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Religions in China Religions in China By Fercility JiangUpdated Dec. 27, 2021 TibetSera Monastery in Tibet China is a multi-religious country. Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism have all developed into culture-shaping communities throughout Chinese history. Freedom of belief is a government policy, and normal religious activities are protected by the constitution. For many of China's citizens, their religion is a defining feature alongside their national pride. The Diversity of Religion in China While many think of China as a homogenous culture, it may surprise you to learn that the religious scene in China is quite diverse. Most of the world's major religions are practiced by native Chinese people with great devotion. In almost every city, you are sure to see a diverse range of ethnic groups participating in their historical religious traditions ranging from Buddhism to Christian Protestantism. Religion and philosophy are often intertwined in China. Taoism and Confucianism are two examples of philosophical beliefs in China that also carry a religious element. Aspects of ritual and beliefs about the afterlife exist independently of the philosophies to create religious aspects to some of China's oldest philosophical beliefs. The Growth of Religion in China LeshanLeshan Giant Buddha A 2015 Gallup poll reported that 90% of Chinese citizens classify themselves as atheists or non-religious However, this is a difficult number to measure due to the fact that many people practice the rituals and thought patterns of various religions but would not classify themselves as a member of a certain group. Chinese folk religion is a good example of how the people view religious beliefs as a part of their way of seeing the world without putting a label on it. The folk religion is characterized by broad beliefs in salvation, prayer to ancestors and former leaders, and an understanding of the influence of the natural world. The Major Four Official Religions of China: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity Religion today is growing in diversity and openness to the worldwide context. No religion has ever assumed a dominant position in China. Foreign religions, influenced by time-honored Chinese Culture and tradition, have gradually become fixtures with distinctive Chinese characteristics. The four major religions in China (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity) each have a long history of influence. We will discuss each of the following in more detail below. Longmen Buddhist GrottoesLongmen Buddhist Grottoes Buddhism spread from India to China some 2,000 years ago. The majority of Buddhist believers are Han Chinese while Buddhist believers in Tibet also make up a sizable portion. They are typically from the Tibetan, Mongolian, Lhoba, Moinba and Tujia nationalities. Buddhists make up the largest religious communities in China. However, since many Han practice a historical/cultural Buddhism rather than a daily practice, it can be difficult to count their exact numbers. See what else we have about Buddhism in China. Recommended Buddhist Sites The Temple of HeavenThe Temple of Heaven is a famous Taoist temple located in Beijing. Taoism is native to China and has a history of more than 1,700 years. Its founder was Lao Tzu and its doctrines are based on his writings about the Tao or the Way. Taoism is centered on the "three treasures" which are: Humility, Compassion, and Frugality. You are probably already familiar with some of the symbolism of Taoism without even realizing it. The famous Yin and Yang symbol is a foundational illustration os Taoist beliefs. In it, we can see the importance of harmony in the Taoist tradition. It is considered a polytheistic religion and is still quite influential in rural areas inhabited by the Han Chinese and several minority groups, such as the Yao. Taoism also has a strong presence in Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia. Check out our other sources on Taoism in China. Recommended Taoist Sites South City Islam MosqueMany beautiful mosques dot the landscape with traditional Islamic architecture. Islam spread from the Arab Countries to China more than 1,300 years ago. It now has more than 14 million believers among the Hui, Uyghur, Kazak, Ozbek, Tajik, Tatar, Kirgiz, Dongxiang Sala and Banan ethnic groups. The Islamic followers mainly live in Provinces of Xinjiang, Ningxia, Ganxu and Qinghai in northwest China. There are also Islamic communities scattered in almost every city. Chinese Muslims do not eat pork, dogs, horses, donkeys or mules. There are many famous mosques in China that make excellent stops on a religious tour of China's culture. Recommended Islamic Sites A Christianity Church in GuangzhouA Catholic cathedral in Guangzhou Catholicism and other forms of Christianity began to make their way into China very early. In 635, a missionary of the Nestorian sect came to China from Persia. The religion was slow in gaining a strong foothold in China but is now well established. It was after the Sino-British Opium War in 1840 that Christianity developed rapidly in China. Chinese Catholic and Christian communities grew in number and influence across the country. Today, there are many famous churches that make for interesting religious visits. Now there are more than 3.3 million Catholics and nearly 5 million Protestants in the country. Learn more about Christianity in China. Recommended Christian Sites Eager to Explore Religion in China? Religious History and Culture of ChinaCome explore the religious history and culture of China with us! Book a tour of some of China's most holy sights with us today! Choose one of our award-winning tours or create a custom trip that highlights the religious sites you want to see the most. There is always something breathtaking waiting for you to explore. 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A Picture Can Mean A Thousand Words. A Comic Strip Can Mean Millions. Graphic novels & comic books are an interesting genre to explore. A lot of people (probably your parents) probably didn’t see flipping through these ‘picture’ books as ‘really reading’ like textbooks & literature, and that they perceived it as more of a past time than anything. You were having too much fun to really be reading & learning—but that is precisely the value of these graphic texts. We learned a lot of morals and values through those super-hero comics, or Dr Seuss books, believe it or not. And as children with minimal attention span, being able to want to continue reading and not perceive it as the traditionally tedious ‘reading’ that we usually avoid is HUGE. Visually-saturated text masters the skill of grabbing your reader’s attention. But with high reward comes high risk. Using visuals—especially if you choose to go completely wordless in your text—requires heavy perspective-taking and empathy-building with the reader to ensure that your metaphorical imagery conveys what you mean to convey. Here are some things to keep in mind as you lay out the story of your visually based adventure: • Shock your reader… occasionally. Experiment with using visually complex imagery that may challenge your reader’s predictability for what they expect you to do. Surreal and unreal art, when appropriate, can bring a lot of attention to the reader to an exaggerated feature in your imagery. Just make sure you don’t abuse this too much such that your reader is just left plain-out confused. Source: http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/1-montreux-jazz-festival-keith-haring-.jpg It’s hard to not get drawn to Keith Haring’s exaggeration of this person’s elongated body. The simple depiction of an uncommon feature draws our attention. • Colours tell a story. Especially with black and white graphics, the colours you decide—from hue, brightness, and contrast—can invoke certain feelings and focus the reader’s attention on certain sections of the panel. Colours are a very subtle way to emphasise something with a low likelihood of confusing the reader. • Think outside the frame. Change up the spatial mode of the comic strip or organisation of your visuals. Add variance to the gutter (space between each frame) or the size, shape & organisation of the frames themselves. This is a great way to manipulate the reader’s perception of time on a still image (how long or short they read the panel). Source: http://img09.deviantart.net/ec71/i/2012/289/e/7/unconventional_comic_pg__5_by_stargnome-d5i1wfn.jpg One of the top image results for ‘unconventional comic’ in a popular search engine. Notice how panels bleed over each other, the dialogue that leaks outside the frames, the vertical organisation of the story progression, and the sizes & shapes of the frames. • Perspective-taking is #1. Because you won’t be as explicit in describing a character or setting, you need to empathise with whether a reader would be able to feel and imagine the same things you want them to through your more ambiguous representations. • Be very intentional. Like any text, take into close consideration what you are deciding and not deciding to include in your text. Unlike the traditional word-heavy text, though, you have a very small & limited number of panels to communicate your message versus a book’s tens-of-thousands of words. A reader is likely to spend half a minute just staring at one panel, trying to consume all the information, even. • Take advantage of visuals. You can now literally draw things of important value to a character or plot development without having to depend on slightly imperfect words. Focus on painting vivid panels, focus on drawing facial & gestural expressions to invoke feeling, etc. You can also better convey movement and action by drawing these in, making a still image come alive. Words should complement your visuals, not be your main focus. Source: https://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/204/462/8b6.jpg This meme could be our metaphor for substituting heavy text with detailed imagery. Think of it like this: with less vivid visuals, the more you probably will have to explain via text what you want to convey, which just exacerbates the messiness of a panel and a potentially uninteresting paragraph to the reader. The graphic & visual text genre is a massive genre with many underlying branches. Take a look at just a handful of the many graphics, including Keith Haring’s artistry to understand the importance of art form in graphics. Keith Haring’s ‘Pop Shop Quad II’ (1988). Source: www.haring.com/!/art-work/816#.W9OjNmhKiUk. Consisting of a collection of four of Haring’s ‘Pop Shop II’ art pieces, this collection focuses on displaying an interesting level of surrealism in his art that is frequently seen in all his art pieces in different forms. Haring plays with the limitations of the human body by creating a four-legged figure, a hovering figure, an elongated & highly flexible figure, and two figures combining bodies together. By experimenting with the uncommon and unimaginable, Haring’s simplistic yet signature art styles draw the attention of many who are simply intrigued by this unusualness. The unsettling uncomfortableness with the unreal is visually attractive. Often times, these pieces also only include one figure (or one conjoined figure), showing that it is important to not create an information overload with too many moving parts in the visuals that may confuse the reader. Keith Haring’s ‘Retrospect’ (1989). Source: www.haring.com/!/art-work/822#.W9OiS2hKiUk. This large collection of Haring’s works throughout his career as an artist displays the numerous techniques he uses to distinguish his artistry. He frequently includes straightforward pictures with a single anomaly to attract the viewer’s eyes (i.e. two figures in the portrait, except one of the figures is looped inside the other figure’s body that has a gaping hole in it). Haring’s simplistic yet bright colours also make the imagery easy to understand despite the surrealism, which is important when trying to ensure complex imagery is still easy to consume. Another interesting concept that Haring uses is his motion lines that help to show movement in the visual, such as a moving joint or limb. This is also highly significant for static imagery, since this allows us to convey moving parts to communicate a mini-story as the figure moves. Frans Masereel’s 25 Images of a Man’s Passion (1918). This popular wordless graphic novel exhibits the significance of choice in including certain imagery in each frame. For instance, some may include a highly simplistic illustration of only an individual supported by a black or white background, whereas others may include many individuals or objects in the portrait to explain relativeness or a de-focus on the subject and instead the environment & setting. With limited space to convey explicit detail and movement, attention is drawn to facial expressions and the gestural mode to show action. Black and white colours also allow Masereel to contrast the darkness versus light, which allow him to play with many emotions that this may connotate. Frans Masereel’s The City (1972). Similar to Masereel’s other pieces, he uses his black and white visuals to develop a story without linguistics. The City especially emphasises Masereel’s usage of intricate details and create a highly detailed environment for the reader to immerse themselves in. Instead of construing story and character information through many frames, Masereel creates complex visuals that allow the reader to get a highly detailed understanding of the context solely through one or two frames. This showcases the value of providing enough information, especially with a short comic strip, to quickly develop a meaningful plot without losing the reader’s interest. Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis (2000). Persepolis is a graphic autobiography that describes a young child’s development to adulthood whilst in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. The black-and-white visuals effectively complement the text to communicate a fluent narrative that allows the reader to directly engage in the text through visualization. The colour choices in which sections were either black or white help to communicate ‘dark’ and ‘light’ in terms of what could be considered ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ Satrapi’s mastery of colour draws focus and invokes feelings, crucial for any visually-heavy text. Additionally, the spatial organisation and size of the comic frames alter the reader’s sense of time in consuming the text and order (or lack of order) of reading it. Good Blogging Durer 1508 vs Drake 2014 Courtesy of http://b4-16.tumblr.com Personally, I don’t religiously follow any blogs, but I definitely appreciate them, and I had fun looking for one that I thought was worthy enough for our class to follow. The blog I decided to choose for our class to take a closer look at is called, beforesixteenThe blog highlights weird similarities between hip hop artists and art created before the 16th century- because who wouldn’t automatically associate Kanye West with Henry VIII? I think the reason this blog is so good is because it’s so shocking. The juxtaposition of two things one would normally think are opposites, hip hop and old art, are shown to be shockingly similar in the pictures chosen on the blog. Because it’s so shocking, it’s not only surprising, but it’s also really funny. When things that aren’t often associated are put in conversation with each other, it’s usually comical. This is evident in all forms of humor throughout film and television, with examples like a grandma who break dances or a dog that walks on its hind legs like a human. The audience of this blog is definitely targeted towards a younger demographic, but one that is mature enough to understand both where the old art is coming from and who the modern hip hop artists are. That being said, the blog is probably most relevant for young adults educated enough to understand the art of the 16th century, even if they’re not all that familiar with it, but also young enough to be up-to-date on Drake’s latest album artwork. If I had to define the genre of the blog, it would fall under visual art. There aren’t really any words in the posts, but the pictures completely speak for themselves. The only thing needed to explain the similarities between the 16th century art and the hip hop artists’ cover work is the juxtaposition of the two photos. If there was text, it might even take away from the simplicity of the images that are already speaking volumes. understanding the process At 2:33 am tonight, I had an epiphany whilst picking dried Elmer’s glue off my fingers. I finally understood the process. I’m sitting looking down at my remediated assignment. The initial idea was to take my repurposed essay and turn the concept into a magazine collage. Middle school was my collage-making peak and I missed the feeling of cutting ‘n’ pasting, forming new contexts around images, from snapshots that used to mean something else. I entered my night of art with a few boxes and arrows, an outline of sorts of what I imagined for my large poster collage. As I flipped through the latest issues of GlamourWomen’s HealthCosmo, Lilith, and The New Yorker (my roommates’ interest spread as wide as the sea), I snapped out this photo, that string of words. I’d cut something out that I wasn’t sure would fit what I had in mind but that seemed somehow . . . right. I had a sense of trust in whatever was taking over me. Next step was to dive in to the placement of images and words. After a period of shifting things around, I started to see what was forming, and it seemed like it was almost beyond my control. I didn’t think that what I had before me was what I had envisioned, yet it was working. Then I’d have a blank spot that needed to be filled and to remedy this I’d flip through a few pages of the closest publication. Aha, the words ‘where integrity is’ and those speech bubbles. Now this could be cool, I thought. This felt similar to writing but stranger. As with a writing assignment, it helps to have an outline, to have a clear map of where you’re going. I know it makes for smoother writing, and with less hurdles to jump over in the middle. But that usually isn’t how I’ll approach an essay. Whether it’s for lack of time or trying, I don’t usually go at it with an outline. Writing for me is often about a word, phrase, thought, or experience that will inspire me– as happened tonight. I thought, this is something I need to write about, something I want to remember. So I jotted a few notes down on one of those inserts inside Glamour asking for a renewed subscription and rushed home before I lost the inspiration. I realized though that with anything you need a backbone to stick with no matter what seemingly genius idea hits you. It may seem good to run with at the time, but any solid piece of writing, art, or music needs a foundation of integrity. I appreciated the process of creating tonight. Maybe I’m a visual learner, all I know is the process was clearer to me than with an essay. The proof laid right before my eyes.
Diverse materials The Abiogenese device creates life from dead matter. • CATEGORY: Conceptual, Experiment, Science • DATE: Work in progress The goal of the abiogenesis experiment is to create life from dead matter. In a cruciform reaction vessel I let RNA bases react with each other, in the hope of causing a self-replicating, mutating chain reaction and thus initiating evolution. The reaction is hermetically sealed from the outside world and the reaction vessel is extensively sterilized beforehand. There is a wide variety of stimuli, such as laser light, sparks, and various mineral matrices, in order to allow the widest possible range of reactions to take place. In the reaction vessel more than 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 molecules will react with each other, but the chance of the spontaneous emergence of life remains extremely small. It is a kind of lottery with a very small chance, but also a very high price.
Activity Analysis The figure below shows the frequency of seismic activites in US caused by various factors. It is apparent that most of the seismic activities happen because of earthquakes. But what are their magnitudes? This table shows the occurences of earthquakes of different magnitude. Most earthquakes that occur in US are between the magnitudes of 4 and 5 on the richter scale. Magnitude Number of Occurence 4-5 6724.0 5-6 1032.0 6-7 187.0 7-8 23.0 8-9 0.0 9-10 0.0 Next, we wanted to find out the years with minimum and maximum earthquakes. Since USGS data before 1965 is inconsistent, the range used here is from 1965 to 2019. Year with minimum earthquakes 1972 Year with maximum earthquakes 1980 Maximum 550 Minimum 31 Figure below depicts the regression line to show the relationship between magnitude and depth. It can be infered that magnitude does not have a linear relationship with depth.
FBI puts codes that are back doors to your internet security I came across an article that seems to be an attempt for a possible scare tactic, or could it be the truth? The article is about a variant of Linux/BSD, called OpenBSD. OpenBSD is an open source operating system which touts that it is ” the most secure operating system in the world”. Those of you who operate on Linux systems would agree, would you not? Yet, the following article claims that Linux is not as safe as one might like to think, which is news to me. *Note to our readers: If you have a Linux system, we ask if you can please contact us and let us know the validity of this article . According to the article: OpenBSD: Not Free Not Fuctional and Definetly Not Secure “Worse, Theo de Raadt willing allowed government agencies and possible terrorist organizations to put back doors into OpenBSD. An example of this is shown in December 2010 when de Raadt allowed FBI agents to plant backdoors in OpenBSD’s Cryptographic Framework which they had taken from Linux and illegally removed the GPL license. The firewall PF which OpenBSD claimed to have invented (which in fact is a copy of iptables with most of the features stripped away and the remaining code completely mucked up) has 3 buffer overflow vulnerabilities which when combine with the fact that it is running within the kernel can be used by hackers to taken control of OpenBSD’s kernel. Finally like all BSDs, third party applications are not audited for vulnerabilities and research has show that nearly 3 out of 5 of the applications are actually trojans.” Other claims that this article makes are as follows:. For example, pertaining to firewalls it states that OpenBSD they have invented their own due to licensing issues. It also mentions that as a rule firewalls are not compatible with each other, therefor need to be converted, implying that the OpenBSD versions are inferior. If this is the case, it’s a major security issue, wouldn’t you say? Let’s address third party applications. Third party applications are often used by all the Linux variants , and again the article claims that “non Windows applications contain more trojan viruses than other apps.” This is actually the opposite of what we have been taught since the inception of laptops and home computers in general. The FBI created a back door? Now some of you may say that, “Hey this is old news, didn’t we see this in every global tabloid in 2010? Take a look: FBI accused of planting backdoor in OpenBSD IPSEC stack The e-mail became public when de Raadt forwarded it to the OpenBSD mailing list on Tuesday, with the intention of encouraging concerned parties to conduct code audits. To avoid entanglement in the alleged conspiracy, de Raadt says that he won’t be pursuing the matter himself. Several developers have begun the process of auditing the OpenBSD IPSEC stack in order to determine if Perry’s claims are true.” The LINUX JOURNAL claims that Theo de Raadt allowed the FBI to put the code. I found this recent article to be interesting because the allegations become even more significant because the code of OpenBSD may also been used by OpenSSH. OpenSSH is used by many operating system and applicances, including Linux, Mac OS X and Cisco. Most webhosting use it as well . If the article is correct in it’s allegations, then most of the internet is vulnerable right now. If it was a lie, then it may be an attempt to lure you into using something that is actually unsafe. Either way, do your homework and stay aware, after all, it’s a new world! Valid information that you should read: RELEASE 9-2013 At the keynote speech at LinuxCon, Linus Torvalds, creator and lead developer of the Linux kernel, was asked if the National Security Agency (NSA) had asked him to insert a backdoor into the popular open source operating system. Linus responded by nodding yes while saying the word, “no,” implying that he had been asked to do so, but was not able to discuss it. This has caused quite a stir in the Linux community, who has always considered the ‘open’ nature of the source, that is, anyone can view the code, would make it impossible to hide such a deliberate security hole. But how many actually have looked at the kernel code and how many could identify such a backdoor in the millions of lines, especially if care were taken to obfuscate the process?http://bits-n-bytes-tech.blogspot.com/2013/09/can-linux-be-trusted-linus-confirms-nsa.html Regarding spying associated with GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, MICROSOFT, PRISM The US National Security Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation have been harvesting data such as audio, video, photographs, emails, and documents from the internal servers of nine major technology companies, according to a leaked 41-slide security presentation obtained by The Washington Post and The Guardian. According toThe Washington Post, the program’s slides were provided by a “career intelligence officer” that had “firsthand experience with these systems, and horror at their capabilities,” and wished to expose the program’s “gross intrusion on privacy.”http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/6/4403868/nsa-fbi-mine-data-apple-google-facebook-microsoft-others-prism We will follow the updates on internet security issues, and if any of our readers have any ideas as to how the general public can protect their privacy, we suggest you write us at info@thetruthdenied.com Please follow and like us: Tweet 988k
Vegetables Versus Fruits by Dr. Lawrence Wilson © May 2014, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc. One often hears on television: “Eat your fruits and vegetables”. This implies that vegetables and fruits are similar in many ways. In my clinical experience, however, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, cooked vegetables, in large quantities, are vital for deep healing today. In contrast, eating fruit – any fruit at all, often – is damaging for one’s health today. I know this is a controversial idea, so let us explore it in more depth. Vegetables are the roots, stems, leaves and flowers of edible plants. All human beings and most animals have eaten them for thousands of years. They contain so many vital minerals, vitamins, amino acids, prebiotics, fibers, and other things we need for our health that nothing can substitute for them. I find that people who will not eat a lot of vegetables are never healthy for long, no matter how good they may look or feel today. In fact, all of us need to eat more of them. I suggest that 70-75% of the diet should be cooked vegetables. This works out to about 3 cups of cooked vegetables three times daily. You can steam them, roast them, stir fry them, bake them or make them in a crock pot. The Vita-Mix. An unusual cooking method, if you are a busy person, is to buy a Vita-Mix. This is a very high-powered blender. You place raw vegetables in it, and use a minimum of water. First, it chops up the vegetables. Then it cooks them in 5 minutes or so, by spinning them at very high speed. It produces a hot puree that is very nutritious. In my view, this is much easier to digest than raw green drinks, shakes or smoothies. The latter are usually awful food combinations that are hard on digestion. Vegetables are further classified as: 1. Roots. I suggest eating at least TWO COOKED ROOTS EVERY DAY. The reasons for cooking them are described below. Roots are the most yang of the vegetables because they grow underground. This may not seem important, but it is vital today and explained in a paragraph below. Roots such as carrots are also very rich in an unusual form of calcium, and contain dozens of phytonutrients that are needed today for our nutrition, for detoxification of heavy metals and toxic chemicals, and for many other purposes. Among the common root vegetables are carrots, which are one of the best. Others are onions, turnips, parsnips, black radish, red radish, daikon radish, rutabaga and celery root. 2. Cruciferous vegetables. I suggest eating at least TWO COOKED CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES EVERY DAY. This family of delicious vegetables have been shown to have extraordinary properties to help prevent cancer and other common diseases. They includes cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and a few others. 3. Green leafy vegetables. I suggest TWO LARGE SERVINGS OF COOKED GREENS EACH DAY. They are very rich in magnesium, folic acid, and many vitamins and minerals that cannot be obtained elsewhere, no matter how many vitamin pills or green drinks you swallow. They include spinach, kale, arugula, mustard greens, collard greens, bok choy, Chinese cabbage and others. 4. Other vegetables. There are other vegetables to explore, such as squashes (butternut, spaghetti, and acorn squashes, in particular), celery, asparagus, rhubarb, mushrooms and others. I don’t recommend these as highly, but a little provides variety and an array of tastes and smells. They are either too yin or slightly toxic. Cooking has many advantages: 1. Cooking makes food more yang. This is an aspect of nutrition and diet that most doctors and nutritionists overlook. However, I find it quite important. The bodies are all too yin today, and correcting this imbalance is wonderful for healing. This is explained in books by Michio Kushi on macrobiotics. The Chinese understanding of yin and yang I find less useful, clinically. If one wishes to make the body more yang, which is helpful today, one must cook most food. Raw food is much more yin. Adding heat and often salt to food by cooking makes all food much more yang. 2. Cooking make the minerals and other phytonutrients in many foods much more bioavailable. This is a matter of observation. Those who live on a lot of raw salads, for example, demineralize their bodies. Humans simply cannot digest raw vegetable fibers very well. We are not like cows and horses, who are built to digest grasses. Most people are mineral-deficient, so any way to increase mineral absorption and utilization is important. This is why eating sea salt and kelp capsules are helpful as well. All food today is lower in vital minerals than 100 years ago because the food is hybridized, mainly. The hybrids are designed to produce larger crops and resist pests, but not to produce more mineral-rich crops. 3. Cooked food tends to be much cleaner, no matter what anyone claims to the contrary. It is rather easy to pick up parasitic infections and others from raw salads and other raw food, especially in restaurants, for example. cooking destroys most parasite eggs and other pathogens. Isn’t cooked food “dead”? Cooking does not kill the food. It destroys a few vitamins, especially if food is overcooked. However, it balances the food, as is taught in macrobiotics. Vegetables should be cooked until they are soft, and not crunchy. What about salads? I do not recommend salads. They are too yin because they are raw. Also, we cannot absorb enough of the many minerals they contain. And in restaurants, they are often not clean and can cause parasitic and other nasty infections. What about vegetable juices? Ten to twelve ounces of vegetable juice daily in an adult, and less in a child, is excellent and will improve anyone’s nutrition. More than this, however, causes the body to become too yin because ALL juices tend to be very yin. This is because they are raw, liquidy and broken apart. I suggest having about 10 ounces of carrot juice daily, provided you tolerate the sweetness. You can add a few spinach leaves or a Swiss chard leaf if you wish. If it is too sweet, drink half of it and put the rest in the refrigerator to drink later in the day. What about shakes and smoothies. I prefer a cooked vegetable puree made in a Vita-Mix blender, as described earlier in this article. Ideally, do not add protein powders and other ingredients to the cooked vegetable puree. One could add some ground turkey, ground beef or ground lamb near the end to make it a complete meal. The protein powders, no matter how nutritious, are all quite yin, so they are not quite as good as whole foods such as chicken or lamb. Fruits are the expanded ovaries of plants. This may sound strange, but plants have ovaries, just as animals and people do. The ovaries are the site of seed production. Instead of producing eggs, as human ovaries do, plants produce seeds, which are somewhat similar in structure to animal eggs. Plants, however, have no way to spread their species, as animals and humans can do, because plants are fixed to one location. To spread their species throughout the earth, plants place their seeds or eggs inside of tasty, sugary treats called fruits. Birds and animals eat these. Most seeds are hard and indigestible. Therefore, they are not damaged when animals eat them, and they pass through the animal body unharmed. In this way, birds and animals do the job of spreading the seeds of plants. Some vegetables are really fruits. A way to identify fruits is they usually have seeds inside, while true vegetables do not contain seeds. For example, the following “vegetables” are really fruits: tomatoes, eggplant, all peppers, okra, squashes, string beans, white and red potatoes, cucumbers, peas, string beans and perhaps a few others. With the exception of peas, string beans, and winter squashes, I suggest avoiding or eating less of these foods because they are much more yin than true vegetables. This section incorporates our own research findings and that of many others who have worked with those who currently or in the past have eaten a lot of fruit. Common symptoms associated with fruit-eating include: 1. Attention deficit disorders, autism, cancers and other problems in children. Eating fruit is particularly harmful for fast oxidizers, which includes most young children. 2. Irritable bowel syndrome, parasites, diarrhea and colitis. The digestive system is harmed greatly by eating a lot of fruit. Fruit-eating definitely feeds yeasts and other harmful pathogens in the intestines. The digestive tract becomes more yin, fragile and “leaky”. Fruit acids, toxic metals and pesticide residues in fruit all irritate the digestive system. Fruit requires pesticides in many areas to grow it at all. Organically grown fruit is a little better, but may be sprayed with “natural pesticides” that are toxic, as well. 3. Cardiovascular problems. Fruit can weaken this system and can cause a shortened lifespan, among other disorders and problems. Fructose affects copper metabolism, which may be the reason for its negative effects on the cardiovascular system. 4. Pain syndromes. Stopping all fruit and returning to a diet with plenty of cooked, and not raw vegetables often stops joint pain and other types of pain within a few weeks. Causes for the pain may be a zinc deficiency, deficiency of sulfur-containing amino acids, the effects of sugar, the effects of the fruit acids, or some combination of all of these. 5. Diabetic symptoms. Fruit is very low in zinc, manganese and B-complex vitamins. These are needed to process sugars, which are high in most fruits. The result are symptoms such as pain syndromes and peripheral neuropathy, which may cause tingling, burning or numbness in the feet. Other symptoms may include frequent urination, fatigue, depression and others. 6. Weight gain. Many people believe that eating fruit will cause weight loss, and they are seriously disappointed. Fruit is not a low-calorie food. Also, eating sugar in any form causes weight gain by many mechanisms, such as increasing insulin production, impairing the activity of the thyroid and adrenal glands, causing some water retention, and perhaps others, as well. 7. Parasitic infections. This occurs because eating fruit makes the digestive tract much more yin, which makes it much more habitable by parasites, which are “cold” infective organisms. Other reasons may be that fruit may carry some parasitic organisms if it is not washed properly and is eaten raw. Also, a damaged and somewhat delicate digestive tract does not kill some parasites that are found in all foods and water supplies. 8. Pesticide poisoning. This occurs because most fruit is sprayed heavily, even if it is advertised as being organically grown. Even natural pesticides that must be used on fruit can build up in the body in a toxic fashion, affecting the liver and kidneys, in particular. 9. Toxic metal poisoning. Those who eat a lot of fruit seem to be particularly prone to the accumulation of mercury and copper, perhaps because fruit lacks the balancing element of zinc. High-fruit diets also lack sulfur-containing amino acids that are needed for liver detoxification of the metals and of many toxic chemicals as well. Fruit also contains a toxic form of potassium and perhaps phosphorus that is found in all N-P-K or superphosphate fertilizers. 10. Thyroid disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Fruit seems to make this worse, in my experience. It might have to do with a copper imbalance, mercury toxicity or something else. 11. Mental and emotional symptoms. These are very common and include anxiety, depression, irritability, and even panic attacks. We know this because when a person who is eating a lot of fruit and having any of these symptoms stops eating fruit, often these symptoms vanish within a few days to a few weeks. 12. Anger and belligerence. Another interesting symptom that occurs is the development of a stubborn, and often belligerent and angry nature. This could be due to a zinc deficiency or perhaps a B-vitamin deficiency of some type. It may be due to a more yin condition, which makes a person more fearful and anxious. 13. Loss of mental acuity. This symptom, also called brain fog, is very common in those who eat a lot of fruit. It is often due to yeast overgrowth in the brain. Low iodine may also play a role, or perhaps low levels of some of the B-complex vitamins. Taking supplements of these nutrients may help. Often, however, a person needs a complete nutritional balancing program to reverse the brain fog. 14. Yin disease. Another symptom that is really a composite of many of those above, I refer to as yin disease. This is a general feeling of malaise or weakness, often coupled with some of the symptoms mentioned above.
Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin Mar 24, 2022Dairy Council® of Arizona, Families Why do you need Vitamin D? Vitamin D’s main role is to increase the absorption of calcium that is needed for bone growth and maintenance. Without it, your body can only absorb 10 to 15% of calcium from the diet. With it, your body can increase calcium absorption by 30 to 40%!1 This makes for strong bones and teeth. After age 50, bone breakdown increases at a rate faster than formation.2 This can lead to thin, brittle and fragile bones that tend to break more easily, a condition known as osteoporosis. In combination with calcium, vitamin D can help prevent this bone loss as you age.3 Studies have shown that Vitamin D has additional benefits which include prevention of developing autoimmune diseases, improved overall immunity, decreased risk of some cancers, as well as prevention of hypertension and diabetes.1 4 How much do you need? According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, people who are 2-70 years old should aim for the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) of 600 IUs (International Units) per day. After age 70, you should aim for 800 IU per day.2 2-70 600 IUs or 15 mcg 71 and older 800 IUs or 20 mcg How you can raise your vitamin D levels It is estimated that over 80% of Americans ages 51 to 70 are lacking enough Vitamin D in their diets.3 Both a nutrient and a hormone, it is often called the “sunshine vitamin” because your body makes vitamin D when in the presence of ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from the sun. Exposing your body to the sun for 5-15 minutes at least two times per week is a good way to maintain healthy vitamin D levels.3 However, it can be difficult to get enough sunlight to make the vitamin D your body needs if you live in a colder climate, use sunscreen often, and generally spend more time indoors. Therefore, adding foods high in vitamin D to your diet can help raise your levels and contribute to your wellness. Fortified milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, fortified cereals, salmon, mackerel, sardines, eggs, liver, and mushrooms are great choices.3 Drinking one 8 oz. cup of milk gives you 15% of your daily value of vitamin D.5 Raise your daily levels of Vitamin D with this delicious recipe! Vanilla and Mixed Berry Chia Pudding Start the morning by pudding yourself in the health zone About the author: Susan Vanoosterhout is currently in her senior year at Arizona State University, majoring in Nutrition. She is also a stay-at-home mom and in her free-time enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and learning about nutrition. 1. Khazi N, Judd S, Tangpricha, V. Calcium and vitamin D: Skeletal and extraskeletal health. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2008;10(2):110-117. doi:10.1007/s11926-008-0020-y 2. Osteoporosis: What You Need to Know as You Age. Accessed March 10, 2022.,are%20among%20the%20most%20common. 3. Sunyecz J. The use of calcium and vitamin D in the management of osteoporosis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4(4):827-836. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3552 4. Ginde AA, Liu MC, Carmogo Jr CA. Demographic differences and trends of vitamin D insufficiency in the US population, 1988-2004. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(6):626-632. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2008.604 5. Schmid A, Walther B. Natural vitamin D content in animal products. Advances in Nutrition. 2013; 4(4):453-462. doi:10.3945/an.113.003780 Pin It on Pinterest Share This
Are bears a problem in Rocky Mountain National Park? Elk isn’t the only wildlife to keep your eye out for in Rocky Mountain National Park. Black bears are a frequent guest of the park. Making it a point to avoid humans, black bears aren’t as frequently spotted as elk (unless there is food around), but nonetheless, they play an important role in our environment. Do I need bear spray in Rocky Mountains? Bear bells and pepper spray might be advisable in grizzly country, but they are not a necessity in Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park. How many bears are in Estes Park? Black bears have lived in the foothills and forests of Colorado since long before the pioneers arrived. Today 8,000 to 12,000 black bears are trying to share space with an ever-growing human population. With many more people living and playing in bear country, human-bear encounters are on the rise. Is Estes Park Safe? Using the gauges above, which compare crime in Estes Park to other cities in the state and across the country, Estes Park is 65% safer than other cities of Colorado and 67% safer than other cities in the nation. Estes Park has a ranks above average in comparison to other cities in the country. Do grizzlies live in Colorado? Grizzly bears had been considered extirpated, or locally extinct, in Colorado since 1951. One of the suspected last grizzly bears had been killed 28 years earlier near the same area. Grizzlies have not been sighted in Colorado since that day. The bear came to the Museum in June 1980. IT IS INTERESTING: What is there to see between Sedona and the Grand Canyon? Lifestyle Extreme
Dossier on the new coronavirus Viruses are a completely unique creation of Nature. This is a bacterium-a complex organism with a shell, nucleus, cytoplasm! I always come up with an analogy with a fortress: powerful walls (only the spleen can destroy a polysaccharide capsule of pneumococcus or meningococcus!), its own power plant – mitochondria, a factory for the production of spare parts – ribosomes, headquarters – the nucleus. And a virus is something ephemeral: a chain of gene material-DNA or RNA-and a protein film that covers it. And that’s it! They cannot exist on their own, they are mandatory intracellular parasites: they get inside the cell and use its structures. Their most important role is precisely in the formation of the transmission of gene mutations. Imagine a string of DNA or RNA rolled into a Rubik’s cube. Easily and lightning-fast, the virus mixes gene particles, its own and others’! Question: are they even alive?! Well, Yes, they have genetic material, are able to create similar viruses and evolve by natural selection. Since they have some, but not all, of the properties of life, viruses are described as”organisms on the edge of life.” If you add “human, our life”, the phrase takes on an ominous connotation. And I’ll explain what I mean. If there are many antimicrobial drugs-antibiotics for every taste (another thing is that they lose their properties), then we have very, very few real antiviral drugs. They are extremely difficult to create against an almost ephemeral, but really deadly enemy. A real battle with the shadow, which constantly changes its size, shape and properties! Continuing the comparison of a microbe with a fortress, you can liken antibiotics to battering rams that break gates, stone-throwing machines that destroy walls, and flamethrowers that burn out the interior space. And the virus? Something like the shadow of hamlet’s father, a Ghost hovering in the Royal chambers. Take the immunodeficiency virus. For many decades, they have not been able to find a vaccine and create a completely effective drug (although there are undoubtedly some successes in this direction). A paradoxical situation: the world is armed to the teeth with atomic weapons, lasers, sound and climate weapons are being developed, and we are practically defenseless against the main enemy! We are all afraid of nuclear war, evil aliens, asteroids, uprisings and man-made disasters. And you should be afraid of pigs, ducks, bats, monkeys, camels and mice! There will be no nuclear war (bad NEMA!), the aliens will not find us, and the asteroid will fly by. But mutations of those viruses that live in pigs, monkeys, bats, birds and many other animals, which make it possible for these viruses to be transmitted from animals to humans, can pose a global threat to humanity. So it was with the “Spanish flu”, swine flu, AIDS, Ebola, coronaviruses in 2002 and 2014. Actually, we have known coronaviruses for a long time. Among people, several varieties of it are common. Each of us once had a coronavirus. In winter and autumn, it causes about 1/3 of acute respiratory infections in the Northern hemisphere. The coronavirus family is present in both humans and animals (bats, cats, camels, birds, etc.). In humans, until 2019, there were four known types of them: HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1. Widespread” human ” coronaviruses are transmitted mainly in autumn and winter. For example, the survey in Norway 59 thousand. in adolescents under 16 years of age with acute respiratory infections, it was shown that coronavirus in the cold season causes pneumonia, requiring hospitalization in 1.5 children per 1000 population per year. Immunity is unstable, repeated infections are typical. Coronavirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis, and there is a causal relationship with some neurological diseases and Kawasaki disease. Dossier on the virus. Fight with a shadow that constantly changes its size, shape and properties Mutations of viruses transmitted from animals to humans can be a serious threat to humanity. But these are” our”, human, coronaviruses. In the twenty-first century, bats have already given us their mutated coronaviruses three times. Genetically, they are very similar to our human ones. Similar, but not identical. Therefore, in the human environment, they behave very aggressively. In 2002, an outbreak of SARS began in the same China. It quickly spread to almost 30 countries with a fairly high mortality rate of 10 %. SARS-Co, as the coronavirus was then called (from the English abbreviation “severe acute respiratory failure”). Over the years, 8098 people have been affected and 774 have died. At the same time, local outbreaks were observed in collectives and in hotel residents. In Hong Kong, then in the hotel “Metropol” fell ill about 300 people… The source was bats and Viviers – cute animals of the cat family. The Chinese eat them too! For a long time they tried to make a vaccine, tried to identify effective antiviral drugs and spent $100 billion on it. Didn’t get far, the epidemic has gradually exhausted itself and faded away, but it was a serious Wake-up call: the coronavirus has shown what can happen when the virus inherent in animals acquires the ability to be transmitted from person to person. By the way, those developments of pharmacologists can be useful in the prevention and treatment of today’s epidemic. In 2012, another epidemic of coronavirus SARS broke out in Saudi Arabia and adjacent countries. The source is one-humped DROMEDARY camels and the same bats. At first, the owners and drivers of camels were sick, then the infection began to spread. Imported cases were reported in 25 countries with a high average mortality rate of 35 %! The dead were mostly Saudis, the transmission of the middle East coronavirus from person to person was not really proven. And here is COVID-19. There is still a debate: is this virus artificially modeled? After all, it is obvious that all these tectonic changes in the world economy and politics are clearly inadequate to the existing threat. So “if there is no enemy, then it must be invented”? Personally, I do not believe in the artificial origin of this virus. We see that he is 75% similar to his predecessors, figuratively speaking, we know his mother and father, grandmother and grandfather. As a biological weapon, it clearly falls short with its low, fortunately, mortality rate; as a pretext for the redistribution of the world-also too difficult, because the fact that this or that epidemic is about to descend, it was obvious, even I wrote about it in my previous books. Zoonotic infections in the human environment behave very aggressively. Anyway, the new coronavirus came from the Chinese city of Wuhan. Either from the local market, where “gourmets” tasted a certain anteater, which was previously infected from “chrysanthemum” bats, or, as many still believe, as a result of a leak from a large bacteriological laboratory located there. Chinese ophthalmologist Dr. Li in late November was the first to draw attention to patients with severe shortness of breath and high fever. He sounded the alarm, drew the attention of the authorities to a new and unknown disease. And soon he himself died from it – the first doctor who died from the first “shots” in this war of the virus and man. The Chinese were a little late with the introduction of quarantine measures: by their beginning, 5 million people had left Wuhan to meet the Chinese New year with relatives and friends. And soon it broke out all over the world. Planes spread the infection like flies, cruise ships proved to be perfect incubators of infection… The traditional new year’s sale in Milan, which attracted thousands of Chinese, turned into a nightmare for Italians, half a million residents of Chinatowns returned to the United States in February from winter holidays. Russia has held out longer than others, but since the end of March, we have seen a rapid increase in the incidence of diseases, fortunately, with a minimum mortality rate compared to other countries. As a result, millions are infected worldwide and hundreds of thousands of deaths. The horror, the horror?! Yes, of course. Only here everything is not so linear simple… Leave a Reply
Home > Life style > Diet and nutrition Reading time estimate: 9 min Vegetable or animal protein; Which is better for health? Protein is one of the most important components of the diet, found throughout the body, from muscles and organs to bones, skin and hair. Providing the protein your body needs is essential for staying healthy. This macronutrient is involved in many vital processes of the body such as immune system function, construction, repair and maintenance of body structures, growth and.. Protein makes enzymes that are responsible for many of the body's reactions and produces hemoglobin, Which carries oxygen to the bloodstream and delivers it to various tissues in the body. You can get protein from a variety of food sources, including plants. And get animals. Some people claim that there is no difference between different sources of protein, whether animal or plant. But others believe that some of them are superior to others. Understanding the difference between plant and animal proteins is important for anyone who wants to make sure their diet is healthy. That's why we decided to compare animal and plant proteins and their effect on health in this article from BingMag. If you've been wondering Which Vegetable or animal protein is best for you, we recommend that you read this to the end. The type of amino acids can vary BingMag.com <b>Vegetable</b> or <b>animal</b> <b>protein;</b> <b>Which</b> is <b>better</b> for health? Proteins are made up of small units called amino acids. When the body digests proteins in food, they are broken down into their constituents, the amino acids. There are more than 20 amino acids, some of Which the body can make itself. But you should get the 9 amino acids that your body is unable to make and are known as "essential amino acids" through your diet. The type of amino acids found in different protein sources can be very different. Be. animal proteins are generally called "complete proteins" because they contain nine essential amino acids. Although some plant proteins, such as green peas and soy, are considered complete sources of protein, other plant foods are considered "deficient in protein"; This means that plant foods such as beans, peanuts and wheat are high in protein, but do not contain one or more essential amino acids. You need to combine lean protein sources to meet your body's needs. For example, you can eat peanut butter with whole wheat bread. Although the amino acid lysine in wheat used to make bread is very small, it is found in large amounts in peanuts. As a result, the combination of these two nutrients can provide you with a complete source of protein. People on a vegetarian or vegan diet should eat a variety of plant-based foods to make sure they are getting all the essential amino acids. Protein-rich foods Unfortunately for millions of people around the world , Especially young children, for various reasons can not get enough protein. The effects of malnutrition and protein deficiency range from stunted growth and loss of muscle mass to weakened immune systems and death. For this reason, it is very important to get the protein your body needs. Protein is found in a wide variety of animal and plant foods. animal protein sources • Dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese • Keep in mind that some animal proteins are less nutritious than others. For example, processed animal products such as hot dogs and chicken nuggets are high in unhealthy fats and sodium (salt) and are not ideal for maintaining good health. The best sources of animal protein are whole eggs, salmon, chicken and turkey. Sources of plant protein Protein is found in many plant foods, including: p> • Beans and other legumes • Edible nuts • Soybeans and their products such as tofu and tempeh • Quinoa • Wheat • Rice • Chia Seed • Hemp Seed • Spirulina • Some fruits like avocado Quinoa, spirulina, soybeans, chia seeds and hemp contain 9 essential amino acids and are therefore classified as complete protein sources. Other plant foods, such as legumes, nuts, and wheat, do not have one or more essential amino acids, but they are very small. However, plant foods contain varying amounts of different amino acids, and For this reason, with a little effort, you can get all the amino acids your body needs through a purely plant-based diet. Follow a varied diet and combine different plant proteins, such as The peanut butter sandwich mentioned earlier ensures that it receives all the essential amino acids. Other ingredients include hummus and pita bread, rice and beans, and pasta salads containing red beans. Comparison of nutritional value of animal and Vegetable protein animal protein sources can provide other nutrients needed by the body, including vitamin B12 and a type of iron called heme iron. ) Also provide. Heme iron is more easily absorbed than the iron in plant foods known as "non-heme iron". Some nutrients, such as vitamin B12, are not present in plant foods. Instead, fiber plants contain phytonutrients (plant nutrients) and antioxidants that animal proteins lack. Research shows that increasing fiber intake helps maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract and reduces the risk of constipation. It has oxidants and therefore its consumption can improve the general health of the body. The most important benefits of plant-based diets are: Reducing the risk of heart disease Comparing plant-based diets with animal-rich diets shows that consuming plant-based foods is associated with a significant reduction in blood pressure. . In addition, people on a vegetarian diet have lower body weight and lower blood cholesterol levels and a lower risk of stroke and death from heart disease than those on a meat diet. They found that people who followed a vegetarian or vegan diet were 30 percent less likely to die from ischemic heart disease than those who ate meat. However, not all diets Plant foods do not have the same effect on health, and not all plant foods are necessarily good for heart health. The results of a study show that eating nutritious plant foods such as whole grains, vegetables, nuts and seeds reduces the risk of heart disease, but following a diet rich in fried vegetables and refined grains is associated with an increased risk./p> Prevention of stroke A healthy plant-based diet can increase the risk of stroke by up to 10 Reduce the percentage. A healthy diet includes plenty of leafy vegetables, whole grains and beans, and a small amount of sugar and refined grains. Protects the body against cancer Follow a diet rich in foods Herbal reduces the risk of cancer. Phytochemicals are substances found in plants that can help prevent cancer. On the other hand, plant foods play a role in weight control and maintaining intestinal health due to their fiber content. Obesity increases the risk of many diseases, including cancer. Prevention of type 2 diabetes Plant diets are effective in controlling blood sugar and can treat type 2 diabetes 2 and help prevent it. According to research, diets rich in nutritious plant foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and Vegetable oils are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes. It is important to note that the above benefits Eliminate animal protein sources from your daily diet, but are likely to result in increased intake of nutritious plant-based foods. Plant-based dietary concerns Vegetarian, you should eat a variety of healthy plant foods. A plant-based diet that is high in processed foods and added sugars not only does not meet the nutritional needs of the body, but also endangers health. Some nutrients are not present in plant foods. Or their amount is very small. If you want to follow a plant-based diet, you need to make sure you get enough zinc, vitamin B12, protein, calcium and vitamin D. To achieve this goal, it is recommended to observe the following points: • Eat a variety of plant foods rich in protein. • Choose plant-rich fortifications with calcium and vitamin D. • Eat nutrient-fortified cereals, whole grains and beans to get the zinc and iron your body needs. • Try a nutritional yeast that is an excellent source of vitamin B12. • To get the calcium your body needs, eat plenty of dark leafy vegetables and take supplements if needed. Benefits of animal protein animal foods can also have a positive effect on health. For example, including animal protein in the diet is associated with increased muscle mass and reduced muscle loss in the elderly, or regular consumption of fish reduces the risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. Some harms Of animal proteins Although red meat is a complete protein, in several studies It has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Of course, research in this area is contradictory, and some researchers believe that these adverse effects may not be related to all types of red meat and only result from the consumption of processed red meat. For example, one study found that balanced consumption of red meat did not increase the risk of heart disease. Increased risk of heart disease was associated. Consumption of lean fish or meat such as turkey and chicken does not seem to increase the risk of heart disease. Comparison of the role of animal and plant proteins in building muscle Looking to increase muscle mass and reduce the time required for recovery after exercise, they often pay close attention to their protein intake. Because protein helps repair and build muscle after a strenuous workout. Many athletes turn to whey protein, Which is found in dairy products and sports supplements, to build muscle. His protein is more easily broken down and absorbed by the body than other protein-rich foods such as meat and eggs, and is therefore superior to them. Research on plant proteins suggests that the isolated benefits of protein may be Rice is similar to his protein. Many people recommend consuming a combination of plant proteins after a workout to provide the body with the wide range of amino acids it needs. When choosing a plant or animal, there are many things to keep in mind. Both animal and plant proteins have their own advantages and disadvantages. So instead of focusing on one of them, it is better to follow a varied diet rich in nutritious plant proteins and lean animal proteins. This will make sure you get enough amino acids and other essential nutrients. If you have questions about protein intake and sources, consult a nutritionist. This is for educational and informational purposes only. Be sure to consult a specialist before using the recommendations in this article. For more information, read the Digitica Magazine Disclaimer . Sources: healthline, medicalnewstoday, webmd READ NEXT IN: life style / diet and nutrition BingMag.com 5 ways to make coffee more nutritious with vitamins and antioxidants diet and nutrition Most of us forget to take the vitamins we need every day, but drinking a cup of coffee is an option we would never get used to. We do not forget. For many people who like to drink coffee, the day does BingMag.com What happens to your body if you only eat salad daily? diet and nutrition When it comes to healthy and wholesome foods, we all probably only think about salads. There are many types of salads and they are known as one of the best and healthiest foods. This is not surprising BingMag.com 8 ways to drink healthier coffee diet and nutrition Coffee beans are rich in a variety of nutrients, making them a nutritious beverage. A 240 ml cup of coffee contains the following nutrients:/p> Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of daily requirement BingMag.com 8 practical tips for weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes diet and nutrition These days, many people are trying to lose weight. But for those with type 2 diabetes, weight control is especially important. Obesity and the presence of excess fat in the body increase the body's re
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Everything You Need to Know About Becoming an Anesthesiologist Anesthesiology is a profession within the medical field and is currently one of the most in-demand careers. However, becoming an anesthesiologist is no small feat. It takes years of diligence, education and intense training to become licensed and start your career. To get started, here’s everything you need to know about how to become an anesthesiologist. What is an Anesthesiologist? An anesthesiologist is a person who administers a safe dosage of anesthetics to patients in surgery. Their job is to also educate patients of the type of anesthesia they will receive and to monitor their vitals during the operation. They primarily work in hospitals and surgical centers, but may also choose to operate in clinics and private offices. Anesthesiologists can also work in a medical institution or academic settings to instruct aspiring students. How Much Does It Cost to Become an Anesthesiologist? The education of an anesthesiologist is one of the most expensive investments you’ll ever make. You can expect to pay an average total of $330,000 for this career. The overall cost is determined by your college and the medical school you chose. Bear in mind, college and medical school are not the same thing. Private lenders are a medical student’s best friend thanks to their lower than average interest rates. Traditional lenders can offer seven to as much 10 percent on your loans. 7% of $330,000 equates to an additional $23,310. So, if you're trying to find a more flexible option, then borrowing private loans for medical school may be the right choice. Educational Requirements It can take up to 12 years to become an anesthesiologist. You’ll begin your journey into the world of medicine and anesthetics by first completing a bachelor’s degree. It’s best to major in a field, like biology or chemistry to prepare for the rigors of med school. Because competition is so high for medical schools, you will need to pass with a high GPA. Before you graduate, however, you have to pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This mandatory exam determines a student's eligibility for cal school. You’ll need to develop good study habits to prepare for this rigorous exam. The average passing score you want to aim for is at least 512. The maximum score you can achieve is 528, which is what you want to strive for. After you complete your four years of medical school, you must complete a four-year residency. Then, you must pass the board exam, complete a fellowship, and earn your medical license. Earning Potential and Career Opportunity Anesthesiologists can earn as much as doctors and surgeons with an average salary of $261,730 per year. This is a lot of money and you’ll need to know how to manage your finances smartly so you can avoid being one of those people who makes a lot, but does not have a lot. There are available positions all over the country, so you can expect plenty of job opportunities no matter where you decide to settle down. Additionally, many anesthesiologists pursue a specialization. Options for this career path include cardiothoracic anesthesia, critical care, hospice or palliative care, pediatric anesthesia and regional anesthesia. As you work through your residency, you may discover a passion for an area of medicine that you decide to pursue further. While specializations do lengthen your training, they can also set you up for even greater earning potential later. This is a guest blog entry. The Advancement Of Science For A Better Tomorrow The growth of science and technology has been at its peak since the last few decades of this generation. Technology has been at an exceptionally high influx rate, and modernization has never failed to amaze this generation. When the latest innovation gets old and backdated in the next hour, science and technology bring up even an advanced mode or item for the better future and an upgraded form of present. To look at some of the inventions, we can never subdue the creation of an online platform for fun and spending quality leisure time for all the adults. We can quickly refresh ourselves through NetBet by playing various slot games and making other strategic decisions. The Changes From the vast list of upgraded inventions from the past, it is challenging to uphold everything. However, to pick some of the unusual upbringings of science and technology are computers. They are the core of our existence in today's life. We start from the day till the end of it, from calculating and keeping records to playing games, attending classes and medical care,. They have become an integral part of our existence. The world evolved from letters to emails to Snaps and from telephones to smartphones. As a meal is incomplete without a glass of water, our life can feel incomplete without a mobile phone. People from youth to the elderly carry a mobile phone. Lifestyle without a cell phone is not even imaginable for many any more, such as social media, calling, texting, and many other examples. Another inevitable upgrade is the transportation system, from the steam engines, 3-wheeler Mercedes to the sedans, SUVs, and electric trains. Nowadays, transportation for people must be made smooth and convenient because of their work schedule, so a great invention a means to ride electric trains. They are fast and can carry a lot of people. Talking about cars, the all-new models of Sedans and SUVs are ruling the market both in the field of luxury and comfort. Nowadays, the electric cars from Tesla are more environmentally friendly and go one step ahead in the list of modern technology. They emit less pollution as well. Helps Build a Better Tomorrow These new stages of inventions are not only helping us make our tasks easy and fast and make us ready for an even advanced tomorrow. Online platforms for transactions have been an inevitable innovation in the face of technology. Others include online shopping, delivery of your meal, and booking a cab for your journey. These advancements don't only make one's life easy and modern but also self-sufficient. After a long day, the working woman finds it easy to order her family dinner on her way home, at the same time booking a cab in an emergency and not waiting for anyone's lift. New technologies used in the space stations send astronauts via satellite to outer space for varied information. Multiple satellites are used for a single project and then multiple undetected failures back in the old days. Nowadays, they allot one for each project, and they do not even send humans to acquire information from outer space. The Bottom line The new world in front of us with all the hi-tech technologies and science makes our living easy and comfortable and has a lot of side effects on our lifestyle. They are proving to have both the side effects and the well-being of human existence. This is a guest blog entry. Thursday, February 17, 2022 The World of CBD Edibles Have CBD edibles, such as gummies, caught your attention as an alternative to other consumption forms? Then, you may be curious about proper dosages. When it comes to answering the question: how many CBD edibles should you eat, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. Every product and consumer is different. Plenty of factors can impact the proper way for dosing CBD gummies and other edible products. Ultimately, you have to determine what is the correct dosage for you specifically. To help you better figure it out, read on for information about the 5 main factors impacting correct dosage and some CBD dosage tips. 4 CBD Dosage Tips It's important to take your time measuring your CBD treats and being informed on the answers to common questions about dosing CBD edibles. Here are 4 CBD dosage tips to help you safely consume products such as CBD gummies. 1. Start With a Low Dose Start low and slowly work your way up, especially if you aren't sure about your tolerance to CBD or are trying a new product. As previously explained, everybody has a different reaction to various dosages. You want to begin with a low dosage for a week to make sure there are no negative reactions or side effects. If it's ineffective, increase your dosage by 5-milligram increments per week until you reach an optimal dosage. 2. Listen to Your Body Effectively dosing CDB gummies or other edibles requires you to listen to your body. Always be aware of your body's natural rhythms and the feedback you receive to make the right adjustments in dosage - whether it's to increase or decrease the amount you consume. Overall, you want to make sure your body gets enough time to metabolize so you can evaluate the effects before changing dosages. 3. Consider Timing Sometimes the time of day you take consume CBD gummies can impact the results you feel. Some people find that taking a specific dose at night makes you sleepy but the same dosage in the morning stimulates you. When experimenting at different times, you also want to be in a safe place where you aren't planning to leave for anywhere. For example, you wouldn't want to suddenly feel tired while driving. 4. Consult an Expert You don't have to figure out CBD dosages alone. When using cannabis to treat specific health issues, you can consult a health professional or physician well-versed in cannabinoids. They can look at your medical history and review the key factors previously listed to help determine an optimal dosage. Factor 1 - Body Weight Your body weight significantly contributes to how much CBD you need to take to reach the desired effect. Generally, heavier people will require higher dosages to achieve the same concentration of CBD in their blood compared to lighter people. You can use your body weight to help determine your starting dosage. While the other factors below also come into play, a general rule of thumb is to consume 1 milligram per 10 pounds of body weight for a milder effect to start. This means you divide your body weight by 10 for the dosage in milligrams. Factor 2 - Desired Effect and Strength While the 1 milligram per 10 pounds rule is an effective way to find your starting dose, the effect and strength you desire will change this. If you just want mild relaxation, the low strength can prove effective. However, you will want 3 milligrams per 10 pounds for more moderate effects at medium strengths. This can provide increased relief, ease, and stress management. People with severe unease or discomfort that need stronger effects will want a higher strength. This can generally be calculated by using 6 milligrams per 10 pounds. But remember, everybody's reactions can still differ based on other factors. Factor 3 - Condition Being Treated CBD can be used to treat different psychological or physical discomforts, from anxiety and stress to exercise-induced inflammation. Optimal CBD dosages will vary depending on what condition you wish to treat, as previously touched upon above. For example, how many CBD gummies you take for helping with sleep will differ from how much you need for severe pain. Some people also aren't treating any particular condition and, instead, using CBD for general well-being can find lower dosages of 5 to 15 milligrams suitable for their needs. Factor 4 - Body Chemical Makeup Everybody's genetics and the chemical makeup of their body are different. For this reason, you can respond differently to substances and experience different side effects. CBD edibles may also include ingredients you have an allergic reaction to or interact with other daily prescription medications you are taking. It’s always best to start on the lower end of dosages regardless of your body weight and desired effect just to make sure you aren’t having an adverse side-effect to a particular edible product. Factor 5 - Type of Edible The type of edible you consume can also impact when you feel effects, how well your body absorbs the CBD, or whether you have a reaction to the ingredients in the edibles. Dosages for CBD cookies can differ from dosing CBD gummies. Cookies or other baked goods typically absorb into your body after reaching the digestive tract. Since it can take hours to break down the CBD, you might not feel the effects until 2 hours later. This is why you need to wait for the effects before eating more edibles. In contrast, CBD gummies or hard candy can have faster effects. They allow the CBD oil to be absorbed before reaching the stomach. Additionally, the smaller pieces that reach the digestive tract break down easier. Final Thoughts There is no one answer when it comes to dosing CBD gummies and other edibles. Every individual is unique and various factors impact how you react to different dosages. You’ll want to consider your weight, desired effects, the condition you are treating, your body’s chemical makeup, and type of edible you are consuming to arrive at your optimal dose. It's best to start low, listen to your body, and gradually adjust. When in doubt, work with an expert to help determine the right dosage for your health needs. This is a guest blog entry. Monday, February 14, 2022 What To Do After Recognizing Addiction Addiction is both a mental and physical condition. Medical professionals should treat it. Treatment should be started as soon as possible to improve the quality of life for the person facing addiction and their loved ones. If you believe that someone you love is currently struggling with an addiction, take action after recognizing addiction. According to reports, the global addiction treatment market size is estimated to be valued at US$ 8,297.0 million in 2021. This article will explain in detail the steps you must take to get your loved one the best addiction treatment available. 1. Approach Your Loved One with Understanding Addiction is a mental and physical problem that changes how you think and feel - it takes over and controls your life and who you are as a person. It will always be a part of them but can be treated with medical support, therapy, and other methods. Remember this when you approach your loved one with understanding and not anger. Be patient, kind and provide comfort to them throughout getting treatment to overcome their addiction. 2. Research Addiction-Related Issues and Treatment Options When your loved one is ready to get the help they need, research all kinds of addiction-related issues and what options are available to them for treatment. Some of the best treatment methods are explained below: 1) Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers Inpatient rehabilitation centers are the best option for getting off drugs and alcohol. The treatment process can last from 30 days to six months, depending on how severe their addiction is. The centers provide a safe environment where your loved one can recover and heal without the risk of relapsing in cravings and triggers from the outside world. 2) Outpatient Rehabilitation It is an option for people who do not want to stay in a rehab facility long-term but still need medical support and therapy from experienced addiction professionals. They can get help without being trapped in a treatment center. It's ideal for those who have work obligations or are going to school. 3) Inpatient Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers Not all rehab centers provide for those struggling with alcoholism. But there are the latest alcohol rehabilitation centers available, focusing on treating the mental and physical aspects of addiction to alcohol. The treatment can last anywhere from 30 days to six months, depending on the severity of the condition and the person's willingness to recover. 4) Outpatient Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers As with inpatient and outpatient drug rehabilitation, outpatient alcohol rehab centers provide medical treatment for addiction to alcohol in a safe environment. It is the best option for those who need help and function in their daily lives, such as going to work or school. They recover without having to quit their jobs or drop out of school. 5) 12-Step Programs It is a support group that provides help to those suffering from addiction. It was founded by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Al-Anon Family Groups. Those who participate in these groups are encouraged to live actively and healthily in addiction recovery. 3. Get An Intervention An intervention is an act of gathering friends and family members to confront your loved one about their addiction. You can learn how to make an effective intervention here. It should be organized with experienced professionals in educating, preparing, and planning a successful intervention. 4. Intervene And Get Professional Treatment For Your Loved One After your loved one successfully recognizes addiction and is ready to get treatment, you must intervene with them and make sure they seek professional help. A good place for them to start is by getting detoxed in a service that can provide medical and therapeutic support at the same time. After their withdrawal process, they can head into an inpatient rehabilitation program. Before any of this can happen, you or a professional must take advantage of the resources in your area to help start this process and get it going as soon as possible. 5. Support Your Loved One In Addiction Recovery After overcoming their addictions, your loved one will go through many changes physically and mentally. It is essential to support them throughout this time, regardless of any challenges they face in recovery. Addiction treatment isn't a one-day thing and ends once your loved one walks out the door. The therapeutic and emotional journey does not end there, and neither should your love and support. It can be done by helping them stay accountable for their recovery. 6. Set Boundaries And Be Firm It is essential to be firm when it comes to standing by your loved one's side in their addiction recovery. You must set boundaries and hold them accountable for anything against their promises in treatment, such as not attending meetings or continuing their treatment program. This is a guest blog entry. Tuesday, February 08, 2022 Should you see a chiropractor for low back pain? Image: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/06/02/00/08/back-5248830__340.jpg If you are suffering from low back pain, you are not alone. It has been estimated that 8 out of 10 people in the United States have experienced back pain at some point in their lives, generally in the lower part. There are several reasons why you may have injured your lower back. You may have been doing some work around the house, or maybe you suffered a sports injury a while back, and it seems to have come back, or perhaps you have a chronic condition such as arthritis. Once you feel the pain in your back, you may decide to treat it on your own. You might have started listening to friends or coworkers who might have suggested that what you need to do is keep active and keep moving. They may have told you that sitting for too long may make the condition worse. Others might emphasize that you need to maintain a good posture or try some stretching and strengthening exercises. Or maybe that you should get some ointment to rub on your back. Although any advice you receive may help to a certain degree, doing stretches or other physical movements while the pain in your lower back keeps you from a good night's sleep may not yield the desired results. This is because many people experience low back pain for no discernible reason, and to treat it; you need someone who has been trained in the management of physical pain, such as a chiropractor. When should you see a chiropractor for low back pain? Here are some markers that should send you to a chiropractor when you have low back pain: The Pain Stems from Hard Tissue When the pain is felt in soft tissues like muscles, massage therapy might be helpful. Yet, when the pain is in hard tissue, it will likely require spinal manipulation or other techniques that an experienced chiropractor can easily perform. The spine and joints are two places where low back pain may start. This may be due to misalignments that are well treated by a chiropractor who can give you the fastest and most consistent relief. The Symptoms Point to a Pinched Nerve When a disc moves out of place or something intrudes upon the space normally filled by a nerve, the nerve gets pinched. While it is pinched, it cannot send or receive messages effectively to and from the brain. This is one of the leading causes that lead to low back pain. A chiropractor has the tools to identify the cause of the pinched nerve and has the techniques that will reposition the interfering bone or ease the tension in tight muscles. Other Treatments Have Not Provided Relief When people start experiencing low back pain, they go to great lengths to find ways to get rid of it. They get a massage, they try dry needling, or they look for other alternative options. Visiting a chiropractor may not necessarily mean that you have to stop other treatments, but the combination with chiropractic manipulation may give you the relief you seek. When you click snapcrack.com, you may better understand how these combination treatments may benefit you the most. This is a guest blog entry. Monday, February 07, 2022 Is Merv 8 Good for Covid? According to the National Air Filtration Association, any filters that are MERV 8 and above are good filters to protect you, your family, customers, and employees from COVID-19. Many types of filters can be used in homes and businesses, but some fall short to help against the spread of COVID-19. And, since this virus is very transmissible through the air, a good line of defense would be to get an excellent working air filter, like MERV 8. You can visit here to learn more. But why are MERV 8 filters good for COVID-19? And, what does “MERV” mean? Let’s discuss. What are MERV Ratings? The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers created the MERV ratings to update their filter testing standards. MERV ratings are based on how well an air filter captures common airborne pollutants within certain size ranges. There are 16 MERV ratings, and the higher the number is, the more efficient the air filter is at capturing small particles. So a MERV rating of 16 would be better than a MERV rating of 1. Twelve size ranges of pollutants have been tested to determine the ratings, ranging from 0.3 micrometers to 10 micrometers. The filters are tested upstream and downstream, where the twelve size ranges are tested in six intervals with a clean filter, to begin with, then the filters are tested for dust. To determine the air filter's efficiency, the particles that go into the test duct will be tested before they go into the test duct and after. Based on what is evaluated, a MERV rating will be established. How Do Merv 8 Filters Compare? MERV ratings are used to describe the efficiency of air filters in removing particles from the air. The different types of pollutants range from cigarette smoke to bacteria. To understand why MERV 8 filters are so popular, it is essential to know what the different MERV ratings help eliminate pollutants. MERV 13 to 16 helps control airborne bacteria, tobacco smoke, and pollutants from sneezing. These filters work great for smoking lounges, surgery suits, and commercial buildings since so many people frequent them, and the contaminants that these filters control are primarily in these types of spaces. MERV 9 10 12 helps control humidifier dust, lead dust, emissions from vehicles, and fumes from welding. These filters are great for residences with excellent HVAC systems, hospital labs, automotive centers, and manufacturer and commercial buildings. MERV 5 to 8 filters help control mold, hair spray, dust, and bacteria. These filters are great for commercial buildings, standard residences, and paint booths. MERV 8 filters have 90% efficiency on particles ranging from 3 to 10 micrometers. This filter example has a 10 inch diameter and is 16 inches high MERV 1 to 4 filters help control larger particles like sanding dust, dust from spray paint, and lint and carpet particles. These filters are good in residences (although not ideal) and window air conditioning units. Why is MERV 8 Good for COVID-19? COVID-19 droplets are between 3 and 5 microns, meaning that MERV 8 filters fall into the range in which COVID-19 can be significantly reduced or less transmissible in the air. Although this filter may help with COVID-19 being transmissible in the air, filters alone can not guarantee that you will not get the virus. The reason for this is because COVID-19 is also transmissible through close contact with another person with the virus, and if you were to touch the virus on a surface and then touch your face, hence breathing in the virus. But, purchasing MERV 8 filters is still a good direction for your home or business to help reduce the spread of the particles in the air. Of course, other things recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, like wearing masks and washing your hands, are probably still a good idea. MERV 8 filters have been the standard in American homes since the 1970s, so you know they are trustworthy and valuable. Of course, MERV 8 is a good choice in helping with the spread of the virus, and if you go up in numbers, the more protection you will have against this virus. But, MERV 8 filters are the least rating you need to help not spread COVID-19. Plus, MERV 8 filters are less expensive than higher rating filters, are easier to install and fix and last anywhere from three months to a year. So, you can almost set it and forget it. Image via pixabay This is a guest blog entry. Saturday, February 05, 2022 When to see an orthopedist The range of pathologies and treatments for diseases and injuries of the bone system that orthopedics deals with is very diverse. Diseases of the bones, joints, ligaments, and spine, as well as the surrounding tissues, can be congenital, infectious, and acquired (as a result of injuries, metabolic disorders, and occupational injuries). Bone disorders develop slowly, and the first symptoms may appear only with significant pathological changes, therefore it is necessary to consult an orthopedist regularly, starting from childhood. Areas of orthopedics What exactly is treated by an orthopedic traumatologist depends on his specialization: • Conservative (outpatient) orthopedics - outpatient prevention of bone disease, non-operative treatment of chronic joint and bone disease. • Surgical orthopedics (feet, spine, hand, teeth) - radical treatment of diseases of bones, ligaments, and joints. • Endoprosthetics (joints, bones) - surgical prosthetics when joints and bones cannot be preserved by other treatment methods. • Traumatology and orthopedics (including sports orthopedics) - conservative and surgical treatment of injuries to the bone system, including specific injuries to athletes. • Pediatric and adolescent orthopedics - prevention and treatment of bone defects in infants, toddlers, and adolescents. When it is necessary to see an orthopedist Several symptoms require an immediate visit to the orthopedist, as these symptoms may indicate the presence of serious diseases. The help of a specialist is needed if the following is observed: • Swelling of the joint with pain on movement; • Stiffness and crunching in the joints; • Pain in the back; • Simultaneous numbness in the hands; • Impaired posture and rapid fatigue; • Pain and stiffness in connection with changes in the weather. How does the initial appointment with an orthopedist go At the first appointment, the doctor: Visually evaluates the correctness of the anatomical structure of the bone system (this is especially important when examining a newborn); Determines the amplitude of movement of the problem joints; Prescribes fluoroscopy to clarify the diagnosis; in complicated cases, computer or magnetic resonance imaging may be prescribed. What conditions require regular follow-up with an orthopedist With chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, there are exacerbations, when it is necessary to see an orthopedist regularly. Doctor observation should be constant if the patient has been diagnosed with: • Osteochondrosis; • Rheumatoid arthritis; • Osteoarthritis of various joints; • Fracture of the neck of the femur; • Spinal injuries; • Dislocations of the knee or shoulder. Preventive visits to an orthopedist traumatologist are desirable for people involved in sports or those who prefer extreme types of outdoor activities, to eliminate microtraumas in time and prevent possible problems. When to see an orthopedist with a child Parents should know when to visit the orthopedist because a timely visit to this specialist makes it possible to correct pathologies, even those of congenital nature. You should go to the orthopedist with your child: • If the hip is incorrectly positioned in the newborn (congenital dislocation); • If your baby's head is constantly tilted toward one shoulder (torticollis); • If the child puts his or her foot down when walking (clubfoot); • If the child quickly tires while walking and their gait looks heavy (flat feet); • If the child is noticeably slouching; • If the child complains of pain in the legs or arms, back, or neck. Treatment with an orthopedist In orthopedics, conservative and surgical methods of treatment are used. In outpatient therapy, the patient has prescribed medications: drugs, injections, ointments, and rubs. They are used to reduce pain syndrome and relieve inflammation. Another important method of conservative treatment is physical therapy. It is relevant when recovering from injuries, operations. Classes are conducted under the guidance of a doctor, the complexity of exercises increases gradually, according to the patient's condition. Physiotherapy for spinal conditions and physiotherapy for back pain is used for rehabilitation after injuries, as an additional measure to medical treatment and physical therapy. Massage is also an important method of conservative treatment and rehabilitation. It helps to stimulate blood circulation and relieve tension in the injured areas. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice. This is a guest blog entry Friday, February 04, 2022 Nest home security 2022: What to expect If you're like most people, you probably think of Nest home security as the company that makes those intelligent thermostats. And while that's undoubtedly true, Nest has also branched out into home security in a big way. In this blog post, we'll take a look at what to expect from Nest home security in 2022. Keep reading to learn more! Let us look back a little at the history of nest home security Nest first got into the home security business in 2014, acquiring Dropcam for $555 million. At the time, Dropcam was one of the leading providers of home security cameras. Since then, Nest has continued to expand its lineup of home security products. Today, Nest offers a wide range of products, including cameras, alarms, and even a home security system that competes with the likes of ADT. So what can we expect from Nest in 2022? Here are a few things to keep an eye out for: More integration with other smart devices Nest has been working hard to integrate its home security products with other intelligent devices. In 2022, we can expect even more integration between Nest and other devices in your home. For example, you may be able to control your Nest security cameras with your voice through a machine like the Amazon Echo. More products Nest has been releasing new products at a rapid pace, and that trend is likely to continue in 2022. We can expect to see even more cameras, alarms, and security systems from Nest by then. More features Nest has always been known for its innovative features, and that trend is likely to continue in 2022. We can expect to see even more features in Nest's home security products by then. For example, the Nest Cam IQ may get a facial recognition feature that allows you to track who is coming and going from your home. Nest is also planning on making their home security products even more brilliant. In particular, they're focusing on adding features that will make it easier for users to interact with their products. For example, they're working on adding voice recognition capabilities so that you'll be able to control your home security system with just your voice. Broader product lineup One of the big things that Nest is planning on doing in 2022 is expanding its product lineup. At the moment, they only have a few different home security products available. But by 2022, they plan to have a broader range of options, including some more affordable for budget-minded consumers. Go global Finally, Nest is planning on expanding its reach beyond the United States. In 2022, they plan on having a presence in more than 30 countries worldwide. So if you're not located in the US, don't worry - you'll still be able to take advantage of Nest's home security products! So what does all this mean for you? If you're considering investing in a Nest home security system, now is the time to do it! With all the changes coming in 2022, Nest will remain at the forefront of the home security industry. And with so many products and features to choose from, you're sure to find a system that's perfect for your needs. So don't wait any longer – stay healthy by staying safe and consider investing in Nest today! This is a guest blog entry.
