications. System management functions: Create traceControl; Delete traceControl; Get Attribute; Set Attribute. 8.2.2 Attributes There is one instance of this object class in each NEF that supports the trace function. It contains the following attributes: Name M/O Value‑Set traceControlId RDN Single administrativeState M Single operationalState M Single recordCriteria M Single eventTypes O Single This attribute is a unique identifier for the traceControl MOI in the NEF and is used as an RDN. This attribute defines the administrative state of the traceControl MOI in the NEF (Recommendation X.731 [16]). This attribute defines the operational status of the traceControl MOI in the NEF (Recommendation X.731 [16]). This attribute, if set, defines the criteria by which trace records are generated in the NEF. It may have one or more of the following values: The NEF will not output trace records of the event type. The NEF will output a trace record every time a particular recordable event occurs, the nature of that event being defined in the attribute eventTypes. In all cases, a trace record will be produced at the end of the invoking event, or if other criteria are set by the manufacturer, when these criteria are met. This attribute defines a set of recordable events, the appearance of any will trigger a trace record to be output, assuming the "event" value is set in the recordCriteria attribute. 8.2.3 Other Trace Record Criteria Regardless of the trace record criteria set by the operator, there are circumstances under which a trace record may be generated, with the criteria being set by the manufacturer. These will usually be due to a lack of resources such as "Buffer Full" or "Processor Overload".
Electrical Engineering In this course you will discover many sustainable terms, different technologies of marine potential and, probably the answer to this disturbing question: Is going to be the ocean energy enough as to avoid our energy collapse? Following the previous Electrist€ry.I chapter,which dealt with the very important relationship between magnetism and electricity, it arrives Electrist€ry.II. Now you will have to present a final microproject basically based in the construction of an access/excel database table with all the energies actually used and their main characteristics. You will learn to • Identify different energy transformations. • Know where our power electricity comes from. • Learn about all the energetic sources. • Be aware about environmental advantages and disadvantages of each kind of energy. In this scenario students can discover how easy is to understand electromagnets and to produce your own electricity. They could run some conclusive experiences.
Vast majority of population growth in Texas seen in cities, according to latest census data ·2 min read Of the 14 U.S. cities that grew by 100,000 people or more in the 2020 census, five were in Texas, with many of its largest metropolitan populations growing dramatically. Since 2010, Texas added another 4 million residents – nearly the entire population of neighboring Oklahoma and more than any other state in total numbers. Texas now has 29 million residents, second only to California. Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio each gained more than 100,000 people over the last decade. Among the 10 fastest growing cities in the U.S. are four suburbs in Texas: Frisco and McKinney near Dallas; Conroe near Houston, and New Braunfels near San Antonio. The Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas gained at least 1.2 million people over the past 10 years. Hispanic, Black and Asian residents accounted for 95% of Texas’ population growth, mirroring of a national trend. Nationally, those who identify as multiracial increased by 276% from 9 million in 2010 to 33.8 million in 2020. Hispanic people now make up 18.7% of the U.S. population. However, the Census Bureau warns, "data comparisons between the 2020 Census and 2010 Census race data should be made with caution, taking into account the improvements we have made to the Hispanic origin and race questions and the ways we code what people tell us." Overall, the U.S. population grew by 7.4% from 2010, the second slowest growth on record, according to the census data. Only during the 1930s, during the Great Depression, did the U.S. record a slower population growth rate. There were 308.7 million people recorded by the census in 2010 compared to 331.4 million recorded in 2020. West Virginia, Mississippi and Illinois all reported population declines. Utah was the fastest-growing state over the past decade, increasing its overall population by 18.4%. Utah was followed by Idaho, Texas, North Dakota, and Nevada, which each increased its population by at least 15%. New York City remains the largest U.S. city with a population gain of 7.7%. The top largest cities in the U.S. by population are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix. “Population growth this decade was almost entirely in metro areas,” Marc Perry, a senior demographer at the U.S. Census Bureau. “Texas is a good example of this, where parts of the Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Midland, and Odessa metro areas had population growth, whereas many of the state’s other counties had population declines.” Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Texas, Census, State Original Author: Bethany Blankley, The Center Square contributor Original Location: Vast majority of population growth in Texas seen in cities, according to latest census data
The cornea is a transparent tissue covering the front of the eye that refracts the light rays and therefore plays a great role in focusing ability of the eye (1). A slight change in the geometry of the cornea leads to a notable change in its focusing function. Therefore, the understanding of cornea mechanics is of utmost importance to better analyze the focusing ability of the eye. This content is only available via PDF. You do not currently have access to this content.
'High Cotton' Is Culturally Astute and Progressive The term ‘high cotton’ originated in the antebellum South and referred to the seasons when the cotton yield was plentiful and the exchange rate was lucrative. The idiom has since been adapted as slang, communicating a feeling of doing well or success. As such, Kristie Robin Johnson’s High Cotton is an affirming and moving memoir delivering her experiences as an African-American woman in the deep South. Johnson organizes the narrative into essays, each examining her standpoint as part of a larger intersectional conversation. With writing that is at times tender and introspective, other times politicized and fortified, she stealthily taps into the contemporary consciousness. High Cotton undertakes a myriad of topics including addiction, sexual violence, cultural expectations, and the political and economic conditions reaffirming oppression. Her approach is truly intersectional as she considers how social conditions determine marginalization and privilege. Furthermore, she uses her writing to uplift black culture while demanding readers realize their own prejudices. For example, when she reflects on her impoverished upbringing she assures “the hood experience not only made me streetwise and cautious, it taught me an unfathomable tenderness and generosity” (149). More so, she situates football as a culturally significant part of the African-American experience. Yet she sees the sport as laying forth a paradox: “the game that seemed to liberate my father from a racist reality … but seemed to trap my son in a tradition and stereotype that should have passed away before he was born” (105). Johnson dismantles linear thinking with shrewdness and empathy. The visibility of African-Americans is a central theme throughout High Cotton. The essay “Skinned” celebrates Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, and Mary J. Blige as reflections of Johnson’s identity and appearance. These artists modeled achievement while rejecting the dominance of whiteness in popular culture for the author. In “Search for Heroes”, her son realizes his teachers are all white, then expresses his discontent with a lack of intellectual role models. Johnson reads the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass as a response. Here High Cotton advocates for expanding the representation and visibility of African-Americans in every facet of culture. Taking action is essential to Johnson’s ethos and permeates many of her essays. When on vacation in Charleston, South Carolina, she visits Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where a week earlier, a white supremacist murdered nine worshipers. With energy and intelligence, she castigates “the obligatory, robotic actions … because we are content to take no action to prevent it from happening” (101). After all the mass shootings that occurred since the siege on Emanuel African Episcopal Church, society is still rallying for a change more concrete than hopes and prayers. The harm caused by inaction is revisited in “American Mourning” as Johnson nervously awaits word from her son’s school undergoing a lockdown. She realizes “the words ‘lock-down’ and ‘massacre’ and ‘active shooter’ have become a part of the zeitgeist. This is us now” (97). Indeed. For Johnson, the action is not found in a hyper-militarized police force. As the mother of two sons, she is painfully aware of the danger her children face. To complicate matters, her oldest son is autistic and prone to expressing mental health crises through physical aggression. Knowing the fate of Michael Brown and Tamir Rice, Johnson’s fear is palpable when she considers calling the police on her own son. She finds parallels with the family of Quintonio LeGrier and uses their experiences as a cautionary tale. After months of struggling with his mental health, Quintonio threatened his father with a baseball bat. His parents phoned 911 and asked their elderly neighbor, Bettie Jones, to watch for the police. Upon arrival, the police saw a young black male in crisis and profiled him as a threat. They opened fire, killing both Quintonio and Jones. With sterling honesty, Johnson grieves for the day her son goes into crisis and the police “see my son’s dark skin, deem him a threat, fear for their own lives, and shoot him dead in his own home” (61). Accordingly, Johnson emphasizes how constructed ideas about disability, intertwined with race and gender, criminalizes individuals. Without explicitly referencing the national cries to defund the police, Johnson promotes de-escalation through emotional and social support rather than coercion. On one hand, Johnson’s strongest writing is found in the portrayal of her maternal lineage. Identifying five generations of American-American women, beginning with Zula, a slave woman and her oldest ancestor, she takes pride in this legacy. Even her imperfect mother, who struggled for decades with addiction, contributed to Johnson’s vision of herself as a “fighter and a survivor” (33). On the other hand, Johnson’s understanding of gender is the memoir’s weakest point. Despite astutely deconstructing gender’s overlap with race, class, and ability, she often returns to archaic gender roles. For example, she frequently recalls being raised more like a boy than a girl because self-sufficiency, education, and careers were emphasized. Perhaps she is trying to avoid anachronisms when she leaves these stereotypes unscrutinized. More so, when reading Audre Lorde, she proclaims, “I probably could only be called a pseudo-feminist at best (107).” Yet her text in inundated with feminist thinking including dismantling patriarchal control and interrogating systems of power. This signifies the contemporary feminist movement is still not totally inclusive, especially if individuals such as Johnson reject self-inclusion. Whereas none of the ideas expressed in High Cotton are all that radical, her writing is a timely redressing of contemporary racial justice discourses. As Johnson’s voice shifts between vulnerability and conviction, her prose is culturally astute and progressive. High Cotton demonstrates the power of the individual’s role in propelling social progress while providing a glimpse of Johnson’s lived experience.
The Profitability of Steam Boating on Western Rivers: 1850 Essay Paper Type: Essay Pages: 5 Wordcount: 1101 Words Date: 2022-05-17 Atack et al assess the profitability of the steamboating operations in the western rivers and its implication on business and economic growth around the rivers before the war. Reuben Dawson who was an assistant marshal in Louisville has played a significant role in steamboats business analysis by making records on the different steamboat operations with important information such as the name of the boat, the nature and number of the crew, the route operated, expenditures, freight revenues and the number of years operated by the boats. This information has played a significant role in assessing the steam boating return on investment in the mid-nineteenth century in western rivers. Calculating the return on investment of steamboating activities in the western rivers played a significant role in assessing the investment made in slavery before the war, southern industries and the western railroads. The research establishes a significant difference in boat operations in the trunk and tributary areas of the western rivers. The differences in profitability can be due to the differences in the number of people who had settled along the rivers, lack of necessary operational information that led to the unpredictability of the navigational conditions on the western rivers. However, the most profound reason behind the disparity of the profits made by the steamboats is the high cost of insurance covers owing to the high risk of operations in the tributary rivers. The trunk rivers steam boating profits during the antebellum era were high and similar to the profits in the slave-based farming of cotton at the time. This research result indicates the risk-free rate of 6% which was made popular by Alfred H. Conrad and John Meyer inappropriateness in the risky investments (Atack et al., 1975). In my opinion, the research confirms that the railroads despite the downward profit trend indicate the railroads were not created ahead of demand and the researchers note that despite the decline of steamboating profits in the 1850s in the Trunk Rivers the profits continued to be experienced in the tributary rivers. Railroad Operation of Trucks The article assesses the rail road operation activities of trucks in the 19th century assessing the organizations in the business at the time and the different rates of transporting goods between the states using railway roads trucks. From the 1800s railroads were the preferable form of transportation which resulted in a monopoly but eventually, the railway transport became competitive and rate discrimination use led to the enactment of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 which subsequently increased the control of railway transport. However, despite the introduced control on the rail transport it continued to maintain monopoly as the preferred form of transport until the 1920s and 1926 trucking business had become unregulated with high success being noted in the inroads railway business. However, in 1933 the railway transport suffered a setback during the economic depression at the time. Railway transport dominated the Americas until the advent of the water and truck transport and despite being ignored at first by 1932 the railway transport started calling for the regulation of the truck transport. In 1935 the truck transport officially began to be regulated by the passing of the Motor Carrier Act of 1935 which placed the regulation of the trucks transport under ICC (Stan, 1952). The law was mainly instigated by the need to secure the public interests and any railroad that wanted trucking company acquisition were to meet the public interests. The policies made at the time aimed at facilitating growth in all modes of transportation and blocked the existence of destructive competition. Restrictions forced the railroads to operate only within smaller localities and big cities. The railroad eventually became a problem of the states through the Interstates Commerce Commission while the motor trucks were involved in interstate and foreign trade. Carriers that get the operation certificate from the state are exempted to take a certificate from the ICC regulation organ. The California code was unique in that it treats railroads and motor carriers equally and the California Commission is at discretion on how to handle railroads and motor carriers (Stan, 1952). In my opinion, high regulation of the railway and motor carriers reduces efficiency and restricted competition slowed down the growth of the transportation sector. More liberal approach to the transportation system could have helped create balance and ensure that the players act in the best interest of the public. Markets for pollution allowances: what are the (new) lessons? Goulder (2013) argues on the regulations of commercial pollution to protect the environment through the trading pollution rights. The trade pollution regulation is implemented through a pollution cap-trade system where the regulation body sets the cap of the pollution that is legally allowed for all the industries under regulation. The United States environmental protection agency allows industries to trade emissions which are seen as an effective approach to regulate emissions. The cap and trade system has been effective in reducing the emissions of sulfur dioxide under the current Clean Air Act and the cap and trade system continues to be the most effective tool against climate change in the United States of America while ensuring industrial prosperity of the country (Goulder, 2013). Many programs are in place in other sectors such as the transferable fishing rights and the land development rights which seeks to reduce pollution and promote sustainable use of natural resources. The article by Goulder seeks to assess situations when cap and trade systems work best in environmental protection compared to other environmental policies in place. Through effective monitoring and compliance by pollutants the cap and trade system is more efficient in environmental protection especially because it can be implemented from a local point of view. Many industries have been able to maintain pollution within the stipulated cap and trade systems because they are easy to monitor and the incentives used promote industries compliance. However, there has been an ignorance of other policies in environmental protection which poses a significant challenge (Goulder, 2013). In my opinion, harmonizing the state and the national cap and trade systems could lead to more effective regulations on pollutants. In addition, the environmental protection agency should integrate all the policies to be able to increase efficiency and convenience in pollution control. Cap and trade approach of environmental pollution should be integrated with other environmental policies to offer a more comprehensive approach to protect the environment from pollutants evenly within states. Works Cited Atack, J., Haites, E. F., Mak, J., & Walton, G. M. (1975). The Profitability of Steamboating on Western Rivers: 1850. Business History Review, 49(3), 346-354. Goulder, L. H. (2013). Markets for pollution allowances: what are the (new) lessons?. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 27(1), 87-102. Stan. L. Rev. 89 1951-1952 Cite this page The Profitability of Steam Boating on Western Rivers: 1850 Essay. (2022, May 17). Retrieved from Free essays can be submitted by anyone, so we do not vouch for their quality Want a quality guarantee? Order from one of our vetted writers instead didn't find image Liked this essay sample but need an original one? Hire a professional with VAST experience! 24/7 online support NO plagiarism
A History of Online Shopping E-commerce has come a long way in more than five decades. Giving Assistant researched the decades-long history of online shopping that enabled us to instantly order same-day delivery on Amazon Prime Day. 1971: Illegal drugs are sold on ARPANET “Sold” is more symbolic here, as the infamous 1971 deal between Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was not finalized or paid for over the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. ARPANET is considered the earliest form of what became the internet, using technology like TCP/IP protocol that eventually formed the network architecture we still use. Elderly Jane Snowball was part of a cutting-edge computing experiment in 1984. In what's arguably also the first “smart TV,” her television set was connected to a phone line, which enabled an interface she navigated with her TV remote. 1984: Online shopping invented After decades of “online shopping” that stopped short of a credit card transaction, the world's first encrypted retail transaction occurred in 1994. 1994: First encrypted retail transaction After the first secure transaction in 1994, some major projects followed to let consumers buy things online. eBay was one of the first in 1995, allowing users to buy and sell their items directly to other users (minus a user fee, of course). 1995: eBay is launched Apple has long led the way in revolutionizing consumer tech, from its game-changing iMac G3 in 1998 and the iPod in 2001 to the now-ubiquitous iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple Pay marked another of the company's moves to transform how consumers pay for goods. 2014: Apple Pay launched
They chose an existence behind towering walls, a spiked, steel grille, and solitary prayer and absolute poverty while living away from their friends and families never to be seen again by a member of society. As members of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites these sisters turned away from the world to take up His Cross, a commitment of complete Faith, and one full of prayer for folks they would never, ever meet face to face. The Carmelite Order was the strictest of all female religious orders, and self-flagellation accompanied a mission of prayer while belonging solely to Jesus Christ. The Carmelites, named after Mount Carmel in Palestine, first arrived to America in 1790, when they settled in Fort Tobacco near the city of Baltimore. In the early 1900s, Bishop Patrick Donahue of the Wheeling diocese requested the Carmelite sisters come to Wheeling, and four nuns from the Baltimore and Philadelphia areas arrived in 1913. After initially settling in the Fulton area of the Friendly City, the sisters moved to the Goshorn Estate, which was located on the same hillside where the Mount Carmel Monastery would be constructed by Frederick Farris beginning in 1915. Two years later the monastery was complete, and the Carmelite sisters had their home and were secluded for the rest of their respective lives. Up until the early 1960s the only portion of the Mount Carmel Monastery the public was allowed to visit was the public chapel, but the nuns had their own, and the two areas were the only rooms that were permitted to be beautiful out of respect to The Lord. The Carmelites attended formal prayer sessions beginning daily with 7:30 a.m. Mass, Angelus at noon and again at 6 p.m., and devoted prayer at 4:30 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. It was their vocation, one the sisters accepted after living at the monastery for more than a year before taking their vows. They understood the only way they could accept the public’s donation was by turn-wheel that concealed their identify from the rest of the world. Today, there remains only one surviving Carmelite sister who lived and worshiped behind the tall walls of the Mount Carmel Monastery. The original front door of the monastery remains in place today. The original front door of the monastery remains in place today. A Cloistered Vocation Practicing the mortification of the flesh for religious purposes was adopted often inside Catholic monasteries and convents throughout the history of Christianity, and that is why self-flagellation was a practice of penance inside Mount Carmel. The sisters would whip themselves over the shoulder during private prayer most often using cords that were knotted several times. It was a part of removing themselves from the distractions of society and entering into the cloister to devote themselves to a search for God because they believed their union with The Lord benefited the lives on the other side of those walls. “The Carmelite sisters were essentially closed off from the rest of the world. They lived behind the grille and in solitude with no exemptions except for being allowed to seek medical attention inside the monastery,” explained Jon-Erik Gilot, the director of archives and records for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. “On one side of the grate there spikes that were sticking out from it, and I believe the spikes were there to keep them from getting too close to the outside world. It was all about solitude and prayer. The travel chalice was used on the ship that brought the first Carmelite sisters to America in 1790. A Jesuit priest would celebrate a private Mass for them below deck, and the sisters were dressed like men during the trip. The chalice then was donated to the Wheeling Carmel in 1920 by U.S. Sen. Eugene Moxley. The travel chalice was used on the ship that brought the first Carmelite sisters to America in 1790. A Jesuit priest would celebrate a private Mass for them below deck, and the sisters were dressed like men during the trip. The chalice then was donated to the Wheeling Carmelites in 1920 by U.S. Sen. Eugene Moxley. “And for a long time they existed and survived just on food and monetary donations, and if the sisters were hungry, they would ring a bell, and the ladies in the neighborhood would bring them food,” he reported. “They lived by the goodness of the people in the neighborhood, but they did develop a few ways to support themselves, too. They published a newspaper up until 1929, and they would do stitch work, make prayer cards, and postcards to sell. It was all to support a life of prayer.” St. Michael Church and the school on National Road near Washington Avenue have long rested in the shadow of the monastery, and the student body was taught about the mission of the Carmelite sisters through the 1970s. Those pupils, too, heard the legends of caves and tunnels and other alleged secrets of the order. While Gilot acknowledged the existence of prayer shelters scattered on the Mount Carmel property that were used by the sisters, he has gathered no records that indicate any underground passageways. “Because the Carmelite sisters were cloistered, I believe there was some fear and a lot of misinformation that was spread through the community,” he said. “Plus the monastery looks like a daunting place, and they were as strict as it comes, and they lived a Spartan life until Vatican II. “Plus, once the monastery was constructed, it became the shrine for Saint Paula. Every Catholic church has a relic in it, at least one,” Gilot continued. “At Mount Carmel that had the bones here of Saint Paula, so they had a shrine in her honor. Her head and her hands were there, but those are wax, and her bones were deposited inside. Parishes would make pilgrimages to pray at the shrine for as long as the monastery was still there.” While the Carmelites were cloistered, the order did come to retain a “tern sister,’ who would handle any public dealings like greeting visitors, retrieving supplies, and answering the monastery’s telephone. She was their one and only link to the outside world. “And later on they had lay women who would serve as the ‘extern.’ She would go to purchase the supplies and what else they may have needed at that time,” Gilot said. “But no one else was getting behind that steel grille for any reason whatsoever,” he said. “The sisters still had their families, but they weren’t really in contact with them. The sisters became your family. That’s how it worked before Vatican II.” It was a conducted re-evaluation of the Catholic Faith that took place under a pair of pontiffs (John XXIII and Paul VI) during the early 1960s, and Bishop Hodges represented the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston and sent letters every two weeks for the local newspapers to publish. The results of Vatican II altered the practices of Catholicism forever because the rules were relaxed considerably. For example, the Carmelite sisters suddenly could travel beyond those walls. “From 1962 to 1965 all of the bishops and archbishops were called together to make the Catholic Church closer to what we know today,” Gilot said. “A lot of things changed, like before then the priests used to celebrate Mass with their backs to the people in attendance. Vatican II brought the Catholic religion to a more modern-day religion. “And it also changed religious communities like Mount Carmel because no more did they have to be cloistered, and the way they dressed was permitted to change, too,” he continued. “For example, the sisters were allowed to start wearing conventional shoes instead of the leather-and-hemp sandals that looked ridiculously uncomfortable. The standards were relaxed, and eventually the Carmelite sisters were allowed to leave the monastery for the first time since arriving.” Although many believed Vatican II would attract more vocations to the Catholic Church and to the Mount Carmel mission, the numbers continued to decline. The Wheeling Carmelites began searching for a new home in the early 1970s, and the structure was sold to private ownership in 1975. “The sisters made the decision, and it was based on the lack of vocations,” Gilot said. “Sister Angela Pikus was the last vocation there, and I believe she may have entered in 1959 and took her vows a few years after that. So they went for well over a decade with absolutely no new vocations to speak of. “There are still a lot of people in the Wheeling area who were taught by nuns in parochial school, but today’s children do not experience the same thing,” he said. “What happened with the Carmelites order has really taken place across the board all over the country. Those kinds of religious communities are going away.” The nuns who passed away while at Mount Carmel were initially interred on the monastery property but have since been moved to the cemetery near the former site of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy. There is only one Wheeling Carmelite, who lived and prayed in the monastery and whose heart persists to beat, and Gilot has met the lone survivor, Sister Angela Pikus. “A few years ago I started receiving letters from her about some of the artifacts that she was still in possession of, and then she told me to come get them because she wasn’t getting any younger,” he explained. “She now lives in a religious community that includes people from all kinds of religious orders, so her life today is much, much different than it was when she was at Mount Carmel. “But in the 1970s the Carmelite community in Elysburg, Pa., was experiencing the same issues, and they were an old community. What happened was the Wheeling community started writing them and interacting with them, and then they went to stay with them for a while,” Gilot continued. “They ended up living with them for about two years to see if a merger would work.” And ultimately it did. “Finally they decided that it would, and I believe it was in 1975 when they officially merged, and then in 1977 Rome granted them what was called an, ‘extinctive union.’ That’s when the Wheeling community ceased to exist, and the Elysburg community ceased to exist,” Gilot added. “That’s when they had the new community that they had put together. Then, in 2008, they joined the Danville community, and now the four or five Carmelites that are still alive reside in that community in Danville, Pa.” One large room is now the offices for Valley Engineering. One large room is now the offices for Valley Engineering. Resurrection for a Sacred Place The Mount Carmel Monastery has not been the same since being sold to a private owner, and the structure has changed hands more than a few times since the Wheeling Carmelites surrendered the property. An abandoned community coal mine has caused water issues for the landowners, and for periods of time the building has sat empty with tarped sections of roofing. Most often, though, it’s been utilized as an apartment building for college students and working professionals. But today, the stained-glass windows are gone, and so is the turn-wheel, all removed by owners previous to its current curator, Suki Gupta. And now, Gupta, the owner of the Valley Engineering Co., plans to orchestrate an extensive preservation and renovation project. He has retained the services of the Property Management Division of Harvey Goodman Realtors, a local company that is one of the leading management firms of historical properties in the city of Wheeling. One of the many "eyebrows" on the structure. One of the many “eyebrows” on the structure. “We basically manage properties that other people own, and we maximize the usefulness and income of those properties,” explained Harvey Goodman’s Emily Shortall. “We were hired by the owner to oversee the renovations of this property, and Susan Hagan is the project coordinator. She will manage the projects that are involved with all of the renovations that will take place here.” There are now 13 apartments and eight “dorm room” areas in the former monastery, and Hagan already has started the orchestration of Phase I. “There are three major projects that will take place here at this property, and the first will involve anything we consider the most important because those areas are where the most deterioration has taken place,” Hagan said. “That part will begin with the chimneys, the building’s eyebrows, and the parapets. All of that is expected to begin this week and we have hired Sarel Venter to perform that work. The apartments all have been renovated. The apartments all have been renovated. “Then we will move on to the façade of the structure, and from there we will address the retaining walls,” she continued. “We also plan to return the original color and that was white when the monastery first opened in the early 1900s.” Gupta will receive tax credit for preserving the Mount Carmel Monastery, but more such projects in the Wheeling area, Shortall insisted, could take place in Wheeling’s future. That depends, however, on whether or not West Virginia lawmakers consider and approve altering the possible amount for tax-credit involved investments. “We are working with several consultants on tax-credit projects including this one,” the property manager said. “There are many buildings around Wheeling that are eligible, and we are working with a group of investors that is very committed to invest in Wheeling. Should we be able to get the tax credits from 10 percent up to 25 percent, we could see a lot of projects take place in this area. The courtyard is lined by a long porch. The courtyard is lined by a long porch. “It’s 25 percent in Ohio, so we are very hopeful that the members of the Legislature will see it as an opportunity for a lot of preservation to take place,” she continued. “That’s our goal, and I’ve been working with the people with Wheeling Heritage, and I believe our next move is to hire a lobbyist to send to Charleston to pitch this idea. There really are several people who are willing to buy properties in Wheeling should the tax credits be what they are in other states.” Shortall and Hagan have engaged W.Va. Dels. Erikka Storch and Shawn Fluharty, and the firm may take an additional proactive step when the time arrives for the Legislature’s regular session in late January. The courtyard is surrounded by a tall retaining wall. The courtyard is surrounded by a tall retaining wall. “We already addressed our local lawmakers, but with what has taken place in Charleston recently, this issue has been at a standstill,” Shortall reported. “And with the flooding in a lot of parts of West Virginia, everything really got put on hold, and that’s very understandable. And we’re fine with that because they need to do what needs to be done for those people. “But I can tell you that the people we’re talking to about investing are looking at six of the largest buildings in Wheeling, so if the increase to the tax credits comes great things will likely happen,” she said. “Right now, though, those buildings are sitting empty so we are hopeful that the lawmakers we have here in Wheeling. There is a chance to attract new companies that will create new jobs and if it takes an increase in the tax credits, why not?” (Photos by Steve Novotney) 11 Responses 1. Avatar Interesting article but there are some major errors here. I am a young woman discerning this vocation. There are still many Carmelite monasteries of nuns, like 65, in the United States today and the ones that are bursting at the seams with new vocations are the most traditional ones. They are founding new monasteries as well. This article completely overlooks for instance the fact that the Elysburg Carmel was revived by several young nuns from the Carmel in Valparaiso, NE (which has two other foundations as well) and has so many new vocations, they need to found a new monastery themselves. Here was a video from 2009 when they first came to Elysburg. Sister Angela from the Wheeling community is in it as well, 2. Avatar Leslie C. Jelacic I cannot read of the potential good fortune for the Carmel Monestary without a still raw wound being opened yet again. Why oh why could not this interest and following action not have been taken on behalf of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy? There were those who tried to save the building…valiantly working to communicate at every level, with the Historical Society, the State Historical Site Commission, we had a current and valid study’s done by an historic buildings scholar and architect, offers of financing, pleas to the Diocese and a body of willing, able and educated alumnae and others ready to go to work to save that beautiful building. We got nowhere. Where as I wish those individuals involved in the preservation efforts all the best I can’t help feeling sad and frustrated at the loss of Mount de Chantal. Could it really be the lack of tax credits? I don’t think so. 3. Avatar Dave Dailer I was an alter boy at St. Michaels in the mid 1960s and we would occasionally be assigned to serve mass at the monastery. There were a few public people, but the nuns sat behind the large iron grate, and there was a black gauze curtain behind the grate. The priest would serve communion through a little slot in the grate. I also worked in the yard several times when I was 12-13 years old, I remember they had a pretty good garden, and the only one who spoke to me was the mother superior. 4. Avatar That was a great story about the Carmelites. But, they still exist. Matter of fact, there are two monasteries around the New Orleans area, of which, I am associated with (Discalced). I will pray that the tax situation is resolved in your favor. I am from Wheeling and love to see any thing that restores it’s beauty. 5. Avatar Lois rizzo I have really enjoyed reading this short history of The CARMELITE COMMUNITY in Wheeling. Even though the property has been sold to private owners. Anything native which is so sacred to this holyorder of The Church. Should by all means be preserved in some way. THE MONESTERY was located in a section of wheeling which has had great prosperity and home to the QUEEN OF THE CROP of our diocese, ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH. Silent cloistered prayers that the nuns prayed daily were heard by our GOD. I will be praying for Mr. Gupta’s. Project of restoring or salvaging any sacred. Reminders of these holy nuns! 6. Avatar Jay D A fervent, elderly Catholic relative often opined that Wheeling’s slow decline was greatly exacerbated when the Carmelites left town. The nuns were here hidden but nestled among us ardently praying for the community day and night. That thought returns to me every time I pass by old Mt. Carmel as I’m running my errands. Maybe the “resurrection” of that monastery will once again somehow spiritually entwine with Wheeling’s resurrection. 7. Avatar Carol Brennan Schroeder In the 1940’s and 50’s my grandfather, Dr. Mayes Williams, was the doctor allowed inside for medical reasons. His home was on Bae Mar Place so he lived nearby. The sisters did do stitchwork as mentioned in the article and they gave him two quilts as a thank you. One was yellow and white and the other was pink and white. He gave them to me and my twin sister and we used them for many years on our beds. We lived in Highland Park near Elm Grove. Dr. Williams went on to be Medical Director of the Ohio Valley General Hospital until his retirement in the 1960’s. 8. Avatar Mike Monahan A few men did get behind the grates. My grandfather was a professional painter and carpenter, and he and a few other men from his union who also were members of St. Joseph’s donated their services to maintain the monastery. While inside, they were required to ring a bell they carried to alert the nuns as they moved through the monastery working.0 Leave a Reply
The Anatomy and Function of Vision Essay by writingsensation The Anatomy and Function of Vision This informative paper analyzes the human sensory system while also focusing on the primary perception function of vision. # 68558 \| 1,653 words \| 3 sources \| MLA \| 2006 \| US Published on Aug 25, 2006 in Medical and Health (Medical Studies) , Physics (Optics) , Research Designs (General) $19.95 Buy and instantly download this paper now This clearly written paper presents an understanding into the basic physiology of the eye and how it responds to light which in effect begins the visual process. The writer of this paper delves into the anatomy of the eye as well as the brain's association to the concept of light. The writer contends and explains why the human eye is basically a fully functioning, self contained camera with a never ending supply of power. The eye functions mainly by permitting light to pass through the cornea which acts in the same manner as a camera's aperture. The writer delves into the field of evolution by contending that sight and vision are a crucial aspect in mankind's evolutionary progress. This paper also contains three illustrative graphics relevant to this particular topic. Table of Contents: Light and the Sun Human Eye Anatomy Vision Function From the Paper: "Our planet is as it is because of the main function of the sun. The sun is the center and most likely the most critical part of our solar system because of the light it offers to feed our planet and drive all life. There is little doubt from a scientific perspective that our planet would be greatly altered without the sun and most likely would have no life. For living creatures to evolve, expand and thrive, they have had to learn to function on the ideas or concepts of sensing light in some way. This notion applies to all living creature on our planet and therefore could be considered to be an almost universal law. Consider that all plants utilize light through the concept of photosynthesis to feed themselves and mammals and other life forms utilize light to hunt, mate and preserve themselves through the cycles of light that are present." Cite this Essay: APA Format The Anatomy and Function of Vision (2006, August 25) Retrieved August 08, 2022, from MLA Format "The Anatomy and Function of Vision" 25 August 2006. Web. 08 August. 2022. <>
Quick Answer: How does basketball overtime work? Basketball. In basketball, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play, the teams play multiple five-minute overtime periods until a winner is decided. In levels below collegiate/Olympic play, an overtime period is half the length of a standard quarter, i.e., four minutes for high school varsity. In this regard, how does overtime work in NCAA basketball? The NCAA is calling for overtimes to remain the same as long as those games do not exceed four overtimes. If a game reaches a fifth overtime period, the NCAA is making teams alternate two-point attempts. The ball will no longer start at the 25-yard line in such scenarios. Similarly, why does basketball have overtime? Overtime in basketball happens when the score is tied at the end of regulation. Overtime is used to determine the winning team when the score is tied. … If the two teams are tied after overtime then they play second overtime with the same rules and regulations. This continues until a winner is decided. People ask also, how often does overtime happen in basketball? How often does NBA OT actually happen? Each season, there are 1,230 NBA games played. I expected the number of OT games to vary widely by season, as OT feels like something you can’t predict. However, if you take a look at the chart below, OT has occurred between 6.2% to 6.4% of NBA games each of the past 3 seasons. Additionally, does clock stop after made basket? When the ball is inbound, the clock starts once a player touches the ball. In the NBA the clock stops after a made shot during the last two minutes of the game and overtime. For college it stops during the last minute of the game and overtime.The longest game in NBA history was played on January 6, 1951 between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals. After 78 minutes of gameplay and a record 6 overtimes, the longest basketball game concluded with a relatively low score of 75-73 in favor of the Olympians. SEE ALSO: Does birdman still play basketball? What is the most overtime in college basketball? Cincinnati men’s basketball game is the longest NCAA Division I men’s basketball game ever played and tied for the most overtime periods, regardless of NCAA classification, with seven. The University of Cincinnati visited Bradley University on December 21, 1981, and defeated them 75–73 after 75 minutes of game time. How old is KD? At 33 years old, Durant is scoring 28.4 points per game — on pace for his best mark since 2013-14. Can a fouled out player play in overtime? If a game goes into overtime or a second overtime, a player can come back with an extra personal foul to use if they have fouled out since it is past regulation time. … A player could at most use eight personal fouls because they would get two technicals for the seventh and eighth personal fouls. Can NBA games end in a tie? No, NBA games cannot tie. If the game is tied at the end of regulation their will be a 5 minute overtime period to settle the game. If the game is tied at the end of that overtime period then a second overtime period will take place and so on. SEE ALSO: Are uptempos good basketball shoes? What is the shot clock limit in high school basketball? The college shot clock was not developed until 1985, when a 45-second one was used. This was shortened to 35 seconds in 1993, and then to 30 seconds in 2015. There is no standardized American high school shot clock, although 10 states have already implemented either 35- or 30-second shot clocks statewide. What defines overtime? Definition of overtime 1 : time in excess of a set limit: such as. a : working time in excess of a standard day or week. b : an extra period of play in a contest. How many seconds does an NBA team have to take a shot that hits the rim? The shot clock shall start at 24 seconds unless otherwise provided in Rule 7. The shot clock shall be displayed in seconds, except tenths of seconds will also be displayed once the shot clock reaches 4.9 seconds. The shot clock will start when a team gains new possession of a ball which is in play. What is the meaning of three seconds? The three seconds rule (also referred to as the three-second rule or three in the key, often termed a lane violation) requires that in basketball, a player shall not remain in their team’s foul lane for more than three consecutive seconds while that player’s team is in control of a live ball in the frontcourt and the … How many points is a 3 pointer worth in basketball? A field goal worth three points is called a three-pointer. Any shot that a player makes from outside the three-point line is a three-pointer. SEE ALSO: How many seeds are in the nba playoffs? How many points is a free throw worth? A free throw is worth one point. Free throws are awarded to a team according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half and/or the type of foul committed. Back to top button Adblock Detected
Category: Social and Community Context 22 - Harm Reduction and the Older Smoker Tobacco smoking, the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the world, is at a record low for young people in the United States (US) having dropped an unprecedented 46.6% for 18 to 24-year olds in recent years (24.4% in 2005 to 13% in 2015 according to the National Health Interview Survey). Rates of smoking among high school students and adults (25-64 years) have also significantly decreased during the same time. In contrast, smoking prevalence has not changed considerably for older smokers (>= 65 years) in over 25 years (12.8% in 1990 to 8.8% in 2016). The goal of this literature review is to provide an overview of the published literature on older smokers with a focus on harm reduction and social stigma. PubMed and Google scholar databases were searched for articles published between January 2003 to January 2018 using terms aging or “older smoker” or aging combined with tobacco, smoking, or nicotine. Articles were categorized into the following content areas: smoking prevalence, perceptions or beliefs about smoking/cessation, health effects, reducing/stopping smoking, and harm reduction. Older smokers have smoked for more years, made fewer quit attempts, and are more likely to endorse reducing smoking rather than quitting compared to younger cohorts. Unique health issues associated with being an older smoker included comorbid psychiatric or physical health issues, shame and social isolation, cognitive dysfunction, and use of multiple prescription medications. Older smokers were more likely to believe the misconception that nicotine is the most dangerous component of cigarettes and are less likely to use harm reduction products such as vaporized nicotine. Reducing or quitting the use of smoked tobacco at any age has immediate and long-term health benefits. Older smokers face unique health consequences and challenges associated with stopping smoking including social stigma. Harm reduction principles might be particularly well suited for assisting older smokers with reducing or stopping their use of combustible tobacco products. Such approaches might include clear public health and medical communication targeted to older cohorts clarifying the relative risks of varying nicotine and tobacco products, and supporting the autonomy of the older smoker as they navigate their health and well-being. Bethea Kleykamp Bethesda, Maryland Bethea Kleykamp received her PhD in Experimental Psychology in 2007 and then completed two postodoctoral fellowships at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2010) and the National Institutes on Drug Abuse in (2011). She is currently employed by the healthcare consulting firm PinneyAssociates as a Scientist where she conducts literature reviews, interprets and synthesizes data, and applies her science writing skills to meet a variety of client needs (e.g., Rx-to-OTC switch, risk management, tobacco harm minimization). PinneyAssociates is a public-health focused, science-based healthcare consulting company with offices in Bethesda, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA, providing health policy, scientific, and regulatory support to the pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare industry. We also provide consulting services to Reynolds American, Inc (RAI). Our work for RAI focuses on products, regulations, and policies related to smoking cessation and harm minimization; we do not work on combustible conventional cigarettes.
Welcome to Agarwood (Oud) Centre Your Cart is Empty How to burn incense safely and safety practice How to burn incense sticks and cones safely First, lightthetip of theincense. Next, gently blow out the flame or fan it to create a delicate wisp of smoke. (Some cultures believe that one should never blow out the fire with one's mouth because impure breath might pollute the incense, especially for religious purposes.) For incense sticks, there are two ends. Light one end and place theunlitend in theburner's holder. For incense coils and cones, gently place them on the centre of the burner. Ensure the holder is fireproof. You can use an incense matt too (available here) For spirals, hang from theholder. Howto burn wood, resin, gum or pressed incense Fillabowl or censer that can insulate heat well. Optional: you can fill the censer with ashes, sand or salt. Hold the incense charcoal disc over a flame with a pair of tweezers. There are two types of charcoal. One contains potassium nitrate, which is easy to ignite. You will see crackled tiny sparks when it is lit. The other type is made without potassium nitrate. It is more costly, but it is odourless. It means you will enjoy the aroma of incense more. After a few minutes of burning, the charcoal is smouldering, and you will see a thin layer of ash. Place a mica plate on top of the charcoal to minimise the burnt notes. Next, place your choice of wood, resin, gum or pressed incense on top of the mica plate. Enjoy your experience Extinguish the charcoal if you need to do something else; never leave your burning charcoal unattended. Incense Safety Practice Keep lit or unlit incense out of the reach of children and pets. Keep incense away from flammable areas/substances. Ensure your incense holder/ incense censer is secured enough to hold your burning incense from windy areas. Extinguish burning charcoal entirely if you have urgent things to attend to. Do not use incense if you have asthma, epilepsy, or a stroke.
Lab Manager \| Run Your Lab Like a Business Controlling a Robotic Arm with a Patient's Intentions Neural prosthetic devices implanted in the brain's movement center, the motor cortex, can allow patients with amputations or paralysis to control the movement of a robotic limb—one that can be either connected to or separate from the patient's own limb. However, current neuroprosthetics produce motion that is delayed and jerky—not the smooth and seemingly automatic gestures associated with natural movement. Now, by implanting neuroprosthetics in a part of the brain that controls not the movement directly but rather our intent to move, Caltech researchers have developed a way to produce more natural and fluid motions. fMRI scan exampleExample of an fMRI scan used for targeting the device implantation location.Image Credit: CaltechIn a clinical trial, the Caltech team and colleagues from Keck Medicine of USC have successfully implanted just such a device in a patient with quadriplegia, giving him the ability to perform a fluid hand-shaking gesture and even play "rock, paper, scissors" using a separate robotic arm. "When you move your arm, you really don't think about which muscles to activate and the details of the movement—such as lift the arm, extend the arm, grasp the cup, close the hand around the cup, and so on. Instead, you think about the goal of the movement. For example, 'I want to pick up that cup of water,'" Andersen says. "So in this trial, we were successfully able to decode these actual intents, by asking the subject to simply imagine the movement as a whole, rather than breaking it down into myriad components." Andersen and his colleagues wanted to improve the versatility of movement that a neuroprosthetic can offer by recording signals from a different brain region—the PPC. "The PPC is earlier in the pathway, so signals there are more related to movement planning—what you actually intend to do—rather than the details of the movement execution," he says. "We hoped that the signals from the PPC would be easier for the patients to use, ultimately making the movement process more intuitive. Our future studies will investigate ways to combine the detailed motor cortex signals with more cognitive PPC signals to take advantage of each area's specializations." In the clinical trial, designed to test the safety and effectiveness of this new approach, the Caltech team collaborated with surgeons at Keck Medicine of USC and the rehabilitation team at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. The surgeons implanted a pair of small electrode arrays in two parts of the PPC of a quadriplegic patient. Each array contains 96 active electrodes that, in turn, each record the activity of a single neuron in the PPC. The arrays were connected by a cable to a system of computers that processed the signals, decoded the intent of the subject, and controlled output devices that included a computer cursor and a robotic arm developed by collaborators at Johns Hopkins University. "It was a big surprise that the patient was able to control the limb on day one—the very first day he tried," he adds. "This attests to how intuitive the control is when using PPC activity." The patient, Erik G. Sorto, was also thrilled with the quick results: "I was surprised at how easy it was," he says. "I remember just having this out-of-body experience, and I wanted to just run around and high-five everybody." Over time, Sorto continued to refine his control of his robotic arm, thus providing the researchers with more information about how the PPC works. For example, "we learned that if he thought, 'I should move my hand over toward to the object in a certain way'—trying to control the limb—that didn't work," Andersen says. "The thought actually needed to be more cognitive. But if he just thought, 'I want to grasp the object,' it was much easier. And that is exactly what we would expect from this area of the brain." This better understanding of the PPC will help the researchers improve neuroprosthetic devices of the future, Andersen says. "What we have here is a unique window into the workings of a complex high-level brain area as we work collaboratively with our subject to perfect his skill in controlling external devices." "The primary mission of the USC Neurorestoration Center is to take advantage of resources from our clinical programs to create unique opportunities to translate scientific discoveries, such as those of the Andersen Lab at Caltech, to human patients, ultimately turning transformative discoveries into effective therapies," says center director Charles Y. Liu, professor of neurological surgery, neurology, and biomedical engineering at USC, who led the surgical implant procedure and the USC/Rancho Los Amigos team in the collaboration. Dr. Mindy Aisen, the chief medical officer at Rancho Los Amigos who led the study's rehabilitation team, says that advancements in prosthetics like these hold promise for the future of patient rehabilitation. "We at Rancho are dedicated to advancing rehabilitation through new assistive technologies, such as robotics and brain-machine interfaces. We have created a unique environment that can seamlessly bring together rehabilitation, medicine, and science as exemplified in this study," she says. Although tasks like shaking hands and playing "rock, paper, scissors" are important to demonstrate the capability of these devices, the hope is that neuroprosthetics will eventually enable patients to perform more practical tasks that will allow them to regain some of their independence. Although Sorto's implant allowed him to control larger movements with visual feedback, "to really do fine dexterous control, you also need feedback from touch," Andersen says. "Without it, it's like going to the dentist and having your mouth numbed. It's very hard to speak without somatosensory feedback." The newest devices under development by Andersen and his colleagues feature a mechanism to relay signals from the robotic arm back into the part of the brain that gives the perception of touch. "The reason we are developing these devices is that normally a quadriplegic patient couldn't, say, pick up a glass of water to sip it, or feed themselves. They can't even do anything if their nose itches. Seemingly trivial things like this are very frustrating for the patients," Andersen says. "This trial is an important step toward improving their quality of life." The results of the trial were published in a paper titled, "Decoding Motor Imagery from the Posterior Parietal Cortex of a Tetraplegic Human." The implanted device and signal processors used in the Caltech-led clinical trial were the NeuroPort Array and NeuroPort Bio-potential Signal Processors developed by Blackrock Microsystems in Salt Lake City, Utah. The robotic arm used in the trial was the Modular Prosthetic Limb, developed at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins. Sorto was recruited to the trial by collaborators at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and at Keck Medicine of USC. This trial was funded by National Institutes of Health, the Boswell Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the USC Neurorestoration Center.
Grammar Issues Copy Text Edit Text Start Over Grammar Checker To use grammar checker, enter plain text, eassay or paragraphs in the input box and click on the "Check Grammar" button English Grammar Corrector Use this grammar checker to find and fix grammatical errors in your content. To get started, you can simply upload a document, or paste the text into the given box. Once the process is complete, the grammatical mistakes in your text will get highlighted in red. How to Use This Grammar Corrector? You can use our punctuation checker by following these steps: 1. Type or copy-paste your text in the given box. 2. Or, you can upload a document directly from your local storage. 3. Click on the ‘Check Grammar’ button to start the process. 4. Click on the red highlighted words and phrases in the results to see the correct suggestions. You can also click on the suggestions to apply them to the text. Note: You can upload files in the .doc, .docx and .pdf formats. Why Should You Choose Our Grammar Checker Online? Here are some features that you can enjoy with our punctuation checker: 1. Click Highlighted Parts to See and Apply Suggestions Once the checking process is complete, you can click on the highlighted words/phrases/ sentences to see the correct suggestions. You can click on the suggestions to apply them directly to the text. After being added, the new words will be highlighted in yellow. If you want to, you can revert the changed words/phrases to their original form by clicking on them and making a selection in the 'Revert With' menu. 2. Use the ‘Edit Text’ button to Edit the Uploaded Content If you want to edit your uploaded text, you can click on the ‘Edit Text’ button at the side of the results. You will instantly be taken to the top of the website page where you can make your adjustments in the input box. 3. Copy the Results Instantly to Your Clipboard You can click on the ‘Copy Text’ button to copy the changed text to your clipboard. 4. Click the ‘Start Over’ Button to Check Grammar Again To use our punctuation checker for another piece of text, you can reload the page by clicking on the ‘Start Over’ button at the side of the output box. 5. Save the File to Your Device Using the ‘Download’ Button To save your edited file on your device, you can click on the ‘Download’ button next to the results. The file will be downloaded in the ‘.docx’ format. 6. Multiple Importing Options You can use multiple importing options to upload your content to this grammar checking tool. These include: • Direct typing or copy-pasting • Uploading files from local storage Uses of Our Punctuation Checker 1. Making Blog Posts and Articles Free from Grammatical Errors This grammar corrector can be helpful for bloggers and online content creators to make their content free of grammar errors before uploading/publishing it on their sites. 2. Useful for Students to Check Assignments and Research Papers This tool can also be used by students to find and fix grammatical mistakes in their assignments, research papers, and essays. 3. Added Help for Your Proofreading Sessions You can use our punctuation checker to get help during your proofreading sessions. The tool can help you spot errors that you may have missed. AdBlock Detected! Our website is made possible by displaying ads to our visitors. Please support us by whitelisting our website.
Friday, July 5, 2013 This Day in History: Jul 5, 1946: The Bikini is introduced On July 5, 1946, French designer Louis Reard unveils a daring two-piece swimsuit at the Piscine Molitor, a popular swimming pool in Paris. Parisian showgirl Micheline Bernardini modeled the new fashion, which Reard dubbed "bikini," inspired by a news-making U.S. atomic test that took place off the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean earlier that week. European women first began wearing two-piece bathing suits that consisted of a halter top and shorts in the 1930s, but only a sliver of the midriff was revealed and the navel was vigilantly covered. In the United States, the modest two-piece made its appearance during World War II, when wartime rationing of fabric saw the removal of the skirt panel and other superfluous material. Meanwhile, in Europe, fortified coastlines and Allied invasions curtailed beach life during the war, and swimsuit development, like everything else non-military, came to a standstill. File:Venus in Bikini.jpg File:Hietaniemi 1929.jpg File:Annette Kellerman.jpg In 1946, Western Europeans joyously greeted the first war-free summer in years, and French designers came up with fashions to match the liberated mood of the people. Two French designers, Jacques Heim and Louis Reard, developed competing prototypes of the bikini. Heim called his the "atom" and advertised it as "the world's smallest bathing suit." Reard's swimsuit, which was basically a bra top and two inverted triangles of cloth connected by string, was in fact significantly smaller. Made out of a scant 30 inches of fabric, Reard promoted his creation as "smaller than the world's smallest bathing suit." Reard called his creation the bikini, named after the Bikini Atoll. Before long, bold young women in bikinis were causing a sensation along the Mediterranean coast. Spain and Italy passed measures prohibiting bikinis on public beaches but later capitulated to the changing times when the swimsuit grew into a mainstay of European beaches in the 1950s. Reard's business soared, and in advertisements he kept the bikini mystique alive by declaring that a two-piece suit wasn't a genuine bikini "unless it could be pulled through a wedding ring." File:Yvonne DeCarlo.jpg File:Esther Williams 2.jpg File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-U0825-010, Ahlbeck, Frauen beim Ostsee-Bad.jpg In prudish America, the bikini was successfully resisted until the early 1960s, when a new emphasis on youthful liberation brought the swimsuit en masse to U.S. beaches. It was immortalized by the pop singer Brian Hyland, who sang "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" in 1960, by the teenage "beach blanket" movies of Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, and by the California surfing culture celebrated by rock groups like the Beach Boys. Since then, the popularity of the bikini has only continued to grow. File:Saint Petersburg. Yelagin Island bathers at the beach.jpg File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-65046-0002, Badrina, Studentin beim Arbeitseinsatz.jpg File:Ursula Andress in bikini.jpg File:Louis Réard bikini.jpg taken from: [05.07.2013] File:100 metres race winner Sina Schielke (192) and the other Runners - ISTAF 2006 - Berlin, 3 September.jpg!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/gallery_635/iconic-swimsuit-moments.jpg File:Michele Merkin 4.jpg 1. Your blogs are great.Are you also searching for Nursing term paper help? we are the best solution for you. We are best known for delivering great term paper services :+1-(951)-468-9855 2. congratulations. This is quite a good blog. Keep sharing. I love them Are you also searching for nursing writing help? we are the best solution for you. 3. Your blogs are fantastic. I love them Are you also searching for best capstone project writing service? we are the best solution for you.
Document Type : Original Article 1 Department of Chemistry, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran 2 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran In this study, conjugation between Cortistatin peptide and gold nanoparticles was performed for effective drug delivery of peptide to lung tissue to investigate its anti-inflammatory anti-asthmatic effects. To create conjugation between metal nanoparticles and biomolecules, there are different strategies based on chemical or physical interactions, which are selected according to the desired goals. Attaches based on chemical interactions have more specificity and selectivity, and for the intended purpose, drug delivery to the lung tissue is more desirable. This work performed conjugation based on chemical interactions using linker molecules to achieve higher specificity and selectivity. The binding of Cortistatin peptide to gold nanoparticles in this work was 80%, which indicates that the binding through the linker molecules is well done. Graphical Abstract Conjugation of Cortistatin Peptide with Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized to Investigate Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Allergic Asthma Main Subjects Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract and one of the most common non-communicable diseases that causes many problems for all age groups, from infancy to old age. This disease is the most common chronic disease in childhood [1,2]. In asthma, inflammation and spasm in the airways of the lungs are the main problems. This inflammation causes swelling and closing of the airways and thickening of the pulmonary secretions (mucus) [3,4]. Nowadays, with the development of nanotechnology, attempts have been made to use nano material for therapeutic purposes in order to have the greatest effects on the target tissue with the least amounts of drugs [5-9]. In the case of asthma, a similar procedure is underway and efforts have been made to produce nanoparticles or so-called nano-sprays containing anti-asthma drugs [10,11]. Nano-drugs are obtained by improvement and modification of traditional drugs with nanotechnology or by using new nanocomposites, including biomolecules attached to nanoparticles. At present, the priority of asthma treatment has changed and the use of bronchodilators has shifted to treating inflammation and reducing airway responsiveness [12-16]. One of the biomolecules that have anti-inflammatory properties having been studied in recent years is the Cortistatin peptide. Cortistatin peptide is a cyclic neuropeptide with a structure similar to somatostatin and is known as a potential endogenous anti-inflammatory factor. Cortistatin controls the production of anti-inflammatory mediators and, like somatostatin, is synthesized as a pro-peptide and then processed into the final form and its genes are produced by gene replication. They can bind to all five somatostatin receptors. In addition to its pharmacological and functional properties similar to somatostatin, Cortistatin has distinct functions, such as induction of slow-wave sleep, reduced motor activity, and activation of selective cation current [17]. Nano-medicine and the drug delivery system are branches of nanotechnology having received a lot of attention recently and are advancing rapidly [18,19]. Nano-drugs are often used to improve drug delivery in the body and targeted drug delivery to target tissues. The nano-drug delivery system is the delivery of the drug to the target tissues at a specific time and in a controlled dose, which is dramatically safer and much more effective than distributing the drug throughout the body. Nano-drug delivery reduces side effects and consumes lower doses. Metal nanoparticles have been widely used in drug delivery and detection of biofeedback and biosensors. Different particles are produced and evaluated from various metals, but gold and silver are the most widely used. These particles can be produced in different sizes and shapes with a small particle size distribution [20-22]. One of the unique features of these particles is the change in their optical behavior by changing the particle size. Surface change of these particles is very easy and different ligands such as sugars, peptides, proteins and DNA can bind to these particles [23,24]. Gold nanoparticles have many applications in pharmaceutical and medical purposes. Stability, high dispersibility, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness, and optical adjustment have many advantages over other nanoparticles. Both covalent and non-covalent modes can be used to bind peptides to gold nanoparticles. In dative bonding, a covalent bond is obtained between nanoparticles and peptide-free sulfhydryl groups [25]. In the covalent mode, binding intermediates or adapter molecules, such as avidin and biotin, may be used to form the complex [26,27]. In the present work, the anti-inflammatory peptide Cortistatin was conjugated to gold nanoparticles via covalent bonding by linker molecules. This conjugation was performed by creating an aldehyde active group on Cortistatin and a hydrazine group on gold nanoparticles. Considering that most peptide drugs for the treatment of asthma in the airway environment are proteolysis under the influence of mucous fluid and are destroyed by airway enzymes and that they cannot leave their effects, attempts have been made to increase the density of the desired peptide by conjugating gold nanoparticles to it, due to the increasing use of Nanoparticles in the treatment of asthma and according to studies. The resulting conjugate compound can pass through the mucous fluid and reach the airway cells, leaving therapeutic effects [28,29]. Our aim in this work is accordingly the conjugation of Cortistatin peptide to gold nanoparticles to investigate its anti-asthmatic effect in animal models of asthma. Synthesis of gold nanoparticles The synthesis of spherical gold nanoparticles was performed according to the previously described method [30]. In short, the aqueous solution of boiling gold chloride is reduced by a steady increase in sodium citrate until a red color appears. By changing the ratio of gold chloride and trisodium citrate, gold nanoparticles of any size can be synthesized. The size of the nanoparticles is very important. Because particles smaller than 50 nanometers are exhaled out of the lungs. Larger particles, like foreign bodies, are trapped in the upper airways and cannot reach the airways or, if they reach the airways, are trapped by the phagocytic system in the lungs. A suitable range of our goals is 80-150 nm. Bioconjugation of Cortistatin peptide with gold nanoparticles Covalent bonding via linker molecules was used to bind the peptide to the gold nanoparticles. To do this, aldehyde active groups on Cortistatin and hydrazine active groups on nanoparticles were created to conjugate by connecting the two active groups. 1 g of gold nanoparticles, the average nanoparticles size of 137 nm, and 0.5 mg of peptide each (peptide and nanoparticles) separately to 10 ml of an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M of sodium phosphate and 0.1 M of NaCl in 7.4 pH were increased. Each of the SANH (Succinimidyl 4-hydrazino nicotinate acetone hydrazone) (Bio-world, USA) and SFB (Succinimidyl 4-formyl benzoate) (Bio-world, USA) compounds were also dissolved separately in DMF (Dimethylformamide) (at a concentration of 20 g per SANH and SFB per liter of DMF). In the next step, 10 ml of the prepared SFB solution was added to the solution containing Cortistatin peptide (prepared in the previous step) and similarly, the SANH solution was added to the solution containing gold nanoparticles (prepared in the previous step). These solutions are placed at room temperature for 2-3 hours and can be stored at 4°C or frozen. After these steps, the aldehyde group covered the entire peptide and the hydrazine group covered the entire nanoparticle, and then the two could be joined according to the following method. Each of the peptides (containing aldehyde group) and nanoparticles (containing hydrazine group) were placed in citrate buffer (containing 100 mM Sodium-citrate, 150 mM hydrochloric acid) at pH 6, which is suitable for the formation of hydrogen bonds. Both solutions were then mixed. The reaction was carried out for 2 hours at room temperature. Purification and separation of the nanoparticle-bound peptide from the peptide were performed using only a dialysis membrane with a molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of 3.5 kDa. Finally, a high-speed centrifuge could be used to ensure the complete purification of the peptide-bound nanoparticles [31]. FTIR spectroscopy and Zeta sizer were used to confirm the formation of the peptide-nanoparticle conjugate. Investigation of the percentage of peptide binding to nanoparticles The basis of this work was the assay of the unbound free peptide by the Bradford method [32], based on the specific binding of the dye to the protein. The specific dye in this method was Comassi Brilliant Blue G 250 (250 G Comassi Brilliant Blue), which normally does not absorb light at 595 nm, but when attached to the protein, shows strong absorption in the 595 nm region. The binding of the dye to the protein was completed in a short time of about 2 minutes and the resulting complex remains stable in the solution for up to 1 hour. For the assay, 0.1 ml of the solution containing the unbound peptide (the high-speed centrifuge supernatant of the final nanoparticle-peptide solution described in section 2-1-2) was used. The peptide-nanoparticle solution was centrifuged at 20,000 rpm. The supernatant was then used to determine the amount of unbound peptide. It was poured into a separate tube and mixed with 5 ml of Kumasi Blue dye solution and its absorbance was immediately read at 595 nm by spectrophotometer. The best time to read the results is 5-30 minutes, and it is better to use a glass cuvette. Before performing the above step, the Standard absorption curve was plotted using different concentrations of peptide and then the concentration of the solution was obtained using the standard curve. If the absorbance read by the device is outside the standard range of the device, the sample is diluted with distilled water. Determination of peptide release from nanoparticles at different pHs The inside of the bronchi has a weakly acidic pH (pH of about 6.5) but may change due to other factors involving the respiratory tract [33]. For this purpose, peptide release was investigated at physiological pH 7.4, neutral pH 7, and acidic pH 6.6. Phosphate buffer was used to adjust the desired pHs, and the pH was adjusted with a pH meter. Three different pH modes were prepared in three separate microtubes. Twelve series of these three microtubes were prepared to examine each (three series of different pH) at intervals of 2, 4, 6 to 24 hours later. 10 ml of the peptide-nanoparticle solution was removed and 200 μl of it was poured separately into each of the 36 microtubes. All microtubes were slowly dilated at 37 °C. At the specified times, 3 microtubes related to different pHs were removed and centrifuged at 20,000 rpm for 15 minutes, and the adsorption of the supernatant at 260 nm was read by a spectrophotometer. Finally, the released peptide concentration was determined according to the standard curve. The release percentage was calculated according to the following formula [34,35]: (Total peptide/ peptide released) ×100 = peptide release percentage Covalent bonding created conjugation between gold nanoparticles and Cortistatin peptide by linker molecules. This binding is specific, the conjugate compound is not easily affected by other available biomolecules, and the biological reaction is easier to control. The reaction between the active hydrazine group and the active aldehyde group leads to the formation of a hydrazone bond. The formation of the hydrazone bond was examined by FTIR spectroscopy. The peak located in 1264/11 is related to the formation of hydrazone bonds (C=N) [36-38]. Figure 1: FTIR spectrum of the A) Gold nanoparticles attached to the Cortistatin peptide, B) Gold nanoparticles. The appearance of peak 1264.11 cm-1, which belongs to the C=N group, confirms the formation of hydrazone bonds In addition, to confirm the binding of gold nanoparticles to the peptide, the average size of the nanoparticles attached to the peptide was measured with a Zeta sizer. After binding of the peptide to the gold nanoparticles, the average size of the nanoparticles increased. Figure 2: The average size of gold nanoparticles (A). The average size of gold nanoparticles attached to the Cortistatin peptide (B). The increase in mean size in Figure B, confirms the bond formed between the gold nanoparticles and the Cortistatin peptide The concentration of unbound peptide was measured by the Bradford method and it was found that 80% of the primary peptide was bound to gold nanoparticles. The release rate of peptide Cortistatin from gold nanoparticles was measured in vitro for 24 hours and every two hours for three different pHs, 6.6, 7 and 7.4. In the early hours, in 6.6 pH release it occurred more rapidly, but over time, within 24 hours, the release rate was the same in all three pHs (Fig. 3) Figure 3: Percentage of Cortistatin released from gold nanoparticles in vitro for 24 hours and every two hours for three different pHs In our study, conjugation of peptides to nanoparticles was performed via linker molecules to create covalent bonds. Such bonds are strong enough and are not easily affected by environmental conditions or the presence of other biomolecules. In addition, the binding efficiency of the peptide to the nanoparticle was acceptable by about 80%. Several methods are used to conjugate nanoparticles into biomolecules. In a 2003 study by Sokolov et al., a molecular biosensor was used to detect cervical cancer cells using conjugation antibodies and gold nanoparticles for Real-time vital imaging. In this work, the desired antibody and gold nanoparticles were incubated in a buffer with 7.4 pH to create conjugation. The formation of a complex between antibodies and the binding between gold nanoparticles and antibodies was done through non-covalent modes. To study the formation of conjugate composition, specific optical changes of gold nanoparticles in the UV-Vis spectrum were followed. A red shift in surface plasmon resonance also indicates conjugation. These optical changes are associated with changes in the local refractive index around the particle after binding to the monoclonal antibody. Another symptom of conjugation is the stability of the conjugated nanoparticles in the saline solution in a dispersible manner, because the bare gold suspension can be detected by a rapid change in color from red to blue as soon as saline results from the accumulation of nanoparticles [39]. We used FTIR spectroscopy and Zeta sizer to confirm the formation of peptide-nanoparticle conjugate. The addition of peptide to the nanoparticle increased the size of the nanoparticle, which was well visible in the spectroscopy spectrum. The status of the active groups of gold nanoparticles after peptide binding is evident from the comparison of the FTIR spectrum of gold nanoparticles and the FTIR spectrum of nanoparticles attached to the peptide. Peptide to gold nanoparticles occurs through bonding between aldehyde and hydrazine binding groups. Zhao-Peng Chen et al. (2007) used the link between gold nanoparticles and antibodies to build a sensitive immunosensor. The conjugation process in this study occurred through physical interactions including ionic and hydrophobic interactions, resulting from the absorption of negative gold surface charges to positive charges of antibody groups. The UV-Vis absorption curve was used to study the conjugation of gold and antibodies [40]. In 2012, Andre E. James et al., used conjugated gold nanoparticles to monitor nanoparticle-bound biomolecules using Tracking Analysis (NTA) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). For conjugation, the method of incubating nanoparticles with the protein under PI (isoelectric point pH of protein) was used. These nanoparticles-conjugated proteins have been biomarkers used in several emerging diagnostic techniques. Conjugation in this study was performed by self-assembly of proteins on gold nanoparticles through non-specific adsorption due to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Adsorption was affected by many parameters, such as pH, ionic strength, protein PI. The conjugate compound was used as a biomarker in diagnostic processes and NTA and DLS are used to monitor and track it [41]. Vibha Singh et al. (2013) compared the effect of conjugate type, covalent or non-covalent, on the conjugate function of the Gαi1 subunit, from heterotrimeric G-proteins to gold nanoparticles. Covalent conjugation was done through site specific. A peptide bond was formed between the primary N-terminal amine of the protein and the carboxylic acid groups of the gold nanoparticles. Delay of gold nanoparticles electrophoretic mobility in agar gel confirms conjugation. In non-covalent conjugation, gold nanoparticles are coated with DHLA ligand, which creates a negative charge all over the surface. The protein may interact with gold nanoparticles in several directions, or a number of gold nanoparticles may bind to specific protein molecules. Non-covalent binding of the gold nanoparticle -protein complex also delays electrophoretic mobility. Studies show that in non-covalent conjugation, GTPase activity shows up to 0.8-fold decrease in activity, while in covalent conjugation activity increases up to 12-fold. In other words, non-covalent conjugation has an inhibitory effect on GTPase function, while covalent conjugation significantly increases it. It should be noted that conjugation, does not alter the overall structure of the protein. These findings suggest that nanoparticles can actively interact with biomolecules and affect how they work [42]. Sometimes a linker was used for conjugation of metal nanoparticles and biomolecules. One of the advantages of these structures is their being more efficient and stronger bonding of nanoparticles with biomolecules. In a study by Honwei Liao et al., a heterobifunctional cross-linker (LC-SPDP) was used to bind to nanoparticles and then conjugate to antibodies. In this work, gold nano tubes were used to bind to anti-rabbit IgG. Bio conjugates were characterized by independent measurements of the nanorod and antibody concentrations. The LC-SPDP consists of a Pyridildithio group that binds to the surface of the nano tubes and an NHS ester that binds to the primary amine in the antibody. Connections are selective in this type of conjugation [43]. In this study, spherical gold nanoparticles synthesized by citrate reduction were used to conjugate to the Corticating peptide. The binding rate of the peptide to the nanoparticles was 80%, indicating that the binding through the linker molecules was well done. The size of the peptide-nanoparticles composition was adjusted by controlling the size of the synthesized nanoparticles so that they did not exceed a certain limit because large particles were trapped either in the upper airways and could not enter the airways and bronchi or enter the lungs by the system. Phagocytes were eliminated. Laboratory experiments showed that the peptide-nanoparticle composition was released properly under pH conditions close to lung pH This research did not receive any specific grant from fundig agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Authors' contributions All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting, and revising of the paper and agreed to be responsible for all the aspects of this work. Conflict of Interest There are no conflicts of interest in this study. Alireza Taheri Seyyed Shamsadin Athari Didar Mehrabi Nasab, Alireza Taheri, Seyyed Shamsadin Athari. Conjugation of Cortistatin Peptide with Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized to Investigate Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Allergic Asthma. J. Med. Chem. Sci., 2023, 6(1) 20-28 Murphy V.E., Gibson P.G., Asthma in Pregnancy, Clinics in Chest Medicine, 2011, 32:93 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [2]. Clifford R.L., Knox A.J., Vitamin D-a new treatment for airway remodelling in asthma?, British Journal of Pharmacology, 2009, 158:1426 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [3]. Darney S., Fowler B., Grandjean P., Heindel J., Mattison D., Slikker Jr W., Prenatal Programming and Toxicity II (PPTOX II): role of environmental stressors in the developmental origins of disease, Reproductive Toxicology, 2011, 31:271 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [4]. Srivastava K.D., Kattan J.D., Zou Z.M., Li J.H., Zhang L., Wallenstein S., Goldfarb J., Sampson H.A., Li X.M., The Chinese herbal medicine formula FAHF-2 completely blocks anaphylactic reactions in a murine model of peanut allergy, Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 2005, 115:171. [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [5]. Ijuo G.A., Nguamo S., Igoli J.O., Ag-nanoparticles Mediated by Lonchocarpus laxiflorus Stem Bark Extract as Anticorrosion Additive for Mild Steel in 1.0 M HCl Solution, Progress in Chemical and Biochemical Research, 2022, 5:133 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [6]. koohzadi N., Rezayati Zad Z., A Highly Sensitive Colorimetric Determination of Paraquat by Silver Nanoparticles, Advanced Journal of Chemistry-Section B: Natural Products and Medical Chemistry, 2021, 3:311 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [7]. Ghotekar S., Pagar T., Pansambal S., Oza R., A Review on Green Synthesis of Sulfur Nanoparticles via Plant Extract, Characterization and its Applications, Advanced Journal of Chemistry-Section B: Natural Products and Medical Chemistry, 2020, 2:128 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [8]. Ghotekar S., Dabhane H., Pansambal S., Oza R., TAMBADE P., Medhane V., A Review on Biomimetic Synthesis of Ag2O Nanoparticles using Plant Extract, Characterization and its Recent Applications, Advanced Journal of Chemistry-Section B: Natural Products and Medical Chemistry, 2020, 2:102 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [9]. Dormanesh R., Mohseni S., Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and their application in ring opening of epoxides, Progress in Chemical and Biochemical Research, 2021, 4:403 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [10]. Noël A., Maghni K., Cloutier Y., Dion C., Wilkinson K.J., Hallé S., Tardif R., Truchon G., Effects of inhaled nano-TiO2 aerosols showing two distinct agglomeration states on rat lungs, Toxicology letters, 2012, 214:109 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [11]. Lee S.H., Heng D., Ng W.K., Chan H.K., Tan R.B., Nano spray drying: a novel method for preparing protein nanoparticles for protein therapy, International journal of pharmaceutics, 2011, 403:192 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [12]. Wang L., Feng M., Li Q., Qiu C., Chen R., Advances in nanotechnology and asthma, Annals of