Skip to main content Hello Visitor! Log In Share \| ARTICLE \| \| BY John McClintock John McClintock Get Full Text in PDF Sovereignty-sharing has placed European countries in a position to resolve their common problems through law, not war. As a result, the EU member states now live in peace together and take peace, justice and order for granted. The system of global governance is dysfunctional – some states are failing and the Security Council lacks legitimacy. Humanity does not have a mechanism to resolve its global problems through law, making it difficult – if not impossible – to resolve global problems such as famine, hunger, climate change, war and terrorism, nuclear proliferation, regulation of corporations – including banks, destruction of fish stocks, and population. Sharing of sovereignty at the global level can address these problems, starting in the area of food security, then proceeding to climate management and other fields. Shared sovereignty can eliminate famine and hunger globally. 1. Introduction: The European Union is a Success Story The European Union, despite past and present crises, is one of the success stories of our time and shows that countries can work together to resolve common problems. The European Union is democratic – each and every member country has a say on the rules and the European Parliament must also give its consent. This is in stark contrast to the United Nations where there is no Parliament and only 15 countries have a seat in the Security Council. Secondly, the European Union is able to hold its member countries to the rules. Once rules are made they become ‘binding and enforceable.’ Again, this is very different from the United Nations in which the law may be binding but is not enforceable. If a government of an EU member state does not respect the rules, it has to answer for itself in front of the judges of the European Court of Justice. On several occasions, member countries have had to pay a stiff financial penalty. 2. The Cleaning of the River Rhine: An Example of what Sovereignty-Sharing can Achieve The quintessential feature of the European Union is that its member countries share sovereignty in a limited number of areas. What does this somewhat theoretical notion mean in the real world? The cleaning of the Rhine River − the busiest waterway in the whole of Europe − is a practical example of what can be achieved when countries share sovereignty. The river flows through Germany and France and empties itself at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Many cities and industries, such as the coal mines of the Ruhr Valley, occupy its banks. For hundreds of years the river was used as a free sewer and the level of pollution was very high. The last salmon disappeared in 1935. After the Second World War, there was an effort to clean it up. Governments of the countries concerned formed an International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine. But despite the International Commission’s best efforts, pollution steadily worsened. When it came to governments taking action, the International Commission – like all inter-governmental organisations − could exhort but could not oblige. In 1986, a chemical factory caught fire and water from the fire hoses washed twenty tonnes of pesticides into the river. There was extensive damage and thousands of fish were killed. After this disaster, the International Commission drew up a Rhine Action Plan Against Chemical Pollution. Among other measures, it proposed a strict regime on chemical discharges and that toxic substances be transported only in double-walled vessels. But the fundamental problem remained – while the governments were under a moral obligation to implement the proposals, they were not under any legal obligation to do so. One year later, however, the European Union (then the European Community) decided that it should adopt the plan as part of its broader programme to clean up Europe’s environment. Thereupon, the plan became part and parcel of European Union law and, as a result, had the status of ‘binding and enforceable law.’ From this point on, if a government did not keep up with the plan, it risked having to appear in front of the Court of Justice. This meant that having previously paid lip-service to cleaning up the river, the governments finally started to take their responsibilities seriously. The river was soon cleaned up and fish returned to water. This is a practical example of what happens when governments keep up their promises. Official rhetoric can be transformed into action. But without the sharing of sovereignty in a new legal framework of the European Union, it is likely the Rhine would have remained a polluted and dirty sewer. 3. A Sovereignty-Sharing World Community? But could the same arrangement be made global? Could Europe’s system be adopted by the world as a whole? We believe it could – to everybody’s great benefit.[†] We are proposing that what has been done in Europe can now be done for the world as a whole. Essentially, we are proposing that – incrementally and gradually – countries share parts of their sovereignty and that they use the pool of shared sovereignty to make, through a democratic process, rules that are binding and enforceable. This is an ambitious idea and I have tried to explain it in some detail in my book entitled The Uniting of Nations: An Essay on Global Governance, published by Peter Lang in 2010 (third edition). A putative World Community has to start in a particular area. But which one? Cleaning up rivers, as in the case of the Rhine? Nuclear disarmament? Global poverty? Climate change? In our view, we could begin in the domain of global food security. 4. Global Food Security When food prices are volatile, many problems ensue. Food becomes unaffordable − leading to acute hunger, malnutrition and death. The first to suffer are poor families, irrespective of whether they are in poor or rich countries. (We should not forget that some families in the United States and in the European Union find it difficult to afford enough to eat.) Hungry people quickly become angry and in recent years, due to food price volatility, the world has witnessed many food riots (e.g. Haiti, Bangladesh, Cameroon 2007; Egypt, Tunisia 2011). People have been killed and buildings set on fire. But price volatility has effects that are more pernicious than unaffordable prices. Farmers need price stability to invest in their farms to make them more productive. A reluctance to invest in farming is the last thing that the world needs; it needs the opposite: farmers who are confident about the future of farming and are willing to invest in their farms. Farmers will then be in a position to feed a growing world population and to adjust their farming methods to the exigencies of climate change. Stable price thus becomes a necessity. 5. What can Governments do to avoid Unaffordable Food Prices? What can a country do when the price of food escalates on its national market and its citizens start to find the price unaffordable? If the country is rich, it can go to the world market, purchase food and import it. By purchasing on the world market, the country may push up the world market price for everybody else, which may cause difficulties to other countries that need to import. If a country is an agricultural exporter – such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Thailand and the United States – then it can restrict its exports of food. This will stop the price of food from escalating on the national market. Of course, it means that less food is offered to the world market and the price on the world market may increase. A national solution can bring, in its wake, a global problem. What about countries that are neither rich enough to augment their supplies from the world market nor are agricultural exporters? Such countries – there are many, many of them − can appeal to the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) for food aid. If the WFP has funds, it buys food from the market and gives it to the government. There are several problems with food aid. Firstly, it takes time to process applications, to purchase grain and to ship it to the affected country. Food aid can arrive months after the crisis has passed. Secondly, the WFP is reliant on donations of money from governments. Sometimes they give enough, but sometimes they do not. This has led to tragedies. For example, it was reported in June 2009 that: ‘The United Nations World Food Programme is cutting food aid rations and shutting down some operations as donor countries that face a fiscal crunch at home slash contributions to its funding.’ ‘In recent weeks the WFP has quietly started reducing rations and closing down distribution operations to conserve cash. It reduced emergency food aid rations in Rwanda, for example, from 420 g to 320 g of cereals per person a day…The cost of food commodities such as corn and soya bean has surged this week to levels not seen since the start of the food crisis in late 2007.’1 Thirdly, by its very reliance on the market for supplies of grain, the organisation may be as much part of the problem as part of the solution. The WFP frequently needs to buy when markets are tightening. But to buy on a tightening market simply bids up the price for everybody else. The fourth problem is a legal one: there is no accountability. It is impossible to hold countries to their promises to give funds. It is also impossible to properly investigate countries when there are allegations of corruption in the use of food aid. The WFP has no powers to investigate allegations or to bring charges against individuals. Clearly, the world has not yet found an effective answer to the problem of food price volatility. 6. When Stocks are Low, Prices Tend to be Volatile To solve price volatility we have to be sure that we know what causes it. Why is the price of grain volatile in the first place? The price of grain fluctuates because supply and demand change. The reader will remark: the supply and demand of all goods change – what is so special about grain? Grain is special because a small change in supply and/or demand induces a big change in price. The reason for this is that, in the short term, both the supply of grain from farms and the demand for grain for consumption are what economists term ‘price inelastic’. It follows that if the world is ever going to reduce volatility, we have to bring about a situation such that supply and demand are price elastic, not price inelastic. This can be done by storing grain. If, in addition to grain being supplied by farms it can also be supplied from grain stores, then the supply of grain is no longer price inelastic. It is price elastic. By the same token, if the demand for grain is not only for consumption (i.e. for food and livestock feed) but is also for storage, then the demand for grain is no longer price inelastic. It too becomes price elastic. The fact that there are people or public agencies buying and selling grain for storage means that the market is no longer so brittle and sensitive to a slight change in the amount supplied or demanded. There is, in effect, a sort of sponge or buffer that is able to absorb changes in supply and demand without causing prices to go up and down dramatically. Prices do change, reflecting market fundamentals, but do so relatively gently and moderately. 7. Historical Evidence Regarding The Role of Stocks Figure 1 shows the price of wheat over the last hundred years (the prices are those received by US farmers).2 After the Second World War and until the 1970s, the price was relatively stable. Whilst prices varied from one year to the next, there were no sudden hikes or rapid falls. Why were prices stable for this 20-year period? Because, the major countries of the world wanted stability and predictability. To this end, they concluded an International Wheat Agreement which, to some extent, brought order to international trade in wheat. In addition, Canada and the United States decided to hold fairly substantial stocks of wheat which acted as a buffer, absorbing changes in supply and demand and thereby helping to stabilise world market prices. Stable prices were advantageous to the world as a whole. However, the cost of price stabilisation was borne by these two countries – Canada and the United States. It was not a cost that was shared between all beneficiary countries.[‡] Prices were stable until the early 1970s when Canada and the United States decided not to continue to hold substantial stocks. They considered that the benefits of stable prices did not warrant the costs to their own economies and public budgets. As a result, the price of wheat started to vary significantly from one year to the next. There were no longer any stocks that could act as a buffer. Figure 1: The price of wheat (nominal, US $ per bushel) 8. What may we Expect in the Future? Price volatility may become worse because global warming could reduce crop yields meaning from time to time there may be less food available. 9. Grain Stocks – Should they be Private or Public? As told in the Book of Genesis, Pharaoh and Joseph in ancient Egypt may not have known about price elasticity but they certainly realised that stocks were indispensable. Just as stocks were used to avoid price volatility several thousand years ago, so they can be used for the same purpose today and it is this that we propose. But should governments do it or should storage be left to the private sector? Generally speaking, private grain storers store only that quantity of grain that they are reasonably sure of selling at a later date at a profit. This is the quantity that they deem the market can absorb until the next harvest comes in. In calculating how much to store, private grain storers assume that the next harvest will be a normal harvest. To assume otherwise, for instance, to assume that the next harvest will be bad would be to take the risk of ending up storing more than the market can absorb and of making a trading loss. The problem for society, of course, arises when the next harvest does, indeed, turn out to be bad. Then prices escalate, because the amount of grain that private storers have in store is not sufficient to cover the harvest shortfall. The inability of private storers (of the ‘free market’) to resolve this societal problem is an example of a market failure and, like all other market failures, can be rectified only by public (i.e. government) action. The storage of grain – at a level over and above that which the private sector is willing to undertake – is therefore a public good to be supplied by governments. “We therefore propose that a new organisation be set up, perhaps called the 'World Community for Food Reserves’” Rather than each country having its own reserve stock, for several reasons it would make sense to have one global stock upon which governments could call as and when necessary. Firstly, many countries are too poor to establish their own national stocks. Secondly, in some countries, because of local pressures, courts of law have difficulty following up cases of alleged corruption. Thirdly, compared to the sum total of individual national stocks, a global stock would provide greater cover for the same cost (aggregation of risk and the insurance effect). 10. Our Proposal Our proposal is for a reserve stock of grain, held at the world level. If international stocks are going to be properly and soundly managed, they have to be under the control of a supranational body, i.e. a body in which there is a limited sharing of sovereignty. This confers on the body a measure of authority over its member countries so that it can oblige them to act in the broad global interest of humanity as a whole rather than in the national interest of the country. It is for this reason that if a global grain reserve is to be properly managed the managing body has to be sovereignty-sharing rather than inter-governmental.[§] We therefore propose that a new organisation be set up, perhaps called the ‘World Community for Food Reserves’. This organisation would be responsible for managing the stocks – for their establishment, release and replenishment. Its member countries would share sovereignty in this particular domain. The members of the World Community for Food Reserves would be individual countries with the European Union as a single member in its own right (rather than its 27 member states). There are already some eight international organisations working in the field of food. Instead of setting up yet another international organisation, would it not be logical to charge one of the existing organisations with the task of managing reserves? Alas, none of the existing organisations are in a position to set up and manage a reserve stock of food. They do not have the requisite powers and it is extremely unlikely that they will ever receive those powers from their member states. The existing organisations are inter-governmental – just like the International Commission for cleaning up the Rhine. They can exhort, cajole and try to persuade governments to take particular actions but they cannot oblige them to do so. The proper management of a global food reserve requires governments to stick to the rules. Only a sovereignty-sharing body can ensure this. The big difference between this proposal and the existing international organisations is that the World Community would have teeth because its rules would be binding and enforceable. 11. A Gradual Enlargement in Membership Initially, the new organisation is likely to have a few members only, but if it becomes successful, it would grow – success being the best advertisement to attract aspiring members. The Community would have an executive commission, a council representing its member states, a parliamentary assembly representing the citizens and a court to hear cases of alleged infringement. All the member countries would have a guaranteed seat and a guaranteed voice in the council. The principles of democracy would apply. In the event that it is not possible to reach a decision by consensus – on, say, the amount of money that each country should contribute, or the conditions under which grain could be released – a vote would be taken by qualified majority voting. The Community would be open to all countries that meet two conditions. Firstly, they must be willing to share sovereignty in the field of food stocks. Secondly, they must be able to share sovereignty in this field. In practice this means that their governments must have the administrative capacity to manage reserve stocks of food. What would the World Community for Food Reserves do with its stocks? Would they be sold to governments or given away directly to the hungry? How would it all work in practice? Figure 2 shows the basic operations. Step 1: The Community procures a stock of grain and stores it in its own warehouses. The warehouses are sited in its member countries. Step 2: The Community has agreed, in advance, with each government a national ‘trigger price’. This is the price at which grain becomes very expensive for, say, the poorest quartile of the urban population. Each government monitors the price of grain on its market. Step 3: If the market price reaches the ‘trigger price’ then the government submits a request for the release of grain from the Community’s stock. If the request is deemed to be justified, the Community authorises the release of grain to the government. Step 4: The government does not give the grain to its citizens. Rather, it sells the grain on the market and returns the money to the Community. Step 5: When the market price has started to fall (after the next harvest, assuming that it is a normal harvest) the Community replenishes its stock by buying grain on the local market. The replenishment has to be done when markets are slackening to avoid causing the very problem that this proposal seeks to avert (unaffordable prices). Figure 2: How the World Community for Food Reserves would function “Perhaps, we can learn from the European Union’s experience, recalling the words of Jean Monnet, “The European Community is but a step towards the way we will organise the world of tomorrow.”” 12. Conclusion This is our thesis: firstly, the world is lacking the means to address global problems in an efficacious manner; secondly, the evidence of the European Union demonstrates that sovereignty-sharing works − the Rhine is just one of many examples; and thirdly, that we could start to share sovereignty at the global level with food security (and subsequently addressing climate change, global poverty, war and conflict and other world problems). Perhaps, we can learn from the European Union’s experience, recalling the words of Jean Monnet, its founding father: “The European Community is but a step towards the way we will organise the world of tomorrow.” [*] Author Contact Information Email : 1. Javier Blas, “Funds crunch threatens world food aid,” Financial Times, 11th June 2009 2. USDA ERS, Wheat Data: Yearbook Tables U.S. and foreign wheat prices, Retrieved from [] The author is currently an official of the European Commission and has written this paper in his capacity as a member of ACTION. The views expressed in this paper do not implicate the European Commission in any shape or form whatsoever. [†] By ‘we’, the author refers to ACTION for a World Community for Food Reserves − a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation established in 2011 under Belgian law. See [‡] The beneficiary countries were all those which engaged in wheat trade, either as importers or exporters. The benefit was greater price stability. [§] For an explanation of how countries can share sovereignty, see: Beginner’s guide to sovereignty sharing, available on website: [**] In original French: “… La Communauté elle-même n’est qu’une étape vers les formes d’organisation du monde de demain.” About the Author(s) John McClintock Co-founder of ACTION for a World Community for Food Reserves
Do Refrigerators Need A Special Outlet: Must-Know Facts & Tips Refrigerators, like other household appliances, have a single electrical cord that connects to your home’s electrical system and powers the item. Although appliance wires and connectors vary by manufacturer and model, most refrigerators use comparable wires and plugs. The wall receptacle into which your refrigerator cord is plugged is likewise standard, but it has some special criteria for good safety and performance. There are a lot of factors that go into plugging in a refrigerator, believe it or not! If you’re a little perplexed, this article will help you figure things out. How Does A Home’s Electrical System Work? Electricity is delivered to your home via wires that pass via power lines, pass through a transformer, and then flow via the two hot wires and one neutral wire that are connected to all of your home’s power outlets. As a result, anytime you plug in a gadget, electricity flows through it, the circuit is completed, and the device becomes functional. Since the 1960s, all American homes have been obliged by law to include a ground line to prevent electrical shocks. The 120V-240V system is now used in almost all American houses. The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) advises residents to only plug in one heat-producing device at a time and not to utilize extension cables or plug strips with big appliances. Check out this video to know how a refrigerator works: Do Refrigerators Need A Special Outlet? Refrigerators do not require additional outlets. They can be plugged into a three-pronged socket in any regular 110-120 volt outlet. It is, nevertheless, preferable if your refrigerator is connected to its circuit. It may even be required by local ordinances. While you can connect something else into the same socket, you shouldn’t—especially not another appliance. This will ensure that your refrigerator has enough power to function properly. Should Refrigerators Be Plugged Into A GFCI Outlet? A GFCI outlet should not be used to power a refrigerator. In places of the house where there is water or moisture, GFCI outlets are used. Bathrooms, basements, and kitchens are examples. This outlet is crucial because it decreases the danger of electrocution and electrical fires. When there is a problem with the electrical current, the outlet will trip, or cease producing power. If electrical equipment is dumped into the bathroom sink, for example, this can happen. Refrigerators have the drawback of causing unwanted trips via GFCI outlets. This can result in a fridge full of rotting food if not noticed early enough. Some refrigerators, particularly ones with ice makers, self-defrost functions, or other technological problems that might induce tripping, will cause the outlet to trip frequently. Should Fridges Be Sharing Outlets? Every outlet is wired to a circuit that can handle a specific number of volts and amperes. If you insert a gadget with a 40-60V input into a circuit that can handle 120V, it will blow up. It is critical to ensure that a device’s volts and amperes are compatible with those of a circuit. Although today’s refrigerators are becoming more energy-efficient, needing lesser voltage and current when in use, the current might spike at specified moments. Due to a phenomenon known as starting currents, this is the case. A startup current, also known as a surge current, is a transient spike in current that occurs when a machine is functioning at its most demanding. This is often when a refrigerator jumpstarts the compressor to circulate chilled air throughout the refrigerator. When it starts up, the current can spike up to three times the average running current, according to GE Appliances. This is why the National Electrical Code (NEC) suggests utilizing a separate circuit for refrigerators, or a circuit devoted to that single device. Should Fridges Be Used With Extension Cord? The owner’s handbook for your refrigerator almost definitely includes a warning against using an extension cable to power the device, which is sound advice in any event. Plug-in appliances are designed (and warranted) to be used exclusively with the power cable provided by the manufacturer. Undersized extension cables may not deliver enough electricity to the refrigerator, causing it to overheat, creating a serious fire risk. Meanwhile, long extension cables can also be insufficiently powerful and can be damaged if left uncovered or coiled beneath or around the refrigerator. How many amps do you need for a refrigerator? The amount of electrical current used by a refrigerator’s compressor to chill its compartment is measured in amps. When the voltage is 120, the amperage for typical domestic freezers ranges from 3 to 5. Because the in-rush amperage is substantially larger, a dedicated circuit of 15 to 20 amps is necessary. What kind of extension cord do I need for a refrigerator? In most kitchens, a 14-gauge extension cable is recommended. The arithmetic suggests a 14-gauge cord if your fridge uses less than 15 amps and the distance is less than 9 feet. What’s the best way to obtain extra power outlets? If your home lacks enough power outlets, you might consider purchasing power strips. These power strips include many outlets, allowing you to connect whatever gadget you choose. You should, however, always make sure that you’re utilizing these strips carefully. If you want everything to run smoothly, there are a few cardinal guidelines to follow: • Devices that require dedicated circuits should not be plugged into a power strip. They consume too much electricity, causing a circuit overload. • Keep power strips out of wet areas. This is an excellent technique to avoid it tripping your circuit breaker or, even worse, catching fire. • Don’t connect two power strips together. In principle, this sounds like a terrific way to add additional outlets, but in practice, you’re merely dispersing power, which means your appliances may not perform as well. It might also result in electrical problems! • If a power strip has heated up, don’t use it. Power strips aren’t designed to keep loads going for lengthy periods, and they can overheat and catch fire. • Always look for power strips that include a built-in circuit breaker. This helps to avoid electrical fires and harm to your plugged-in equipment. Read More: Rice Cooker Vs Crock Pot: Which Will Best Suit You? If you have a mini-fridge rather than a regular refrigerator, it’s a different issue, and you can share outlets because mini-fridges use less current and voltage. If you’re working with a standard fridge, though, utilize a separate circuit to avoid problems. In case you’re short on outlets, you may hire a local electrician to install more or utilize an outlet tap. Leave a Reply
Who actually pays taxes in Canada? Who pays all the taxes in Canada? Families in the top 5 percent of earners pay 28.8 percent of all taxes and earn 22.8 percent of total income. Families in the top 10 percent pay 39.6 percent of all taxes and earn 33.1 percent of total income. Does everyone pay taxes in Canada? Every resident of Canada is required to file a Canadian income tax return annually. Before filing your tax return, you must determine whether you are a resident, a “deemed” resident or a non-resident of Canada for tax purposes. Who pays most of the taxes in Canada? The report, “Measuring Progressivity in Canada’s Tax System,” says while the top 20% of income-earning families in Canada making more than $206,267 annually pay almost two-thirds of federal and provincial income taxes (63.2%), and more than half of all taxes (54.7%), their share of total income is only 44.1%. Who does not pay taxes in Canada? It’s a misconception that native people in Canada are free of the obligation to pay federal or provincial taxes. First Nations people receive tax exemption under certain circumstances, although the exemptions don’t apply to the Inuit and Metis. IT\'S FUNNING: Does Canada uphold the rule of law? How rich people avoid paying taxes in Canada? Income sprinkling, or income-splitting as it is often called, is a strategy that can be used by high-income owner-managers of small private corporations to divert some of their income to family members with lower personal tax rates. “Surplus stripping” transactions which convert company dividends into capital gains. Do billionaires in Canada pay taxes? This means Trudeau’s plan officially condones billionaires paying a lower tax rate than middle income Canadians. People in the top income tax bracket are supposed to pay 33%. Do poor people pay taxes Canada? Those with incomes of $266,000 a year and more paid 30.5% of their income in federal, provincial and municipal taxes in 2005 while the poorest, with incomes of $13,523 or less, paid 30.7%. The bottom group represents the lowest 10% of Canadians in family earnings. … This group pays 36.9% of their total income in taxes. Do politicians have to pay taxes? Who is the 1% in Canada? What does it take to be in the 1% in Canada? The threshold to join the 1% in Canada is only $244,800. However, the median income of a one-percenter is $338,300 and the average is a whopping $496,200. Why is Canada so rich? Canada is a wealthy nation because it has a strong and diversified economy. A large part of its economy depends on the mining of natural resources, such as gold, zinc, copper, and nickel, which are used extensively around the world. Canada is also a large player in the oil business with many large oil companies. IT\'S FUNNING: Can you get ESPN in Canada? How much is considered wealthy in Canada? Wealthy = 764,033 individuals in Canada have between $1 million and $5 million USD. VHNW = 91,823 individuals in Canada have between $5 million and $30 million USD. UHNW = 10,395 individuals in Canada have greater than $30 million USD.
Frequent question: How does climate change affect mining industry? How does climate change affect mineral resources? More frequent and intense precipitation events due to climate change may amplify existing land use impacts. Impervious surfaces impair the natural flood-absorbing capacities of wetlands and floodplains, thereby increasing the risk of flooding and erosion. How does mining affect the environment? Why coal mining is bad for the environment? There are significant environmental impacts associated with coal mining and use. It could require the removal of massive amounts of top soil, leading to erosion, loss of habitat and pollution. Coal mining causes acid mine drainage, which causes heavy metals to dissolve and seep into ground and surface water. Is climate change a result of mining? The report argues that foreign policy makers should pay more attention to the links between mining and climate change because (1) the mining sector is one of the major emitters of greenhouse gases and it produces fossil energy resources that also significantly contribute to global CO2 emissions, (2) mining is a sector … IT IS INTERESTING: Where is the Mediterranean climate in California? How does climate change affect goods and services? As the climate changes, demand will shift. As global temperatures rise, for instance, demand for heating oil will decline — as will demand for other winter goods. More consumers are also prioritizing sustainability in the products they buy, shifting demand toward more environmentally friendly goods. Can mining lead to climate change? Widespread decarbonization efforts across industries could create major shifts in commodity demand for the mining industry. And the mining sector, responsible for 4 to 7 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally, will also face pressure from governments, investors, and society to reduce emissions. Why does mining have such a large impact on the environment? Mining has a large impact on the environment because minerals are contained within the Earth. Earth must be removed in order to extract the minerals. When the minerals are close to the surface, the earth is removed, causing destruction to the shape of the land and the flora and fauna living in that area. Which of the following are major environmental issues involved in mining? What are the main challenges in mining industry? Problems in the mining industry in South africa • The gap between mining and manufacturing. • Bridging the gap with beneficiation. • Making beneficiation work for development. • Government intervention needed.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Slavery and Four Years of War, Vol. 1-2 A Political History of Slavery in the United States Together With a Narrative of the Campaigns and Battles of the Civil War In Which the Author Took Part: 1861-1865 Download options: • 630.74 KB • 1.83 MB • 923.63 KB The writer of this book was a volunteer officer in the Union army throughout the war of the Great Rebellion, and his service was in the field. The book, having been written while the author was engaged in a somewhat active professional life, lacks that literary finish which results from much pruning and painstaking. He, however, offers no excuse for writing it, nor for its completion; he has presumed to nothing but the privilege of telling his own story in his own way. He has been at no time forgetful of the fact that he was a subordinate in a great conflict, and that other soldiers discharged their duties as faithfully as himself; and while no special favors are asked, he nevertheless opes that what he has written may be accepted as the testimony of one who entertains a justifiable pride in having been connected with large armies and a participant in important campaigns and great battles. He flatters himself that his summary of the political history of slavery in the United States, and of the important political events occurring upon the firing on Fort Sumter, and the account he has given of the several attempts to negotiate a peace before the final overthrow of the Confederate armies, will be of special interest to students of American history. Slavery bred the doctrine of State-rights, which led, inevitably, to secession and rebellion. The story of slavery and its abolition in the United States is the most tragic one in the world's annals. The "Confederate States of America" is the only government ever attempted to be formed, avowedly to perpetuate human slavery. A history of the Rebellion without that of slavery is but a recital of brave deeds without reference to the motive which prompted their performance. The chapter on slavery narrates its history in the United States from the earliest times; its status prior to the war; its effect on political parties and statesmen; its aggressions, and attempts at universal domination if not extension over the whole Republic; its inexorable demands on the friends of freedom, and its plan of perpetually establishing itself through secession and the formation of a slave nation. It includes a history of the secession of eleven Southern States, and the formation of "The Confederate States of America"; also what the North did to try to avert the Rebellion. It was written to show why and how the Civil War came, what the conquered lost, and what the victors won. In other chapters the author has taken the liberty, for the sake of continuity, of going beyond the conventional limits of a personal memoir, but in doing this he has touched on no topic not connected with the war. The war campaigns cover the first one in Western Virginia, 1861; others in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, 1862; in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, 1863; and in Virginia, 1864; ending with the capture of Richmond and Petersburg, the battles of Five Forks and Sailor's Creek, and the surrender of Lee to Grant at Appomattox, 1865....
Dry eyes2021-08-16T09:40:00+00:00 Wien · Linz · Zürich Dry eye is a common condition associated with dryness and irritation • You can relieve your dry eyes and prevent damage with the latest dry eye treatments Relieve your dry eyes and enjoy more comfort Discover everything you need to know about dry eye and how we treat it below “My eyes are so dry today” Whoever speaks these words mostly attributes external factors to the dry eye. For example, the heating in a room is often blamed for dry eyes, and often rightly so. But what many do not know, is that “dry eye” also exists as a disease, and it has nothing to do with outside influences. The disease is not serious. Nevertheless, it can be very bothersome. To understand dry eye, you must first understand the surface of the eye. The eye’s surface consists of the conjunctiva and cornea, which is covered by a thin layer of fluid called the tear film. The eyelids act as cleaners; they wipe foreign objects out of the eye. The tear film protects the eye from drying out. The tear film has three layers. Each layer has its own task. The first layer consists of water which keeps the eye moist. The second layer is produced by the mucous glands and helps hold the first layer in place. The third layer consists of fat which allows tear fluid to evaporate slowly and reproduce tears. With every blink, your eye spreads the freshly formed film of liquid over the surface of the eye, on average 12 to 15 times per minute. Excess fluid in the eye drains into the nose through two microscopic openings on the lower and upper eyelids, which we call teardrop holes. The tear film and its function The tear film has three tasks. The first task is to protect the eye from foreign objects such as dust, pollen, spores, viruses and bacteria. It also helps guard the eye against changes in temperature, wind and any trauma to the eye. The tear film intercepts all these factors, and the blink of an eye sweeps them away. Fluid is also responsible for ensuring that the outermost surface of the eye is smooth. This, in turn, helps to provide good quality vision. The third task of the tear film is to moisturize and nourish the cornea. Without the film, the blinking of an eye would rub directly on the conjunctiva and cornea and injure them over time. Thus, the tear film also has the function of a lubricant. It also contains nutrients that it supplies to the surface of the eye. “Dye eye” and its causes The technical term for dry eye is “conjunctivitis sicca”. Dry eye occurs when the wetting of the surface of the eye is disturbed. Many factors contribute to this disorder, both physical and emotional. Visual disturbances can also lead to this disease. Inflammation and a tear fluid that is too concentrated usually play the main role. But what are the causes? Two reasons are considered essential: Low production of tears This can have several causes. The tear gland tissue recedes in old age, and certain diseases can also occur. External factors also come into question, such as drugs such as beta-blockers or atropine inhibit tear formation. Serious eye diseases often lead to scars on the lacrimal gland. Postmenopausal women are often affected. This is because of the depletion of certain hormones that have a direct effect on the tear film. Ineffective production of tears Sometimes there are enough tears, but they don’t do their job well. This may be because the tears are unable to adhere to the tear film or the evaporation is too weak or too strong. This is often because there is not enough mucus due to a lack of vitamin A, inflammation, scarring, burns or chemical burns. A disorder of the meibomian glands A disorder in the meibomian glands (the tiny oil glands which line the margin of the eyelids) can also mean that the fat film is not sufficiently strong. Atopic dermatitis, certain mites and bacteria sometimes cause inflammation on the edge of the eyelid. Sensory disturbances Sensory disturbances of the eye, paralysis of the face or an eyelid closure disorder can sometimes cause “dry eye”. Certain medications that are responsible for the instability of the tear film may also affect it. External influences Last but not least, permanent external influences are often the reason for the disease. This includes: • Rooms with low humidity, • Excessively heated rooms • Constant drafts • Smoke • Contact lenses • The blower in the car • Infrequent blinking, which happens from time to time when working on the computer or reading frequently. The less tear fluid there is, the higher the concentration of the substances present, such as mucilage and salts. If this is the case, patients usually feel stickiness in the eye or as if there is a foreign body in it. There is also often a violent stinging or burning sensation. Simultaneously, the body releases more and more substances that signal to the eye that it is inflamed. The eye becomes red and swollen and can feel hot and sometimes painful. All this leads to blurred vision. Blinking and eye drops can help. An unusual symptom of dry eye can be increased tears and eye-watering. This can happen when the tear film no longer adheres to the surface of the eye. This can indicate a disorder in the fat or mucus layer, which causes the tear fluid to run out. Another reason for excessive eye watering may be that the dryness has progressed so much that the eye becomes very irritated. The eye produces more tears In an attempt to soothe the eye. This can lead to chronic inflammation of the cornea, which can cause the top layer of the eye to become cloudy. Diagnosis of dry eye To diagnose dry eye, the doctor colours the surface of the eye with special substances, which determines the sensitivity of the cornea. If this indicates “dry eye” disease, the doctor will conduct further investigations. With a strip of filter paper, which is hung in the lower eyelid, the amount of tears can be measured (the so-called umbrella test). If necessary, there are other methods to confirm the diagnosis to rule out the possibility that another form of the disease is present, which, after all, would have to be treated differently. There are almost always several causes for “dry eye”, which is why there is no single method that always works. Patients must be aware of this, and the ophthalmologist should be frank from the outset. Sometimes it takes several attempts by the doctor to get the problem under control. In the same way, patients should learn that it is always a matter of a treatment effect that lasts for a certain period of time. Dry eye” is chronic, and the symptoms will return at some point. Health insurance companies also no longer cover the costs of the therapy. Discussing this with the doctor may be understandable from the patient’s point of view, but it does not help. Artificial tears We can use artificial tears to treat dry eye. The artificial tears protect the eye’s surface by forming a lubricating film and strengthening the tear film. There are many types of artificial tears, but they all contain similar ingredients, such as water and salts. Sometimes they include thickening agents and preservatives. If preservatives are not included, the artificial tears usually have to be used up within a day. The thicker they are, the better the tears adhere to the eye’s surface and the better moistened they are. However, a thick substance temporarily impairs vision because it covers the eye like a veil. The ophthalmologist cannot predict how each patient will react to each solution. You may need to try numerous solutions until you find one that works well for you. If possible, you should try and use solutions without preservatives to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction. Anyone who wears soft contact lenses should always get artificial tears without preservatives. How much artificial tears should you use? The principle “a lot helps a lot” applies here, so you should use them regularly. Lid edge care If inflammation of the lid edges is the trigger for the watering eyes, we may need to improve the drainage of the flat film. The fat film is produced in the Meibomian glands. This is done by peeling off skin flakes and crusts on the edges of the eyelids. Often this detachment is only possible by first massaging an eye ointment into the appropriate areas. As long as the inflammation continues at the edges of the eyelids, you should discontinue the use of cosmetic products such as eye shadow. Eye drops There are two variants: human blood serum drops and anti-inflammatory drops. There are numerous substances in the human blood serum that reduce inflammation. This can also have a positive effect on eye surface diseases. We can make these drops from your blood. If you choose to use drops created by the pharmaceutical industry, they must contain anti-inflammation. For short-term use, cortisone is usually included to help with inflammation. For long-term use, only drops without cortisone are suitable. Contact lenses Lenses are a problem when patients have “dry eye” because they often make symptoms worse. However, there are some forms of this disease that benefit from soft and thin lenses. They can stabilize the surface of the eye and reduce discomfort. Seal the teardrop spots If the tears run out of the eye too quickly, the teardrop points are often letting in too much fluid. For a certain period of time, it then helps to close these teardrop points. We can use a plug for this, which works like a plugin in a bathtub. In rare cases, the ophthalmologist may force the closure permanently. They can do this by scarring the tear points. Sometimes the human body is unable to manufacture certain substances that it needs. For example, humans can be deficient in specific vitamins such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These are important for eye health. Fatty acids help to create healthy glands on the edge of the eyelid. They also help to secret tears and messenger substances that signal inflammation. Often we can obtain these vitamins through food or supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are mainly found in oily fish or linseed oil. There are also drugs on the market to promote secretion, but some have serious side effects. That is why we only recommend them in severe cases. We also offer e-eye tratment IPL (Intense Pulse Light treatment). This is a pain-free and effective way to treat dry eye conditions. Other measures In the case of “dry eye”, we rarely perform surgery. Only when a case is particularly severe. If we think surgery is a necessary course faction, we will need to discuss the consequences with you in great detail. If the tear fluid evaporates faster than it should, we may prescribe special glasses with side protection. This should protect from the wind. Knowledge about the “dry eye” is getting better and better. This means that we expect drugs in the future to work very well and have no side effects. What else can patients do? It can be a good idea to use a room humidifier, especially in winter when there is a lot of heating. Hanging damp clothes over the heating is another helpful way of bringing moisture to a room. In the car, you should avoid using AC or the blower. If you need to use it, direct it away from the eyes. Avoid rooms where people smoke and avoid cigarette and alcohol consumption as these substances can dry out eyes. Plenty of sleep and a balanced diet with lots of vitamins are just as important as a good supply of water – two litres a day is the minimum. If you want to swim, we recommend using swimming goggles. Anyone who works on a monitor should take many breaks and be conscious of their blinking. Contact lens wearers are encouraged to take them out every now and then and frequently wet their eyes with the appropriate liquids. You should only use cosmetics with great caution. Try to use only products with low-irritation content. Preparations for cleaning the eyelid are important. Last but not least, you should have regular examinations by an ophthalmologist. Fed-up with the limiting nature of glasses and contact lenses? Choose the option below that sounds most like you to discover your best treatment You’re 20 – 39 and fed-up with glasses and contact lenses If losing your glasses ever makes you late, if pricey contact lenses eat into your hard-earned money, or if your glasses slip down, fall-off or fog-up, it’s time to find a better solution. Discover the best treatment to free you from the limitations of glasses and contact lenses… You’re 40 – 55+ and reading glasses make you feel old and cumbersome Are your eyes struggling to keep up with your lifestyle? Maybe you have a pair of glasses for every occasion but when you need them they’re either broken or missing? Discover the best treatment to free you from the embarrassment and hassle of reading glasses… You’re 55 plus and experiencing dull and clouded vision If your vision is hazy or blurred (even with glasses); if colours appear dull or faded; or if you’re having increasing difficulty seeing at night, it’s likely you have a cataract. Discover the best treatment to restore your visual clarity (AND remove your need for glasses!) Optimise your eyes and ditch the hassle of glasses and contacts Millions of people around the world have gained their freedom from glasses and contacts but not everyone’s eyes are suitable for treatment. Book an assessment below and find out if you’re suitable and which treatment can help you best: 3 steps to reliable vision Get eyes you can depend on with our Swiss method for exceptional eye treatment outcomes Contact us Whether you have keratoconus, dry eyes or cataracts, the first step is to give us a call. Call us in Vienna or Linz. You can also book a suitability assessment online. Pay us a visit Here we’ll triple-check your eyes and take the time to listen to your needs and expectations. Once we’ve found the best treatment for you, you’ll feel confident and reassured on your next steps Enjoy unstoppable vision Once we’ve treated you at our state-of-the-art clinic, you’ll admire our handy work as you experience exceptional natural vision – free from any worrying eye problems How much do our patients love us? 95.89% to be precise (we’re Swiss. We measure everything). But don’t take our word for it… Overall I’m more than satisfied. The entire team is friendly, competent and very well organized. My quality of life without lenses and glassed has increased significantly. I would do it again and definitely recommend it. DocFinder User Everyone who is thinking about having their eyes lasered should come here! I have been seeing PERFECT since then and am extremely satisfied with the result. Highly recommended and personally regret not having done it earlier. A completely different attitude towards life of not having to wear glasses anymore. DocFinder User The operation was short and painless. Even after the operation, I had no pain or other impairments. The entire team is extremely friendly and helpful. Since I am completely satisfied with the result, I can only recommend EyeLaser. DocFinder User The doc is super friendly, very professional and really tip-top. I was able to see very well 4 hours after the procedure. I was a little light-sensitive for a few days, which I was made aware of in advance. I am very pleased. The only annoying thing is that I didn’t do it earlier. DocFinder User My quality of life has increased immensely after the laser, despite “not that many diopters”. A big THANK YOU for that! I can only warmly recommend the clinic. DocFinder User I’ve been wearing glasses for 40 years, and I don’t regret taking this step much earlier. I had no problem with the healing process and have been enjoying my life without glasses ever since. DocFinder User It was the best decision of my life. After laser eye surgery, my ametropia was completely eliminated, and I was able to see everything razor-sharp the day after the operation. The doctor and his entire team are super nice and professional. DocFinder User The most popular ophthalmologist in Austria. Dr. Victor Derhartunian hasn’t got such great customer reviews for nothing. He is clearly the nicest doctor in his field in the city. I am 57 years old, and five years ago, I had my eyes lasered in his eye laser practice. The result is brilliant. I still have good eyesight, I only need glasses for reading now, but presbyopia is a completely natural process that everyone sooner or later succumbs to. DocFinder User Thanks also to the entire team, everything went really well. At first, I was very sceptical about lasers. After the laser, I was able to see straight away without reading glasses. I am happy to have taken the step and Dr. Derhartunian can only be recommended. DocFinder User Our insurers We are proud to be associated with top quality private medical insurance Watch the best patient videos on our life-changing eye treatments Get a thorough overview of everything you need to know about our life-changing treatments Wie funktioniert PresbyMAX? Wie funktioniert PresbyMAX? Lernen Sie mehr über die Methode zur Korrektur der Alterssichtigkeit. Dr Victor Derhartunian erklärt... Eye surgery with Swiss precision We’re Swiss. Quality is in our DNA Everything here (even the coffee) is optimised with Swiss precision. There’s a right way and a wrong way The right clinic is not too cheap, too “chain” or too costly. The right clinic is precisely right. Over the top precision With our Swiss method for vision correction; there’s no room for disappointment. Discover which eye treatment is best for you with this 1-minute quiz Things like age, eye shape, history and lifestyle make an eye treatment perfect for one person, but not another. Find out which treatment (if any) could free you from glasses and contacts Winners of the Patients’ Choice Awards 2012 to 2021 We have been awarded first place nine times for customer satisfaction Get to know the eye experts Discover Austria’s most popular laser eye surgeons in the heart of Vienna and Linz Dr. Victor Derhartunian Ophthalmologist, Refractive surgery specialist After learning his trade from the two pioneers of laser surgery, Dr Victor Derhartunian is among the leading surgeons in Europe. He heads the practice in Vienna and can advise his patients in 5 languages. Dr. Paul Jirak Ophthalmologist, Refractive surgery specialist Dr. Paul Jirak is a co-founder of one of the most renowned centers for laser eye surgery in Austria and has been treating patients in Linz since 2014. He specialises in ophthalmology, optometry, eye surgery and eye lasers. Assoc. Prof. Priv. Doz. Dr. Christina Leydolt Ophthalmologist, Lens & cataract surgery specialist Dr. Leydolt is an ophthalmologist specialised in cataract and lens surgery. She leads a research group with this focus, trains young surgeons and gives international and national lectures.