translational medicine, 2019, 7:180 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [13]. Khosravanian A., Moslehipour A., Ashrafian H., A review on Bioimaging, Biosensing, and Drug Delivery Systems Based on Graphene Quantum Dots, Progress in Chemical and Biochemical Research, 2021, 4:44 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [14]. Alao I.I., Oyekunle I.P., Iwuozor K.O., Emenike E.C., Green synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles and Investigation of its Antimicrobial Properties, Advanced Journal of Chemistry-Section B: Natural Products and Medical Chemistry, 2022, 4:39 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [15]. Usman A., Fitzsimmons-Thoss V., Tawfike A., Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Oxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Nimbin Isolated from African Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil, Advanced Journal of Chemistry-Section B: Natural Products and Medical Chemistry, 2020, 2:81 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [16] Tauquir Alam M., Asif M., Study of Some Hyndantion Derivatives as Anticonvulsant Agents, Progress in Chemical and Biochemical Research, 2020, 3:93 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [17]. Gonzalez-Rey E., Chorny A., Robledo G., Delgado M., Cortistatin, a new antiinflammatory peptide with therapeutic effect on lethal endotoxemia, Journal of experimental medicine, 2006, 203:563 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [18]. Patra J.K., Das G., Fraceto L.F., Campos E.V.R., Rodriguez-Torres M.D.P., Acosta-Torres L.S., Diaz-Torres L.A., Grillo R., Swamy M.K., Sharma S., Habtemariam S., Shin H.S., Nano based drug delivery systems: recent developments and future prospects, Journal of nanobiotechnology, 2018, 16:71 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [19]. Zhang Y., Mahdavi B., Mohammadhosseini M., Ghaneialvar H., Karimi E., Green synthesis of NiO nanoparticles using Calendula officinalis extract: Chemical marking, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and anti-esophageal carcinoma properties, Arabian J Chem, 2021, 14:103105 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [20]. Jalilian R., Taheri A., "Synthesis and application of a novel core-shell-shell magnetic ion imprinted polymer as a selective adsorbent of trace amounts of silver ions", e-Polymers, 2018, 18:123 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [21]. Rezayati Zad Z., Davarani S.S.H., Taheri A.R., Bide Y., Highly selective determination of amitriptyline using Nafion-AuNPs@branched polyethyleneimine-derived carbon hollow spheres in pharmaceutical drugs and biological fluids, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2016, 86:616 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [22]. Faramarzi R., Taheri A.R., Roushani M., Determination of Paraquat in Fruits and Natural Water using Ni(OH)2 Nanoparticles-Carbon Nanotubes Composite Modified Carbon Ionic liquid Electrode, Analytical & Bioanalytical Electrochemistry, 2016, 7:666, [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [23]. Jeevanandam J., Barhoum A., Chan Y.S., Dufresne A., Danquah M.K., Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: history, sources, toxicity and regulations, Beilstein journal of nanotechnology, 2018, 9:1050 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [24]. Ma D., Han T., Karimian M., Abbasi N., Ghaneialvar H., Zangeneh A., Immobilized Ag NPs on chitosan-biguanidine coated magnetic nanoparticles for synthesis of propargylamines and treatment of human lung cancer, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020, 165:767 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [25]. Jazayeri M.H., Amani H., Pourfatollah A.A., Pazoki-Toroudi H., Sedighimoghaddam B., Various methods of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugation to antibodies, Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research, 2016, 9:17 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [26]. Karimi E., Abbasi S., Abbasi N., Thymol polymeric nanoparticle synthesis and its effects on the toxicity of high glucose on OEC cells: Involvement of growth factors and integrin-linked kinase, Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 2019, 13:2513 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [27]. Yu M.K., Park J., Jon S., Targeting strategies for multifunctional nanoparticles in cancer imaging and therapy, Theranostics, 2012, 2:3 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [28]. R.K. Thapa, G.M. Khan, K. Parajuli-Baral, P.J.A.j.o.b. Thapa and p. sciences, Herbal Medicine Incorporated nanoparticles: Advancements in herbal treatment, 2013, 3 [Google Scholar], [Publisher]. [29]. Mehmood A., Murtaza G., Bhatti T.M., Kausar R., Phyto-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Melia azedarach L. leaf extract: Characterization and antibacterial activity, Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 2017, 10:S3048 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [30]. Mehrabi N.D., Taheri A., Athari S.S., Design and Fabrication of Gold Nanoparticles for Anti-Asthma Drug Delivery, Archives of Medical Laboratory Sciences, 2020, 6:1 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [31]. Crosby C.M., Nehete P., Sastry K.J., Barry M.A., Amplified and persistent immune responses generated by single-cycle replicating adenovirus vaccines, Journal of virology, 2015, 89:669 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [32]. N. Carlsson, A. Borde, S. Wölfel, B. Kerman, A. Larsson, Quantification of protein concentration by the Bradford method in the presence of pharmaceutical polymers, Analytical Biochemistry, 2011, 411:116 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [33]. Athari S.S., Mortaz E., Pourpak Z., Moin M., Moazzeni S.M., VIP-loaded PLGA as an anti-asthma nanodrug candidate, Comparative Clinical Pathology,, 2016, 25:791 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [34]. Zolnik B.S., Burgess D.J., Effect of acidic pH on PLGA microsphere degradation and release, Journal of Controlled Release, 2007, 122:338 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [35]. Hong X., Wei L., Ma L., Chen Y., Liu Z., Yuan W., Novel preparation method for sustained-release PLGA microspheres using water-in-oil-in-hydrophilic-oil-in-water emulsion, International journal of nanomedicine, 2013, 8:2433 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [37]. Ozkendir O., Boron Activity in Metal Containing Materials, Advanced Journal of Chemistry-Section B: Natural Products and Medical Chemistry, 2020, 2:48 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [38]. Asif M., Mohd I., Prospects of Medicinal Plants Derived Nutraceuticals: A Re-emerging New Era of Medicine and Health Aid, Progress in Chemical and Biochemical Research, 2019, 2:150 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [39]. Sokolov K., Follen M., Aaron J., Pavlova I., Malpica A., Lotan R., Richards-Kortum R., Real-time vital optical imaging of precancer using anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles, Cancer research, 2003, 63:1999 [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [40]. Chen Z.P., Peng Z.F., Zhang P., Jin X.F., Jiang J.H., Zhang X.B., Shen G.L., Yu R.Q., A sensitive immunosensor using colloidal gold as electrochemical label, Talanta, 2007, 72:1800 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [41]. James A.E., Driskell J.D., Monitoring gold nanoparticle conjugation and analysis of biomolecular binding with nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), Analyst, 2013, 138:1212 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [42]. Singh V., Nair S.P.N., Aradhyam G.K., Chemistry of conjugation to gold nanoparticles affects G-protein activity differently, Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2013, 11:7 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher] [43]. Liao H., Hafner J.H., Gold Nanorod Bioconjugates, Chemistry of Materials, 2005, 17:4636 [Crossref], [Google Scholar], [Publisher]
Arthropathy: what is it? Symptoms and Treatment Arthropathy - a term which denotes the various joint damage arising on a background of other diseases and occur in both children and adults. Their causes may be an infection, inflammation, metabolic disorders and many others. They are united by one thing - this pathology has never come by itself, but always secondary and is a manifestation of some other disease. Moreover, the presence of the latter, you can not even guess at, and problems with joints just become its first manifestation. arthropathy mechanisms will also vary depending on what triggered it. What it is? Arthropathy - joint destruction secondary to the background of other pathologies, disease states. Able to start its development in allergic reactions of various diseases associated with infections, disorders endocrine abnormalities of the internal organs of a chronic nature, metabolic disorders of the nervous system. Causes of Valid reasons for reactive inflammation of the joints still unknown. It is believed that the joints are inflamed in the anomalous response of the immune system to get into the organism of infectious agents. insta story viewer At the heart disease is an infection of the joints. As a result of incorrect operation of immunity joint tissue perceived as foreign. Allocated antibodies that affect cartilage and tendon. Some people have noted particularly prone to reactive arthritis due to hypersensitivity of the immune system to pathogens. The disease usually develops from two weeks to 1 month after infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, intestinal or respiratory system. The most common pathogens that cause reactive arthritis are: • E. coli; • mycoplasma; • chlamydia; • Shigella; • salmonella; • Yersinia. The statistics on the most common arthropathy occur after chlamydial infection. symptoms arthropathy Typically, reactive arthritis develops in a month after undergoing genito-urinary, intestinal or respiratory infection. The disease affects one or more of the major joints of the feet (more often - the knee, the ankle, the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe). Often it involves the spine, muscles, tendons, joint capsules. Sometimes, the process involved the neighboring joints. The defeat is accompanied by the following symptoms: 1. Pain on movement; 2. Swelling, redness of the joint; 3. The accumulation of inflammatory fluid in the articular cavity. The disease is not accompanied by significant changes in the articular structures. Arthropathy is often accompanied by skin and mucous membranes with the appearance of the mucous autoimmune inflammation without pronounced symptoms. Most often it affects the eyes, urethra, tongue, gums. On the skin can be formed keratoderma (painless growths that resemble warts). In most cases the growths formed on the feet and hands. Sometimes, the process involved the nails, they become thickened, brittle and yellowish. 1. Common symptoms: swollen lymph nodes (most often - inguinal). 2. In severe cases, inflammation of the joints attached heart failure. Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis special form) is characterized by a triad of symptoms such as arthritis, conjunctivitis and urethritis. Sometimes joins keratoderma. Symptoms appear 2-4 weeks after suffering an infectious disease. allergic arthropathy Pain in the joints occur against the background of an allergic reaction. Arthropathy may develop as almost immediately after allergen exposure, and several days later. Diagnosis is based on the characteristic allergic symptoms: presence of fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, bronchial obstruction, etc... Blood analysis revealed hypergammaglobulinemia, eosinophilia, plasma cells and IgG class antibodies. Arthropathy phenomenon disappear after a desensitizing therapy. Arthropathy in Reiter's syndrome Reiter's syndrome is a triad that includes loss of organs of vision, joint and urinary tract. The most common cause of getting chlamydia, rarely syndrome is caused by Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, or occurs after enterocolitis. Suffering individuals with genetic predisposition. Symptoms usually appear in the following order: first - acute urinary infections (cystitis, urethritis) or enterocolitis, shortly thereafter - eye disease (conjunctivitis, uveitis, iridocyclitis, retinitis, keratitis, iritis) and only after 1-1.5 months - arthropathy. In this case, the symptoms of the eyes may occur within 1-2 days, to be mild and go unnoticed. Arthropathy is a leading sign of Reiter's syndrome and is often the first reason for seeking medical help. Usually there is an asymmetric arthritis with lesions of the lower limbs joints: ankle, knee and small joints of the foot. In this case the joints are usually involved in the inflammatory process sequentially from the bottom up, with an interval of several days. A patient with arthropathy complains of pain, worse at night and in the morning. Joints become swollen, there is local congestion, some patients revealed effusion. Sometimes there are pains in the spine, sacroiliac disease develops, heel bursitis is possible with the rapid formation of heel spurs and inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Arthropathy in other infectious and parasitic diseases Arthropathy often appears on the background of various pathologies that are associated with infections and parasites. When a person suffered pathology Lyme, brucellosis and Trichinella, he has a bat arthralgia. Rubella occurs in conjunction with a symmetric polyarthritis. A arthropathy in combination with mumps similarities with rheumatoid arthritis. Such symptoms are observed: • non-persistent inflammation in the joints; • character while migrating; • there is inflammation of the pericardium. Chicken pox, mononucleosis infection appears arthropathy, which is a transient arthritis. It quickly disappears when are the main symptoms of the pathology. Artopatiya accompanied with meningococcal disease occurs after a week after the onset of disease. Most often this is accompanied by monoartrita knee joint, but sometimes there is arthritis of large joints. Provokes the appearance of arthropathy and viral hepatitis, and the pathology manifested arthralgia or volatile arthritis, joint damage takes place symmetrically. Artopatii make themselves felt in the beginning of the disease, even when there is no jaundice. HIV infection is associated with various disorders of the joints attributes: 1. This may be arthritis, arthralgia. 2. Also, it may be arthritis, AIDS-shin and knee. In this case, the work is broken limbs noticeable pain is felt. If you treat the main disease, while signs of affected joints disappear. pyrophosphate arthropathy This rheumatological disease, which is characterized in that deposition takes place in the joint cavity calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. Pyrophosphate arthropathy is divided into three forms. The first form is the genetic makeup of the patient It is believed that it is the most difficult for the human body. The genetic form of inherited, in most cases, this occurs through the male line. The second form is called "secondary pyrophosphate arthropathy" It manifested in the human body due to other pathologies. Despite the fact that the disease is already known for years, but so far not established the mechanisms of secondary forms. The third and last form is called "primary pyrophosphate arthropathy" This form is isolated as a separate pathology, although the causes are unknown development, it was found that during disease is a disturbance in the enzymes responsible for the conversion of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. It is not known because of what pyrophosphate arthropathy appears in the human body, for this reason, prevention, as such, no. A big plus is that even the most severe form of the disease - a genetic pyrophosphate arthropathy - does not threaten the patient's life. arthropathy treatment Comprehensive treatment of arthropathy should begin immediately as soon as the diagnosis has been established. Carried out in two directions: • antibiotic therapy; • articular syndrome therapy. Antibiotics are appointed to destroy the infectious agents that triggered the progression of the disease in children and adults. Treatment duration was 7 days. Drug of choice: • azithromycin; • doxycycline; • erythromycin; • clarithromycin; • ofloxacin; • amoxicillin. Also in the standard treatment plan includes the following products: • anti-inflammatory agents (non-steroidal). Are appointed in order to reduce inflammation and relieve pain; • immunosuppressants and immunomodulators. Necessary for increasing reactivity; • if the abnormality occurs is very difficult, the patient is required to be appointed by glucocorticoid hormones to eliminate inflammation in the joint. As the disease develops again, it is important to treatment of the underlying pathology. Therefore, the main treatment plan can be supplemented with: • chemotherapy (if there are systemic blood disease); • resorting to the substitution therapy in the case of diseases of the endocrine system; • neuroprotective. arthropathy Treatment long. Usually it is performed on an outpatient basis and only in severe cases, the patient is admitted to hospital. • Share Maslow's pyramid of needs is 5 levels. Explanation, examples Maslow's pyramid of needs is 5 levels. Explanation, examples ContentThe theory of occurrence and description of the Maslow pyramidThe importance of the theory of needs for the individualAdvantages and disadva... Zincteral-Teva. Reviews, instructions for use for acne, for hair ContentTerms of dispensing from pharmacies, drug priceComposition, release formOperating principleIndications for useContraindications and side eff... Algorithm for setting a dropper intravenously according to Sanpin. GOST technique Algorithm for setting a dropper intravenously according to Sanpin. GOST technique ContentIndications for setting an intravenous dropper, goalsPuncture sitesPatient preparationPreparation of equipment and work spaceOptimal injecti...
What Closing the Word Gap and Eating an Elephant Have in Common Word Gap - BW of the DayIf you’re like 90% of Americans, you’re scratching your head right now and saying, “What is the Word Gap?” The Word Gap is the “gap” in vocabulary between rich and poor. Research has indicated that kids from lower socioeconomic families may hear as many as 30 million fewer words by the time they’re 4 years old than kids from more privileged families, translating to a gap of 400-700 words in their vocabularies. Because young children learn by hearing, you can’t learn what you don’t hear. When you consider that vocabulary is the single best predictor of success in school and in life, it’s easy to see why disadvantaged kids who know fewer words at kindergarten tend to start behind. And studies show that kids who start behind tend to stay behind. For the most part, work on closing the Word Gap has been research-based, federally funded programs. As a result, we know a lot about what causes the Word Gap; we know much less about what to do about it. As the founder of a digital media start-up and something of a mission freak, I asked myself, “What can we do to help?” No matter how much we analyzed the problem, we kept coming back to the same conclusion: “400-700 words is a lot but it’s not an insurmountable number.” What we need to do is develop a low cost, highly scalable product that kids love and that is easy-to-implement for busy parents and teachers. We needed to make it fun so that it was as entertaining as it was educational. We settled on an idea we called Big Word Club, a digital learning program that uses books, songs, animation and dance to teach preschool and elementary school kids one new “BIG” word every day of the school year—that’s 180 new words every year. How do you close the Word Gap in America? In the same way that you eat an elephant (one bite at a time), we believe you do it one word and one day at a time.
Matthew Flinders Matthew Flinders commanded HMS Investigator and charted the coast of the continent that was then known as New Holland from April 1801 to June 1803. His expedition produced the first complete chart of the continent and the first views of the southern coast. The results of his exploration were published in 1814 and paved the way for those who planned the colonization of South Australia and the mariners who sailed for Kangaroo Island in 1836. Long before Flinders, from the seventeenth century, Dutch seafarers had charted the west and named the land New Holland. Britain’s James Cook had charted the east coast in 1770, named it New South Wales and claimed it for Britain. However, their work left the northern and southern coasts uncharted. There was serious speculation that a channel of water might divide the lands of New South Wales in the east from New Holland in the west. Flinders proved that there was one large continent. As well as navigators Flinders carried scientists and artists who studied the botany, zoology, mineralogy and geography of the coast. Their work provided a picture of the fertility of the land, its climates, plants and animals. It is highly likely that the captains of all the first nine ships carried copies of Flinders’ charts to lead them to Kangaroo Island. It is especially likely that the Surveyor General, Colonel William Light, studied those maps. Flinders’ work held an additional importance to the surveyors onboard the Rapid because they had been commissioned to build on his charts. They were to examine 2,400 kilometres of the southern coast to select the site of the first settlement and sites for secondary towns. In 1839 or 1840, London printers Day and Haghe published a chart titled The maritime portion of South Australia: from the surveys of Captain Flinders and of Colonel Light, Surveyor General. Light extended Flinders’ chart with place names including Adelaide and Mount Barker as well as geographical features like the River Torrens. There is a neat English chronology that can be relayed from Matthew Flinders to William Light. However, the history could not be complete without mentioning the French exploration led by Nicolas Baudin. In October 1800 Baudin was selected to lead an expedition to explore New Holland with two ships and nine scientists. Flinders’ British expedition was actually launched after Baudin and was partly motivated as a race to keep up with France. The two explorers met at what is now Encounter Bay, South Australia in April 1802. The names the rival explorers gave to the coast tell us that history belongs to the winners. On the charts that came from Baudin’s expedition the southern coast was named Terre Napoleon. On Flinders’ charts, South Australia’s two gulfs were named after Earl Spencer and Earl St Vincent who were the Lords of the Admiralty and the patrons of Flinders’ expedition. After proving that the coasts of New Holland and New South Wales formed one land, Flinders proposed that the continent be named Australia. His proposal was actually rejected by the British Admiralty but over time it came into common use and was formally accepted when the Commonwealth of Australia was created by an act of the British Parliament in 1900. However, that same Parliament had named the Province of South Australia by an act of 1834. Share this page: Comments or Questions: No comments yet.
Do cysts on dogs smell? Follicular cysts appear as single round nodules (hard tissue masses) on or underneath the skin. They may be bluish in color and contain thick, yellowish or grey cheesy material (keratin). This material may become secondarily infected with bacteria or yeast and produce a foul smell. Do sebaceous cysts on dogs smell? A sebaceous cyst is a blocked oil gland. It usually looks like a big pimple. A sebaceous cyst may hang out just under your dog’s skin for a long time and not cause any trouble. … When a cyst is infected it usually smells bad. Why does my dog’s tumor smell so bad? Foul-smelling breath: Bad breath is never normal for a dog or cat, but a tumor can smell like rotten meat because it contains dead tissue. Do dog tumors smell? Signs of Cancer in Dogs Bad breath in dogs is common, but if it is worse than the typical case of bad dog breath it could signal a tumor. Tumors can also cause foul odors to waft from a dog’s nose or tail end. INTERESTING: How do I stop my big dog from hurting my little dog? How do I know if my dog’s cyst is infected? The most common symptom associated with sebaceous cysts in dogs include: 1. Red infection. 2. Raised lump and swelling. 3. Hair loss around the infected area. 4. Pain and bleeding. 5. Fluid discharge. 6. Multiple lumps. Does a dog abscess smell? Abscesses can be found anywhere on your pooch. They often look like a swollen lump, are sensitive or painful to the touch, and can develop a bad odor. There may be a discharge of pus from the site. Your dog may stop eating or may act lethargic or depressed, which are all signs of a fever. What does a dog tumor smell like? Does a tumor smell? Ulcerating tumors are rare. If you have one, it’s quite possible it will have an unpleasant odor. The odor would be the result of dead or necrotic tissue or of bacteria within the wound. If you have a bad odor coming from an ulcerating tumor, see your doctor. Do dogs smell when they are dying? What are sebaceous cysts on dogs? A sebaceous cyst is essentially a large pimple on your pet’s skin. These superficial bumps are clogged oil glands in the skin that are harmless to your pet, although they can become inflamed and sore if they rupture. How do you treat a ruptured cyst on a dog? At a later time, the veterinarian may choose to open and drain the cyst and treat it with a topical medication. If the cyst has ruptured by the time you make the visit to the clinic, the veterinarian may decide to treat any inflammation or infection that is present, and then surgically remove the cyst. INTERESTING: Frequent question: What does it mean when a dog is food driven? Can dogs smell Covid 19? The dogs screened 1,680 passengers and found 158 positive SARS-CoV-2 cases that were then confirmed by other viral tests. Amazingly, Sarkis found that his dogs could correctly identified negative results 100% of the time, and correctly detected positive cases 92% of the time, according to unpublished results. How do dogs act when they smell illness? When a dog is detecting sickness in their human, there are some tell-tale signs you can read simply from your doggy’s body language. The dog will raise his snoot and tilt his head when he is trying to concentrate on the things, sounds and smells around him. He will be relaxed, yet alert. What can happen if a cyst is left untreated? Are cysts painful for dogs? Sebaceous cysts in dogs are small pockets that form in and under the skin, can vary in size, and can crop up almost anywhere on the dog’s body. They are, as you were properly advised, benign and usually harmless other than the occasional infection that can be somewhat painful.