Home Explore Keyfacts - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) View in Fullscreen Keyfacts - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Published by Guset User, 2015-04-02 23:40:02 Description: What is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? PCOS is a condition related to the body’s hormones which can affect physical and emotional health. Hormones are chemical ... Read the Text Version No Text Content! Keyfacts - Polycystic ovarysyndrome (PCOS)Women’s health portal web resourceWhat is polycystic ovary In PCOS these changes can cause some of the following:syndrome (PCOS)? • period problems • emotional problemsPCOS is a condition related to the body’s hormones which can • hair growth on the face and other areasaffect physical and emotional health. • acne or pimples • easy weight gainHormones are chemical messengers that tell the body what to do • insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes(e.g. when to release an egg from the ovaries or when to start a • high cholesterolperiod/monthly). • delays/difficulties getting pregnant.PCOS affects 12-18% of Australian women of reproductive age The symptoms vary between different women and can change asand maybe as high as 21% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander a woman ages.women. How is polycystic ovaryWhat causes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosed?syndrome (PCOS)? To diagnose PCOS, a doctor takes a medical history asking about:The cause of PCOS is probably a combination of: • periods• family history • hair growth• lifestyle (for example, diet and physical activity). PCOS is more • weight gain. common with increased weight A medical examination includes:• hormonal imbalances. • measuring weight • measuring heightHow does polycystic ovary • measuring Body Mass Index (BMI) (weight/height2)syndrome (PCOS) affect the • measuring blood pressurebody? • checking for hair growth.All women have male-type hormones in their body in small Other tests include:amounts, in women with PCOS there may be more of these male • blood tests to check for male hormone levels and othertype hormones. There is also often a change in insulin (a hormonethat helps the body take up glucose). When the hormones are out problemsof balance this can change or upset the messages that are sent to • internal ultrasound of the pelvis, the ovaries and the uterus/different parts of the body. womb.CORE FUNDING A woman is diagnosed with PCOS if she has two or more of these: • For example, if a woman weighs 85kg and she can lose• a blood test that shows a large amount of male hormones in just 4.5kg, it will improve her health in lots of ways. the blood or there are signs of too many male hormones such Insulin resistance and diabetes: as lots of hair on the face or body• irregular periods/monthlies or no periods/monthlies Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance, this means the• ultrasound shows the ovaries with many follicles (partly insulin in the body cannot keep blood sugar levels stable or normal. formed eggs in sacs of fluid). To improve insulin resistance:Figure 1: A normal ovary and a PCOS ovary • healthy eating, regular physical activity and losing weight • some women may require medication.What is a polycystic ovary? Irregular periods:During a normal menstrual cycle a number of follicles start to grow.All except one will stop growing and be re-absorbed. In women A woman’s period or monthly usually comes every 28 days. Womenwithout polycystic ovaries, a small number of follicles can be seen with PCOS have higher levels of male hormones and insulin and thison ultrasound. causes the period/monthly to be more irregular or stop altogether. It is important to have regular periods or monthlies. It keeps theIn women with polycystic ovaries, there is an excess number (> 10) lining inside the uterus from thickening and stops abnormal cellsof small follicles seen on ultrasound. These small follicles develop from developing. It is good to have at least four cycles per year.but are no re-absorbed in the same way. In women with PCOS this Medications like the pill, other hormone tablets (e.g. Provera) oris due to the hormone change. metformin can be prescribed to help periods occur regularly.Polycystic ovaries can happen for other reasons and up to 20% Increased hair growth:of women have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound without having • increased hair growth can be treated with waxing, laser hairPCOS. It is more common in young women in the first few yearsafter starting periods, so ultrasound is not a good investigation for removal, creams and some medications such as the pill.PCOS in teenage women. Acne:How is polycystic ovary • acne can be treated with creams, antibiotics, the pill and somesyndrome (PCOS) managed? medications.PCOS can affect physical and emotional health. There are lots ofways for a woman herself to manage PCOS but she will also need Anxiety and depression:some medical help and advice. If a woman can understand howPCOS affects the body it might help her to manage it better. Women with PCOS are more likely to experience feelings of sadness, anxiety and depression than other women. This can be due toLifestyle and weight management: symptoms of PCOS, including more facial and body hair, acne,• a healthy diet and physical activity are important for managing weight changes and fertility problems. They can affect mood, self- esteem and how women feel about themselves. Women can talk to PCOS their doctor or health professional about mental health problems;• being physically active gives a person more energy, it can treatments include counselling, psychology or medication. help them feel better about themself and reduces anxiety and What are the difficulties with depression getting pregnant that may occur• losing even a little bit of weight (5 to 10 per cent) can improve with polycystic ovary syndrome periods/monthlies, make it easier to get pregnant and reduce (PCOS)? the risk of diabetes and heart disease In some women with PCOS the ovaries do not release an egg every month so periods/monthlies are irregular. Many women with PCOS (40%) will get pregnant without medical help but some women do have trouble becoming pregnant. Weight loss may: • help periods/monthlies become more regular and this will help the chance of becoming pregnant. Losing 5% of body weight can improve fertility by up to 60% • prevent the need for medical treatment like hormone tablets (or IVF although not usually required)2 Copyright © 2013 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Keyfacts - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)• reduce the chance of developing gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy) and high blood pressure in pregnancy.If a woman has been trying to have a baby for 12 months or more,or if she is trying to get pregnant but her periods do not comevery often, it is important that she talks to a doctor. The doctorwill do some tests to find out why she is not becoming pregnant.If a women is not ovulating/releasing an egg from the ovaries,there are a number of medications (taken as tablets) that can helpbring back ovulation. If this treatment is not successful there areother hormonal treatments available. Sometimes surgery on theovaries can help as can hormone. injections to help ovulation. IVFis another option if pregnancy does not occur or if there are otherreasons for infertility.What else can happen to womenwith PCOS?Women with PCOS can have increased risk factors for heart diseaseassociated with:• cholesterol levels• type 2 diabetes• high blood pressure.It is important that women with PCOS have regular ongoingmonitoring and health checks every 1-2 years depending on theirindividual needs.A regular health check would include asking about the regularity ofperiods/monthlies before menopause and measuring:• cholesterol/lipids (blood fats)• blood glucose (sugar)• blood pressure• weight.Routine women’s checks are also important including:• Pap smears (where relevant)• asking about contraception (where relevant)• breast checks.If you think a woman might have PCOS, it is important that youtell her to see a doctor or nurse. If she is diagnosed early it helpsthe woman to manage the condition better and can also help toprevent problems such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/womenshealthportal 3 Australian Indigenous Director Professor Neil Thomson HealthInfoNet Address Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Edith Cowan UniversityThe Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is an innovative 2 Bradford StreetInternet resource that contributes to ‘closing the gap’ Mount Lawley, WA 6050in health between Indigenous and other Australians byinforming practice and policy in Indigenous health. Telephone (08) 9370 6336Two concepts underpin the HealthInfoNet’s work. The first isevidence-informed decision-making, whereby practitioners Facsimile (08) 9370 6022and policy-makers have access to the best availableresearch and other information. This concept is linked with Email [email protected] of translational research (TR), which involves makingresearch and other information available in a form that Web www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.auhas immediate, practical utility. Implementation of thesetwo concepts involves synthesis, exchange and ethical © Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 2013application of knowledge through ongoing interaction withkey stakeholders. This product, excluding the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNetThe HealthInfoNet’s work in TR at a population-health level, logo, artwork, and any material owned by a third party or protectedin which it is at the forefront internationally, addresses by a trademark, has been released under a Creative Commons BY-the knowledge needs of a wide range of potential users, NC-ND 3.0 (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) licence. Excluded material owned byincluding policy-makers, health service providers, program third parties may include, for example, design and layout, imagesmanagers, clinicians, Indigenous health workers, and other obtained under licence from third parties and signatures.health professionals. The HealthInfoNet also provides easy-to-read and summarised material for students and the Featured Artworkgeneral community.The HealthInfoNet encourages and supports information- by Justice Nelsonsharing among practitioners, policy-makers and othersworking to improve Indigenous health – its free on line CORE FUNDINGyarning places enable people across the country to shareinformation, knowledge and experience. The HealthInfoNetis funded mainly by the Australian Department of Healthand Ageing. Its award-winning web resource (www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au) is free and available to everyone.
Scalding hands no more! Scalding hands no more! Sami Windle Behind The Scenes, Treasures From The Collection Did you guess what the object was? It was a spigot! There are so many objects that we use every day that we simply take for granted. One such object is the spigot or faucet. According to Merriam-Webster, a spigot is a “device that controls the flow of liquid from a large container.” The spigot or faucet has been around for many years. Plumbing was around during the ancient Greek and Roman times with their Bath Houses and pipes laid from the aqueducts to buildings. To get the water in the tub, a faucet was attached to the pipe which allowed for hot or cold water to fill up the tub. It was this technology that paved the way for plumbing today. High Plains Museum \| MC411 Barrel Spigot - Redlich's Warranted Faucets High Plains Museum \| Barrel Spigot – Redlich’s Warranted Faucets Here in the United States many important inventions and improvements have come about in regards to the spigot or faucet. Hundreds of patents have been filed throughout the years. Gtjstive A. Soderlund applied for his patent in 1897 for his Hot and cold water faucet which allowed the user to have hot and cold water separately or together. In 1911 Everett Wesley Brague filed for a patent to improve the spigot. His improvements relieved the faucet of the strain the spring pressed valvular member exerted on the valve body. Wesson Paul B of the Hampden Brass Company filed for his patent in 1921 had the faucet having an automatic means of relief if the pressure in the tank became too much. Even though the faucet or spigot had been around for thousands of years, it was Al Moen that revolutionized the faucet. While washing his hands one night, he burnt them when a spurt of hot water shot out. Due to the inability to accurately control the temperature with a two handle faucet, Moen invented the single handle faucet from 1937 to 1939. A patent was applied for in 1945 which you can see here and in 1947 his company, Moen’s, began manufacturing single handle faucets that were sold for $12 each. Over the years Moen continued to be a leader in plumbing with Al Moen retiring in 1982 with over forty-five years in his business and seventy-five patents to help plumbing. There were several other companies that made strides in the world of faucets, including Delta. Alex Manoogian founded the Delta Faucet Company and made a faucet with no washers which meant no leaks or drips. The spigot we have in our collection at the High Plains Museum is a wooden barrel spigot from Redlich’s Warranted Faucets. Most likely this spigot was used in a beer or wine cask and was made anywhere between 1890 and 1950. There is very little information about the Redlich Manufacturing Co. so it is hard to pinpoint an ending date. An interesting fact about the company is that they presented their spigot at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Several of these spigots can be found on ebay and etsy. Spigots and faucets have been around since ancient Greek and Roman times. It was these spigots that helped pave the way for faucets today. Al Moen made a huge break through when he invented the single handle faucet and helped his company make strides in the plumbing world. We use a faucet on a daily basis but probably never stopped to wonder how it came about.
Share with others Everyone has unique habits so millionaires too. The main difference between the rich and the poor is that the rich have specific success habits that the poor do not have. In addition to that, there is also a way that the rich handle themselves that the poor cannot seem to understand. Financial independence comes from knowing what you want to achieve in life and having different and realistic ways of achieving those goals. There are some success habits that only millionaires and rich people have, and these habits have led to their financial independence. The habits that the rich have include the following. 1. They are persistent The only way to get things done even when you feel like giving up is to be persistent. It is not guaranteed that you are going to succeed immediately you try working on something. You will try and fail severally before you finally get it right. One of the common habits that millionaires have is that they are very persistent in what they do. In the process of trying to gain financial independence, the rich face many challenges along the way. However, the only difference that they have from the poor is that they do not give up when faced with those specific challenges. They learn how to handle these challenges and always view them positively. Persistence is a habit that is learned and practised. When faced with any challenge, the rich refuse to give up because they know that success is just around the corner. In addition to that, studies have shown that the rich are persistent not only when trying to gain financial independence, but in all aspects of their lives. They are organized and careful on how they spend their free time, they pursue a specific goal for a long time until they achieve it, they have learned and know how to control their emotions, and they are also persistent in reading something meaningful every day. 2. They set specific and attainable goals Having goals is important since you have to work so that you have those specific goals. So millionaires have that great habit and even other habits maintain from this as a goal. The big difference that exists between the rich and the poor is that the rich set specific goals that they can attain whereas the poor set many goals, and end up not achieving even one. To be able to achieve your financial independence, you need to ensure that you have listed the goals that you want to achieve in place, so that you work towards one thing instead of working to fulfil many goals, most or all of which you may not be able to fulfil. The rich always follow the SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Based. Setting goals that are attainable is the first trick to financial independence. It is important that you work towards attaining one goal at a time however small it may be. Let’s see the SMART goal framework to get more idea. Smart goal framework for achieve financial independence SMART goal framework SMART Goal Framework • Specific: This means that you have to be specific regarding the goals that you want to achieve. Always Focus on one goal. The word itself says Follow One Course Until Success. • Measurable: the only way that you will know if you are attaining your specific goal is to measure it. For instance, if you are a freelancer, and you have a goal of raising $2000 by the end of the month, you will measure the number of work you have done and completed. • Achievable: set a goal that you know you can achieve. The rich have a habit of setting one goal and ensuring that they have set a realistic and achievable goal. This is usually the first step to gaining financial independence. Achievable goals are those goals that you can accomplish within a specific time frame. • Relevant: relevant goals are those that align with your values and help you achieve a bigger goal in the long term. In addition to that, relevant goals should contribute to your broader objective. If your goal is not relevant then you may want to rethink it. To achieve financial independence by setting goals, you need to ask yourself why the goal you have set is important to you. • Time-based: have a specific time frame when you want to accomplish your goal. When you set a specific time that you want to use to accomplish your goals, you will make that goal to be a priority. For instance, assuming that you want to buy a car in the next year, and then by the end of that one year, you realize that you have not achieved that goal. You should then ask yourself why you have not accomplished your goal within the stipulated time. 3. They have mentors Rich people know that they cannot achieve everything on their own. They need mentors to guide them and show them the right way. This is why they gain their financial independence more than a person who thinks that working on his own will make him achieve his goals. Research has it that about 93% of rich people have mentors who assist them on their path to becoming successful. Finding a good mentor may be very challenging especially since these mentors determine your success. However, the trick is to look for a mentor who you can look up to, and one who has an interest in your career. millionaires have mentors to maintain their habits clearly There are some mentors who only value the pay and do not put in any work in ensuring that you achieve your financial independence. It’s hard to find honest mentors. Some will leave you to work alone, and in the process, you may lose track. There are various reasons why working with a mentor is very important. The reasons include the following. • Mentors help you to avoid the mistakes that they made themselves while on the same journey as you. • Having a mentor is also important since they can connect you with different people on the same path as you, who will continue to help you along the way. • A mentor is also important since he inspires and motivates you to stay on the right track. They do this by ensuring that you keep working on the goals that you have set in place. 4. They are positive Positivity is also another habit that rich people have. They know that things may not always turn out the way they wanted, and are flexible enough to allow for any changes to happen. However, The main habit that they have, they see the positive in all the negative situations so that’s why most millionaires do what 99% of people do not. train your mind to see the positive in every situation for get financial independence The rich are also grateful for the things that they have. They try to avoid wasting their time by gossiping and engaging in other activities. In addition to that, these individuals tend to gain financial independence fast because they enjoy their careers more. They do not work simply because they want to be paid, but they work because they love what they do and they are positive about their environments too. 5. They educate themselves One of the great habits that millionaires have in their lives is educating themself. The rich also spend more of their time educating themselves than ordinary people. Ordinary peoples spend their time on unnecessary stuff such as watching TV, playing games. While rich educate themselves by reading different books during their free time. Also, one of the important reasons why rich people educate themselves by self-learning instead of formal education is because the school does not teach you some important facts about money. Learn more about what does school not teach you about money. millionaire habits to become financially secure This helps them to expand their knowledge. Also, a person who learns by himself is educated than the person who learns from school. Most of the educated people are poor because they haven’t knowledge from self-education. Self-education is one of the things that the rich do, and they use what they have learned to help them make various decisions, achieve their goals and improve their lives. 6. They avoid lifestyle creep We have already discussed this on “The 3 rules that only rich have“. There we got an idea about how lifestyle creeps effects your success. For instance, an individual who is being paid $5000 every month, will buy a car by leasing without investing in any business or real estate, then he or she will definitely face a problem with his budget. What does millionaire do to remain their pose This is completely different for the rich. They completely avoid a lifestyle creep by all means. The more money they make, the more they try to maintain their current lifestyle. This has saved them thousands of coins, which have been turned into lifetime investments. It reaches a point where they no longer have to worry about working, because of the investments that they have put in place. They will sit and enjoy themselves as more money is being generated, unlike the ordinary person who will keep working for the rest of his life to make ends meet. 7. They surround themselves with success-oriented people Millionaires and most rich people have one of the best habits of surrounding themselves with successful people. They have a group of people who want or who have achieved the same things that they also want in life. Through this, they get to learn from others and know of different ways to achieve their set goals. habits that millionaires have One thing with rich people is that they are not jealous of each other; instead, they always work towards ensuring that all of them are successful at the end of the day. Also, many Billionaires got success from their team. For instance, • Mark Zuckerberg found Facebook with his Harvard University friends, in particular Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. • childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft. • Max LevchinPeter Thiel, and Luke Nosek found Paypal. Have you ever wondered why millionaires have clubs that consist of only the rich people, and hang out with each other during their free time with their common habits? This is because they know the importance of helping each other achieve success at the end of the day. They form these clubs and make it a habit of meeting at least once a month so that they can just share or help a colleague. When the person being helped masters the art and also becomes successful at one point, he will always be there when his help is needed. This is why when rich people are having fundraising for people who are in need, they tend to raise more money and most of this money is gotten from their rich friends too. They end up raising more money from their circle, more than the average person would. In summary, the rich have success habits that are completely different from the habits that an ordinary person has. First, they believe in having a positive attitude in everything that they do. When they encounter different obstacles, they face them instantly and do not run away from them. Also, they have good habits like spend most of their time educating themselves by reading different books and biographies of other millionaires that make them grow. Lastly, they also know the importance of surrounding themselves with success-oriented individuals. These groups of people are open to helping each other and pushing each other toward achieving their set goals. Therefore, to gain financial independence, one needs to develop the habits that the rich have. Share with others Write A Comment Pin It
Clipped Strips Collectible Newspaper Comics Comics can be humorous, timeless, and universal commentaries on humans and their weaknesses. Comics can also be a reflection of the pop culture and the social, political, and economic realities of various time periods. The collectible comics provide a variety of strips from a wide range of decades. What was the first comic strip in a newspaper? The Yellow Kid, created in 1895, is credited as being the first comic strip in a newspaper, but the concept that led to comics developed over centuries. While using humor, The Yellow Kid focused on political and social commentary and was intended for adults. The popularity of comics grew. Many early comics are available among these collectible newspaper strips. How have newspaper comics changed? In the 1920s, many strips started creating storylines. These included Popeye, Buck Rogers, and Tarzan. Then, in the 1940s, some strips, such as Mary Worth and Judge Parker, created mini soap operas within the strips. Copies of these and other similar comics are still available. What has not changed about comic strips? The comic strip, Blondie, is a good example of a timeless and universal comic strip about the foibles of humankind, or of the foibles of at least one man, Dagwood Bumstead. It has been published in the newspaper each day since 1930 and reaches 47 countries. Not much has changed. Blondie and Tootsie started a catering business, but generations still enjoy Dagwood's repeated behavior as he deals with his boss, Mr. Dithers. He borrows from his neighbor, Herb. He runs into the mailman, Mr. Beasley, as he rushes off to work in the morning. He naps on the sofa. And, of course, he snacks on his huge Dagwood sandwich. Copies of Blondie have been enjoyed by generations and have not changed much since their 1930s heyday. Who are some of the cartoonists behind these comic strips? • Charles M. Schulz was the creator of Peanuts and its array of kids, a dog, and a bird. The characters include Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Pigpen, Snoopy, and Woodstock. Charles Schulz liked to incorporate his philosophy of life into the strip. Many stories were annual events that readers anticipated such as Charlie Brown kicking the football, the kite-eating tree, and the Great Pumpkin. • Mort Walker created Beetle Bailey. He focused on life at Camp Swampy, an army camp where Beetle, Plato, Zero, and Killer Diller were under the command of Lieutenant Fuzz, Sergeant Snorkel with his dog, Otto, and General Halftrack with his secretary, Miss Buxley. Much of the comic strip dealt with the relationship between Beetle Bailey and Sergeant Snorkel. • Jim Davis was the creator of the fat, lazy, sarcastic, lasagna-eating cat, Garfield. Garfield's world consists of his owner, Jon; his teddy bear, Pooky; his girlfriend, Arlene; his dog friend, Odie; and Jon's girlfriend, Liz. However, besides lasagna and his bed, that is all Garfield needs.
Artificial Intelligence Photo by Arseny Togulev on Unsplash With the huge advancements in technology, Artificial Intelligence is the buzz word in today’s world. While technocrats consider it a blessing, it has become a hot topic of debates and discussions and many might consider it a disaster. AI in simple terms is a machine modeled on the human brain that can solve problems that are usually done by humans. The official definition of Artificial Intelligence was first coined by John McCarthy in 1955 at the Dartmouth Conference. Although there was plenty of research done on AI by others including Alan Turing in the past, it was an undefined field before 1955. Here is what Mccarthy proposed “Every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it. An attempt will be made to find out how to make machines use language form abstractions and concepts, solve kinds of problems now reserved for humans and improve themselves.” In essence, AI is an umbrella term that enables machines to learn, think and mimic human intelligence, and consequently transform industries. There are many forms of intelligence and AI has many aspects such as perception, reasoning, planning, motion, and natural language processing. Developments in AI are leading to fundamental changes in the way we live. It’s shaping and influencing our world in many visible ways. AI is only at its dawn and algorithms can already detect Parkinson’s disease and cancer and control both cars and aircraft. The rapid growth of this technology offers many opportunities, but also many dangers. It might soon get difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction and natural and artificial. So are we buying comfort at the cost of privacy? Does AI pose a danger to our freedoms or democracy? Are humans eventually going to lose their ability to comprehend? Let’s dive deeper into it. Pros of Artificial Intelligence Despite debates, the advantages of Artificial Intelligence applications are enormous and can revolutionize any professional sector. Let’s see some of them. 1. Less Room for Errors Errors are a part of our practical lives. However, computers make no errors, as long as you’re programming them properly. AI processing ensures error-free data processing, despite the size of data. With AI, the decisions are taken from the previously gathered information applying a certain set of algorithms. So there is a chance of reaching accuracy with a greater degree of precision. These days, the weather is forecasted using AI which has reduced the majority of human error. 2. Improved Efficiency AI has created a new standard for productivity and efficiency. For instance, if you’re texting someone and your autocorrect software automatically corrects your misspelled word, you’ve just experienced a benefit of AI. AI processes petabytes of data quickly and accurately for real-time results and this isn’t something a human brain is designed to do. This has improved the overall efficiency of various mundane tasks. 3. Takes Risks Instead of Humans The biggest advantage of AI has to be how it takes risks instead of humans in various dangerous tasks. An AI robot can do anything from mining for coal and oil to diffusing a bomb that can overcome various risky limitations of humans. They can be used in situations where intervention can be hazardous. 4. Always Available An average human cannot work continuously. They need breaks in between and they get tired. But unlike us, machines are never tired. They can work 24×7 for consecutive hours. Their efficiency isn’t affected by external factors. We can take the helpline centers and digital queries that are handled using AI. 5. Digital Assistance Also known as a virtual assistant, AI provides us with digital assistance. From many websites to organizations, digital assistants are gaining popularity by the day. Some chatbots are hard to distinguish from an actual human being. Siri, Cortana, and Alexa are some examples of virtual assistants and which don’t need much of an introduction. 6. Faster Decisions Humans tend to analyze various factors emotionally and practically before making a decision but machines aren’t designed that way. The AI-powered machines work on what it is programmed and deliver the results in a faster way than humans would. We’ve all played chess or any board games on the computer. It is almost impossible to beat the computer in such games because AI is behind it. It will always take the best possible step in a very short time following the algorithm used behind it. Cons of Artificial Intelligence As every bright side has a darker version in it, Artificial Intelligence also has some downsides. Let’s see some of them. 1. High Development Cost A new AI system is costly to build. Although prices are coming down, it might be too expensive for average people. Besides, machines and software need constant maintenance. Those who don’t have huge funds will find it difficult to implement AI. The cost depends upon the scope of that particular AI. 2. Unemployment AI is replacing the majority of mundane tasks and other works with robots and computers, and humans are losing their jobs. Because of its level of accuracy, every organization wants to work with robots rather than humans. Soon, this problem will grow only bigger and unemployment caused by AI will be a massive issue. One obvious tech that could replace millions of humans is self-driving cars. 3. Makes Humans Dependent Humans are getting addicted to AI applications which are making them lazier by the day. Not just physically lazy, they’re becoming mentally dependent on the use cases of AI. They are losing their ability to think rationally, computers are doing everything for them. 4. Lack of Out of Box Thinking Machines cannot think creatively; they just do as they are programmed. Anything out of the box could crash them or give irrelevant outputs. This doesn’t mean that we can’t program AI to perform creative tasks, but we can’t program them to evolve their intelligence and be creative on their own. And because there is a lack of creativity, there exists a lack of empathy. This means the decision taken by an artificially intelligent system may not be always the right decision to make. 5. Could Dominate Humans It might sound like a scary nightmare out of some Hollywood movie, but the day robots enslave human beings may not be as far away as we think. Even Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk have brought light upon the possibility of this happening. The term ‘AI takeover’ is used, which is a scenario in which AI becomes the dominant form of intelligence on Earth, with computers and robots taking control over the planet. It is crazy to think there is a possibility that human creation might affect the world in such a scary way. With these pros and cons, it is important to keep in mind that technology is never inherently good or evil, it’s how it’s used and implemented. Projecting our misuse onto the technology would be wrong and Artificial Intelligence is no different in this aspect. The world can benefit a great deal from the existence of artificial intelligence and while jobs may be created, some will be lost, lives may be saved but some might die. Many potential dangers come with this technology about which we should be mindful. Humans could acquire plenty of innovations if AI will be available to everyone but if only a few hold its power, the world will be a very scary place to live in no time. Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence
What is Meant by Cow Comfort? Many veterinary consultants advise about cow comfort since it is important for health and productivity of the cow. Let us understand what is “Cow Comfort”? We have domesticated cows for giving us milk and in turn we become responsible for giving them care and feed. The way we maintain the cow should be as per the needs of the cow, based on its physiology, individual behaviour, social behaviour and general welfare. Cow comfort really means that the house, feed and other facilities are designed for the cow and not the farmer. Unfortunately, in India, the understanding is different, we will build what we want and then force the cow into it. The ultimate aim is to minimize stress in the animal’s environment in order to maximize productive capability. Stress to the cow robs her of potential milk production and health. In simple terms when the facilities and management is dedicated to achieve least stress to the cow, we can claim that the cow will be in comfort. गाईचा आराम Cow comfort Farmers often design the facilities and management to suit to their needs and comforts often compromising cow welfare. Cows are known to be social animal that means they love being in group, socializing and communicating with each other. If the animals are tied with a short leash individually, cow comfort would be lost. The first requirement of cow comfort is to keep them lose all the time, except, maybe while milking. If a cow is comfortable, it need not be tied even for milking, because getting udder evacuated of milk is in the interest and health of cow. Modern cows have been bred for yielding high milk hence they spend the day and night in eating and drinking, ruminating, resting, social interaction. For getting maximum from cows, the farmer should ensure that proper facilities for these physiological functions are provided. The second important element of cow comfort is ‘Voluntary Behaviour’, which means the cows are allowed to do what and when they like and the farmer except for milking routine does not enforce anything as per his or her convenience. For example, providing water for drinking twice as per the timings fixed by the farmer is against cow comfort, it should be available to cow whenever she feels thirsty, just like human. The feed should be available for eating whenever she feels hungry and not as per the routine fixed by the farmer. The farmer should recognize that cow is an individual having needs different than his own, and hence cows should be provided facilities as per its requirements and not as per the whims and understanding of the farmer. In this series of mini-articles, different authors will cover a variety of topics on cow comfort and how it can be ensured. Please don’t think providing cow comfort needs a lot of money. It can be provided with whatever funds are available, the only difference is the designs and plans are made keeping your cow in mind and not yourself. Please remember cow comfort is a necessity and not an option! All Maharashtra competition for innovative farmers Please participate in the competition and encourage your friends to participate in the competition. Cow competition Dr. Abdul Samad M.V.Sc., Ph.D. (Canada) Ex-Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science and Director of Instruction, MAFSU
Skip to Main Content POSC 300: Assignment and Keywords Research brainstorming assignment In 2-3 pages, outline what you're interested in researching and how you want to go about researching it. • What is the general topic? Why is it important, interesting, etc.? • What are some possible questions that are worth asking about this topic? Have these questions already been asked? • What kinds of evidence would you need to answer these questions? Where can you find this evidence? • What will give you confidence in this evidence (whatever it turns out to be)? Prospectus, rough draft In 12-15 pages, develop your prospectus. Structure your draft in the following way: • Introduction (1-2 pages) • General topic • Why is it important? • What more do we need to know about this topic? • Research question • Possible answers to your research question • Literature review (4-5 pages) • How have other authors talked about your topic? • Have other authors tried to answer your research question? What is lacking in their answers? • How would your project contribute to the literature? • If no one else has posed your research question, then you need to justify why it needs to be asked in the first place. • Methodology (6-7 pages) • Choose a methodology and its corresponding methods from among those that we have covered (some can be combined, but not others). • How would this methodology enable you to answer your research question? • Discuss the specific evidence that you would need to collect and analyze. • Why would other methodologies not allow you to answer your research question? • Conclusion (2-3 pages) • Provide a reasonable timeline for completing the project • Discuss practical, methodological, ethical, etc. challenges that you would need to overcome Start With Keywords Research Question: "How does media affect voting in young people?" The first step is to identify the most important parts of the question, the keywords, that get to the base of what we what to research. Keywords: media voting young people Now we need to brainstorm some of the different ways we can think about these key concepts. Those alternate keywords can be synonyms, broader, or more narrow terms. Media might generate a list like: Voting might generate a list like: And young people might generate a list like this: talk shows social media social networking political campaigns civic engagement college students university students high school students young adults 18-24 years old Television is one type of media, and a talk show is one type of television program; the terms get more narrow. Civic engagement is a broader category under which voting might rest. And youth is just another way of saying young people. All of these are legitimate ways of coming up with alternate keywords. You never know which one will be best for a particular database or website until you start looking! What works well in one, might not go over very well in another. You can use the worksheet below to explore options for your own topic.
Classic Essays The Revolt Against Civilization: The Menace of the Underman (Part 4) by Lothrop Stoddard UP TO THIS POINT we have viewed civilization mainly in its structural aspect. We have estimated its pressure upon the human foundations, and have provisionally treated these foundations as fixed quantities. But that is only one phase of the problem, because civilization exerts upon its living bearers not merely mechanical, but also vital influences of the profoundest significance. And, unfortunately, these total influences are mainly of a destructive character. The stern truth of the matter is that civilization tends to impair the innate qualities of its human bearers; to use up strong stocks; to unmake those very racial values which first enabled a people to undertake its civilizing task. Let us see how this comes about. Consider, first, man’s condition before the advent of civilization. Far, far back in its life history the human species underwent a profound differentiation. Fossil bones ten of thousands of years old, show mankind already divided into distinct races differing markedly not merely in bodily structure but also in brain capacity, and hence in intelligence. This differentiation probably began early and proceeded rapidly, since biology teaches us that species are plastic when new, gradually losing this plasticity as they “set” with time and development. However, at the rate it proceeded, differentiation went on for untold ages, operating not only between separate races but also within the various stocks, so that each stock came to consist of many “strains” varying considerably from one another in both physical and mental capacity. Now the fate of these strains depended, not upon chance, but upon the very practical question whether or not they could survive. And since man was then living in the “state of nature,” qualities like strength, intelligence, and vigor were absolutely necessary for life, while weakness, dullness, and degeneracy spelled speedy death. Accordingly, individuals endowed with the former qualities survived and bred freely, whereas those handicapped by the latter qualities perished oftener and left fewer offspring. Thus, age after age, nature imposed upon man her individually stern but racially beneficent will; eliminating the weak, and preserving and multiplying the strong. Surely, it is the most striking proof of human differentiation that races should display such inequalities after undergoing so long a selective process so much the same. However, differentiated mankind remained, and at last the more gifted races began to create civilizations. Now civilization wrought profound changes, the most important of which was a modification of the process of selection for survival. So long as man was a savage, or even a barbarian, nature continued to select virtually unhindered according to her immemorial plan — that of eliminating the weak and preserving the strong. But civilization meant a change from a “natural” to a more or less artificial, man-made environment, in which natural selection was increasingly modified by “social” selection. And social selection altered survival values all along the line. In the first place, it enabled many weak, stupid, and degenerate persons to live and beget children who would have certainly perished in the state of nature, or even on the savage and barbarian planes. Upon the strong the effect of social selection was more subtle but equally important. The strong individual survived even better than before — but he tended to have fewer children. The reason for this lessened fecundity of the superior was that civilization opened up to them a whole new range of opportunities and responsibilities. Under primitive conditions, opportunities for self-expression were few and simple, the most prized being desirable mates and sturdy offspring. Among savages and barbarians the choicest women and many children are the acknowledged perquisites of the successful, and the successful are those men endowed with qualities like strength, vigor, and resourceful intelligence, which are not only essential for continued survival under primitive conditions, but which are equally essential for the upbuilding and maintenance of civilization. In short, when a people enters the stage of civilization it is in the pink of condition, because natural selection has for ages been multiplying superior strains and eliminating inferiors. Such was the high biological level of the selected stocks which attained the plane of civilization. But, as time passed, the situation altered. The successful superiors who stood in the vanguard of progress were alike allured and constrained by a host of novel influences. Power, wealth, luxury, leisure, art, science, learning, government — these and many other matters increasingly complicated life. And, good or bad, temptations or responsibilities, they all had this in common: that they tended to divert human energy from racial ends to individual and social ends. Now this diverted energy flowed mainly from the superior strains in the population. Upon the successful superior, civilization laid both her highest gifts and her heaviest burdens. The effect upon the individual was, of course, striking. Powerfully stimulated, he put forth his inherited energies. Glowing with the fire of achievement, he advanced both himself and his civilization. But, in this very fire, he was apt to be racially consumed. Absorbed in personal and social matters, racial matters were neglected. Late marriage, fewer children, and celibacy combined to thin the ranks of the successful, diminish the number of superior strains, and thus gradually impoverish the race. Meanwhile, as the numbers of the superior diminished, the numbers of the inferior increased. No longer ruthlessly weeded by natural selection, the inferior survived and multiplied. Here, then, was what had come to pass: instead of dying off at the base and growing at the top, civilized society was dying at the top and spreading out below. The result of this dual process was, of course, as disastrous as it was inevitable. Drained of its superiors, and saturated with dullards and degenerates, the stock could no longer support its civilization. And, the upper layers of the human foundation having withered away, the civilization either sank to a lower level or collapsed in utter ruin. The stock had regressed, “gone back,” and the civilization went back too. Such are the workings of that fatal tendency to biological regression which has blighted past civilizations. Its effects on our civilization and the peculiar perils which these entail will be discussed in subsequent chapters. One further point should, however, be here noted. This is the irreparable character of racial impoverishment. Once a stock has been thoroughly drained of its superior strains, it sinks into permanent mediocrity, and can never again either create or support a high civilization. Physically, the stock may survive; unfortunately for human progress, it only too often does survive, to contaminate better breeds of men. But mentally and spiritually it is played out and can never revive — save, perchance, through some age-long process of biological restoration akin to that seen in the slow reforesting of a mountain range stripped to the bare rock. We have observed that civilizations tend to fall both by their own increasing weight and by the decay of their human foundations. But we have indicated that there exists yet another destructive tendency, which may be termed “atavistic revolt.” Let us see precisely what this implies… * * * Source: Dissident Millennial Previous post The Amazing Lessons I Learned When I Decided to Stop Buying New Things for 200 Days Next post Who We Are #6 -- The Lost Civilization of Old Europe Notify of 1 Comment Inline Feedback View all comments Michael R Michael R 31 July, 2017 8:48 pm Can someone give me a concise yet brief answer to the question about how racial realities have been suppressed in society and by most of the scientific community? What is a good answer to the assertion that the “scientific consensus” is that race does not exist?
The Basics of Printing In the printing field, there are several techniques used to reproduce the original and reprint it. One technique uses the ink carrying effect, which describes the transfer of ink from a printed page to another page in a bound work. A guide sheet or negative is inserted inside the middle of a printing cylinder, and the blanket moves forward in the cylinder when the plate or paper makes contact with it. The process has many advantages and disadvantages. printing AdelaideIn graphic arts, process printing Adelaide is one of the most common methods of producing printed objects. Using a press to transfer ink onto a surface, process printing produces high-quality prints on paper, board, or plastic. Most printed objects are produced using this technique, which is often combined with spot colour printing. Spot colour printing is necessary when metallic inks are desired or for special projects requiring a specific colour. A common four-colour printing Adelaide process is called the 4-colour process. It is used in commercial printing and graphic arts to reproduce text and colour images. This printing process also uses four process ink colours. The process is similar to a two-colour printing, but four-colour processes use different colours and processes for each colour. This process is usually digitally completed. It is best suited for reproductions of high-quality colour images. However, the four-colour process can be more expensive. The four most common printing methods include relief, gravure, offset, and screen-printing. Other printing processes are less common. Digital printing is often used for small runs since it is more cost-efficient than an offset press. But the difference between the two methods is the final product, and the quality of each process will depend on the printer you use. And the proper paper selection is critical in the printing process. Different paper stocks and finishes produce different colours. A good printer will be able to produce full-colour images efficiently. To learn the basics of process printing, most print shops employ an apprentice who learns the processes step by step. While most print shops carry out these stages in-house, others will contract colour separation and plate-making to specialists. If you are interested in learning more about print production, Mary is the right person to talk to. With a liberal arts degree from Goddard College, Mary enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors. If you’re planning on doing any type of printing, you need to understand that different materials are suitable for different messages. While different substrates can convey different messages, the basic types are paper, metal, and wood. In addition, each substrate will have different qualities, and you’ll want to find the best option for your needs. Before choosing the right material, make sure to do some research to find out the benefits and drawbacks of each one. The materials for 3D printing Adelaide range widely, from general-purpose to specialty-use. General-purpose materials are suitable for hobbyists and 3D designers, while specialty materials are used for industry-specific purposes. There are four general-purpose materials ideal for hobbyists and 3D designers for more specialized applications. Below, we’ve outlined the properties of some of the more common materials used in 3D printing. Poly-Lactic acid is a common material for 3D printing. It is recyclable and low-cost and has excellent layer adhesion properties. However, its melting point is only 150degF, making it unsuitable for high heat work. And while this is an advantage, poly-Lactic acid is not suitable for long-term applications, especially those requiring high-temperature capabilities. This material is brittle and can easily crack. Nitinol is a common medical implant material but is highly regarded for its super-elasticity. A mix of titanium and nickel, nitinol is extremely strong but pliable. It can be folded in half without breaking and easily restored to its original form. Its elasticity allows it to produce objects and components that previously wouldn’t have been possible. And nitinol is one of the strongest flexible materials in 3D printing and allows manufacturers to create previously unimaginable products. There are many printmaking methods, but most are grouped into three categories: relief printing, intaglio printing, and surface printing. Relief prints involve carving into the original surface with a grid and removing the ink from those areas. A piece of paper is then placed on the plate and compressed through a printing press. Relief prints do not allow for fine detail and produce graphic images that are highly contrasted. Screen printing is a popular technique used for small-scale printing and can produce highly detailed images. Screen printing is a less expensive technique but does require a stencil. Screen printing is an older technique. Both methods use fine mesh to produce their printed products. While these methods were invented in the early 20th century, they are now used mostly to print graphics on clothing. Some of them have even surpassed the capabilities of 3D printers. Screen printing uses a screen made of silk or synthetic fabric. Chine Colle, or printing with thin layers of paper, allows for additional tonal definition and colour. The possibilities are virtually endless and can be combined with other techniques, such as relief printing. You can apply these techniques alone or together for a unique look for your business. You’ll be surprised at the variety of possibilities they provide! Screen printing is the oldest method of printing. It involves multiple stencils stencilling a surface using a mesh. It was first used commercially to print posters and fabric and was known as serigraphs. Today, artists and printmakers use this method to create vibrantly and colourful works. Screen printing involves exposing an image to a nylon mesh (formerly silk). An ink squeegee is then used to push the ink through the nylon screen.
How do I add a dependency in gradle? To add a dependency to your project, specify a dependency configuration such as implementation in the dependencies block of your build.gradle file. This declares a dependency on an Android library module named “mylibrary” (this name must match the library name defined with an include: in your settings.gradle file). Declaring module dependencies Modules are usually stored in a repository, such as Maven Central, a corporate Maven or Ivy repository, or a directory in the local file system. To find out more about defining dependencies, have a look at Declaring Dependencies. Subsequently, question is, what is dependency in gradle? Dependencies means the things that support to build your project such as required JAR file from other projects and external JARs like JDBC JAR or Eh-cache JAR in the class path. Gradle uses some special script to define the dependencies, which needs to be downloaded. Hereof, how do I manage gradle dependencies? Steps by Steps to Manage Dependencies 1. Create a new Android Studio project with Kotlin DSL as the build scripts. 2. Create a new folder named buildSrc in the main folder of the project. 3. Inside buildSrc add several folders and files, so the structure is as follows: 4. Add the Kotlin DSL plugin in the build.gradle.kts file: Where do I put build gradle? What is gradle used for? Gradle is a build system (open source) which is used to automate building, testing, deployment etc. “Build. gradle” are scripts where one can automate the tasks. For example, the simple task to copy some files from one directory to another can be performed by Gradle build script before the actual build process happens. How do I add a local jar file dependency to build a gradle file? How to add JAR files to your Gradle project Copy your JAR file to your module ‘libs’ folder. If you don’t have ‘libs’ folder then create one. Add whole ‘libs’ folder to your ‘module’ dependencies. How does gradle work? Android Studio supports Gradle as its build automation system out of the box. The Android build system compiles app resources and source code and packages them into APKs that you can test, deploy, sign, and distribute. The build system allows you to define flexible custom build configurations. What is dependency in software? Dependency is a broad software engineering term used to refer when a piece of software relies on another one. Coupling (computer programming) In software engineering, coupling or dependency is the degree to which each program module relies on each one of the other modules. Program X uses Library Y. What are build dependencies? A dependency is something that a package requires either to run the package (a run-time dependency) or to build the package (a build-time or compile-time, dependency). Specifies build-time dependencies, via a list of bitbake recipes to build prior to build the recipe. What is Maven or gradle? Gradle. Gradle is a build automation system that is fully open source and uses the concepts you see on Apache Maven and Apache Ant. It uses domain-specific language based on the programming language Groovy, differentiating it from Apache Maven, which uses XML for its project configuration. What is a gradle configuration? A “configuration” is a named grouping of dependencies. A Gradle build can have zero or more of them. A “repository” is a source of dependencies. Dependencies are often declared via identifying attributes, and given these attributes, Gradle knows how to find a dependency in a repository. Which are the two types of plugins in gradle? There are two types of plugins in Gradle, script plugins and binary plugins. Script plugins is an additional build script that gives a declarative approach to manipulating the build. This is typically used within a build. How do I run gradle? 1.1. If you press the run button in Android Studio, it triggers the corresponding Gradle task and starts the application. You can also run Gradle via the command line. To avoid unnecessary local installation, Gradle provides a wrapper script which allows you to run Gradle without any local installation. What version of gradle do I have? In Android Studio, go to File > Project Structure. Then select the “project” tab on the left. Your Gradle version will be displayed here. If you are using the Gradle wrapper, then your project will have a gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper. What is testCompile in gradle? In Gradle dependencies are grouped into a named set of dependencies. The testCompile configuration contains the dependencies which are required to compile the tests of our project. This configuration contains the compiled classes of our project and the dependencies added to the compile configuration. What is gradle Android? Gradle is an advanced build toolkit for android that manages dependencies and allows you to define custom build logic. features are like. Customize, configure, and extend the build process. Create multiple APKs for your app with different features using the same project. Reuse code and resources. What is JCenter repository? jCenter is the public repository hosted at bintray that is free to use for open source library publishers. It is the largest repository in the world for Java and Android OSS libraries, packages and components. All the content in JCenter is served over a CDN, with a secure HTTPS connection. How do I refresh gradle dependencies? Simply open the gradle tab (can be located on the right) and right-click on the parent in the list (should be called “Android”), then select “Refresh dependencies”. This should resolve your issue. After that gradle is dragging files from nexus. Deleting all the caches makes download all the dependacies again.
(Published on: Jun 21, 2016) It’s been said that many people might believe they are empatheticor they mostly demonstrate empathy. Whenin reality, they’re feeling sympathy. Though, some are feeling outright apathy…right from the start. The psychologist Edward Titchener (18671927) introduced the term empathy in 1909 into the English language as the translation of the German term Einfhlung (or feeling into), a term that by the end of the 19thcentury was in German philosophical circles understood as an important category in philosophical aesthetics. I was reading comments from a blogger post on an article about Empathy. One sub-title: “Empathy Is A Gift.” Referring to empathy feelings as a gift and distinguishing themselves as “empaths.” I found it veryenlightening. In this post, I will be referring to EmpathyNOT “empath” or “empath personality type.” One noteworthy point from the article about the empath personality type, overall the comments seemed encouragingand flattering. However, it struck me that, not everycommentatorwas favorable. Interesting that the very people who were gifted as Empaths, expressed how their gift had some very negativeeffects. More than a few were plagued with anxiety, depression and even fear! So where is there a balance? One Empath said something like, let me paraphrase the important part: being an Empath is like absorbing every emotion and feeling. The physical, mental and emotional, she said, is like painand is crippling. She suffers tremendously. Until she learned to protect herself from toxic people and avoid negativity. I can agree, balance is the key. Not everyone will fall into theempath personality type. Nevertheless, we all will do well to show and have and FEELempathy for each other. We don’t have to have the Empath personality type to express EMPATHY. There is no way to JUDGE [!]the depth on how you FEEL. But there are a few basics that can help us learn. So let’s look at Empathy in the simplest definition. Can we separate it from sympathy? Or Apathy? What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? Here are two dictionary definitions from Merriam-Webster: I think empathy is different from sympathy. I, as a blogger, want to believeI am an empathetic person.I have to be empathetic to be able to write my blog. Iwrite about feelings andI write what others may feel.I feel their pain. Ireally am NOT empathetic “If” everything starts with“I”. Wow, this is hard to do, even though in the paragraphs I forced the pronoun overuse of “I” to make a point. It can be difficult to apply, but it is essential to learn empathy. It is not just changing our pronouns. • Being overly opinionated and demanding ~This Is Not Empathy. • Debating and arguing your personal POV (point of view)~This Is Not Empathy. • Making someone/persuading someone’s POV (point of view)~This Is Not Empathy. • Love to start every helpful sentence with “I”~This Is Not Empathy. • Always says yes, “Is a Yes man!” or Yes person…Agrees to all perspectives–no matter what you say ~This Is Not Empathy. • NO! NO! you’re wrong even 1% of the time~This Is Not Empathy. NOTE: There is nothing wrong with not being empathetic 100% of the time. For the people that have that gift, they themselves, sometimes suffer. BUT, we should be able to know what the difference is betweenEmpathy and Sympathy and Apathy. Empathy is fellow feeling and a tool to connect to someone on an interpersonal levelthat can offer hope and healing on a deeper level. It suspends judgment, opinions, emotions (like anger and resentment). Empathy must overcome stereotypes. We need to have an ability to temporarily suspend our own opinions. To be able towalk a mile in someone elses shoes. • Empathy[i]: the feeling that you understand and share another persons experiences and emotions: the ability to share someone elses feelings. • Sympathy[ii]: the feeling that you care about and are sorry about someone elses trouble, grief, misfortune. • Apathy[iii]:the feeling of not having much emotion or interest: an apathetic state. Okay, I know. I am only scratching the surface, hey, it’s a cartoon blog. What do you expect?…Is this some symptoms of bipolar or something??? No, but, I do want to hear from you…WHAT IS NOT empathy?Add ontoWhat (basically) Is Not Empathy? Mental Health Humor Classroom: Empathy 101: Apathy 10? Empathy 101 Door Sign: If you feel my sadness enter… Apathy 10? Door Sign:Whatever Caption: Can You Learn Empathy? Or Like, Do you care, Whatever… Attention Florida Peer and Advocates:Please help me share the Florida CLEAR Warm Line.Call 800 945 1355 say it: 800 945 1355. It rolls off the tongue. It is the CLEAR Warm Line staffed by Peer Specialists waiting to lend an ear. Offering support for you from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 7 days a week. [!]Judge: Someone who shows empathy will avoid judging others. [i]Empathy Definition 2015. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Retrieved on June 10, 2016, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathy[ii]Sympathy Definition 2015. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Retrieved on June 10, 2016, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathy[iii]Apathy Definition 2015. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Retrieved on June 10, 2016, fromhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apathy
Google ‘The gangs fight in the street, West Side Story’ and you’ll see 7 ‘gangsters’ dancing their way into battle. With their nice sweaters and gym shoes, they do twists off the curb and fling their arms while performing their own version of ‘spirit fingers’. West Side Story, the movie, was released in 1961. Now, if you really go and watch that clip, you’ll probably laugh and think, ‘what in the world were they thinking?’. But, did you know the movie is an adaptation of a musical, which was, in turn, based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Yes! 👀 Really, almost everyone has heard of West Side Story. So, looking at it now, why does the scene seem so corny? Further, how could the movie have been so popular? Think about it. It’s the music, the emotional connection to the music, and the storytelling. That’s universal. No matter how old or young, people love music. So how can we connect this to modern day conflict resolution in the classroom? We certainly don’t expect students to dance fight or do a sing off like what might happen in movies in order to resolve conflict. But we can certainly take a cue from old movies and their effects. Why not use humor and relatable lyrics to lighten up the mood? Why not incorporate them to establish a non-threatening and safe environment to begin the process of conflict resolution? Music changes moods. It can set the tone. Lyrics can express emotions and thoughts that are often too difficult to openly say. This collection showcases an incredible list of lyrics and songs that can help you ‘set the stage’ for your own West Side Story classroom conflict resolution. Actually, do you know what would be a sure ice breaker for any conflict? Play the song or movie clip! I hope you enjoyed this post. Click to download the song lists from this blog. Get Inspired With These Teacher Ideas: For More Tips Check Out These Blogs:
Chocolate history, originated, in South and Mezzo American Cultures. Cocoa was considered as the food of gods due to it’s health benefits. It was not available to general population, rather just to the “upper” class. Once Cortez & co arrived and started loading their ships with goods they could not find elsewhere, among other goods cocoa crossed the Atlantic Ocean ( I cant say when exactly), European merchants tried to maximize their profits and lower the production cost, making it more affordable. So they started adding sugar, fat, oil, milk etc to cocoa beans inflating it’s weight, but also diluting the original content and health benefits, totally “killing” the product. By doing that they made it less expensive and more affordable to general public. As the side effect of such production, chocolate health benefits were turned upside-down. Generally speaking from something that is actually very healthy, chocolate became a synonym to junk food. From divine food, it became sugary loaded garbage. Only recently people started to realize how addictive and harmful refined sugar, palm oil, artificial flavors, syrup etc. actually are, but back then (late 19th century and forward), people had no clue of their damaging effects to human health. If I am not mistaken at the beginning of it’s mass production, the product was called sugar tablet, basically sugar, oil, emulsifier, corn syrup, milk or milk powder, syrup along with hints of cocoa powder. As marketing and advertising started to pick up in late 1930’s, sugar tablet turned into chocolate. Only the name changed to sound more appealing, but the ingredients stayed the same. Making real chocolate is expensive and would result in expensive end product, which is not suitable for mass market. So that is how mislabeling began and moved forward, but at some point some people started to realize that what is labeled as chocolate is not really a chocolate. In my opinion that is how dark chocolate had been re-introduced. Once considered divine food some 3.500 years ago when the only form used was a liquid dark chocolate, it came back to the market in it’s solid form. Dark chocolate is supposed to distinguish itself from the “regular” chocolate, pointing to healthier version (which is not very often the case, but that is another subject) of well known junk product, called chocolate. So in my opinion dark chocolate is supposed to represent the healthier, purer version of regular chocolate and that is why they are not both called chocolate. Answer requested by Wendy Dawn is an artisanal chocolate maker and creator of Truffolie chocolates ( Wendy studied at the French Culinary Institute and L’Ecole Vahlrona in New York.
Hands-On with the First Ever Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with a Leap Year Indicator Thirty years passed between the first perpetual calendar wristwatch, and the first one with a leap year indicator, made by Audemars Piguet in 1955. Here's a look at one double-signed example of the Audemars Piguet ref. 5516. The perpetual calendar complication reached the wristwatch soon after it was popularised by troops during the First World War, albeit only in one of a kind timepieces. The first perpetual calendar wristwatch was a one-off timepiece made in 1925 by Patek Philippe, equipped with a movement made for a ladies’ pendant watch. And four years later Breguet completed a perpetual calendar wristwatch with a wristwatch movement. But those wristwatches only had the day, date, month and moon. Despite being de rigueur in modern perpetual calendar wristwatches, the leap year only arrived in the wristwatch in 1955, courtesy of Audemars Piguet. That was the year Audemars Piguet introduced the reference 5516 perpetual calendar wristwatch, the first serially produced wristwatch with a leap year indicator. By comparison, the first such perpetual calendar from Patek Philippe was only produced in 1981 (and sold in 2013 for US$1.7 million). Only 12 of the ref. 5516 were made, and only nine of those had the leap year indicator. The first three of the ref. 5516 had the moon phase at 12 o’clock and the leap year display at six (Christie’s sold one example for US$314,000 in 2008), before evolving into the final iteration of the ref. 5516. Depicted below, the final version of the reference is arguably the most beautiful, with a visually balanced and functional two-tone dial. Made in 1957 but only sold in 1969 – the long interval between the two was not uncommon for pricey, complicated watches in the mid-20th century – this ref. 5516 is in yellow gold. And this particular specimen, part of the Audemars Piguet museum collection, is double signed with “Tiffany & Co.” below the watchmaker’s label. This has a striking two-tone dial, with sunken sub-dials finished with circular graining. The lettering on the dial is prominently raised, because it was made the old fashioned way. Instead of merely being printed, the lettering is created by filling recesses with enamel, a technique known as champlevé. Practically non-existent today, champlevé lettering never fades. The ref. 5516 is powered by the calibre 13VZSSQP, one of the most important base movements for high-end watches in that era. The VZ series of movements were made by Valjoux, a movement maker now part of ETA. It’s best known for the mass market 7750 chronograph movement now, but it used to make much more refined calibres. Thirteen lignes in diameter, the VZ series eventually evolved into the Valjoux 23, 72 an so on. These movements were used in a variety of watches from the best names in Swiss watchmaking, including the Patek Philippe refs. 1518 and 2499. Rare and historically important, the ref. 5516 is just one example of why the perpetual calendar is arguably the most significant complication for Audemars Piguet. Back to top. You may also enjoy these.
American Dictionary of the English Language Dictionary Search FIGHTING, participle present tense 1. Contending in battle; striving for victory or conquest. 2. adjective Qualified for war; fit for battle. A host of fighting men. 2 Chronicles 26:11. 3. Occupied in war; being the scene of war; as a fighting field. FIGHTING, noun Contention; strife; quarrel. Without were fightings, within were fears. 2 Corinthians 7:5.
News & Events Can Arthritis Affect You? Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. With over 100 types of arthritis, we tend to focus on the most common type, osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, and the other most common type, inflammatory arthritis. This ailment affects up to 80% of people during their lifetime. Osteoarthritis is caused by destructive wear and tear of the articular cartilage which covers the end of joints. All joints have a cartilaginous end to the bone. This tissue is well organized and is very smooth with low friction; therefore it takes multiple years and multiple cycles for a joint to typically wear out. There are multiple causes for this wear. It can be due to simple aging changes, hereditary factors, malalignment of the joints, or excessive strain to the joints such as repetitive wear or excessive weight. Patients who come to Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic for arthritis pain are often diagnosed by the history of the joint pain and stiffness, the physical signs of joint pain, stiffness, malalignment, increased warmth or swelling, and confirmed by other diagnostic tests such as x-rays. The diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis can be assisted with x-rays, but are more typically diagnosed by laboratory tests such as rheumatoid factor, a sedimentation rate and an antinuclear antibody test or screen. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for arthritic conditions; however, great progress has been made over the recent years in trying to find disease-modifying agents that can potentially slow the process of the development of arthritis. The initial treatment for arthritic conditions is related to activity. This may be in the form of exercise, stretching, physical therapy or occupational therapy. Next, diet may be important. Not only does weight loss help joint wear, it may reduce some of the strain on the joint and certain types of diets may reduce the actual causes of inflammation in the body. Medications which are frequently used for this include categories such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. If you are having symptoms or problems occurring from arthritis, please call and schedule and appointment today, 251-410-3600 or visit LIKE AOC on Facebook Follow AOC on twitter
How to Clean Soot Off Walls In Just 10 Steps As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If any fire mishap takes place in your home big or small, the fire can leave a large amount of smoke and soot. It does not travel further, but it sticks with walls, furniture, or any surface in the home. Soot marks look like a thick black stain and they are most visible on the wall and improperly vented areas. Soot is acidic and toxic, so you need to take immediate action to remove it once the fire is out. If you don’t want any health and structural problems, then you must clean them up. However, surfaces like furniture, cabinets, or ceiling can be easily cleaned with regular cleaning agents. But when it comes to cleaning the walls, it becomes challenging as it is a non-porous surface. You can not wash the walls, then how to clean soot from walls. In this case, we will help you out. We have come up with a complete guide to cleaning soot from the entire wall after a fire. Furthermore, you can learn important information about soot. How is soot build-up? Soot is the small molecule of carbon that is the result of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels like oil, coal, or wood. Soot is a combination of several chemicals, acids, soil, dust, etc. It also spreads a sight foul smell. When a fire takes place, soot extends all over the property. As a result, this acidic substance affects the whole indoor air quality. Soot can settle on the ceiling even if there wasn’t fire. It can inhabit the home if you use excessive candles or fragrance coal. Improper ventilation is also a reason for soot on the wall. Soot can come from outside. When fossil fuels are consumed for industrial purposes, soot is discharged into the environment. Thus, soot’s chemicals hurt the ecosystem considerably. It also acts the same in the home and damages the indoor quality leaving bad odors and stains. What is the side effect of soot exposure? Soot particle exposure leads to many deaths and asthma attacks all around the world. It infiltrates the human body through inhalation, ingestion, or skin. If soot reaches your body via inhalation, then it can harm your respiratory system. Mostly, this toxic element causes several breathing issues, including, coronary heart disease, bronchitis, and even cancer. Infants, aged, and people with breathing problems suffer the most. To avoid these health risks, you should treat the soot-affected areas and properly sanitized the home. How To Clean Soot Off Walls? Soot can be created from even small fires, so you should always check your walls, ceiling, and woodwork. It looks ugly on the surface and can create spontaneous combustion. So you should clean them as soon as possible. To clean soot from the wall, you will need certain things: • Protective gear • Bucket • Cellulose sponge • Trisodium phosphate (TSP) • Vacuum • Utility knife • Microfiber cloths • Dry cleaning sponge • Dishwashing liquid Step 1: Wear Protective Gear It is important to ensure the full protection of your body. So wear necessary protective gear to save yourself from harmful soot. While taking safety precautions, consider safety equipment for your eyes, skin, and lungs. For example rubber gloves, masks, safety glasses, old and long sleeve shirts, or aprons. Step 2: Ensure Ventilation Unclose the windows and doors of the area that you are going to clean. Ensure proper ventilation, it will provide fresh air and let soot particulates out of the room rather than settling in the furniture and carpet. You can turn on the circulating fan or pen vents for better air circulation. Step 3: Take protection for the room While cleaning soot from the wall, it becomes airborne and can be settled on the furniture of the room. Cleaning all the furniture won’t be an easy task. So if it is possible, then empty the room by removing furniture and other accessories including paintings, plants, carpets, curtains, upholstery, etc. Try to remove all your personal belongings from the room. If you are not able to remove the furniture, then cover them with old bedsheets to save it from soot particles. You also need to protect the floor. Once the room is empty, take a plastic drop sheet, or newspaper to fully cover your floor. Not only the area, you will clean but also the whole room. Step 4: Vacuum the wall Vacuum the wall using a hose and dusting brush attachment. Vacuuming helps to remove loose particles of soot and it doesn’t spread all over the area. Always start cleaning from the top of the wall. It will be better clean if you hold the brush at least one-half inch away from the wall. Avoid contacting the vacuum with the wall otherwise smearing can occur. While you are cleaning the ceiling, use a sturdy step stool for better reach. Don’t be rushed, work slowly and move the ladder each time to stave off falls. Step 5: Utilize a dry cleaning Or soot sponge You can find specialized sponges for removing soot. They may be called soot sponges, dry cleaning sponges, or chemical sponges. Actually, these sponges are made of vulcanized rubber and it effectively grabs soot from the hard surfaces. It absorbs all the residue and provides the perfect cleaning of soot. Since soot easily gets smeared, using a regular sponge can push the soot further into the wall and leave a permanent stain. You can get a dry cleaning sponge in the hardware store or online. Start wiping with the ceiling and then the top of the wall. Always wipe the wall down and overlapping strokes. You need to press the sponge firmly against the wall. Remember you are wiping the wall not scrubbing. Thus, the sponge will grab soot without smearing them around. Make a section to clean the wall easily. Wipe the wall until you get to the bottom-right edge and clean the entire wall. Though soot won’t remove all the staining caused by soot, it will remove a large number of loose particles. The dry cleaning sponge quickly becomes black after absorbing soot from the wall. Move to the other side of the sponge when it is discolored enough. Also, you can cut a thin layer of the outside using a utility knife and expose a fresh side of the sponge. Never try to clean the sponge with water, then it will stop working. Step 6: Make a degreasing cleaning solvent As the dry cleaning sponge doesn’t remove soot staining from the wall, you can apply a wet cleaning method. To make a degreaser solution, Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is the most effective ingredient to clean soot stains. It is a perfect degreaser for this task. If you don’t manage the element, then you can make a solution of water and dishwashing liquid that is a degreaser. If you use Trisodium phosphate, then take a bucket with two quarts of water and mix one-half cup of powdered trisodium phosphate. Stir them well to mix. If you don’t have TSP, then mix two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid solution and stir them well. Must wear protective gloves while making the solution. Step 7: Apply the cleaning solution To apply the degreasing solution, soak a sponge and wring it to remove excess water. Wipe the wall with the sponge and rub gently to remove soot residue. When the sponge collects much amount of soot, then rinse with the cleaning solution again and continue cleaning. Since you have cleaned the majority of soot, you don’t have elbow grease to remove the residue. However, make another batch of cleaning solution if the water turns black. Step 8: Rinse with water Once you finish removing soot residue from the wall using the degreasing solution, then you need to rinse the wall with water. This time, only use plain water. Damp a clean sponge and wipe off the excess cleaner and soot on the wall. However, you can use a microfiber cloth. Step 9: Dry the wall After rinsing, now use a towel or rag to dry the wall surface. It would be better if you remove as much water as you can. Wait until it is dry before touching it and you may need several hours. Step 10: Remove Protective Materials and Vacuum Now, remove all the protective materials that you use to cover furniture and the floor. After that, vacuum the whole area and dispose of the waste carefully. Call the professionals if… Soot removing tasks is not that easy job. It is quite dirty. It is okay to clean a small damaged area. One person is enough to manage the cleaning task. But it will be tougher if you are dealing with significantly damaged areas and stains. In this case, call the professionals to clean the whole property. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How do you get black smoke off walls? Black smoke can easily be removed using degreasing materials. You need to use TSP or dishwashing solvent to clean the black smoke from the wall. To get a better result, you should follow our whole guide and instruction. Does vinegar remove soot? White vinegar is a versatile product and can be used to clean soot. It will effectively break down oily soot stains from different surfaces. To use vinegar for removing soot, you need to mix the element with warm water and use it with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth. Can I paint over soot? If you apply paint over soot, it won’t block the odor and stains fully. For a better result, you need to remove soot from the wall. But if you are not willing to remove soot, then you can apply a solvent-based stain blocking primer and then paint the wall. It will prevent them from bleeding through the paint. Final Words Soot in the house is not good for health, especially when you live with infants or aged people. They may easily suffer from several health issues due to soot in the house. This toxic element can damage the entire indoor air. So you should not neglect it. Following this guide, you can effectively remove soot from the wall. This is the easiest process for cleaning soot from the wall and ensures a healthy environment. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
patents; a hybrid car, with battery and internal combustion engine, may be the bridge to a fully electric auto. - oil absorbent material by：Demi 2019-08-28 Sabra chartrandjuly 3,1995 this is a digital version of an article from The Times Print Archive, before its online publication began in 1996. Many people are waiting for a bigger change in the design and performance of the car that electric vehicles will bring. But manufacturers now say that some sort of hybrid car will be on the road before pure electric cars are perfected. The hybrid will run on gasoline. Internal refueling- But if an efficient battery is used, the mileage will reach 80 miles per gallon. A Ringwood, N. J. The company said it used space satellite battery technology to patent the battery. Philip A. Burghart, a pair. President of Ergenics Inc. He predicts that his company's battery will allow the driver to travel 300 miles before charging and will greatly improve the mileage performance of the mixed gaselectric cars. "The battery makes it possible for a car to reach 80 miles per gallon because it will be used for power surges," he said. Explained Burghart. "You will use the same internals- The internal combustion engine operates at a steady rate, but the engine is unable to reach the surge in effective power required to go up the mountain or accelerate to the highway. If you want to speed up to 65 quickly, this battery can generate a high power pulse and deliver a large chunk of energy quickly. "Now, the car battery uses sulfuric acid and lead oxide to generate electricity. A car's gas- Drive the AC generator to charge the battery continuously. "Our battery is nickel hydroxide and hydrogen reaction"Burghart said. "This response has been used in satellite space batteries for the past 20 to 25 years. They combine to produce electrons and are reversible. - This means that the reaction has two directions, charging and discharging. The email address is invalid. Please re-enter. You must select the newsletter you want to subscribe. View all New York Times newsletters. However, the satellite battery is very heavy, which will produce a lot of heat and pressure. Mr. Burghart said his company improved the technology by circulating hydrogen from the battery and storing it separately as a solid material to fit the car. Advertising "Doing so enables us to make low Pressure cells without corrosion . "Burghart said. "It's a cheaper, simpler and safer phone. "Ergenics has obtained 5,419,981 and 5,250,368 patents for its battery technology. Reduce the confusion of checking oil. It's a low Technology equipment can make life easier for almost any car owner. Ron DeGasperis, inventor, W. Va. Designed a small cup. The shape filled with absorbing material is good. His idea is that the small unit can be connected to the engine of the car, close to the oil gauge. When a driver, mechanic, or gas station attendant wants to check the oil level, simply drag the oil ruler to Mr. Degasperis' wipers. No one is looking for a rag. Absorb the material to clean the oil ruler and the old oil drips into the well. Mr. DeGasperis recommends that when the hood is closed, the cover attached to the underside of the hood covers and protects the well. He got a patent no. 5,419,002. Washington 20231 Patent and Trademark Office offers patents for $3. A version of this article was printed on page 1001038 of the National edition on July 3, 1995 with the title: Patent; Hybrid vehicles with batteries and internal combustion engines may be a bridge to the realization of all-electric vehicles. Custom message Chat Online 编辑模式下无法使用 Chat Online inputting...
Economic system to improve income distribution Readers Question 1) Can an economy that factors in the need for government funded public services and to offer people a living wage, and other more distributive economic strategies such as taxing the rich more, etc. Can it work in purely economic terms? Essentially the question is • Can we have economic growth and greater income redistribution to ensure everyone benefits from the proceeds of growth? Economic growth (rising real GDP) makes it easier for the government to spend money on public services and welfare payments. With economic growth, tax revenues rise, as the government will collect more VAT and income tax. This can help reduce absolute poverty. If you compare UK society – 50 or 100 years ago, there have been great strides made in reducing the worst forms of poverty. However, to reduce relative poverty and inequality may require different policies, such as a more progressive tax system and more generous means tested benefits. Welfare payments can help economic growth Unemployment benefit enables people to survive economic turbulence. It helps support them in finding a new job suited to their qualifications. Removing benefits would reduce income and could cause serious social problems as people feel totally excluded from society. Government funded public services like education and health care play a major role in improving a nations productive capacity and helping long-term economic growth. A living wage / minimum wage can help prevent monopsonistic exploitation. By increasing workers wages also creates more demand in society for goods. Factors other than government policy Also, fairness in society doesn’t just depend on government policy. It depends on the attitudes of firms, workers and society. If people in society value an element of redistribution it is more likely to happen. For example, do firms make workers shareholders in the company or is society dominated by powerful monopolists who want to maximise profits? In the Nineteenth Century, the Dickensian idea of firms was that they were happy to pay as low wages as they could. The proceeds of economic growth did little to ‘trickle down’ to the poorest workers. Post Second World War, economic growth was more consistent with reduced inequality; this was partly due to government welfare policies – e.g. unemployment benefit, but also firms were perhaps more likely to see it in their ‘enlightened self-interest’ to pay workers well and look after their welfare. Success in society became a little less judged by monetary gain, but also how you treated other people. Arguably, some of these gains were lost in the past three decades with a renewed widening of inequality since the early 1980s. The proceeds of growth have become less well distributed. This partly reflects government policy, but also perhaps reflects a trend within society. To give one particular example of a factor which may have increase inequality. From the mid 1980s, building societies which didn’t make profit became quite aggressive profit maximising banks – leading to a growth in bonuses for high paying executives. If we had kept a more conservative financial system where building societies were non-profit making organisations, there would have perhaps been less inequality. The point about building societies is just one particular small example. In practice there are a huge range of social and cultural factors which determine how economic growth will affect different people in society in different ways. Limits of redistribution policy • Unemployment benefit can play a role in helping the economy to function more efficiently and fairly. However, if benefits become too generous it creates a disincentive to work. If benefits are nearly as high as income from work, then people will prefer to be unproductive and live on benefits. This will damage economic productivity. • Inequality provides incentives. In society, many entrepreneurs take risks to set up business because of the prospect of making money. If tax is too progressive, if marginal tax rates are too high, then there is a major disincentive for people to create new business and work hard. • A minimum wage / living wage can increase living standards of the low paid, but if the minimum wage is increased too much, firms may not be able to afford to pay workers. This could lead to unemployment and a worsening of inequality. Leave a comment Item added to cart. 0 items - £0.00
Resource Center Concussion/Sub-concussive Treatment Considerations It is critical after a diagnosis that the parents take a concussion seriously, as we say, it’s a brain injury, not a headache!! To ensure a full recovery and reintroduction to sports, parents should look at all aspects of the concussion and their kids. Concussive Understanding by the Athlete and Parent The most critical person in this entire process is the concussed athlete and their understanding, transparency, and cooperation with their parents and medical staff. Too often, student-athletes treat concussions as minor injuries and do not understand the implications of misleading doctors and their parents to ensure a quick return to sports. It is critical that athletes know that these injuries, especially early in life, can affect them for the rest of their lives and that by not being transparent with their symptoms and/or tests, they risk a more serious injury down the road. Sometimes the problem may be the parent who is living vicariously through their child or sees sports as the child’s “way out”, or is actively supporting the child’s desire to return to sport. It is critical that they understand the potential severity of the outcome if the child’s concussion-related symptoms are not properly diagnosed. Student Lifestyle Considerations for Treatment This is a widely overlooked consideration when doctors determine the recovery plan for a concussed athlete. Currently, treatment plans are focused on the concussion that the athlete underwent at that time. However, some consideration of the athlete’s history and lifestyle should be given, as that can significantly impact the amount of time or treatment plan determined to be appropriate. Athletes that have had multiple concussions have played back to back concussive sports, that take part in other same sports activities (think clubs, travel teams, etc.) that provide year-round exposure to other concussive possibilities or practice concussive lifestyle activities i.e. skateboarding, snowboarding, water skiing, motocross, parkour, etc. should receive additional consideration in terms of the time of rest and post-concussive treatments like therapy and examinations at 30 days for Post Concussive Disorder. Immediate Post Concussive Timeframe Historically, most concussions required a one-to-two-week period where the doctor provides a rest from mental and physical activity to avoid excessive stimulation and to give the brain time to rest. Most often, the concussed athlete will be prescribed fewer school hours, avoidance of electronics/TV, and postponed testing and homework to start. There will be a period of rest, depending on the practitioner that will be based on the severity of the concussion and could last from 24 to 48 hours (mild) to 5 to 6 days (moderate) and one to two weeks (severe). We remember that we are also talking about kids… and kids and bedrest are not exactly synergistic. There are studies that show that extensive bed rest may complicate concussive recovery through the introduction of other factors, i.e. • Isolation • anxiety about testing, relationships, homework, or studies • sleep problems • depression from being in darkened rooms for prolonged periods. There are indications that a slower reintroduction to school and other mental activities after 48 hours is good to avoid problems that come from isolation and too much bed rest, as long as there is a continued focus on monitoring the child for any worsening of their symptoms. This can begin as soon as the third day and should be coordinated with school authorities to provide for limited school hours and work. The parents can help this process by ensuring that the kids also limit their mental activities at home. While there are no strict guidelines, it is important that the student take the time to properly rest the brain and allow it to recover. While some students will take this as a “pass” to not focus on work, avoid further sports (that they may not want to take part in), or just to play, it’s better that they take more time than less. Concussion Recovery During this period, the student-athlete should go through a continuous evaluation to establish their healing progress in order to determine when the student is ready to return to full-time school and begin limited participation in sports. This is done by a series of visits to the doctor, usually after one to two weeks, to take further tests to evaluate the athlete’s symptoms. It is critical that the athlete be completely transparent regarding their symptoms to not mislead and allow the doctor to more accurately determine the next steps. We recommend that, depending on the type of concussion, the child’s concussive past, and other concussive activities that parents err on the side of longer timelines. Return to Sports Considerations The decision about when a player can safely return to play must be made by a doctor. The doctor decides on a case-by-case basis based on an evaluation that will assess the child’s condition to include things like symptoms, medical and concussive history, type of sport/position, memory tests. Typically, the doctor, along with the coach and trainer, will recommend a plan that progressively re-introduces the child to sports. This will progress from limited ability to light aerobic activity, sports specific, non-contact exercises, non-contact training drills, and then to full practice. The child should be monitored and questioned throughout this process to determine their cognitive and physical condition and to monitor for a return of any concussive symptoms. Post Concussive Timeframe To ensure that the child is completely healed and progressing, the child should be evaluated at 30 days and further on to ensure the parent that the child is healed. At 30 days, it is highly recommended that concussed athletes take a post-concussive syndrome evaluation, a simple repeat of the exam that was given prior to the child being released to resume activities that evaluate the child for concussive symptoms related to the original concussion or a combination of reintroduction to sports and/or sub-concussive activity that may have caused the symptoms to return. It cannot be overstated how important it is for the child to be transparent about their symptoms so that they can get a proper diagnosis. After the 30-day period, the parent should monitor the child for any symptoms that can be tied to the concussion. This is important, as, if the child returns to play, sub-concussive activity can prolong symptoms or cause them to return. A child’s complaints like continuous headaches, sleep disorders, being sensitive to light, and depression can be indicators of the post-concussive syndrome and require treatment. Please reach out to our Concerned about Trauma Page to see more.
• Gina Scrofano Proposed NH Law Allows Citizens To Rescue Animals From Vehicles We've heard the story time and time again; a pet owner brings their beloved companion with them to the store, lowers the windows a bit, and leaves them locked in the car. They think it will be fine because "it will only take a few minutes." For the owner, it's simply a shopping trip in a temperature controlled environment. For their trapped and defenseless animal, it's a nightmare. Including its title, HB 1394 is only a mere 138 words. However, those 138 words could mean the difference between the life or death of an animal left to suffer in a sweltering or frigid car. What is HB 1394? HB 1394 is a bill which would allow any person to take necessary steps to rescue an animal from endangerment of extreme temperatures while confined in a vehicle. Hot/Cold Car Laws In The United States Over half of the states in America have implemented some kind of 'hot/cold car law'. Some states limit the law to protect domestic or companion animals only, some states make it unlawful to leave any animal confined in a hot/cold vehicle, and some additionally grant immunity to law enforcement and other officials who must break into a vehicle to rescue an animal in danger. 'Good Samaritan' Laws Eleven states, such as New Hampshire's neighbors Massachusetts and Vermont, currently have 'Good Samaritan' laws, which also allows citizens to rescue endangered animals from hot/cold vehicles, without being held liable for necessary damages. Click here for a list of each state and their hot/cold car law. Current NH Hot/Cold Car Law Current NH law [RSA 644:8-aa], makes it unlawful to confine an animal in a motor vehicle (or other enclosed space) in which the temperature is either so high or so low as to cause serious harm to the animal. It also allows individuals to rescue an endangered animal from such a vehicle, without liability. However, that includes law enforcement and agents of a licensed humane organizations only. Why Does NH Need A Good Samaritan Hot/Cold Car Law? In low temperatures, vehicles are like refrigerators; they retain the cold. A car parked on a cold day, means a cold car within a few minutes of turning off the heat. In a warm environment, temperatures are not only maintained in vehicles, but they're also intensified. According to a study conducted by the Dept. of Geosciences at SFSU(1), when it's 70º outside the temperature in a vehicle will rise to approximately 89º within 10 mins, 99º in 20 mins, and 115º in an hour. Studies also show that rolling the window down is ineffective in keeping temperatures safe, even on a partly cloudy day.(2) Even air conditioning left on in a running vehicle cannot keep up with the heat and malfunctions sometimes occur. With danger increasing every passing minute, despite their best efforts, law enforcement and humane organizations can't always make it time. This leaves citizens who discover an animal in such danger, left to decide between being held liable for breaking into the vehicle or watching the animal suffer, or even die. Air-conditioning Malfunctions 46 K9’s died due to heatstroke or extreme temperatures in law enforcement vehicles, between 2011 and 2015.(3) Some of those cases were due to air-conditioning malfunctions, where the A/C either startedblowing hot air, or caused the engine to cut off. Manufactures now have devices that can be installed in law enforcement vehicles, such as those offered by ACEK9.(4) The device is a heat alarm system, which will monitor the temperature in the vehicle and will sound if dangerous temperatures are reached. As last resort, it also includes a door-popping mechanism, which will open the vehicle door, allowing the dog to escape. These incidents involving law enforcement, and the need for such a devise in itself, demonstrates the importance of this matter. Before one begins to imagine a crazed vigilantes running around New Hampshire and smashing car windows left and right, it is important to note that the proposed law comes with restrictions. Before Breaking A Car Window To Free An Animal, HB 1394 Requires That: • Law enforcement has been contacted • A witness is present • The individual reasonably believes at the time that assistance will not arrive in time to prevent the serious injury or death of the confined animal. On January 17th, the bill sponsor (Rep. Stone, Rockingham-Dist.1), proposed an amendment, based on testimony during the public hearing, to include the additional restrictions [2018-0160h]: • The individual makes a reasonable attempt to contact the animal owner. • The individual checks if the vehicle is unlocked • Upon removing the animal, the individual takes reasonable care of the animal and does not leave the scene until law enforcement arrives. What Happens To Animals In Extreme Temperatures? Cats, dogs, ferrets and other animals can suffer from hyperthermia and heatstroke. Symptoms include extreme panting/rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, dizziness, lethargy, seizures, organ failure, brain damage, and death. When an animal starts showing adverse reactions to the cold or heat, immediate action must be taken, as symptoms can worsen rapidly. When it comes to extreme temperatures, every second counts. HB 1394 helps safeguard New Hampshire's animals, while also protecting residents from liability resulting from reasonable actions and a compassionate heart. 1. Attend The Public Hearing A public hearing will be held in front of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. The committee will hear verbal testimony and collect written testimony from NH residents and stakeholders regarding HB1394. • Date: January 17th, 2018 • Time: 10:30am • Location: Legislative Office Building, 33 North State St., Concord, NH -Room 204 1a. Sign-In As Supporting HB 1394 When you arrive in room 204, there will be a 'sign-in' sheet (usually on blue paper), found on one of the tables where the representatives are sitting. Be sure the bill number at the top of the page is HB 1394, then put your name and town, and check off the Support Column. 1b. Submit Written Testimony Prepare written testimony in support of HB 1394. If possible, print 22 copies (one per committee member, one for you). Leave the 21 copies on the table next to the sign-in sheet. 1c. Verbally Testify Prepare verbal testimony. Usually the committee will allow approximately 3 mins. (sometimes more depending, but better to be prepared for less time than be cut off). After signing in, fill out a pink testimony card and leave it on the table next to the sign-in sheet. Attending Hearings and Testimony Tips Here 2. Call The Committee - Before Jan 17th • Find your house representative(s) Here • Find the committee members here • Have a match? Call your representative(s) Example: "Hello my name is (your name), I'm from (town) and I'm calling to urge your support of HB 1394, relative to animals in motor vehicles. This bill will allow citizens to rescue animals from vehicles, only after calling law enforcement and determining within reason that they will not arrive in time before the animal suffers serious injury or death from extreme temperatures." 3. Email The Committee - Before Jan 17th • Email: HouseCriminalJusticeandPublicSafety@leg.state.nh.us • Subject: Support HB 1394 • Greeting: Dear Chairman Welch and Honorable Members of the House Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee, • Message: (Example above, feel free to add/edit as you wish.) • Sign Off: (End with a thank you and provide your name and address.) 01/17/2018: Straight Twist, as well as the Humane Society of the United States, testified in support of the bill, while the NH Guides' Assoc. and the Dog Owners of the Granite State (NH Federation of the American Kennel Club) testified against the bill. There was no other testimony. Based on testimony, the bill sponsor (Rep. Stone, Rockingham-Dist.1), proposed an amendment to include the additional restrictions [2018-0160h]; the individual makes a reasonable attempt to contact the animal owner; the individual checks if the vehicle is unlocked; upon removing the animal, the individual takes reasonable care of the animal and does not leave the scene until law enforcement arrives. 02/06/2018: The House Criminal Justice Committee voted against the bill, 18-2. 03/06/2018: Following a special order to remove the bill from the consent calendar by Rep. Verville (Rockingham-Dist. 2), to ensure a discussion occurred on the floor before the House voted to kill the bill, the House killed the bill despite the debate with a voice vote. (1) 2003 J. Null, Department of Geosciences, San Francisco State University (2) 1995 L. Gibbs, MPH D. Lawrence., MPH RN, CS; M. Kohn, MD., Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Volume 147(12) (3) Adam Rodewald, USA Today Netork-Wisconsin, '46 police dogs died in hot squad cars', 2015, http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/investigations/2015/10/09/46-police-dogs-died-hot-squad-cars-since-2011/73476592/, Last visited Jan 12, 2015 (4) 'K-9 Vehicle Heat Alarm Systems By AceK9', http://projectpawsalive.org/the-equipment/k-9-heat-alarms-for-k-9-unit-vehicles/, Last visited Jan 12, 2015 Straight Twist Logo, Animal Welfare
Satisfactory Essays Choose any of the activities on the website. What did you learn by completing the activity? Based on the information provided, why do we still live in a largely segregated country? What do you think about the state of race relations in our country today? I learned that appearance doesn’t always tell you about someone’s ancestry or self-identity. Most people base a person’s race off of the way they look and in most cases they are wrong because they don’t know exactly what race they are by just looking at them. In the human diversity quiz I was shocked to find out that fruit flies have the most genetic variation. In the split identity part they mentioned that black women have the highest chance of being strip-searched out of all US citizens. That amazed me because I would think black women would get treated the same as a white women while getting searched in public. I feel like people still live in a largely segregated country because people allow it to still be segregated. Most people still group others by race, class, and choices they make in life. I don’t think it’s segregated because it’s supposed to be its just that way because people make it that way by following one another and doing as others do by separating others from themselves based on characteristics. I hate when I fill out applications for certain things and seeing the check box for race. I think that things should be based off a persons as a whole not the color or race that they are. I think that right there leads people to think that others still need to be segregated and put into groups based on color and race. People at the end of the day are just people and that’s how it should be looked at. You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
Did you know that finding a defect at the beginning of mounting boards with inspection techniques can be hundreds of times cheaper than after mounting them? In each step of the plate assembly process, if automatic inspection is performed, it is possible to identify possible failures, such as after the application of the solder paste through a PRINTER, or after the insertion of components, so that they are in accordance with the correct position on or even after the plate, allowing components to be soldered properly and without overexposure. Arte 2 - Ação 2 ENG-01.jpg If the problem is discovered early in the process, it is only possible to clean the plate and prevent it from being replicated to a large number of parts, so it is easy to correct errors punctually rather than having to disassemble various parts of the product or even discard the product. piece. Good defect management on electronic boards is made easier by inspection equipment such as SPI (Solder Past Inspection) and AOI (Automated Optical Inspection), which conducts paste and component inspection by capturing images of the board and components. Therefore, AOI is the final proof that everything went as expected and the equipment will not be defective in positioning when it reaches the end customer. The inspection takes place through a program developed with validated model plate libraries that compares it with the material produced, ie the plate produced must be exactly the same as the one placed as a model. If there are differences, the operator will be prompted to correct the problem. Errors detected in this step include: exchanged components (due to difference in screen printing), inverted assembled components, missing components, possible soldering short circuits, over soldering and missing soldering, among others. To learn more about SPI and AOI visit the button below: Follow our page and follow weekly Testing Techniques news logo linkedin_2x.png
Understanding Reverse Logistics Courier drivers, managers, business owners, HR teams and anyone else in the Logistics industry should be aware of Reverse Logistics. Here is our run down. Reverse Logistics is a concept that many companies in the logistics industry today have tried to define, and is a term that everyone, from the higher levels of management to the self-employed courier driver, should be aware of. Sometimes referred to as Aftermarket Logistics, Retrogistics, or Aftermarket Supply Chain, in simple terms, ‘Reverse Logistics’ refers to what happens to a product or a service after the point of sale. The goal is to make the most of what happens to the product or service after it has been sold, with the intention that, in the long run, money is saved as well as valuable and important resources. In essence, Reverse Logistics shouldn’t be mistaken for forward logistics or forward supply chain, which is the opposite process of getting a product or service to market. Reverse Logistics in Detail Any operation that is related to the recycling or reuse of materials or services involves Reverse Logistics. Refurbishing, remanufacturing or moving goods via courier driver from their final post sale destination for either disposal, or with the intent to glean more value, are both examples of Reverse Logistics. This concept is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s environmentally conscious world and so related practices at all levels of the industry are important. In fact, the ‘logistics in reverse’ element of the industry is becoming as big a part of the daily functioning of a company, as are logistics going forward. The process itself involves dealing with surplus stock and any goods that have been returned due to faults or defects. Have you ever thought about what happens to something you have given to a courier driver to return to a company? Once back in the warehouse, the company is obliged to test, dismantle, repair, recycle or get rid of the product – which all imply cost. Try to imagine that, in the case of Reverse Logistics, the product travels backwards through the supply chain network. Instead of the resource reaching the customer, as in normal logistics, the resource leaves the customer and is returned to the company it was purchased from. What Types of Activity are Synonymous with Reverse Logistics? Reverse Logistics service include activities such as warehousing, repair, recycling, refurnishing, logistics, and aftermarket call center support, among others. Put Simply… Although the definition is constantly evolving, this scientific process revolves around managing assets in all sectors of the industry, including the high tech industries, Legal Services, Human Resources, Operations and those that employ courier drivers. Any time that finances are extracted from the Warranty Reserve or Services Logistics budget of any company Free Web Content, the reason can be put down to Reverse Logistics.
What is swimmer's tail? Swimmer's tail - our experts explain what causes swimmer's tail in dogs and how to treat the condition... (Q) After swimming or a walk in the rain, my Lab's tail goes limp and she can't seem to wag it; she also seems reluctant to go for a walk. A dog walker I met said it might be something called swimmer's tail. What is this? Content continues after advertisements (A) Roberta Baxter says: Swimmer's tail, acute caudal myopathy, or limber tail, is a condition that isn't well understood. Typically a dog is presented to the vet with a tail that drops limply from a few inches away from the bottom, and isn't wagged. The dog often seems miserable and sore, and has usually been swimming within the previous 48 hours. Vets generally assume that the condition is associated with the use of muscles that aren't well conditioned to this exercise. However, I'm sure I've seen the condition in a dog who hadn't been swimming but had been wet, so I wonder if the cause is more complex than we realise.
What foods to eat if you have diabetes August 5, 2019 Team Yomed No Comments If you just have been diagnosed with diabetes then it is pretty sure that you might feel confused about what to eat now. What you put in your mouth has an impact on the sugar levels of the body. Making certain types of healthier food choices and limiting some foods can help manage blood glucose levels. When blood sugar level or blood glucose level have a higher value than the normal, it is called diabetes. Consuming certain foods helps in controlling blood sugar and alleviate hunger pangs. The type of carbohydrates and its quantity level have a great impact on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates found in white bread, rice, pasta, corn, milk, fruits, cereals and desserts can mess up with blood sugar levels. According to research, foods with low-GI can help lose weight and reduce blood sugar levels. In fact, they are better options for people with diabetes. This is why it’s important to follow a healthy eating plan. Eating foods that are good for diabetes and taking food in the right portions can help you keep sugar in check. According to American Diabetes association, a healthy eating plan consists of these things mentioned below : 1. Fruits and vegetables 2. Lean protein foods 3. Less added sugar 4. No Trans Fat Here is a list of foods that are beneficial for people having diabetes: The foods containing high levels of fibre, magnesium, potassium, calcium and Vitamin C are among the ideal foods that help control sugar. 1. Beans Beans are one of the most nutritious food. And they are equally good for people with diabetes. They have low-fat protein and also have essential minerals like potassium and magnesium. Beans come in the category of low GI foods and thus, it may help in keeping sugar level stable. It also helps in suppressing hunger. 1. Orange and citrus foods Studies have found that citrus foods have anti-diabetic effects. They are considered among the best foods to lower the risk of diabetes in women. So it is advisable that one should include grapefruits, oranges, lemons and limes or some more citrus foods in their diet. Make sure you make citrus food containing fibre, vitamin C, folate and potassium, as a part of your daily intake. 1. Fish having omega 3 fatty acids and wild salmon Fatty fishes have essential omega-3 fats which are helpful in lowering the risk of heart diseases. These fatty fishes are very much capable of reducing heart diseases risks. Fishes like wild salmon are rich in omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA). Other categories of fishes that are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids are albacore tuna, sardines and mackerel. Thus, one can consume these fishes 2 times in a week to stable their triglyceride levels. They are also excellent for reducing inflammation problems. 1. Green-leafy vegetables Leafy green vegetables are full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Based on some studies, green-leafy vegetables are beneficial for people with diabetes as they have starch digesting enzymes and high levels of antioxidants. These green-leafy vegetables include kale, spinach, collard greens and more. They are also called the superfoods for diabetes as these low carbohydrates and calories. 1. Non-starchy vegetables Starchy foods are not good for diabetes as they are high in carbohydrates. High carbs provide a good source for high energy levels in the body. However, they can raise blood sugar. People with diabetes should limit the intake of starchy vegetables and should eat non-starchy vegetables. They help in better management of diabetes. Including them in your daily diet intake makes a good option for diabetic people. These non-starchy vegetables also have low GI, carbohydrates and calories. The top non-starchy veggies that must be included in the diabetic diet are cucumber, cabbages, okra, tomato, okra and carrots. 1. Berries Berries are good alternatives for desserts. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and other berries are packed with high amounts of antioxidants and fibre. They are heart-healthy and may reduce the risks associated with heart diseases. In addition, they are excellent to fight against inflammation. People dealing with weight issues should include berries in their diet as they help with weight loss. They are low in sugar and has a sweet-sour in taste. So people with diabetes can choose these to included in their breakfast recipes also. 1. Probiotic yogurt Some studies have shown that consuming probiotic yogurt have the potential to lower cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Protein and magnesium are two vital nutrients that manage diabetes. Yogurt could help in improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation. People with diabetes can eat plain greek yogurt with no added sugars. In simple, you need to choose yogurt with low fat and no added sugar. 1. Walnut and chia seeds Walnuts and chia seeds contain healthy fats and magnesium. They play a good role in helping with metabolism rates, hunger and sugar level. Chia seeds also have omega-3 content that boosts heart health and lower cholesterol levels. However, when it comes to servings, 1 ounce contains about 170 calories. Some researches say that chia seeds may help people managing type 2 diabetes. Last, people eating nuts and seeds regularly may have lesser risks of diabetes. Leave a Reply Notify of © 2022 Yomed.in \| All Right Reserved.
Five landowner benefits of forest management Forest and wildlife management What is a managed forest? It depends who you ask and how you interpret your forest. Forest management is an active approach to woodlot management and long-term sustainability. There are a variety of different activities that can be strategically implemented to achieved a desired objective. Common landowner benefits include: 1. Improving forest health and value 2. Increasing forest and ecosystem diversity 3. Building resiliency to help forests withstand a future uncertain climate and increasing invasive species pressures 4. Enhancing wildlife habitat features 5. Generating sustainable revenue in the process. Put simply, forest management can be described as tending your garden, but in the long-term. The goal of forest management is to identify your objective and implement a management strategy that will help you as the landowner realize that initial goal. To learn more, please contact us. five benefits of forest management Older Post Newer Post
The Chess Variant Pages This page is written by the game's inventor, John Montagna. John Montagna invented the game Superchess: while the name is not very original (in Pritchard's Encyclopedia of Chess Variants, six games are mentioned with the name Superchess or Super Chess); here `Super' has a different meaning from the other games: it doesn't mean `superior, larger, better', but more `on top of': some pieces are placed on top of rooks with special moves. This gives a chess variant, that is related to orthodox chess, but gives new strategic possibilities. Montagna wrote a booklet on the game `Superchess Basics', and you can email him for more information. The main idea of Superchess is: Pieces can move on top of a rook, either a friendly rook, or one of the opponent. Then, the moves of the rook are also available to the piece. copyright 1995 by John Montagna Superchess is played like the game of Chess with the addition of a new type of move. 1. By a standard Chess move, a Chess piece may move to and occupy a rook. This is done by placing the piece on top of the rook. Restrictions: A rook may not occupy another rook. A king may not occupy a rook or castle with a rook that is occupied. 2. Because it is in a superior position on top of the rook, the occupying piece is called a superpiece or, specifically, a superqueen, superbishop, superknight or superpawn. 3. The new, combined piece of a superpiece and a rook is called an occupied rook. Specifically, it is called a queen-rook, bishop-rook, knight-rook or pawn-rook. It may move either in the manner of the superpiece or in the manner of the rook. 4. One may occupy an opponent's rook. This is called hostile occupation. One's superpiece then controls the move of the opponent's rook, combining it with its own. The rook under hostile occupation is called a queen/rook, bishop/rook, knight/rook or pawn/rook. 5. A superpiece may leave the occupying position to move independently from a rook, but a rook may not move independently while a superpiece occupies. 6. A capture may be of a superpiece only. Capture is at the occupying position where the capturing piece becomes the new superpiece. 7. A capture of an occupied rook or a hostile occupation results in both the superpiece and the rook being removed from play. Capture of a rook under hostile occupation sacrifices one's own rook. 8. In a hostile occupation, one could use the opponent's rook to give check to, or stop a castle move of the opponent's king. 9. A superpiece may not leave a hostile occupation if the opponent's rook is then in a position of check to the king. 10. To promote, a superpawn must leave the occupying position on the rook by a normal pawn move to the last rank. The only specific requirement for Superchess is a Chess set with a suitable design of rook that would allow another piece to be placed upon it. " The rook as tower or fortress: "The basic idea of Superchess is centered around the simple concept that a rook may be occupied, like the manning of a tower or the fortifying of a castle. A piece occupies a rook by moving to and then being placed on top of the rook. In essence, the game of Superchess offers four new positions of play on the chessboard... the rooks. " The occupied rook: "The occupying of one's own rook in Superchess results in a new kind of combined playing piece that is called an occupied rook. Depending on the piece that moves to the rook, the new occupied rook in Superchess will be a queen-rook, bishop-rook, knight-rook or pawn-rook. As their combined names imply, these new pieces combine their moves. For example, a knight-rook moves like a knight or like a rook, and a pawn-rook moves like a pawn or like a rook." Hostile Occupation: "When one occupies an opponent's rook, or when an opponent occupies one's own rook, the result is a combined piece that is called a hostile occupation. In a hostile occupation the piece that occupies the rook then controls the move of the rook for its own forces. In a hostile occupation the new pieces are called a queen/rook, bishop/rook, knight/rook or pawn/rook (the 'slash' in the middle indicating 'hostile control' of the rook)." "To gain an occupation of one's own rook is an advantage in Superchess, but to gain a strategic occupation of an opponent's rook could, if not countered, devastate the opponent. To play for a hostile occupation becomes a standard element of strategy in Superchess. "By the rules of Chess one cannot move into check. As all the rules of Chess apply in Superchess, one's superpiece may not leave a hostile occupation if the opponent's rook will be left in a position of check to one's king. "Hostile occupation can result in two other unusual situations. super/rook could use the power of the opponent's rook that it controls to give check to the opponent's king. In the same way, it could also stop a castle move. " The superpiece: "The name Superchess derives from the fact that the occupying piece is actually placed in a superior position on the rook." "When a piece occupies a rook it becomes a superpiece and is then called, specifically, a superqueen, superbishop, superknight or superpawn. A superpiece can move in three ways: "The importance of all these types of new moves is in the new strategic possibilities that they create. A manoeuvre of an occupied rook always includes the possibility of the superpiece separating for more strategic possibilities." "The play of Superchess will include strategies to gain occupying positions. One such strategy will be to capture only the occupying superpiece of an already occupied rook, and to take its position by doing so. As well, a superpiece may directly capture another superpiece. Capture in this way is from occupying position to occupying position. Any capture of an occupied rook or a hostile occupation will offer the choice of capturing both pieces or of capturing the superpiece only." Playing the new moves of Superchess: "In Chess, to play the castle move is a factor of strategy and timing. A castle move by either player can affect the whole character of play. In some games the castle move is not even possible as players may try to limit the opportunity of an opponent to make a castle move at all. "Just as the timing of a castle move is very important, so too is the timing for an occupying move. Just as some Chess games will have no castle moves, so too some Superchess games will have no Superchess moves. Just as a castle move may greatly affect the play of the game, so too will the new Superchess moves." An occupied rook: QR queen-rook BR bishop-rook NR knight-rook PR pawn-rook A hostile occupation: Q/R queen/rook B/R bishop/rook N/R knight/rook P/R pawn/rook A superpiece: oQ superqueen oB superbishop oN superknight oP superpawn o occupies xo captures superpiece A Sample Superchess Game 1. e4 e5 2. d4 ed 3. c3 dc 4. Nxc3 Bb4 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Nf3 o-o 7. e5 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bof8 10. o-o Brc5 11. Bof1 Nc6 12. BRd3 g6 13. Bg5 Qe8 14. Bf6 d6 15. Ng5 Nxe5 16. BRe4 h6 17. BRh4 Ng4 18. Ne4 BRf5 19. Be7 BRe5 20. Re1 oBxh2 + 21. Kh1 Boe5 22. Nf6 + 22. ... oBxf6 (!) With capture of the knight by the superbishop, black has essentially won the game. The immediate threat of mate is not alleviated by: 23. Rxe5 as black replies with 23. ... doe5. Any attempt by white to protect the rook leads to a devastating onslaught to the bishop-rook or its superbishop on h4, therefore: 23. Resigns " Written and copyrighted by John Montagna; introduction by Hans Bodlaender. WWW page created: December 13, 1996. Last modified: January 21, 2002.
How Are Static And Dynamic Analyses Conducted? The method of approach varies depending on the type of analysis. Static and dynamic analysis These anaylses can be studied under the main two categories; static and dynamic. What is Static Analysis? Static analysis is the analysis conducted during the development period, as the product is in stable structured form. Performing this analysis independent of time, the geometry of the product is optimized and necessary improvements are made. Upon this the product is up for better optimized use. Firstly, the product/structure’s material model is created. Then, finite-element networks are created. Lastly, weight is applied to the model to test the product’s boundaries under various conditions. Using this data, solution and optimization methods are determined. The results and reports are compiled and delivered to the requested individuals or departments. How are Static Analysis Results Interpreted? Static analysis results should be interpreted by respective experts. In analytical calculations, there are often variable solutions and not just a single solid answer. Varying results can be made by studying along the x-axis, y-axis or the volume. The interpretation of the these results are the most crucially important step. Often times, the breaking point criteria are considered when interpreting this analysis method. Why is Static Analysis Conducted? Static analysis reports all results that can occur under static and stable conditions by events such as, tension, stress, stretching or straining. During their lifetime, products are frequently suffer impacts and deformations. These are the main reasons for shorter lifetimes of products. For this reason, static dynamic analyses are conducted to gain information on how to lengthen the lifetime of the products. Under general terms, the information gained below are reasons to conduct static analysis: • How much weight can a stable static system can handle • How safe/secure is the system • Geometric and material properties • Different types of tension upon the structure or system What is Resistance Analysis? Resistance analysis has an important place in static analyses. Due to this type of analysis welding seam measurements are made, welding quality and material properties are determined and optimized. What is Dynamic Analysis? Dynamic analysis examines the structure with respect to time, in order to provide analysis and solutions as a variable of time. The scope of dynamic analysis allows determining the changes that occur in the movable product model, as well as motion analysis. Most structures or products are under constant motion. For this reason, it is essential that the product’s motion effects and strains are observed to lengthen the lifetime of the product. Another step of the dynamic analysis is time-dependent analysis, which is conducted after static analysis. This complex combinations of analysis are often difficult to conduct and require specialization. Finite Element Analysis Finite element analysis is a type of dynamic analysis that pertains to structures with moving pieces that have complex geometries. In all types of static dynamic analyses, this type requires that most knowledge and expertise. Specialized experts provide this analysis using focused computing programs.
Does Bitcoin use proof of work? Does Bitcoin Use Proof of Work? Yes. It uses a PoW algorithm based on the SHA-256 hashing function in order to validate and confirm transactions as well as to issue new bitcoins into circulation. Is Bitcoin proof of work? Proof of work enables Bitcoin transactions to to be confirmed and recorded without a central authority. It disincentivizes attacks on a crypto’s blockchain by making verifying transactions expensive. Proponents of proof of work contend it’s more secure than other mechanisms like proof of stake. Does Bitcoin use proof of stake or proof of work? Proponents point to this as one of their main benefits. But the lack of a central authority responsible for verifying transactions also presents a challenge. Bitcoin overcomes it by using an approach known as proof of work, as do several other major cryptocurrencies including Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Which crypto is proof of work? Dogecoin is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency, so it uses computing power to secure its blockchain in a similar way to Bitcoin. DOGE is mined with Litecoin, which means that anyone who mines Litecoin or Dogecoin can choose to mine the other coin. This allows your network power to be more stable. IT IS IMPORTANT: Will Bitcoin value go up? Does Bitcoin cash use proof of stake? Bitcoin Cash is a proof of work coin, so it doesn’t have staking. Why is proof of work necessary? Proof of work (PoW) is necessary for security, which prevents fraud, which enables trust. This security ensures that independent data processors (miners) can’t lie about a transaction. Proof of work is used to securely sequence Bitcoin’s transaction history while increasing the difficulty of altering data over time. What are the advantages of proof of work? Advantages and disadvantages of proof of work Provides a decentralized method of verifying transactions. High energy usage. Allows miners to earn crypto rewards. Mining often requires expensive equipment. Why is proof of stake bad? Some drawbacks in using proof-of-stake include: This can be seen as unfair because it concentrates on power among a small group of people. It is more centralized since only 10–20 validators participate in mining new blocks; this allows for manipulation and collaboration on the network, making it unreliable. Is staking crypto worth it? The answer is yes. The primary benefit of staking is that you earn more crypto, and interest rates can be very generous. In some cases, you can earn more than 10% or 20% per year. It’s potentially a very profitable way to invest your money. Is proof of stake profitable? In 2020 it has introduced NOW Staking as a way of profit from holding NOW tokens. NOW Staking offers up to 25% in yearly interest, making it one of the tokens with the highest expected return. There is a progressive reward scale in place, meaning that it gradually increases with time. IT IS IMPORTANT: What does the middle office do in an investment bank? Why is Bitcoin Cash worth less than Bitcoin? Another reason why Bitcoin Cash is so low is because of the poor working conditions of miners. The economic throughput on the Bitcoin Cash network is as low as it has ever been. Originally, the network could process about 90,000 transactions per second. Is Bitcoin Cash better than Bitcoin? Among the other major differences, the first and the foremost is that Bitcoin Cash, as compared to Bitcoin, has a lower transaction cost and transfers data quickly. So, Bitcoin Cash can be used by more people at the same time. … The maximum block size of Bitcoin Cash is 32MB compared to Bitcoin’s 1MB. Can Bitcoin Cash overtake Bitcoin?
Book Of The Dead The “Book of the Dead” is an ancient Egyptian funerary text generally written on papyrus and used from the beginning of the New Kingdom (around 1550 BCE) to around 50 BCE. It is actually the nickname of different magical spells, charms, numbers, passwords, and formulas written down by the ancient Egyptians in different ways. The name, “Book of the Dead” was given by the German Egyptologist Karl Richard Lepsius, who had published some selected texts in 1842. The original Egyptian name for the text, transliterated rw nw prt m hrw, is translated as Book of Coming Forth by Day or Book of Emerging Forth into the Light. “Book” is the closest term to describe the loose collection of texts consisting of a number of magic spells intended to assist a dead person’s journey through the Duat, or underworld, and into the afterlife and written by many priests over a period of about 1000 years. The “Book of the Dead” is a series of rites, prayers, and myths containing the Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife. The origin of this group of beliefs is very old, and they appear for the first time inscribed in the pyramids. Some of these ancient books have come down to us, though not in their complete form. Early funeral rites and spells were inscribed in pyramids. The first texts of this type were those written in the funerary chamber of the Pharaoh Unis. On the walls of this chamber, it’s possible to see hieroglyphs containing sentences and explanations to help the Pharaoh come back to life. Unfortunately, these phrases are written using very infrequent hieroglyphs. For this reason, they have not all been clearly deciphered. Probably compiled and reedited during the 16th century BCE, the collection included Coffin Texts dating from c. 2000 BCE, Pyramid Texts dating from c. 2400 BCE, and other writings. Later compilations included hymns to Re, the sun god. Numerous authors, compilers, and sources contributed to the work. Scribes copied the texts on rolls of papyrus, often colorfully illustrated, and sold them to individuals for burial use. Many copies of the book have been found in Egyptian tombs, but none contains all of the approximately 200 known chapters. The collection, literally titled “The Chapters of Coming-Forth-by-Day,” received its present name from Karl Richard Lepsius, the German Egyptologist who published the first collection of the texts in 1842. Most of these magical spells were written to help the Egyptians reach safely to their afterlife. Almost 200 spells had been discovered so far and most of them were written in a piece of papyrus whereas some were written on the wall of tombs too. Initially, those texts were written on the exterior of the deceased person’s sarcophagus, but later they were written on papyrus sheets. The ancient Egyptians were very religious and their religious beliefs were based on the polytheism (worship of many deities). There were two chief deities of the Egyptians namely Aman-Ra (The Sun God and the God of the Universe) and God Orisis (the God of the underworld who could possibly make a peaceful after life). The ancient Egyptian religion gave stress on the life after death. It was believed that the life after death would take people to a particular state which could be achieved by the help of some magical spells. The best preserved and most complete ‘Book of the Dead’ is the ‘Papyrus of Ani’. It contains many chapters and a large number of drawings that explain step-by-step what happens to the soul when it leaves the body. It’s a very large papyrus. Unrolled, it measures more than 26 meters. Wealthy Egyptians used to hire scribes who could write down their all personal favorites on the papyrus sheets which were then stored watchfully in their tombs. People who were not that rich used to purchase a ready-made versions of the Book of the dead which used to contain some most popular spells. There was a place on the papyrus sheet where people could write their own names as well. According to the Egyptian belief, Ba and Ka, two pieces of soul, find their ways to own tomb each night. Egyptian Book of the Dead, painted on a coffin fragment (c. 747 – 656 BCE) The “Book of the Dead” has about 200 chapters and is generally organized into four sections: • Chapters 1-16 describe how the deceased enters the Duat, where the mummified body begins to move and speak. • Chapters 17-63 offer explanations of Egyptian myths and the deceased returns completely to life. • Chapters 64-129 describe how the deceased travels the sky in the solar barge; at sunset, he goes before Osiris (the god of the afterlife) to be tried. • Chapters 130-189 explain that if the judgment has been favorable, the deceased enters Heaven with the other gods. The “Book of The Dead” mainly contains the pictures of tests through which the deceased person would have to pass. The most important test was to take a weight of the dead person’s heart against the Ma’at (Truth), a feather and sin. In the present day, hieroglyphics can be rendered in desktop publishing software and this, combined with digital print technology, means that the costs of publishing a “Book of the Dead” may be considerably reduced. However, a very large amount of source material in museums around the world remains unpublished. Information Source: 4. wikipedia
Makarios I had fought off a major rebellion, punished the leaders, and fought two minor wars to finish the work of properly distributing the lands taken from the rebels. When all this was finished, he tried to rest, but found himself restless. Apparently he had learned to not be so slothful. So he sent the Cataphracts north, to actually assist allies in their wars. For a few years, Makarios funded the replenishment of the Cataphracts from the spoils taken in his allies’ wars. But with his help, they were all won. Seeing that Croatia was fighting a civil war, he moved the Catapracts into position for an old Imperial pastime: taking lands from Catholics. Sicily and Venice aided Makarios’ enemies in that first war, and so Venice was attacked next. The so-called Holy Roman Empire rallied to the defense of the Catholics in Venice, surely to no avail. However, in the midst of this war, the Duke of Jerusalem tried to fabricate a claim on the county of Hebron. When he was discovered, he fled arrest and started a war to resist. The local dukes were called to put him down, and they did so handily. However, the HRE was able to land a surprisingly large army on the island of Venice, utterly crushing the Cataphracts. Makarios saw no choice but to sign a white peace. [I am an idiot who doesn’t know when to retreat. Ugh!] Makarios began building a new Imperial Army…
Revised General Data Protection Regulation and Who Gets to Pick Up the Bill Reading time: 4 min Data protection regulations from the European Parliament and Council have been set in place to safeguard the individual’s right to control how his personal data is used and prevent companies from getting tangled in a legislative web. The General Data Protection Regulation Act from the European Commission adopted on Jan. 25 2012 proposed new legal frameworks consisting of two legislative proposals regarding the processing of personal data and its free movement, and the protection of individuals when their personal data is used by competent authorities in tackling cybercrime. However, the European Commission decided that, to keep up with the digital era, reform was needed to strengthen the citizen’s right to data protection. Basically putting an end to the patchwork of rules that existed across EU member states that enabled each country to treat the matter in accordance with internal laws and legislation, the reform package enforces the idea that all EU citizens will benefit from the same data protection rights. What does this mean for Companies? Companies will take advantage of benefits provided by the Digital Single Market (DSM), allowing for consistent rules across EU member states, regardless of where they are established within the EU. Instead of dealing with 28 states and paying for consultancy fees individually, they will have a single authority to deal with. Not only will this ensure legal certainty, but also make it a lot easier to cut through red tape and turn a profit by make decisions more quickly. An added benefit for SMEs is that they won’t have to report data breaches to individuals, unless it represents a risk to their rights and freedoms. However, this can prove a double-edged sword and it raises potential questions as to when do companies believe user freedoms could be at risk. How does this benefit users? Users will be able to move their personal data between service providers, taking advantage of the competitive nature of the European community. As users have more control over their data, small businesses and start-ups will get access to data more quickly and get the opportunity to compete with data privacy giants by winning the battle with user experience. In turn, regular users will have the option to choose from various providers, without worrying how their data will be ported or how it will be processed by the new privacy provider. Who picks up the Bill? Having a single governing body regulating how individual personal data is used is estimated to lead to €2.3 billion per year in savings as businesses no longer have to deal with compliance from 28 member states. Cutting costs seems to have been the main reason behind the revision. Overall, while the revision is definitely pro privacy and pro user data, it’s also designed to encourage EU companies to expand, thrive and innovate. PCI compliance
Introduction to loon.shiny Zehao Xu Overview of the three packages The shiny R package simplifies the creation of interactive analysis web pages. A shiny application is composed of two components, a ui (user interface) and a server function. This ui/server pair are passed as arguments to the shinyApp function that creates a shiny app. The ui (user interface) creates the layout of the app, guiding its users about the analysis by determining the objects that appear and how they can be manipulated on such application. The server function reacts to modifications on the ui, defining the logic of the app. As the user interacts with the page, the server function reacts to make changes in the display. The loon R package provides an interactive visualization toolkit for unconstrained, unscripted, and open-ended data exploration. It is intended for data analysts themselves. An important part of loon’s interactivity is the loon inspector which can can make changes specialized to different loon plots. Typically, the loon inspector has a single instance. The inspector will adapt its display to whichever of the different base loon graphics (scatterplots, graphs, histograms, serial axe plots, etc) is its focus (e.g., the graphic display that last received a mouse or window focus event. For loon users, it is a challenge to provide a curated analysis that is still somewhat interactive. Snapshots of different steps of the analysis are easily accommodated via RMarkdown, etc. but interaction is not. Loon.shiny transforms loon widgets to appear (with their inspector) in a shiny web app. The idea behind the implementation: In loon.shiny, loon widgets are transformed to static loonGrobs created by the R base grid package to provide low-level, general purpose graphics functions. Note that, a loonGrob contains all elements of a loon plot even some not drawn contents, i.e. deactivated elements, hidden layers. All these essential contents are stored inside an empty grob possessing the argument values necessary to draw them. When the server function is fired, the interactivity is realized by editing and redisplaying these loonGrobs. Basic Usage Consider the classic iris data set. # Loon scatterplot p <- with(iris, l_plot(x = Petal.Width, y = Sepal.Width, color = Species) # Modify glyph to radial axes glyph. p['glyph'] <- l_glyph_add_serialaxes(p, data = iris) # Fit a linear regression on each group (species) for(s in unique(iris$Species)) { # sub data set subdata <- iris %>% filter(Species == s) # fitted line fit <- lm(Sepal.Width ~ Petal.Width, data = subdata) x <- subdata$Petal.Width pred <- predict(fit, interval = "confidence") ord <- order(x) # Loon pipe model (connected with %T>%) # Check ```help(`%T>%`)``` for more details p <- p %T>% # fitted line l_layer_line(x = x[ord], y = pred[, "fit"][ord], color = "firebrick", linewidth = 1.5, index = "end") %T>% # confidence interval l_layer_line(x = c(x[ord], rev(x[ord]), x[ord][1]), y = c(pred[, "lwr"][ord], rev(pred[, "upr"][ord]), pred[, "lwr"][ord][1]), color = "grey50", linewidth = 2, index = "end") loon.shiny(p, plotRegionWidth = "400px") The left panel is a scatterplot which receives mouse can be utilized for direct manipulations. The right panel is an inspector, mainly for indirect manipulations. Compared with the loon one, it is different that is composed of a world view window and six buttons (Plot, Linking, Select, Modify, Layer and Glyph). Each channel will be popped up by pressing the corresponding button. Due to very limited layout space, such design can make the inspector look fresh. There are several noticeable difference here: Compound Plots Arbitrarily many plots may be created and linked in loon. Package loon.shiny successfully inherits such facility. Following graph illustrates compound plots. The three graphs are histogram of variable Sepal.Length, scatterplot of Sepal.Width versus Sepal.Length and swapped histogram of variable Sepal.Width (from top to bottom, from left to right). They are colored by species and linked each other. p1 <- l_plot(iris, linkingGroup = "iris", showLabels = FALSE) p2 <- l_hist(iris$Sepal.Length, linkingGroup = "iris", showLabels = FALSE, showStackedColors = TRUE) p3 <- l_hist(iris$Sepal.Width, color = iris$Species, linkingGroup = "iris", showLabels = FALSE, swapAxes = TRUE, showStackedColors = TRUE) loon.shiny(list(p1, p2, p3), layout_matrix = matrix(c(2,NA,1,3), nrow = 2, byrow = TRUE), plotRegionWidth = "400px") Inspector Activation Loon inspector is a singleton which means there is only one instance of it. Each kind of graphics (scatterplots, graphs, histograms, serial axes plots, etc) has its own specified inspector. The shown one depends on which display receives the last mouse gesture input or window focus event. However, such design in shiny can be very complex. Instead, we build a navigation bar menu. The inspector can be switched by toggling tabpanel on the bar menu or the last mouse gesture (<double click>) input. If we brush on any of these plots, the corresponding elements on the rest will be highlighted instantaneously. Linking status can be checked via linking panel.