AskIFAS Powered by EDIS Factors Affecting Forage Quality M. O. Wallau, A. T. Adesogan, L. E. Sollenberger, J. M. B. Vendramini, and J. C. B. Dubeux, Jr. What Is Forage Quality? Forage quality, the degree to which a forage meets animal nutritional needs, is expressed in terms of animal production, such as growth, milk, or wool production. Forage quality is affected by forage nutritive value(i.e., chemical composition and digestibility) and intake, and it can be estimated when forage is the sole source of nutrients to the animal and offered without quantity restrictions (ad libitum). It is also dependent on animal species and class, in the sense that the same forage can have higher value for one type of herbivore than to another. Animal performance, whether growth or milk production, depends upon the animal's potential for production, as well as on how much dry matter (DM) the animal eats and the nutritive value of the DM the animal consumes. Therefore, the two forage-related factors that determine animal performance are (1) forage intake and (2) forage nutritive value. Collectively, these factors determine the quality of the forage. Figure 1. Over-mature bermudagrass hay field. Both an increase in fiber and senescent material decrease the forage quality. Credit: Marcelo Wallau Factors Affecting Forage Intake Forage intake is affected by a range of pasture, animal, environmental and management factors. Herbage allowance (amount of forage available per animal) and canopy structure, composition and arrangement are primary plant determinants of intake. Nutritive value, especially crude protein and digestibility are associated with the passage rate of the forage through the gastrointestinal tract. Forages of low digestibility and protein have slower passage rate, physically limiting intake (gut fill). Intake is also affected by animal body size, performance level, health, genotype, and social hierarchy. Environmental aspects that affect intake include temperature, humidity, and rainfall. Animals out of their comfort zone tend to reduce time grazing. Management factors — such as stocking rate, type, and level of supplementation, feeding frequency, and availability of water and feed — also affect forage intake. Additionally, for stored forage intake is affected by the type of conservation process (i.e., hay or silage), particle size and nutritive value (e.g., fiber, protein, digestibility) and mold contamination, poor fermentation, or any substances that make the forage less acceptable. "Voluntary forage intake" is used to describe how much forage DM an animal will consume when adequate amounts of forage are available, when no supplements of protein and energy are fed to the animal, and when adequate minerals are available —either in the forage or as supplements. Energy and protein supplements may either increase or decrease livestock forage intake, depending upon the composition of the forage and the composition and amount of supplement being fed to the livestock. Factors Affecting Forage Nutritive Value Forage nutritive value is primarily determined by concentrations of crude protein (CP) and "available" energy in the forage. For many years, total digestible nutrients (TDN) has been used as an overall measure of available energy in forages. In the past 20 years, however, measurements of digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and net energy of forage have increasingly been used, especially for more fine-tuned diets. However, TDN is still an acceptable and easily understood measure of nutritive value, particularly for beef cattle. Forage nutritive value is affected most by variations in forage genotype, maturity, season, and management, and presence of "anti-quality" factors. 1. Genotype Legumes generally have a higher nutritive value than grasses because of higher CP and TDN concentrations at a given age of regrowth. This results in greater intake by livestock, particularly when compared with warm-season (C4) grasses. The TDN concentrations of legumes and cool-season grasses are similar because legumes typically have higher lignin and cool-season grasses are generally low in fiber and high non-structural carbohydrates. Generalizations about the nutritive value of grasses are risky, but temperate or cool-season grasses, such as rye and ryegrass, are nearly always higher in nutritive value than tropical or warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass and bahiagrass. However, there is much variation in forage nutritive value within and among grass genera, and between varieties of the same species. 2. Maturity The stage of forage regrowth at the time of utilization—whether as hay, haylage, or grazed forage—has a major influence on forage nutritive value. Forage-regrowth stage is determined by the number of days between harvests for hay or haylage and by the rest period in rotational grazing. There is always a compromise between forage quantity and nutritive value. Forage nutritive value begins to decline during the regrowth period due to the accumulation of stems and deposition of poorly digested lignin in both leaves and stems. Maturity of legumes and cool-season grasses can be assessed by determining the physiological stage of growth. For warm-season grasses, however, weeks of regrowth are a better indicator of maturity because flowering may begin shortly after regrowth begins. Table 1 shows a decline in the digestibility and crude protein of Coastal bermudagrass after week five (day 35) of regrowth. The information in this table indicates that harvesting Coastal bermudagrass at intervals greater than five weeks will reduce the nutritive value of this forage. Table 2 provides examples of the effects of forage genotype and maturity on the nutritive value of typical forage grasses in Florida. Each value represents several cuttings made from different varieties in different years. These values are a general reference point. These data suggest that digitgrass and limpograss tend to have higher nutritive value than bahiagrass, bermudagrass, and stargrass, especially at later stages of maturity. These differences often affect voluntary intake as well. With respect to maturity effects on perennial grasses, the most dramatic difference is the decrease in voluntary intake between six and eight weeks. These data and others show that after eight weeks of regrowth, forage nutritive value will generally be less than needed for livestock maintenance. Exceptions are digitgrass and limpograss, which maintain a somewhat higher TDN when mature than do the other grasses. Consequently, limpograss and digitgrass are excellent forages for fall stockpiling. However, those are often are low in CP when mature, and require protein supplementation for optimum utilization. 3. Season Seasonal effects on forage nutritive value have been noted in grazing trials in Florida where forage regrowth intervals were kept constant. Gains of grazing cattle have been less during the summer than in spring and fall. This problem is called the "summer slump." This summer slump in cattle weight gain is due at least in part to the effect of the environment on forages. Summer slumps in nutritive value of warm-season grasses have been observed with hay harvested after similar regrowth intervals on different dates throughout the growing season (Table 3). Summer regrowth may have lower nutritive value because high temperature increases lignin deposition, and high rainfall increases growth rates and maturation of the forage. In the case of hay made in Florida, the negative effects of season and maturity on forage nutritive value may be additive. Spring harvests are made generally after short regrowth periods, while summer harvests are made after long regrowth periods because of heavy summer rainfall that delays harvests. Therefore, the nutritive value of bermudagrass hay is greatest when harvested in the spring or early summer. 4. Management Pre-Harvest Management: Pre-harvest management for maximum nutritive value of hay or silage involves weed control and frequent cutting. (See discussion above under heading 2, Maturity.) Some producers harvest every four or five weeks throughout the season, making either hay or haylage, depending on rainfall. Post-Harvest Management: The nutritive value of hay or silage can only be as good as the forage from which it was made. However, post-harvest decreases in hay or silage quality can be minimized by careful management. Post-harvest management of hay requires avoiding rain damage and proper curing of hay to less than 15% moisture. Leaching of nutrients from weathering decreases forage nutritive value. Therefore, hay bales should be stored under a barn or a tarp whenever possible. Post-harvest management of silage involves avoiding rain damage, wilting to 60%–70% moisture when necessary, packing to a density of about 40 lb/cubic feet (as fed), promptly sealing silos (or wrapping haylage bales) on the day the forage is harvested, and feeding out the silage at a rate that prevents heating (over 12 inches per day). For more information, check EDIS publication AN266: Comparison of Hay or Round Bale Silage as a Means to Conserve Forage ( Growth of yeasts and molds may also decrease forage nutritive value and acceptability, and therefore reduce forage intake by livestock. Additionally, molds may produce mycotoxins, which can reduce animal performance and cause diseases in livestock and people. To avoid mold growth, silages should be harvested and stored at the recommended moisture concentration. In addition, silage or haylage plastic should be maintained properly; any holes should be promptly sealed with silage tape. Silage density and feed out rate should follow the guidelines above to prevent mold growth and heating. Application of additives containing propionic acid or Lactobacillus buchneri inoculants can also prevent the growth of molds. Management of Grazed Pastures: Pastures should be managed to maintain a leafy canopy that is free of weeds and not overly mature to optimize forage nutritive value. Proper stocking rate is the most important factor to match forage quantity and animal requirements (see EDIS publication SS-AGR-92: Grazing management Concepts and Practices– If forage CP is low in unfertilized grass, then N fertilizer application will increase forage CP and may also contribute to improved forage intake and animal performance. 5. Anti-Quality Factors Examples of anti-quality factors in commonly grazed or fed Florida forages are noxious weeds, nitrates, prussic acid, ergot alkaloids, and insect infestation Nitrate or prussic acid accumulation can occur in certain forages after stressful periods, such as drought, frost, hail, and herbicide or fertilizer injury. Nitrate accumulation is most common in drought-stressed grasses including corn, rye, sorghum, sudangrass, and others. Prussic acid accumulates in members of the sorghum family, including sorghum, sudangrass, and the weed johnsongrass. It is very common immediately after a frost event and can be associated with new growth after drought stress. Both of these compounds—nitrate and prussic acid—can limit oxygen transfer in the blood of livestock. Therefore, the accumulation of these compounds in forage is dangerous. If forages have undergone a stressful period as described above, forage samples should be sent for nitrate or prussic-acid testing before the forage is fed to livestock. Proper ensiling may reduce concentrations of these compounds to safe levels, but testing to ensure safe levels is recommended. Volatile toxic gases can be released during the ensiling process, therefore, workers should be careful when handling ensiled forages, particularly within the first month of ensiling. Ergot alkaloids have also been observed in a few cases on bermudagrass in Florida, as in Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Problems such as tremors associated with ingestion of ergot alkaloids can be avoided by maintaining a 4- to 5-week cutting interval for bermudagrass, interseeding with legumes or other grasses, and diluting the toxin with nontoxic forages and supplements.Ergot alkaloids from Claviceps species can also be a problem affecting seed heads of grasses such as rye, ryegrass, Phalaris spp., Sorghum spp., and some Paspalum spp (e.g., bahiagrass), causing reproductive problems in livestock. In some cases, insects can defoliate the leaves of forages, thus decreasing forage quality. Forage quality varies widely due to variations in forage genotype, maturity, season, management, and anti-quality components. Because of all these factors and their interactions, tables of forage quality and nutritive value are unlikely—by themselves—to provide useful information about a particular forage. Therefore, be sure to test forages frequently, using forage samples that are taken carefully to ensure that the samples are representative of the forage that will be consumed by livestock. Additional Information Vendramini, J. M., M. S. Silveira, J. D. Arthington, and A. R. Blount. 2015. Forage Testing. SS-AGR-63. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Table 1. Nutrient Composition of Coastal Bermudagrass as Affected by Maturity. Table 2. Effects of Grass and Maturity on Forage Nutritive Value and Quality. Table 3. Quality of Coastal Bermudagrass Hay Harvested at Different Maturities and Seasons. Publication #SS-AGR-93 Date: 7/12/2021 • Program Area: Plant Systems Fact Sheet About this Publication This document is SS-AGR-93, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date April 2002. Revised July 2015 and June 2018. Reviewed March 2021. Original authors were A. T. Adesogan, professor, Department of Animal Sciences; L. E. Sollenberger, distinguished professor, Agronomy Department; and J. E. Moore, professor emeritus, Department of Animal Sciences. This publication is a part of the Florida Forage Handbook, an electronic publication of the Agronomy Department. Visit the EDIS website at for the currently supported version of this publication. About the Authors M.O. Wallau, assistant professor, Agronomy Department; T. Adesogan, professor, Department of Animal Sciences; L. E. Sollenberger, distinguished professor, Agronomy Department; J. M. B. Vendramini, associate professor, Agronomy Department, UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center; J. C. B. Dubeux, Jr., associate professor, Agronomy Department, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611. • Marcelo Osorio Wallau
Legal Articles Warrant Recall A Warrant is a legal document authorizing that a government agent can carry out a certain action. The most common types of warrants are search warrants and arrest warrants. Both must usually be issued by a judge and will permit police officers to search a location or arrest an individual. The primary pre-requisite to the… Scroll to Top
Skip to content Cheap natural gas is making it very hard to go green. It's killing everything, including renewable energy. We recently noted that the US is drowning in cheap natural gas, and that “Gasmaggedon” will make it even harder to electrify everything. Now we learn from Bloomberg Green that solar and wind power can't compete with gas that's this cheap. Naureen Malik and Brian Eckhouse write: The authors note that there is an upside to this, that gas is replacing coal for power generation, which is the main reason that CO2 emissions have flatlined in the USA. But having gas this cheap makes it difficult for everyone else, and it's getting “locked in.” Just look at the largest grid in the U.S., which stretches from Washington to Chicago and serves more than 65 million people: It has been boosting the amount of power generated with gas and drawing in renewables at a slower rate. That grid happens to crisscross a section of the U.S. that’s home to some of the world’s most abundant natural gas reserves. It’s also squeezing margins for nuclear reactors, which are the U.S.’s biggest source of carbon-free power. And it’s driving utilities to lay down infrastructure that could ensure gas remains central to the power mix for decades. Cheap gas means there is little incentive to invest in batteries or other storage technologies needed to go totally renewable, especially when the gas companies keep calling it a “Bridge fuel” that's cleaner than coal; the bridge just keeps getting longer and longer until the other end is out of sight. Cheap natural gas will kill recycling and the so-called “circular economy.” The price of gas (and the fear of electric cars) is driving a pivot to petrochemicals, with plans for a vast increase in capacity. From Louisiana to Alberta, chemical plants are being built to convert oil and gas byproducts to plastics (See Oil industry is spending billions on increasing plastics production) According to Jared Paben in Plastics Recycling Update, virgin plastics are now cheaper than recycled plastic, and there is too much of the stuff; Tison Keel of IHS Markit complains that “the supply-demand imbalance is expected to get worse with additional production capacity coming on-line. “What we have coming in the next couple of years is a large overbuild.” Keel said manufacturers are acting irrationally and he suggested they should shut down production capacity to bring supply and demand into better balance; however, none has announced plans to do so….The overall supply-demand picture will mean persistently low virgin PET prices in coming years, Keel said. That’s a challenge facing PET reclaimers. Keel wonders if the bottling companies will stick to their pledges to use more recycled content. Will the consumers of RPET, who are putting out some pretty ambitious goals of recycled content in their containers, will they be willing to pay these higher prices? I’m not saying they won’t. Historically, in North America, they have not. Currently, there is little incentive to increase recycling rates, because there's no real value to RPET when virgin PET is so cheap and recycling so expensive and difficult. As Judith Thornton noted, The sheer variety of polymers, compositions and colours of plastics means that mechanical sorting at recycling plants will never be effective, and therefore we have a choice between exporting it to countries where labour is cheap enough for hand sorting to be viable, incinerating plastic more locally, or in the long term fundamentally redesigning waste collection systems. And as Tison Keel noted, this makes it hard to keep those promises about using recycled plastic. “How are we going to meet the demand being laid out there by brand owners when the collection rates are so low, and how do we get those up?” he asked. “I don’t have an answer for that.” So, in summary, Cheap natural gas is killing renewable energy Cheap natural gas is killing recycling Cheap natural gas is making it hard to electrify everything Cheap natural gas will kill the hydrogen economy And to top it all off, so much of the stuff is leaking that it's not even much greener than coal. As I noted, it's getting really is hard to see the other end of this bridge. Cheap natural gas is making it very hard to go green. It's killing everything, including renewable energy.
Abstract : The paper presents a comparative study of different performance prediction of solar photovoltaic systems that could be simply and efficiently used by artificial intelligence techniques. We have plenty of sunlight, but scarcity of water to carry out plantation farming activities. However, the availability of highly efficient and cost-effective pump controllers using solar technology is limited. This review article is based on bridging the gap between water and sunlight for smart irrigation in India. This article also focuses on the comprehensive and comparative study of the most-adopted Artificial Intelligence (AI), Fuzzy Logic (FL), Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) and, Genetic Algorithms (GA) based on MPPT techniques using solar-powered irrigation. Internet of Things (IoT) is used for monitoring plantation field for humidity, moisture, control pests, temperature, plant diseases, fertilizers, etc. with the purpose of making sure the quality of vegetables, fruits and so on. Smart farming has to be incorporated by employing solar-based pump sets for irrigation as electricity is not available in the farmland. For excellence in farming, AI-enabled cameras can be used to capture images of the entire farm and investigate the images in near-real-time to identify several problems and provide timely action to achieve higher yield which in turn improves the quality of farming.
Monday, June 1, 2015 Commercial highlights links between unions, middle class The importance of the Canadian middle class cannot be overstated. It's what drives the economy and our country is at its best when its strongest. One of the biggest factors in creating the middle class was the hard work, sacrifices and gains made through the labour movement - including unionization. Beginning with the 1940s and moving through several decades, the Canadian economy and levels of unionization were directly linked. The more unionized workers, the stronger the middle class and the better the economy. Since 2000, this upward trend has changed. Union jobs have been decreasing, the gap between the rich and poor increasing and the middle class disappearing. The New Brunswick Union believes a strong middle class is key to helping our province out of its fiscal problems and back to financial stability. The NBU wants to work with the provincial government and employers in the private sector to find solutions and strengthen New Brunswick. Our latest commercial reflects our belief that one way to do it is by bolstering the ranks of the middle class and unions.
Symmetry relations of magnetic twin laws J. Schlessman, D. B. Litvin Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review Symmetry relationships between two simultaneously observed domain states (domain pair) are used to determine physical properties that can distinguish between the observed domains. Here the tabulation of these symmetry relationships is extended from non-magnetic cases to magnetic cases, in terms of magnetic point groups, i.e. all possible magnetic symmetry groups and magnetic twinning groups of domain pairs are determined and tabulated. Original languageEnglish (US) Pages (from-to)731-732 Number of pages2 JournalActa Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography Issue number6 StatePublished - Nov 20 2001 All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes • Structural Biology Dive into the research topics of 'Symmetry relations of magnetic twin laws'. Together they form a unique fingerprint. Cite this
Quotes for teens on life lessons Quote for teens 'You be you unless you're a jerk' on acceptance and boundaries "You be you— unless you’re a jerk." -- Truth Be Told Quotes If you want to come home, slip into fuzzy socks, microwave some cabbage rolls, and binge watch a zorbing tournament, that’s cool. You be you. But it’s not ok for people to use “well that’s just the way I am” as an excuse to be tone deaf to the impact they have on other people. “You be you” is about respecting each others’ uniqueness. It’s not permission to roll over other people, even if they are a zorbing champion. (Side note: Zorbing is an actual thing. We don't make this stuff up.) Teaching resources Bring this quote into your classroom with a lesson guide and activities that are ready to use. Quote Overview / Description Quote about acceptance and boundaries This quote is about finding the balance between being accepting of each person’s individuality and preserving the core values that define good character. It includes elements of self-awareness and addresses the need to set boundaries for unacceptable behavior in others. Self-awareness / Self-concept As kids grow, we encourage them to be accepting of themselves through the awkwardness of growing up. We teach them to love themselves for who they are. However, teens are in a process of deciding what type of people they want to be. We are also guiding them to make moral choices, to be kind, to be a responsible citizen and member of the community. For teens to be ok with being themselves, they also need to choose to be someone they can be proud of at a deeper, moral level. They need to make choices and treat others in a way that is in-line with what they know to be right and wrong. Without an internal compass that helps them make choices they can be proud of, they can’t be happy with who they are. You be you needs to including being someone you can feel good about on the inside. (See this article on the connection between character and self esteem.) Tolerance / Acceptance We encourage kids be accepting (or at least tolerant) of differences in others. But what happens when someone being different means they are cruel, selfish, immoral, or take advantage of others? Are we required to accept that person’s behavior because he/she is being true to his or her core personality? The point here is that “you be you” isn’t an excuse to behave any way you want to. A society must interact with civility and core standards. For teens, it is important to learn to set boundaries in relationships, boundaries around what we each feel is an acceptable way to be treated by others, even while we are accepting of our differences. Discussion questions / Writing Prompts Questions to prompt discussion, journaling, essays for high school health class and social emotional development lessons: 1. In what ways is it ok for someone to express his or her individuality? Are there ways people use their individuality to justify treating others poorly? 2. Have you ever seen people use “That’s just the way I am” or “That’s how I was raised” as an excuse for treating others without respect? 3. What is something about you, or something you do, that others might not understand, but that you wish they could accept? 4. Which core values of American society support individuality? Which one’s limit individuality? 5. What is the symbolism of the mountain behind this quote? 6. What are some things you do that help you feel like you are embracing who you really are or who you really want to be? What are some traits about yourself you are proud of? What are some you'd like to change? Activities and worksheets for teen SEL / high school health and wellness lessons: 1. Current Events- Choose an example from public life or history of a person who consistently treats others well or poorly. What are the traits they demonstrate? (Examples of traits: respect, empathy, kindness, honesty, and responsibility. More on Good Character Traits. ) 2. You be You Journaling Writing Prompt- Download the You be You journaling page with writing prompts to encourage self reflection. 3. Teaching Tolerance Lessons- Teaching Tolerance offers free classroom resources on a range of topics around tolerance and acceptance. 4. Lessons on identity and acceptance- Facing History offers a collection of classroom resources, lesson plans, media and more on topics such as gender identity and personal acceptance, bullying and ostracism, and connecting acceptance to current events, and racism and religious prejudice- all in a searchable database of classroom materials. 5. You be You Mindfulness Coloring Page- Download a printable coloring page for a mindfulness activity with this quote. Curriculum Topics High School Health Class / Social Emotional Development Core Curriculum Alignment: • Emotional and social wellness • Self advocacy, empowerment • Communication Skills • Promoting a healthy, accepting, inclusive environment • Respect, Awareness, Diversity • Perspectives of others in conflict situations • Setting boundaries • Respect others as you would like to be respected • Be aware of your communication skills/style • Use empathy and show respect for diversity • Self awareness and acceptance Character Traits/Values • Respect, Self-respect • Self-Awareness, Self-concept • Kindness / Caring The quote and opening paragraph of this page are an excerpt from the Book, Truth Be Told Quotes: Teen Edition. Presented with permission from the author, Colleen Doyle Bryant. ©LoveWell Press. Find the print and ebook versions of Truth Be Told Quotes on the Shop page. Buy the book Colleen Doyle Bryant You may also like:
ISSN 2330-717X Education: An Effective Engine And Catalyst Of Social Transformation – OpEd Meaning of education in East and West Role of education in social change At large, education can be defined both as a process and as a social institution. In the broadest sense the process of education occurs whenever any influence produces change in the physical or mental behaviour of a person. In this sense, the mass media political speeches and labour unions exert educative influences and as a social institutions we may consider education as the sum total of the schools and the people who in some way interact with them. In the context, the impact of education on the society in relation to its development may be seen both as a cause and consequence. High level of education contributes to the growth of individual and society but the development of education depends to a certain extent on wealth. As the family income increases, children demand higher education and parents feel pleasure in fulfilling the demands of the children. Similarly, as national income increases, it becomes possible to earmark larger sums for education. Education contributes its vital input in the growth and prosperity of a nation. In fact it is the backbone of all national endeavours. It has the power to transform human beings into human resources. Education stands for March of the human race towards even higher objectives. By social change we mean the change in social structure whatever its reasons may be. The theories of society stem not from education directly but from the characteristics of individual. That is why the mode of development of each society differs from others. In the context Stephen Cotgrove observed, ‘Many theories of societies have, in fact, stemmed from certain assumptions about the characteristics of the individuals who compose it. Education helps the society in this task and at the juncture society must provide some concrete organisational means by which it is possible for individuals to enter into a social system and find social and economic rewards in commensurate with their desires. Certain organisations have traditionally been crucial to the upward social movement of individuals. Schools have been the foremost of these, particularly during previous generations when higher degrees were scarce and difficult to earn. Education played a significant role in social stratification. Society is an organisation of individuals. But men hold different views on a certain issue. And with the development of their personality they seek power, prestige, property and popularity. With the passing of time they all develop different qualities. All this brings about stratification in the society. As Coleman has rightly said, ‘the rulers always expected the educational system to serve as a major channel of rapid social mobility, but in the period after World War II education began to show signs of functioning more and more as an instrument of social stratification. In fact, on the one hand education makes stratification of society and brings about intergroup conflict due to unequal, but development on the other hand it seeks the way to solve such type of problems. Lifeline of a successful democracy Especially in democratic society education is all the more valuable. For, it is the first condition for the successful working of democratic government that the electorate should be educated. In a country like India education has become a source of prestige and a symbol of higher social status. The families which achieve higher economic status but do not correspondingly get their children highly educated are not held in high public esteem. In addition, education brings about a tremendous change in the political structure of the society by educating the individual and awakening them about their rights. If we compare the present system of the society with the past we would realise how greatly different the present system is from the past. Earlier people were little conscious of their rights and freedom. They only did their own work and spent their life. They believed in obeying the order of their administrators and elders. But now the situation has been changed because of the impact of education which inspires and encourages people to think independently and to acquire resources for the development of their personality. The mass awakening to a large extent paved the way more or less for people’s participation in one way or the other especially in social and political spheres. Resultantly, situations started changing rapidly. However, despite the constant refinements and so many dimensions in education process much more has still to be done to achieve the real object, to make education all welfaristic. Education is, to repeat, an endless process. To struggle with problems and come out of obstacles on the way is unavoidable; rather, it is essential part of this process. That is why it continues. Effective and worthy efforts have always been tried to make the system momentous and welfaristic. If education process has not brought fruits as per the expectations, it is definitely due to lack of sincere, effective and appropriate efforts. This equally applies to the present and will be so in future. Dr. Rajkumar Singh Dr. Rajkumar Singh is a University Professor for the last 20 years and presently Head of the P.G. Department of Political Science, B.N. Mandal University, West Campus, P.G. Centre,Saharsa (Bihar), India. In addition to 17 books published so far there are over 250 articles to his credit out of which above 100 are from 30 foreign countries. His recent published books include Transformation of modern Pak Society-Foundation, Militarisation, Islamisation and Terrorism (Germany, 2017),and New Surroundings of Pak Nuclear Bomb (Mauritius, 2018). He is an authority on Indian Politics and its relations with foreign countries. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published.