What is overweight? Overweight is defined as the weight on an axle or axle group, or total gross weight, being more than that allowed under the Traffic Safety Act. Show All Answers 1. What are posted axle weights? 2. What is overweight? 3. When are road bans in effect? 4. What is a divisible load? 5. What is a non-divisible load? 6. Is a haul restriction a road ban? 7. How long are haul restrictions in place? 8. What is a permitted haul? 9. Who is exempt from a haul restriction?
the history of Halloween! Halloween has been around since the 1800’s. Halloween has origins in the ancient festival known as Samhain. This festival was derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end.” This was a Gaelic festival celebrated mainly in Ireland and Scotland. The festival of Samhain celebrates the beginning of the "darker half", and end of the "lighter half" of the year and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".The celebration, has some elements of death . The ancient Celts believed there was a border between this world and the Otherworld which became thin on Samhain. This allowed spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. Their family's ancestors were honored and invited home to help ward off harmful spirits. People now believe that the need to ward off harmful spirits is what led to the wearing of costumes and masks. The family’s would disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to stock up their food supplies and slaughter their livestock for winter stores. Bonfires also played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. In the flames people would throw the bones of their slaughtered livestock. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual. The term Halloween, is a shortened from version of the original, All Hallows' Even – e'en. This is ultimately derived from the Old English Eallra Hālgena ǣfen. This day is known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st. A time of pagan festivities tried to force it with the Christian holiday (All Saints' Day) by moving it from May 13 to November 1. In the 800s, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were once celebrated on the same day. Please visit us at our website at: County Properties San Diego or County Properties Riverside
Dr. Allen Cherer is a neonatal care expert with over 30 years of medical accomplishments to his name. Tag: parents Irregular Breathing in Newborns: What You Should Know New parents may be alarmed when their newborn has trouble breathing. Babies often breathe irregularly in the hours following their birth and in the first few days of life. Here is a brief overview of irregular breathing in newborns — and what warrants a visit to the pediatrician. Normal Breathing in Newborns Newborns typically breathe through their nose rather than their mouth and have smaller breathing pathways. These smaller pathways mean babies can’t take in as much as oxygen and breathe more rapidly. Babies usually take between 30 and 60 breaths per minute while they are awake and 20 breaths per minute during sleep. In comparison, an adult breathes between 12 and 20 times per minute. It is normal for a baby to take several rapid breaths and then pause for several seconds. This is especially true in the newborn days when the respiration system is still developing. Most breathing irregularities typically resolve within the first few months of life. Breathing Problems in Babies Becoming familiar with a baby’s normal breathing pattern can make it easier for parents to distinguish any problems that occur. Some of these problems may include: Barking cough and/or hoarse cries Croup often hits in the middle of the night and terrifies parents. It is marked by a barking, seal-like cough, hoarse cries, breathing difficulties and/or a fever. Whistling noises Whistling sounds are often due to blockages in the nostrils. Babies breathe through their nostrils rather than their mouths. Any blockage in the nostrils due to allergies or a cold can make breathing difficult. Wheezing can be a sign of a more serious condition in babies. When the airways become constricted due to asthma, pneumonia or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the baby isn’t able to draw enough oxygen during each breath. Fast-paced Breathing Fast-paced breathing is often accompanied by an elevated heart rate. Fluid in the airway from pneumonia or another infection could be the cause. When to See a Doctor Breathing problems are common during cold and flu season. An estimated 15 to 29 percent of all hospital admissions in babies are due to breathing problems. If parents notice any changes in their child’s breathing, they should notify a doctor immediately. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if: • the baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds • a blue color is noticed in the lips, toenails or fingernails • the muscles in the neck pull in during breathing Taking care of a child when their breathing is irregular can be very stressful. Learning to watch for the signs and knowing when to alert the child’s pediatrician can help keep newborns safe and healthy as they grow. COVID-19’s Potential Impact on Newborns COVID-19 produces victims of all ages. Concern grows for pregnant women and unborn children. Facilities around the world continue studying the microbe and reveal their findings thus far. Some studies suggest that infants born to mothers having the virus have a high risk of suffering ill effects. From January 20 to February 5, nine women gave birth to 10 infants in five different hospitals in China’s Hubei province. Eight of the expectant mothers tested positive for COVID-19 before delivery. One mother tested negative. However, a fever and a CT scan of her chest revealed pneumonia that could not be contributed to any other underlying cause but the virus. The women suffered a variety of prenatal complications that included intrauterine distress, ruptured members prior to the onset of labor, amniotic fluid abnormalities and placenta previa. Seven of the mothers delivered their babies via cesarean section. The other two women had normal vaginal deliveries. The mothers were treated with Tamiflu or a combination of the antiviral plus interferon following delivery. After birth, all of the infants were tested for COVID-19 via oral swabs. All of the tests were negative. Four of the babies were full-term and six were premature. All of the infants exhibited unusual symptoms that included fevers, difficulty breathing, elevated heart rates, inability to feed, vomiting, gastric bleeding and bloating from liver malfunction. Seven of the infants exhibited abnormal chest X-rays. Two of the premature babies died nine days after birth. A team of researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois recently discovered that the virus damages the placenta in expectant mothers. The study involved 16 pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19. Following delivery, the placenta tissues were evaluated. The team discovered that the blood vessels within the placentas exhibited abnormal development or were otherwise damaged. However, all of the infants tested negative for the virus and were in reported good health. Researchers from the University of California San Diego expanded the MotherToBaby program to gain a better understand the short- and long-term effects of the virus on expectant mothers and infants. Previously, the program was designed to evaluate medications and environmental factors that might affect pregnant women, newborns and breastfeeding. The study will involve the examination of medical records and phone calls to women who volunteer for the research. The program also includes monitoring the neurological development of children to determine possible emotional, learning or memory issues. Top Pregnancy Myths: 2020 Some of the information expectant mothers receive is often based on myths or old wives’ tales. Dispelling the myths may bring comfort and reassurance in addition to ensuring the health of the expectant mother and growing infant. You’re Eating for Two For decades, women were encouraged to substantially increase their dietary intake in order to ensure they were consuming enough nutrients for the growing infant. However, overeating leads to obesity, which leaves the mother and baby at risk. Being overweight increases the chances of developing gestational diabetes or hypertension. The excess weight also stresses the cardiovascular system. Health care providers suggest that increasing daily calorie intake by a mere 200 to 300 calories is more than sufficient to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Belly Size and Shape Reveals Gender Physicians rebuke the belief that external appearance correlates with the baby’s gender. Some women carry the baby high while others carry it lower. However, the difference is often equated with genetics and physical characteristics and not infant gender. Moisturizing Prevents Stretch Marks Cocoa butter has long been touted as being one of the solutions to prevent stretch marks. While moisturizing preparations are good for the skin, they do not prevent the physiological effects that a growing infant causes on external skin. Women develop varying degrees of marks depending on genetics and the extent that the abdomen needs to stretch to accommodate the infant. Stay Away from Cats There is no reason why expectant mothers cannot have and care for a feline companion. The danger lies in changing the litter box. Feline waste products commonly contain a parasite that has the potential for causing toxoplasmosis. While the mother may or may not experience flu-like symptoms, the illness has the potential of becoming serious in infants. Best to leave litter box duties to someone else. The disease can also be contracted by eating undercooked meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables. Exploring Current Neonatology Trends As technology has aided in advanced medical care over the last few decades, neonatology treatments and care options have improved and grown in number. Maternal mortality prevention is the goal of neonatology, and these trends are helping caregivers achieve their goals. Here are a few prevailing neonatology trends to keep an eye on in 2020. More Resources for Practicing Neonatologists There are more available than ever for practicing neonatologists, primarily because of the growing need for more highly capable practitioners. The increasing number of mothers who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, increasingly poor nutrition, diabetes and high blood pressure are some driving factors of this trend. Neonatologists and medical professionals with similar disciplines can connect with the Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (SONPM) website, which is an affiliate of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Preventing Neonatal Sepsis Neonatal sepsis is another condition that affects millions of children every year. This is a bacterial bloodstream infection (BSI) that is potentially life-threatening to babies, especially those of low birth-weight. This can happen quite unexpectedly and for many reasons, including pneumonia, meningitis and gastroenteritis. This makes the detection of neonatal sepsis before it fully takes hold of the child imperative. Treatments can be applied speedily to rid the bloodstream of the infection when it’s detected early. Improving Communication with Parents When your newborn child is in the intensive care unit (ICU), it can be the most trying experience of your life. To reduce the stress and anxiety that can come from not knowing, neonatologists are trying to be more transparent and open to communicating with the parents. In cases of premature infants, this can mean encouraging skin-to-skin contact between the parents and the baby. Research has even shown the babies’ vital signs tend to suddenly improve when they are being held by their parents. The relief the parents feel to know their child is in good care is an added benefit. With the help of specialized supplements for newborn babies, malnutrition is no longer a problem. However, optimizing the use of breastmilk is a tradition that most neonatologists are trained to believe in. Breastfeeding is encouraged, but when this can’t happen, donor milk is promoted as an option before other methods for nutrition aid are considered. 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Great War Wednesday: A Most Perfidous Weapon Standard War I was the proving ground for a great number of new weapon systems. Machine guns entered widespread usage. Artillery improved to the pinnacle of its deadliness. Submarines and airplanes made their debut on the big stage, and poison gas wasn’t just for use against tribal natives anymore. Oddly enough, however, one weapon which, along with the shovel, proved effective beyond belief was never meant to be a weapon at all. It was invented to fill a need on the plains of the United States – a need to limit the freedom of cattle. One doubts Mr. Lucien Smith pictured the tangled bloody moonscaped battlefields of the Western Front when he filed his patent in 1867 for his invention to make fencing in cattle cheaper and less labor intensive, but his brainchild will forever be linked with the hellish killing fields of No-Man’s-Land. Mr. Smith invented barbed wire. Barbed wire in essence is two or three strands of wire twisted around each other and at regular intervals, a one to four pointed barb is twisted into the strand creating a single wire with thousands of flesh shredding “barbs” pointing outward. Different patterns cropped up from time to time before the Great War, but mostly they were just variations on this basic theme. At first, the wire had to be twisted by hand and creation of enough for any use was a time consuming process. By the time of World War I, however, giant barbed wire conglomerates like Smith and Glidden Barbed Wire Company had developed machines which turned out thousands of feet of wire each hour. Barbed wire now existed in quantities to make it an efficient battle implement. The wire would have been effective if great coils of it were simply unstrung between the trenches and in places, this is exactly what happened. Like so much in this war of excess though, if a simple way was good, an overly involved way was much better. What developed was a series of x-shaped uprights spaced a few feet apart. Then, the engineers wove multiple coils of barbed wire over and around each post. The result was a waist or chest high hedge of shining steel that rusted within hours of exposure to the torrential dampness of Flanders. Barbed wire lay in solid hedges in multiple lines parallel to every trench on the Western Front. Soldiers on the attack would have to pass through those hedges if they had any hope of reaching their objectives. Now, as any of us from Gray Court could tell you, passing over, under, or through a simple five strand “bob wire fence” could be difficult under simple, peaceful circumstances. Inevitably, crawling under would get your pants caught but climbing over risked the staples pulling out of the posts and dropping you across the bottom four strands in quick succession. In modern times, a mishap like that translated into a visit to the ER for a tetanus shot and some stitches; during the Great War, in a time before tetanus shots or even simple antibiotics existed, scratches from this rusty obstacle could mean an agonizing death as any opening in a soldier’s skin welcomed vast quantities of dirt and other filth into his bloodstream. So soldiers faced an obstacle impossible to maintain a walking pace through which they needed to sprint across in order to avoid machine gun fire, sniper bullets, and bursting shells. It was a thorny problem both sides in the war faced. They would both employ several methods to attempt to overcome the barbed barriers. One of the most straightforward was a thick pair of leather gloves and a hefty set of wire cutters. Unfortunately, commanders found out early on that the man with the gloves and cutters wasn’t given a sunny reception by the other side if they observed him while bent to his task. As a result, most wire cutting missions took place in darkness. Unfortunately, cutting gaps into the wire often caused more problems than it solved. Since the gaps were the safest places to pass without getting shredded, great congregations of soldiers gravitated towards the gaps. Before they had gotten to the second line of wire, however, the machine gunners on the other side would note where the gaps created bottlenecks and adjusted their withering fire accordingly. In this way, the final state of the soldiers was worse than the first. Before long, bright men in the high commands decided artillery was the most efficient way to clear the attack corridors of wire. Seems like a good plan, but the execution, like so many plans in this war, proved less than adequate. At first, they would try shrapnel shells to cut the wire. Shrapnel shells are essentially huge shotgun blasts of pellets which exploded and shot downward at the ground . . . very effective on personnel, but, as anyone who has ever tried to shoot a limp rope or wire in twain could have told the commanders, absolutely useless on wire. When thousands of casualties pointed to the ineffectiveness of shrapnel shells, the commanders switched to regular high explosive munitions. While enough of these projectiles would indeed cut the wire in many places, the sections would sail into the air to land atop one another willy-nilly fashion and instead of nice orderly rows of wire in predictable areas, no-man’s-land became a greater nightmare of shell craters lined with pointy, rusty steel. For three years, men were swallowed up by the walls of barbed wire. Finally, another invention making its debut in the Great War emerged and removed the terror of wire for all succeeding generations. Barbed wire was doomed as an effective weapon as soon as the first Mark I “Matilda” tanks from Britain lumbered across the fields crushing the coils of wire beneath their treads on the fields of Cambrai. Love y’all and keep those feet clean! Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s
Skip to main content Energy expenditure in chronic stroke patients playing Wii Sports: a pilot study Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in modern western countries. Stroke survivors often have functional limitations which might lead to a vicious circle of reduced physical activity, deconditioning and further physical deterioration. Current evidence suggests that routine moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity is essential for maintenance and improvement of health among stroke survivors. Nevertheless, long-term participation in physical activities is low among people with disabilities. Active video games, such as Nintendo Wii Sports, might maintain interest and improve long-term participation in physical activities; however, the intensity of physical activity among chronic stroke patients while playing Wii Sports is unknown. We investigated the energy expenditure of chronic stroke patients while playing Wii Sports tennis and boxing. Ten chronic (≥ 6 months) stroke patients comprising a convenience sample, who were able to walk independently on level ground, were recruited from a rehabilitation centre. They were instructed to play Wii Sports tennis and boxing in random order for 15 minutes each, with a 10-minute break between games. A portable gas analyzer was used to measure oxygen uptake (VO2) during sitting and during Wii Sports game play. Energy expenditure was expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs), calculated as VO2 during Wii Sports divided by VO2 during sitting. We classified physical activity as moderate (3-6 METs) or vigorous (> 6 METs) according to the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association Guidelines. Among the 10 chronic stroke patients, 3 were unable to play tennis because they had problems with timing of hitting the ball, and 2 were excluded from the boxing group because of a technical problem with the portable gas analyzer. The mean (± SD) energy expenditure during Wii Sports game play was 3.7 (± 0.6) METs for tennis and 4.1 (± 0.7) METs for boxing. All 8 participants who played boxing and 6 of the 7 who played tennis attained energy expenditures > 3 METs. With the exception of one patient in the tennis group, chronic stroke patients played Wii Sports tennis and boxing at moderate-intensity, sufficient for maintaining and improving health in this population. Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in modern western countries [1]. As a consequence of European population aging, the number of strokes is predicted to increase from approximately 1.1 million per year in 2000 to 1.5 million per year in 2025 [2]. Worldwide stroke prevalence ranges from 5-10 per 1000 among all age groups and from 46-73 per 1000 among persons aged ≥65 years [3]. There is a growing need for cost-effective treatment for stroke patients, including rehabilitation and tertiary prevention. Stroke survivors often become deconditioned with an aerobic capacity about half that of age-matched controls [46]. Low aerobic capacity compromises functional mobility after stroke [7, 8]. This might lead to a vicious circle of physical inactivity and further physical deterioration [4, 9]. Mobility status from 1-3 years after stroke significantly deteriorates in 21% of patients, resulting in reduction of activities of daily living, loss of independence, and social isolation [10]. Physical inactivity might also be a risk factor for recurrent stroke and cardiac events by promoting insulin resistance [5, 1113]. Current guidelines, therefore, recommend that routine moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity is needed for stroke survivors to improve and maintain their health [4, 14]. However, long-term participation in physical activities is low among people with disabilities as a result of person related factors (e.g. reduced mobility, social isolation) and environmental factors (e.g. limited access to stores and buildings, transport, and availability of equipment) [4, 1517]. Active video game (exergame) systems, such as Nintendo Wii Sports, are innovative and potential technologies that might improve daily physical activity levels for persons with chronic physical disabilities. Previous studies reported a mean energy expenditure of 3-4 metabolic equivalents (METs) among able-bodied adults during Wii tennis and boxing [18, 19]. This suggests that exergames have the potential to promote and maintain health, according to the American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association (ACSM/AHA) Guidelines on physical activity and public health [20]. Practical advantages of exergaming include the ability to train at home with or without online supervision, thus reducing healthcare costs [21]. Furthermore, exergames can provide real-time feedback on performance and progress [22]. They are also enjoyable, and can be performed with able-bodied relatives or friends or in virtual training groups to enhance compliance [22]. Wii Sports is designed for entertainment rather than therapy, which might limit its usability for stroke rehabilitation. However, in a recent pilot study the Wii gaming technology was found to be a safe, feasible and potentially effective alternative to promote motor recovery after stroke [23]. It is unknown, nonetheless, whether Wii Sports is of sufficient intensity (moderate or vigorous) to promote and maintain health in this population. Stroke-specific factors, including elevated muscle tone and postural instability, might have a large demand on oxygen uptake [4, 6]. Conversely, these stroke-specific factors might lead to less intense gameplay and consequently lower energy expenditure. We performed a proof-of-principle pilot study to determine the energy expenditure of chronic stroke patients while playing Wii-Sports. Our hypothesis was that the energy expenditure would indicate moderate- or vigorous-intensity and meet the ACSM/AHA guidelines to improve and maintain health. A convenience sample of 10 persons with chronic stroke was recruited from Rijndam Rehabilitation Centre in the Netherlands. Patients were included if they experienced an ischemic infarct ≥ 6 months prior, and were classified as Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) independence level 3, 4 or 5 [24]. Patients with a history of psychiatric disorders or conditions that might influence physical activity and fitness (e.g. lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis) or impair the safety of physical strain (e.g. cardiac disease) were excluded. Additionally, patients were excluded if they could not understand or were unable to perform research tasks as a result of severe cognitive or linguistic disorders or speech barriers, or if they experienced pain in the affected arm and hand. None of the patients were familiar with the Wii before the study. Eligible persons who provided informed consent were included in the study. Patient characteristics were collected from the patient file, including demographics (age, gender), stroke severity using the Bamford scale [25], upper extremity strength and spasticity from the affected side using de Medical Research Council (MRC) scale [26] and the Modified Ashworth Scale [27], balance using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) [28], and disability based on the Modified Rankin Scale [29]. The protocol was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of Erasmus MC. The Nintendo Wii, a home video game console, and the Wii Sports games tennis and boxing were used in the study [30]. The games are played with the Wii remote, which is the primary controller for the console [31]. The Wii remote is a wireless (Bluetooth) device that has a 3-axis accelerometer sensor inside to measure motion in all directions and all speeds. Because of its motion sensing capability, the user is in contact with and can manipulate items on the screen via gesture recognition. For certain Wii games, like Wii boxing, another controller is needed: the Nunchuk. Like the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk also provides a 3-axis accelerometer for motion-sensing and tilting, but without a speaker, a rumble function, or a pointer function. Participants played the Wii games in our department's Exergame Lab, which has a relatively large playing area (5 × 6 meter) with a 1.5 × 2.5 meter beamer projection on the wall along with stereo speakers to provide the visual and audio stimuli (Figure 1). Figure 1 figure 1 The Exergame Lab at our department. Anthropometric and physiologic measurements Body mass was measured within 0.1 kg accuracy using a calibrated electronic scale (KORONA, Leeds, UK); body height was measured within 0.1 cm accuracy using a wall mounted metal anthropometer (SECA, Hamburg, Germany). Body mass and height were measured with shoes off. Skinfold thickness was measured with a Harpenden Caliper (Burgess Hill, UK) twice on the right side of the body at each of four sites (biceps brachii, triceps brachii, subscapular, and suprailiac). The caliper has a measuring range of 0 to 80 mm, an accuracy of 99%, and a reliability within 0.20 mm. Body fat percentage was calculated according to the equations of Durnin and Womersley [32]. This calculation was then used to determine fat-free mass. Energy expenditures during game play, sitting, and standing were assessed using a validated portable indirect calorimeter (Cosmed K4b2, COSMED, Rome, Italy) [3338]. Oxygen and carbon dioxide sensors were calibrated with standard gases of known oxygen (16%) and carbon dioxide (5%) concentrations before each Wii tennis and boxing session. A 2-liter volume calibration syringe was used to calibrate the respiratory volume. We measured heart rate (HR) using a Polar T61 heart rate monitor (Polar Electro, Kempele, Finland), which was placed on the participant's chest and connected to the calorimeter. Self-perceived exercise intensity was measured using the modified Borg scale with 0 being "nothing at all" and 10 being "very, very strong" [39, 40]. All anthropometric and physiologic measurements were obtained by the same investigator (MF Streur-Kranenburg). Experimental trial Gas exchange measurements were performed during 5 minutes of chair-sitting and during 5 minutes of standing still. Next, participants had up to five minutes to familiarize themselves with the Wii controllers (Wii remote and Nunchuk) and the tennis and boxing games. Then, the participants rested for a minimum of 5 minutes, or until HR had decreased to chair-sitting level. After resting, the participants played Wii Sports tennis and boxing for 15 minutes each, in random order, with a 10-minute minimum intervening rest period, or until HR had decreased to chair-sitting level. Patients hold the Wii remote in the dominant hand, which could be the affected or non-affected hand. At the conclusion of each tennis match or boxing game, participants restarted the game as quickly as possible and continued to play for a total of 15 minutes. Following each 15 minute game play session, participants rated their perceived exertion using the modified Borg Scale. Participants were allowed to play the game in their own manner and at their own pace. To ensure participant safety and safe handling of measurement equipment, two researchers stood beside the participants during Wii game play. Data analysis Mean (± standard deviation) VO2 was calculated for the final 2.5 minutes during sitting and standing, and for the entire 15 minute duration of game play. We calculated energy expenditure, expressed in METs, as the VO2 during game play divided by the VO2 during sitting. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare the physiologic variables and perceived exertion measured during Wii tennis with Wii boxing. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were also used to compare physiologic variables measured during game play with those measured during sitting and standing. We used SPSS 16.0 for statistical analyses and set the significance level at P ≤ 0.05. Five participants had a maximum score of 5 on the FAC, indicating an ability to ambulate on non-level and level surfaces, stairs, and inclines, one of whom used an orthosis and a walking-cane. Three persons scored a 4 on the FAC, indicating an ability to walk independently on level surfaces, but required help on uneven surfaces, stairs, or inclines. Participant characteristics are summarized in Table 1 for the participants that played Wii tennis (n = 7) and boxing (n = 8). Three participants were unable to play the tennis game, because of problems with timing of hitting the ball. A technical problem with the calorimeter invalidated VO2 data collection from 2 participants during boxing. Table 1 Characteristics of study participants The mean (SD) VO2 during sitting was 3.0 (0.8) ml/kg/min for the participants who played tennis and 2.9 (0.7) ml/kg/min for those who played boxing. For standing the mean VO2 was 3.6 (1.1) ml/kg/min for the participants who played tennis and 3.8 (0.9) ml/kg/min for those who played boxing. Compared with sitting, VO2 was 30% higher when standing for the tennis group and 31% higher for the boxing group (P = 0.01). Wii Sports tennis increased the VO2 267% compared with sitting (P = 0.02), and 205% compared with standing (P = 0.02). Wii Sports boxing increased VO2 310% compared with sitting (P = 0.01), and 213% compared with standing (P = 0.01). Energy expenditure was higher for Wii boxing (4.1 METs) compared to Wii tennis (3.7 METs); however, this difference was not significant (P = 0.50) (Table 2). For all participants, the energy expenditure was ≥ 3 METs during boxing (range 3.4 - 5.7 METs) (Figure 2). Only one participant had energy expenditure < 3 METs during tennis (range 2.7 - 5.0 METs). The mean perceived exertion was rated higher for Wii Sports boxing (5.3) than for tennis (4.1) (P = 0.034) (Table 2). The individual perceived exertion rates and MET values for tennis and boxing are presented in table 3. Table 2 Cardiorespiratory variables, energy expenditure, and perceived exertion of the 15 minutes Wii game play Figure 2 figure 2 Participants' mean energy expenditure while standing and during Wii Sports tennis (n = 7) and boxing (n = 8) game play. Horizontal dashes indicate group mean energy expenditure. METs = metabolic equivalents. Table 3 Individual values for energy expenditure and rating of perceived exertion of the 15 minutes Wii game play The aim of this study was to determine energy expenditure during Wii Sports tennis and boxing game play in chronic stroke patients. Our results show that the energy expenditure during Wii Sports boxing and tennis was ≥ 3 METs for all except for one participant during tennis. According to the ACSM/AHA guidelines for adults, the energy expenditure in these chronic stroke patients was sufficient to improve and maintain health [20]. Therefore, Wii Sports tennis and boxing may be useful to increase activity levels and to promote a healthy lifestyle in patients with stroke. The recommended activity dose for healthy adults is moderate-intensity physical activity (3-6 METs) for a minimum of 30 minutes on five days each week or vigorous-intensity physical activity (> 6 METs) for a minimum of 20 minutes on three days each week [20]. Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity Wii activities could be attained by playing several 10-minute games of tennis or boxing. Alternatively, combinations of Wii Sports game play with other moderate-intensity activities (e.g., walking, dancing) could also be used to meet the ACSM/AHA target levels. Defining aerobic intensity in absolute terms might not be appropriate for older adults and adults with chronic conditions, because they often have low fitness levels [46, 41]. For older adults with low fitness levels, ACSM/AHA recommends the modified Borg scale to measure intensity of physical activity [41]. On this 10-point scale, a 5 to 6 is considered moderate-intensity activity and a 7 to 8 is considered vigorous-intensity physical activity. Six of our participants were 'older adults' (as defined by the ACSM/AHA guidelines; i.e. age≥ 65 years or age 50 to 64 years with clinically significant chronic conditions) of whom 3 scored ≥7 on the modified Borg scale for boxing but had corresponding MET values < 6. Because more intense activities are presumed to provide greater health benefits, these 3 participants might have greater health benefits than expected from their MET values [20]. Seven participants rated their perceived exertion < 5 but had MET values > 3, possibly as a result of the heterogeneity of fitness levels in our sample. Because of the possible differences in fitness levels and because the Borg scale is a subjective measure, we prefer to use the objective measured MET values. Although expected, given the results from previous studies [42, 43], the energy expenditure during Wii boxing was not significantly higher than during Wii tennis. Graves et al. [43] found higher energy costs in healthy persons during Wii boxing compared with Wii tennis. They suggested that this resulted from the nature of the boxing game encouraging the use of both arms, as non-dominant limb activity was significantly greater than during tennis. Our participants were limited from using their affected arm during boxing, which might explain why differences in energy expenditure between boxing and tennis were not found. Stroke survivors commonly have impaired balance while standing, which might induce relatively large energy costs during standing compared with sitting. The mean energy expenditure during standing (1.3 METs) was relatively low compared with energy expenditure during game play. Additionally, the MET intensities for standing in our sample were comparable with the MET intensities in able-bodied persons for standing quietly reported by Ainsworth et al. [8]. Therefore, the increased energy expenditure during Wii Sports resulted primarily from game play. All participants were able to play Wii boxing without extensive instruction and training. Problems with timing of hitting the ball limited 3 participants from playing Wii tennis, most likely resulting from stroke-induced deficits in spatial and temporal coordination or reduced motor response from advanced age [44, 45]. Holding the Wii remote and Nunchuk was not possible for one person because of severe spasticity in the fingers. This person could have played the games by simply fixating the Wii remote to the hand (e.g. using a latex band); however, additional assistance would be required to push the Wii remote buttons for starting and stopping the game. For safety reasons supervision is needed when a stroke patient with balance problems plays Wii games while standing. We found no adverse effects, (e.g. nausea or dizziness, repetition injuries, and epileptic seizure), which would limit the applicability of active video games as an exercise tool for stroke patients [21, 46]. However, two patients felt temporarily very fatigued after boxing (perceived exertion of 8 and 9) and had mild soreness of the shoulder. Given current literature, repetition injuries seem to be the main concern when playing exergames [4648]. Especially for stroke patients with musculoskeletal problems (e.g. muscle weakness and impaired joint stability), supervision is important to avoid exercise overdose. This is a proof-of-principle study with a small convenience sample evaluating one 15-minute session of 2 Wii Sports games. The measurements were performed in a laboratory setting with two researchers observing the participant. However, we do not expect energy expenditure to differ substantially from home use because participants were instructed to play the games at their preferred intensity and manner, without encouragement by the researchers. Also, the participants wore a calorimeter face-mask, which differs from home use of the Wii; however, these caused no observable interference with game play. Nevertheless, we are aware that the participants were engaged in an experimental study; therefore, their behaviour will not necessarily be the same when playing Wii tennis and boxing at home. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine the effectiveness and potential side-effects of Wii game play for maintaining and improving health in chronic stroke patients. Also, future studies should focus on optimisation of exergames regarding hardware and software, so that a wide variety of stroke patients can enjoy and hopefully benefit from exergaming. In general, Wii Sports tennis and boxing were performed by nearly all chronic stroke patients in this study at sufficient intensity to maintain and improve health. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of exergames in improving daily activity levels and cardiorespiratory fitness among stroke survivors. For this it is important to assess which stroke patient most likely will benefit from playing exergames. 1. Donnan GA, Fisher M, Macleod M, Davis SM: Stroke. Lancet 2008, 371: 1612-1623. 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60694-7 CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar 2. Truelsen T, Piechowski-Jozwiak B, Bonita R, Mathers C, Bogousslavsky J, Boysen G: Stroke incidence and prevalence in Europe: a review of available data. 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Cowley AD, Minnaar G: New generation computer games: Watch out for Wii shoulder. BMJ 2008, 336: 110. PubMed Central Article PubMed Google Scholar Download references Acknowledgements and funding Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Correspondence to Henri L Hurkmans. Additional information Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Authors' contributions HLH and RJBE contributed to the design and methodology of the study. MFSK and HLH contributed to the acquisition of the data. HLH, MFSK and RJBE analyzed the data, and HLH, GMR, HJS and RJBE interpreted the data. All authors read and approved the manuscript. Authors’ original submitted files for images Authors’ original file for figure 1 Authors’ original file for figure 2 Rights and permissions Reprints and Permissions About this article Cite this article Hurkmans, H.L., Ribbers, G.M., Streur-Kranenburg, M.F. et al. Energy expenditure in chronic stroke patients playing Wii Sports: a pilot study. J NeuroEngineering Rehabil 8, 38 (2011). Download citation • Received: • Accepted: • Published: • DOI: • Stroke Patient • Game Play • Stroke Survivor • Active Video Game • Berg Balance Scale
January 6, 2018 \| Author: Anonymous \| Category: Social Science, Political Science, American Politics Share Embed Donate Short Description Download Document... THE GILDED AGE  The era from 1870 to 1890 is the only period in American history commonly known by a derogatory name – the Gilded Age, after a title of an 1873 novel by mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warren.  “Gilded” means covered with a layer of gold, but also suggests that the glittering surface covers a core of little real value and is therefore deceptive. THE GILDED AGE  Twain and Warner were referring not only to the remarkable expansion of the economy in this period but also to the corruption caused by corporate dominance of politics and to the oppressive treatment of those left behind in the scramble for wealth.  “Get rich, dishonestly if we can, honestly if we must.” was the era’s slogan, according to The Gilded Age. POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE  To modern eyes, the nature of the American political system in the late 19th century appears in many ways paradoxical.  The two political parties enjoyed strength and stability during those years that neither was ever to know again.  Yet the federal govt was doing relatively little of importance.  Most Americans engaged in political activity less because of their interest in national issues than because of broad regional, ethnic, or religious sentiments.  Party loyalty had less to do with positions on public policy than the way Americans defined themselves culturally. THE PARTY SYSTEM  The most striking feature of the late 19th century party system was its remarkable stability.  From 1877 until the late 1890s, the electorate was divided almost precisely evenly between the Republicans and Democrats.  16 states were solidly and consistently Republican.  14 states (most of them in the South) were solidly and consistently Democrat.  Only 5 states were usually in doubt, and it was there that national elections were commonly decided, often on the basis of voter turnout. THE PARTY SYSTEM  The Republican Party captured the presidency in all but two of the elections in the era, but the party was not really as dominant as that suggests.  In the five presidential elections beginning in 1876, the average popular-vote margin separating the Democratic and Republican candidates was 1.5%. THE PARTY SYSTEM  The congressional balance was similarly stable.  Between 1875 and 1895, the Republicans generally controlled the Senate and the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives.  In any given election, the number of seats that shifted from one party to the other was very small. THE PARTY SYSTEM  As striking as the balance between parties was the intensity of public loyalty to them.  Voter turnout in presidential elections between 1860 and 1900 averaged over 78% of all eligible voters.  Even in non-presidential years, from 60 to 80% of voters turned out for congressional and local candidates. THE PARTY SYSTEM  Large groups of potential voters were disenfranchised during the era: Women in most states Almost all blacks and many poor whites in the South.  But for all adult white males outside the South, there were few franchise restrictions.  The remarkable turnout represented a genuinely massbased politics. THE PARTY SYSTEM  Party politics in the Gilded Age occupied a central position in American culture.  Political campaigns were often the most important public events in the lives of communities.  Political organizations served important social and cultural functions. THE PARTY SYSTEM  Political identification was almost as important to most individuals as identification with a church or ethnic group.  Partisanship was an intense, emotional force, widely admired and often identified with patriotism. THE PARTY SYSTEM  WHAT EXPLAINS THIS REMARKABLE LOYALTY TO THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES? It was not that the parties took distinct positions on important public issues. Both were solidly committed to the growth of the corporate industrial economy. Both were hostile to all forms of economic and social radicalism. Both were committed (at least until the 1890s) to a “sound currency” and to the existing structure of the financial system. THE PARTY SYSTEM  What determined party loyalties was less concrete issues than other factors.  REGION was perhaps the most important.  To white Southerners, loyalty to the Democratic Party was a matter of unquestioned faith.  For white Southerners, the Democratic Party was the vehicle by which they had triumphed over Reconstruction.  For them, the Democratic Party was the vehicle for the preservation of white supremacy. THE PARTY SYSTEM  To many old-stock  For them, the party of northerners, white Lincoln had preserved and black, Republican the Union. loyalties were equally  For them, the intense for opposite Republican Party was reasons. a bulwark against  The party of Lincoln slavery and treason. had freed the slaves. THE PARTY SYSTEM  RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES also shaped party loyalties.  The Dem. Party attracted most Catholic voters, most recent immigrants, and most of the poorer workers.  These three groups often overlapped.  The Republican Party appealed to northern Protestants and citizens of old stock. THE PARTY SYSTEM  Among the few substantive issues on which the parties took clearly different stands were matters concerning immigrants.  Republicans tended to be more nativist and to support measures restricting immigration.  They also tended to favor temperance legislation.  Catholics and immigrants viewed such proposals as an assault on their culture and lifestyle and opposed them.  The Democrats followed their lead. THE PARTY SYSTEM  For many Americans party identification was usually more a reflection of vague cultural inclinations than a calculation of economic interest.  Individuals might affiliate with a party because their parents had done so, or because it was the party of their region, church, or their ethnic group.  Most clung to their party loyalties with persistence and passion. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT  One reason the two parties managed to avoid substantive issues was that the federal government (and for the most part state and local govts as well) did relatively little.  The govt in Washington was responsible for Delivering the mails Maintaining a national military Conducting foreign policy Collecting taxes and tariffs. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT The federal government had few other responsibilities. And it had few institutions with which to engage in additional responsibilities even if it chose to do so. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT  The USA in the Gilded Age was a society without a modern, national state.  The most powerful national institutions were: The two political parties The federal courts  In a very real sense the American govt of the era was a state of courts and political parties.  The national leaders of both parties were primarily concerned with winning elections and controlling patronage – not policy. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT  Both parties were dominated by powerful bosses and machines chiefly concerned with controlling and dispensing jobs.  The Democrats relied on big city organizations such as Boss Tweed’s Tammany Hall in NYC.  These machines helped them to mobilize the voting power of immigrants. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT  The Republicans tended to depend on strong statewide organizations such as those of Senator Roscoe Conkling in New York. THE GILDED AGE PRESIDENTS  The power of the party bosses had an significant effect on the power of the presidency.  The office had great symbolic importance, but its occupants were unable to do very much except distribute government appointments.  A new president had to make almost 100,000 appointments – most of them in the post office, the only large government agency at the time.  Even in making appointments, the president had very little latitude, since they had to avoid offending the various factions within their own parties.  The administrations of Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur reflected the political stalemate and patronage problems of the Gilded Age.  All in all, it was an age of forgettable presidents. THE PRESIDENCY OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES  The issue of patronage played a big role during the Hayes presidency.  Hayes was the winner of the disputed Election of 1876.  He was harried by angry Democrats – who called him “His Fraudulency” – from the beginning of his term to the moment he left.  He was crippled as well by his own party – the Republicans. THE PRESIDENCY OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES  By the end of his term – two groups – the Stalwarts led by Roscoe Conkling of NY and the Half-Breeds, led by James G. Blaine of ME. – were competing for control of the Republican Party and threatening to split it.  The dispute between these two groups was characteristic of the political battles of the era. THE PRESIDENCY OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES  The dispute had virtually no substantive foundation.  Rhetorically, the Stalwarts favored traditional, professional machine politics.  The Half-Breeds favored reform.  Neither group was much interested in political change.  Each wanted a larger share of the patronage pie.  Hayes tried to satisfy both and ended up satisfying neither. THE PRESIDENCY OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES  The battle over patronage overshadowed all else during Hayes’ unhappy presidency.  His one important substantive initiative – an effort to create a civil service system – attracted no support from either party.  His early announcement not to seek re-election only weakened him further. THE PRESIDENCY OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES  Hayes had no power in Congress.  The Dems. Controlled the HoR throughout his presidency, and the Senate during the last two years of his term.  Senate Republicans, led by Conkling, opposed his efforts to defy the machines in making appointments.  Hayes’s presidency was a study in frustration. THE PRESIDENCY OF JAMES GARFIELD  The Republicans retained the presidency in 1880 in part because they managed to agree on a ticket that made it possible for the two factions to briefly paperover their differences.  The nominated James A. Garfield – a Half-Breed  His VP running mate was Chester A. Arthur - a Stalwart. THE PRESIDENCY OF JAMES A. GARFIELD  Garfield won a decisive electoral victory.  However his popular vote margin was very thin.  The Republicans also captured both houses of Congress. THE PRESIDENCY OF JAMES A. GARFIELD  Garfield soon found himself in an ugly public quarrel with Conkling.  But before it could be resolved, Garfield was victimized by the spoils system in a more terrible sense.  7/2/1881: Only four months after his inauguration, Garfield was shot twice was standing in the DC railroad station by an apparently deranged gunman and unsuccessful office seeker.  Garfield lingered for three months then died – a victim as much of bungled medical treatment as of the wounds themselves. THE PRESIDENCY OF CHESTER A. ARTHUR  Chester A. Arthur succeeded Garfield.  Arthur had spent a political lifetime as a devoted, skilled, and open spoilsman and a close ally of Conkling.  But as president, he tried to follow an independent course and even to promote reform. THE PRESIDENCY OF CHESTER A. ARTHUR  The terrible circumstances which brought him to the presidency had undoubtedly shaped his behavior.  He realized that Garfield’s assassination had to some degree discredited the traditional spoils system.  The “new” Arthur dismayed the party bosses.  He kept most of Garfield’s appointees in office.  He also supported civil service reform, aware that the legislation was likely to pass whether he supported it or not. THE PRESIDENCY OF CHESTER A. ARTHUR  1883: Congress passed the Pendleton Act.  The nation’s first national civil service measure.  It identified a limited number of federal jobs to be filled by competitive written exams rather than by patronage.  Relatively few offices fell under civil service at first.  But its reach extended steadily so that by the mid-twentieth century most federal employees were civil servants. THE ELECTION OF 1884: THE RETURN OF THE DEMOCRATS The unsavory election of 1884 was typical of national political contests in the late 19th century in its emphasis on personalities than policies. The Republican Party repudiated Arthur – who was in any case already suffering from an illness that would kill him two years later. THE ELECTION OF 1884: THE RETURN OF THE DEMOCRATS  The Republicans instead chose their most popular and controversial figure, James G. Blaine of ME.  To his adoring supporters he was known as the “plumed knight.”  To thousands of Americans, he was a symbol of seamy party politics. THE ELECTION OF 1884: THE RETURN OF THE DEMOCRATS  An independent reform faction, known derisively by their critics as the “mugwumps,” announced they would bolt the party and support an honest Democrat. THE ELECTION OF 1884: THE RETURN OF THE DEMOCRATS  Raising to the bait, the Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland, the “reform” governor of NY.  He differed from Blaine on no substantive issues but had acquired a reputation as an enemy of corruption. THE ELECTION OF 1884: THE RETURN OF THE DEMOCRATS  The campaign of 1884 was filled with personal invective.  What may have decided the election was the last minute introduction of a religious controversy.  Shortly before the election, a delegation of Protestants ministers called on Blaine.  Their spokesman, Dr. Samuel Burchard, referred to the Democrats as the party of “rum, Romanism, and rebellion.”  Blaine was slow to repudiate Burchard’s indiscretion. THE ELECTION OF 1884: THE RETURN OF THE DEMOCRATS  Democrats quickly spread the news that Blaine had tolerated a slander on the Catholic church.  Cleveland’s narrow victory may well have been the result of a heavy Catholic vote for Democrats in NY.  Cleveland won 219 electoral votes to Blaine’s 182; his popular vote margin was only 23,000 votes. THE PRESIDENCY OF GROVER CLEVELAND  Cleveland was the embodiment of an era in which few Americans believed the federal govt could, should, or do very much.  Cleveland believed in frugal and limited government in the Jeffersonian tradition.  No one should forget, he explained, that “though the people support the Government, the Government should not support the people.” THE PRESIDENCY OF GROVER CLEVELAND  Cleveland did grapple with one major economic issue: protective tariffs.  He doubted the wisdom of protective tariffs.  He concluded that the existing high rates were responsible for the annual surplus in federal revenues, which was tempting Congress to pass the “reckless” and “extravagant” legislation he frequently vetoed.  12/1887: He asked Congress to reduce the tariff rates.  Democrats in the HoR approved a tariff reduction.  But Senate Republicans defiantly passed a bill of their own actually raising the rates.  The resulting deadlock made the tariff an issue in the election of 1888. THE ELECTION OF 1888  The Democrats renominated Cleveland and supported tariff reductions.  The Republicans settled on Benjamin Harrison of ID.  Harrison was obscure but respectable and the grandson of President William Henry Harrison.  The campaign was the first since the Civil War to involve a clear questions of economic difference between the parties.  It was also on of the most corrupt and closet elections in American history. THE ELECTION OF 1888 Harrison won an electoral majority of 233 to 168. But Cleveland won the popular vote by 100,000 votes – making this one of only three presidential elections in American history (1876 and 2000) in which the loser in the popular vote was the victor in the electoral vote. THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON  Harrison’s record as president was little more substantial than that of his grandfather, who died a month after taking office.  One reason for his failure was the intellectual drabness of the members of his Admin – beginning with the president himself and extending through his cabinet. THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON  Another reason for failure was Harrison’s unwillingness to make any effort to influence Congress.  And yet during his dreary term, public opinion was beginning to force the govt to confront some of the pressing social and economic issues of the day.  Most notably, perhaps, sentiment was rising in favor of legislation to curb the power of trusts.  Mid-1880s: 15 western and southern states had adopted laws prohibiting combinations that restrained competition.  But corporations found it easy to escape limitations by incorporating in states like NJ and DL that offered them special privileges. THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON  If antitrust legislation was to be effective, it would have to come from the federal govt.  1890: Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, almost without dissent.  The Act prohibited any “contract, combination, in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint in trade or commerce.”  Most members of Congress saw the Act as largely symbolic to help deflect public criticism, not likely to have any real effect on corporate power. THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON  For over a decade after its passage, the Sherman Act had virtually no impact.  1901: The Justice Department had instituted only 14 suits under the law against business combinations and had obtained few convictions.  It used the law much more frequently against labor union. THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON The courts weakened the act considerably. 1895: United States v. E.C. Knight Co.: The govt. charged that a sugar trust controlled 98% of refined sugar mfg. The Supreme Court rejected the govt’s case. It ruled that the sugar trust was engaged in mfg, not in interstate commerce. Thus the Court ruled that the Act applied to commerce not to mfg. THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRISON  The Republicans were more interested in the issue, they believed had won them the Election of 1888: the tariff.  Rep. William McKinley (OH) and Nelson Aldrich (RI) drafted the highest protective measure ever proposed in Congress. THE PRESIDENCY OF BENJAMIN HARRSION  10/1890: The McKinley Tariff became law.  It raised the tax on foreign imports over 48%.  Politically, it hurt the Republican Party.  They misinterpreted public sentiment.  The party suffered a stunning reversal in the 1890 congressional election.  Their majority in the Senate was slashed to 8.  In the HoR, they retained only 88 of the 323 seats. THE ELECTION OF 1892  The Republicans were unable to recover from the political fallout over the McKinley Tariff.  Benjamin Harrison once again supported protection, and Grover Cleveland, renominated by the Democrats, once again supported it.  Only a new third party, the People’s Party, which James B. Weaver as its candidate, advocated any serious economic reform. THE ELECTION OF 1892 RESULTS: Cleveland: 277 electoral votes Harrison: 145 electoral votes Weaver: 22 electoral votes Cleveland won the popular vote by 380,000 votes. For the first time since 1878, the Democrats won a majority of both houses of Congress. CLEVELAND’S SECOND TERM  The policies of Cleveland’s second term were much like the first term: Devoted to limited govt Hostile to active state measures to deal with social or economic problems. CLEVELAND’S SECOND TERM  But this time, a major economic crisis (the Panic of 1893) created popular demands for a more active government.  For the most part, Cleveland resisted those pressures.  Again, he supported a tariff reduction, which the HoR approved but the Senate rejected.  Cleveland denounced the result but allowed it to become law as the Wilson-Gorman Tariff. CLEVELAND’S SECOND TERM  The bill also included a 2% income tax on incomes of over $4,000.  But the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional.  Only after approval of the Sixteenth Amendment in 1913 was the federal govt able to tax incomes.  Pressure was also growing for regulation of the railroads.  The Courts limited the powers of the states to regulate commerce even within their own boundaries.  Railroad regulation had to come from the federal government. CLEVELAND’S SECOND TERM 188&: Congress responded with the Interstate Commerce Act: It banned discrimination in rates between long and short hauls. Required railroads to publish their rate schedules and file them with the govt. Declared that all interstate rail rates must be “reasonable and just” – although the bill did not define what this meant. CLEVELAND’S SECOND TERM  The Act established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC): A five-person agency Purpose: to administer the Interstate Commerce Act But it had to rely on the courts to enforce its rulings The Act was haphazardly enforced and narrowly interpreted by the courts – thus rendering the Act and ICC useless. THE GILDED AGE  The controversies over the tariff, the trusts, and the railroads were signs that dramatic changes in the American economy were creating problems that much of the public considered too important and dangerous to ignore.  But the govt’s response to that agitation reflected the continuing weakness of the American state.  The govt lacked institutions adequate to perform any significant role in American economic life.  And not enough Americans had yet embraced a political ideology that would justify any major expansion of govt responsibilities. THE GILDED AGE  The effort to create such institutions and to promote such an ideology would occupy much of American public life in the coming decades.  Among the first signs of that effort was a dramatic dissident movement that shattered the political equilibrium the nation had experienced for the previous twenty years. View more... Copyright � 2017 NANOPDF Inc.
One of the most important jobs assigned to a principal is the evaluation of teachers. A critical question all principals should ask themselves is: “Do I judge teachers, or do I evaluate teachers?” Before answering this question, consider the difference between the two. The act of judging can be subjective while the act of evaluation produces an opinion that is based on carefully observed facts and contemplative thought given back to the teacher. A principal that rushes to the judgment of a person’s teaching without slowing down to carefully evaluate will soon lose the trust of the teacher and credibility as an evaluator. Judgments have a sense of conclusive finality to them while evaluation signals the invitation to explore other instructional opportunities. Evaluation encourages conversation and a sense of exploration; it is not a verdict. The Network for Educator Effectiveness offers principals four paths to effective feedback that are based on the individual needs of the teacher: diagnostic, prescriptive, descriptive, and micro feedback. The Four Paths to Effective Feedback diagram While all four of the paths can result in a conference based on evaluation, the micro feedback path lives in the world of open reflection and consideration. Micro feedback is often used with strong, experienced teachers who demonstrate high levels of success in the classroom. It is free of judgment, allowing the teacher to set the focus and direction of the feedback conversation while the principal plays the role of listener, coach, and cheerleader. It is used to explore the teacher’s thinking, decision-making, and motivation. So, is this micro path reserved only for our most formidable and experienced teachers? Are they the only teachers that would benefit from this micro feedback path? After serious thought, I have a few situations where I believe other teachers would benefit from a walk down the micro feedback path. Two women having a conversation I would apply the micro feedback path if: I had a teacher new to my school or new to the profession. How can you evaluate someone with whom you have had very limited interaction and have watched them teach on a very limited scale? Have you collected enough information about their teaching to provide an evaluation or simply a quick judgment? Maybe the first feedback conversations could be used to find out what this new teacher is passionate about, what is their teaching philosophy, and what do they believe are their strengths and struggles. All of these facts will serve to influence future evaluations. I had used the diagnostic or prescriptive feedback paths several consecutive times with a teacher. The diagnostic and prescriptive paths are both necessary and effective in providing feedback. They build a teacher’s foundational knowledge and provide strategies and skills for the teacher. They also put the principal in the driver’s seat to determine the focus of the post-observation conference and establish the desired outcome for the evaluation conversation. It is tempting to continue using these paths with a teacher that is beginning their teaching career and has so much to learn. They are also the paths of choice when working with a teacher that is struggling. If you have used these paths repeatedly with a teacher, maybe it’s time to step back and ask the teacher how they are feeling about their instructional progress. Only using these two paths may make the teacher feel defeated and stifled in their ability to progress. Could the use of the micro path give this teacher some self-confidence and remind them why they chose this profession? Maybe using this path periodically will help them feel less judged and more motivated to continue to grow and improve their practice. I felt that as an evaluator I was becoming quick to serve judgment. Has your principal plate become so full that you are no longer evaluating but offering judgments? It is much easier and faster to come to a quick judgment than a thoughtful evaluation. Utilizing the micro path will force you to slow down and listen to the teacher. It causes you to think about the entirety of their teaching, not just about the details you have decided to judge. It may help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of their teaching from their viewpoint and keep you from making false assumptions. Anytime you start guessing, you are judging. I saw no improvement in a teacher’s performance after several conferences. Something is not right. Most teachers want to improve, and usually you can see some level of improvement from the efforts of your post-observation conference. But if improvement is not occurring, it leaves you scratching your head and wondering if they aren’t able to recognize the issues with their teaching. Did you not communicate clearly, or maybe they didn’t understand how to make the changes you were requesting? Reiterating the same conference over and over is not going to produce the desired outcome. Why not change it up to a micro feedback conference and give the teacher a chance to explain what they believe are the issues in question. Let them talk about their teaching and listen for clues to the lack of progress. Beating the same dead horse isn’t going to win any races. I wanted to take the temperature of the faculty. Understanding the stress level of teachers and being aware of their opinions about the current state of affairs at school are valuable pieces of information for a principal to ascertain. Discovering what’s on the minds of teachers is crucial to the management of your school. There are many ways to gather this information, but one sure-fire method is to utilize the micro feedback path to explore the mindset of teachers. You may not need to do this with every teacher. Giving a few chosen candidates the opportunity to share their insights will give you a sampling of the mindset and perceptions of the faculty and staff. Assessing the discernment and sensitivity of these professionals will go a long way in helping you to meet their needs and the needs of the building. The knowledgeable, skilled, expert teacher. I list these professionals again in this list with the hope that you will consider them to be the avenue that grows you as an instructional leader. I know without a doubt that these amazing people taught me more about great teaching than I ever bestowed upon them. They are more animated and passionate than any textbook, and they can light your motivational fire if you sincerely listen with a learning ear. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from these brilliant professionals. Let the micro path work for you and your teachers. Keep your mind open to the circumstances that might benefit from a little less talk from you and a little more listening. Cheri Patterson is a trainer and field support representative for the Network for Educator Effectiveness. She joined NEE in 2013 after an extensive career in K-12 education as a teacher, principal, and associate superintendent. The Network for Educator Effectiveness (NEE) is a simple yet powerful comprehensive system for educator evaluation that helps educators grow, students learn, and schools improve. Developed by preK-12 practitioners and experts at the University of Missouri, NEE brings together classroom observation, student feedback, teacher curriculum planning, and professional development as measures of effectiveness in a secure online portal designed to promote educator growth and development.
Neuroscience Research Articles Resting brain activity can provide approximate maps of network organization in the brain. A new imaging technique allowed researchers to examine cortical architecture in greater detail than before in the living brain. Study reports medications for ADHD have little detectable impact on how much a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder learns in the classroom. However, the medications helped children retain attention, improve classroom behavior, and improve seat-time work. Top Neuroscience News the Last 30 Days A combination of personality traits and childhood circumstances account for why some older people experience loneliness more than others. Lonely adults over 50 were 1.24 times more likely to have rarely, or never, had comfortable friendships during childhood, and 1.34 times more likely to have had poor relationships with their mothers as children. Transplanting fecal microbiota from young mice to older mice reversed hallmark signs of aging in the gut, brains, and eyes. Transplanting the fecal microbiota from old to young mice had the reverse effect, inducing inflammation in the brain and depleting a key protein associated with healthy vision.
Review: Homoeologous exchanges, segmental allopolyploidy, and polyploid genome evolution (Front. Genetics) Polyploidy or whole-genome duplication (WGD) is an important process in plant evolution and speciation. Additional sets of chromosomes can be derived from intraspecific genome duplication (autopolyploidy) or hybridization of divergent genomes and chromosome doubling (allopolyploidy). In early stages of allopolyploid formation, the interaction and recombination between subgenomes (homoeologous exchange) is associated with changes in allele dosage, changes in methylation patterns, novel genomic structural variations and novel phenotypes. An additional category of polyploids has been described as “segmental allopolyploidy”, an intermediate point between autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy. This is, both recombination within subgenomes (disomic inheritance) and between subgenomes (tetrasomic inheritance) occur during meiosis. This generates a mosaic of genomic regions represented by both subgenomes, or by one or the other subgenome. In other words, in some genomic segments, one subgenome is deleted and replaced by segments of the other subgenome (not reciprocal exchange or biased replacement). In conclusion, homoeologous exchanges in allopolyploids is a driver of evolution, by generating evolutionary and phenotypic novelty. (Summary by Carolina Ballén-Taborda @carolinaballen) Front. Genetics 10.3389/fgene.2020.01014/full
Gerda Taro’s Elusive Afterlives: Helena Janeczek’s “The Girl with the Leica,” Translated from Italian by Ann Goldstein By Sebastiaan Faber Those who die too young leave a hole that immediately begins leading a life of its own: a presence-shaped absence that travels with us through time, aging and evolving as our relationship with it shifts. Unfinished lives, like unrealized political aspirations, are of course not factual. But that doesn’t mean they are not a part of history—as Walter Benjamin, who also died too young, would be quick to point out. Unrealized futures, collective or individual, hauntingly hover over our present. Inviting speculation about what might have been, they can induce melancholy but also serve as an inspiration for building a different world. The Spanish Civil War, a three-year military conflict that broke out following a failed right-wing military coup in 1936 and that mobilized antifascists from across the globe, left many such holes in families, communities, and cultural histories. Thousands of promising lives were cut short. What would Federico García Lorca, who was killed by right-wingers at 38, have written in his forties and fifties? And how about young poets like Sam Levinger and John Cornford? Levinger, who left Columbus, Ohio, to join the International Brigades, was 22 when he died in battle; Cornford, Darwin’s great-grandson, was killed a day after his 21st birthday. Imagining what their lives and work might have been only underscores the magnitude of their loss. Similarly, progressive Spaniards have counterfactually speculated about their country’s history—or, indeed, the world’s—in a parallel universe in which the Francoists would have been defeated. Gabriel Jackson and other historians have argued that World War II might have been less disastrous if the Western democracies hadn’t stood by idly as the Spanish Republic lost its fight against Hitler, Mussolini, and their Spanish allies. Lorca, Levinger, and Cornford became overnight martyrs in the anti-fascist pantheon of that lost war, later mythologized as the Last Great Cause. (It was in Spain, Albert Camus wrote, that his generation learned that “one can be right and yet be beaten, that force can vanquish spirit and that there are times when courage is not rewarded.”) Perhaps surprisingly, the most prominent woman in that pantheon was not a poet or a soldier, but a young photojournalist named Gerta Pohorylle who died in Spain on July 26, 1937, five days before her 27th birthday, crushed by a tank. Born in Stuttgart to an immigrant family of Polish Jews, Pohorylle received a solid middle-class education. In high school she was drawn into leftist circles. Following Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 and a brief stint in jail for her activism, she fled to France. In a Paris overflowing with Jewish refugees, she met Endre Friedmann, an up-and-coming photojournalist with an irresistible charm and a thirst for adventure. Though he was three years her junior, Friedmann became her mentor and took her under his wing. Born and raised in Budapest, Endre—“Bandi” to his friends—had ended up in Paris after a stint in Berlin. His relationship with Gerta was romantic as much as professional. Although he taught her photography, Pohorylle’s biographer, Irme Schaber, has underscored that almost from the outset they worked as equal partners—an arrangement unusual for that time, even among the progressive avant-garde. Gerta, who had studied business and attended a prestigious Swiss boarding school, had the brilliant idea to give their fledgling business an edge by inventing an American-sounding pseudonym—Robert Capa—under which to sell their pictures. Soon after, Gerta began selling her own work under the name Gerda Taro. Sent from Paris to cover the Spanish Civil War, Capa and Taro, along with their fellow refugee photographer David Szymin, better known as “Chim” Seymour, rose to fame as their photographs were picked up by newspapers and illustrated magazines the world over, from the London Picture Post and the French Ce Soir, Vu, and Regards, to the recently founded Life magazine in the United States. Pohorylle’s story is the inspiration for Helena Janeczek’s The Girl with the Leica, a complex, multivocal historical novel that is less a portrait of Gerda Taro than of her entire milieu: young, antifascist, bohemian, refugee, free-thinking, emancipated, and rife with short-lived romantic entanglements. Largely narrated in free indirect style, the novel tells us about Gerda through three of her close friends, all German, who alternate as the story’s focalizers as they look back on their lives from 1960, a quarter century after Gerda’s death: Willy Chardack (1915-2006), a medical doctor who’s emigrated to the United States and works at a college where he’s developing the pacemaker; Ruth Cerf (1916-2006), Gerda’s closest friend, with whom she lived in Paris and who also worked with Capa; and Georg Kuritzkes (1912-1990), also an MD, who works at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, where he feels increasingly disenchanted by the gap between the organization’s internationalist ideals and the day-to-day, bureaucratic and political reality. The story jumps back and forth between the focalizers’ present and flashbacks to the 1930s. Through them, Gerda emerges as a mercurial, self-confident, charismatic presence who constantly stole and broke hearts as she embraced life, even in war, with unusual courage. To Willy, she was “the most enchanting, lively, and amusing person he had ever encountered in the female universe”; to Ruth, she was an “incarnation of elegance, femininity, coquetterie” who nevertheless “reasoned, felt, and acted like a man”; to Georg, she was “a celestial creature whose lack of bad faith meant that you wouldn’t dare to graze her with a finger,” who desired more than anyone else he knew “to live at all costs but not at any price.” It’s clear that, even more than twenty years later, Chardack, Cerf, and Kuritzkes are still haunted by the hole that she left. Meticulously researched, Janeczek’s novel takes advantage of its creative license to fill in the gaps left in the historical record. It’s not exactly an easy read, however. For one, there is no real plot. If there is suspense, it stems from the reader’s curiosity about Taro and her times, the details of which emerge very gradually, a bit like the grainy image on a sheet of photographic paper as it floats in the dark room’s developer bath. Photography, in fact, was not only central to the last years of Taro’s short life but is also a useful trope to describe the entire novel. If the lure of photography is the promise of unvarnished documentary truth—a chemical imprint of reality as it is at the moment the shutter release is pressed—photographers and their editors have always known that this promise is deceptive. Precisely because they capture the details of a singular moment, photographs call attention to what they leave out: everything that precedes and follows that one moment—and everything that’s outside the frame. To the viewer or researcher, the photograph’s promise of total, objective truth quickly turns into frustration: it never tells you the whole story. In Janeczek’s telling, too, Gerda remains teasingly elusive, even as we get to experience her from three different angles. If the true Gerda eludes us, as a narrative Janeczek’s novel is less elusive than allusive or elliptical. The free indirect style, which shackles us to the focalizers’ consciousness, poses a problem for exposition: what’s a given for Chardack, Cerf, and Kuritzkes, is not necessarily obvious to us. As a result, the story can be hard to follow for any reader who is not already familiar with twentieth-century European history or, for that matter, the biographies of Taro and Capa. Reflecting on Capa’s politics, for example, Kuritzkes considers that the photographer was less opportunistic than he seemed. “That trip to the USSR with Steinbeck,” he thinks to himself, “hadn’t been a good idea even in 1947.” A reference like that only makes sense to readers who already know that Capa and Steinbeck collaborated on a controversial reportage on the postwar Soviet Union at the beginning of the Cold War. Similarly, the three focalizers, cosmopolitan and multilingual as they are, effortlessly resort to German and French. One cannot blame readers for feeling like they’ve landed midway into a conversation between close friends whose frame of reference they don’t share. This slightly alienating effect is reinforced by Janeczek’s rather manierista narration, rife with convoluted, trope-heavy sentences, to which Ann Goldstein’s skilled translation remains faithful throughout. Here is a representative passage from Chardack’s section: “That André Friedmann had been weaned by the only metropolis able to vie with Paris, had been born in a fashion atelier in the chic heart of Budapest, had been brought up in its gambling clubs and streets of ill repute and had then sailed in every water of savoir vivre, clear or muddy, didn’t impress a young lady like Gerda, educated in Switzerland and refined in the revolutionary salons of Leipzig.” Gerda Taro’s rise to photographic fame was meteoric. Only two years after she sold her first picture, her work was not only featured in mainstream illustrated magazines, but even made it into museums. In June 1937, the widely publicized exhibit Foto 37 at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam prominently included images from the war in Spain by Taro, Capa, and Chim. Taro was killed six weeks after the show’s opening. While the Communist Party organized a mass funeral for her in Paris, the Amsterdam museum arranged a commemorative corner in the one of the exhibit rooms. Yet for all the attention that her photographs and sudden death drew in 1936 and 1937, Taro and her work quickly sunk into oblivion in the months and years following. Capa’s 1938 New York exhibit and accompanying book, Death in the Making, included many of Taro’s—and Chim’s—images but no credit lines. In the years following, her portfolio was quietly absorbed into Capa’s, even after Capa and Chim, along with Henri Cartier-Bresson founded the Magnum photo agency—one of whose objectives was to ensure that its photographers received proper credit. Like their friend Taro, Capa and Chim died violent, young deaths in warzones: Capa in Vietnam in 1954 and Chim in Egypt two years later. But while Capa’s life and work would be tirelessly celebrated and curated by his brother, Cornell, who founded the International Center of Photography (ICP), Taro’s remained all but unacknowledged until Irme Schaber published her biography in 1994. The discovery of 4,500 Spanish Civil War negatives by Capa, Chim, and Taro in 2007—the so-called “Mexican Suitcase”—further fueled interest in Taro, who received her first solo exhibit at ICP in that same year. Since then, most of her images have been recredited and her story has inspired half a dozen books and novels. (The English translation of Schaber’s biography appeared in 2019.) Among these titles, Janeczek’s is not the most accessible but it certainly is one of the more interesting. In a long epilogue, the novelist explains that her attraction to Taro’s world was prompted by the story of the Mexican Suitcase but also informed by the history of her own family: Polish Jews who, like the Pohorylles, relocated to Germany. (Janeczek, born in Munich in 1964, moved to Italy when she was 19.) “My parents became engaged in the ghetto, found each other again after the war, loved each other and, at times, hated, amused, and supported each other, until death parted them,” Janeczek writes. “My mother, who had the stubborn coquetry of Gerda, could have been a cousin of hers. My father, like Capa a great storyteller, a younger brother.” To her credit, Janeczek understands that this apparent familiarity is deceptive when it comes to knowing or understanding who Gerta Pohorylle was. In a sense, the entire novel is written to guard us against the illusion that photography, or literature, ever give us a true picture of the past. Which doesn’t mean they can’t help us imagine a future. Janeczek, Helena. The Girl with the Leica. Translated by Ann Goldstein. Europa Editions, 2019. Sebastiaan Faber, Professor of Hispanic Studies at Oberlin College, regularly writes for the Spanish and U.S. media, including CTXT: Contexto y AcciónLa MareaFronteraDThe NationForeign AffairsConversación sobre la Historia, and Public Books. His most recent books are Memory Battles of the Spanish Civil War: History, Fiction, Photography and Exhuming Franco: Spain’s Second Transitionboth published by Vanderbilt University Press. Born and raised in the Netherlands, he has been at Oberlin since 1999. More at One comment 1. Terrific review. I particularly like the narrative point of view critique, which is increasingly important in a world in which knowledge of recorded history is fading all the time. Also, I was shocked (and saddened) to read that Capa just took over her images as if they were his, especially given that he was in love with her. Thank you for your analysis, Sebastiaan. Leave a Reply %d bloggers like this:
Is Animal Testing Necessary In Cosmetics & Medical Devices? Is Animal Testing Necessary In Cosmetics & Medical Devices? Animals are used often in the testing of drugs, antibodies, and other biological products and clinical devices, mainly as testing before human trials. For drugs and biologics, the focus of Animal testing in cosmetics on the science and impacts of drugs (pharmacology) and its potential harm to the body (toxicology). According to the FDA, animal testing is used to quantify: • The amount of medicine or biologic that is taken, and how much is absorbed into the blood. • How the elements are broken down in the body • The toxicity of the elements and it’s broken down parts (metabolites) • How quickly the element and its metabolites excreted For clinical devices throughout the history of animal testing in cosmetics, the focal point of Animal testing in cosmetics is the device’s ability to work with living tissue without damaging the tissue (biocompatibility). Most devices use materials, for example, treated steel or clay, which we know are biocompatible with human tissues. In these cases, Animal testing in cosmetics is not required. Be that as it may, some devices with new materials require biocompatibility testing in creatures. There are numerous areas where animal testing is important, where human testing is just not a feasible or reliable option. At the time Animal testing in medical products is performed to assist FDA-directed clinical applications, manufacturers or supporters must follow the FDA guidelines. The FDA doesn’t recommend animal testing, but does qualify it to prove the safety of products. Often, animal testing is required to verify a product, and the FDA relies on manufacturers to qualify their own products, including how they perform safety testing before human use. Drugs and cosmetics need FDA approval, and often require extensive testing by manufacturers, as history has proven that early human use can have dire consequences. History Of Animal Testing In Cosmetics The History of Animal Testing in Cosmetics Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety of beauty care products, drugs, medical devices, and foods. Other agencies like the FDA cover areas the FDA doesn’t, and work together to identify proper ways of testing that doesn’t involve the use of animal testing. It’s important we identify and learn of reliable tests that can replace animal testing in the future. The use of animals in research and to test the safety of articles has been a subject of heated debate for quite some time. According to information compiled by F. Barbara Orlans for her book, In the Name of Science: Issues in Responsible Animal Experimentation, just over half of all creatures used in testing are used in biomedical examinations and product safety tests. Often humans attach value to animals beyond testing. And why shouldn’t we? Animals are great friends, pets and support for anyone who needs them. We also acknowledge their pain and livelihoods, and effectively their need for conservation. Nonetheless, animal testing is often a go to strategy and far too often a tragic story for the animals. These animals tend to grow up from childhood maimed or separated from their normal habitat, tortured or made to perform needless and cruel experiments. It’s hard to say how exactly many of these experiments have permanently affected these animals, but the FDA and manufacturers have billions of dollars on the line, and an excuse for public safety. All in all, it’s a very dirty field that often fully abuses the system. Tom Regan, a philosophy professor at North Carolina State University, states: “Animals have a basic moral right to respectful treatment. . . .This inherent value is not respected when animals are reduced to being mere tools in a scientific experiment” The abuse of an animal’s rights is far too common, and vastly unregulated. Animals are exposed to tests that are regularly difficult or cause perpetual harm and are never given the option of not being removed from the exam. Regan further says, beautifully I might add, that “animal [experimentation] is morally wrong no matter how much humans may benefit because the animal’s basic right has been infringed. Risks are not morally transferable to those who do not choose to take them” Their choices are made for them, as they cannot express their own biases and decisions. The moment people choose the fate of creatures under capture and research, the creature’s privileges are taken with a lack of concern for their livelihoods. Forever Against Animal Testing, a campaign perpetuated by The Body Shop, pushes for animal free testing for cosmetics and products. Their goal is to completely remove the option, and replace them with animal friendly products. One great way they’ve moved forward with their own testing is by using lab grown human skin! Furthermore, the Draize test has become basically obsolete due to these advancements of manufactured cellular tissue that is or strongly resembles human skin. Computer simulations and molecular statistical data have also been used to recreate and measure the potential damage an item or synthetic product can cause, and human cells and tissues have been used to observe the effects of harmful substances. In another technique, in vitro tests, cell tests are done inside a test tube. How to stop animal testing in cosmetics Animal testing isn’t the only option when it comes to the safety of humans. Concrete and viable options do exist, like mentioned above. Testing potentially dangerous, hazardous or toxic chemicals on living creatures makes less and less sense when these options are available and reliable; it’s only a matter of introducing it to countries and manufacturers, and having it become the standard. However, as is normal, the public is misinformed about product testing, and often accepts animal testing to be a harsh reality to live in a comfortable and safe world. The problem with this is that the safety, prosperity, and the living rights of animals aren’t considered when they are captured and tortured under the guise of human safety. Governments and agencies often don’t look closely enough to the capturing and treatment of these animals. Acknowledging Animal Rights Sheila Silcock, a research consultant for the RSPCA, states: “Animals may themselves be the beneficiaries of animal experiments. But the value we place on the quality of their lives is determined by their perceived value to humans.” Improving the lives of humans should not be a defense to torment and abuse any creature. Arguing that animals are inferior creatures, thus they deserve inferior rights, has been a touchy subject in the community. Many argue that they don’t feel the same emotion, don’t carry the same intelligence and have shorter thus less valuable lifespans. These rights tend to be the only thing standing in the way of a ridiculously large and profitable industry, and tend to get tossed out. This line of thought simply cannot be defended from my perspective. New research, and confirmed science, shows us that animals, particularly many larger mammalian species, have the same complex emotions and understandings that basically amount animal testing to torture. Scientists have put it out there for everyone; every nation; every company, manufacturer and conglomerate. 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Filter Options in a Select List in Angular ng-options is a directive that makes it easier to create an HTML dropdown box for selecting an item from an array that will be saved in a model. It dynamically constructs a list of option elements for the select element by analyzing the ng-options evaluation expression and returning an array or object. Moreover, the ng-options directive creates a select element in Angular. It can filter a list of items by the user’s input. Steps to Filter Options in a Select List in Angular The steps are as follows: • First, create an Angular project by running the command below in your terminal. ng new angular_filter_select • Next, create a component for the select that will be filtered by ng-options. ng g c SelectFilter • Finally, add a select to your component and pass it an expression that will be used for filtering. The expression is passed using an attribute called ng-model which should match the variable name being filtered. Using the above steps, let’s see an example of the ng-option filter. TypeScript code: app.controller('MainCtrl', function($scope) { $scope.CountryName =[{"countryName":"England","isDisabled":false}, HTML code: <html ng-app="plunker"> <script>document.write('<base href="' + document.location + '" />');</script> <script src="app.js"></script> <body ng-controller="MainCtrl"> Example of Using Filter with ng-options ng-options="country.countryName as country.countryName disable when country.isDisabled for country in CountryName \|filter:{isDisabled:false}" <option value="">Select a Country</option> Click here to check the live demonstration of the code mentioned above. Write for us
I/O, I/O, It’s Off to Virtual Work We Go Virtualization for servers, storage and networks is not new, with years, if not decades, of propriety implementations. It can be used to emulate, abstract or aggregate physical resources like servers, storage and networks. What is new — and growing in popularity — are open systems-based technologies to address the sprawl of open servers, storage and networks to contain cost, address power or cooling limitations and boost resource utilization, along with improving infrastructure resource management. With the growing awareness of server virtualization (VMware, Xen, Virtual Iron, Microsoft), not to mention traditional server platform vendor hypervisors and partition managers and storage virtualization, the terms virtual I/O (VIO) and I/O virtualization (IOV) are coming into vogue as a way to reduce I/O bottlenecks created by all that virtualization. Are IOV and VOI a server topic, network topic or a storage topic? The answer is that like server virtualization, IOV involves servers, storage, networks, operating system and other infrastructure resource management technology domain areas and disciplines. You Say VIO, I Say IOV Not surprisingly, given how terms like grid and cluster are interchanged, mixed and tuned to meet different needs and product requirements, IOV and VIO have also been used to mean various things. They’re being used to describe functions ranging from reducing I/O latency and boosting performance to virtualizing server and storage I/O connectivity. Virtual I/O acceleration can boost performance, improve response time and latency and essentially make an I/O operation appear to the user or application as though it were virtualized. Examples of I/O acceleration techniques, in addition to Intel processor-based technologies, include memory or server-based RAM disks and PCIe card-based FLASH/NAND memory solid state disk (SSD) devices like those from FusionIO, which are accessible only to the local server unless exported via NFS or on a Microsoft Windows Storage Server-based iSCSI target or NAS device. Other examples include shared external FLASH or DDR/RAM-based SSD like those from Texas Memory (TMS), SolidData or Curtis, along with caching appliances for block- or file-based data from Gear6 that accelerates NFS-based storage systems from EMC, Network Appliance and others. Another form of I/O virtualization (IOV) is that of virtualizing server-to-server and server-to-storage I/O connectivity. Components for implementing IOV to address server and storage I/O connectivity include virtual adapters, switches, bridges or routers, also known as I/O directors, along with physical networking transports, interfaces and cabling. Traditional separate interconnects for LANs and SANs Figure-1: Traditional separate interconnects for LANs and SANs Virtual N_Port and Virtual HBAs Virtual host bus adapters (HBAs) or virtual network interface cards (NIC), as their names imply, are virtual representations (Figure 2 below) of a physical HBA (Figure 1 above) or NIC similar to how a virtual machine emulates or represents a physical machine with a virtual server. With a virtual HBA or NIC, real or physical NIC resources are carved up and allocated as virtual machines, but instead of hosting a guest operating system like Windows, UNIX or Linux, a Fibre Channel HBA or Ethernet NIC is presented. On a traditional physical server, the operating system would see one or more instances of Fibre Channel and Ethernet adapters, even if only a single physical adapter such as an InfiniBand-based HCA were installed in a PCI or PCIe slot. In the case of a virtualized server such as VMware ESX, the hypervisor would be able to see and share a single physical adapter, or multiple for redundancy and performance, to guest operating systems that would see what appears to be a standard Fibre Channel and Ethernet adapter or NIC using standard plug and play drivers. Not to be confused with a virtual HBA, N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) is essentially a fan-out (or fan-in) mechanism to enable shared access of an adapter bandwidth. NPIV is supported by Brocade, Cisco, Emulex and QLogic adapters and switches to enable LUN and volume masking or mapping to a unique virtual server or VM initiator when using a shared physical adapter (N_Port). NPIV works by presenting multiple virtual N_Ports and unique IDs so that different virtual machines (initiator) can have access and path control to a storage target when sharing a common physical N_Port on a Fibre Channel adapter. The business and technology value proposition or benefits of converged I/O networks and virtual I/O are similar to those for server and storage virtualization. Benefits and value proposition for IOV include: • Doing more with what resources (people and technology) you have or reducing costs • A single (or pair for high availability) interconnect for networking and storage I/O • Reduction of power, cooling, floor space and other green friendly benefits • Simplified cabling and reduced complexity of server to network and storage interconnects • Boosting clustered and virtualized server performance, maximizing PCI or mezzanine I/O slots • Rapid re-deployment to meet changing workload and I/O profiles of virtual servers • Scaling I/O capacity to meet high-performance and clustered server or storage applications • Leveraging common cabling infrastructure and physical networking facilities unified fabric Figure 2: Example of a unified or converged data center fabric or network In Figure 2, you see an example of virtual HBAs and NICs attached to a switch or I/O director that in turn connects to Ethernet-based LANs and Fibre Channel SANs for network and storage access. Figure 3 shows a comparison of various I/O interconnects, transports and protocols to help put into perspective where various technologies fit. You can learn more about storage networks, interfaces and protocols in chapters 4 (Storage and I/O Networks), 5 (Fiber Optic Essentials) and 6 (Metropolitan and Wide Area Networks) in my book, “Resilient Storage Networks” (Elsevier). data center I/O protocols Figure 3: Positioning of data center I/O protocols, interfaces and transports (Continued on Page 2: Data Center Ethernet and FCoE ) Data Center Ethernet and FCoE Data center Ethernet (DCE) is a new evolution and extension of existing Ethernet to address higher performance as well as lower latency I/O demands for data centers as a unified interconnect for both network and storage traffic. An example of DCE implementation is Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), which leverages lower latency, quality of service (QoS), priority groups and other enhancements over traditional Ethernet to be used as a robust storage interconnect. Figure 4 shows how traditionally separate fiber optic cables are dedicated (in the absence of wave division multiplexing, or WDM) to Fibre Channel SAN and Ethernet or IP-based networks. With FCoE (Figure 5), Fibre Channel absent of the lowest physical layers is mapped onto Ethernet to co-exist with other traffic and protocols, including TCP/IP. Note that FCoE is targeted for the data center as opposed to long distance, which would continue to rely on FCIP (Fibre Channel mapped to IP) or WDM-based MAN for shorter distances. Traditional separate interconnects for LANs and SANs Figure 4: Separate physical data center I/O networks (interfaces and protocols) today unified, converged data center fabric Figure 5: Ethernet-based unified, converged data center fabric or I/O network Another component in the taxonomy of server, storage and networking I/O virtualization is the virtual patch panel that masks the complexity of adds, drop, move and changes associated with traditional physical patch panels. For example, a new company leveraging a large installed base and taking mature technology into the future is OptiPath, originally launched as Intellipath. For large and dynamic environments with complex cabling requirements and the need to secure physical access to cabling interconnects, virtual patch panels are a great complement to IOV switching and virtual adapter technologies. DCE versus IB: And The Winner is? I do not see InfiniBand disappearing anytime soon, but all of the technology features and capabilities of IB will be at a disadvantage moving forward, given the mass market economies of scale for Ethernet, even with a higher-priced version of Ethernet. For those looking to deploy a unified or converged fabric today, InfiniBand-based solutions are an option, with the ability to bridge to existing Ethernet LANs or WANs along with Fibre Channel-based SANs. Rest assured, for those deploying InfiniBand-based unified, converged or data center fabrics today while waiting for data center Ethernet and its associated ecosystem (adapters, drivers, switches, storage systems) to evolve, your investment should be protected. Ethernet is a popular option for general purpose networking and is moving forward with extensions to support FCoE and enhanced low-latency data center Ethernet, eliminating the need to stack storage I/O activity onto IP and leaving IP as a good solution for spanning distance or use for NAS or for low-cost iSCSI block-based access co-existing on the same Ethernet. Like it or not, getting Fibre Channel mapped onto a common Ethernet-based converged or unified network is a stepping stone, if not a compromise, between different storage and networking interfaces, commodity networks, experience and skill sets along with performance or deterministic behavior. If nothing else, a converged Ethernet makes for a more comfortable migration from various comfort zones and path of least resistance to a network that IP has been built on. Near term, putting the pros and caveats aside from traditional storage professionals who have concerns about IP or networking and converted storage professionals who favor IP, FCoE is a step forward. Marketing and fanfare aside, InfiniBand has some legs to stand on for now, but when factoring in business, economic, broad existing adoption and other facts, converged data center class Ethernet becomes a winner. IP is a contender on a longer-term basis beyond its current role of supporting iSCSI, NAS and Fibre Channel over distance (FCIP). Vendors to Watch Several vendors have announced initiatives, shown technology proof of concept (technology demonstrations) or actually begun shipping IOV enabling technology. For example Brocade has announced its Data Center Fabric (DCF) initiative. Meanwhile QLogic, NetApp and startup Nuova demonstrated converged network architecture based on FCoE at the fall 2007 SNW in Dallas. Not to be outdone, Cisco has enhanced its InfiniBand line of switches and routers based on the technology acquired from Topspin, and QLogic has updated its Silverstorm-acquired InfiniBand lineup with announcements during the recent Supercomputing 2007 event. Startup Woven has released a core edge low-latency, high-performance Ethernet switch to support data center class Ethernet deployments. Another startup, Xsigo, continues to gain momentum by deploying IOV solutions enabling virtual HBAs and virtual NICs for any-to-any access of Ethernet networks including IP-based storage as well as Fibre Channel-based SANs. Additional marketing names you can expect to hear more about include converged network adapter (CNA), converged network interface (CNI), service-oriented network architecture (SONA) and unified fabrics, among others. Storage and I/O adapter, NIC, switch and network chip vendors to keep an eye on include, among others, Brocade, Chelsio, Cisco, Emulex, Intel, Mellanox, Neterion, NetXen, Nuova, OptiPath, QLogic, Voltaire, Woven and Xsigo, along with operating systems, server and storage systems vendors. Also keep an eye on industry trade groups and standards organizations, including ANSI T11, FCIA, FCoE, the InfiniBand trade association (IBTA) and PCIsig. Wrapping Up For Now To wrap up, virtual environments still rely on physical resources and infrastructure resource management to exist. Learn to identify the differences between the various approaches of virtual I/O operations and virtual I/O connectivity, along with their applicable benefit to your organization. As with other virtualization techniques and technologies, align the applicable solution to meet your particular needs and address specific pain points while being careful not to introduce additional complexity. Greg Schulz is founder and senior analyst of the StorageIO group and author of “Resilient Storage Networks” (Elsevier). Latest Articles Accenture Launches Sovereign Cloud Practice Pure Storage and Snowflake Partnering on Data Accessibility Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN Deploys Cloud Storage by Seagate
What Is Kosher and Jewish Food? Keeping kosher means adhering to Jewish dietary laws, and it is not cuisine or particular dishes - for example cholent or gefilte fish - that determines if food is kosher. Gefilte fish with horseradish. Gefilte fish with horseradish.Credit: Boaz Lavi The most famous prohibitions in kashrut, the body of laws regarding what is kosher, may be against eating pig, and consuming meat and milk together. Like the other Jewish dietary laws, these restrictions have their origins in a few laconic lines in the Bible, in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. But it is only in later Hebrew texts – in the Talmud and later rabbinical works – that the full range of laws are fully developed and delineated, and they range far from mere "meat" and "milk." The word "kosher" comes from the Hebrew “kasher,” literally meaning “fit” – in this case, for consumption. Those foods that are not kosher, called tref or trefah, are ritually unclean or unfit according to Jewish law. (Tref is Yiddish for “unkosher,” from the Hebrew word terefah, meaning “torn,” referring to an animal found dead or injured in the field, but used today to describe any forbidden animal, including one that has died of natural causes.) So what is kosher and Jewish food? The laws of kashrut apply throughout the entire year and detail the raw foods that one is permitted to eat, the manner in which animals are to be slaughtered, and restrictions on how foods can be cooked or served. During the festival of Passover, additional restrictions apply. Leviticus 11:3-8 and Deuteronomy 14:3-21 outline the actual animals whose flesh is allowed for consumption, or is forbidden. All invertebrates, with the exception of certain types of locust – though not all rabbis are agreed on this – are forbidden. To be kosher, mammals must have split (cloven) hooves and be ruminants; that is, they must chew and then redigest their cuds. The Torah (the Hebrew Bible’s first five books) specifically notes that the pig, camel, hyrax and rabbit are forbidden because they each lack one of these two requirements. The milk of non-kosher animals is also forbidden. Marine animals must have scales on their exterior and fins, thus disqualifying all shellfish and some other creatures, such as catfish. Contrary to popular conception, food does not need to receive a rabbinical blessing to be considered kosher. Similarly, it is not people who are kosher – it’s the food they eat. All fruits and vegetables are permitted, but they must be clean of insects. Click here for more about kosher cuisine and recipes Kosher slaughter Living animals must be slaughtered according to the laws of kashrut. Thus even a potentially kosher animal not killed in accordance with regulations is rendered tref. The method of slaughter, known as shehitah, uses a sharpened blade to cut the animal's throat. It is designed to cause the least amount of pain to the animal and some evidence has shown the animals lose consciousness within two seconds of being slaughtered. In the contemporary context, meat is permitted only if the animal has been slaughtered with rabbinical supervision in a manner considered to be quick and relatively painless. Animal flesh must have the blood drained from it, and certain cuts of meat are forbidden in most circumstances. Mixing meat and milk The biblical line warning against “seeth[ing] a kid in its mother’s milk” (appearing first in Exodus 23:9) is the basis for the body of kashrut laws requiring separation of meat and milk. Meat products are not to be cooked or served, or even stored, together with dairy products, and traditionally, one must wait some hours (the amount varies from one tradition to another) after eating meat before one can consume a milk product. (No waiting period is required for eating meat after dairy products.) Fowl was not included in the Biblical prohibition against mixing meat and milk, but a rabbinical decree extended the prohibition to include it. The separation of meat and milk consumption has led to separation of cooking utensils and tableware for the two types of foods – "meat dishes" also called fleishig in Yiddish and "dairy dishes" known as milchig in Yiddish. Eggs, fish and all produce are considered pareve (neither meat nor milk, hence neutral), and can be eaten with both dairy or meat products. It is not cuisine or particular dishes – for example, bagels or cholent or gefilte fish – that determines if food is kosher, nor does the term “kosher-style” have meaning in Jewish law. Any style of food can be kosher if its ingredients and manner of preparation are in accord with the rules of kashrut. Why keep kosher? There are many theories regarding the rationale for the laws of kashrut, but the truth is that the Bible does not provide a moral justification for them: They are to be followed because they are divinely commanded. In effect, though, the laws have served to keep Jews separate from non-Jews over the centuries. Until recently, the restrictions made it very difficult for Jews, most of whom kept kosher, to break bread with non-Jews, so that social interaction was very limited. This was one factor helping to keep intermarriage to a minimum, and may in part explain the long survival of the Jewish people. In modern times, the Reform movement has made kashrut a matter of personal choice. In Conservative, or Masorti, Judaism, all the laws of kashrut are considered binding, although the movement is more lenient than Orthodoxy on certain issues, such as consumption of non-kosher wine. (Roughly, wine is kosher if it has not been handled by non-Jews during production.) In practice, it has been estimated that one-sixth of American Jews, and three-quarters of Israeli Jews, maintain kosher homes. But even among people who consider themselves to keep “strictly” kosher, there has always been significant variation in the way the dietary laws are observed. Glatt kosher and mehadrin In particular, as levels of Orthodoxy and ultra-Orthodoxy have grown, differences between communities (for example, different Hasidic sects) are often manifested by the stringency of kashrut observance. Terms such as “glatt” and “mehadrin” refer to the strictness by which the laws are interpreted and applied; in practice, they mean that different Orthodox communities will rely only on food whose preparation and packaging has been supervised by the kashrut authority their rabbinical leaders trust. Within Israel, for example, for some decades, different ultra-Orthodox communities have been unwilling to depend on the kashrut supervision provided by the Chief Rabbinate, and have established their own kashrut authorities, generally called “badatz” organizations, a Hebrew acronym referring to the particular rabbinical court that oversees the supervision. In the United States, meanwhile, there are a number of kosher symbols on food packages, but the OU symbol of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America is the most recognized. Automatic approval of subscriber comments. $1 for the first month Already signed up? LOG IN U.S. President Joe Biden, this week. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Progressive Jews Urge ADL Chief to Apologize for Calling Out Democratic Activist Biden Does What His Three Predecessors Talked About Yet Failed to Do Why the U.S. Removed Kahane Chai From Terrorist Blacklist A mural of slain of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh adorns a wall in Gaza City. 57 U.S. Lawmakers Demand FBI, State Dept. Inquiry Into Shireen Abu Akleh Killing
Psychology Counseling And Associates Ocd – Find Support OCD. This condition impacts greater than 2.2 million…Psychology Counseling And Associates Ocd… individuals throughout the world, according to the Anxiousness as well as Anxiety Organization of America. Clearly, this problem is fairly common, which suggests it has actually been investigated. Fortunately, medical professionals, therapists, as well as specialists understand exactly how to deal with OCD successfully. What Is OCD? Obsessive-compulsive condition (OCD) is a “lasting disorder in which an individual has irrepressible, repeating ideas (obsessions) and/or behaviors (obsessions) that she or he really feels need to repeat over and over,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. There go to the very least four different types of OCD, which include proportion, contamination, doubt and damage, as well as undesirable thoughts. Nevertheless, not every OCD sufferer handle these four kinds as a textbook instance. Symptoms can be really different for each person who has OCD, however the purpose behind the compulsions stays the same-protection and comfort. right here are many branches of OCD associated with the 4 primary types. As an example, many individuals deal with OCD revolving food as a kind of contamination OCD. Some people experience nothing else signs and symptoms of contamination OCD but feel that some foods are unclean and also need to be stayed clear of. This can result in disorderly eating, as the person with OCD has a hard time to discover “secure” foods. An additional example is admission OCD, where the individual with OCD really feels the requirement to admit their misdeeds or unpleasant ideas. This signs and symptom of OCD has actually likely rooted in doubt as well as undesirable ideas regarding OCD types. As you can see, there are several symptoms of OCD, and not everyone matches the “typical” types. Keeping that being said, if you don’t match the 4 usual types of OCD, you still could be identified with it. Just How To Treat OCD Effectively OCD is thought about a persistent disorder, meaning it is lifelong, as well as people with OCD will likely experience some signs and symptoms for life. However, this does not suggest OCD is untreatable. There are many reliable means to deal with OCD that will boost the quality of life for the person affected. The signs and symptoms might not go away completely, yet the individual with OCD usually ends up feeling even more control as well as stability throughout their day-to-day life. OCD is frequently undertaking testing, and new treatment approaches are found every few years. However the treatment techniques listed here have a tendency to be one of the most reliable for those that suffer from OCD. Figure out Your Triggers An extremely helpful way to deal with OCD is to realize what your triggers are. Although OCD can be a continuous flow of compulsive thoughts throughout the entire day, you likely do have some triggers, whether you understand them or not. Often, OCD signs and symptoms are caused by the anxiety of losing a liked one. Or, they are set off by fears of getting ill. For some, a lack of rest can dramatically activate their OCD signs the list below day. Despite just how wonderful the day is or exactly how risk-free the OCD patient feels, they can still struggle with a rise in signs because they are merely sleep-deprived. When you begin to understand your triggers that create your obsessions, it can assist to manage your symptoms. You can discover to prepare yourself for the trigger of an OCD compulsion as well as prepare yourself to go against what your brain is telling you. After that, you can produce healthy coping devices such as taking deep breaths or choosing a walk. It can additionally make your OCD seem even more reasonable, as opposed to leaving you sensation as if you are insane. Understand Your OCD What is mental health protection? When it pertains to counseling, people generally wonder how much it costs with or without a health insurance and how to spend for it. Healthcare marketplaces and systems can be confusing, however people seek psychological health treatment every day, and we’re here to stroll you through the many psychological health advantages offered. Get Quick, Cost Effective Therapy With BetterHelp. Sign Up To Be Personally Matched To A Certified Therapist. Can OCD go away with therapy? Psychology Counseling And Associates Ocd Therapy Covered With Insurance: Coverage Tips To Know. What Sort Of Insurance Coverage Plans Are There For Treatment? There are numerous methods to spend for mental health treatment. What is covered by health insurance and what isn’t can be confusing at first? The Mental Health Parity Act belongs of the Affordable Care Act that needs big health insurance suppliers and health insurance to provide equivalent coverage for mental illness (consisting of substance abuse coverage and treatment). Contact your insurance provider to learn more..
UNF team digs for 'fisher-hunter-gatherers' Matt Soergel View Comments Keith Ashley, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of North Florida, checks on students at a dig Monday in the Theodore Roosevelt Area of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville. The dig was on an ancient shell midden, created by Native Americans, who ate millions of oysters and threw the shells onto the pile. [Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union] Archaeologist Keith Ashley strode through some thick woods and crested an ancient dune on the south bank of the St. Johns River, land made even higher by layer after layer of discarded oyster shells. He gestured to the water shining below. "This," he said, "is Publix, Winn-Dixie, right here." Indeed, for the people who lived there many centuries ago, this spot was one-stop shopping, a fertile place that gave sustenance to generation after generation. That's where Ashley and his students from the University of North Florida have been carefully excavating a big oyster midden in what's now the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Judging by the distinctive chunks of pottery they've found, it's about 2,500 years old, one of the oldest such middens on the south side of the river (ones on Fort George, to the north, date to about 4000 B.C. or beyond). He believes this oyster midden — which was basically a trash pile for oyster shells, animal bones and the occasional artifact — was in use from 500 B.C. to 100 A.D., perhaps even later. That means Confucius was writing and the Mayan and Greek civilizations flourished when the first oyster shell was chucked on the ground. Hannibal crossed the Alps with his elephants as the pile grew higher. The Roman Empire was founded when the mound was about 500 years old. The gospels were being written as the last few layers of shells were being put down. This particular midden could actually have been in use for far later, Ashley suspects; the dig turned up a few pieces of pottery that look to be from about 900 A.D. But the mound was mined in the 1940s and 1950s for road construction, which likely took off the top layers of what remains a huge pile of shells. The evidence shows that people who ate all those oysters, Ashley says, were "fisher-hunter-gatherers." In the midst of the thousands of oyster shells, students have been finding evidence of a varied diet: deer and raccoons, black drum, redfish, mullet, crab, catfish, mussels. There are also many chunks of pottery with a waffle-like design, imprinted by carved wooden paddles. There are big whelk shells used for woodworking, and a sleek, sharpened awl carved from a deer bone. Ashley, a student of Northeast Florida's Native Americans, said these ancient people were resourceful and well-suited to surviving in their maritime environment. "People want to think, oh that's simple. But it's pretty complex. Everything they know, they learn and remember and pass down. It's not like they could go Google it," he said. Ashley isn't sure whether those who made this mound were part of what became the Mocama people, the coastal Timucuans who were there when Europeans arrived. Groups moved in and out of the area over the centuries, so it's hard to tell. Between 900 and 1250, especially, foreign artifacts show that Northeast Florida locals were major participants in a trade network that stretched as far as western Illinois, the Great Lakes and the Appalachians. The group who left this midden likely were far more isolated. The only non-local item found so far is a river stone, probably from Georgia, that was drilled for a bead. During the last few weeks, Ashley and his students have excavated thousands of oyster shells from two pits. Juliana Sims, an anthropology major, was in the deeper of two holes, brushing at oyster shells to prepare the layers for measuring. It's cooler in that hole, she said; she ate her sandwich down there, sitting on a bucket. From a few feet away, you could see just the top of her Kappa Alpha Theta hat as she did her work. She's 5-feet-8, so figure that hole, a neat rectangle of oyster shells, is more than five feet deep. Below that, diggers finally found the dirt and sand of an impressive old dune. Shells from the top and bottom layers will later be radiocarbon-dated to figure out exactly how long the middens were in use. Frequent rains have made this dig a challenge, Ashley said. But on Monday morning it was sunny and a breeze kept most of the bugs away. Even so, it's tough work. But that was no problem for Ashley's oldest helper, Peter Scholz, a 74-year-old retired heart surgeon. He grew up in Switzerland and as a kid he dug around in old castle ruins, feeding an interest in archaeology. For the last few years he's been auditing archaeology classes at UNF — he recommends that for other retired people — and taking part in digs. The draw is simple, he said: "You dig down here and you find a piece of pottery, you hold it in your hand. This is something that someone held in his hands 2,500 years ago. That's really kind of amazing." Kaelyn Thomas, a UNF anthropology major, said most of her sorority sisters didn't really understand the appeal — bugs, dirt, hard work. But they don't know what they're missing. "It kind of makes me want to dig in other places," she said. Meawhile, Amanda Leslie, a history major, was drawn to he work as soon as Ashley spoke to her Introduction to Anthropology class. "Dig artifacts?" she said. "Yes, please." Matt Soergel: (904) 359-4082 View Comments
• Maestro Associates Depression Era Advice That Pays In A Pandemic: Lesson Two. Lesson Two: Consider the pros and cons of a refinance Can we improve our current financial situation by studying the past? Let’s take a look. When the Great Depression struck, many US homeowners were unable to meet their mortgage payments. By 1932, the average national income had fallen off the cliff, down to below 50 percent of what it had been in 1929. Upon signing the Federal Home Loan Bank Act in July 1932, President Herbert Hoover stated: "The purpose of the system is both to meet the present emergency and to build up homeownership on more favorable terms than exist today. The immediate credit situation has for the time being in many parts of the country restricted the activities of building and loan associations, savings banks, and other institutions making loans for home purposes, in such fashion that they are not only unable to extend credit for the acquirement of new homes, but in thousands of instances they have been unable to renew existing mortgages with resultant foreclosures and great hardships.” “Hardship” was an understatement, in fact, at the time Hoover was speaking, more than one million homeowners were facing foreclosure. In 1933 President Roosevelt signed the Homeowners Refinancing Act, enabling people to adjust the terms of their loans. This meant they could reduce their monthly costs and hopefully be able to keep their homes. Right now, mortgage rates are incredibly low. Whether or not the pandemic has affected your finances, and even if your loan is only a few years old, you may be able to benefit from refinancing. As it did during the Great Depression, refinancing can lower your monthly mortgage payment, and a lower payment might be the difference between being able to keep your house and having to give it up. Keep in mind that when you refinance, you are paying off your old mortgage and creating a new one. Lenders will be looking to determine if you qualify for a new mortgage just as they did for the original one. If your credit score has gone either up or down, for example, the interest rate you are offered will be affected. Housing prices may have declined in your area, making your home worth less than it was originally. There are other factors that affect your eligibility for refinancing and the terms you can expect. If you qualify, you still need to determine if the terms of the new mortgage, such as a lower interest rate, a different number of years for paying off the mortgage or changing the type of mortgage, are actually to your benefit. Do they further your financial goals in the short term? In the long term? And you also need to factor in costs associated with the refinancing, including any prepayment penalties on your current mortgage and how close you are to paying off your present mortgage. All this can feel like a complicated balancing act. And in many ways it is. Even the goals for refinancing vary from family to family. Some may desperately need to lower the monthly mortgage payment in order to meet other essential expenses. Others may simply want to take advantage of the current low mortgage rates. Still, others may want to get cash out of the equity that has built up in their home to tide them over the current crisis. Just because refinancing is the “go-to” solution you are hearing a lot about right now doesn’t mean it is the right step for everyone. As with most major financial decisions, there are multiple factors to consider. That can feel overwhelming. There are a large number of calculators online that can be useful. But they are only helpful once you have thought carefully about your goals. Financial planning is more than retirement, wealth management, and estate planning. We’re here for you now, and willing to help you evaluate and consider any financial decision. Let us help you spell out your immediate and overall financial goals and then do the numbers that will help you determine if refinancing is a good idea for you in the current situation. 34 views0 comments Recent Posts See All
The Cognisant Citizen: The Sovereignty Crisis of Ukraine *Note: Because the situation unfolds every day, the information presented in this article is a conclusive account of the events that have transpired up until the morning of February 26th, 2022 On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech that made it clear to the world of his plan to start a special military operation against Ukraine. This left both the country and its citizens in a state of chaos and horror as explosives began raining from the skies. Furthermore, Putin put out a statement warning The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and all the other allies of Ukraine not to interfere in the matter or face the consequences as an act of intimidation. Albeit the immediate reasons for Russia’s action revolve around Ukraine’s request to join NATO, the tension between the two states had started heating up long before this appeal was made. Here is the complete timeline of what led to the current ongoing Russo-Ukrainian Crisis. March 1947: The Cold War Begins Following World War II, an implicit rivalry and enmity emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union. Alarmed by the Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, the Allies feared the spread of Soviet power in Western Europe. In contrast, the Soviets were desperate to keep control of Eastern Europe to protect themselves from Germany. April 1949: The Formation of NATO A significant milestone of the war was the formation of The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), which served as an alliance between 28 European and 2 North American countries. August 1991: The Gorbachev Coup The 1991 Soviet coup, also known as the August Coup, was a failed attempt by Soviet communist hardliners to seize control of the country from Mikhail Gorbachev. He was the Soviet President and General Secretary of the party. As a result, the Soviet Union disintegrated against Gorbachev’s desires, and he resigned. December 1991: The Dissolution of USSR Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia (now Belarus), Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia (now Kyrgyzstan), Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia (see Moldova), Russia, Tadzhikistan (now Tajikistan), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan were the constituent or union republics of the USSR. August 1991: The Separation of Ukraine from the USSR Ukraine became an independent state when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and announced its independence on August 24th 1991, when the communist Supreme Soviet (parliament) of Ukraine declared autonomy. 1992: Ukraine partnership with NATO Ukraine’s relations with NATO began in 1992. In 2008, Ukraine applied to initiate a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP). February 2014: Crimea Invasion and Annexation. On February 27th, 1991, Russian special forces seized the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea and the building of the Council of Ministers in Simferopol. Russian flags were raised over these buildings. Later on the same day, Russian troops, along with the help of Berkut riot police, established checkpoints at strategic locations. This effectively cut off the peninsula from Ukraine, which led to the installation of the pro-Russian Sergey Aksyonov government in Crimea. Russia then established two federal subjects there, the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol. However, the territories are still internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, despite Russia’s illegal occupation. 24th March, 2014: Ukraine Withdraws from Crimea The Ukrainian government ordered the withdrawal of all of its armed units from Crimea on 24th March. Approximately half of the Ukrainian soldiers stationed in Crimea had defected to the Russian military. 27th March, 2014: U.N’s Verdict The United Nations General Assembly gathered in March to adopt a non-binding resolution, which declared the Crimean referendum and subsequent status change to become an independent state invalid. This motion was passed through a vote of 100 to 11, with 58 abstentions and 24 absent. This verdict recognised Crimea as a part of Ukraine despite the Russian takeover. 31st March, 2014: Actions of Russia following the U.N’s Verdict Russia denounced the Kharkiv Pact and Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet. Putin even cited “the accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol into Russia.” On the same day, he signed a decree formally rehabilitating the Crimean Tatars, who were ousted from their lands in 1944, and the Armenian, German, Greek, and Bulgarian minority communities in the region that Stalin also ordered removed decades ago. July 2014: Crimea Sanctions Adopted Against Russia Sanctions were adopted in July 2014 by the European Union, the United States, Canada, and other Allies and partners in a coordinated manner. In September 2014, the sanctions were tightened even more. July 2015: Integration of Crimea into Russia The Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, declared that Crimea had been fully integrated into the Russian Federation. December 2016: Aftermath of The Crimean Annexation According to a report published by the United Nations and other non-governmental organisations, Russia has been responsible for numerous human rights violations. This includes torture, arbitrary arrest, forced disappearances, and discrimination, including the persecution of Crimean Tatars in Crimea since its illegal takeover. The NATO Situation and The Current War: November 2021: Russian Troops Start Mobilising Satellite imagery showed a new buildup of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine. Kyiv claimed Moscow had mobilised 100,000 soldiers, tanks, and other military hardware. December 7th, 2021: Biden Warns Russia of Sanctions US President Joe Biden warned Russia of sweeping Western economic sanctions if it planned to invade Ukraine. December 17th, 2021: Russia Puts Forward its Demands Russia presented complex security demands to the West, including that NATO ceased all military activity in Eastern Europe, especially in and around the territory of Ukraine. January 3rd, 2022: Biden Reassures Zelenskyy Biden reassured Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, that the US would respond decisively if Russia invaded Ukraine. The two men discussed preparations for a series of upcoming diplomatic meetings to address the crisis at hand. January 10th, 2022: Diplomatic Talks between Russia and USA Russian and US officials met in Geneva for diplomatic talks. However, the differences remained unresolved as Moscow repeated the security demands which Washington refused to accept. January 24th, 2022: NATO Starts Reinforcing NATO starts to put forces on standby. This reinforces the organisation’s military presence in Eastern Europe with more ships and fighter jets. Some Western nations even began to evacuate non-essential embassy staff from Kyiv. January 26th, 2022: Washington Responds Washington presented a written response to Russia’s security demands, committing to NATO’s “open-door” policy. It also offered a “principled and pragmatic evaluation” of Moscow’s concerns. January 28th, 2022: Putin Shows Readiness to Continue with Talks Putin said Russia’s principal security demands had not been met but that Moscow is ready to continue with the talks. Zelenkskyy warned the West to avoid creating “panic” that would negatively affect his country and its economy. January 31st, 2022: USA and Russia Go Over The Situation The US and Russia spar over the Ukraine situation at a special closed session of the U.N Security Council. US Ambassador to the U.N Linda Thomas-Greenfield voiced that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would threaten global security. February 1st, 2022: Putin Denies Plans of Invasion Putin denied any claims of planning an invasion and accused the US of ignoring his country’s security demands. Russia even claims that its fundamental concerns regarding the military were ignored. February 6th, 2022: Russia Starts Gearing Up for Invasion Russia gears up to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to a source from inside the U.N, having established 70 per cent of the military buildup, Russia was ready to attack. February 11th, 2022: Jake Sullivan Puts Forward His Hypothesis Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, hypothesises that according to intelligence claims that the Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin within days before the Beijing Olympics end on February 20th. The Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 US soldiers to be sent to Poland to reassure allies. Meanwhile, several countries called upon their citizens to leave Ukraine. February 12th, 2022: Biden and Putin Converge on a Video Conference Biden and Putin hold talks via video conference. The US president says a Russian invasion of Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering”. Putin claimed in the call that the US and NATO had not responded satisfactorily to the Russian demands—Ukraine being prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pulling back forces from the Eastern European front. February 15th, 2022: Putin Shows Willingness to Work with West Putin says he was “ready to work further” with the West on security issues to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine. He also emphasises the need for the West to heed Russia’s main demands. February 18th, 2022: Biden Warns Moscow Against Invasion Biden says he was “convinced” Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, warning Moscow against starting what he called a “war of choice” that would be catastrophic. But the US president also claimed that the door for diplomacy still remained open. Biden told reporters that if a war breaks out, “diplomacy is always a possibility”. February 19th, 2022: Breakaway Regions Initiate General Mobilisation The Russian-backed leaders of Ukraine’s two breakaway regions announce a general mobilisation, spurring fears of a further escalation. The announcements came in as pro-Russian rebels, and Ukraine accuse each other of fresh attacks, and Kyiv claims a Ukrainian soldier had been killed in separatist shelling. February 21st, 2022: Putin Senses Opportunity Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent entities with a vast Russian speaking populace and then ordered his troops to march to “maintain peace” in the region. Putin’s announcement paved the way for Russia to openly send soldiers and weapons to the long-running conflict pitting Ukrainian forces against Moscow-backed rebels. February 22nd, 2022: Biden Imposes Sanctions Biden announces the “first tranche” of sanctions against Russia, including steps to starve the country of financing. “We’re implementing sanctions on Russia’s sovereign debt. That means we’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western financing,” Biden says, adding that the measures also would target financial institutions and Russian “elites”. Earlier, the US said Russia’s deployment of troops into two Moscow-backed, self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine amounts to the “beginning of an invasion”. February 23rd, 2022: Ukraine Declares Emergency As a response to the threat of a Russian invasion, Ukraine’s parliament votes to approve a national state of emergency. On the same day, Moscow begins to evacuate its Kyiv embassy, and Washington sends out warnings about the chances of an all-out Russian attack. February 24th, 2022: Russian Invasion Begins Russian forces unleash an attack on Ukraine. Putin demands that his neighbouring country lay down its weapons. In an address broadcast on state television, “We urge you to lay down arms immediately and go home. I will explain: all servicemen of the Ukrainian army who comply with this requirement can freely leave the area of military actions and return to their families,” he says in an address broadcast on state television. Putin also urges other nations not to intervene. “Whoever would try to stop us and further create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to such consequences that you have never faced in your history. We are ready for any outcome.” February 24th, 2022: Russia invades Ukraine Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It opened with air and missile strikes on Ukrainian military facilities before troops and tanks rolled across the north, east and south borders. Despite being severely outnumbered, the Ukrainian military starts to fight back on multiple fronts. February 24th, 2022: USA President Joe Biden Speaks on India Consultation On the Ukrainian problem, the US tries to consult with India. India and Russia have had a long and enduring affinity. At the same time, during the last decade and a half, its strategic cooperation with the United States has also grown at a phenomenal rate for the country. Late Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called with Russian President Vladimir Putin, requesting an “immediate cessation of violence.” The chat took place just hours after Ukraine made an urgent request to India for help. February 24th, 2022: Joe Biden threatens to break off US-Russia relations President Joe Biden stated that if Moscow continues on its current path, the US-Russia relationship will “completely rupture”. Washington and its allies will impose heavy consequences on the Russian economy. February 24th, 2022: Putin threatens Nuclear power “In terms of military affairs, even after the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the loss of a significant portion of its capabilities, Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear states today,” Putin said in his pre-invasion statement on Thursday. February 25th, 2022: Ukraine President holds his ground As his troops fought Russian invaders in the worst attack on a European state since World War Two, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky swore to stay in Kyiv. February 25th, 2022: Russian Paratroopers to guard Chernobyl On Friday, a spokesman for Russia’s defence ministry said that paratroopers would be deployed to help defend the closed Chernobyl nuclear power station outside Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. February 25th, 2022: The Death Toll Rises President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 people, both servicemen and civilians, have been killed and hundreds more wounded. February 25th, 2022: Air Attacks in Ukraine Areas surrounding the cities of Sumy, Poltava, and Mariupol were attacked by air attacks, according to Ukraine’s military leadership, with Russian Kalibr cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea at the country. February 26th, 2022: Day three of the Crisis The military reported early Saturday that Ukrainian soldiers withstood a Russian invasion in the capital, only hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow would try to conquer Kyiv before daylight. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has killed dozens of people and forced more than 50,000 people to evacuate the country in less than 48 hours, raising worries of a new Cold War in Europe. There have been around 500 Russian troop deaths, 137 UAF deaths, and 57 Ukrainian civilian deaths according to the UK Ministry of Defence. February 26th, 2022: Ukrainian President invokes Partners in War Aid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that “partners” are delivering weapons to Kyiv to aid in the fight against Russian soldiers, that he has spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron on the phone, and also that he has denied the US offer to flee Ukraine. February 26th, 2022: Indians evacuate Ukraine via Romania At 4 p.m., an Air India flight from Romania will arrive in Mumbai, transporting Indians fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The evacuees will be met by Union Minister Piyush Goyal at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The Implications and Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on India: The most significant source of concern for India is the 20,000 Indian students and nationals who live near the Ukraine-Russia border. Many of these students are enrolled in Ukrainian medical schools. India has also stated that it is concerned about civilian safety and security. Regarding military might, India’s strategic connections with Russia and its military reliance on Russia (60 to 70 per cent of India’s military hardware is Russian-made) are critical, given India’s ongoing border conflict with China. Although a global oil supply disruption was expected, Brent crude prices soared above $105 a barrel for the first time since 2014, with prices increasing by more than 9% after the Russian order to invade Ukraine. India contributes to a negligible share of Russia’s crude oil exports, partly due to the inability of most Indian refineries to process the heavy crudes that Russia exports. However, India is a big Brent oil importer, purchasing more than 80% of its needs from other countries. India also buys thermal coal from Russia, with roughly 1.8 million tonnes sought in 2021. Both benchmark indices in India fell about 5% during the day, resulting in a massive loss of Rs 13.44 lakh crore for investors. According to Prabhudas Lilladher, petrol and diesel prices in India may rise by more than Rs. 6 or Rs. 7 following state elections. So far, the West has resisted the Russian incursion by imposing sanctions. The brokerage has also stated that countries who oppose sanctions will face retaliation from the western banking system. Hence, India might benefit from an alternate supply of manufactured goods. The situation looks bleak on both sides, with the United Nations gearing up to dismantle Russia from the security council and sanctions being imposed upon Russia by nations around the globe. Moreover, the fact that Russian troops are closer to Kyiv than ever before the severity of the situation. Media reports are already placing the death toll beyond 450, including civilian casualties. In this time of crisis, one can do nothing but hope for the war to come to a bilateral conclusion with minimum casualties on both sides. or the after-effects can be disastrous, not only for the two nations but also the world in general. Written by Aryan and Shivraj Herur for MTTN Edited by Ramya S Prakash for MTTN Featured Image by Adil Khan for MTTN Sources: Wikipedia, BBC News, Aljazeera, Vox, Economist, Economic Times Images via Insider, Reuters, Crime Tak, Wikipedia, Economic Times Leave a Reply Up ↑
What kind of aircraft do you use to sink submarines and carry heavy loads and/or lots of people into and out of danger in all kinds of weather? The answer is a big, armored helicopter with two powerful engines. The Army “Blackhawk” (UH-60) and Navy SH-60 “Seahawk” helicopters grew out of experiences with the Vietnam era UH-1 Huey. The Huey had done an excellent job, but its casualty rates were high. Bullets easily damaged critical systems, and crash landings were likely to kill everyone in the aircraft. The Huey, with one engine, had limited ability to carry passengers, cargo, or slung loads. This was especially true in hot, high areas, such as the Vietnam highlands. The Blackhawk has two engines and can carry twice as much as the Huey. It is ballistic resistant, has folding wheels to absorb impact in a crash, and the pilots’ seats do not collapse in a hard landing. Also, it had to fit into a C-130 cargo plane, so it is long rather than tall. Navy Seahawks kept the same silhouette. The most significant airframe modification is a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships. The Seahawk replaced SH-3 helicopters for the U.S. Navy and took over these missions: • anti-submarine warfare (ASW) • mine clearing • anti-ship warfare • naval special warfare insertion of Seal teams • search and rescue (SAR) In its role against submarines, the Seahawk carries one torpedo on each side. For clearing mines, it has a 30mm gun. To sink ships, it has Hellfire missiles. Like all naval versions, it has a personnel winch for rescues. An ASW helicopter has to find enemy submarines lurking near the fleet. One way to do this is to deploy a long wire behind the helicopter. This magnetic anomaly detector, or MAD, can detect the presence of submarines at considerable depth. Our SH-60B has a MAD boom on the right rear of the aircraft. Our SH-60B also has sonobuoys that float on top of the water and listen for submarines. There is no left-side door but a large window for the operator and 25 sonobuoy tubes. The operator can drop sonobuoys over a wide area to provide a ring of protection around the fleet. It also has modular sensors in its nose.
In my own practice I am seeing more and more people who are “older” (this gets more and relative as each year goes by) and who are concerned about developing cognitive problems as they age. Of course, demographic info indicates that we are going to be seeing more and more people with risk of dementia. NPR had an interesting article 0n 5-5-14 about research that supports behavioral (eg., what we are good at!) “interventions” that help sustain, or even improve, cognitive functioning. To summarize briefly, researchers compared three groups: a group that learned a new skill, with several possible skills involved including digital photography and quilting,and control groups, including a “social” group that chatted or watched movies and another group who did quiet activities at their home. All groups did their activities for the same amount of time per week and the same duration, several months. Cognitive testing found that the group that learned new skills had the best cognitive functioning, and also sustained it one year later. The participants who learned a more challenging new skills (eg, how to use a digital camera and a digital editing program) had the most benefits. The article includes, “So how does learning a new skill help ward off dementia? By strengthening the connections between parts of your brain, says cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman. While brain games improve a limited aspect of short-term memory, Kaufman says, challenging activities strengthen entire networks in the brain.” The article also noted that exercise has similar benefits. My takeaway: we can help the people who we see who have concerns about age-related cognitive decline by “prescribing” learning new activities and being active, and helping them with barriers to a healthier lifestyle. The full article is at: Leave a Reply
OHS Canada Magazine Protection with Detection June 6, 2019 By Jeff Cottrill Of all the physical hazards that can threaten workers, one of the most subtle and most difficult to detect and prevent is hazardous gases — many of which are invisible or odourless, like carbon monoxide (CO). For people who work in confined spaces and other environments that may have unknown gases, gas-detection devices are a must. Gas-detectors, also known as gas monitors or instrumentation devices, contain sensors that can monitor the presence of different types of gases. A device may contain only one sensor for a workspace with only one specific type of gas hazard, or it may contain multiple sensors if more than one type of gas may be around. The four most common gases that these devices are built to detect are CO, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide and gases with lower explosive limits. While portable gas detectors are commonly used in confined spaces, these devices are also essential to refinery employees, those who work with hazardous chemicals or attend traffic accidents, train derailments and fuel spills, oil and gas workers and miners, as well as employees in power generation, fire services, emergency response and the military. Gas monitors can come in portable or fixed formats. Portable monitors can be carried around by a mobile worker, while the latter can be mounted on the wall. “Portable gas detection is going to be your single-gas and multi-gas detectors,” says Jason A. Fox, a segment market manager who focuses on portable monitors with MSA in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Because monitors have different kinds of sensors for different gases, an employer must conduct a risk assessment to determine the specific gases that workers might come across before deciding what kind to purchase. Job applications have to be considered, as well as which particular hazards are associated with which applications, to get the right sensors. Beyond that, users might also want to look at whether there are any other particular functions they would like the gas detector to perform. Some devices have a simple design for personal protection only, while others have added capabilities, like a wireless function or a built-in radio. These are most useful when a worker needs to be remotely supervised while in a confined space. It may be tempting for an employer to save money with a cheaper product, but price variance in gas detectors normally depends on the number of gases they detect, according to Jeremy Majors, a service manager with Gas Clip Technologies in Cedar Hill, Texas. “A lot of it has to do with the sensors and the way that it is manufactured,” Majors says. A standard four-gas monitor may range in price from US$600 to $1,000, depending on the brand. “When you jump to the five-gas monitor, that will jump the price upwards of, say, $1,500 or so,” he adds. More important than the price is the total cost of ownership, which many employers overlook. For example, many do not factor in how much it costs to maintain a gas detector over its life. Those costs include sensor replacements and gas consumption for bump tests. Other crucial factors to consider are how fast the device detects and measures the gas, or the actual response time of the sensors that are chosen, and whether the product meets the current CSA Group standard. If a gas detector is not working properly, the worker will not know until it is too late. So a device needs to undergo a “bump test” before every use. Although bump tests are necessary, they tend to reduce the lifespan of many gas monitors. For example, with some manufacturers, their sensors are actually ‘consuming sensors’ — the more gas they see, the less life that they actually have.” As such, it is critical for a user to choose the correct concentration of gas for the bump check. Gas detectors also have to undergo calibration regularly to make sure that they perform accurately. While it can be helpful to get a detector that requires minimal calibration, it never hurts to double-check once in a while. This article was first published in the May/June 2017 issue of OHS Canada.