Learn New Words FAST with this Lesson’s Vocab Review List Or sign up using Facebook Already a Member? Lesson Notes Unlock In-Depth Explanations & Exclusive Takeaways with Printable Lesson Notes Or sign up using Facebook Already a Member? Lesson Transcript Ciao! Hello and welcome back to Italian survival phrases brought to you by ItalianPod101.com, this course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Italy. You will be surprised at how far a little Italian will go. Now, before we jump in, remember to stop by ItalianPod101.com and there, you will find the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Today, we shall see a very useful phrase, meaning "I don't understand." It is very useful because many times you won't immediately understand what people are saying. In Italian, "I don't understand" is Non capisco. Non capisco. Let's break it down by syllable: Non capisco Now let's hear it one more time, Non capisco. The first word Non means "I don’t". This is followed by capisco, which in Italian is "understand". ca-pis-co So to recap, we have Non capisco. Literally this means "I don’t understand". Now let's take a look at another phrase Non lo so which means "I don’t know". Let's say it slowly now. Non lo so. Non lo so. Another way to express that you don’t understand is asking someone "What does it mean?" This phrase in Italian is Cosa significa? Cosa significa? Let's break it down by syllable Co-sa si-gni-fi-ca?. Now let’s hear it once again. Cosa significa? The first word Cosa means "what". Let's breakdown this word and hear it one more time. Co-sa. This is followed by significa, which in English is "it means". si-gni-fi-ca. So to recap here, we have Cosa significa? Literally this means "What does it mean?" Cultural Insights When engaged in a conversation with Italians, you're more than likely not to understand everything that's being said to you. This could be for a number of reasons: the accent, how fast the person is speaking or the vocabulary that the person is using. If this happens, don't be afraid to say, Non capisco. Italians will be more than happy to try offer an explanation for what was just said. Or maybe you've understood the general sense of a phrase but there was a word someone used that you have never heard before. To find out the meaning of this new word, simply ask the person, Cosa significa? In English this means, "What does it mean?" Okay, to close out this lesson, we'd like you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it aloud. You have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so buona fortuna, which means “good luck” in Italian. "I don't understand." - Non capisco. Non capisco. Non capisco. "I don’t know." - Non lo so. Non lo so. Non lo so. "What does it mean?" - Cosa significa? Cosa significa? Cosa significa? That’s going to do it for today. Ciao ciao!
Header Background Image Sm.png Your Public Radio Station Play Live Radio Next Up: Available On Air Stations 2022 Lawton, Oklahoma Chautauqua June 21 - 25 The Senate passed a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Is that good? You know, these days, the Senate is almost never united about anything, unless, of course, you are talking about changing clocks. ED MARKEY: This past Sunday, Americans had to once again change their clocks. PATTY MURRAY: And if the House follows the lead of the United States Senate, we can make it so no one anywhere has to change their clocks by making daylight saving time permanent. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Patty Murray and the rest of their colleagues passed the Sunshine Protection Act yesterday by unanimous consent. It would make daylight saving time permanent and eliminate the clear and present danger of changing clocks for Americans everywhere. CHANG: Great, you might be thinking, who doesn't want extra daylight hours after work? Well, Michael O'Malley, for one. MICHAEL O'MALLEY: Yeah, I'm sort of a crank on the subject. CHANG: O'Malley is a history professor at George Mason University and the author of "Keeping Watch: A History Of American Time." O'MALLEY: One of the things that's always struck me about daylight saving is that it's felt by people as if they're experiencing a return to nature because you're outside in the park, you know, after work and it feels good. But what it really indicates is that we're completely hypnotized by the clock. SUMMERS: O'Malley says businesses used to adjust their operating hours by the amount of available daylight. But then came World War I. Daylight saving time was marketed as saving on energy. CHANG: But critics say daylight saving time actually increases fuel consumption. People got in their cars to use that extra hour of sun. O'MALLEY: That was always pretty much nonsense. The real impetus for it then and now was businesses that stood to benefit from daylight saving. CHANG: That is, businesses get more people shopping during that late daylight hour and have often lobbied for daylight saving time, even during World War I. SUMMERS: The last time the U.S. tried year-round daylight saving was in 1974. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Tomorrow morning, or earlier if you want to break up the party, you should set your clocks ahead one hour as most of the mainland United States goes on daylight savings time until October 1975. SUMMERS: Again, Michael O'Malley. O'MALLEY: There were objections almost right away, particularly from parents who were sending their kids out to the school bus in darkness. SUMMERS: Within the year, permanent daylight saving time was scrapped. CHANG: And now this current version of forever daylight saving isn't a done deal yet. The bill passed by the Senate still has to get through the House before it can be signed into law by President Biden. SUMMERS: Even then, it would not go into effect until next year. So we still have at least one more glorious fall day when we get an extra hour of sleep. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
Expungement is the legal process in which a person convicted of certain crimes can have the record of their conviction cleared, or sealed. After expungement, a person’s records are treated as if they no longer exist, and their criminal file is removed from public records completely. Most states in the U.S. allow for some form of expungement, although there is no constitutional right to expungement of a criminal record. When criminal records are sealed, they become they are off limits to all but law enforcement. Although record sealing and expungement seem very similar, they are different. The key difference is that criminal records still exist if they are sealed, which means that the files and records are still there. However, sealed records cannot be accessed by employers and other people. Expungement results in the actual deletion or erasing of criminal charges and arrest files, as if they never occurred. Having a conviction on your record can cause problems in obtaining employment, professional licensure, and the right to vote. Having your criminal record sealed to all but law enforcement personnel can allow you to apply for employment, as an example, without your potential employer having knowledge of your criminal record. The limits of and options for criminal record sealing and expungement differ from state to state, with all states allowing for some form of criminal record sealing for most juvenile offenses. It is generally standard proceedings that a person’s juvenile criminal files are sealed once they turn eighteen; however, the records can sometimes still be accessed through court order. Some charges may be more difficult than others to get expunged. An example of this would be how misdemeanor charges are typically more easily expunged than felony charges. Additionally, some states, such as California, allow expungements for misdemeanors and certain felonies so long as the individual meets specific criteria. Who Qualifies for Record Sealing or Expungement? Once again, each state has its own laws regarding whether a person’s record qualifies for sealing or expungement. In some states, and for some offenses, the court may seal or expunge the record on their own accord. However, in most states, a person would need to meet specific qualifications. Some examples of this include: • A set period of time has passed since completing the terms of the plea or conviction; • Whether the offender received probation, parole, or served the entirety of their jail or prison sentence; • Whether the offense was violent or nonviolent; • The person is not facing any new charges; and • Application for record sealing, in writing, with the court in which the conviction occurred. As previously mentioned, some states automatically seal or expunge juvenile criminal records. However, even when this is the case, the juvenile record will only be sealed or expunged if the person remains clear of criminal trouble for a set amount of time after reaching adulthood. The majority of states in the U.S. do not have an automatic process, and require that the former juvenile offender bring a motion to have their criminal record sealed or expunged. When filing for record sealing or expungement, the offender will usually file with the same court in which the prosecution took place. In general, a petition for sealing or expungement will only be good for one case. This means that if a person wishes to seal or expunge multiple records, they must file separate petitions. The judge then reviews the petition to determine their eligibility, and individual courts may have their own procedures for record sealing or expungement. Some other things to note about criminal record sealing or expungement include: • If you are required to be registered as a sex offender as a result of conviction, sealing or expunging your record will not clear this requirement; • Nearly every sexual offense is not eligible for record sealing; and • In some states, although records are sealed, the original sealed conviction may still be used later on to increase the severity of future sentencing. Once again, in criminal law, expungement means removing from the eyes of the public, but not for law enforcement purposes. Thus, expunging a criminal record does not mean that the records disappear from the eyes of the police. As such, it is possible for a juvenile record to be brought into a proceeding later on in an offender’s life. Generally, once a conviction has been sealed or expunged, an offender can legally deny ever having been convicted of that crime in nearly every situation. Importantly, certain exceptions apply to this rule. An example of this would be certain jobs that require you to disclose any conviction, even if they have been expunged, such as caring for children or government jobs. Do I Need an Attorney for Help with Record Sealing? You likely will not need an attorney if a criminal record is automatically expunged, unless you are facing prosecution or believe that the sealed or expunged record may later come into play. However, the majority of record sealing is not automatic. Therefore if you find yourself in a situation where you are considering having a record sealed or expunged, you should consult with a well qualified and knowledgeable criminal attorney. Specifically, you should consult with an experienced expungement attorney who specializes in expungement. An experienced attorney can educate you on your state’s laws regarding criminal record sealing and expungement, determine your eligibility, and advise you of your best course of legal action. Additionally, they can ensure that all necessary steps are taken in order to have your criminal record sealed or expunged correctly.
How Do Ophthalmic VEGF Inhibitors Work? Reviewed on 6/23/2021 What are ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors and how do they work? Ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors are medications that suppress the growth of abnormal new blood vessels (neovascularization) in the retina, and their permeability. Abnormal neovascularization can cause leakage of blood and fluids into the retina, scar the macula and affect vision. Retina is the innermost layer of light sensitive tissue on the inside of the eyeball, which enables vision by sending signals through the optic nerve to the brain. Retina’s central part is the macula, which has a high concentration of photoreceptor cells and is responsible for central and color vision and fine details of images. Ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors work by inhibiting the activity of a protein known as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that stimulates new blood vessel growth. Ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors are fragments of protein molecules that bind to VEGF and block their activity. How are ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors used? Ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors are solutions administered as intravitreous injections. Vitreous is a clear gel-like substance that fills the eyeball space between the lens and the retina. Ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors are used to treat neovascularization in the retina, macula, fovea (a tiny pit in the center of the macula) and choroid, the layer over the retina. Eye conditions treated with ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors may include: What causes dry eyes? See Answer What are side effects of ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors? Side effects of ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors may include the following: Ocular side effects Systemic side effects What are names of some ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors? Generic and brand names of some ophthalmic VEGF inhibitors include: Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Symptoms, Causes, Treatments See Slideshow Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Pop Culture & Theology In Understanding Theology And Popular Culture, Gordon Lynch sets out to provide an overview of key discussions and methods for religious studies scholars who want to engage in the critical study of popular culture. He works through some terms and methodology and then discusses some text-specific analysis. Lynch first attempts to define what we mean by “popular culture”; or more accurately, he acknowledges that the term “pop culture” has been used in different ways by different writers in different academic disciplines. Pop culture can be defined roughly in relation to a cultural “other”: 1) pop culture as an opposing form to high culture (visiting a museum vs. watching professional “wrestling) 2) pop culture as defined in relation to both high and folk culture (high culture is a gourmet meal, folk culture is Grandma’s casserole, pop culture is McDonald’s 3) pop culture as a form of social/cultural resistance against dominant or mass culture (punks using safety pins as decoration; this implies the notion of bricolage, a la Michel de Certeau) Lynch’s own assertion is that we should think about popular culture as the shared environment, practices, and resources of everyday life within which popular texts and trends are both produced and consumed. This helps us maintain an open mind as in the analysis and critique of contemporary society. Lynch also lists 4 broad approaches to putting religion and popular culture in dialogue. A) The study of religion in relation to the environment, resources, and practices of everyday life: This involves looking at the ways in which popular practices have shaped the beliefs, structures, or practices of religious groups; how the relationship between religion and popular culture is represented in wider forms of pop culture; and how the relationship between religion and popular culture is influenced by the ways in which religious groups interact with wider pop culture. B) The study of ways in which popular culture may serve religious functions in contemporary society: a substantive definition understands religion “as characterized by certain core elements, e.g., belief in dieties or supernatural forces, people with religions roles (priest, shaman), sacred scriptures, tradition, ritual, and space.” (27) The functionalistdefinition of religion assumes it is characterized, not by certain core elements, but by its ability to perform certain functions for individuals or groups. These functions might be social, hermeneutical, or transcendent. C) A missiological response to popular culture: conservative Christian groups see culture as separate from the sacred and in need of redemption. Niebuhr’s Christ & Culture is an example of this. D) The use of popular cultural texts and trends as a medium for theological reflection: writers in this tradition explore popular culture in relation to biblical texts or particular theological concepts. Lynch then moves on to discuss how electronic media and consumption play specific roles in our lives. Lynch rejects technological determinism, and notes that electronic media have made people less connected to local communities and traditions while increasing their involvement with electronically mediated ones. Furthermore, “the concepts, symbols, images, and stories communicated within the ‘market-place’ of electronic media play a growing role in shaping people’s personal identities and understanding of the wider world.” (55) Consumption is not just a way to stay warm and fed but a means for expressing one’s individual identity. Lynch concludes with an examination of the music of rapper Eminem (via author-focused approach), an episode of The Simpsons(via text-based approach), and rave culture in England (via ethnographic approach). He concludes with questions one might ask to develop a theological aesthetics of popular culture, e.g., “Does this pop culture text require skill, exemplify originality, encourage constructive relationships, etc.?” (191) Lynch, G. (2005). Understanding theology and popular culture. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
On February 7th, 2016 we learned about Raising rats to recognize selected smells While technology makes many tasks easier and easier, some are still more easily performed by animals. Dogs have a famously sensitive sense of smell which we have harnessed for various kinds of emergency work, such as finding traces of dangerous substances, or victims of accidents. However, when a dog isn’t available and you don’t have time for a mass spectrometer, it turns out rats can use their noses to get the job done just as well, once you take the time to train them. Rodents at the ready The ease of training rats is actually one of the advantages that has led the Dutch National Police to employ rats in identifying various substances, such as gunpowder or the distinct signature of counterfeit cigarettes. In just ten to fifteen days, the rats can reliably identify specific odors with just a bit of positive reinforcement. Their trainer, Monique Hamerslag simply gives them a treat for focusing it’s attention on the desired substance, although she jokes that the rat may feel it’s trainer her about providing treats. To make training more efficient, and therefore affordable to the police department, some of this reward loop can be automated— when the rat interacts with the correct sample, a dispenser can release a treat, speeding up the training. Care and comfort As much as the rats enjoy the treats, they likely enjoy a bit of direct interaction as well. Rats are very social animals, and when working with humans can learn to come to their name, as well as a variety of other vocal and visual cues. In more casual settings, many rat owners have trained them to perform a variety of tricks, some of which certainly invite more comparisons to a well trained dog. There are some limitations to what can be expected of these helpful rodents. They’re generally shy creatures, so unlike a dog that is happy to explore a new location, rats need to have substances brought to their home at the lab for inspection. As nocturnal animals, trainers like Hamerslag also try to work in low light to keep them comfortable. Finally, common brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) generally only live two to three years, so even though they can be trained to this task faster than a dog, they can’t stay on the force for very long either. Apparently that is enough time to become personally attached to each rat though, especially once they start learning to come to their own names. Source: Rats on the Job by Christopher Intagliata & Elah Feder, Science Friday Minimalist design looks better with a mole rat 2 New Things sticker shop
Active Hackathon A Tutorial on Particle Swarm Optimization in Python A metaheuristic algorithm suitable for optimizing nonlinear continuous functions. There are several approaches that can be taken to maximize or minimize a function to find the optimal value. Despite the fact that there are several optimization approaches that can be used, no single one is thought to be ideal for every given case. Hence, each of the optimization approaches has its own advantages and limitations. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is also an optimization technique belonging to the field of nature-inspired computing. It is an algorithm that searches for the best solution in space in a straightforward way. This is the method that optimizes a problem by iteratively trying to improve a candidate solution with regard to a given measure of quality. In this article, we will discuss Particle Swarm Optimization in detail along with its working and different variants. We will also learn the hands-on implementation of PSO using the python package PySwarms. We will cover the following major points in this article. Table of Contents 1. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) 2. Inner working 3. Variants of PSO 4. Implementing PSO using PySwarms Let’s start the discussion by understanding the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) Several studies on the social behaviour of animal groups were developed in the early 1990s. These investigations revealed that some creatures in a specific group, namely birds and fishes, are able to transmit knowledge among themselves and that this ability provides these animals with a significant survival benefit. Inspired by this research, Kennedy and Eberhart presented the PSO algorithm in 1995, a metaheuristic algorithm suitable for optimizing nonlinear continuous functions. The algorithm was inspired by the concept of swarm intelligence, which is commonly exhibited in animal groupings such as flocks and shoals. As stated in the original study, fish or a flock of birds moving in a group “may benefit from the experience of all other members.” In other words, if a bird is flying around randomly looking for food, all of the birds in the flock can share their discoveries and help the entire flock get the best hunt. While we may imitate the movement of a flock of birds, we can also assume that each bird is assisting us in finding the optimal solution in a high-dimensional solution space, with the best solution found by the flock being the best solution in the space. Inner working of PSO Researchers believe that swarm behaviour differs between exploratory behaviour (searching a larger part of the search space) and exploitative behaviour seeking a smaller region of the search space to get closer to a (potentially local) optimum. Since PSO’s inception, according to researchers, the PSO algorithm and its parameters must be designed to strike an appropriate balance between exploration and exploitation in order to avoid early convergence to a local optimum while ensuring a good rate of convergence to the optimum. In PSO convergence, Regardless of how the swarm operates, convergence to a local optimum occurs when all personal bests P or, alternatively, the swarm’s best-known position G approaches a local optimum of the problem. The ability of a PSO algorithm to explore and exploit may be affected by its topology structure; that is, with a different structure, the algorithm’s convergence speed and ability to avoid premature convergence on the same optimization problem will be different because a topology structure determines the search information sharing speed or direction for each particle. The two most common topological structures are the global star and the local ring. A PSO with a global star structure, in which all particles are connected, has the shortest average distance in the swarm, while a PSO with a local ring structure, in which every particle is connected to two nearby particles, has the highest average distance in the swarm. The experimental study examines two commonly utilized architectures, the global star structure (figure 1a) and the local ring structure (figure 1b). There are 16 particles in each group. It should be emphasized that the closest particle in the local structure is primarily determined by the particle index. Adaptive Mechanism An adaptive mechanism can be implemented without the necessity for a trade-off between convergence (‘exploitation’) and divergence (‘exploration’). Adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO) outperforms regular particle swarm optimization (PSO). With a faster convergence time, APSO can execute global searches across the entire search space. It allows for real-time modification of the inertia weight, acceleration coefficients, and other computational factors, resulting in increased search efficacy and efficiency. APSO can also operate on the best particle globally to jump out of the most likely local optima. Variants of PSO Even a simple PSO algorithm can have a lot of different variations. There are various ways to initialize the particles and velocities (for example, start with zero velocities), only update Pi and G after the entire swarm has been updated, and so on. Gradient PSO To construct gradient-based PSO algorithms, the ability of the PSO algorithm to efficiently explore many local minimums can be combined with the ability of gradient-based local search algorithms to effectively calculate an accurate local minimum. The PSO algorithm is used in gradient-based PSO algorithms to explore several local minima and discover a location in the basin of attraction of a deep local minimum. The deep local minimum is then properly located using efficient gradient-based local search techniques. Hybrid PSO In order to increase optimization performance, new and more advanced PSO variations are being introduced. There are certain developments in that study, such as developing a hybrid optimization approach that combines PSO with other optimizers, such as combining PSO with biogeography-based optimization and including an effective learning mechanism. Implementing Particle Swarm Optimization using PySpwarms PySwarms is a Python-based tool for particle swarm optimization. It is used by swarm intelligence researchers, practitioners, and students who want to use a declarative high-level interface to apply PSO to their issues. PySwarms offers interaction with swarm optimizations and basic optimization with PSO. PySwarms implements many-particle swarm optimization techniques at a high level. As a result, it aspires to be user-friendly and adaptable. Supporting modules can also be employed to assist you with your optimization problem. In this section, we will implement the global-best optimizer using PySwarms’s functional API pyswarms.single.GBestPSO. We will plot the functions in the 2D and 3D manner as well. PySwarm can be straightway installed by pip install pyswarms Optimizing the Function of Sphere # Import PySwarms import pyswarms as ps from pyswarms.utils.functions import single_obj as fx We’ll work on improving the sphere function. Let’s put some arbitrary settings in our optimizers for now. At the very least, there are three steps to optimization: • To configure the swarm as a dict, set the hyperparameters. • Pass the dictionary along with the relevant inputs to create an instance of the optimizer. • Invoke the optimize() method, and tell it to save the best cost and position in a variable. # Set-up hyperparameters # Call instance of PSO # Perform optimization cost, pos = optimizer.optimize(fx.sphere, iters=1000) This will run the optimizer for 1000 iterations before returning the swarm’s best cost and position. Visualizing the Function PySwarms includes tools for visualizing your swarm’s behaviour. These are constructed on top of matplotlib, resulting in user-friendly and highly customizable charts. The plotters module has two animation methods: plot contour() and plot surface(). These approaches, as the name implies, plot the particles in a 2-D or 3-D space. In order to plot the sphere function, we should add meshes to our swarm. This allows us to see where the particles are in relation to our objective function graphically. Using the Mesher class, we can achieve this. import matplotlib.pyplot as plt from pyswarms.utils.plotters import plot_contour, plot_surface from pyswarms.utils.plotters.formatters import Designer from pyswarms.utils.plotters.formatters import Mesher The pyswarms.utils.plotters.formatters module contains many formatters for customizing your plots and visualizations. Aside from Mesher, there’s a Designer class for modifying font sizes, figure sizes, and so on, as well as an Animator class for setting animation delays and repeats. 2-D Plot m = Mesher(func=fx.sphere) # Make animation animation = plot_contour(pos_history=optimizer.pos_history, mark=(0,0)) # Mark minima'mymovie.mp4') 3-D Plot # preprocessing pos_history_3d = m.compute_history_3d(optimizer.pos_history) # adjust the figure d = Designer(limits=[(-1,1), (-1,1), (-0.1,1)], label=['x-axis', 'y-axis', 'z-axis']) # Make animation animation3d = plot_surface(pos_history=pos_history_3d, mesher=m, designer=d, mark=(0,0,0)) # Mark minima Final Words In this post, we have seen the theory behind the PSO by knowing how its inner mechanism is working. Also, we have seen a few of its variants, nothing but how PSO has been used in the different domains by the community. And lastly, we have taken a hands-on experience on PSO by leveraging the python-based PySwarms library. More Great AIM Stories Vijaysinh Lendave Our Upcoming Events Conference, in-person (Bangalore) Cypher 2022 21-23rd Sep Conference, in-person (Bangalore) Machine Learning Developers Summit (MLDS) 2023 19-20th Jan Conference, in-person (Bangalore) Data Engineering Summit (DES) 2023 21st Apr, 2023 3 Ways to Join our Community Discord Server Stay Connected with a larger ecosystem of data science and ML Professionals Telegram Channel Subscribe to our newsletter Get the latest updates from AIM Ouch, Cognizant The curious case of Google Cloud revenue
Subdued in the Bible (50 instances) 50 occurrences in 11 translations 'Subdued' in the Bible In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the [three] kings who were with him attacked and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, O thy happiness, O Israel! who is like thee? A people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help, And He who is the sword of thine excellency: And thine enemies are subdued for thee, And thou on their high places dost tread.' So Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me what makes you so strong and how you can be subdued and humiliated." Delilah said to Samson, "Look, you deceived me and told me lies! Now tell me how you can be subdued." "You know that my father David was unable to build a temple to honor the Lord his God, for he was busy fighting battles on all fronts while the Lord subdued his enemies. When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued. For Yahweh subdued Judah for the sake of Ahaz, king of Israel, for he created disorder in Judah and acted unfaithfully against Yahweh. So their descendants went in and possessed the land:You subdued the Canaanites who inhabited the land before themand handed their kings and the surrounding peoples over to them,to do as they pleased with them. the God who executed vengeance for me, and subdued peoples under me, He subdued nations under us, and nations under our feet. The anger of God rose against themAnd killed some of their stoutest ones,And subdued the choice men of Israel. Thou hast subdued the tumult of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; as the heat, by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the terrible ones is brought low. For this is what the Lord said to me:As a lion or young lion growls over its preywhen a band of shepherds is called out against it,and is not terrified by their shoutingor subdued by their noise,so the Lord of Hosts will come downto fight on Mount Zionand on its hill. But {afterward} they turned back and they brought back the [male] slaves and the female slaves whom they had let go free, and they subdued them as [male] slaves and female slaves. But you turned back and you profaned my name when you brought back each one his [male] slave and each one his female slave, whom you had let go free according to their desire, and you subdued them to be to you as [male] slaves and as female slaves.' Jehovah of Hosts doth cover them over, And they consumed, and subdued sling-stones, Yea, they have drunk, They have made a noise as wine, And they have been full as a bowl, As corners of an altar. Bible Theasaurus Reverse Interlinear Root Form Chashal (Aramaic) Usage: 1 Usage: 378 Usage: 14 Usage: 36 Usage: 36 Usage: 4 Sh@phal (Aramaic) Usage: 4 Usage: 1 King James Version Public Domain
Monday, January 3, 2011 Simple Machines- Part One With the infrequency of my posting, you might have been wondering what we are up to. Having made our way through studying the invertebrate section of the taxonomy (with a unit on protists/protozoa and microbiology, which I might go backwards in time and post some pictures of later), and with colder weather finally settling in, we took a break from our life sciences studies and filled the classroom with some physical sciences lessons about simple machines. Our simple machines unit is an inquiry-based approach to teaching preschool aged children to identify tools and simple machines- specifically screws, wheels, inclined planes, wedges, pulleys, and levers. It also provides them with an age-appropriate introduction to the disciplines of engineering, physics, and applied mathematics to encourage children's interest in these areas. Think this sounds too lofty for children aged 2-6? Think again. Every time I bring these materials out into the classroom I amazed at the quality of their observations and inquiries; children certainly do have mathematical, scientific minds. Each of the six simple machines is presented to the child through four differing modalities: 1) Through age-appropriate literature, the children learn the form, functions, parts, and historical uses of each type of machine. Teaching children the correct nomenclature for things in their environment also helps them to acquire a rich and varied volcabulary. 2) Through practical life lessons (using a hand mixer, using a nutcracker, using a screwdriver, using a hammer) they come to understand the ubiquity of simple machines in their everyday environment, and learn to able to identify them according to type. They also learn that engineering/technology represents a designed solution created in response to practical problems that are solved by applying scientific principles to them. 3) Then, our young renaissance scientists interact and perform experiments, with working models of simple machines. They replicate some classic experiments and inventions, gain exposure to the scientific method, and manipulate materials that enhance their three dimensional visualization skills and their understanding of the position and motion of objects (they ways in which objects move, the ways in which applying a force changes the motion of an object, and that under some conditions an object can be balanced). 4) Finally, the children gain an appreciation for the history of engineering, physics, and applied mathematics. Specifically, they are introduced to the personages of Archimedes, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Sir Issac Newton and to the role of simple machines in the construction of architectural marvels. The shelves are literally brimming with simple machines experiments and models. These materials certainly call to children of all ages. Our young scientists have been busy performing simple experiments with wedges, and investigating the ways in which they make it easier to separate objects using mechanical force and to hold objects in place. They have been experimenting with wheels and axles, cranks, and gears. They have been learning how gears transfer rotational torque and performing simple experiments to determine that the relative motion of a gear is precisely fixed and that gears with smaller radii rotate more frequently but provide less torque. This is one of my favorite experiments to do with the older children; nevertheless, I was particularly pleased when an older student who had been working with the chains applied her knowledge to a gear lesson and arrived at an understanding of proportion (if the smaller gear rotates seven times every time the larger gear rotates once, then the smaller gears will rotate fourteen times if the larger gear rotates twice). Nice! I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that her mother is (literally!) a rocket scientist. The children have also been using models of inclined planes to understand how an inclined plane functions (that the sloped surface reduces the force necessary to move an object, but at the expense of increasing the distance over which the force is applied). And, they have used architectural blocks to understand and appreciate the uses of simple machines, and their application in the construction of of architectural marvels. These are some of my favorite lessons in the classroom because of the way in which they really take advantage of the mixed age group (with the older children delighting in being able to assist the younger children in building the complex models). 1. Have we mentioned how much we love Bloom! recently?! These are such cool lessons and fun for the kids too! Suzan and Ken Green 2. Thank you so much! We sure love to have both of them! They always amaze me with their insights- it really is amazing what children this age are capable of grasping spontaneously through their own mental efforts! I find myself simultaneously feeling so proud and amazed! 3. Hello Abigail, can you please share where you purchased these and your other materials? Maybe a review post. It would be really appreciated! 4. This is a great post! I have noticed what a little scientist/physicist my two year old is and have created levers and boards to balance things, but these are great! I would also love to know where you bought these. I have my eye on a wonderful scale from Plan Toys but try to make things myself too...
Primary Key What is a Primary Key ? • A primary key is a special database table column designated to uniquely identify each table record. What is the use of Primary Key ? • As it uniquely identifies an individual record of a table, it is used internally by NocoDB for all operations associated with a record Primary Key in NocoDB • Primary Key that gets defined / used in NocoDB depends on how underlying table was created. Summary is captured below 1. From UI, Create new table / Import from Excel / Import from CSV 1. An ID [datatype: Integer] system field created by default during table creation is used as primary key 2. Additional system fields created-at, updated-at are inserted by default & can be omitted optionally; these fields can be deleted after table creation 2. Connect to existing external database 1. Existing primary key field defined for a table is retained as is; NocoDB doesn't insert a new ID field 2. Additional system fields created-at, updated-at are not inserted by default 3. Import from Airtable 1. Airtable record ID is marked as primary key for imported records, and is mapped to field ncRecordId [datatype: varchar] 2. If a new record is inserted after migration & if ncRecordId field was omitted during record insertion - auto generated string will be inserted by NocoDB 3. Computed hash value for the entire record is stored in system field ncRecordHash 4. Additional system fields created-at, updated-at are not inserted by default 4. Create new table using SDK / API 1. No default primary key field is introduced by NocoDB. It has to be explicitly specified during table creation (using attribute pk: true) What if Primary Key was missing? It is possible to have a table without any primary key. • External database table can be created without primary key configuration. • New table can be created using SDK / API without primary key In such scenario's, new records can be created in NocoDB for this table, but records can't be updated or deleted [as there is now way for NocoDB to uniquely identify these records] Example : Primary Key & optional system fields during new table creation Screenshot 2022-06-16 at 12 15 43 PM Example : Show System Fields Screenshot 2022-06-16 at 12 16 07 PM Can I change the Primary Key to another column within tables ? • You can't update Primary Key from NocoDB UI. You can reconfigure it at database level directly & trigger metasync explicitly
How Mental Health Affects Your Finances It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness. Mental health includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how you think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how you handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Research has also shown that finances are the number one cause of stress. Yes, financial uncertainty can impact more than your bank accounts. According to at least one study, stress over money can translate to increased psychological stress, lower self-esteem, strained interpersonal relationships, and difficulty being productive and focused at work. Poor mental health can lead to increased financial stress and vice versa. How Mental Health Can Impact Your Finances Below are four ways mental health influences your relationship with your finances. • Mental health can contribute to the mismanagement of your finances. Mental health conditions can make it harder to control your spending, pay bills, or budget appropriately • Certain mental health conditions can sometimes result in impulsive behavior. • Feeling depressed can cause low self-worth, which can make it difficult to pursue opportunities that would increase your income. • Mental health problems might become so severe that you’re unable to work at all anymore. This will not only affect your income, but it will also affect your ability to access health insurance which makes it harder to get the help you need. Your mental health and financial health can have massive impacts on each other. To improve their relationship, consider doing the following: Start with a Budget A budget is one of the simplest tools you can use to alleviate financial stress, but it’s one many people do without. Creating a workable, realistic budget is especially important if your financial stress is due to a loss of income because you’ve been laid off or your hours have been cut at work. There are a seemingly endless number of ways to budget, so there’s a method for most people’s financial situation. Finding the right budget for you can take some time, so try out a few, and choose the method that best fits your lifestyle. Make a Debt Payoff Plan Debt can be a source of financial stress if you’re making payments but feeling like you’re getting nowhere fast. The first step in successfully tackling debt is knowing what you owe. Secondly, choose your payoff method. There are a number of payoff methods to choose from. The snowball and avalanche methods are two of the most popular. Thirdly, stick to your plan: The hardest part isn’t always coming up with your debt payoff plan, it’s actually sticking to it. But remember, getting out of debt can help you feel a lot more secure, which can in turn benefit your mental health. Start an Emergency Savings Account Having an emergency fund can help you stay afloat and minimize financial stress during tough times. Start by reviewing your budget again to find expenses you could cut is one way to find money to save. But if you’ve already trimmed your budget down to the bare minimum, that might be difficult. You will have to find ways to increase your income or start a side hustle to earn extra cash. RELATED: 4 Reasons to Have a Large Emergency Fund Work on Your Credit A good credit score can make it easier to borrow money at favorable rates when you need it. If you haven’t gotten your emergency fund fully funded yet and you need a small personal loan, good credit can make borrowing less expensive. Practice Self-Care One of the best tools to fight against the symptoms of poor mental health is to practice self-care. Building a self-care routine is about creating time and space for the things you need, the things you want, and the things that make you feel good. Once you start making time for yourself, you may find that you are better equipped to make serious financial decisions. The best thing about self-care is that it doesn’t have to be expensive or even cost money at all. To save money, start your self-care routine off small and focus on bettering, or creating, habits that you know need addressing. RELATED: 7 Cheap Self-Care Items You Didn’t Know You Needed Address Your Mental Health There are many coping mechanisms people with mental health issues use to help them feel better. Mental health issues should never go untreated. If you begin to notice your physical or mental health declining, it’s essential to get help. Speak to your doctor, even if you’re unsure if you need assistance, if you notice your sleeping patterns, eating habits, and energy levels shifting negatively, it’s a good idea to get your health examined. Speak to a Professional Sometimes, trying to manage your finances on your own can be hard. A credit counselor is a trained professional who can look at your finances as a whole and help you determine where you can start making some cuts and how to begin eliminating debt. The Bottom Line Financial insecurity clearly has a profound impact on our mental health, whether you are struggling to meet immediate needs or simply trying to save for the future. Mental health problems and financial insecurity can be difficult to handle on your own, get help if you feel overwhelmed. It’s important to give yourself grace and commit to small steps to gain a greater sense of financial control. These steps include creating a budget, identifying methods to earn more, making and sticking to a debt reduction plan, practicing self care, addressing you mental health and setting cash aside for the future.
Coping Skills Assessment How we cope reflects: (1) how we respond to adversity (2) how resilient we are in life (3) our emotional and physiological well-being When we experience stress, we cope by regulating and adapting our emotions, thoughts, and actions to reduce our discomfort/suffering and improve our well-being. Our coping strategy describes how we cope. Examples include: - Managing how we react emotionally (emotion-focused) - Modifying the way we think about the trigger (appraisal-focused) - Proactively to eliminate the actual source of our stress (problem-focused) The coping strategy we employ is highly person- and context-dependent. However, in general, the more coping skills and strategies we use, the more effective we are in responding to our stressors. The purpose of the 52 Essential Coping Skills is to help you improve your skills and strategies for handling the stressors in your life. This assessment is designed to help you understand how you currently cope and how to personalize your 52 Essential Coping Skills. This scale is an abridged version of the COPE inventory that was developed in research to assess the different ways in which people generally respond to stress. You will respond to 28 statements related to adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Upon completion, your results will include: (1) an overview of your current coping style, organized into 14 categories. (2) a guide on how to personalize 52 Essential Coping Skills cards to address your current needs. Scale Citation: Carver, C. S. (1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol’s too long: Consider the Brief COPE. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine., 4, 92–100. Carver, C. S. (1998). Resilience and thriving: Issues, models and linkages. Journal of Social Issues, 54, 245–266. Take this assessment to learn about your coping style and personalize your 52 Essential Coping Skills cards.
21 Great Navajo Sayings The Navajo culture is filled with ancient knowledge and sayings that day back to the beginning of their time. This wisdom has lasted generations for a reason. Here are some great Navajo sayings that capture the essence of their beliefs and values. “A rocky vineyard does not need a prayer, but a pick ax.” “All who have died are equal.” “Always assume your guest is tired, cold and hungry, and act accordingly.” “Be still and the earth will speak to you.” “Before me peaceful, behind me peaceful, under me peaceful, over me peaceful, all around me peaceful.” “Man’s law changes with his understanding of man. Only the laws of the spirit remain always the same” “One rain does not make a crop.” “Poverty is a noose that strangles humility and breeds disrespect for God and man.” “There is nothing as eloquent as a rattlesnakes tail.” “Those who tell the stories, rule the people.” “You cannot see the future with tears in your eyes.” “You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.” “You can’t win them all.” Here is a great video on the naming concepts of Navajo baby names and how well your naming ideas would translate into the Navajo language. Author Biography
Saturday, August 6, 2022 The Fiscal Theory of Inflation We often summarize that the fiscal theory is a theory of the price level: The price level adjusts so that the real value of government debt equals the present value of surpluses. That characterization seems to leave it to a secondary role. But with any even tiny price stickiness, fiscal theory is really a fiscal theory of inflation. The following two parables should make the point, and are a good starting point for understanding what fiscal theory is really all about. This point is somewhat buried in Chapter 5.7 of Fiscal Theory of the Price Level Start with the response of the economy to a one-time fiscal shock, a 1% unexpected decline in the sum of current and expected future surpluses, with no change in interest rate, at time 0. The model is below, but today's point is intuition, not staring at equations. This is the continuous-time version of the model, which clarifies the intuitive points. Response to 1% fiscal shock at time 0 with no change in interest rates The one-time fiscal shock produces a protracted inflation. The price level does not move at all on the date of the shock. Bondholders lose value from an extended period of negative real interest rates -- nominal interest rates below inflation. What's going on? The government debt valuation equation with instantaneous debt and with perfect foresight is \[V_{t}=\frac{B_{t}}{P_{t}}=\int_{\tau=t}^{\infty}e^{-\int_{w=t}^{\tau}\left( i_{w}-\pi_{w}\right) dw}s_{\tau}d\tau\] where $B$ is the nominal amount of debt, $P$ is the price level, $i$ is the interest rate $\pi$ is inflation and $s$ are real primary surpluses. We discount at the real interest rate $i-\pi$. We can use this valuation equation to understand variables before and after a one-time probability zero "MIT shock." With flexible prices, we have a constant real interest rate, so $i_w-\pi_w$. Thus if there is a downward jump in $\int_{\tau=t}^{\infty}e^{-r \tau}s_{\tau}d\tau$, as I assumed to make the plot, then there must be an upward jump in the price level $P_t$, to devalue outstanding debt. (Similarly, a diffusion component to surpluses must be matched by a diffusion component in the price level.) The initial price level adjusts so that the real value of debt equals the present value of surpluses. This is the standard understanding of the fiscal theory of the price level. Short-term debt holders cannot be made to lose from expected future inflation. But that's not how the simulation in the figure works, with sticky prices. Since now both $B_t$ and $P_t$ on the left hand side of the government debt valuation equation cannot jump, the left-hand side itself cannot jump. Instead, the government debt valuation equation determines which path of inflation $\{\pi_w\}$ which, with the fixed nominal interest rate $i_w$, generates just enough lower real interest rates $\{i_w-\pi_w\}$ so that the lower discount rate just offsets the lower surplus. Short-term bondholders lose value as their debt is slowly inflated away during the period of low real interest rates, not in an instantanoues price level jump. In this sticky-price model, the price level cannot jump or diffuse because only an infinitesimal fraction of firms can change their price at any instant in time. The price level is continuous and differentiable. The inflation rate can jump or diffuse, and it does so here; the price level starts rising. As we reduce price stickiness, the price level rise happens faster, and smoothly approaches the limit of a price-level jump for flexible prices. In short, fiscal theory does not operate by changing the initial price level. Fiscal theory determines the path of the inflation rate. It really is a fiscal theory of inflation, of real interest rate determination. The frictionless model remains a guide to how the sticky price model behaves in the long run. In the frictionless model, monetary policy sets expected inflation via $i_t = r+E_t \pi_{t+1}$ or $i_t = r+\pi_t$, while fiscal policy sets unexpected inflation $\pi_{t+1}-E_t\pi_{t+1}$ or $dp_t/p_t-E_t dp_t/p_t$. In the long run of my simulation, the price level does inexorably rise to devalue debt, and the interest rate determines the long-run expected inflation. But this long-run characterization does not provide useful intuition for the higher frequency path, which is what we typically want to interpret and analyze. It is a better characterization of these dynamics that monetary policy---the nominal interest rate---determines a set of equilibrium inflation paths, and fiscal policy determines which one of these paths is the overall equilibrium, inflating away just enough initial debt to match the decline in surpluses. Response to 1% deficit shock at time 0 with no change in interest rate This second graph gives a bit more detail of the fiscal-shock simulation, plotting the primary surplus $s$, the value of debt $v$, and the price level $p$. The surplus follows an AR(1). The persistence of that AR(1) is irrelevant to the inflation path. All that matters is the initial shock to the discounted stream of surpluses. (I make a big fuss in FTPL that you should not use AR(1) surplus process to match fiscal data, since most fiscal shocks have an s-shaped response, in which deficits correspond to larger surpluses. However, it is still useful to use an AR(1) to study how the economy responds to that component of the fiscal shock that is not repaid.) To see how initial bondholders end up financing the deficits, track the value of those bondholders' investment, not the overall value of debt. The latter includes debt sales that finance deficits. The real value of a bond investment held at time 0, $\hat{v}$, follows \[d \hat{v}_t = (r \hat{v}_t + i_t - \pi_t)dt. \] I plot the time-zero value of this portfolio, \[e^{-rt} \hat{v}_t.\] As you can see this value smoothly declines to -1%. This is the quantity that matches the 1% by which surpluses decline. (I picked the initial surplus shock $d\varepsilon_{s,t}=1/(r+\eta_s)$ so that $\int_{\tau=0}^\infty e^{-r\tau}\tilde{s}_t d\tau =-1.$ ) Response to interest rate shock at time 0 with no change in surpluses The third graph presents the response to an unexpected permanent rise in interest rate. With long-term debt, inflation initially declines. The Fed can use this temporary decline to offset some fiscal inflation. Inflation eventually rises to meet the interest rates. Most interest rate rises are not permanent, so we do not often see this long-run stability or neutrality property. The initial decline in interest rates comes in this model from long-term debt. As the dashed line shows, with shorter-maturity debt inflation rises right away. With instantaneous debt, inflation follows the interest rate exactly. Again, in this continuous-time model the price level does not move instantly. The higher interest rate sets off a period of lower inflation, not a price-level drop. With long-term debt the perfect-foresight valuation equation is \[V_{t}=\frac{Q_tB_{t}}{P_{t}}=\int_{\tau=t}^{\infty}e^{-\int_{w=t}^{\tau}\left( i_{w}-\pi_{w}\right) dw}s_{\tau}d\tau. \] where $Q_t$ is the nominal price of long-term government debt. Now, with flexible prices, the real rate is fixed $i_w=\pi_w$. With no change in surplus $\{s_\tau\}$, the right hand side cannot change. Inflation $\{\pi_w\}$ then simply follows the AR(1) pattern of the interest rate. However, the higher nominal interest rates induce a downward jump or diffusion in the bond price $Q_t$. With $B_t$ predetermined, there must be a downward jump or diffusion in the price level $P_t$. In this way, even with flexible prices, with long-term debt we can see an instant in which higher interest rates lower inflation before ``long run'' neutrality kicks in. How does the price level not jump or diffuse with sticky prices? Now $B_t$ and $P_t$ are predetermined on the left hand side of the valuation equation. Higher nominal interest rates $\{i_w\}$ still drive a downward jump or diffusion in the bond price $Q_t$. With no change in $s_\tau$, a spread $i_w-\pi_w$ must open up to match the downward jump in bond price $Q_t$, which is what we see in the simulation. Rather than an instant downward jump in price level, there is instead a long period of low inflation, of slow price level decline, followed by a gradual increase in inflation. Again, the frictionless model does provide intuition for the long-run behavior of the simulation. The three year decline in price level is reminiscent of the downward jump; the eventual rise of inflation to match the interest rate is reminiscent of the immediate rise in inflation. But again, in the actual dynamics we really have a theory of \emph{inflation}, not a theory of the \emph{price level}, as on impact the price level does not jump at all. Again, the valuation equation generates a path of inflation, of the real interest rate, not a change in the value of the initial price level. The general lessons of these two simple exercises remain: Both monetary and fiscal policy drive inflation. Inflation is not always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon, but neither is it always and everywhere fiscal. In the long run, monetary policy completely determines the expected price level. As the inflation rate ends up matching the interest rate, inflation will go wherever the Fed sends it. If the interest rate went below zero (these are deviations from steady state, so that is possible), it would drag inflation down with it, and the price level would decline in the long run. One can view the current situation as the lasting effect of a fiscal shock, as in the first graph. One can view the Fed's option to restrain inflation as the ability to add the dynamics of the second graph. Don't be too put off by the simple AR(1) dynamics. First, these are responses to a single, one-time shock. Historical episodes usually have multiple shocks. Especially when we pick an episode ex-post based on high inflation, it is likely that inflation came from several shocks in a row, not a one-time shock. Second, it is relatively easy to add hump-shaped dynamics to these sorts of responses, by standard devices such as habit persistence preferences or capital accumulation with adjustment costs. Also, full models have additional structural shocks, to the IS or Phillips curves here for example. We analyze history with responses to those shocks as well, with policy rules that react to inflation, output, debt, etc. The model I use for these simple simulations is a simplified version of the model presented in FTPL 5.7. $$\begin{aligned}E_t dx_{t} & =\sigma(i_{t}-\pi_{t})dt \\E_t d\pi_{t} & =\left( \rho\pi_{t}-\kappa x_{t}\right) dt\ \\ dp_{t} & =\pi_{t}dt \\ E_t dq_{t} & =\left[ \left( r+\omega\right) q_{t}+i_{t}\right] dt \\ dv_{t} & =\left( rv_{t}+i_{t}-\pi_{t}-\tilde{s}_{t}\right) dt+(dq_t - E_t dq_t) \\ d \tilde{s}_{t} & = -\eta_{s}\tilde{s}_{t}+d\varepsilon_{s,t} \\ di_{t} & = -\eta_{i}i_t+d\varepsilon_{i,t}. \end{aligned}$$ I use parameters $\kappa = 1$, $\sigma = 0.25$, $r = 0.05$, $\rho = 0.05$, $\omega=0.05$, picked to make the graphs look pretty. $x$ is output gap, $i$ is nominal interest rate, $\pi$ is inflation, $p$ is price level, $q$ is the price of the government bond portfolio, $\omega$ captures a geometric structure of government debt, with face value at maturity $j$ declining at $e^{-\omega j}$, $v$ is the real value of government debt, $\tilde{s}$ is the real primary surplus scaled by the steady state value of debt, and the remaining symbols are parameters. Thanks much to Tim Taylor and Eric Leeper for conversations that prompted this distillation, along with evolving talks. Friday, August 5, 2022 China game theory In the last Goodfellows, we batted around the question of how China would respond to Nancy Pelosi's visit. In this context, news just came in, announcing responses that we had not thought of: China is giving the US a big middle finger on climate. The announcement, from the Ministry of Foreign affairs, is short and clear: 1.Canceling China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talk. 6.Suspending China-U.S. cooperation against transnational crimes. 7.Suspending China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation. 8.Suspending China-U.S. talks on climate change. My emphasis. Slip the knife in at the end. (The others are also interesting.)