Often asked: How Is Beer Made Step-by-step? What are the steps in making beer? 1. MILLING. The process of brewing all begins (in the brewery) with crushing whole grain malt with a mill. 2. MASHING. Once milling is complete, mashing begins. How is beer made simple? Beer is made by adding warm water to malted barley and other grains. The enzymes in the barley change the malted barley and other grains into simple sugars. This is called the mash. The yeast turns the sugars into alcohol and the wort into beer. What are the 2 types of beer? Types. Many beer styles are classified as one of two main types, ales and lagers, though many styles defy categorisation into such simple categories. What are the 5 main ingredients in beer? The Main Ingredients of Beer • Grain (mostly malted barley but also other grains) • Hops (grown in many different varieties) • Yeast (responsible for fermentation; based on style-specific strains) • Water (accounts for up to 95 percent of beer’s content) How do you make good beer? 1. Step 1: Prepare. Gather your brewing equipment. You’ll need: 2. Step 2: Brew. Steep Grains. 3. Step 3: Ferment. Don’t forget to sanitize all your supplies! 4. Step 4: Bottling. After fermentation is complete, typically within two weeks, it’s time to bottle your beer. You might be interested: Bundaberg Ginger Beer Where To Buy? Is beer is bad for health? Drinking too much beer, or any other type of alcohol, is bad for you. “Heavy alcohol consumption wipes out any health benefit and increases risk of liver cancer, cirrhosis, alcoholism, and obesity,” Rimm says. What does beer taste like? What does beer taste like? Generally speaking, beer can be sweet, sour, or even bitter depending on the ingredients, storage process (is the beer fresh, canned, or bottled?), age, and manufacturer. What type of beer is Corona? Corona Extra Mexican Lager Beer is an even-keeled imported beer with aromas of fruity-honey and a touch of malt. Brewed in Mexico since 1925, this canned beer’s flavor is refreshing, crisp, and well-balanced between hops and malt. What type of beer is Blue Moon? Blue Moon Belgian White is a Belgian-style wheat ale produced in the U.S. by MillerCoors, and in Canada by Molson Coors. What type of beer is Budweiser? What are the main ingredients in beer? Though used in varying proportions depending on the style being made, ALL beer is made from grain, hops, yeast, and water. What gives beer its Flavour? Different hops are used for bitterness and aroma, and there are many different malts that you can use. The temperature that you brew at changes the taste, and even the water used has an impact. You can add more hops, botanicals or flavourings, too. What are the ingredients of Corona beer? Made from the finest-quality blend of filtered water, malted barley, hops, corn, and yeast, this cerveza has a refreshing, smooth taste that offers the perfect balance between heavier European import beer and lighter domestic beer. Leave a Reply
Valle de la Luna, Chile’s Atacama Desert (with Map & Photos) Valle de la Luna Chile There are many places on Earth with supernatural landscapes. One of them can be called Valle de la Luna, which means "Valley of the Moon" in Chile. His majestic lifeless paintings are reminiscent of the panoramas of Mars transmitted by interplanetary stations. Valle de la Luna is part of the Chilean Atacama Desert, the driest desert on our planet and, apparently, the best part to observe its landscapes. Local guides advise to go there to watch the sunset when the sky starts to change color strangely or, especially, on a full moon night, when the landscapes seem more mysterious in the moonlight. Valle de la Luna Valle de la Luna Chile Geologically, the Valle de la Luna, is surrounded by hills and half a kilometer high, it rests on a huge layer of rock salt. Infrequent rains and winds corrode and gradually spread the salt substrate and mineral layers above it, sometimes forming bizarre shapes. Local shamans in figures of salt and stone can communicate with spirits. On the surface of the valley there are dry lakes covered with a thin crust of salt crystals. When the lighting changes, they change their shadows, creating unique photos each time. There are also large sand dunes in the Valle de la Luna. Chile Valle de la Luna 1 Valle de la Luna Chile Valle de la Luna is included in the Los Flamencos Nature Reserve (Los Flamencos National Reserve, "Flamingo National Reserve") Valle de la Luna is one of the main attractions in northern Chile. Usually tourists combine a "landscape" trip with an archaeological excursion to the village of Tulor, where you will find some of the most important and oldest monuments from Chile's pre-Columbian era. "Lunar landscapes" became one of Chile's trademarks and even won postage stamps. Valle de la Luna Map
What Is Pansexual? Pansexuality is a term that refers to people who are attracted to others no matter the other person’s gender identity. That includes men, women, and anyone who falls outside of the gender binary. Pansexuality is not just limited to sexual attraction but can also involve a romantic and/or emotional attraction. The Difference Between Pansexuality and Bisexuality Pansexuality and bisexuality are sometimes used interchangeably, but others define pansexuality as part of the spectrum of bisexuality. A bisexual person is attracted to two or more genders. This could be a combination of men and women, women and nonbinary individuals, men and agender individuals, and so on. Meanwhile, a pansexual person is generally attracted to individuals from any gender or regardless of gender. According to the Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youths have many terms to describe the nuances of their sexual orientation. Other labels that describe multi-gender attraction include: • Omnisexual: Attraction to all genders. Some people use this term instead of pansexual to emphasize that gender is an important element of attraction for them. • Heteroflexible: Another way to say "mostly straight." People use this term when they experience mostly heterosexual attraction with occasional "exceptions." • Homoflexible: Another way to say "generally gay." The term describes individuals who are generally attracted to people of the same gender but sometimes experience attraction to people of other genders. • Abrosexual/Sexually fluid: Attraction that is fluid. People use these terms to describe when the genders they find attractive are constantly changing. The History of the Term "Pansexual” According to Google Trends, "pansexual" did not become a common search term until the mid-2010s, which also coincides with the increase in the usage of terms such as "nonbinary" and "agender". “While the term itself did not become popularized until recently, the roots of pansexuality have origins in the field of psychology that far predate its popularity, " says Dr. Sera Lavelle, clinical psychologist at NY Health Hypnosis & Integrative Therapy. "Sigmund Freud, for instance, believed that all infants are born with ‘unfocused libidinal drives.' " In other words, Dr. Lavelle explains, Freud believed that infants’ sexual drives could be directed not only to both men and women, but also inanimate objects. He posited that it was through the different stages of psychosexual development that children learn to direct those desires towards the opposite sex. “One of the most notable theories of sexuality comes from Dr. Albert Kinsey, most known for the ‘Kinsey Scale.’ Kinsey believed that most people reside on a continuum in terms of sexual attraction,” explains Dr. Lavelle. This scale ranges from zero being exclusively heterosexual to six being exclusively homosexual. Kinsey's original data suggested that many people fall somewhere in the middle of that scale. How to Know If You’re Pansexual The primary sign that you are pansexual is that you find yourself attracted to not just men or women or nonbinary folks, but to people all across the gender spectrum. It doesn't mean you are attracted to every single person, but rather that you are capable of finding people of any gender sexually desirable. Dr. Lavelle says, “Those who are pansexual would say that their attractions were gender-blind or gender-neutral. As such, they wouldn’t feel that gender or sex were determining factors in their sexual or emotional attractions.” Generally speaking, pansexuality is something that you discover within yourself, often through thoughtful introspection and exploration of your sexual, romantic, and emotional desires in relation to connecting with others. Sexuality and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) “While pansexuality has never been in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM)—a manual used by most mental health clinicians—homosexuality and gender identity disorder have been included until recent years. It was not until 1973 that homosexuality was removed, and not until 2013 that the diagnosis of gender identity disorder was changed to ‘gender dysphoria,’” explains Dr. Lavelle. She says that the gender dysphoria diagnosis is still hotly contested. Proponents of the term want to keep it in order to provide clinicians a diagnosis so they can provide mental health treatment for those who feel discomfort with their sex assigned at birth. Those on the other side of the debate believe that having it in a manual for mental health disorders perpetuates the stigmatization of transgender and nonbinary individuals. LGBTQ+ individuals, including pansexual people, have been unfairly pathologized in the past. As our understanding of gender and sexuality evolve, so too has the scientific conversation around those subjects. How to Discuss Your Pansexuality with Others You do not owe anyone a disclosure of your sexual orientation or how you came to discover that part of yourself. This is especially true if you believe that disclosure would put you in harm's way. However, there are of course times when you might wish to speak with trusted loved ones about your orientation. This might be the case with close friends, romantic partners, and even the parents or parental figures in your life. In such cases, be as honest and clear as you’re able. You might need to break down the definition of pansexuality, since some people are unfamiliar with it. If you’re speaking with a romantic partner about this, explain how your orientation might (if at all) affect your relationship. From there, explain that the way you feel is not a phase and that this is a part of who you are. Supporting a Loved One Who Is Pansexual If you find yourself on the receiving end of someone coming out as pansexual, recognize that person considers you a monumental figure in their life. Coming out as pansexual—or any orientation that isn't heterosexual—can evoke a broad range of feelings for the individual who is coming out. For some, it is extremely scary, and for others it may be less of a struggle. Either way, your reaction will impact your relationship deeply moving forward. Dr. Lavelle My biggest advice to any parent or loved one is to keep an open mind about pansexuality, particularly if it [involves] their child. — Dr. Lavelle "My biggest advice to any parent or loved one is to keep an open mind about pansexuality, particularly if it [involves] their child," says Dr. Lavelle. "As pansexuality is only beginning to be accepted, the discovery can be confusing for young people, and they will need support when trying to understand their own feelings." She adds, “If someone you love is open and comfortable, ask them if they are open to discussing it with you so you can have a deeper and more inclusive understanding of how it feels for that person and what it means to them.” A Word From Verywell Though the term pansexual is relatively new in our modern lexicon, it has a long history. Pansexuality indicates a sort of blindness to labels, which is quite beautiful. Whether you’re pansexual or know someone who is or might be, practice love, kindness, and acceptance toward yourself and others. Was this page helpful? 5 Sources 1. LGBT Foundation. What it means to be pansexual or panromantic. 2. The Trevor Project. National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2019. 3. Cordon LA. Freud's World: An Encyclopedia of His Life and Times. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO; 2012. 4. Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Diversity of sexual orientation. 5. Davy Z. The DSM-5 and the politics of diagnosing transpeople. Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44:1165-1176. doi:10.1007/s10508-015-0573-6
Russian and British Veterans and Dignitaries Gather to Remember the WW2 Arctic Convoys Frozen: Ice forms on a 20-inch signal projector on the cruiser HMS Sheffield during an Arctic Convoy mission. Churchill called it 'the worst journey in the world.' On Wednesday, veterans of World War II from Britain and Russia met on the 75th anniversary of the British Arctic Convoy that delivered vital military supplies to the Red Army. Britain’s Princess Anne has been attending events to honor all who sailed and the thousands who died to protect supply convoys sailing for the Soviet Union to deliver supplies that helped them defeat the Nazi army. On August 31, 1941, Hitler launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union. Two months later, the first British convoy, codenamed “Dervish”, sailed into Arkhangelsk after a 10-day journey. The six British and one Dutch merchant ships arrived with, among other supplies, a force of Hurricane fighters to be flown by British pilots in battles with the Luftwaffe before being handed off to the Soviets. John “Tim” Elkington was 20 years old when he traveled with the RAF’s 151 Wing in Russia. He said that his most frightening experience was crossing the Arctic Sea on the same route where eventually over 3,000 Allied men would lose their lives as German forces sank 101 merchant and naval ships. “The most dangerous part was being on an Arctic convoy and not knowing what was going to happen with the submarines, the aircraft, and the mines,” Elkington said. Prime Minister Winston Churchill called the convoys “the worst journey in the world.” He used them to gain an alliance with the Soviets that lasted until the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. There is some concern in Moscow that the current standoff with NATO over the Ukraine is becoming a “new Cold War”. This has fed into new interest by President Vladimir Putin to reinforce memories of cooperation between the British and the Americans in World War II. Russia has been fostering patriotic feelings among its citizens by commemorating all citizens that sacrificed during the war. They’ve also reached out to foreign veterans who sacrificed for the Soviets. Princess Anne said, “The scale of the loss felt by the Soviet Union during the Second World War was enormous and will not be forgotten by the United Kingdom.” Russians who worked on the docks said that they were happy to see the British. The British told of the friendships they developed with the Soviets.
@Article{Brinkmann2017, author="Brinkmann, S.", title="{\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}Fight the poisoners of the people!{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} The beginnings of food regulation in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, 1889-1930", journal="Historia, Ciencias, Saude--Manguinhos", year="2017", volume="24", number="2", pages="313--331", abstract="For urban Brazil, the First World War triggered a dramatic food crisis that brought with it a massive increase in falsified goods and led to an uproar among the general public. Critics targeted the health authorities, who were evidently unable to suppress these frauds. This text spans the First Republic period and shows that since its proclamation the issue of regulating the food trade was part of health policies, but implementation was repeatedly delayed because of other priorities. This situation only changed with the health reforms of the early 1920s, which allows us to identify the First World War food crisis as a decisive point for the Brazilian state to take responsibility in this area.", optnote="PMID:28658421", optnote="exported from refbase (http://demo.refbase.net/show.php?record=98020), last updated on Sat, 11 Nov 2017 05:16:10 +0100", issn="0104-5970", doi="10.1590/S0104-59702017000200003", opturl="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28658421" }
Want to master Blender? Click here! and get our E-Book Blender: A Cycles render settings guide If you have worked with Blender and Cycles for some time, you probably have a good understanding of a few render settings. But I would bet that there are at least a handful of settings you don't know much about. The goal for this article is to explain and explore most of the Cycles render settings and build a better foundation for artists so that they know what happens the next time they press render. Cycles render settings are found primarily in the properties panel if you click the render tab. That is the camera icon, second from the top. Here we find settings divided into several categories. • General settings • Sampling • Light paths • Volume • Hair • Simplify • Film • Performance This is not a complete beginners guide to Cycles, instead we look at specific settings and discuss what they do. If you are looking for a beginner's guide, I would encourage you to start in the Blender manual and then check out my article on the light path node. External content: Blender manual, Cycles Understanding the light path node is an effective way to see how Cycles handles light and calculates the final color for each pixel in a scene. Related content: How the light path node works in Blender Another great resource is this YouTube video from the Blender conference 2019. The talk is by Lukas Stockner. For learning about shading in Cycles and Eevee, you can start with this guide. Related content: The complete beginners guide to Blender nodes, Eevee, Cycles and PBR Cycles general settings At the very top we find a few general settings that doesn't belong to any category. Here we can specify the render engine. By default, we can choose between three engines. • Eevee • Cycles • Workbench If we have other render engines installed and activated, we can choose them from this list. In this case are looking specifically at Cycles. The primary ray-traced render engine for Blender. Next, we have feature set. In Cycles we can use Supported and Experimental. If we switch to experimental, we get some additional features we can use. The most noteworthy experimental feature is adaptive subdivision for the Subdivision surface modifier. This is an advanced feature that allow subdivided objects to subdivide according to how close the geometry is to the camera. The idea is that we can improve performance by adding more geometry closer to the camera where it is mostly visible and save on geometry further away from the camera so that we may save performance. By the way, if you enjoy this article, I suggest that you look at my E-Book. It has helped many people learn Blender faster and deepen their knowledge in this fantastic software. Suggested content: Artisticrender's E-Book If we enable experimental feature set, a new section appears in our render settings called subdivision. If we also go to the modifier stack and add a subdivision surface modifier you will see that the interface has changed, and we can enable adaptive subdivision. But let's not get too far outside the scope of this article already. Just below the feature set we have the device. Here we can choose between GPU and CPU. This setting depends on your hardware. If you have a supported GPU you most likely want to use it for rendering. In most cases it improves performance. Before we can use GPU however we need to go into our preferences and set our compute device. Here we will also see if Blender recognize any supported GPU in your system. Go to Edit->Preferences and find the System. At the top you will find the Cycles render devices section. If you have a supported Nvidia GPU you can use Cuda. Since Blender version 2.90, Optix should work with NVidias older series of Graphics cards, all the way back to the 700 series according to the release notes. It is the faster option but lacks some features. External content: Blender 2.90 release notes According to the manual these features are supported by Cuda but not Optix. • Baking • Branched Path Tracing • Ambient Occlusion and Bevel shader nodes • Combined CPU and GPU rendering Also, these are features that are not supported on GPU, instead you must use CPU to enable these. • Open shading language • Advanced volume light sampling External content: Blender manual, GPU rendering supported features If you are a general artist, the features you mostly would need are Baking, the Ambient Occlusion and Bevel nodes. But you can switch between Cuda and Optix at any time. For AMD graphics cards, use OpenCL. The downside of OpenCL is that we must compile the kernel each time we open a new blend file. Don't ask me what it actually does, but what it means for the user is that we may have to wait, sometimes for several minutes, before we can start to render. Your CPU does this calculation, so it depends on both the complexity of the scene and the speed of your CPU. If you have an integrated graphics card it most likely isn't supported and you will have to render with CPU. In most systems, this is the slowest compute device for rendering. You can find the latest data from Blender's open data project where data from the communitys benchmarks are gathered. External content: Blender Open data Enough about devices, but if you have CPU enabled, you have the Open Shading Language option available. You need to check this to enable support for OSL. OSL is a scripting language that we can use to write our own code to program shaders. If you are interested in that you can start to read more in the manual here: External content: Blender manual, Open shading language As a side note before we leave the general settings, I also want to add that in version 2.91 there is a search feature added to the properties panel so that we can filter settings by searching them by name. If you are reading this in the future, this feature most likely still remain. Cycles sampling settings We will start by discussing samples, then jump back up to the integrator. Samples is a number for how many light rays we let Cycles shoot from the camera into the scene to eventually hit a light, the background or be terminated because the ray run out of allowed bounces. The goal with shooting light samples into the scene is to gather information about everything in the scene so that we can determine the correct color for each pixel in the final image. It does this by bouncing around according to the surfaces that is hit and what material properties are detected at each location. We have several options to control the samples, both in this section and the next, light path section. If you are looking for a hands-on way of learning how this works in practice, I encourage you to check out the article on the light path node. You can find it here: Related content: How the light path node works in Blender The samples are the most well-known setting in Cycles. They are labeled render and viewport. The render count is used for the final renders and the viewport samples are used in rendered viewport shading mode. You can read up on all viewport shader options and what they do in my guide here: Related content: Blender viewport shading guide So, what determines how many samples we should use? It comes down to one thing. Noise. If your image has more noise than you can tolerate or to be accurate and noise free, we may need more samples. But there are a whole lot of other tools and settings that we should consider tweaking before we increase the sample count to insane amounts. Some of them, we explore in this article. But as a rule, if your scene is setup correctly, it is my opinion that you should not need to go above 1000 samples. But there are artists that think even one thousand is a way too high number. At the lower end, I rarely use less than 200 samples. But then again, I don't render many animations. When that occurs, I may make an exception to that rule. For the viewport sample, we can set this to zero for continuous rendering. For the final render this works slightly different. To render the final render continuously we go to the performance section, find the tiles subsection and here we have Progressive refine. This will change the regular tile rendering into rendering the entire scene at once with infinite samples, allowing the user to cancel the render when it is noise free. Cycles integrator By default, we use the path tracing integrator. While still complex, this is the more basic integrator that gives us equal light bounces no matter what property the surfaces we hit has. It shoots of rays equally making each individual ray faster, but for surface attributes that need more samples to clean up properly and remove noise, it may take longer than the alternative witch is branched path tracing. Branched path tracing on the other hand shoot the rays into the scene but at the first material hit, it will split the ray and use different amounts of rays depending on the surface attributes and light. We can set how many rays Cycles use for each first hit material or feature if we go to the sub samples subsection. Here we will find a lengthy list of distinctive features that we can define sample count for after that initial ray hit. The numbers here are multipliers. So, for a diffuse sub sample count of two it will take the render samples and multiply by two and use this number of samples for diffuse material components. Let's say that we have trouble making our glossy noise-free, we could use branched path tracing to give glossy way more samples so that it can clear up, while not wasting calculations on an already clean diffuse path. In all honestly, I rarely use branched path tracing. Since it isn't supported by Optix. So instead, I often just crank up the samples. But in those cases when you are sitting with an animation that won't clear up properly, branch path tracing can be an option. Adaptive sampling Adaptive sampling appeared in version 2.83. The idea is that Blender will sense when the noise is reduced enough and therefore stop rendering the area while continue render areas that require more samples to become noise free. According to the 2.83 release notes render times are reduced by 10-30 percent when using adaptive sampling. In my own experience I find the same thing. Generally, render times is slightly faster and I haven't had a render that I could tell much difference from not using adaptive sampling. We can set a minimum number of samples with the min samples setting, not allowing Cycles to use fewer samples than specified here. The noise threshold is automatic when set to zero. The lower the number, the longer Cycles will keep rendering until it reaches the samples count or until the noise level has reached the threshold. In the denoising subsection we can set a denoiser for the final renderer and for the viewport. Since the viewport is denoising in real-time for every sample, we can set a start sample so that the denoiser doesn't kick in before a set number of samples has already been calculated. For the viewport, we have three options. • Automatic • Optix • OpenImageDenoise Automatic isn't really an option. It will just use Optix if available, otherwise fall back on OpenImageDenoise. Because Optix is the faster option it has higher priority, but it requires a compatible NVidia GPU. For the viewport, it is pretty simple, enable, choose your AI and from what sample to start denoising. Also, don't forget to check out the E-Book. I am convinced that it will help you learn Blender faster. That is why I made it. Click the link. Suggested content: Artisticrender's E-Book For the final render it is still not complex, you can just turn denoising on, choose your denoiser and Blender will spit out a noise free render for you. For the render denoiser, we also have another alternative called NLM. While the other options are AI based denoisers, NLM is a traditional built-in denoiser that depend on the parameters we feed it. In general, it doesn't give as satisfactory results as Optix or OpenImageDenoise. Personally, I think that OpenImageDenoise gives the absolute best results. Anyway, the denoiser we choose for rendering also affect what data the denoising data pass produce. Optix and OpenImageDenoise produce the same passes and as far as I can tell, they look identical. These are the passes: • Denoising Normal • Denoising Albedo • Denoising Depth On the other hand, NLM produces four additional passes: • Denoising Shadowing • Denoising Variance • Denoising Intensity • Denoising Clean We may want to have any of these passes available when we export to another application, but within Blender they are rarely used. With NLM the Denoising Normal, Albedo and Depth often come out grainy or blurry. The only passes we use consistently are Denoising Normal and Denoising Albedo together with the Noisy Image that gets produced if we use a denoiser at all. We use these together with the denoising node in the compositor. The denoising node uses the OpenImageDenoiser to denoise in post instead of denoising interactively at render time. My preferred method of denoising is therefore to use Optix, interactively and enabling the denoising data pass so that I can use OpenImageDenoiser in post with the denoising data passes produced by Optix. This way I can choose what denoiser without having to render twice. Here is a guide on how to use the OpenImageDenoiser through the compositor. Related content: How to use Intel denoiser in Blender Also keep in mind that we need to enable interactive denoising to have access to the denoising settings for any of the denoisers. When interactive denoising is activated in the render settings we find these settings in the view layer tab in the denoising section. Note that we can also turn off denoising for individual render passes here. Here we begin with a seed value, this is something we see all over Blender. It is a value that changes the pattern of random distribution. In this case, it is the random distribution of the Cycles integrator. This will give us a different noise pattern across the image. The clock icon will change this value between each frame when rendering animation. This can help us turn the left-over noise into a film grain look instead. The pattern is the distribution of samples. You want an even, but random distribution and there are two ways to achieve this in Blender. Sobol and multi-jitter. Sobol is the default for now, and the difference between them seem to be un-noticeable in most cases. Sometimes though, one or the other come out on top by a clear margin but to me it has not been obvious why. While researching this, what I found was that there have been many discussions around this and at times, multi-jitter seem to have had an advantage but for the most part it seems to still be about opinion. There are two types of multi-jitter and if you turn on adaptive sampling the progressive multi-jitter will be the used pattern and this setting will be grayed out. The square samples checkbox will take our sample count and multiply it by itself for the final sample count. It is just a different way of calculating samples. Moving right along, with the min light bounces we can override the lowest allowed bounces for all individual ray types and while this is set to 0 this is disabled. For instance, if we have diffuse bounces in the light path section discussed below set to 3 and the min light bounces set to 5 here, we will use five bounces. When the minimum light bounces are met, rays that contribute less will be terminated. The min light bounces setting can help reduce noise, especially in more complex scenarios with glass, liquids, and glossy surfaces but render times can be affected considerably. Min transparent bounces can also help reduce noise in scenes that use transparent shaders. Not that this is not, for instance a glass shader that uses transmission. The light threshold is the minimum amount of light that will be considered light. If the light is below this threshold it will be considered no light. This is so that the render engine don't have to deal with calculations that contribute minimal amount of light and waste render-time. When we use branched path tracing, we have two additional advanced settings. These are sample all direct light and sample all indirect light. Just like we can give different material properties or features different amounts of samples with branch path tracing, we can give different lights different amounts of samples when these are turned on. If you select a light and go to the object data properties, you will see that you have a sample count here. This sample count is multiplied with the AA samples for this light when using branched path tracing and these settings are turned on. At the very bottom, another setting can appear called layer samples. If we go to the layer tab and open the override section, we can set the number of samples we want to calculate for this view layer separately. If this is set to anything but zero for at least one view layer the layer samples setting becomes visible. It gives us three options. • Use • Bounded • Ignore Set to use, we will use the override and set the samples to whatever value is in the view layer tab. Ignore will ignore any samples override at the view layer level. If set to bounded, the lowest number of the two will be calculated. Cycles Light path settings The light bounces are one step closer in on the details compared to samples. Here we decide the maximum number of bounces we want for each of the rays shot into the scene. If it isn't open, expand the max bounces subsection. We have an overarching value called Total. When this amount of bounces is met by any ray, we terminate it. Below the total value are the individual ray types and how many bounces we allow for each. I have found that in many cases these values are set too high and we can save a lot of render time by decreasing these values. These are the values I generally start with. • Total: 4 • Diffuse: 2 • Glossy: 2 • Transparency: 4 • Transmission: 4 • Volume: 0 This is what fits my work most of the time. You likely need to adjust these settings according to the kind of art you create. Here are a few examples. For instance, if we use a lot of objects with transparent shaders behind each other. In those cases, a too low transparency bounce value will totally obstruct the view or have the transparency cast a shadow. Often this result in a way darker looking material than we want or black spots where the ray is killed rather than continue through the material. But transparency is also expensive and adds to render times, so we don't want to increase this higher than we need. A similar problem may arise with glass shaders. If the transmission setting is too low, we may get black or dark artefacts in the glass. This is more apparent in shaped glass with more curves and details. In interior scenes lit with light coming through a window, we are often better off with faking it slightly by combining the glass with a transparent shader. Filtering all light from a scene through an object with a pure glass shader often give us more headache than it is worth. Just an additional note. With the volume bounces at 0 it will still allow a single bounce. When we set this to any higher number, that is equal to the additional bounces, or scatters allowed. Cycles light Clamping Moving right along to the next subsection. Here we find clamping. We have two clamping settings. Direct light and indirect light. These values limit the maximum amount of allowed light recorded by a sample. This can help reduce fireflies in a render when there is a probability that a sample goes haywire and records an excessively high number, resulting in a pixel getting rendered white. Clamping breaks the accuracy of the light though so it should be left as a last resort when we are having trouble with fireflies. A value of 0 will turn off clamping. Caustics in Cycles Caustics is the play of light that happens when light passes through something like a water glass and throws a light pattern on an adjacent surface. It is often incredibly beautiful and a desirable effect. The problem is that it is incredibly expensive and prone to creating fireflies. It also requires an enormous number of samples to smooth out. If you require caustics in your scene you are often better of faking it than letting Cycles calculate it for you. So, turning these off is a quick way to ease up the calculations Cycles must make. The filter glossy setting I find especially useful. This is another setting where we balance accuracy for performance. Filter glossy will give glossy components a blur to reduce noise. I find that in many cases, just a bit of filter glossy can allow you to get away with fewer glossy bounces and speed up renders with minimal cost to accuracy. But it depends on how picky you are with accuracy. Personally, I prefer a nice image rather than an accurate one. Cycles volume settings In Cycles volume settings, we have a step rate for the viewport and final render as well as a max steps setting. A step, is a point inside the volume that is a potential place where a scatter, absorb or emission might happen depending on the type of shader. The chance that such an event occur at a step is based primarily on the density. We used to control a value called step size. This was a value set in meters or blender units. This would set the distance in the volume between each potential bounce for a ray. These days, Blender automatically set the step size and instead we control this step rate value. This is a multiplier of the automatically set step size. This means that, before, we had to adjust the step size according to the size of the object. Now, the step rate is instead a value that is in relation to the step size so we no longer need to adjust it in relation to the size of the object, but instead, in relation to how frequent we want the bounces to happen inside the volume regardless of its size. A value of 1 will leave the step size Blender set, a value of 2 will multiply the step size by 2 etc. The max step is a safety net so that we don't end up in an infinite number of steps. Instead the steps are terminated once this number of steps is reached. Cycles hair settings When we create hair in Blender most settings are going to be in the particle system, the particle edit mode and the shader. However, there is one setting that is global for the entire scene. That is the hair shape. We have two options here. Frists, rounded ribbons that will render as a flat object with smoothed normals so that it doesn't render sharp edges when it curves. This is the faster alternative. We can set the curve subdivision while using this setting to smooth out the curve along the hair. But if we zoom in, we will see that the curve is jagged and sometimes we see artefacts as strands beside the hair particle. So, if we need a hair closeup, we are better off with the second option 3D curves. This is slower to render but holds up better when we zoom in for really close shots of the hair. Cycles simplify settings At the simplify settings department we have two copies of the same settings, one for viewport and one for final renders. After that we have a culling section. If we try to google "culling" to find out what it means we get this answer: "reduction of a wild animal population by selective slaughter." Not very helpful for us. Also, I don't really know what to think about the fact that this is part of the Simplify section. At last we have the grease pencil section that we will skip since it is outside the scope of this article. But let's start at the top. In the viewport and render sections we have max subdivision. This value will limit any subdivision surface and multiresolution modifier in the scene to this amount of subdivisions. A great way to limit the amount of geometry in a scene with objects based on any of these modifiers without having to adjust every single object. Next is child particles, this will multiply the number of child particles with whatever number we set here. So, if we set 0.5 only 50% of the child particles in all our particle systems will be rendered. Note that it only applies to child particles and not the emitted particles. The texture limit will reduce the size of textures used to any of the limits we choose here. Pretty handy when you are working on a large scene and suddenly realize that you ran out of memory to render it. The AO bounces is a bit special. It will stop Cycles from using global illumination after the set number of bounces, then AO will be used instead. I explore this more in this article: Related content: Ambient occlusion in Blender: Everything you need to know Let's get back to the culling section. It doesn't have anything to do with animals. Instead these settings will help us automatically remove any objects outside the view of the camera as well as at any given distance from the camera. For an object to take part in culling, we need to enable culling for that specific object. To do this we go to the object properties, find the visibility section and in the culling sub section we can enable camera cull and distance cull. Here is a little Blender trick for you, to change a setting like this for all selected objects, set the setting you want for the active object, then just right click and select copy to selected. Also, to use culling on particle systems, we enable culling on the object we distribute and not on the emitter. Once back in the simplify settings we can enable or disable camera culling and distance culling. For camera culling, this value decides how far away outside the camera view we cull away objects. You can think of it as the higher the value, the larger the margin before culling begins. For distance culling, this works the opposite way. The higher the distance, the further away we allow objects to render. Just keep in mind that at a value of 0, distance culling is turned off. This means that as we go from 0 to a low value, such as 0.001 we go from rendering everything to limiting the distance to this ridiculously small number. Essentially making a jump from rendering everything at 0 to rendering almost nothing at 0.001. Keep in mind that the distance culling does not remove objects far from the camera within the cameras field of view. With both active, distance culling adds objects back in based on the distance. Cycles film settings In the film settings the most used settings is transparent. By checking the transparent subsection the world background will render transparent, but it will still contribute to the lighting. This is a very useful setting in many cases. For instance we can composite an object over a different background or we can use this to render a decal that we later can use as part of a material. Another example is to render a treeline or similar assets. I touch on this briefly in the sapling add-on article found here: Related content: How to create realistic 3D trees with the sapling add-on and Blender With the transparent subsection enabled we also get the option to also render glass transparent. This allow us to render glass over other surfaces. The roughness threshold will dictate at what roughness level the breakpoint is and we render the original color instead. Let's head back to the top of this section and cover exposure. The exposure setting decides the brightness of an image. It allows us to either boost or decrease the overall brightness of the scene. We find this same setting in the color management tab. The difference here is that the exposure from the film section applies to the data of the image while the color management exposure applies to the view. We won't see the difference in Blender since we work with both the data itself and the view. The difference becomes apparent when we separate the view from the data. We can do this by saving to different file formats. If we save the render as a file format that is intended as a final product, such as a jpeg, we will get the color management applied and therefore also the color management exposure. But if we export to a file format that is intended for continual work such as OpenEXR we will only export the data and the color management exposure setting won't be part of the export. The difference is subtle, but important if you intend to do additional processing in another software. At last we have the pixel filter setting. This has to do with anti-aliasing. The feature that blurs edges and areas with contrast for a more natural result, hiding the jagged edge between pixels. The default Blackman-Harris algorithm creates a natural anti-aliasing with a balance between detail and softness. Gaussian is a softer alternative while box is disabling the pixel filter. The pixel filter width decides how wide the effect stretches between contrasting pixels. Cycles Performance settings The performance section has several subsections, this time, we will start from the top where we find threads. This section is only applicable to CPU rendering and we can change how many of the available cores and threads we will use for rendering. By default, Blender will auto-detect and use all cores. But we can change this to fixed and set the number of cores to allocate. This is most useful if we intend to use the computer while we are rendering, leaving some computing power left for other tasks. In the tiles subsection we can set the tile size. We handle an array of pixels to compute for each computational unit. Either for each graphics card or for each CPU core. The tile X and tile Y values will decide how large each chunk should be that is handled at a time by each computational unit. As a tile finished rendering the computational unit will be allocated a new tile of the same size until the whole image is rendered. Generally, GPUs handle large tiles better while CPUs handle smaller tiles better. For GPU you can try either 512x512 or 256x256 as starting points and for CPU, 64x64 or even 32x32 are good sizes to start with. Keep in mind that the scene and your specific computational unit may have a very specific ideal tile size, but the general rule is often good enough for most daily use. Just one thing, if you find this article helpful, perhaps you will find my E-Book helpful as well. It has helped many people become better 3D artists faster. Suggested content: Artisticrender's E-Book Let's continue We can also set the order that tiles get picked. As far as I know there is no performance impact here. Instead it's just a matter of taste. The last setting in this section is progressive refine. We explained this earlier. But what it does is that it allows us to render the whole image at once instead of a tile at a time. This way we don't have a predefined number of samples, instead samples are counted until the render is manually cancelled. This is a good option if you want to leave a render overnight. For animations, this setting will make it so that we render the entire frame at a time, but it won't render each frame until manually cancelled. Instead it will use the sample count as normal. Cycles Acceleration structure settings This is an advanced section that I don't fully understand, but I will do my best to explain what I know. Let's start with Spatial Splits. The information that I found was that it is based on this paper from NVidia. External Content: Nvidia Spatial split paper In this paper they prove that spatial split renders faster in all their test cases. But there are two parts to a render, the build phase, and the sampling phase. In the build phase Blender uses something called BVH (Bounding volume hierarchy) to split up and divide the scene to quickly find each object and see if a ray hit or miss objects during rendering. Check out this Blender conference talk for a more complete explanation. My understanding here is that traditional BVH is a more "brute force" way of quickly dividing up a scene that in different cases end up with a lot of overlap that needs to be sorted through during the sampling phase. Spatial split uses another algorithm that is more computational heavy, making the build phase take longer but, in the end, we have a BVH that overlaps significantly less making the sampling phase of rendering quicker. When spatial split was first introduced in Blender it did not use multi-threading to calculate the BVH, so it was still slower than the traditional BVH in most cases. However, spatial splits were multi-threaded quite some time ago and shouldn't have this downside anymore. External source: developer.blender.org However, it is still a slower build time and my understanding is that the build time is always calculated on the CPU so if you have a fast graphics card and a relatively slower CPU like me, the difference is going to be pretty small since you move workload from the GPU to the CPU in a sense. My own conclusion is this: Use spatial splits for complex single renders where the sampling part of the render process is long if the performance between CPU and GPU is close enough to each other. For simpler scenes, there is no need, because the build time will be so short you won't notice the difference. For animations, Blender will rebuild the BVH between each frame, so the build time is as important as the sampling and we have much more wiggle room when it comes to improving the sampling as opposed to the build time. The next setting is Use hair BVH. My understanding of this is that if you have a lot of hair in your scene, disabling this can reduce the memory usage while rendering at the cost of performance. In other words, use this if your scene has a lot of hair and you can't render it because the scene uses too much memory. The last setting in this section is BVH time step. This setting was introduced in Blender version 2.78 and it helps improve render speed with scenes that use motion blur. You can find out more in this article. External content: Investigating Cycles Motion Blur Performance It is an older article benchmarking version 2.78 that shows how motion blur renders faster on CPU. This may or may not be true any longer since much has happened to Cycles since then. But in short, the longer motion blur trails and the more complex the scene is the higher BVH time steps. A value of 2 or 3 seems to be good according to the article above. Cycles performance Final render settings Here we find two settings, save buffers and persistent images. Information about these are scarce on the Internet and the information you find about them is often old. After some research and testing, this is what I found. Let's start with Save buffers. When turned on, Blender will save each rendered frame to the temporary directory instead of just keeping them in RAM. It will then read the image back from the temporary location. This is supposed to save memory during rendering if using many passes and view layers. However, during the limited testing I have done, I haven't found any difference. You can go to Edit->Preferences and in the file path tab you will find a path labeled temporary files. This is the location these files will go to. They will end up in a sub-folder called blender followed by a random number. Inside the folder each render is saved as an exr file named after the blend file, scene, and view layer. These folders do not persist. They are limited to the current session. If Blender closes properly, Blender will delete this folder as part of the cleanup process before shutting down. Even if these files are loaded back into Blender, we still use the Layer node in the compositor to access them, just like we would without save buffers enabled. Persistent images will tell Blender to keep loaded textures in RAM after a render has finished. This way, when we re-render, Cycles won't have to load those images again, saving some time during the build process while rendering. The downside is that between renders, Blender will use a whole lot more RAM than it usually does and potentially limiting RAM availability for other tasks between renders. But if you have piles of RAM left over, please use it and save yourself some time. I have found this to be especially useful when rendering animations as well. If this is disabled, Blender will reload textures between each frame. But enable it and Blender will keep those images loaded between frames. After an animation has rendered, we can uncheck this and Blender will release the memory instantly. Cycles performance Viewport settings In this section we find settings that can help us optimize the viewport rendering by limiting the resolution. By changing the pixel size we can make the drawn pixels bigger. At1x we render them at 1x1. At 2x we render them in 2x2 pixel sizes etc. The automatic option will use the interface scale that we can find if we go to edit->preferences and find the interface section. There we have a resolution scale value that changes the size of the interface. The start pixels will set the size of pixels at the start, this will be refined to the pixel size setting over time. The last setting which is denoising start sample will make Blender wait until this many samples has been calculated before denoising kicks in to refine the image. Final thoughts There is a huge diversity among render settings, and it can be hard to navigate what we actually need at any given time. At the end we just want the right look with the maximum performance possible, mitigating any render errors. If you came all this way, I hope that you gathered some knowledge and if you ever feel lost while trying to figure out Cycles render settings in Blender, you are not alone. But you are always welcome back to this article for repetition. Thanks for your time. Written by: Erik Selin Editor & Publisher Erik Selin 3D artist, writer, and owner of artisticrender.com My top product picks for Blender artists Recent posts
Proof of the Open Mapping Theorem The Open Mapping Theorem states: Letbe a function analytic and non – constant on a regionand letbe an open subset ofThenis open. To prove thatis open we need to show that ifthen there exists such that Sincethere existssuch thatFurther, the solutions of the equationare isolated sinceis non constant and analytic and so we can find an open discinwith centreand radius sufficiently small such thatforThus, ifis a circle inwith centrethen the imageis a closed contour which does not pass through is compact, being the continuous image of a compact set, so the complement ofis open and we can chooseso that lies in the complement of The winding number ofabout each point of the disc is equal to Nowby the Argument Principle sinceso for Thus by the Argument Principle again, the equationhas at least one solution inside for eachsuch thathence as required. Add comment Security code
Dementia Behavior Changes and How to Accommodate Variances in behavior is an outcome of brain changes throughout dementia, mostly acting as a means of communication when the ability to do so is compromised. You may start noticing more frequent behaviors of agitation, irritation, and anxiety and potentially exacerbating to sleeplessness, poor hygiene, and wandering. The following tips and advises can help you manage dementia behaviors in the elderly: Stay Patient and Communicate Effectively While behavior changes may be taxing on your patience, it is important to remember your loved one is not behaving differently on purpose and may just be trying to tell you something, whether based on confusion or a physical need such as hunger. Communicating effectively and reacting in a positive can detour further aggressions and agitations, while helping to pinpoint the root of the behavior. Individuals should speak as clearly and precisely as possible, identifying the key points and limiting any noise distractions, along with listening with attentiveness and non-judgment. Along with verbal communication, individuals should exhibit positive body language and respond in a warm and inviting manner. Establish and Structure Daily Routines Though memory may be negotiated, individuals may still be able to keep habits intact. Establishing structure in the day by setting times for meals, personal hygiene routines, and household chores can nurture such habits, in turn lessening the risk of confusion and agitation. Individuals with dementia may also experience Sundowner’s Syndrome, a cluster of neurological changes associated with increased confusion and restlessness when the sun goes down. Structuring a sleep schedule can minimize the severity of “sundowning,” further developing sound sleep cycles, diminishing sleep disturbances, and encouraging more wakeful and happier days. Offer Activities to Limit Wandering Wandering is commonly witnessed in people with dementia and tends to worsen as the stages progress. Though there may be compounding factors leading to wandering, it can be a result from boredom or looking for something or something. Especially in bouts of boredom, offering activities cannot only keep seniors preoccupied or distracted from wandering, but can also maintain both physical and mental health. Keep seniors busy throughout the day by playing games, taking a walk, assigning simple household chores, and other activities they seem to enjoy. Deal with Hygiene Concerns A dramatic decline in brain function can start impeding on good hygiene. In fact, people with dementia oftentimes forget how to practice good hygiene practices, including bathing, brushing teeth, and using the bathroom. Although it is still important to respect their privacy, caregivers should assist wherever they see fit and appropriate, whether it be dressing or getting into the bathtub. Especially as dementia progresses, individuals may start losing control of the bladder and bowels, along with forgetting the bathroom’s location. Reduce the risk of such accidents by establishing a bathroom routine, monitoring fluid intake, and offering reminders and assistance as recognized and required. Build and Confide in Support You should not have to deal with this alone, nor do you have to! Whether with close friends, an online group, or with a professional counselor, confiding in support is highly beneficial for personal physical and mental health. Additionally, consider hiring a caregiver and remember, doing so is not an act of desperation, but rather an opportunity to best serve both you and your loved one. Whether coping with a rebellious parent, dealing with repetitive phrases, or replying to common phrases oftentimes spoken, find more information regarding dementia behaviors and how to handle unique situations here.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Trigeminal Neuralgia Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as tic douloureux, is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. The pain typically involves the lower face and jaw, although sometimes it affects the area around the nose and above the eye. This intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain is caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which sends branches to the forehead, cheek and lower jaw. It usually is limited to one side of the face. The pain can be triggered by an action as routine and minor as brushing your teeth, eating or the wind. Attacks may begin mild and short, but if left untreated, trigeminal neuralgia can progressively worsen. The Trigeminal Nerve The trigeminal nerve is one set of the cranial nerves in the head. It is the nerve responsible for providing sensation to the face. One trigeminal nerve runs to the right side of the head, while the other runs to the left. Each of these nerves has three distinct branches. “Trigeminal” derives from the Latin word “tria,” which means three, and “geminus,” which means twin. After the trigeminal nerve leaves the brain and travels inside the skull, it divides into three smaller branches, controlling sensations throughout the face: Prevalence and Incidence It is reported that 150,000 people are diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) every year. While the disorder can occur at any age, it is most common in people over the age of 50. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) notes that TN is twice as common in women than in men. A form of TN is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). There are two types of TN — primary and secondary. The exact cause of TN is still unknown, but the pain associated with it represents an irritation of the nerve. Primary trigeminal neuralgia has been linked to the compression of the nerve, typically in the base of the head where the brain meets the spinal cord. This is usually due to contact between a healthy artery or vein and the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain. This places pressure on the nerve as it enters the brain and causes the nerve to misfire. Secondary TN is caused by pressure on the nerve from a tumor, MS, a cyst, facial injury or another medical condition that damages the myelin sheaths. Most patients report that their pain begins spontaneously and seemingly out of nowhere. Other patients say their pain follows a car accident, a blow to the face or dental work. In the cases of dental work, it is more likely that the disorder was already developing and then caused the initial symptoms to be triggered. Pain often is first experienced along the upper or lower jaw, so many patients assume they have a dental abscess. Some patients see their dentists and actually have a root canal performed, which inevitably brings no relief. When the pain persists, patients realize the problem is not dental-related. The pain of TN is defined as either type 1 (TN1) or type 2 (TN2). TN1 is characterized by intensely sharp, throbbing, sporadic, burning or shock-like pain around the eyes, lips, nose, jaw, forehead and scalp. TN1 can get worse resulting in more pain spells that last longer. TN2 pain often is present as a constant, burning, aching and may also have stabbing less intense than TN1. Pain can be focused in one spot or it can spread throughout the face. Typically, it is only on one side of the face; however, in rare occasions and sometimes when associated with multiple sclerosis, patients may feel pain in both sides of their face. Pain areas include the cheeks, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, eyes and forehead. Attacks of TN may be triggered by the following: Touching the skin lightly Brushing teeth Blowing the nose Drinking hot or cold beverages Encountering a light breeze Applying makeup The symptoms of several pain disorders are similar to those of trigeminal neuralgia. The most common mimicker of TN is trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP). TNP results from an injury or damage to the trigeminal nerve. TNP pain is generally described as being constant, dull and burning. Attacks of sharp pain can also occur, commonly triggered by touch. Additional mimickers include: Temporal tendinitis Ernest syndrome (injury of the stylomandibular ligament Occipital neuralgia Cluster headaches/ migraines Giant cell arteritis Dental pain Post-herpetic neuralgia Glossopharyngeal neuralgia Sinus infection Ear infection Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) TN can be very difficult to diagnose, because there are no specific diagnostic tests and symptoms are very similar to other facial pain disorders. Therefore, it is important to seek medical care when feeling unusual, sharp pain around the eyes, lips, nose, jaw, forehead and scalp, especially if you have not had dental or other facial surgery recently. The patient should begin by addressing the problem with their primary care physician. They may refer the patient to a specialist later. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect if a tumor or MS is affecting the trigeminal nerve. A high-resolution, thin-slice or three-dimensional MRI can reveal if there is compression caused by a blood vessel. Newer scanning techniques can show if a vessel is pressing on the nerve and may even show the degree of compression. Compression due to veins is not as easily identified on these scans. Tests can help rule out other causes of facial disorders. TN usually is diagnosed based on the description of the symptoms provided by the patient, detailed patient history and clinical evaluation. There are no specific diagnostic tests for TN, so physicians must rely heavily on symptoms and history. Physicians base their diagnosis on the type pain (sudden, quick and shock-like), the location of the pain and things that trigger the pain. Physical and neurological examinations may also be done in which the doctor will touch and examine parts of your face to better understand where the pain is located. Non-Surgical Treatments There are several effective ways to alleviate the pain, including a variety of medications. Medications are generally started at low doses and increased gradually based on patient’s response to the drug. Carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant drug, is the most common medication that doctors use to treat TN. In the early stages of the disease, carbamazepine controls pain for most people. When a patient shows no relief from this medication, a physician has cause to doubt whether TN is present. However, the effectiveness of carbamazepine decreases over time. Possible side effects include dizziness, double vision, drowsiness and nausea. Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant drug, which is most commonly used to treat epilepsy or migraines can also treat TN. Side effects of this drug are minor and include dizziness and/or drowsiness which go away on their own. Oxcarbazepine, a newer medication, has been used more recently as the first line of treatment. It is structurally related to carbamazepine and may be preferred, because it generally has fewer side effects. Possible side effects include dizziness and double vision. Other medications include: baclofen, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, pregabalin, phenytoin, valproic acid, clonazepam, sodium valporate, lamotrigine, topiramate, phenytoin and opioids. If medications have proven ineffective in treating TN, several surgical procedures may help control the pain. Surgical treatment is divided into two categories: 1) open cranial surgery or 2) lesioning procedures. In general, open surgery is performed for patients found to have pressure on the trigeminal nerve from a nearby blood vessel, which can be diagnosed with imaging of the brain, such as a special MRI. This surgery is thought to take away the underlying problem causing the TN. In contrast, lesioning procedures include interventions that injure the trigeminal nerve on purpose, in order to prevent the nerve from delivering pain to the face. The effects of lesioning may be shorter lasting and in some keys may result in numbness to the face. Open Surgery Lesioning Procedures Stereotactic radiosurgery (through such procedures as Gamma Knife, Cyberknife, Linear Accelerator (LINAC) delivers a single highly concentrated dose of ionizing radiation to a small, precise target at the trigeminal nerve root. This treatment is noninvasive and avoids many of the risks and complications of open surgery and other treatments. Over a period of time and as a result of radiation exposure, the slow formation of a lesion in the nerve interrupts transmission of pain signals to the brain. Overall, the benefits of surgery or lesioning techniques should always be weighed carefully against its risks. Although a large percentage of TN patients report pain relief after procedures, there is no guarantee that they will help every individual. For patients with TNP, another surgical procedure can be done that includes placement of one or more electrodes in the soft tissue near the nerves, under the skull on the covering of the brain and sometimes deeper into the brain, to deliver electrical stimulation to the part of the brain responsible for sensation of the face. In peripheral nerve stimulation, the leads are placed under the skin on branches of the trigeminal nerve. In motor cortex stimulation (MCS), the area which innervates the face is stimulated. In deep brain stimulation (DBS), regions that affect sensation pathways to the face may be stimulated. How to Prepare for a Neurosurgical Appointment Write down symptoms. This should include: What the pain feels like (for example, is it sharp, shooting, aching, burning or other), where exactly the pain is located (lower jaw, cheek, eye/forehead), if it is accompanied by other symptoms (headache, numbness, facial spasms), duration of pain (weeks, months, years), pain-free intervals (longest period of time without pain or in between episodes), severity of pain (0=no pain, 10=worst pain) Note any triggers of pain (e.g. brushing teeth, touching face, cold air) Make a list of medications and surgeries related to the face pain (prior medications, did they work, were there side effects), current medications (duration and dose) Write down questions in advance Understand that the diagnosis and treatment process for TN is not simple. Having realistic expectations can greatly improve overall outcomes. Patients should follow-up with their primary care providers and specialists regularly to maintain their treatment. Typically, neuromodulation surgical patients are asked to return to the clinic every few months in the year following the surgery. During these visits, they may adjust the stimulation settings and assess the patient’s recovery from surgery. Routinely following-up with a doctor ensures that the care is correct and effective. Patients who undergo any form of neurostimulation surgery will also follow-up with a device representative who will adjust the device settings and parameters as needed alongside their doctors. Article Provided By: aans.org Leave a Reply
Quick Answer: How is South Africa affected by poverty? What are the major causes of poverty in South Africa? External factors include, but are not limited to: • Lack of shelter. • Limited access to clean water resources. • Food insecurity. • Lack of access to health care. • Government corruption. • Poor infrastructure. • Limited or dwindling natural resources. What is the poverty in South Africa? Approximately 55.5 percent (30.3 million people) of the population is living in poverty at the national upper poverty line (~ZAR 992) while a total of 13.8 million people (25 percent) are experiencing food poverty. How can we fix poverty in South Africa? Alleviating Poverty in South Africa: How You Can Help 1. Developing livelihoods. 2. Providing for basic needs. 3. Developing skills and education. 4. Developing the community. 5. Relational focus. 6. Partnering with businesses. Is India richer than South Africa? What is the richest country in Africa? Top 20 Richest Countries in Africa 1. Seychelles. 2. Equatorial Guinea. 3. Gabon. 4. Botswana. 5. South Africa. 6. Libya. 7. Namibia. 8. Egypt. IT IS INTERESTING: Does South Africa still mine gold? What are the five causes of poverty? What are the causes of poverty? Explain in at least 5 points 1. Increase rate of rising population: … 2. Less productivity in agriculture: … 3. Less utilization of resources: … 4. A short rate of economic development: … 5. Increasing price rise: … 6. Unemployment: … 7. Shortage of capital and able entrepreneurship: … 8. Social factors: What is the main cause of poverty? Some of the major causes of poverty, with historical perspective, were noted as follows: the inability of poor households to invest in property ownership. limited/poor education leading to fewer opportunities. limited access to credit, in some cases—creating more poverty via inherited poverty.
Political Views and Climate Change Views by Riley Hoffman The authors cite many studies done from 2008 to 2013 that come to the conclusion that Republicans have less concern with the progression of climate change elsewhere in countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK as well. The article goes on to explain that the EU has been “far more progressive” on enacting policies than the US and the campaigns that advertise disbelief in the facts have been much less publicized. In their experiment, the respondents are asked to report their personal level of belief, willingness to pay for the fight against climate change, and their understanding and level of knowledge on the topic. The article attempts to explain the results by noting that one of the important aspects of the Republican Party’s platform is the importance of “national sovereignty” and the dislike of change. If climate change became an important political topic, policies would have to be enacted, and the government may start restricting things like water and gas usage, possibly violating private property rights. The second portion of their experiment, the former Communist countries’ results, is explained because these countries have advertised less about climate change, and they don’t encourage strong political divides, keeping the country at equilibrium. As was expected by the authors, their survey proved their point that right-leaning people are less concerned with global climate change that it might be evident during their lifetime. McCright, A. M., Dunlap, R. E., Marquart-Pyatt, S. T.. 2015. Political ideology and views about climate change in the European Union. Environmental Politics, 25:2, 338-358, DOI: 10.1080/09644016.2015.1090371. Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s
What does matagi mean in Japanese? Matagi. The Matagi (Japanese: 又鬼) are traditional winter hunters of the Tōhoku region of northern Japan, most famously today in the Shirakami-Sanchi forest between Akita and Aomori. They hunt deer and bear, and their culture has much in common with the bear worship of the Ainu. Is matagi indigenous? Originally, the self-sufficient males living in the deep forest and mountains areas were called “MATAGI” in Japanese. They represent one of the indigenous tribes. … As the years passed, the Matagi have been considered only as a kind of hunters living in rural areas of Japan. Is bear hunting legal in Japan? Present-day Matagi In the modern day, some Matagi have come into conflict with environmental activists, due to concerns over deforestation and the depletion of certain animal species. The Matagi no longer hunt the Japanese serow, which is protected, but continue to hunt bear by special license. What do they hunt in Japan? Some examples of 47 game species are Brown Bear, Black Bear, Shika Deer, Wild Boar, Japanese Hare, Ducks, Green Pheasant, Japanese Quail, and Tree Sparrow. (C) Hunting System. License classification Hunting tackles Number of licenses issued (as of 1991) A class Net, Trap 16,000 B class Shotgun, Rifle 228,000 IT IS INTERESTING: How did World War I affect Japan? Are ainus the first Japanese? What does Ainu mean in English? Definition of Ainu 1 : a member of an indigenous people of the Japanese archipelago, the Kuril Islands, and part of Sakhalin Island. 2 : the language of the Ainu people. Are bows legal in Japan? Now, the Japanese government is considering banning most people from buying, selling, or owning these semi-automatic bow and arrows. After a series of horrific crimes using the weapons there are now pending revisions to Japan’s laws which will limit their usage to sports and tranquilizing animals. What big cats are in Japan? There are two wild cats in Japan: the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) of mainland Asia occurs on Tsushima Island while the Iriomote cat (Prionailurus iriomotensis) is unique to the island of Iriomote. What is Chitatap? Citatap. Citatap translated from Ainu means “that which has been pounded”. As the name suggests, citatap is meat or fish that has been pounded in a way similar to the Japanese method tataki. Making citatap. Can a foreigner hunt in Japan? The good news is, foreigners can buy a gun in the country and apply for a license. However, a lot of patience will be needed for you to finally be able to hunt game in Japan. To start the process, you would need to go to a local gun shop to buy a handbook. … Living in Japan can be quite exciting for hunters. Were there bears in Japan? In Japan, there are two kinds of bears-the Asian black bear and the brown bear. The Asian black bears in Oku Nikko are distributed throughout Honshu and the Shikoku Islands (extinct on Kyushu Island). *The brown bear lives only in Hokkaido in Japan. IT IS INTERESTING: Is Japanese hair straightening expensive? What is Gaijin Hunter? The word Gaijin means foreigner in English. So a Gaijin hunter means a Japanese person who `hunts` foreigners for a number of reasons: They want to improve their English. They want to have a foreign dating partner. Are the Ainu Japanese? The Ainu are an indigenous people from the northern region of the Japanese archipelago, particularly Hokkaido. Are Ainu Russian? The Ainu in Russia are an indigenous people of Russia located in Sakhalin Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai and Kamchatka Krai. … Many local people are ethnically Ainu or have significant Ainu ancestry but identify as Russian or Nivkh and speak Russian as mother tongue, often not knowing about their Ainu ancestry. Is Ainu still alive? The Ainu people are historically residents of parts of Hokkaido (the Northern island of Japan) the Kuril Islands, and Sakhalin. According to the government, there are currently 25,000 Ainu living in Japan, but other sources claim there are up to 200,000.