Your precious baby is growing before your eyes, and you know the time is nearing to introduce them to something other than breastmilk or formula. While this is a significant milestone for every baby, it can be stressful for the parents! What foods to start with, how to introduce them, and when exactly to start are essential things to consider. You may have been hearing about this not-so-new trend called “Baby-Led Weaning” and are wondering what exactly it is. When you hear this phrase and hear that it often starts around six months old, you may be wondering why wean your sweet baby so early? Baby-led weaning isn’t referring to weaning your infant off breastmilk or formula. It simply refers to beginning to introduce solids on your infant’s readiness schedule instead of baby cereal or jarred baby food. How To Know If Your Baby Is Ready One of the first questions parents ask is how they can know their baby is ready to start trying solids? The most important signs are if your child is at least six months old and can support their head steadily while sitting up without help. Even if your infant is displaying every other signal that they are ready, without being able to sit and steadily hold their head up on their own, they are not quite there yet! The other signs to watch for are a curiosity for your food at mealtime, being able to grab and put objects in their mouth effectively, and making chewing or gnawing movements with their mouth. Once your baby displays ALL of these signs, they are ready for the new adventure of solid foods! What To Feed Your Infant First Now that you know how to tell when your baby will be ready, let’s discuss what to feed them first! When you look at the first stage baby foods in jars, you will see things such as sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, beets, pears, peaches, apples, and so on. These are the same foods you can start your child out with when it is time to start baby-led weaning. Instead of purees, you will simply offer them pieces that are about the size of your finger, so it is thin enough to wrap their hand around and long enough that some sticks out the top of their hand when it is in their grasp. You will want to introduce one new item every few days, especially if food allergies run on either family side. Make sure that the texture of the food you are giving your baby is soft enough to squash between your fingers or with your tongue. With green beans, you will want to skin them. Anything crunchy such as carrots or apples, you will want to cook until soft. Many people like to start their babies out with avocado slices or baked sweet potato strips. These are both great options as they are packed with nutrients. Avoid any choking hazards such as grapes, berries (unless mashed), hot dogs, etc. Baby led weaning How Often to Feed Solids When your infant is just starting with solids, the best thing is to include them during mealtime. Simply put their highchair up to the table and try to have whatever you are giving your baby in your meal as well. In the beginning, your infant is probably going to wear more of the food than they eat. That is okay! It is all part of the learning process. Remember, your infant is still primarily getting the nutrients needed from your breastmilk or formula during this stage of life. The more practice your baby has in feeding themselves by hand, the better they will get at it. If your family is eating something which requires a spoon, such as oatmeal at breakfast, go ahead and give your baby a little bowl and spoon and start teaching them to hold the spoon to get the oatmeal into their mouth. Ripe fruits that are soft such as pears and peaches are a favorite as well. Just remove the skin before giving the slices to your baby. Benefits and Cautions There are many wonderful developmental benefits to baby-led weaning. It is an excellent way to help them develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, as well as oral motor skills. Also, because your baby is feeding themselves, when they are done whether it be they have had enough or are simply tired, they can easily stop. Once they begin refusing the food or turning their head away from it you know they are done and clean-up can begin! Other benefits include being able to offer a larger variety of foods and textures to your child at a younger age possibly reducing pickiness later on as well as teaching them young how to listen to their body telling them they have had enough to eat. When you are giving your infant solids, you want to be sure you do not leave them alone. While gagging is not a major concern as babies have a much more sensitive gag reflex, it can be scary! Be careful to stay calm as you do not want your infant to associate food with panic. As long as they are breathing and just coughing, they are fine. Choking on the other hand means the airways are restricted and while choking is not likely, you should always stay up to date on your infant CPR certification when you have a baby in the household. In conclusion, introducing solids to your infant for the first time can be both exciting and scary. Be sure to discuss any concerns or ideas with your pediatrician. Factors such as whether or not your infant has any developmental delays or was born prematurely can affect the timing and method of reaching many milestones including when and how to introduce foods. Baby-led weaning can be exclusive or combined with spoon-feeding purees, whichever works better for your family. As with most things baby and child related, there is no one-size-fits-all method! Sharing is caring! Write A Comment
Can You Eat Remora Fish Remora fish are a type of fish that can attach themselves to larger animals, such as sharks, and feed off of them. Some people believe that you can eat remora fish, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. There are many different opinions on whether or not remora fish are safe to eat, but it is ultimately up to the individual to decide. • Look for a fresh remora fish at your local seafood market • Rinse the fish off with cold water and pat it dry with a paper towel • Use a sharp knife to remove the head, tail, and fins from the fish • Cut the fish into small pieces and season it with salt, pepper, and your favorite spices • Heat some oil in a frying pan over medium heat • Fry the fish pieces in the pan for a few minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through • Serve the fried remora fish with lemon wedges and enjoy! Are remora fish dangerous Remoras are a type of fish that are often found attached to larger animals, such as sharks, whales, and turtles. While they are not typically dangerous to humans, there have been some reports of remoras biting people who are swimming or diving in the ocean. In most cases, these bites are not serious and only result in minor cuts or scrapes. However, there have been a few reports of more serious bites, including one case where a remora caused a deep puncture wound that required stitches. How to cook remora fish Remora fish is not a typical fish that you would find at your local grocery store. In fact, they are more commonly found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. But, if you are lucky enough to find some fresh remora fish, then you are in for a treat! Read Also: Can I Eat Deviled Eggs While Pregnant Remora fish has a firm, white flesh that is perfect for grilling, baking, or frying. And, since the fish is not very oily, it is a healthier option than other fish. So, how do you cook remora fish? Well, the first thing you need to do is to clean the fish. This can be done by simply removing the guts and scales. Once the fish is cleaned, you can then marinate it in your favorite spices or sauce. I like to use a combination of ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. Remora fish size Remora fish are a type of ray-finned fish that are known for their unique sucker-like organs that allow them to attach to larger fish and other marine creatures. They are found in tropical and temperate waters all over the world and can range in size from a few inches to over three feet long. The largest recorded remora was over four feet long and weighed in at over fifteen pounds! Remoras are often used as a cleaning fish by larger predators such as sharks, as they will pick off parasites and dead skin. This symbiotic relationship benefits both the remora and the host fish. The remora will get a meal, and the larger fish will get a clean coat of skin! Remoras are also known to hitch a ride on boats, and can often be found hanging on to the hulls of ships. Remora fish Remora fish are one of the most interesting fish in the ocean. They are also known as suckerfish or sharksucker. Remora fish have a oval shaped disc on their head that acts like a suction cup. This suction cup allows them to attach to larger animals such as sharks, whales, and even boats. Remora fish are found in all the world’s oceans. They are usually a gray or brown color. The size of a remora fish can range from six inches to three feet long. Remora fish are not harmful to the animals they attach to. In fact, many animals seem to enjoy the company of remora fish. The fish eat the parasites and dead skin off the larger animals. This helps to keep the larger animals healthy. Read Also: How To Open Tequila Bottle Remora fish are sometimes kept as pets. They are easy to care for and are interesting to watch. Remora fish and shark symbiotic relationship There are many different types of symbiotic relationships that exist in the animal kingdom. One of the more interesting ones is the relationship between the remora fish and sharks. The remora fish is a small, sucker-like fish that attaches itself to larger animals, such as sharks, dolphins, and whales. The remora fish uses the shark for transportation and protection, while the shark benefits from the remora fish’s cleaning services. The remora fish has a sucker-like mouth that it uses to attach itself to the shark. The fish also has sharp claws that it uses to grip the shark’s skin. Once the remora fish is attached, it will use its body to help the shark swim faster. The remora fish will also clean the shark’s skin of parasites and dead skin cells. This helps to keep the shark’s skin healthy and also provides the remora fish with a food source. Is remora fish safe to eat? Remora fish are a type of ray-finned fish that are found in tropical and temperate waters around the world. They are known for their long, curved fins and their sucker-like mouths, which they use to attach themselves to larger animals like sharks, whales, and turtles. Remora fish are often eaten by humans, and they are considered to be a delicacy in many cultures. They are typically fried or grilled, and they can be served with a variety of sauces. Remora fish are safe to eat, and they are a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. However, like all fish, they should be cooked properly to avoid food poisoning. When cooked properly, remora fish are a delicious and healthy addition to any meal. Are remoras poisonous? No, remoras are not poisonous. In fact, they are often considered to be helpful to humans because they attach themselves to larger animals and eat the parasites that might otherwise infest them. Some people believe that the remora’s suction cup-like mouth is strong enough to cause harm to humans, but there is no evidence to support this claim. Read Also: What Oil Does Burger King Use Has a shark ever eaten a remora? A shark has never been known to eat a remora. Remoras are small, harmless fish that attach themselves to larger animals, including sharks, for the purpose of scavenging food. Although sharks are carnivores, they do not typically eat other fish unless they are very small. It is possible that a shark could accidentally swallow a remora while feeding, but it is not likely that the shark would intentionally eat one. How do you fillet a remora? A remora is a type of fish that is known for its suction cup-like fin, which it uses to attach to other animals (usually larger fish or marine mammals). While they are sometimes considered a nuisance, they can actually be quite helpful to fishermen, as they can help to remove parasites from other fish. If you’re interested in filleting a remora, the process is actually quite simple. First, you’ll need to remove the head. Using a sharp knife, make a cut behind the gill cover and then continue cutting along the backbone until you reach the tail. You can then either discard the head or use it for bait. Next, you’ll need to remove the skin. Starting at the cut behind the gill cover, use your knife to peel the skin away from the flesh. You may need to use a little bit of force to get the skin to release, but be careful not to cut into the flesh. Can You Eat a Remora Trash Fish or Treasure Yes, you can eat remora fish. These fish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They are related to sharks and rays and have a flattened body with a sucking disk on their heads. This disk helps them attach to larger fish and animals. Remora fish are commonly eaten in many parts of the world, including Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. John Davis Recent Posts
May 26th Dragons and Owls (Job 30:29) KJV Knowing the preferred habitat of dragons and owls will help us to answer the question: if humans and dinosaurs were alive on the Earth at the same time, why don’t we find their remains preserved together? If you know anything about Job you may know that he was a prosperous man in the middle east in the time of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and that he suffered a calamity as the result of an intriguing conversation between Satan and the Lord. He lost all ten of his children, all of his livestock and servants, his real estate and houses, and finally his health. So what is Job getting at by saying that he’s a brother to dragons and a companion to owls? A lot of the book of Job is his friends pointing out to him that he’s obviously a wicked sinner, and that he probably didn’t even get all that he truly deserved. By the end of the book we find that Job was right with God, and that his friends were wrong, and he’s restored to prosperity with twice his former estate. So what was Job speaking of by comparing himself to dragons and owls? The Bible explains the Bible, so let’s take a look at where else these words occur in the same context. Matty’s Razor An Habitation of Dragons (Isaiah 34:12-13) KJV Isaiah chapter 34 describes of some of the events of the tribulation as the millennial kingdom is established. Part of it describes the stars falling to Earth. It speaks of a time when unparalleled destruction comes upon the Earth and her people. An habitation for dragons and a court for owls is a metaphor for a lonely desolate place where there are no people. – Faith, definition The Dragons and the Owls (Isaiah 43:3) KJV God is a God of deserted lonely places. We can easily imagine the hoot of an owl, as they call out across the lonely spaces in search of a mate, but can we also imagine dragons calling out likewise? – The Reason for Creation (Micah 1:8) KJV Dragons and owls are solitary individuals who inhabit lonely places far away from human civilization, or in the ruins of human civilization. This is where Job finds himself. He’s been marginalized, ostracized and cut off from all human companionship. At least until his “friends” arrive to tell him how utterly wretched he is. It gives us an answer to a question that comes up from time to time when people realize that the relatively short, 6,000 year, time-span of human history and the time scale of the stratigraphic column (hitherto believed to be millions of years) are brought into perfect alignment. Why don’t we find humans and dinosaurs buried together? – Confused SciPop devotee We don’t find them together because they lived in different habitats. Each bed of strata in the stratigraphic column is a particular habitat which was destroyed in Noah’s flood, transported, deposited and buried. This is covered in the WHY? devotional for August. 1. Call upon the name of Jesus Christ, 2. confess your sin. Read through the Bible in a year Reading planMay 26 LinearPsalms 4-6 ChronologicalPsalms 131, 138-139, 143-145 – Read 3 chapters every day and 5 chapters on Sundays Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s %d bloggers like this:
• Online, Self-Paced Course Description Armitage is best known as the world-renowned GUI frontend for Metasploit, but it's actually so much more. Learning Objectives Using Armitage Armitage is a scripting tool that works with Metasploit, which is one of the major tools in a penetration tester's toolbox. Metasploit is essentially a framework that has modular code libraries, used to design custom payloads and attacks. It's used for discovering weaknesses and exploiting vulnerabilities. Armitage fits in as a graphical user interface (GUI) that plugs in to Metasploit. It allows penetration testers to have a visual representation of the textual information that's presented through Metasploit. But, it's more than just that. Armitage also allows users to share the same session (and instance information) in Metasploit, making it possible to help more than one user carry out a test or attack. Being able to share sessions allows for teamwork during pentesting exercises. Additionally, Armitage has many features that are useful to all penetration testers and information security professionals. Why Use Armitage? Armitage for Metasploit is beneficial to users in many ways. It offers features that make penetration testing much easier. This tool not only makes testing easier, it also helps save time, as well as making managing targets more effectively. There are many advantages to using Armitage, including the following: * It recommends the exploits, offers post-exploitation features, and also offers a very useful visualization of targets. * It allows users to share sessions, captured information, downloaded files, and control of captured hosts. * It provides a shared event log that updates and informs all team members on the status of the test or attack. * It contains additional tools including bots that aid in automating tasks. It assists users to capture, combine, and organize Metasploit tools into a user-friendly interface with more accessibility. * It offers tools that help better target management, which helps manage attacks and recon operations for many hosts. * It is able to import data sets from other sources (like scanners). Armitage is a GUI that makes use of the concept of dynamic workspaces. It's an environment that allows users to quickly change targets in attacks, the type of attacks being carried out, as well as other parameters. For more information about the Armitage tool, and to learn to use it, check out our How to Use Armitage tutorial. The class provides you with a comprehensive overview of Armitage and how it works. __Teaching Assistants__ - Vikramajeet Khatri __(Disclaimer: Breaking Stuff with Joe is a Cybrary series that will be running indefinitely. You will not earn CEU/CPE hours by watching any individual 'Breaking Stuff with Joe' episode. However, you can still earn a certificate of completion for each episode completed.)__ Framework Connections
Assignment: Power Point– Diversity Awareness & Self Reflection In the profession of social work, there is an expectation that all service providers and professionals provide culturally responsive interventions and considerations to diverse individuals, groups, and communities. At the same time, the topic of diversity has the potential to create discomfort. How do social workers continue to not only engage in difficult conversations, but to also acknowledge and confront the layers of discomfort? Don't use plagiarized sources. Get Your Custom Essay on Just from $11/Page Order Now Learning about local diversity and attending cultural events is one way to challenge one’s perspective and engage with diverse others. For this Assignment, participate in an immersive experience in your community. As a guest at this experience, remember to take a stance of cultural humility and respectfully participate. You then create a PowerPoint (PPT) presentation about this experience in which you analyze related concepts in the course. You are expected to demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, dress, and setting for the presentation. To Prepare: Attend an open event in your community related to a diverse social identity (gender identity/expression, race/ethnicity, class, religion, ability, sexual orientation, national origin, or age). Then, create a PPT presentation and record the presentation using the Personal Capture function of Kaltura Media (see Kaltura Media Uploader linked in the classroom for instructions on using this technology). Use the Presentation feature to record both your PPT and a video of yourself presenting. By Day 7 Submit, a 7-10 minute recorded PowerPoint presentation and transcript of presentation. In the PPT presentation, address the following prompts: Describe the cultural event in which you participated. Explain how this experience influenced your perceptions of diversity and difference. Analyze at least 3 key concepts from this course in relation to this experience. Define what it means to you to engage with diversity and difference in practice. Describe two challenges associated with discussing and reflecting on diversity related content. Describe one strategy to address these challenges. Identify one positive emotion and one negative emotion that surfaced during the past 10 weeks of the course. Describe one strategy to address the negative emotion in order to continue developing cultural awareness. Explain specific steps that you will take to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice based on what you have learned in this course. It is highly recommended that you write a script before recording your presentation. A good guide for translating the length of your written script into presentation time is about 135 words per minute. This rate may differ based on your speaking style and other variables, so consider it a general guideline. To ensure accessibility of your presentation, you must submit a Transcript and/or use the Closed Captioning available in Kaltura Media. (If you select to use closed captioning, you must edit the closed captioning to confirm it was captioned correctly). Reference to use: Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Catalano, D. C. J., DeJong, K., Hackman, H. W,… Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2018). Readings for diversity and social justice (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Press. Section 7 Introduction Youth Oppression and Elder Oppression (pp. 545-552) Chapter 116, Understanding adultism (pp. 553-559) Chapter 118, Police make life hell for youth of color (pp. 565-567) Chapter 119, Ageism: Another form of bigotry (pp. 567-572) Chapter 120, Ageing with disabilities: ageism and more (pp. 572-574) Chapter 121, Black elderly (pp. 574-576) Chapter 123, Elder liberation Draft policy statement (pp. 580-583) Chapter 124, People of color over fifty (pp. 583) Chapter 125, An immediate end to the criminalization and dehumanization of black (pp. 583-588) Chapter 127, Taking a stand against ageism at all ages: A powerful coalition (pp. 590-592)
Hubble Space Telescope The Hubble Space Telescope (often referred to as Hubble or HST) is one of NASA’s Great Observatories and was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990. It is one of the largest and most versatile space telescopes in use and features a 2.4-meter mirror and four main instruments that observe in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It was named after astronomer Edwin Hubble.
Incident Recording, Reporting & Analysis Creating an historical record of incidents that is widely available and in a usable form is an important part of a process safety management system. This record could include not only information about major incidents, but all incidents, including near misses. The record should be in a usable form so that commonalities between past events and potential future events can be brought to light. Relevant categories should be established so that searches can focus on commonalities. Examples of such categories could include specific management system deficiencies, hazard sources, immediate causes, process information and short incident descriptions. The information should be general enough to ensure that an incident is not regarded as an isolated phenomenon, and specific enough to ensure that information is not regarded as too vague and broad to be useful. Historical incident recording in useful form can allow precautions to be taken at other facilities, allow lessons learned to be taken into account in future design, and help identify trends not apparent from single incidents. Because incidents have many causes, some causes may not be identified in the investigation of a single incident For example, if an incident occurs on a Saturday, this may simply be coincidence or it may be a symptom of deficiencies in management systems on weekend shifts. If a pattern of weekend incidents develops, then management can take appropriate action. Without incident recording and analysis of the record, such patterns may go unnoticed and lessons from which to improve process safety management may go unlearned. Management/Incident Investigation
Do Bears Eat Deer? How Likely Is It? Do Bear Eat Deer Bears are omnivores with an appetite for fish and meat. Sharing a habitat with deer, it is not unlikely for the animals to have a predator-prey relationship. However, it is not as likely to happen as you might think. In general, bears will only hunt and eat deer if the opportunity arises. Bears are more likely to go for easier prey than deer, but are known to kill helpless fawns, or feed on carcasses of dead deer and moose. It is unlikely for a healthy adult deer to be successfully hunted and eaten by a bear. A PennState University study showed bears are a major predator of fawns. Baby white-tailed deer are commonly killed by black bears, even more so than coyotes. Grizzly bears are also known to be efficient hunters of the generally defenseless fawns. When Do Bears Eat Deer? Bears are most likely to eat deer that are weak and unlikely to escape. A bear will generally target newborn fawns, but will also hunt and kill adults that are injured or old. Deer killed by wolves or other predators are commonly scared away by large bears, so they can feed on the carcass. Only when the opportunity arises and they think they can get the upper hand, a bear will choose to actively hunt and kill deer. It is important to note that none of the deer species are considered primary prey for bears. It is much more likely they choose smaller, easier-to-catch animals, including river salmon and small reptiles. Only about 10% to 50% of the overall bear diet consists of meat, depending on availability. Of this, only a very limited percentage will be deer meat. The rest of their daily consumption generally consists of plant-based foods. Bear Diet Is Mostly Plant-Based While all bear species are commonly classified as carnivorous animals, a lot of their diet is actually plant-based. Bears are more likely to go for easy herbivorous meals such as plants, grasses, grain, berries, roots, or mushrooms. The protein-rich part of their diet also isn’t exclusively hunted game or carcasses. Insects, amphibians, reptiles, and fish are the preferred food sources for most bear species. Generally, these are easier to come by and require a lot less energy to catch and consume. When autumn rolls around and bears need to fatten up for winter hibernation, it is easier for the animals to focus on widely available plant-based foods and fish. Hunting deer would require a tremendous amount of energy, which they need to preserve for the cold winter months. Newborn Fawns Are A Seasonal Bear Meal Most newborn baby deer are born in early summer, between late May and early June. Newborn fawns spend their first week in hiding (a total of 4 to 6 days), which is the best moment for a bear to hunt and kill deer offspring. This means that fawns are merely a ‘seasonal protein treat’, as gruesome as that might sound to some. The short window of time in which newborns hide in the tall grass is very limited, and this happens only a few weeks per year. It is not a very reliable food source for bears, but merely an opportunistic meal that they might encounter within their wider habitat. While a lot of fawns get killed by bears every year, the importance of deer to the bear diet should not be overstated. Only in summer, the animals are likely to be part of their diet. In other parts of the year, they will instead focus their efforts on weak and slow individuals. Do Bears And Deer Get Along? Generally, bears and deer do not get along in the wild. Bears are relatively large animals and will almost always be perceived as a potential threat by deer. The animals have a predator-prey relationship and the sight of a bear will incentivize most deer to run away. However, we all know that nature can work in mysterious ways. There are always exceptions to the rule: you might encounter a deer that is so preoccupied with competing for a female, that it will not even pay attention to nearby bears. After all, it is not likely for a bear to attack and kill an adult deer, especially a large buck or stag. The animals live in small groups and are likely to alert each other with warning sounds for any looming threats, increasing their odds of survival. Bears Eat Deer, But Only Occasionally Two large mammals that share the same piece of land are bound to interact. For the bear, the sight of a deer is generally not very threatening. They might back away from a moose or deer during rutting season, but that’s mainly because it’s not worth the effort. A deer will always be seen as potential prey by any bear species. Bears are most threatening to newborn fawns, which are largely helpless during their first days of existence. This is, however, only a very limited window of time every year. During any other part of the year, only weakened deer should fear the sight of the mighty bear. It is much more likely to be killed by another predator, such as a wolf.
Health & Fitness Manufacturing of Liquid Orals: Different Types of Liquid Orals getting Manufactured Many people find liquid orals better than tablets or capsules. In a way, it is true because the liquid form of the medicines works well for patients having swallowing difficulties and children. However, the liquid takes less time to absorb the body fluids. As a result, it quickly achieves the dosage of medication. Besides this, it also tastes better than the tablet because of certain flavors or ingredients. Thus, the manufacturing of liquid orals is increasing nowadays. If we talk about the drawbacks of using liquid orals, there are some. It becomes challenging to measure it accurately, and it gets contaminated by microorganisms easily. Also, you cannot carry an open bottle of liquid orals because they are bulky, and the container might break. However, the oral liquid pharmaceutical manufacturers are looking forward to solving these issues and increasing their safe sales. Let’s find out more about it. How many types of liquid get manufactured? There are mainly two classes of liquid orals- monophasic and biphasic. Both types get manufactured by using an active ingredient in a liquid vehicle. It creates a homogenous mixture that can be intake orally in liquid form. Furthermore, in some liquids, sweetening agents, colors or flavors get added to make it taste okay for the kids. These two classes are also available in different forms. Read it below! Monophasic liquid orals 1. Syrup Syrup is the most common form that contains more than one active ingredient. The base get made of sucrose that changes the taste, modifying solubilization. You may find many syrups labeled as sugarless. It means that they get manufacture using other sweetening item, including saccharin. Some might have a thick texture because of the presence of thickening agents. It also contains ethanol to bring out imparting the flavor. The manufacturers take care of the syrup quality. Let’s have a look at its advantages. Syrups manage the taste of the medicinal ingredients that get involve in them. Its thickening feature soothes the irritation of the throat. Syrups are suitable for children. 2. Fluid extract These are solutions of therapeutic drugs that get extract from plant material. It can be anything, including extracts of oats or grains. 3. Mouth wash Mouth wash is an aqueous solution prescribed for teeth and gum issue. It is a mixture of water and alcohol that sometimes works as an antiseptic for throat pain. Biphasic Liquid orals 1. Oral emulsion It is a liquid oral having an active ingredient that is unstable in a liquid phase. But, still, it get stabilize in the dispersion of oil and water. It contains dissolved solids, but it can get separate. So, you have to shake it before using it. 2. Oral suspension It contains the active ingredient in the base. Like oral emulsion, here also, the solids get separate, so shaking is a must before consuming. 3. Mixtures Mixtures have more than one active ingredient. They either disperse or suspend in the base. It works on the principle of anyone from the oral emulsion and oral suspension. However, you can re-suspend it by shaking it properly. Many pharmaceutical manufacturers focus on any one of the two classes, while some produce both. The liquid oral’s qualities get check in every step of the manufacturing, even after it, such as packing, labeling, and distribution. So, always check the expiry date and then buy. Related Articles Back to top button

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.