5 Reasons Why Neuro-framework Scaffolding Helps Learners Is Neuro-framework Scaffolding even a “Thing”? Well it is and it has been a ‘thing’ for a long time but may not be known as such. These days with ‘neuro’ being the cool kid on the block, the terminology is contemporary. What it refers to is the guided development of skills by optimising the functioning of the structures of the developing brain involved in learning. It is what children are particularly good at doing for themselves. Until, that is, they go to school to get educated! Neuro-frameworks for learning are structures within the brain that develop over the learning years of a child and young adult. By understanding these frameworks we can scaffold our approach to teaching and learning to optimise the development and functioning of these structures. This is where I come in. Here are the five reasons that I live by when developing my education game material. Possession is not functional Imagine the scenario where everyone agrees that 21st century kids need to use 21st century devices in order to perform better so all school children are provided with digital devices to use in school. Great. Does that mean that the box is ticked and the problem is fixed? No. The device in itself is not going to do anything to change their learning. It is what is contained within the device and how the students interact with it that counts. Similarly, just because a child possesses the structures for learning does not mean that learning happens. Learning material has to be written and delivered in the way that it will be received, processed, transmitted and stored for easy retrieval by the learning frameworks within the brain. School teacher and teacher educator turned neuroscientist, Professor Paul Howard-Jones, is convincing in his talk on the early research on the educational benefits of using digital technology particularly in relation to video games. He makes the case for how to effectively use video games in teaching and learning. The learner’s interaction with the digital content is important. One size does not fit all There is no one size fits all in learning although for some reason our education systems have operated on that maxim for a couple of centuries. Sir Ken Robinson says in his Changing Education Paradigms talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms), that our system was designed as a production line to produce factory workers not creative thinkers. We need to challenge this model and individualise learning. Most teachers already go to great lengths to differentiate their teaching to help all their students. But the differentiation should not be confined to a year level curriculum or based on the perceived ability (or inability as is often the case) of the child but on the special blend of all conditions that the child brings to the table on any given day. This is different not just for each learner but for different days and times. So as educators we need to read the signs and know how to manipulate the material for our students according to their needs not ours. This may seem like it is too much to ask for one teacher of a class of 30 kids but it is actually quite easily done because of the technology we have. As mentioned earlier it is what you do with a device that makes all the difference. Many games use artificial intelligence (AI) paradigms to change the way the material is delivered according to responses that the user is making to ensure that there is continued interest in pursuing the outcomes. In fact, educator and linguist, Professor James Paul Gee identifies 13 principles of effective learning that are inherent in game design. These will be looked at in a future blog post. The pedagogy of games works very well in neuro-framework scaffolding. To err is divine I mentioned earlier that neuro-framework scaffolding has been around for a long time. It is used by children when they learn to walk and to talk and to do most things. That is until they go to school and then the rules change to something that the brain does not compute. What is missing in most schools is the positivity of failure. In nature failure is a positive force. Children are always making hypotheses about their failures. Toddlers uses this to their advantage. If they fall over they hypothesise that they lifted their back leg up too early. They test this hypothesis and make incremental adjustments in numerous attempts until “Hey Presto! They are walking”. In the 19th century school system, however, failure was turned into a negative force. In this system learners are given a grade or mark on one attempt with no recourse for changing it. It is no wonder that most children do not co-operate with tests and homework – it seems meaningless. To do something once and let that outcome stand is totally counter-intuitive to the intelligent beings called children. Learning is about countless trials each one getting closer to the perfect outcome. It is about taking the time to hypothesise about what needs to change for the next attempt. It is believing that you can improve and can deal with any challenge. Professor Carol Dweck calls this having a Growth Mindset. Neuro-framework scaffolding helps build this growth mindset. Repetition requires a desirable purpose Do you recall the time when you learnt to drive a car. There were a lot of steps to remember – clutch, gear, speed, brake, mirror – and they needed to be done in a particular order depending on the stimuli coming in. Learning Maths is probably easier (and safer) than learning to drive yet there are more people who say they are good drivers than those who think they are good at Mathematics. Why is this? One reason is that learning to drive is done in a meaningful (real world) environment whereas learning Maths is generally done out of context. The skill being taught in a Mathematics lessons often does not have a purpose attached to it. It is like asking someone to learn to change gears at a desk without any reference to a car. In order for a learner to want to repeat a task, they need to want it. As Professor Howard-Jones says, offering extrinsic rewards alone are not enough. The reward has to be something that the brain intrinsically wants. What the brain wants is a win especially against the odds. The possibility of a win releases dopamine which in turn helps to build neural connections. To make a child want to acquire numeracy facts we need to associate acquiring numeracy skills and any repetitive tasks with winning. This can be done very easily in the classroom through linking skill acquisition with challenging quests. Automaticity breeds concepts Automaticity as the name suggests is when responses occur automatically or without apparent thinking. Achieving automaticity requires repetition so that retrieval from where the skill is stored becomes an almost unconscious event. But to ensure that the skills are stored requires a desirable purpose. Wanting something releases dopamine. Dopamine helps to build the neural connections involved in memory retrieval. Repetition creates a superhighway to the storage system which is what makes the retrieval occur so readily. Driving a car is possible because many of the initial skills happen without having to think about them. This allows the driver to focus on the higher order thinking of processing the stimuli around them and making decisions about how to react. The same can be done with learning Mathematics but we are not scaffolding it in a way to make it meaningful and desirable. The neuro-framework scaffolding involved here is to initially guide the learner to step out a dirt track to the storage facility through providing them with a purpose to do so. By making the journey desirable the learner will make repeated attempts at accessing and retrieving the information and the path turns into a road and then a highway and then a superhighway. At this point the information is said to have automatic retrieval. This automaticity helps when the information received needs to be used to build conceptual knowledge of the topic. For example, instant recall of the multiplication tables makes it easier to work with fractions which makes it easier for the learner to build on their concept of fractions. Each skill in a topic is built on a previous level of thinking and the thinking levels up so that prior concepts about the topic are tested and advanced. Just like in the car example, automaticity allows the learner to combine a myriad of skills instantaneously to make conceptual analyses of situations. The levelling up of skills to solve increasingly more difficult problems is what happens in a video game. Neurologist turned educator, Dr Judy Willis explains the neurobiology of why video games offer a very good model for learning at her TEDxASB Talk at the American School in Bombay. Well-designed educational games can ease the workload of teachers. In a nutshell Neuro-framework scaffolding is a tried and trusted method used naturally by learners through trial and error hypothesis testing; the key principles of a) targeted content, b) individualisation, c) failing forward, d) repetition for a desirable purpose and e) acquiring automatic skill responses for concept building need to be addressed when scaffolding the teaching and learning so that each individual’s framework is optimally utilised; we need differentiated material delivered in a timely manner; we need to allow learners to believe that they can improve and give them plenty of chances to do so; game design principles are particularly good at catering for the steps above and can be easily implemented in classrooms through the development of pedagogically sound educational video games. That is why we need to help learners by using educational games that incorporate neuro-framework scaffolding. Edu-fy is developing one such game. Straylings will be available for trials in the not too distant future. To be in the running for trial participation please contact asha@edu-fy.com.au .
3 Climate Technologies You May Not Know Of It’s no secret that climate change is a global issue requiring the emergence of new technologies to help combat it. This widespread need for innovation has produced a number of exciting and rather unique climate technologies, a few of which we thought we’d share with you today! From smart cities to drones firing baby sapling seeds into the earth, this post has it all. Without further ado let’s jump into these three climate technologies you might not have heard of! Mass Tree Planting with Drones First up on the list (and our favourite for obvious reasons) is tree planting using drones. As you know, the team behind Exploratree and Kinsume love trees, so when we came across this technology we couldn’t believe our eyes. Instead of being used for filming from dizzy heights, drones are being put to good use in India. They are being used to plant many more trees a day than humans could possibly manage. Flash Forest, a Canadian startup, even managed to plant 40,000 trees in a month using this method. Not only do they allow trees to be planted immeasurably faster but they also can be planted in areas that are inaccessible to humans. The steep slopes of the Doddaballapur hill range are an example of this, as trees are being planted on the previously untouched and treacherous hillsides of the range. The way in which this is done is through the drone firing seed pods into the ground, as the drone hovers in mid air. Sounds pretty futuristic, right? Tackling Climate Change with Artificial Intelligence We all know about the fears of finding ourselves in a matrix situation, with AI reigning over us! But do not fear, AI may even be a friend in the fight against climate change. In recent times, the vast processing power of computing and emergence of AI has been used to monitor outbreaks of wildfires, create more efficient heating systems for commercial buildings and boost the yields of crops on a global scale! Microsoft, a partner of 2030Vision, are supplying their AI technology to organisations who are working on climate change. AI’s ability to record data, predict trends and make use of other technologies such as satellites, means it could be used in a way which reduces greenhouse gasses considerably. One example of AI being used to this effect is by Terrafuse, helped by tech giants Microsoft. Azure, Microsoft’s service, allows Terrafuse to use satellite observations, previous fire data and real simulations to better monitor and detect the risk of wildfires in hyperlocal areas. This data can then be used to better combat the climate issues that wildfires cause. Heating Buildings A more simple use of AI is already in place in some buildings, which utilises AI to monitor their heating and cooling system. Automatically temperate is adjusted, making it appropriate for those inside, which reduces wasted energy, particularly in large urban buildings. Other areas in which it could be used effectively is to do with waste. By using satellites and sensors, climate change impacts can be predicted before and this can allow protection of fragile ecosystems. Food Systems Finally, in food systems, AI could help make precision agriculture more widespread. Precision agriculture is supported by AI and would have multiple benefits if implemented. It would enable proper monitoring of crop yields, reduced chemicals in the farming process and less water waste. Food waste could also help be minimised through identifying demand, and the amount of spoiled produce. Efficiency Gains from Smart Cities Major cities today usually rely heavily on a backbone of technology. Transport, communication and many occupations are centred around technology that make modern cities modern. But what if this technology could be used in a smarter, more sustainable way? “Smart Cities” were named so because of their ability to use information and communication technology (ICT) to better the quality of life of citizens within. Technology acts as the base of this, with smartphones, sensors and other data capturing devices central to enabling cities to be smart. This means companies and app creators play a key role in making cities smart. Apps make use of the data collected and present it in an accessible way that is informative for the public. Following this, the reliance is on cities, the public and companies, to ensure widespread usage of this technology. This then can help users, as accurate data can allow for people to; travel at off-peak hours and take more effective routes, or use less water and energy, amongst a number of other ways that reduce the carbon footprint of a city. The infrastructure of smart cities could also be key, alongside the public use of smart technology. Water infrastructure, energy grids and air quality sensors are all areas that would be greatly improved by smart solutions, as well as reduced waste and air pollution. However, much like the need for a basis of smart phones in order to make data accessible to people, sensors are crucial in this aspect. Sensors that track water consumption, heat consumption and air pollution are essential. Through these sensors, we are able to navigate the amount of energy needed for a city, and as a result the amount of waste that can be saved. Smart cities are currently more concerned with bettering the quality of life for its citizens, through quicker commuting times, lower crime rates and a more virtually connected city, however we hope for a shift towards a more sustainably conscious model of smart cities, putting that technology to real good use. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about these unique climate technologies and the monumental impact they have on reducing energy wastage, improving efficiency and tackling climate change in general. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on the many ways we are battling climate change and all things sustainable here on Exploratree! Leave a Reply %d bloggers like this:
Why is my hair falling out Hair Falling Falling out of hairs is a common phase among the major events of the life cycle of a hair. When a hair falls, a new strand grows out at its place. A person normally sheds about seventy to hundred strands per day, but when a person starts losing his hairs more than usual, and new strands do not grow in its place; bald spots start developing. The hair might grow back, but is weak and thin which is easily pulled out by slight combing, can also lead to balding. Balding can be highly stressful and people often come up with the questions of why their hairs are falling out. There are various reasons for hair fall. It is more common in males as compared to females; which illustrates the fact that it can be genetic. This type of hair loss is called as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. This is mainly under the influence of dihydrotestosterone hormone which causes the follicles to fall in individuals whose scalp receptors are sensitive to this hormone. Hair loss can be hormonal, stress related, disease related and some medications can also trigger hair fall. Hair falling out is a major complaint of the patients suffering from thyroid disorder. It can be the alteration in the levels of secretion of thyroid hormones in the body. The levels might rise or fall above and below the normal values, called hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, respectively. Both of these conditions can trigger hair loss. Such conditions in which the hair loss occurs as a related symptom of a disease, it is often reversible and can be treated by simply reversing the root cause. The patient is in a need to treat his thyroid disorder which will reverse back the hair loss. Hair falling out can be as a result of hormonal changes. As these hormonal changes are a major part of female life, the reason behind female hair loss is mostly hormonal. Why is my hair falling out Female Hair loss is usually triggered during menopause and after childbirth in females. Hormonal changes can also arise due to genetic causes. The level of production of different hormones keeps on fluctuating with age. The composition also keeps changing throughout life. Dihydrotestosterone DHT, which is the main cause of male pattern baldness, could also be responsible for hair loss in females as this hormone is produced in females, too. Female hair fall treatment Lahore Pakistan Impact of stress on hair falling A lot of people ask how hair falling out can be related to stress. Stress can be a factor contributing to a number of diseases. Stress can also trigger it when a person is subjected to extreme anxiety. Stress can be physical and psychological; however, no prominent hair loss is seen associated with psychological stress. Physical stress can arise from surgeries, trauma, childbirth and seasonal fever. Hair loss is more prominent when seen in reference to physical stress. But physical stress can be eliminated by following therapies, daily exercises, meditation and removing stressors, and the hair fall, too, subsides as the body heals itself. Hair falling out can be as a result of taking medications. Pharmaceutical medicines are often responsible for causing a number of side effects along with its major targeted effect. These side effects can be in the form of hair loss and chemotherapeutic medicines are the most famous example where these medicines can trigger hair loss. Other such medicines include regimen taken for thyroid disorders, oral contraceptives which are responsible for hormonal imbalances, antidepressants, anti-coagulants, and anticonvulsant and beta blockers. These medicines can affect different people differently depending upon their genetic make-up. Autoimmune diseases and hair falling out Autoimmune diseases can also lead to hair falling out. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system starts developing antibodies against its own cells. When these antibodies start attacking follicles, hair loss results. Dandruff can also cause hair loss as it urges the person to scratch the scalp shedding and pulling the hair strands from their roots. Psoriasis is also a disease condition associated with hair fall due to excessive itching as the scalp becomes itchy and inflamed due to excessive dryness. Tinea capitis is an infection which causes the hair falling out. It is caused by a fungus and it can result in complete shedding or incomplete shedding of hairs which results in leftover hair stubs. This is a highly contagious condition and can transfer from one person to another. Folliculitis is the inflammation of follicles that is caused by bacteria or fungi. It can result in permanent hair loss, if not treated appropriately. Alopecia areata is a condition accompanied by loss of hairs in the form of tufts and development of visible bald spots in the affected area. It is usually genetic and families suffering from autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and diabetes. Hair falling out due to nutritional deficiencies Hair falling out can also result from nutritional deficiencies. People taking restrictive diet plans are at a greater risk of developing hair loss. Zinc and iron are the leading sources that are directly linked to hair fall. Low levels of these minerals can result in hair fall. Some other nutritional sources like vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, copper, biotin, fatty acids and selenium have also shown to have an indirect link with hair breakage. Some of these are responsible for hair strength while others may be responsible for composition of follicles. People suffering from nutritional deficiencies can improve their hair growth and strength by taking a balanced diet having adequate proportions of essential nutritional components required for hair growth. Nutritional supplements of iron and zinc are also easily available at various departmental stores and pharmacies. Biotin is also available in commercial form. If the hair loss is not due to any medical issue, it can be corrected with modification in eating habits and lifestyle. Correcting the root cause is necessary to correct the hair loss triggered by medical anomalies and conditions. Frequently Asked Questions Who is the best doctor treating hair fall problems successfully in Lahore Pakistan? Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry is the best doctor and specialist, qualified from France and has more than 20 years experience, treating hair related problems successfully in Lahore Pakistan. What is the consultation fee of the specialist in Lahore Pakistan? There is no consultation fee and you can also send your close up photos of hair loss area through whatApp +92-333-430-999
Dangerous Drugs Tequin (gatifloxacin) is a fourth-generation antibiotic that was formerly prescribed in the US for oral use in the treatment of respiratory tract infections. It belongs to a class of popular broad-spectrum antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. This drug has been used to treat many different bacterial infections, including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and certain sexually transmitted diseases. Other antibiotics in the same class include ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Plavix (clopidogrel) is an anti-clotting drug that is prescribed for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and to prevent myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke. It is sometimes known colloquially as 'superaspirin' and it works by inhibiting the formation of blood clots.
kids encyclopedia robot Plainfield Village, Connecticut facts for kids Kids Encyclopedia Facts Quick facts for kids Plainfield, Connecticut Location in Windham County and the state of Connecticut. Location in Windham County and the state of Connecticut. Country United States State Connecticut Town Plainfield • Total 1.7 sq mi (4 km2) • Land 1.6 sq mi (4 km2) • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2) 171 ft (52 m) • Total 2,557 • Density 1,500/sq mi (581/km2) Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT) ZIP code Area code 860 FIPS code 09-60090 GNIS feature ID 2377851 Plainfield Village is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Plainfield, Connecticut in the United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2010 census. It is located in the southwest part of town, in the area west of I-395 and south of Route 14. The village is also the core of the Plainfield, CT urban cluster. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (1.80%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 2,638 people, 959 households, and 648 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,605.5 people per square mile (621.1/km2). There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 612.9 per square mile (237.1/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.66% White, 1.48% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 1.21% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population. There were 959 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,268, and the median income for a family was $40,081. Males had a median income of $29,219 versus $23,261 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,836. About 7.5% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over. kids search engine Plainfield Village, Connecticut Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
In patients with lung cancer, abnormal cells develop in one or both lungs and grow in an uncontrolled way to form tumours. How does lung cancer develop? What is lung cancer? How does lung cancer spread? What causes lung cancer? Abnormal cell growth in the lungs develops from a change in the cells’ DNA, called DNA mutations. DNA mutations in lung cancer cells can be inherited from family members, or they can be caused by the normal ageing process or through different environmental factors. Patients who are cigarette smokers have the highest chance of developing lung cancer compared to non-smokers. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the months or years spent smoking. Cigar smoking and pipe smoking has the same risks as cigarette smoke, and second hand and passive smoking can also have an increased risk for lung cancer. Not all patients who develop lung cancer are smokers. Patients who have a non-smoking or smoking relative who has had lung cancer can inherit damaged DNA. Being aged 6o years old and over also increases the risk for being diagnosed with lung cancer. Patients who are infected with HIV, have certain diseases of the lungs or are being treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest may be at increased of risk of lung cancer. Lung cancer cells What different types of lung cancer exist? Treating and preventing lung cancer Constantly improving treatments are helping to gradually reduce rates of lung cancer globally. Treatment for lung cancer depends on the stage at the time of diagnosis, which includes the size of the tumour and if tumour has spread in the lung, the type of lung cancer, cancer gene mutations and the overall health of the patient.
When does your car start? August 19, 2021 August 19, 2021 admin A car’s battery lasts for about a minute when it’s charging up, but the car’s engine does more than that. A spark plug ignites the car, producing a powerful explosion that sends the fuel surging to the engine. That spark can send the spark plug flying off and hitting the dashboard. In a car with a big engine like an SUV, that spark is an actual spark plug, which you can see. This is where the Nio car engine comes into play. In Nio, your car’s internal combustion engine, or CEC, takes a direct hit from the car being powered up. When you turn the ignition, it sends out a shock wave to the rear of the engine, which sends the engine into the wall. The shock wave pushes the car down, which causes the fuel to be released from the sparkplug. This spark is what powers your car. The Nio NIO2.1 engine in action. The Nio is powered by an internal combustion unit (ICU), a piece of metal that houses an electric motor and a capacitor. When the engine fires, the capacitor creates a current that flows to the capacitor and back to the ICU. This current is what turns the ICV on and off. Nio’s design is actually quite simple: the engine uses the AC voltage it receives from the battery to make a small current from the capacitor to power the IC unit. When it’s not in use, the IC has a large battery charge, and when it is, the battery charges to a large enough level to charge the IC and make it operate properly. At a high speed, this current can propel the IC up to more than 3,000 amps. At the same speed, the car is able to travel about 150 miles per hour. For a car that’s just about ready to go, the NIO 2.1 is capable of pushing that much power with less than 100 miles per charge. So, the biggest challenge with the Nios NIO engine is to figure out how to make it use more than one charge. For starters, how to keep the ICIC from becoming overloaded when the car starts up? The IC is connected to the AC power supply by a short circuit, and the IC is powered directly from the AC supply. To get the IC to power more than a single charge, the system has to take advantage of the IC’s low voltage and make sure the IC gets the correct charge before the car gets into action. There are two basic approaches to that. Use a small DC circuit. The simplest approach would be to run a small circuit in the IC. The AC supply would be connected to a single resistor, which would create a short-circuit. When this short-temperature current is passed through a small capacitor, it will create a small voltage difference between the two capacitors, which will then cause the IC IC to switch on and turn itself on. However, this method requires you to use the AC circuit for most of your engine operation. Run the IC through a big capacitor. A more sophisticated approach would use a bigger capacitor. The big capacitor would run through a smaller resistor. When you run a capacitor that big, you need to use a lot of current to make sure that the capacitor is working properly. If the AC current doesn’t get the capacitor working properly, the power to the DC circuit will be reduced and the power supply won’t be able to keep up with the current. You could also build a bigger resistor, but this is easier said than done. An NIO car engine. Using a small resistor allows the car to use more current than the capacitor allows. A more complex approach is to use large capacitors. Large capacitors can allow you to add more current to the circuit, but that will reduce the capacitor’s current and cause it to run out of current. In this case, you could also run the circuit through a capacitor twice as large, but with a smaller current difference between them. Adding a bigger, bigger resistor to the small capacitor will allow the capacitor size to be controlled to a minimum. What you should know about Nio’s NIO Engine Nio 2.2 has a number of design improvements that make it faster than its predecessor. The biggest change is that the IC no longer has a spark plug. Instead, the engine’s AC electrical current comes directly from a capacitor, and that AC current runs through a resistor to power a capacitor to generate a current. The resistor has a voltage drop across it, and it will drop the voltage of the capacitor when the capacitor turns on. When that voltage drop hits the resistor, it creates an AC current that will push the capacitor back up to the right voltage. That AC current is enough to drive the engine to start. The car’s AC power system was improved by adding a bigger motor. The motor’s design now has
What does amphitrite represent? Asked by: Prof. Moshe Sanford Sr. Score: 4.5/5 (11 votes) AMPHITRITE was the goddess-queen of the sea, wife of Poseidon, and eldest of the fifty Nereides. She was the female personification of the sea--the loud-moaning mother of fish, seals and dolphins. What does Aphrodite symbolize? What is the power of Amphitrite? As a goddess, Amphitrite possesses the natural powers and abilities of an Olympian goddess such as Immortality, Omnipresence, Superhuman strength, Metamorphosis, and Teleportation. Her Roman name is Salacia. As a sea-goddess, she possesses the ability to breathe underwater. Was Amphitrite a good goddess? A beautiful goddess, she was the daughter of Nereus, a minor sea god, and Doris, a sea nymph. And ancient Greek poet wrote that Poseidon saw her dancing and fell in love with her. ... Amphitrite hid there for some time, but Poseidon was not to be denied. Who was the ugliest god? Facts about Hephaestus Poseidon and Amphitrite: The God and the Queen of the Seas - Greek Mythology - See U in History 36 related questions found Was Amphitrite beautiful? Amphitrite is normally referred to as a Nereids, one of the 50 nymph daughters of the Greek sea god Nereus, and his wife, the Oceanid Doris. ... Nereids and Oceanids were beautiful nymphs, and Amphitrite was amongst the most beautiful of all the water nymphs of Greek mythology. What are female gods called? What was Amphitrite's weapon? His weapon and main symbol was the trident, perhaps once a fish spear. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, Poseidon's trident, like Zeus's thunderbolt and Hades' helmet, was fashioned by the three Cyclopes. An amphora (jar) with a representation of Poseidon, attributed to the Berlin Painter, c. What was Amphitrite personality? Personality. Amphitrite is a very competitive person and she wants to keep ocean peace. Why did Amphitrite not marry Poseidon? "You're too sweet." Amphitrite said, styling her new seaweed. She decided that she wouldn't leave this island, and she thought Poseidon wouldn't either. Poseidon wanted to ask Amphitrite to be his queen, because he didn't marry in a long time, and he needed a queen to rule his underwater kingdom with him. Is Amphitrite a mermaid? Amphitrite is a 9 foot tall, 600-pound bronze mermaid statue located off the beach of Sunset House Resort. Created by Canadian sculptor and avid SCUBA enthusiast, Simon Morris, and installed in 2000, Amphitrite is actually the second of her kind. Who was Poseidon's son? What is Aphrodite's favorite food? Asparagus, dark chocolate, honey, figs, and raw oysters have all be linked to Aphrodite as being her favorite foods. What is Aphrodite's sacred animal? Swan, dove, hare Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, had as her sacred animal the dove, among others. What was Aphrodite's weakness? A weakness of Aphrodite is that every time she saw someone more beautiful or attractive then her she gave them a horrible life or killed them. Another weakness of Aphrodite is that she cheated on her husband(Hephaestus) a lot. Is the trident of Poseidon real? Poseidon. The trident is associated with the sea god Poseidon. This divine instrument is said to have been forged by the cyclopes. What is Zeus the god of? What is God's wife's name? Who is the most evil Greek goddess? Eris: The Evilest Greek Goddess. The devil is the personification of evil. In Greek, the term «διάβολος» derives from the Greek verb «διαβάλω» (to slander). Who is the kindest goddess? Hestia in Greek Mythology What did Poseidon fear? Since Poseidon is one of the most powerful gods, he is afraid of very little. Most of the gods bow to his authority, especially because he is renowned... Who is Poseidon's father? The name Poseidon means either “husband of the earth” or “lord of the earth.” Traditionally, he was a son of Cronus (the youngest of the 12 Titans) and of Cronus's sister and consort Rhea, a fertility goddess. Did Aphrodite and Poseidon have a child? The god of the sea, Poseidon, then sees the goddess naked and falls in love with Aphrodite. They have a daughter named Rhode, protector goddess of the island of Rhodes in Greek mythology.
Dr. Hans Reiter achieved the one thing most likely to keep a physician’s name in textbooks forever: He got an illness named after him. While working as a medic in the German army in World War I, he once treated a case of simultaneous inflammation in the joints, eyes, and urethra. This became known as Reiter’s syndrome. But after his death in 1969, Reiter was revealed to be a rather unsavory eponym: He was a Nazi—not just another physician caught up in a Germany’s troubled times and forced into the party, but an avowed supporter and leader of the regime. He rose to president of the Reich Health Office, where he championed eugenics. And he approved human experiments in concentration camps, including typhus inoculations at Buchenwald that killed 250 prisoners. Several other Nazi eponyms have since come to light. Clara cells in the lungs, for example, are named after Max Clara, who made his very discovery on lung tissue taken from people executed by the Nazi regime. Doctors writing in the Israel Medical Association Journal have documented another half-dozen such names they suggest changing. For a profession whose members begin their careers with an oath to do no harm, such namesakes are especially problematic. Over the past few decades, the medical community has been slowly wiping Reiter’s name from the books. The preferred term for the condition he studied is now “reactive arthritis.” In 2007, the doctor who first suggested the name “Reiter’s syndrome”—without knowing at the time about Reiter’s political activities—retracted the term in a letter published in Arthritis & Rheumatism. The renaming campaign had long been underway by then, and “Reiter’s syndrome” had already been falling out of favor since the late nineties. But as these things go, that was hardly the end. There is no official protocol for changing an eponym; there’s only publishing the rationale for using a new name in a journal and convincing doctors to overcome the inertia of using the old name. Once terms are well-established in the medical community, it’s impractical to make them vanish right away. Even “Reiter’s syndrome,” the term most actively criticized, is still found in the titles of new case reports in 2013. Renaming is a slow, ungoverned process. In arguing against medical terms named after Nazi doctors, some physicians questioned the use of eponyms at all. They can be useful shorthand, sure, but they lack the descriptiveness of names like “reactive arthritis.” More importantly, singling out one doctor glorifies the individual, ignoring the gradual and iterative nature of medicine. Arguing against eponyms in the British Medical Journal, Alexander Woywodt and Eric Matteson point out that that Behçet’s disease—an inflammation of the blood vessels—could more accurately be called “Hippocrates-Janin-Neumann-Reis-Bluthe-Gilbert-Planner-Remenovsky-Weve-Shigeta-Pils-Grütz-Carol-Ruys-Samek-Fischer-Walter-Roman-Kumer-Adamantiades-Dascalopoulos-Matras-Whitwell-Nishimura-Blobner-Weekers-Reginster-Knapp-Behçet’s disease” to account for the many researchers who helped contribute to understanding the condition. The awarding of namesakes—the picking of one name out of that long list—is not always meritocratic either. Woywodt and Matteson write that luck, politics, and publishing in a more accessible language or journal bias the process. In fact, the syndrome Reiter described had been reported by others before, as early as the 1500s. The French also had a different term for it: Fiessinger-Leroy, named after two French doctors, a fact that irked Reiter. Back in 1916, he also incorrectly attributed the inflammation to parasites found in his patient’s stool. So, unlike his current infamy, even Reiter’s initial fame was arguably undeserved.
Boost Nitric Oxide Levels to Improve Health Humanity has been aware of the beneficial effects Nitric Oxide has on our health for a long time prior to the discovery that the substance is naturally generated by our bodies in a small quantity. Certain diseases, such as high blood pressure and Angina, have been treated with Nitroglycerin as early as in 1880. Nitroglycerin affected the pathways of Nitric Oxide, but almost a century passed while people were using the substance and enjoying its benefits without having any clue as to why it works. Nitric Oxide’s discovery, as well as its beneficial biological effects, was such a momentous event in history, that it won the three researchers studying it the prestigious Nobel Prize in 1998. This molecule is extremely versatile, with numerous health benefits we can enjoy. Let’s have a look as to what these benefits are in more detail. Boost Nitric Oxide Levels to Improve HealthNitric Oxide and its benefits Nitric Oxide, also known as Nitrogen Oxide and Nitric Monoxide, is a crucial signaling molecule found in most mammals, including humans, in which int performs vital pathological and physiological functions. It is produced by Nitric Oxide synthase, an enzyme found in the lining of the blood vessels, which is called the endothelium. One of Nitric Oxide’s most apparent effects is so-called vasodilation, which is the widening of the blood vessels, this is achieved by the penetration of the underlying smooth musculature. This makes it clear that Nitric Oxide has an extremely crucial function in blood pressure, as well as circulation in general. Another benefit of Nitric Oxide is that it protects the tissue from whence it came, the endothelium. Boost Nitric Oxide Levels to Improve HealthThe main, underlying cause of most heart diseases and cardiovascular disorders is endothelial dysfunction coupled with the body’s diminished ability to generate Nitric Oxide, which is collectively called atherosclerosis. Just like in the case of the “more exercise equals more Nitric Oxide equals more exercise equals more Nitric Oxide” loop, this can lead the body to enter a detrimental loop of lowered Nitric Oxide production, which leads to more damage, which leads to even less Nitric Oxide, which once again leads to more damage, and so on. If the vicious loop goes on for too long, symptoms such as hypertension may be observed, as well as dangerous cardiac events. The effects Nitric Oxide has on the body and circulatory systems makes it apparent just why nitroglycerin is so suitable for the treatment of a disease like Angina. The substance promotes the generation of Nitric Oxide, which cause vasodilation, meaning that the diameter of arteries is increased. The coronary arteries are no exception, and with their widening, the heart can receive the needed oxygen and nutrients. Increased amounts of Nitric Oxide are also perfect for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Most medications to treat erectile dysfunction, as well as male enhancement drugs, work on the principle of drastically increasing the Nitric Oxide levels of the blood, which increases blood flow to the penis, resulting in significantly improved erections.
Exposition: Not Even Once We all do it. Exposition. Let us stop. It’s not the easiest thing not to do, in any case. If you’re writing your first draft, you may want to skip this post, but revisit it when you’re revising. At the same time, if you’re dedicated to writing a great first draft, please proceed! It’s never a bad idea to learn all that you can before starting any book or story. First of all—what is exposition? Well, in fiction, it would be a huge block of text, describing nothing more than information that’s relevant to the story, but in a way that is clearly intended as an explanation. In other words, it isn’t worked into the story. It doesn’t advance or enhance your story; it just sits there, that block of text, like a light poo floating atop the toilet water. You’ve cut your story up to maybe “creatively insert a flashback”, and the present story you are telling takes a backseat, for a time, for the past story you shouldn’t need to tell. Exposition is clearest when the author inserts themselves into the story to tell the reader what is happening. And that is not something that should be necessary. Why? Because you’re painting a picture. You’re using your words to show. Not tell. Let’s take an example here. Say you have a person who is terrified of storms because when they were a child, their father left them during a thunderstorm. There would be a preferred way to set this scene while still weaving that backstory into it, and then there would be the expository manner of dumping that information. Exposition: James stood in the doorway as the rain pelted the pavement. Soon it would turn to hail. The sky was dark everywhere and James couldn’t bear to stay on the porch any longer. Instead, he went indoors. He sat on the couch as the thunder rolled overhead, and lightning flashed behind his living room curtains. Storms bothered James. To the point of panic. This panic stemmed from his childhood. HIs father had left him during a similar storm. He was only ten years old and James and his mother had to fend for themselves after that. The day his father left, a large thunderstorm rolled through town, and as James’ father slammed the door on his way out, a thunderclap struck simultaneously. You might be thinking that that’s not so bad. It’s not, I suppose, except, well, I wrote it. But other than that, fine. But is there a better way to do this? To show the reader why James fears storms the way that he does? Perhaps. Sneaking exposition into the current storyline: James stood in the doorway. He watched the rain pelt the pavement beyond his front door. Soon, those quick and stinging droplets would turn to hail. The sky was dark and James couldn’t bear to stay on the porch any longer. Instead, he went indoors and sat on his couch as the thunder rolled overhead, and lightning flashed behind his living room curtains. He shook at each thunder clap. At each lightning strike. The storm weakened him. His heart pounded, and with each boom that rattled his house and worked through his body, James shook even more. He pictured the front door of his childhood home slamming in tandem with the thunder; his mother’s tears that flowed just like the rain as her husband and James’ father left their home for the last time. With each strobe of lightning, James saw his father’s back as the man retreated from James and his mother. They watched through the window, cradling one another. Neither James nor his mother spoke a single word. The curtain of ongoing rain reminded him of his mother’s tears; of his own ten-year-old tears, mixing together. James brought his knees to his chest and plugged his ears. He fought the urge to call his fiancé, to ask if she would come home that night. She’ll come back, he reassured himself. Another clap of thunder. James’ heart leapt and so did his body. He was on his feet, the area rug displaced by his sudden movements. He went upstairs and climbed into bed. He pulled the comforter over his face and plugged his palms into his ears to block out the nature raving outside. Storms were ruinous, but so were humans. So, maybe that second one wasn’t so great, either, but you get the point. That time, the writer attempted to incorporate the main character’s fear of abandonment with the panic attacks he has any time there is a storm. This shows the readers a few things. 1. His past. Yes, I worked it into the current storyline because it was relevant at this point in the story. James is struggling with whether he needs to call his fiancé to verify that she’s not leaving him. 2. His present. This is a man with abandonment issues who is plagued with anxiety. 3. How he deals with the past and that anxiety (avoidance). 4. His self-awareness regarding his issues (he decides not to call his fiancé). So, while the first example shows the reader James’ past while the current storyline takes a backseat, the second example is stronger because it tells the story James’ present and explains how the past contributed. Maybe your main character had a traumatic childhood, too. Maybe that’s very important to the character’s development. It makes sense that you want to explain that trauma to the reader as soon as you can, but there are ways to sprinkle the pain of the character’s past in with the current storyline. Let’s take another example. Maybe Sandra’s mother used to beat her as a child. Sandra is now a grown woman working a lucrative job. She’s happy and successful, but she is mistrusting of people. You can show that mistrust in many ways, one of which would be for her to question the motives of coworkers who ask her to spend time with them outside of work. She could assume that they want something from her. Maybe Sandra doesn’t have many (or any) close friends. Maybe you have her decide to spend time with those coworkers. Perhaps alcohol is involved. Perhaps any time a coworker makes a sudden movement (non-threatening), Sandra flinches. Now, a scenario like the one above doesn’t tell the reader exactly why Sandra acts the way that she does, but it certainly shows the reader that there’s a reason for Sandra’s behavior. Perhaps she sees a child with normal bruising from playing and she takes the child aside and frantically questions the child about how the bruising occurred. OK, now we’re closer. The reader can then assume that Sandra either has experienced such pain or is at the very best worried for children who do. If all else fails, once Sandra develops and learns to get close to someone (a friend or a romantic interest), she can disclose the story of her past to that friend in dialogue. This could still be a bit of an info-dump, so be careful not to have Sandra doing a monologue here. A few short sentences are all it really takes for the reader to understand the impact Sandra’s childhood has on her, and still has on her. What if you want your character to be a reformed murderer? One who was never caught or tried for the murder (yeah, I know, Crime And Punishment, but not really). Well, that’s tougher, but it’s still highly possible to pull of without a massive chunk of your book or a section dedicated to directly explaining this situation to the reader. You might instead have the character faced with his/her own robbery or beating. Perhaps this causes the character to think something simple, like; I didn’t know what I was doing when I did it. I didn’t know. Or some other vague allusion to his or her past. Perhaps the character gets a normal job, joins the working class. Reforms themselves. But every time the character looks in the mirror, they imagine small speckles of blood on their face, or on their hands (sure, this is a bit cliché. Still better than exposition/an info dump). The reader pieces together what the issue most likely is. Slowly revealing these details as they become relevant in the current story is your best bet. What not to do: Under no circumstance should you have pages and pages of backstory that do not contribute to the present story. Always move the story forward. Always. If you have to go back a bit to do that for a sentence or two—that’s different than blatant, in-your-face exposition. Avoid shit like this: · Dreams- Look, no one wants to hear about a dream (yes, there are exceptions to this, but most writers abuse this tool and it ends up reading like a five-year-old prattling incessantly about something that never happened, and worse; embellishing something that never happened). No one wants to listen to a person drone on and on about something that isn’t real. Now, if your character has psychic dreams and some magical ability to alter the future, sure, go ahead, devote a half-page to that dream. Otherwise, it’s obnoxious. · Flashbacks- Again, these can be viewed as occasional necessities, but don’t use them unless you’re certain that they’re, once again, moving the story forward. Ask yourself this: “What would I lose if I cut this shit out of my book?” Really think about it. Perhaps you forgot that later on, you mention and summarize the events in a much more concise manner, or the subject of the flashback never comes up again. The answer to that would be: “Nothing”. Then do it. Cut that shit out, man. Kill those darlings. Yeah, it’s hard. I have a special folder for all my bullshit that was totally irrelevant so that perhaps I can use it later in another, better form. I would suggest you keep a folder as well if you have a hard time letting go. But you want to think of your story as the most important thing. If a flashback contributes little or nothing to the story or fails to advance the plot: cut it. · Things that will come into play later on but that you want the audience to know right now- They don’t need to know now. I’ve seen this done in series’ before. It’s absolutely ridiculous. Sure, that historical battle and the history of the two sides involved may matter in your sequel, or later on in the book, but if it doesn’t matter right now and it doesn’t push the story forward, leave it be. Save it for later. Cut and condense. · Prophecies- Okay, so I’ll probably get ragged on for this because a ton of fantasy writers love to use this trope and while it’s a well-hated trope; it’s also well-loved. When you have a prophecy, you’re telling the reader the story arc instead of allowing them to discover it organically. It’s the epitome of telling instead of showing. · Speaking directly to the reader– again, this can be done tastefully. There are many books that do this, and they do it well. A Clockwork Orange comes to mind. But if you’re just starting out and you want to use that sort of narrative; don’t. Try omniscient or first-person before you attempt a second-person narrative as it’s probably the most difficult. Now, of course, you can do whatever the hell you want, and if you’re dead set on this, go for it! Just keep in mind that it’s an exposition trap waiting to happen. Since your narrator has those little “asides” for the reader, it’s all too easy to use those as an opportunity to launch into a backstory or history that doesn’t move the story forward. While it may be damn near impossible to avoid all forms of exposition, you can do your best to curtail the instances in which they appear in your drafts. That way, your editor can hopefully catch them and advise you on how to better place them. A developmental editor is perfect for this because they specialize in reorganizing and helping the author build their story where it’s needed. I’ll repeat an earlier statement: If you ask yourself what the exposition contributes to the story and you find yourself grasping at straws to justify it—cut it. Let it go! That’s all for today. Happy writing! #manuscriptadvice #copyediting #creativewriting #creativewritinghelp #Firstdraft #Maincharacterdevelopment #manuscripterrors #freelanceediting Published by holymell I do word stuff! %d bloggers like this:
Where are most rainforests located in Africa? Where are most rainforests located in Africa? Congo river basin Most of Africa’s remaining rainforests are found in the Congo river basin on the Atlantic Ocean side of the continent. The Congo rainforest is famous for its gorillas, chimpanzees, and elephants as well as its native population of forest dwellers known as pygmies. Are rainforests found in Africa? Which island has a rainforest? Known as the only tropical rainforest in the United States, El Yunque — less than an hour’s drive from San Juan, in the eastern town of Fajardo, Puerto Rico — is home to La Mina waterfall, multiple trails and a visitor center. Does Aruba have rainforests? The terrain of Aruba is what first time visitors find most surprising. The inland region is desert-like, filled with dense scrub and cacti instead of palm trees and rainforests. Are there rainforests in Jamaica? And if you’re in Jamaica, you just can’t miss the opportunity of seeing the beautiful, tropical scenery while gliding through the rainforest canopy with the wind on your face going from platform to platform! One of the most exciting things to do in Jamaica for sure! Which country in Africa has the most forest? Democratic Republic of Congo The Congo Basin is Africa’s largest contiguous forest and the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. Covering about 695,000 square miles, this swamp-struck tropical forest covers portions of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. What country has the most jungles? Brazil has the largest rainforest cover in the world, thanks to the Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon Rainforest is the biggest and most biodiverse rainforest in the world covering an area of 1,800,000 square miles. Brazil is estimated to have approximately 400 billion trees of 16,000 different species. What is the best rainforest to visit? The world’s most awesome rainforests and how to visit them • 1: Daintree National Park, Australia. • 2: Dominica. • 3: Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. • 4: Harapan Rainforest, Sumatra, Indonesia. • 5: Yasuni National Park, Ecuador. • 6: Loango National Park, Gabon. • 7: Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Where are the tropical rainforests located in Africa? Beyond the rainforest of the Congo Basin, Africa’s other major rainforests are the Guinean Forests of West Africa, which run from Sierra Leone to Cameroon; the Eastern Afromontane, which span Ethiopia to Southern Africa; the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique; and the forests of Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands. Which is the second largest rainforest in Africa? Now, the rainforests of Central Africa’s Congo Basin, the second largest in the world after the Amazon, have come under the axe, too. For centuries, only scattered groups of native hunter-gatherers and Bantu-speaking subsistence farmers disturbed the forest realm. Then, in the 19th century, European loggers and plantation owners moved in. Are there any Indian Ocean islands in Africa? What kind of animals live in the Central African rainforest? These forests are home to buffaloes, crocodiles, elephants, mandrilles, patas monkeys (the world’s largest monkeys), and populations of lowland gorillas. Central African rainforest covers large parts of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Cabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. Back To Top
Brief History of An Algorithm The so-called “hard-forking” of reality (now a euphemism for a human’s cyber-massaged biases and pet projects) is one of the greatest tricks played on us by Capitalism (TM), and facilitated by the extinction stack that rendered it effective in our sensory lives. The fun fact is that reality-as-such has remained fundamentally the same – we only experience and interpret it in various ways. And in the global white-supremacist North these ways are simply (or not) the result of systems and algorithms that render us complicit, in silos, “hard-forked”, and hard-fucked. We can do better with different algorithms. Homophily“; a bit of thinkspeak from Laura Kurgan, Dare Brawley, Brian House, Jia Zhang, and Wendy Hui Kyong Chun, ala E-FLUX. Excerpts that made my brain hum: The word “homophily” was coined in a highly-cited 1954 essay by Paul F. Lazarsfeld and Robert K. Merton on friendship in a mixed-race housing project in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The researchers were suspicious of the “familiar and egregiously misleading question: do birds of a feather flock together?” They focused on “racial attitudes,” and concluded that friendships form and persist not simply on the basis of shared identities but also thanks to shared values and beliefs… The afterlife of the concept has been remarkable, effectively reconstructing social worlds in its image. Today, the assumption that homophily is a rule also underlies online social and economic interactions, as platforms reinforce the axiom that “similarity breeds connection.” What began as descriptions or questions about social life have become a rule for algorithms shaping social interactions online. While smart city discourses predict calculable cities using data and maps as engines of change, researching maps and data and their long urban histories can uncover the dangers lurking in what’s called progress. The ties between network science, urban planning, and social engineering are deeply historical, conceptual, and bi-directional. Network science is haunted by the consequences of urban planning, and vice versa—smart cities are just the latest manifestation of this intricate web of influence… “The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the originally false conception come true. The serious validity of the self-fulfilling prophecy perpetuates a reign of error.” [perhaps a new definition of hyperstition?] Merton’s solution to this “reign of error” was large-scale institutional change. Describing the survey of Addison Terrace residents, he showed that while many white residents had anticipated that there would be racial tension, the majority felt after living at Addison Terrace that “the races get along fairly well.” Thus, he argues that institutions like mixed-race housing can reverse the feelings of animosity and apprehension that lead to racism: “under appropriate institutional and administrative conditions the experience of interracial amity can supplant the fear of interracial conflict.” If Addison Terrace had been built following the logic of homophily (that illiberals are most likely to be friends with other illiberals), then the assumption of segregation would likely be replicated and maintained by the institution itself, according to the logic of the self-fulfilling prophecy. But instead, the project was intentionally structured to encourage and model co-existence and encounters across racial lines…. Unpacking the black box of homophily shows that it’s not only math that drives algorithms, but also concepts and “institutional and administrative conditions.” Homophily has turned into a generative formula that segregates cities and polarizes networks, rather than encouraging their integration and internal differentiation. The algorithms can be re-engineered, with higher tolerances and structures that privilege difference and inclusion. Who will have the courage… not only to state this, but to put it into practice? Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Connecting to %s
Digitally Silencing The fourth edition of Love, Pavemented. Illustration by Tanvi Sharma Have you been seeing headlines and social media posts about internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir? I have, too. It’s been a year and four days since Article 370 was abrogated, and a year and five since the longest shutdown so far was imposed in the region. Given how critical the functioning of the internet is to my own life, I’ve been preoccupied with the question: In how many ways can an internet shutdown impact a community? In an attempt to answer it, the fourth edition of Akademi Mag’s Love, Pavemented newsletter looks at digital silencing as a practice of oppression in Kashmir, and its far-reaching consequences on people’s lives. An internet killswitch is, fundamentally, a mechanism that allows a single authority to control the internet for all users. It is a controversial policy that was once created for safety against large-scale cyberwarfare, but is used as a form of repression today. As explained in this article, internet shutdowns and slowdowns are largely considered features of authoritarian governments. India - popularly known as the world’s largest democracy - is also called the internet shutdown capital of the world, because no other government has exercised this power with as much frequency. A study from Stanford’s Global Digital Policy Incubator gives us two facts: Internet shutdowns are primarily used for governments to extend control over a territory to the greatest extent possible, and the rate of internet shutdowns across the world is rising, hence normalising the practice that was, in 2016, unequivocally condemned by the United Nations as a violation of human rights. Muazzam Nasir, a Kashmiri law student who interned with SFLC - the diligent archiver of internet shutdowns in India - told me this week: "Never before in the recorded history of digitalism, has such an over-arching ban been placed on basic communication services. The two-pronged approach of physical and virtual barricades has had an unimaginable toll on the perceived notion of how citizenry is imagined in a free democracy." Photo by Darash Dawood Low-speed internet was restored after 6 months of communication blockade, but the Government imposed a ban on social media. The government says that internet shutdowns are either ways of containing political upheaval during elections and anniversaries of major political events, or reactions to gunfights between security forces and militants. While this narrative suggests that they are exercised for the safety of citizens, internet shutdowns are, for the people in Kashmir, vicious communication blockades. As pointed out by Nawal Ali Watali and Samia Mehraj in their recent takeover on my Instagram, the forceful silencing of citizens means that they cannot educate the rest of the world about the history of Kashmir, the contextualized struggle for self determination, or the fact that demands for the restoration of 4G are only a small part of the ultimate aim to restore social, political, and economic agency in the region. It also means that we are unaware of violence - occurring as you read this - in the world’s most militarized zone. This includes the detention and torture of civilians, politicians, and children, extrajudicial killings, sexual exploitation of women, government surveillance, and the most blatant manifestation of authoritarianism by the secular, socialist, democratic republic you and I call home. For people whose political leanings support this, the gagging of Kashmiri voices becomes a playground for personal motives. For us - young Indians who pride ourselves on good intentions and social consciousness - it becomes a gateway to the misrepresentation and appropriation of Kashmir’s long and arduous struggle against oppression. I reached out to Dr. Ather Zia, a Kashmiri political anthropologist, author, and founder of Kashmir Lit, to understand - in the face of state silencing and media suppression, how does sharing lived experience become an act of dissent? She said: “Kashmiris have a long history of resistance and resilience. Indians are not the first occupiers they have dealt with but Indian occupation has been the most invisibilized. Kashmiris have watched empires fall and despots flee. They have been duped of their political fate, and their struggle for self-determination has been demoted by India to the extent that it has been criminalized and branded as "terrorism." It has taken India 72 years and more than 700,000 troops and yet Kashmiris refuse to identify with India or call themselves Indians. India removed Kashmir's autonomy unilaterally and militarily on August 5, 2019, and the year-long siege has increased the emotional and economic hardships of Kashmiris. Yet they are not giving up their right to self-determination. The daily life in Kashmir under a repressive military occupation where homes have become prisons, and streets become torture centers, where alleyways and street corners are checkpoints - every breath is an act of resistance telling the occupier that you may occupy us but you will not subjugate us. Everyday resistance is a cultural and political fact in Kashmir." Because of internet shutdowns, Kashmiri students have not been able to access resources for studying, bringing education to a stunning halt. This article by The Hindu shares how students have ferried data by air, driven over 300km to download syllabi, and teachers, in the middle of a pandemic, have only been able to reach them sporadically. The economy is threatened with Kashmiri businesses failing to reach customers in the middle of COVID-19, and a loss of Rs 40,000 crore has been registered since August 2019. Citizens are unable to reach families living in different states and countries. The trauma of disconnection, uncertainty and silence is exacerbated by the frustration of being offered 2G internet and non-functional whitelisted websites - insignificant consolations that ultimately fall short. In January 2020, the court observed: “freedom of speech and expression through the Internet is an integral part of Article 19(1)(a) and any restriction on it must be in compliance with Article 19(2) of the Constitution”. However, Kashmir is imprisoned politically and physically - and since access to the internet means access to freedom, affording neither is in the interest of the government’s agenda. In June 2020, a New Media Policy was introduced, authorising government officers to decide what ‘fake news’ constitutes and take action against journalists and media organisations accordingly. Given that they must now be verified for publication, the clampdown on speech has become obvious and imminent. Internetshutdowns.in tracks incidents of internet shutdowns across India and answers frequently asked questions about internet shutdowns and communication blockades. Their initiative, Lost Voices, aims to amplify narratives that have ‘lost connection’. Free Press Kashmir is a weekly publication focused on online, video, and data journalism, and a trusted source for news from the region. Read Khawar Khan Achakzai’s piece on how the New Media Policy is not the beginning of censorship - it is the continuation of a practice that Kashmir is all too familiar with, from 1986 until today. On August 5, 2020. Nawal and Samia asked my Instagram followers to ask them anything about Kashmir. The question that came up most often was: How can I be an ally? The first step towards speaking for somebody is to truly understand its history and contexts. Nawal and Samia created a list of resources for the same. You can read: • The Kashmir Syllabus, a list of sources for teaching and learning about Kashmir • An article database of credible news reports from Kashmir, compiled by Gazal Anha • This ground report from 2019 by the Kashmir Solidarity Team • Pinkwashing and Pride in Kashmir, an article by Stand with Kashmir on the region’s complex LGBTQ+ issue • Kashmir: A Metaphor of Pain, a collection of poems put together by Uzma Falak • Overhead in Curfew, a piece by Onaiza Drabu, who works on the ethnography of communication • Finally, a list of resources - articles, books, and people to follow - compiled by Nawal and Samia What's Keeping Me Occupied Ahmer Javed is a rapper and producer from Srinagar. His music highlights the struggle for self-determination, the spirit of resistance, and hope for a better future for Kashmir. I’ve been listening to his song, Kasheer, "Kids, the elderly, the youth, get killed, Our lives are buried here, Even if you tell the truth, they don’t have the ears to listen to you, Everything is a lie. It’s an old saying, These verses are Maqbool, this is my martyrdom. This is our martyrdom. Who am I? Who am I?" I urge you to read Kasheer like a poem and listen to it like a song - find the English translation of the lyrics here. Also read BBC’s article on Ahmer, where he talks about how returning home to post-apocalyptic Kashmir days after the abrogation of Article 370 felt like the end of Kashmir’s legacy, struggle, and identity - and the end of Kashmir itself. SUKHNIDH KAUR writes and researches about human behaviour, politics, and the internet. You can find her at @pavemented on Instagram. Love, Pavemented Newsletter offers insights into contemporary politics and philosophy, global news headlines, gems from the internet, curated messages from inspiring figures exclusively for readers, and more, twice a month. Click here to subscribe.
The Thought Friday, May 6, 2022 @ 12:37 PM Have you ever said or heard the expression “Stop and think before you think” or tell your children who was in time out to “think” about what they did? Every day all day long. At some point in our busy day, we are thinking of something. Thinking of what we want to eat, what is for dinner, did you turn the coffee pot off when you left, so on and so forth. But what is a thought? A thought is developed from feelings. How we feel about someone, or something will govern how we think. Feelings are just that. Feeling, they are neither right nor wrong, they are personal. They can make us happy. sad, fearful, excited. Upset or even angry at someone or a situation that has happened. What ever or how ever we are feeling governs our thoughts. Our thoughts can be positive or negative, depending on how we are feeling in that moment. If we sit with our feelings just for a brief moment, we can recognize how we feel therefore we can change how we are thinking. We can change a negative thought into a positive thought. In doing so, when we change our thought, we can change our decisions and choices we make there for we can change our actions. We can turn something that is potentially negative and make it a positive action. All by simply being still for a brief moment to sit with how we feel so we can change our thoughts.
Keep your pets safe from wild predators Written by: Taylor Stout Colorado is seeing an increase in household pet and predator conflicts. Animal Services Officer Lauren Martenson stated that Snowmass is not only seeing coyote attacks out in the wilderness and on the trails but there are “increased reports of coyotes acting a little more brazen” and exhibiting “more of a kind of stalking behavior.” She advises people to be extra cautious when letting their pets out around dusk and dawn as this is the time that both coyotes and mountain lions are the most active. Additionally, with winter in full swing, mountain lion activity is expected to increase- specifically in Boulder. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) noted that Colorado’s mountain lion population is thriving and there are currently an estimated 3,800-4,400 mature cougars out and about. The reason that we are seeing an increase in predator-pet conflicts, specifically with coyotes, is due to their food source. It is possible that there is a decline in the population of other small mammals that this predator feeds on. Additionally, coyotes are extremely adaptable and opportunistic predators. As humans and animals coexist in close proximity to one another, the predators are growing less fearful in populated areas. Coyotes are getting braver and some people have even seen them wandering around shopping centers and residential areas. Mountain lions prey primarily on deer and elk. That being said, they are more likely to be present in areas where those larger animals are around. Unlike coyotes, mountain lions are typically shy around humans and only a handful of them express aggressive behavior. They tend to express this aggressive behavior when either pets or humans come too close to their young kittens. The historical solution for this type of conflict was to kill the animal causing problems. This is counterproductive and threatens a healthy ecosystem. There is minimal to no evidence that killing coyotes is effective or beneficial. Coyotes help control disease transmission and help control rodent populations. Additionally, they increase biodiversity, consume animal carcasses, and protect crops. Project Coyote states that “State wildlife management agencies across the country recognize the benefits that coyotes provide to ecosystems.” Indiscriminately killing coyotes does NOT reduce their population, but has the potential to do the exact opposite. There has been more than 100 years of coyote killing that has ultimately failed in an attempt to permanently reduce their population. Since 1850, when the mass killing of coyotes originally began, the coyote’s range has nearly tripled in the U.S. as disrupting their social structure has encouraged more breeding as well as migration. Project Coyote did a recent study on coyote-human attacks over a 38-year period and found 367 documented attacks by non-rabid coyotes in the U.S. and Canada. Only two of these attacks resulted in death. To put this into perspective, there are more than 4.5 million dog bites every year in the U.S. and around 800,000 of said attacks require medical attention. There is minimal data on how many pets are killed every year due to predatory conflicts, but there are precautions you and your family can take to avoid harm to your precious pets. So, what can you do? • Keep your pet on a leash. • Be alert! It’s important to always be cautious of your surroundings and be prepared to pick up small animals at any moment. • Remove attractants outside of your home such as pet food or garbage. • Watch around low lying brush such as juniper bushes as mountain lions can easily hide in these. • If you do run into a predator, be LOUD! Yell, throw sticks, and wave your arms around to appear larger. • Never run or turn your back. • If a mountain lion does attack, always fight back. It’s important to remember that most of the time, these predators are more scared of us than we are of them. Please keep in mind that we are sharing their home too. With a few simple behaviors, we can learn to live in harmony with our local wildlife. Mountain lion sightings are up in Colorado. Here’s what you need to know when you’re out on the trails Comments are closed.

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